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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 14, 2019 20:11:38 GMT -5
(( lmao Aries is like 200 and Romi is literally 19. Their parents are suuuper old so everyone treats her like a baby ))
โThis isnโt about trust,โ Aries drawled in his deep southern accent, a scoff shadowing his handsome, ageless features. He didnโt take one step closer to Winter, though he kept his hand extended where it was. The way he spoke hinted that he might be completely used to the vicious, wary suspicion of others. Or perhaps he was just good at rolling with the punches and handling social situations, in a way that Romi was too kind-hearted and impulsive to put into better action. โThis is about business and Iโm nothing if not professional. I do my part and you do yours. Simple as that. A favor for a favor. Itโs how the magical world works. At least for witches and warlocks. You should never make a deal with the fae.โ
Romi disliked the thought of Winter making a deal with her brother, more out of an indignant frustration that he seemed to be having better luck than she did. How was it that he could actually speak to Winter without making the man snappish and on guard? He wasnโt even being nice, wasnโt offering to help for free. She was as jealous of his ability to compromise with Winter as she was of his knowledge of magic. Huffing, she tried to protest, โI donโt need a babysitterโโ
Aries cut her off with a wave of his free hand. โHush, Andy. Youโre not even close to being a hundred yet, you donโt know anything about real magic, and youโre lucky Iโm not ratting you out to mother.โ
โIโm not a baby,โ she muttered, perhaps ironically proving her own statement wrong. The combination of her crossed arms and pout was nothing short of childish.
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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 14, 2019 20:35:49 GMT -5
(That gives them some good character dynamics. XD And explains why she's the rebel child. )
The main reason he wasn't being snappish was purely from the fact that he was in no mood to be beaten by anyone else at the moment. Defiant in nature, Winter wasn't a total idiot. He knew nothing about this man expect that he was a warlock and knew how to banish demons. That alone made it clear that he could inflict the same torment upon him as his father, if not more. He was still suspicious and wary, yes, but he did know when to hold his tongue.
His gaze flickered between the man's face and his hand. If he really could get him the stuff to banish their father, would it be worth it? Derek and Sam would be free, but what would that leave them? Would they even be able to stand living at home after all of this? They couldn't drive, had no job, and should be deemed unfit to be alone. They were lucky that their system wasn't filled with alters who chose to live independently from the rest of the system, who didn't like sharing thoughts of communication with the others. They were in good shape and might be able to live on their own if they tried. It wouldn't be too hard, right? And all he had to do was protect one more person.
"I can't promise that she'll be safe," Winter muttered, hating himself for being drawn into this agreement as he was. Everything about it didn't settle right with him, but if it benefited his system, then he could tolerate the bitterness of it all. "I look after my own first and foremost. If she's stupid enough to go off and do her own things like she seems to be fond of, I'm not going to put myself or the others at risk."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 14, 2019 21:57:48 GMT -5
(( oh yeah sheโs definitely a little rebel ))
Aries didnโt look bothered by Winterโs statement. If anything, the emotion that flooded over his face was more like amusement. โOh, I wouldnโt expect you to go and give your life for her. Sheโs foolish, though probably not that foolish most of the time,โ he chuckled. With practiced ease, he blocked the elbow that Romi tried to jab him with and held up his hand to avoid being shoved. Typical sibling behavior, though he didnโt seem to be paying his sister much attention at the moment. Either because she was acting bratty or because he didnโt care was anyoneโs guess. Probably both, to be honest. โI just want you to keep an eye on her. Tell her sheโs being dumb when sheโs being dumb. Question her bad decisions. More like an advisory role than a guard, I suppose. Youโre not allowed to hurt her, though. As long as you follow these simple terms, Iโll provide you everything you need to make your revenge a reality.โ
He flexed the fingers of his still outstretched hand and smiled. โWhat do you say? Your fatherโs death for watching over my sister,โ he repeated. โAll you have to do is shake my hand and you can finally defend yourself like I know you want to.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 15, 2019 11:36:14 GMT -5
Winter stared at him for a long moment. Partly weighing the choice before him, and partly because Derek was starting to come forth. He had heard Romi's voice, and, feeling guilty and wanting to apologize, he was trying to take over. Between trying to keep the goings on of this meeting from Derek and trying to block out the second set of thoughts, it took Winter a moment to think things over. It was a lot harder to do while disassociating.
Blinking quickly, he regained his focus long enough to respond. "If all I have to do is tell her when she's being stupid, than I guess I can do that," He told him. Slowly, and very clearly not trusting the man at all, he reached out to finally complete the handshake. It was like watching someone reaching out towards a rattlesnake, but he did give a brief handshake to the man to seal the deal.
(Sorry it's short! I can edit it if you want.)
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 15, 2019 19:02:23 GMT -5
(( Youโre fine! ))
โThen itโs a deal,โ Aries declares with a white, toothy grin as he shook the younger manโs hand and promptly let go. He straightened the front of his button down shirt and reached for the door handle. Clearly, the deal was all he had been hoping to accomplish, as he prepared to leave and opened the door. โI expect you to meet me at eleven oโclock tomorrow on the little running path near the edge of campus, no later than that. If youโre not on time, then youโll have missed your chance. Iโll bring you what you need and discuss the details there. Goodbye until then, Mr. Demon Spawn.โ
โHey, stop calling him Demon Spawn. You donโt see him calling you Warlock Spawn,โ Romi called after her brother, but he was already gone. Even if he had heard, she doubted he would care enough to apologize or listen to her reprimand. With a small sigh, she turned back to Winter, a little more calm but still just as worried. Though she doubted he would agree, and didnโt know that he might be close to switching, she asked, โDo you want to come back to my dorm with me? I can take care of your wounds.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 15, 2019 21:44:35 GMT -5
Winter pulled is hand away from the shake as soon as he was allowed to. The deal was made, and he was half-expecting the man to go ahead and list off everything that was going to be required. Yet, instead, he had set up a meeting time tomorrow. "Wait a minute, I -" but he was already gone. The warlock had left before he could bring up the one stipulation of the whole agreement he had forgotten to mention: to leave Derek out of it. His dissociating made him forget about it until now. He had no control over who was out and about and when. Sure, there was a good chance he might be out around that time, but there was no guarantee. And he definitely didn't trust Romi or her brother enough to have them force him to switch. Now he was going to have to try and co-host as best as he could tomorrow and hope he could take over quickly.
Turning to Romi, he sighed and narrowed his eyes. "Give me a moment. Derek's trying to switch," he informed her. "But you tell him anything about this, we're going to have problems, big time." With as much care as he could, the boy lowered himself back onto the bean bag chair, leaning back and reaching up to rub his temples. Switching always caused headaches, just another of the many side-effects of the disorder. The more comfortable he was, the better chance of the process going more smoothly. A minute and one sharp intake of breath later, his arms were lowered. When his eyes blinked opened, there was a pause as he took in his surroundings before he slowly pushed himself up. The voice which spoke was the neutral, shaky tone of Derek.
"R-Romi?" he asked. Looking up, he found her not far away. Part of him had been afraid she had left. There was no telling what Winter had said to her out of anger. But the fact that she was still here made him feel a lot better. Quickly, before the young woman had time to speak, he started to apologize. "Romi, I'm sorry. I d-didn't do anything the other night, and I-I should have. Y-you got h-hurt because of me."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 16, 2019 13:43:33 GMT -5
Romi would have to get used to the jarring feeling of switching between people who looked exactly the same. It was an odd feeling to now be faced with someone guilty and apologetic, when moments before, Winter had been so cold and unwelcoming. There are a lot of things Iโm going to have to get used to, she thought as she shook the feeling away. Now wasnโt the time to be distracted. She tucked her bandaged hand into her pocket and offered a tiny smile. โIโm okay, sugar. Barely even a scratch,โ she responded calmly, considering that her wounds were minimal at best. Compared to Derek, she had gotten away nearly unscathed and was quite lucky. She wished he was okay, but looking at him, she knew he had to be in pain. โYou were scared. And I can see why. Your father is a very bad, terrifying man.โ
Not much of a man, to be honest. More of a vicious monster that needed to be thrown into prison for the rest of his life.
โWhy donโt you come back to my dorm with me, Der? I want to look at your wounds,โ she suggested once again, tone soft and hopefully comforting. โI have some ointment that will make your burns feel better. Iโll make you something to eat, too.โ The burns around his neck looked red and agitated, the bruise across his cheek dark against his skin. It hurt to look at โ she couldnโt imagine how much it must hurt to be in his shoes. Maybe Winter was right โ it was her fault, she was foolish and she didnโt plan things out very well โ but at that moment, she promised herself that she was going to do better. This wouldnโt happen again. If she had to let Winter do it himself, she would, but she couldnโt stand seeing him hurt.
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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 16, 2019 18:44:58 GMT -5
To be completely honest, Derek, as well as Winter and Sam all, still hadn't come to complete terms with their switching. While Derek felt the most at home in the body whenever he was in control, Winter and Sam had issues looking into a mirror. In their inner world, each alter had their own appearance to go along with their personalities, so it was shocking for them to see the face of someone else staring back at them whenever they saw their reflection in the outer world. Sam complained the most, but that was to be expected since he was a child trapped in an adult's body. Winter was less vocal, but it didn't mean he was 100% okay with wearing someone else's face. Sure, it couldn't be helped and it was a small price to pay for being able to live what little life he and the others had, but it still brought a bit of discomfort with it.
"B-but you could have been hurt," Derek said. He doubted his father would have cared about the public witnessing him harm the girl. Had she done anything to try and help him, there was a very high chance she would have been serious injured. In fact, he didn't put it passed it father to just kill her if he thought it amusing enough. "I-I should've told you more about him. I shouldn't have even agreed t-to go, k-knowing it would happen."
At the invitation to go back to her dorm, he hesitated. It sounded like a nice idea. Food and care for his wounds, something he rarely got. The care for his wounds, that is. Food he got on a normal basis, even if it was deprived to him for certain amounts of time here and there. The boy wasn't starving, but he also would never turn away a meal if it presented itself to him. And while he knew that Romi would mean him no harm, he couldn't help but be wary. The last time he agreed to go somewhere with her, it ended poorly. But this would be different, right? He wouldn't be staying there long, just until she had looked at his wounds and he had eaten. "W-will we have to walk all the way there?" he asked. " Because I-I don't think I could make it that far."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 17, 2019 15:52:57 GMT -5
โHey, donโt blame yourself just because I made a bad decision, okay? I shouldnโt have pressured you into coming with me to the fair. I wanted to you have fun, but I didnโt think about what your dad might do if you stayed out. Thatโs my fault, Derek, not yours. Iโm sorry you got hurt, sugar, and I promise Iโll be more considerate from now on,โ Romi apologized all at once. She didnโt want Derek to blame himself for her injured hand โ she made a poor decision and got both of them hurt, Derek more so than herself. Winter had every to scold her for it earlier and, whether he believed her or not, she learned her lesson. Their father couldnโt be ignored or reasoned with, not if she wanted her new friend to be safe and mostly unharmed. Not until he was properly dealt with, even if she disagreed with her brotherโs methods.
In his condition, Derek would never be able to walk all the way to her dorm on the other side of campus. She shook her head and held open the door for him. โNo way, I wouldnโt make you walk. I drove my car here, so Iโll give you a ride.โ As they walked, she tried to keep a careful eye on him, and it hurt to see him like this. Limping so badly, in pain, exhausted both physically and mentally. All it did was further prove how badly she wanted to give him a good life. A safe home and plenty of food and a soft, warm bed. Maybe it was her being wistful and foolish, but she wanted to help him achieve that happy life.
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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 17, 2019 19:09:27 GMT -5
He wanted to argue with her, to claim that had it been Winter instead of him, then she might not have gotten her hand injured. Winter wouldn't had let himself make such a choice to begin with either, but that was besides the point. The protector would have tried to fight free, to take control of the situation, even if there was no way to actually do that. He still would have tried. Derek only lowered his gaze, still feeling like he could have done something to make things turn out differently.
"T-then I-I guess it won't hurt to g-go for a little bit," Derek responded. He really did want to hang out with her. Little experience as he had with social interactions, there was still that tugging yearning to talk with someone that wasn't in his own mind. That sense of companionship he saw so many other people have. There were countless students he had watched over the years, hanging out, laughing, looking as if there was hardly a care in the world. He seen how they would offer support, over hear tid-bits of conversations as he walked by. It all seemed so nice. So maybe he was wishing for something he couldn't have, but Romi was kind and caring, from what he's seen of her so far, at least. Desperate could have been a term to describe him, sure, but even if it didn't work out, he wanted to know if it was possible.
Standing, careful of every movement, Derek began to make right his little spot of the library. He folded the blanket and put it on the bean bag chair. Then he grabbed the stuffed penguin and placed it gingerly into his backpack. This toy meant the world to Sam, and he'd never be forgiven if he left it or let anything happen to it. There was a water bottle on the floor beside his chair, and he picked it up too. Mrs. Smithers had brought it for Sam when he got here. It wasn't a lot to do, but his movements were slow. When he was done, the boy shouldered his bag and looked to Romi.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 19, 2019 12:54:32 GMT -5
Romi tried not to hover over Derek like a magical, overly worried pigeon. Her instincts told her to give him a physical shoulder to lean on, but her mind told her that might not be the wisest decision. She wanted to give him space, since he wasnโt used to having others so close or having a friend to watch out for him, but it was difficult to ignore her growing desire to get rid of his pain and make him feel better. It was such a conflict mindset that it caused her to be rather quiet as they walked out of the building, with her stopping every now and then to wait for him to catch up. There were no signs of Aries or Gil anywhere, as though they had vanished into thin air. She doubted the portaled away and most likely, had simply walked out the front door like normal people. Still, she couldnโt understand how graceful and mysterious her brother had always been.
Another trait that came with being older and more powerful, she assumed.
Her car was a little red Volkswagen, small but efficient, and she held the door open for Derek to climb in. It wasnโt until she buckled up and started up the car that she noticed how painfully cold it was. Even for autumn, it was freezing, and she rubbed her arms with her hands before cranking the heat on high. By the time she pulled up in front of her dorm building, the car was toasty and warm, which meant she was reluctant to leave it. Unfortunately she didnโt have a first aid kit in her car, so she had no choice, and stepped back outside. However, it wasnโt nearly as cold here as it had been by the library. Odd, really. Romi shook it off as she lead Derek to the elevator.
โLetโs not walk up all those stairs today. Iโll make you some homemade chicken noodle soup,โ she offered with a small smile. Halfway to her room, the elevator ground to a halt that shook the metal floor beneath her feet. She expected the door to open, but it stayed firmly shut and she glanced slowly over at Derek. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was a startled shriek as the elevator rocketed upwards, slammed to a stop, then fell back down again. The force of the movement had her skidding straight into Derek side first. โOw, what the heckโโ
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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 19, 2019 14:19:03 GMT -5
(Haha, my sister used to have a little red Volkswagen Beetle as her first car. XD Her's might not be a Beetle, but I wanted to share. XD)
Derek followed as best as he could. His gait was slow and stiff, each step sending flashes of pain up to his left hip. It was hardly pleasant, and had he not already agreed to go with her, he wouldn't have moved at all until it was time to head home. Yet his face showed just the barest of hint of discomfort. He's spent a long time practicing how to hide the signs of injuries if they weren't too bad. It was his normal, after all. That didn't mean he could match her pace, but he could keep himself from wincing the entire journey to the car. What he could't stop himself from doing was shivering as soon as they stepped out into the autumn air. He was wearing his jacket, but it was doing nothing to help fight the chill. By the time he was safely inside Romi's car, his teeth were chattering despite his efforts to stop it.
The warm air that filled the car was heaven to the boy. As the chill receded, Derek felt himself starting to relax. Though he tried to stay awake, it was difficult. That, plus the steady background noise of the car engine, had him closing his eyes. He opened them again at the sound of Romi's door opening and the rush of cool air, finding that somewhere in the short trip, his head had fallen to rest against the window. As quickly as he could, he grabbed his items and followed her towards the building. It wasn't too bad here, weather wise. He was still cold, but the boy wasn't reduced to a shivering mess as they entered the building.
"T-that sounds..." Derek began to reply to the thought of soup, something he normally just warmed from a can. However, he didn't get a chance to finish when the elevator stopped. The doors didn't open like he was expecting them to, which caused panic to surge through him. He tolerated small spaces since he had to be in them around the campus, but he really didn't like being trapped in them. Winter hated it more so than him. The older boy's presence could be felt creeping towards the front of his consciousness at this turn of events. Suddenly, they were rising far to quickly, causing him to lose his balance and stumble against one of the elevator walls. Then he all but said goodbye to his stomach when they plummeted. The impact of Romi's slamming into him took him, and her since he had clutched her arm out of reflex, to the floor. "R-Romi?" Derek asked, clearly scared and shaken by the higher pitch his voice took on. "W-What's happening?"
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 19, 2019 15:33:44 GMT -5
(( Thatโs a really funny coincidence! I was trying to figure out what kind of car Romi would have and I just sat there and thought that there was no way she wouldnโt have a little red Volkswagen Beetle. It fits her too much lol
Also, the message in the wall is meant for Derek, but itโs not meant to be taken literally. Iโm assuming heโll think it means for him to back home with his dad, but itโs supposed to be more of a warning. Hope this okay, let me know if I need to change it! ))
โNo idea,โ Romi grunted out as she tried to push herself up, tangled in the mess that was Derekโs limbs. An elbow was pushed into her hip and something was tugging uncomfortably on a loose strand of her hair. She was half sprawled across the man, unable to find her balance was the elevator began to tremble. The metal frame rattled so violently that it chattered her teeth and made her head hurt. Above them, the fluorescent light flickered and sizzled โ the glass surrounding the bulb shattered into a thousand tiny shards that hovered momentarily. Suspended in the air, twisting and turning, before slamming themselves downward with the force of a flurry of arrows.
She didnโt get the chance to question what was going on.
On instinct, Romi threw herself over Derek, despite being smaller than him. She covered his body with her own, hands on his shoulders, knees on his legs โ her face was pressed to his shoulder. Pain erupted across her back and she gritted her teeth, unable to avoid the flurry of dagger-like glass shards. They cut across her shoulders, the back of her neck, and buried themselves in her skin. If not for the thick coat she wore, it would have hurt worse. Still, she had a hard time ignoring the sting of fresh cuts.
Silence fell over the elevator, until a quiet ding signaled that they reached their destination. The metal doors slid open as though nothing had happened.
Romi made a small noise of pain, probably close to a whine, as she lifted her head up to survey the damage. The elevator looked like it had been through an earthquake. Glass littered the floor, wires dangled from the ceiling, spewing sparks. What caught her eye, though, was the far wall. Scratched crudely into the metal surface were the messy words: go back home.
โHey, are you okay?โ Romi forced herself to breathe, to not panic. She had never had anything like this happen before. โAre you hurt?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 19, 2019 18:24:56 GMT -5
(Is is a convertible? XD That's what my sister had.
Got it! He'll most definitely take it to mean he needs to go back to his father. He'll probably think that's who caused everything and wrote the message. It looks fine to me!)
Derek didn't have a chance to really focus on the closeness they found themselves. Actually, if anything, he welcomed it. If he had been experiencing this on his own, he might have fully panicked. The trembling of the elevator made him certain they were about to fall to their deaths. There's no way that the cables holding it would be able to support this much force and chaos. Then the light bulb exploded. The boy did his best to curl up into a ball to avoid the glass, but he didn't have to. For Romi had thrown herself over him. A few shards landed in his hair and hands, but that was all. From the sound of it, Romi had taken the worst of it.
"I-I'm okay," he relied, uncurling and looking up at her with worry. He was going to ask if she was okay, but his eyes focused on the message above them instead. Go back home. His blood chilled in his veins. Did his father know he was here? Was he angry that he was spending time with a witch? He seemed less than pleased when he found them at the carnival. Was this his doing? Surely it was. Who else would be telling him to return home in such a violent manner? "I-I think I n-need to g-go," he stuttered, eyes never leaving the message scrawled into the metal.
(Sorry if this is horrible. I don't feel good, but I wanted to reply. If you need me to edit it, I'll do so tomorrow.)
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 19, 2019 20:11:29 GMT -5
(( Itโs perfectly fine! I hope you feel better, get some rest!
For this plot point, I was thinking that there could be an ancient, old force that pretty much drives Derek and Romi together. I thought it would be neat if the two of them were โdestinedโ to meet and had fates that are more closely tied together than either of them realized. Iโm imagining a lot of magic, dangerous monsters and adventuring. Let me know what you think or if you want to change/add anything! ))
One of Romiโs hands tightened just a smidge on Derekโs shoulders, as she used the other to brush away the loose flecks of glass from her shoulders. A tornado could have swept through the elevator and it wouldnโt have looked half as bad as it did now. This was the work of powerful, dark magic that left her chilled to the bone. She could see her own breath ghosting the air in front of her, her fingers turned to ice. โWait,โ she said softly, not making a move to get up yet, as she scanned the area. No signs of anyone else. No footprints or claw marks, no blood or anything. Just glass and metal, dust from the caved in ceiling. Quietly, she pleaded, โDonโt go home.โ
Go back home.
It was so specific that she didnโt know what to make of it. Was it Derekโs father warning him to get back home? That didnโt make sense, though. Why wouldnโt he just show up in person to take Derek back like he had before? This presence didnโt feel the same โ it felt electric and dangerous, like the live wires that sparked over their heads.
โThereโs something else,โ Romi mumbled and at last pulled herself away from Derek, crawling across the floor on her hands and knees. The glass bit into the palms of her hands and she winced, but ignored it as she brushed away the mess. There, scratched into the floor, was a symbol. A spiral, with a very familiar butterfly in its center. The same butterfly pendant that hung around her own neck. Her hand flew up to the necklace, holding it so tight that it turned her knuckles white. โCome back to my room with me, Derek. I have a really bad feeling about you going home.โ
Sometimes, witches could sense bad things. Aries was better at it, as he had more practice. Some could even see into the future, if they tried hard enough. Romi was not so gifted, but she liked to think that she had good instincts, and this time she was afraid to ignore the way they screamed at her to keep Derek close. Signs like these were not meant to be ignored.
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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 20, 2019 15:46:15 GMT -5
(Thanks, I think it's just a run of the mill virus, and I'm hoping it's final working it's way out of my system. Though, I will say it's taking a toll on my writing abilities. So I apologize in advance for any and all poor replies I make.
Oh, no, that sounds cool! I like that idea a lot. I can already see all the possibilities forming. XD)
There was no sign from Derek that was was going to get up. For one reason, Romi was still pinning him to floor. Another reason was because he was still letting the pain and nausea settle before he tried to get up. He didn't know when the air turn frigid, but he was all to aware of the shivers that racked his body. Everything was a mess, and he wanted nothing more than to leave the elevator as quickly as possible. Whatever had caused all of this definitely wanted to get their attention, and it did a good job of it. Now he wanted to leave it as far behind him as he could get it.
Romi finally got off of him, and the boy pushed himself up into a sitting position. He couldn't see what she was studying on the floor, but from how she was staring at it, it must have meant something. At her last statement, he shook his head. "N-no, I c-can't. I have t-to go back. W-what if he comes after you? I-I don't want you t-to get h-hurt." As he was saying this, he forced his limbs into action. He rose to his feet, making sure his back pack was not forgotten, and stumbled towards the open doors of the elevator. Once he was a good foot or two away from the machine, he looked back to see if Romi had followed him. He didn't trust the elevator, and he wanted to be sure the young witch made it out safely.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 20, 2019 16:12:04 GMT -5
(( Your replies are just fine, no worries!
Great, Iโm excited! ))
Destroying an elevator and leaving cryptic messages on the wall didnโt sound like the work of Derekโs father. It would bring him nothing, have him no incentive โ the presence she felt was one that screamed of cold, ancient things. A demon, perhaps, but not one like the man she met at the carnival. Being around Derekโs father made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up, made her feel alone and hopeless. The air right here in the elevator was one that made her cautious and on edge, certainly, but it also sparked her instincts into overdrive. At the very least, she could tell the difference between the two, however slight it might have been. Derek, on the other hand, might not be able to distinguish the two apart from one another.
โI donโt think this is the work of your dad, Der,โ Romi said as she stood up, brushing glass and dust from her pants, and exited the elevator to stand beside him. Blood stained the back of her coat, but she was so cold that she hardly felt the pain. She was very slow when she reached forward to pick little pieces of glass off of Derekโs shoulders. โHeโs not going to hurt me, sugar. Letโs just go to my room and talk for a couple minutes, okay? Before other people show up and start asking what happened out here. I need to treat your wounds.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 20, 2019 17:13:15 GMT -5
(Well, if they're ever not fine, do let me know. I hate the thought of making a horrid post. XD
Me too! And if there's anything you want me to do/characters you need me to plan/events I need to trigger, let me know!)
Derek's current injuries were the least of his concerns right now. No, he was more focused on not bringing the wrath of his father back onto Romi. He couldn't tell the difference in his father's presence and the one they had just experienced. Both brought on a sense of fear in him, and that was all he needed to confirm that this message was not one to take lightly. If it wasn't his father, then it was someone his father got to send the message for him.
The boy's eyes flickered back and forth between Romi and the elevator, his breathing coming in shorter breaths. A panic attack was near, he was sure of it. "H-how do you k-know?" he asked. "H-he found us the other n-night. H-he m-must know I-I'm here. I-I got to g-get home, Romi. I can't h-have him mad at us a-again."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 20, 2019 18:08:28 GMT -5
(( Will do! ))
The panic building in Derekโs eyes was concerning and Romi took a slow breath through her nose that she released quietly to calm herself down. This was what her brother meant by her being foolish, she let her emotions get out of hand and didnโt often think her decisions out rationally. It was perhaps time to change that, if she could. When she felt steady enough, she placed a hand on Derekโs shoulder, a feather light touch that she was careful not to make any stronger. She didnโt want to startle him any further. โHey, Derek, take a couple deep breaths. Just breathe, sugar. Slowly.โ
She gave him a couple moments to do so, to focus on his own breathing and hopefully steady himself, before she continued.
โWhatever that thing was, what just happened โ it wasnโt your dad. I know it sounds weird, but I can feel it,โ Romi explained and placed her own hand over her heart, looking into Derekโs eyes with a serious expression. โWhen you spend enough time in the world of magic, youโll be able to tell the difference. Right now, I just need you to trust me. Trust me, Derek.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 20, 2019 19:30:37 GMT -5
Derek's attention snapped to her as her hand fell onto his shoulder. A soft touch that could just barely be called a touch, however, it was one that helped him focus on her for a moment. He did his best to take a couple of deep breaths, but they were still quick and shaky. Yet, as he continued, the calming exercise seemed to have some effect on him. He wasn't completely okay, but he was at least able to breath normally.
It was a big thing she was asking of him. Trust was a huge thing to give for anyone, but it was more so for him. Sure, he had been the one to approach her with the subject, but that was before he discovered his fears were worse than he had anticipated. He had expected her to give him some answers and then send him on his way. The boy never thought she would be so insistent on helping him the way she was now. She had shown no signs of wanting to harm or mislead him so far, but it was a struggle for him to decided if his trust should be placed in her. Winter wouldn't want him to. He didn't like her for some reason. The ingrained fear warred with the strained hope that she might be right. Can it be possible that it wasn't his father? She was the expert with magic after all. It was a good minute before Derek slowly nodded. "O-Okay," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 20, 2019 19:49:28 GMT -5
Romi smiled and gave his shoulder a very light squeeze, glad to see that he was just a bit more calm than a few moments ago. Trust was a lot to ask from someone who had spent their whole life in fear and unhappiness, but she resolved to herself that she would never make Derek regret his decision. Not if she could help it. โAlright, come on,โ she urged him gently as she kept her hand there and lead him down the hall to her room. Thankfully it was the same as it always was when she pushed the door open, no chaotic surprises waiting to give them a fright. She locked the door behind the for safe measure, though. No such thing as being too careful these days. โSit down, sugar, Iโll find my first aid kit.โ
By first aid kit, she meant her bandages and her potions. None of it was traditional human medicine. The box she pulled out of her closet was medium-sized and wooden, filled with tiny glass vials when she popped it open. Liquids in all shades of color, powders and ointments. She chose one of the smaller bottles, closed the box and moved to lean down over Derek.
โCan I look at your neck?โ Romi asked, patiently waiting for permission first before she continued. It would be both rude and unwise to approach this like she would with anyone else.
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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 21, 2019 9:41:40 GMT -5
Derek allowed Romi to lead him the rest of the way to her dorm room, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that whatever caused the wreckage in the elevator might be following them. It took his entire will to not continuously look behind them as they walked. A part of him feared that if he did, he would find his father striding down the hall after them. The feeling only faded slightly as they entered her dorm. Everything was how he remembered it from the last time he was here. He took a little comfort in that. Doing as she told him to, the boy went and sat down in the same chair he had on his first visit, dropping his backpack to the floor beside his feet. There, he waited and watched her as she went to find her kit. It was then that he noticed the cuts and bits of glass on her coat.
As Romi returned to him, he gave her a look that was mixed with wariness and concern. "W-what about you? Y-your back looks like it needs t-tending to. I-I'll be fine if you want to look after yourself first," he told her. Unlike Winter, he wasn't as suspicious about what comes into contact with his skin. He didn't share those memories. He didn't even know what was wrong with his neck. Derek knew it was a burn, but he wasn't sure what had caused it. He told her to care for herself first not because he was nervous about the potion she held, but because he knew he could handle his injuries for a moment longer if she wanted to look at her own wounds to begin with.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 21, 2019 10:21:59 GMT -5
Romi didnโt pay much attention to her scratched and injured back, to be fair, though it did sting a little when she moved. Those wounds she could heal with magic, something she hadnโt quite mastered when it came to other people. For her, spells and magic were complicated. Potions came easier, though perhaps that was due to a lack of practice and experience. She didnโt know and most of the time, it was incredibly frustrating. One of the many perks of being a witch, she supposed. โOh, me? Iโll be okay, Der. A little magic and I can probably get rid of these. Besides, they donโt hurt that much.โ
Okay, they did hurt, so maybe that was a bit of a lie.
โLetโs take care of you first, okay? This shouldnโt sting too much.โ Romi covered a small cloth in the ointment from the glass bottle, then gingerly began to dab it across Derekโs neck. She made sure not to press down too hard and to cover the entire burn. With some luck, the burn should heal quickly within a day or two. When she finished, she applied a thin bandage, the did the same to the area beneath the manโs bruised eye. The ointment was mostly for burns, but it helped with pain, and she figured that his face might be sore. Only once she was certain Derek would be fine did she step away, shrugging out of her ruined coat and long-sleeved shirt. Her tank top left her shoulders bare and she glanced into the mirror over her shoulder to try to brush the remaining glass away. As she suspected, other than some shallow cuts, she was relatively unscathed.
Lucky. Either one of them could have been seriously injured.
โDo you still want some food?โ She spoke as she stopped by her desk, to open one of the many old books and skim through its pages. Lately, she had been trying to do more research on demons, but her personal library was a little lacking. Most of that information needed permission from the council to be accessed for young witches and warlocks.
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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 21, 2019 11:17:56 GMT -5
Derek couldn't really do anything to change her mind. He couldn't make her put herself before him. She seemed dead set on treating him first, and he really didn't have the energy to put up a resistance. So he sat an allowed her to dab the potion onto his neck and face. It stung with the contact, making him flinch and bringing Winter closer to the front. He kept trying to tell him to make her stop, but the boy ignored him. It wasn't making the pain worse, so what harm was there?
When she was done, he muttered a small thanks. Already, he could tell that the burns had lost a bit of their bit. It was still uncomfortable, but there was a noticeable relief. There was also a strange urge to reach up and rub the wound, but that would only serve to wipe off the ointment and make a mess. So the boy resisted that urge as best as he could. "A-are you sure you're okay?" he asked before replying to her question of food. Soup still sounded like a great idea, but he didn't want to dismiss her own health for the sake of his own.
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 21, 2019 11:53:19 GMT -5
Romi was already halfway through setting out the necessary supplies when Derek asked if she was alright. Her back burned and ached, but it was nothing compared to how confused she was. Why would someone โ or something โ scratch such a bizarre message into the wall, followed by the symbol of her own family? It was strange, absurd, and the mystery made her head hurt.
โIโm okay,โ she decides after a moment and washed her hands before she began rummaging around for the pasta noodles. Most it was already pre-prepared, since she had planned to have soup for lunch anyway, and all she had to do was bring the broth to a boil and add the chopped vegetables and chicken. โIt doesnโt hurt that bad. Iโm just glad youโre okay. Hey, can I ask you a question?โ
She placed a bit more noodles into the pot than she normally would have, if only because she thought Derek needed the nutrients. Poor guy didnโt have anyone to make him nice, homemade meals, and he deserved to eat well. After a moment, she asked her question softly, โHave you ever met another demon? Other than your dad, I mean.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 21, 2019 13:11:54 GMT -5
True, the cuts didn't look terrible, but he couldn't imagine they were comfortable. After all, paper cuts were torture in themselves, so those scratches had to be much worse. Yet, again, he couldn't convince the girl what to do. Perhaps if he tried, he might be able to convince her to take a moment to heal herself. He just didn't know how she would have taken it, so he didn't push it.
Without really anything else to do, the boy just sat in his seat, hands folded in his lap and eyes gazing around the room. That is, until Romi got his attention. "S-sure," he responded, not really sure what she wanted to know. Was it something to do with Winter? Had the other boy said something that made her upset? He hoped not. If that was the case, he would need to apologize to her. Or as it something about the system? Had he or someone else done something strange and she wanted to know why? However, it turned out to be none of those things. Instead, she wanted to know if he had ever met another demon. "I-I haven't. Not that I know of anyway," he answered. "B-but there's a lot of moments in time that I don't remember. Winter might have, or might not. I'm not even sure if he knew our father was a demon. He doesn't really like to talk about it."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 21, 2019 14:35:10 GMT -5
โItโs okay, I just wanted to ask. Make sure that what happened wasnโt, you know, a demon you might have known or anything.โ Romi stirred the bubbling pot of soup as she thought, unable to shake the curious feeling that lingered over her. If the culprit was a demon at all, then it was likely one that neither of them knew. Perhaps she would ask Aries about it tomorrow, after Winter met up with him to get rid of his father. She wasnโt looking forward to the event, not really. Getting rid of the awful man who tormented them so cruelly, yes. Watching Winter willingly put himself into harmโs way to do so, no.
When the soup was finished, she rummaged around for a large thermos and filled it to the top with a majority of the soup, leaving just enough for her own lunch. Crossing the room, she held the warm container out to Derek. โHere. I donโt want to make you stick around too long if itโll upset your dad.โ Not that she cared what his father thought, but she didnโt want to risk putting him into danger over something as simple as lunch. โDo you need any help getting home? I can drop you off down the street from your house, if you want me to.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 21, 2019 15:10:18 GMT -5
"Unless there was someone I knew in high school or college and I'm not aware were a demon, which could be the case. After all, I didn't know Dad was one until recently," Derek said. If there was anyone else in his past that radiated the same energy that his father did, he didn't remember. No one else ever acted the same way towards him like his father. Sure, there were the normal school bullies, but he didn't remember a lot of altercations between them. Winter always surfaced and the other boy retained all those memories in his own mind. "I-I'm sorry, I'm not much help."
And then a large thermos was being offered to him. Derek took it carefully, enjoying the warmth of it in his hands. He took a sip of soup, careful not to burn himself. Honestly, if it wasn't as hot as it was, he might have sat there and chugged half the bottle. It was amazing, both in flavor and the effects it had on his body, warming him from the inside. "T-thank you. It's really good," Derek said. He had an hour or so before he needed to make it to the normal pick up spot his father met him at. If he was going to walk, then he should probably get going. Yet the idea of leaving the cozy dorm room and leaving Romi's company didn't do anything to lift his mood. "Y-you don't have to take me that far. I-if you can drop me o-off at the campus, that'll be fine. That is, o-of course, i-if you don't mind. I-I don't want y-you to think I'm a-assuming you'll d-drop me off there. I-if you have other plans, t-then it's fine. I-I can make it."
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Post by ๐๐ธ๐ท๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฎ on Oct 21, 2019 15:24:48 GMT -5
โNonsense, youโre plenty helpful. Like you said, you didnโt even know about them until recently and theyโre pretty hard to spot unless you know what to look for.โ Truthfully, she wasnโt sure if she could spot every demon she might encounter. Derek was the first one she knew for sure that she had ever met โ followed by his no good monster of a father โ but that didnโt mean she hadnโt ever crossed paths with one. It was entirely possible that she had, only to either not realize it or not know the right signs to look for. โAnyway, I was just curious. It wasnโt super important. Weโll figure things out another day.โ
Seeing the way Derekโs eyes lit up when he took a sip was hands down the best feeling in the entire world. Better than successfully using a spell or learning how to make a new potion or acing one of her college tests. It was the happiness there, the joy, that brought a soft smile to her lips. Seeing him happy, no matter how slight, was heart wrenching. She wanted to see him smile and laugh, she decided. Wanted to be the one to make him do so. โYouโre welcome,โ she said quietly, perhaps a bit awestruck, which was a bit rare for her. Instinctively, she reached out to brush a loose strand of hair from his forehead and remove a tiny piece of glass that had been stuck there. โOf course I donโt mind, sugar. Iโll drop you offer wherever you feel comfortable.โ She located a hoodie that was definitely not covered in debris and slipped it on before grabbing her keys. โIโm not going to make you walk with a limp like that, Derek.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 21, 2019 19:21:40 GMT -5
Despite the fact that Romi deemed it wasn't a big deal, Derek still felt like he hadn't done much to contribute to solving this puzzle. Of course, he still fully believe it was the work of his father, but he had already told her that he trusted her opinion that it wasn't. So he wasn't about to make a comment on that again. Still, the message was directed towards him, who else would it have been talking to? He felt like he should at least know how to deal with it.
Lifting the thermos to his lips, the boy took a few more swallows of the soup as Romi responded to his statement. It was so much better than the stuff you buy in a can. If only he had the time and energy to make it from scratch himself. He watched, pausing momentarily, as the young witch reached out and brushed a strand of hair from his face in what had to have been the gentlest touch he had encountered. Yes, she had made sure to take care with touching him many time, never using anything more than a feather light pressure. This, however, was something different. For some reason, her brushing aside his hair showed more care than he had experienced in his life. He wasn't even sure what he had done to deserve that gesture. Usually, anything he did resulted in bad results, so what happened to make it different? Well, Romi wasn't his father for one thing, but still, the premise was still the same, right? How people treated him depended on what he did? "I-If you're s-sure," he murmured with a small nod. Seeing that she had already grabbed her keys, he figured that she must be ready to go. So, with another quick sip of his soup, he stood up and retrieved his bag from the floor.
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