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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 13:49:20 GMT -5
(( Fair enough lmao ))
โItโs pretty obvious, hun. Canโt say I blame you. Must be scary, finding all this out for the first time,โ Romi hummed as she lead the way out of the cafe and into the cool autumn air. It was a little chilly and she was thankful for the hoodie and thick leggings she chose to put on that morning. โNo offense taken, Derek. Itโs a difficult world to get used to. It can be terrifying and dangerous, just as much as it is wonderful. I grew up around it, the weird and the strange. All the things you might think only exist in movies or books.โ
She tossed her empty paper cup into a nearby wastebasket and shoved her hands into the pockets of her hoodie to keep them warm. Not wanting to make him jump againโ she hadnโt missed his negative reaction to her hand on his arm โ she kept a small bit of space between their bodies as she tried to keep pace.
A small pang of sympathy rose in her chest as she glanced at the man, a tiny frown pulling down her lips. โListen, sugar,โ she started very gently and kept her voice down low. She stopped in front of her dorm building, turned to face him, and craned her neck up to see better from the angle. โOnce you know about all of this stuff โ my kind and so many others โ you canโt go back to the way you used to be. It doesnโt really work like that. Especially not when it comes to demons. So you need to think carefully, Derek.โ
Romi wanted to help him, she really did, but it was always difficult to explain how it all worked for those new to the supernatural. โDo you really want to know?โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 14:19:49 GMT -5
Derek nodded in agreement. The world in general was like that, he believed. Heck, his own family was more dangerous and terrifying even before he found out this new information. He wasn't a stranger to those things, but the connection of demons to all of it now brought on a whole new level of horror he hadn't expected, throwing him off his feet. He had thought he had seen all his father had to offer, had experienced the rage and pain he could inflict. Now? Now he just uncertain. It didn't help matters either that Winter refused to hep him figure it out. The older boy kept telling him to just drop the whole thing, that there was nothing to what he saw. Not in an unkind way, but in a way that made him feel like there was something he wasn't being told.
Following her out of the cafe, Derek blinked a few times until his eyes adjusted to the change of light. It was a good thing that the weather was starting to cool off again. The summer heat had been an unbearable one for all the alters. Sam didn't seem to mind it as much, as most children seem unaffected by the weather. They're more interested in just playing outside to care. Yet fall had crept in among them, and both Derek and Winter were much more happier when traveling outside. Without a car or a license, for it was totally unsafe for him to drive in case a switch happened, they walked everywhere. Now, if only it could stay this nice cool temperature and not go to the extremes one way or the other.
It didn't take long to reach her dorm, but it was long enough for his unease to grow. Her explanation of what was to come didn't help to calm him down. He knew demons weren't good. Everyone knew they weren't good. He just never expected them to actually be something he would face. Did he want to know? Again, not really. "I have to," he muttered. "I have to know what I've been living with."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 14:41:07 GMT -5
That was all the confirmation Romi needed.
Without another word, she waved at Derek to follow as she swiped into the building. Up three flights of stairs and down a long, carpeted hallway, she came to a stop at room 404. The door swung open and the lights flickered on to reveal a room that was as clean and spotless as it was purple. Shades of pale lavender were all over, from the flower-patterned bedspread to the fluffy pillows perched against the window. A large rug was placed over the wooden floor, a dark blue, and thin curtains were drawn over the window to block the outside world from view. Her bed was against the far right wall beside a desk cluttered with books, a tv perched on the opposite wall. There was a very small kitchen and bathroom to the left.
On the outside, it appeared as nothing more than a normal girlโs room. A little frilly, though not too bad, and with a heavy smell of vanilla hanging in the air. However, most of the books on the desk were much too old and battered to be textbooks and the shelf on the wall was lined with jars of various substances. Liquids, spices, something that might have once belonged to a lizard.
โMake yourself at home, Derek,โ Romi told him as she dropped her purse onto the ground and slipped off her shoes. She made a beeline for the kitchen and opened the small refrigerator, thanking the heavens that she lived alone. โYou want anything to eat or drink? I have some chocolate cake, if youโd like any. Baked it myself the other day. Not to brag or anything, but itโs pretty good.โ
It was her attempt to lighten the mood and the conversation they were about to have. She didnโt want him to be upset or uncomfortable, but when it came to discussing demons, there was never a bright side. There were no good things to say.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 14:54:32 GMT -5
With that, he walked into his fate. Whatever was about to happen couldn't possibly be any worse than what he faced on a daily basis. Derek followed Romi through the building until they reached her dorm. He wasn't going to lie, her room surprised him, a lot. Maybe he was being a little stereotypical in his thought process, but he was expecting the room to be dark and sinister, a place where all kinds of parts and ingredients for potions and what not to be found. Maybe some kind of magic symbol scrawled on the wall or floor. He was not expecting the multiple shades of purple and the... normalcy of it all. Stepping inside, he glanced around him, not sure if he should be relieved or disappointed his assumptions were wrong.
Romi spoke, and his attention was drawn back to her. The young man noticed she had taken off her shoes. So, just so he wouldn't offend or track dirt through the house, he pulled his off too and set them by the door. From there, he cautiously took a few steps into the room. "Um, no, thank you, I'm fine," Derek said. Winter would have been all up for the cake, but he wasn't here. At least, not yet anyway. He kind of just stood there, not sure where to go or sit. His fingers found the hem of his sleeve once more, worrying the fabric as he tried to give an outlet to his nervous energy. "S-so, where do we start?"
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 15:23:35 GMT -5
โYou can sit in the desk chair,โ Romi said as she grabbed a slice of cake for herself and made her way back into the main part of the room. She dropped down onto the soft bed and pulled her legs up. Crossing them, she chewed a mouthful of cake and icing, and smiled. โWeโll start with the basics. What demons are, what they do, that kind of thing. Not everything fiction tells you is correct, although some of it is.โ
Before she continued, she snapped her fingers once. A book from the desk flung itself open, pages turning and rustling, until it came to a stop somewhere close to the middle. Romi leaned over the side of the bed to give it a closer look.
โDemons are naturally evil entities that are mostly nocturnal. Theyโre weak in the sunlight, but it wonโt kill them, so they are still able to come out in the daytime. They feed off of the misery and sadness of humans,โ she explained, not reciting the book word for word, but rather speaking as she searched for something else. โThey can make people sick or tired, can cause bad luck and even death, if theyโre strong enough. Getting rid of one is a nasty job. Holy water will hurt them, but only weapons made of silver really do the trick.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 15:35:30 GMT -5
Doing as instructed, Derek walked over and took a seat in the chair by the desk. He sat up straight, not leaning against the desk or back of the chair. His hands folded awkwardly in his lap. It felt very much like he was waiting in a doctor's office than having a meeting with a witch. His eyes roamed over the shelves, taking note of the books and jars that lined the shelves. The books were old and weren't any textbooks he had seen before. It was strange, but they did have a nice smell to them. Derek enjoyed reading, and one of his favorite spots was the little underground bookstore that sold used books. He found comfort in the silence of the place and the smell of aging pages and long dried ink was a familiar one to him. Only when Romi sat on the bed did he return his focus solely on her.
He assumed she was just going to talk and explain things. Maybe she had all the information memorized. When she snapped her fingers, Derek's brow started to furrow in confusion only to be spooked when a book suddenly went flying from the table. Eyes wide, he stared at the floating book, its pages turning on their own, in awe, almost forgetting to listen as she listed off the traits of a demon.
"I-is it possible for a human to become one?" Derek asked. "And I don't mean like being possessed, but like, actually turning into a demon physically." If so, it would raise more questions than it brought answers, but he had to know if that was the case. He needed to be sure that was something that could or couldn't happen.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 15:53:06 GMT -5
Romi paused with her fork stuck halfway in her mouth, either in surprise or deep in thought. It was anyoneโs guess. โIโve never met a human who could physically transform into the shape of a demon,โ she confessed, setting her cake aside in favor of focusing on the problem at hand. This was progressively growing more concerning by the minute and she needed to place her full attention on Derek. She knew this was going to be a long night of serious discussion, but it was hard to prepare herself to have to explain such grim topics. Derek seemed so nice and she wished they would have met under better circumstances. โBut according to the book, it is possible. Unbelievably rare, but possible. There arenโt that many recorded cases of it, so I donโt have much information to give you.โ
A wave of her hand and the book floating in mid air turned, so that Derek could see the horrifying drawing of the demons on its yellowed pages. Romi tapped the page once to turn it. โThereโs only one reason why a human would be able to turn into a demon.โ She pointed to a picture of pretty vicious bat-like creature on the page, something straight out of a nightmare. โThe human would have to be part demon, in some way, and would have to possess at least a little demon blood. Otherwise the transformation would be impossible.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 16:18:04 GMT -5
Derek's spirits lifted a bit when she said she had never met a human who could turn into demons... only to have plummet at her next statement. All the blood left his face, the questions he wanted to ask choked him, so all he could do is stare at Romi until the book was passed his way. Then he couldn't help but look down at the pages. There he saw the creatures of nightmares. His stomach churned as the details of them brought back images of a nightmare he knew as reality. No, this couldn't be happening. Yet the more he looked at the pictures, the more he couldn't keep the memory out of his mind. The harsh eyes, fangs and claws that torn into his skin before Winter stepped in. Unconsciously, he reached up to hold his upper left arm that was still bandaged from the attack.
Then she gave the reason for it. Slowly, his distraught gaze found hers again. "D-demon b-blood," he echoed. There was a couple of ways that could happen, but only on that made the most sense. One that made himself pretty sure he was about to lose the contents of his stomach. "T-then it's hereditary. Oh, God." His shaken grew worse. It was a panic attack, he was sure. The young man had had plenty in his life to know when one was starting. He couldn't breath. Leaning forward, being mindful of the book, he took his head in his hands, trying to keep it as contained as possible. It wasn't easy, but he couldn't make a scene in front of Romi. It was bad enough whenever he switched in public. He couldn't break down now. This wasn't what he had come here hoping to learn. It was his father he was questioning. The man was horrible in his own right, but it was only a few weeks ago that the idea of him being a demon crossed his mind. If this was true, did that mean he could... There were years he couldn't remember, gaps in his memories from whenever he retreated into his inner world while someone else was in control. There were things Winter knew that he wouldn't share with him, and things he didn't share with Winter. There was nothing to say that they had to know everything the other was doing/knew. Could one of the switches not been a switch at all? Had he ever turned into the thing his father had? No, he couldn't have. Surely he would have remembered, wouldn't he?
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 17:51:56 GMT -5
For the first time in months, Romi wished she was home. Her mother would know so much more about how to help. She was a strong, brave witch and she would have known what to do without having to consult a book first, because it didnโt take a genius to figure out what Derekโs uneasy words.
The man was part demon.
The moment Derek began to shake, Romi was on her feet. She closed the book softly and padded across the rug on quiet feet. Panic attacks werenโt her specialty โ she grew up with only an older brother who was rarely home and no cousins โ but she knew what they could be like. It was similar to the times where she couldnโt quite handle her own magic, her own powers, the feeling of suffocating and not being able to control her racing heartbeat. On steady legs, she knelt down in front of Derek and put her hands on his arms. A light touch that he could easily shrug off if he truly didnโt want her there. This might not help him or make him feel better at all, but there was no harm in trying, and she couldnโt just sit there and do nothing while he broke down in front of her.
โSugar, look at me. Just look at me, okay? I know this is a lot to handle right now and you have every right to feel the way you do,โ Romi murmured, her tone as soothing as she could make it. No one wanted to discover that they were part demon, and while she didnโt know Derekโs story, she knew that this was likely going to be a very bad night for him. Everything he knew was about to change and not necessarily for the better. โBut believe me when I say that itโs going to be okay. Take deep breaths. Count to ten or say the alphabet, whatever helps you the best. Iโll talk with you if you need me to. You came to me for help and thatโs what Iโm going to do. Youโre not alone.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 18:13:29 GMT -5
He was breathing in gasps as he tried to hard to keep his emotions to in check. It was as if the world around him had faded away, the only thing he registered was his own thoughts and heavy breathing. Not even the touch of Romi's hands stirred him, but her voice did cut through the panic. It was strange, having someone there who wasn't trying to harm him or was screaming insults at him as he struggled. He tried to take deep breaths, tears finding their ways down his cheeks through closed eyes despite his best efforts. You're not alone. Those words, along with all her others, bounced around in his mind, always present but never pausing for him to cling onto.
It was a good minute before the attack passed, leaving the young man feeling drained, both emotionally and physically. He couldn't handle it anymore. Derek had been host now for a good day and a half, and the strain was starting the wear on him. As the shaking slowly eased, he stayed there, head in his hands and silent. He didn't move. Every so often his face twitched, a soft whimper escaped. When he finally opened his eyes once more, he stared at nothing, dazed. It was as if he was having trouble remembering where he was or what was going on. Another minute. Then he gathered the energy to speak.
"You had to tell him, didn't you?" The voice that spoke was deeper with a hint of a rock salt, gravelly quality. While there was some similarities to his voice before, it was as if an entirely different person was speaking. In fact, that was exactly what was happening. Blue-grey eyes opened and lifted to stare into Romi's, once easily readable to the world now harsh and cold. Winter's lips pulled back into a snarl as he roughly pushed the woman's hands off of him.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 18:30:38 GMT -5
All seemed to be going well, like Derek was coming down from the storm of his panic attack when he went completely silent. His gaze was distant, unfocused, and Romi chewed her lip as she waited for him to respond. To speak, to move. Anything to show that he was okay. She was worried that his breakdown might be worse than she first thought and that she would have to call the school counselor to drive in. Or worse, that she would have to call an ambulance. Derek was whimpering, making small noises out of fear, and it broke her heart to listen to it. She wanted to help however she could, but this was entirely new territory.
โItโs okay, Derek,โ she murmured and hoped that it would somehow help. That he would calm down enough for them to talk this out and come up with a reasonable solution for the problem at hand. She would help him figure this out no matter what happened. โIโm right here and Iโm not going to leave you alone.โ
The voice that spoke was tougher than the softness of Derekโs, lacked the shy and uncertain tone she was beginning to associate with the man. His words confused her โ he said โhimโ and not โmeโ, which she found odd โ and his lips drew back in a snarl. Being pushed away wouldnโt have been so bad if one, it hadnโt been so rough and two, she hadnโt been trapped in a state of dismay. The force of it knocked her back and because she had been crouched down, she fell to the floor and caught herself with her hands. Anger briefly flared in her chest at being treated so poorly, before she crushed it under her concern. โI had to tell him. He has a right to know what he is,โ she mumbled, a tad confused. Meeting those stormy blue-gray eyes head on, she asked slowly, โAre you still Derek? And if youโre not Derek, then who are you?โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 18:53:19 GMT -5
"You know nothing about him. Don't act as if you were doing him a favor. You saw what happened when you told him the truth," Winter spat. He would have been shouting, but there were several factors that kept him from doing so. One was the headache and ave of nausea that came with a switch. It was normal and would fade with time. The second factor was that he was completely exhausted. Three people might have shared one body, but they all ran on the same energy reserves. Derek hadn't slept good the night before. Then the panic attack had taken a huge toll. Then, on top of it all, switching could also diminish one's energy level. One switch might not be too bad, but the more it happened during the day, the worse it was. So Winter's bark and bite was toned down quiet a bit. It was also keeping him in the chair instead of standing and marching right out the door. He would need a moment before he could do that.
"No, Derek had to go gather himself, take in this new discovery that's just shattered his whole world, no thanks to you," Winter growled. "Something I've been protecting him from since we were children. I tried to tell him this whole trip was a bad idea, but no. He was so determined to find a stupid witch. Not only have you just brought upset to my system, Derek's now going to have an entire identity meltdown. If I had the energy, I would make you pay for inducing his panic attack." He purposefully ignored her last few questions. His identity wasn't as nearly important as the well being of the other alters. It was his job to protect them from these kinds of things, and because of this witch, he hadn't been able to do so.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 19:22:09 GMT -5
It was like speaking to an entirely different person. Luckily Andromeda was used to rolling with the punches, regardless of how strange the situation was becoming under Not Derekโs intense gaze.
โExcuse me? For your information, I was trying to help him. He came to me wanting answers and I gave them to him,โ Romi snapped back, more defensive than angry. There was no sign that she felt anything more than mildly irritated at the manโs now abrasive tone and bitter attitude. She didnโt like being blamed for doing what she thought was the right thing, but as it stood, she also didnโt know anything about Derekโs current situation. Whoever this rude stranger was, he clearly knew Derek in some manner and they somehow shared a body. โLook, hun, Iโm sorry that Derek had a panic attack. I wasnโt trying to scare him or hurt him. I just wanted to help. When he came to me asking about demons, I assumed he was going to ask me to get rid of one. Iโm a witch, not a mind reader. I make mistakes too. So I am sorry.โ
Apologies might not mean anything to this grumpy stranger. It was all she could do at the moment, though. โI know I donโt know much about Derek or you, but I want the same thing you do. To help him and keep him safe. If he goes his whole life without knowing what he isโ that he can do all these things a human should never be able to doโ itโs going to end badly,โ Romi pointed out softly, as she pushed herself up to her feet and brushed off her hands. She was tempted to lock the door, as this guy seemed like the type who would make a break for it, but she didnโt know if that was the best course of action. โI donโt know you and you donโt know me, but believe me when I say that I know what happens to people who try to hide the truth from themselves. They wind up dead or worse, sugar.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 20:12:49 GMT -5
Winter gave a scoff at her words. Such a passionate little speech from someone who had only known Derek for, what, an hour? He was making her mad, he could tell that. It was his specialty. When Winter talked, nine times out of ten, someone was going to be angry at him. He's learned to deal with it. Better to be rough and on edge, ready for anything than to be caught unprepared and defenseless. If you start a fight, you have a better chance of controlling the outcome. The man allowed her to finish speaking, but it did nothing to change his attitude. She spoke with the words of someone who had never witnessed the true terrors they had beheld. If she had seen what he had, she would wish someone had kept that information from her as well.
"I'm going to say this once, and only once, so you best well pay attention," he told her. Mustering all the energy he had left, Winter rose to his feet and stared at the woman steadily. "Derek isn't hiding anything from himself. I am, for a very well good reason. Derek doesn't know he can do anything out of the ordinary. Up until now, he's never tried to do anything other people can't do. His life is as normal as I can make it, or was, and he was happy with that. Never was he burdened with the facts of what we are. Never had he seen the horrors, the true horrors, that lurk in the shadows of our home. Never has he experienced a transformation brought by the near breaking of his soul. So you tell me, witch," he leaned a little closer, gaze burning, "if that's something you think he needs to experience. Now, knowing him, he's probably going to stick around you, take you up on that help now that you've done ruined years of work. But I swear to whatever you hold holy, if you ever, ever, tell Sam about this, I won't hesitate to kill you."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 20:13:32 GMT -5
(( Sorry about the multiple posts. Iโm not really sure what happened? Forums kind of glitched out on me. ))
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 5, 2019 20:39:30 GMT -5
โItโs not your decision to make. You arenโt Derek. He made the decision to seek me out for answers. Itโs his choice to decide whether or not he wants to know, not yours.โ Romi held the manโs state without breaking or flinching. He was trying to rile her up, to blame her and make her angry โ it almost worked. Naturally, she was a bit short tempered and tended to speak faster than she could think. The only reason she kept her attitude in check was because he still looked like the shy boy that had sought her out only moments ago. Plus, she still didnโt quite understand what was going on here and she needed answers before she could accurately judge the situation. โI donโt know what youโve been through and I wonโt try to pretend like I do, but think about for a moment, would you? If he was happy, he wouldnโt have come to me. There was a reason he sought me out. I donโt know why, but if I knew that he would react that badly, I would have thought more carefully about how I told him.โ
What was done was done. She couldnโt change the way the night had played out. All she could do was try to make it right, to fix the problems she might have created by jumping into this bizarre investigation so quickly.
โI donโt really think you could kill me. You donโt know anything about witches,โ she stated simply, more of a fact than an argument. โMaybe you should explain to me who you are and who Sam is before you start threatening me. Despite what you think, Iโm not here to hurt you and I donโt want to be your enemy. So talk to me, tell me what I need to know. Like I said, Iโm magical, not a mind reader. I donโt know whatโs going on.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 5, 2019 21:07:45 GMT -5
"He came to you because I didn't act fast enough," Winter admitted. He would own up to it. There was no point in trying to hide that fact. He had failed and now Derek's life was going to be much more difficult because of it. Truth be told, it was bond to happen sooner or later, he had just hoped it would be after he had gotten rid of the monster first. With the threat gone, then Derek wouldn't have had to worry.
He didn't like this girl. There was no way around it. Yes, she might actually want to help Derek, but he couldn't believe it. Winter didn't believe anyone cared that much. If they did, then someone would have done something to help him sooner. Straightening up, Winter weighed the options. He could leave and have the witch contemplate what she had done and the possible consequences for it. That would leave a distraught Derek to have to explain everything later. Really, the younger boy didn't know all the details, so his explanation wouldn't hardly be much. At least when it came to their past. The whole system thing he would be able to explain just fine.
"Fine then," he muttered. "you want to know so badly. One of us were born to a monster of a man. One of us has the unfortunate luck of being that things blood descendant. Two of us are cooping mechanisms. Don't ask me which one is which. None of us know. We are a Dissociative Identity Disorder system, meaning this body has many personalities. Derek is a co-host, I am the other. I go by Winter. I'm the protector. We came to be because dear old father likes to abuse his only son, push us to the breaking point, feed on our misery. Derek's only seen the day version of the man. I've seen it all. Those pictures in that book of yours doesn't do them justice. Facing off to one of them every single night, fighting for your life, you question a lot of things. I'm also the only one who can access those otherworldly abilities. I've transformed once, and the old man keeps trying to get it to happen again. That leaves Sam. Sam is our Little, and he is the one person you don't dare do anything to. He is six and fragile. I don't care what you think you claim Derek should know, Sam cannot know a thing of this. It's bad enough he sees that monster during the day, he will not know the true reason for it all."
(Sorry if this is bad, I don't know how to make him sound natural. XD)
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 6, 2019 9:45:32 GMT -5
Rarely was the truth ever easy to handle, but Winterโs explanation left Romi with a sour taste in her mouth and a stomach churning in disgust. Bad things happened to good people, sometimes, and the thought of someone โ a parent, who should be loving and supportive โ causing so much harm was far worse than what she might have imagined. Derek, or maybe Winter, suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder. Sam was the third, apparently, whom she had yet to meet. Only one of them was real, while the other two were simply created to help cope with tremendous stress and trauma of their daily life. Winter possessed most of the negative knowledge and only he could tap into their powers as a demonโs descendant. On the other hand, Sam was the equivalent of a child. Young and fragile, unprepared for the harsh cruelties of the world.
Unfamiliar with Winterโs condition, it took Romi a moment to piece it all together in a way that made sense. She was a culinary major, not a psychologist, but that didnโt mean she couldnโt do her best to understand. After night, she planned to do some research. Maybe ask one of the many psychology majors around campus or head to the library to see what she could find.
โStay with me,โ Romi blurted out, before she could think of the consequences of her offer. Her posture wasnโt relaxed, but her face was sincere and open. She didnโt reach out to touch Winter, as she figured he would react worse than Derek had. โI promise Iโm not going to tell Sam anything. Iโm sorry I told Derek without your permission, even though I stand by what I said. Just...donโt go back home to a monster like that. You donโt have to. I know my dorm room isnโt much and you donโt really know me, but I donโt want you to have to go to a home where youโre not safe or happy.โ
Offering a stranger a place to stay might not be the best idea, but Romiโs parents had always emphasized being a good friend and good neighbor. For all they secrets they kept from the outside world, they were still kind and compassionate. She didnโt want to think of any one of them going back to an unsafe home โ not Derek, not Winter and not Sam.
(( Youโre good, it sounds fine! ))
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 6, 2019 16:07:12 GMT -5
Her response to his words threw him off. Winter had expected a lot of reactions, but the offer to sty with her first and foremost was not one of those. Perhaps if their father had been a regular old human, then maybe he could have entertained the thought. It was easy to hide from those who couldn't access powers of the unknown. "You don't think we've tried getting out?" Winter asked, his tone lowering but still just as cold as before. "We've tried. I've tried many times, always thinking I've figured out a way to hide. No, he finds us every time, and each time the punishments are worse." It was actually after the second attempt that he had experienced the first and only transformation they were capable of. It hadn't been pleasant. However, he had thought that now that he knew he could use some powers too, they might have a chance. The young man found out very quickly that, while he might have demonic powers, he was far outmatched by the beast who raised them. He was exhausted enough to be tempted into the idea, but the witch didn't deserve to be caught up in one of their father's outrages.
"Besides, I'm handling him. Somehow, I do plan on making that monster pay for everything, and I want to be there if an opportunity ever raises itself. So, we have to get back," he continued. It was a slow process of trying to create a plan that would give him an advantage over the old man, but there were patterns he followed. If he just waited, there would be an opening, and he would be there to end their torment, he knew it. That was the only reason why he allowed their system to remain in that household willingly. Of course, there was the being hunted down thing if they didn't, but still. He needed some kind of justification for himself as to why he let them stay in harms way. It wouldn't be for much longer, he hoped.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 6, 2019 17:22:55 GMT -5
โI donโt think youโve ever had help from a witch,โ Romi replied quietly, though she understood Winterโs reluctance to accept the offer. He must never have met many people willing to add him into their lives, all so that he could avoid his horrible father. His worries were justifiedโdemons were known to be viciously territorial and unforgivingโand she knew that he didnโt want to risk another punishment for running away if he was caught. There was no way she could sleep at night, though, knowing that Winter or one of the others were out there, scared and in danger. She couldnโt sit back and do nothing, couldnโt allow herself to watch the man walk out that door and possibly never come back.
โI wish you would stay. I can help you. There are spells I could look up that would keep him away,โ she murmured, though she knew that it was a lost cause. Winter didnโt know or trust her well enough to agree, didnโt know the capabilities of her magic or that she might be able to offer him more safety than those who tried before. Quietly, she reached for the chain around her neck, and paused. It was a family heirloom and it meant a lot to her, passed down through the generations, from one witch to the next. If her parents found out what she was thinking of, they would be furious.
Romi hoped they would forgive her. โHere,โ she said as she slipped the necklace over her head and moved to gently lower it over Winterโs, her movements a bit slower in the hopes that she wouldnโt startle him. The butterfly pendant glittered brightly in the low light, reflecting in shades of green and blue. โIf you wonโt stay, then at least take this with you. Itโll keep you safe, as long as you donโt take it off. Itโs been in my family for a very long time, but I think you need it more.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 6, 2019 17:51:38 GMT -5
"I'm sure there are, but, no offense to you, I've had my share of the supernatural world. I want no more part in it than what I've already got," Winter stated. Young as she was, he had no doubt she knew what she was doing. That didn't mean he was willing to bring it into his, or Derek or Sam's, life. He didn't care if it was in the world, so long as it stayed away from him and his system, that was all that mattered.
When she pulled something over her head and reached it out towards him, Winter instinctively took a couple of steps back. How many items had been placed upon him that caused unimaginable pain? Pendants and bracers of pure silver that burned and left scars, weights that near drowned him in holy water. For what? The amusement of another demon? To goad him into becoming the very thing the monster had spawned? His eyes stared at the little butterfly shaped necklace dangling from her hands, wary and suspicious. "He'll notice it," he muttered. "He notices lots of little things. He'll have it torn off before I even get two steps in the house. Best if you held onto it." It was true, but he also didn't know what exactly it did. He wasn't about to put it on and hope for the best.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 6, 2019 18:13:22 GMT -5
This was unimaginably difficult. No matter what form of help or assistance she offered, Winter held up his defensive walls and rejected each one. He wouldnโt stay or accept her protective spells, wouldnโt even take something as small as a pendant that might keep him a little more safe. With someone else, she might have been irritated at the stubbornness. When it was Winter, who had been through so much horror that he just didnโt want to accept help from an outsider, she only felt sad that she couldnโt figure out a better way to help. There were no options left, nothing she could give him or do for him that would keep him out of harmโs way.
Wrapping the chain of the necklace around her hand and frowning down at it, Romi lifted her head to glance at him. She looked thoughtful and serious, a bit of guilt swimming in her eyes over making him skitter away in fear. โI really want to help you,โ she whispered weakly, at a loss for what to say or do now. โBut I canโt do that if you donโt let me. So tell me how I can help you, how I can make this better. You donโt trust me and I get that. Doesnโt mean Iโm okay with you living with a demon.โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 6, 2019 18:25:51 GMT -5
There wasn't anything she could do. Any damage that could be done has been been given. Winter didn't believe it could get worse from here, not unless something were to happen, and he couldn't shield Sam or Derek from the pain. So long as he was able they would be fine. He could take it. "If you want to help, then don't bring Derek into this anymore than he already is," he told her. "He's going to come talk to you, I'm sure. I can't stop that. Just... just don't tell him anymore than he needs to hear. Satisfy his curiosity and leave it be. Don't worry him with this. I've spent this long with the monster, I can do it manage until I can get the upper hand. You forget already that I'm a demon too."
Before she could try and talk him into accepting something else, Winter shoved passed her and started to head for the door. It would be late by the time he caught the bus home, even later before he would be able to sink into bed and sleep. If he could make it that long. The toll of the day left him feeling beaten down on its own, and all their body had done was stay awake for a day and a half, have a panic attack, and one switch. That was a very slow day for them, yet he felt like he could easily make a bed on the sidewalk and just sleep for three days straight. He wouldn't, but it was a tempting thought.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 6, 2019 18:34:19 GMT -5
(( I love Winter already, the poor guy. Should we skip? ))
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 6, 2019 18:47:21 GMT -5
(( I donโt blame him though. And sure, sounds good to me! ))
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 6, 2019 19:02:23 GMT -5
(( I went ahead and typed up a starter, so I can lol ))
Romiโs assumptions that she would have a difficult time sleeping that night were true. She tossed and turned the whole night long, unable to stop her instinctive worrying. Derek and Winter were strangers to her, but she always made friends fast, and she couldnโt be okay knowing that at any moment they might get hurt. When she finally was able to fall asleep, nightmares plagued herโof laughing demons and blood, of a dark storm growing near.
She woke in a puddle of sweat to her alarm. Growing up, she was always told that dreams held important meanings. Hers seemed to be screaming, danger, danger, danger. It was hard not to wonder what that danger could be.
Classes were dull. Her head pounded from lack of sleep. The invite to a party she received didnโt quite hold her interest like it would have normally. On her way from her last class, she decided to swing by the library to pick up a couple books and do a little extra research on DID. To her surprise, she spotted the familiar head of brown hair before she ever reached the front doors. He was very much alive and, immediately, relief flooded her veins. Winter wouldnโt be happy to see her, she knew, but Derek might be. Cautiously, she called, โDerek?โ
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 6, 2019 19:28:40 GMT -5
(Lol, okay. ^^ )
While being a little late to arrive home, it luckily didn't seem to matter. Whatever the reason, his father was out of the house and stayed gone until the early hours of the morning. Possibly out to drink, for he was a lover of the alcoholic beverages. No matter the reason, Winter was able to crash into his bed and sleep soundly for a couple of hours. He never slept for long, jumping at the slightest of sounds. Still, it was a better rest than Derek had gotten the night before.
By the time they had to leave for class, Derek was back in control, albeit not in a cheery mood. Still shaken from yesterday's events, he drug through his morning routine of showering and dressing before leaving the house. The rest of the morning moved by in a similar sluggish fashion. He couldn't say what any of his lectures were about as his mind wandered and eyes longed to close for some much needed extra rest. Today was one of those days where he just didn't have it in him to be up and about. However, he had to get out of the house. The more he was away, the less he had to spend with his father. When the last of his classes were finally finished, the boy retreated to one of the many hideaways he frequented. Not having the confidence that he could make it to the underground bookstore, he settled for the library. It was just as quiet and had plenty of rooms he could seclude himself in so he could read or nap if he needed. He was just about to the front door when someone called his name.
Freezing, the boy glanced up in surprise to find Romi standing not far away. "Romi?" he asked, though he clearly saw that it was her. Why had he sounded like he questioned it? Maybe because he hadn't expected to run into the woman so soon. "Um, h-hi." That was the best he could do. How did one greet a witch who had been the bearer of bad news? In her defense, though, she hadn't known that was what would happen, and he didn't hold it against her. In fact, he had been meaning to talk to her again, he just hadn't decided when would be a good time. He was still in the process of letting this news sink in first.
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