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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Aug 8, 2019 14:41:11 GMT -5
Ougi didn't appear to have gained much satisfaction from his surprise. She stood upright and breathed normally even when she had just defeated a beast, as if she had no intention of running away or performing another dodge in case things had gone south. She was that certain of her 'guess'. The student stepped toward the now-disjointed tractor and stepped on the debris, making several parts shake and scatter. She was was reaching inside with a lunge to retrieve her shears. Unfazed by the loss of Hook's basket, she frowned in thought. Given another moment, her face lit up. "Ah," she said encouragingly, "Use this." She placed her red-handled shears back into her own basket and gripped her sun hat, pulling it off her head to hand it to him. "Just hold it upside-down. I doubt you'll need it though, because you'll be busy fighting off the trees." With that, she climbed back up the ridge to the cherry trees and wielded her shears for the next attack. But something stopped her as she caught a glance of the tree trunk. It was marked with red along the circumference, as if spray painted. "Huh..." she murmured, the equivalent of an Ougi-shrug. She reached out to collect some of its cherries, shears at the ready to defend herself from the limbs that had attacked her last time. But instead of the limb taking her arm again, this time it burst into flames, taking the cherries with it. "Watch out-!" Ougi fell back and had to scramble out of the way through the grass as the fire exploded out toward the blinkers. She was hastily trying to put together what was happening when she caught sight of the trunk of the previous tree she had picked: that one had green painted on the trunk. It would seem they had to start moving a little faster now, as even though the explosion had died down, the flames had caught the brush and the other trees around them. It was moving slowly, but spreading nonetheless. The student's eyes were moving quickly now, examining more of the tree trunks to see what colors they were tagged with.
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Post by Protractor on Aug 8, 2019 18:57:33 GMT -5
(Ahurdh.I hate my new schedule.Can't get here till like 4 x.x Well I'm about to drop Jack into this so anyone who's wants Jack interaction get ready
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Pansexual
Cloverleaf
For certain as our banner flies, we are not alone. The people too must rise.
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Post by Cloverleaf on Aug 8, 2019 19:01:00 GMT -5
Kelsier nodded, his expression harder to read as Hector mentioned the horses. Learning to ride wasn’t easy to do, and when you first started was also when you were most likely to hurt yourself very, very badly. Was it wise to let the person who taught Nico be both no older than him, and probably also a significant distraction? He praised his lips, thinking it over. “That’s kind of him. I’ll have to talk it over with Nico and see what we decide.” He said finally, putting off the moment he had to actually decide. Because he knew Nico would want to, and he didn’t want to say no but also he did want to say no. Maybe he could manage to convince them to do something else. “It would be a valuable skill for him, I’m sure. Thank you for the offer.” He went on, and he meant it. “Especially as he’s mostly only had experience with goats, which are lovely animals but poor modes of transportation. They make you go slower, if anything.” He chuckled. “Ah well, a good pocketbook is good for your back in the long run, so it all works out, doesn’t it?” Hector nodded as Kelsier hesitated, remembering that not everyone was as comfortable around horses as he was. He could remember summers of his childhood that were practically spent on the backs of ponies, and that familiarity led to a calm and knowledgeable hand with the beasts. "Of course. And if he ever just wants to watch or sit on one, Sam's is quite calm enough for that." Hector wouldn't quite trust the boys around his own fiery mount, who could get willful at times under a new rider. "And well, with the goats, at least they let you stop and smell the flowers. Or eat them, apparently." He quipped, remembering Kelsier's comment about the favored blooms. "Aye, that's true." Hector agreed good-naturedly, "Truly, there's nothing much I can complain about." As the two talked, Hector paused, hearing the ominous chimes of the bells as the last of the pale streaks of sunset faded into a dusky twilight, promising a fast approaching night. He shifted, feeling a shiver run down his spine. He'd heard talk of staying inside, heard how those who went outside disappeared. He glanced over at Sam and Nico, wanting to make sure that they hadn't run off somewhere.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Aug 8, 2019 19:17:33 GMT -5
Mei grabbed Amico’s hand as the bells began to ring in the distance - more for his sake than hers, since she knew he worried about her going outside. Not that she ever would, but she didn’t want him anxious about it. “Come on,” she said, offering him a smile as she began to make her way back across the tavern. “Let’s go find Rex and Cham.”
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Aug 8, 2019 20:59:43 GMT -5
Taking one final look back in the direction of Mallory and Anika - Amico's repression was apologetic - he squeezed Mei's hand and nodded. Yeah, they needed to find Momma Cham and Dad. But if Mei thought she'd be leading, she was wrong. As seemed usual for the energetic child, Amico tilted just a bit forward and pulled his sister along. There wasn't much force behind it, but then again the little boy couldn't exert much force anyway. "This way, this way," he encouraged. When they were away from the rooms, he stopped and looked around. Mommy Cham was easier to spot and he knew Dad would be by them. He pointed at Cham and looked up at Mei. "There's Mommy!" He was excited at the prospect of resting somewhere other than home. "Do we need to go back to our room?" Even though this wasn't home and that was by default exciting, he still didn't want to go to bed yet. Lark Iceclaw <Raintalon>
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Post by Auransky on Aug 9, 2019 17:08:19 GMT -5
The Monster Room : Questions? The round man waved his hand madly in the air. "That's exactly the problem! If we don't kill the Doctor before the stroke of midnight, his true self will be revealed. After the stroke of midnight, this chamber-hellfire will no longer be safe. The repears will enter and reset this entire world. " he grabbed his own wrist tightly. "All it takes is one touch from the repeaers, death comes for us, and then we are reborn." His attention turned to Kid, who seemed to be idolizing the replay process. "Have you ever tasted death boy? Not only do we reset to the initial beginning, we die. We feel death, and depending what sort of death we hit on each conclusion, we feel it boy. Painful, painless, are all the same." ---- The round man waved angrily. "Just admit that you altered the events. In place of the prime minister's death, you brought new victims to this torment, and expected them to thwart our answers. In doing so, we will all reset, and having them walk among us, they will hinder us to replay many more times, until we all come to the same conclusion." His patience was thinning. The fact that this reset threw the answers out in front of them, only to twist them with newcomers who would intentionally stop them was madness. ---- The round man quickly shook his head to Enjolras question. It was such a strange name, to call a house a paradox. It seemed to be something that would be banned among the church. "I'd be dammed to go there. Then again, I am here."
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Post by Auransky on Aug 9, 2019 17:08:40 GMT -5
The Monster Room: Questions? The vicar seated himself on the stone steps along the edge of the alter. "Other victims, too showed the same sign. In the past, we assumed it was a cry for the doctor to save them. As would anyone when placing their lives in the hands of a healer." He pulled out a small bible, opened it, then slid it across the room. The book slid, creating a dragging sound as it made its way towards the center. The lighing of the candles making it barely visible. On the pages, it had the words, doctor in blood. "I found all the bibles owned by the many diseased, to have similar if not worse alterations with the words doctor. Blood, claws, knifed, or scratched on the pages." The vicar rested his fingers against his nogan. "I found this particular book when one day accompanying the doctor to a patient. The patient asked I read a few scriptures, and while Willdhart is not a man of faith, he allowed me to do so. I had forgotten my bible, and borrowed it from the patient. I too tried to convince Willdhart that faith would do it no harm, and that a reading or two may be able to sway him. when flipping through the pages I found the scripture I wished to read, to be torn and thwarted by dark deeds." He shook his head. "I spoke not of it that day, but I silently paid visit to the other victims, and recently loss." He pulled out another small bible opening it, this one looked scratched up with the words doctor forced on it. "Every bible had the same if not worser similarities." He slide the other bible across the room too. "Had this chance encounter not happened, we would have overlooked this detail again. Forced to die, and reawaken to a reset time." ----- The question Enjolras brought to the table created a strange reaction in the room. Right off the bat, the Vicar raised his brow as if he had been introduced to a baffling new religion. This was what the new and younger rebellious lost souls were doing, creating new faiths because it fits their needs. The poor souls indeed-but then again, it raised a new question because the paradox theory was something being argued among the men of science, among the students at the university. But-to call it a house too brought a feeling of demonic powers at work. He shook his head, after thinking hard and strong. "Alas, that rings no bell."
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Post by Auransky on Aug 9, 2019 17:08:58 GMT -5
The Monster Room: Questions? "-Dead." The Yard Captain chimed in. "This time, we arrested the doctor on suspicion of the prime minister's death." He knelt down to pick up his dropped firearm. "There is an illness going around, that Willdhart and his mentor the late doctor have been fighting tirelessly. It has been taking the lives of both prominent and common folk. In the past, we considered it something out of even our control, in this reched game." He picked up the weapon, then put it away in its holster. "The prime minister was under the doctor's care on his final night." He glimpsed over at the women in red. "His wife, too was there and doing everything Willdhart instructed." He turned his head, to see if the women wanted to speak up. She did, and so he lightly nudged his head as a signal. --- The yard captain took an aggressive step forward. "Untie the man who is hell itself!?" He twitched just thinking about it. But then again, the ghost girl did promise to seal the deal if things collapsed. He looked over to the round man who was entirely against the idea. Then he looked at the vicar, who seemed to be against the question. After a stern expression, and watching the other three against it, he looked back at Sky. "Do you understand that if this man lives past the stroke of midnight, he will take on his true form. He will become the creature from hell that will command the others' and they will destroy the town. The repeaers will come for all of us, and no matter which way we run, something will come for us. When we die, we will die, and forcefully reawaken to a new day, the beginning, with no initial memories of what we have built up to." He paused glimpsing over at the women in red. "Forcing us to remember against the clock is a challenge. Knowing that, dare you still untie this man and gamble your chances?" He asked, waving his hand towards the Doctor. "Well, if you choose knowing the consequences, I invite you. But know this, should you not follow through your word, I will fire and just know that bullets do not discriminate." He aggressively warned. --- The Yard Captain seated himself now along the statue of a griffon. He shook his head to Enjolras question. "I have been in many houses, but not one as the one you name."
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Post by Auransky on Aug 9, 2019 17:09:17 GMT -5
The Monster Room : Questions? The women in red stood there, her face at a loss, but also frozen as a doll awkwardly placed on a shelf. Her gaze was down, "The doctor said that the man was healthy as a whistle. That he should be fine and well in a few days. But just to be sure, Willdhart stayed through the night." Her voice was soft. "Somewhere into the late night, the doctor had to leave, he had just received word that a child had fallen ill too. And so, I let him go." She closed her eyes briefly. "Before he did, he instructed me on the medicine , what to give him in the following hour. And so the hour came, and I performed as asked, or at least I thought I was ready. I had forgotten the salt for my husband to gurgle with the water, and so I went. Returning with the salt, I found my husband coughing out blood and choking. His neck looked like someone had been physically sufficating him, and yet I could not see anyone. His face turning shades, and the only thing he spat to me, was Willdhart, over and over, and over until ..." She slowed her words. "Until the prime minister spat one more time." She turned her head off to the side. --- The women in red was trying to recompose herself. Indeed they had finally reached the moment of truth, but now they were being stopped by outsiders-people like them. Individuals who are not of this world, who too soon would be forced to replay the events under a given role-a given life, forced to enter the cycle if they messed up. The Vicar suggesting the newcomers outright take the life of the man with green-yellow eyes brought church bells to her ears. It seemed like a miracle-if they the newcomers took the man out. Not that ending the doctor would not be another solution-she, and the three other men knew that the doctor was nothing more then a created anomaly who carried life within this world. Outside of it, the doctor would be nothing. She turned her attention briefly to kid, "If you haven't shaken the man's hand, you can skip the rules and just take the source of this life and allow us all to return from whence we came." --- The women in red picked up her whip. She listened to the Yard Captain throw the warning, and even after a group disagreement considered letting these strangers do as they like. She shrugged, shaking her head. "Captain, they said they don't trust us. So can we trust them with the deed? What if they run off with Willdhart, and midnight strikes? They will be devoured first since they will be the first the master of hell preys upon." Yet it seemed like the Captain wanted to give them a chance. She gripped the whip in both of her hands. "Very well." She gave in. "Talk to him as you like, ask the questions you need but know that if time passes we are all doomed here." --- The women in red looked off to the side when the question of a paradox house roamed the air. Her eyes skimmed the tied up doctor, as if she was expecting him to break free and transform into a feresome beast. Then her eyes briefly fell upon the yellow-green eyed man, who too was looking back at her. They had an exchange of glances, neither with the answer. "First I herd of it." She replied.
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Post by Auransky on Aug 9, 2019 17:09:44 GMT -5
The Monster Room : Questions? The man with green-yellow eyes jerked his head back when asked about the prime minister. He looked around, his head quickly turning around the room. He hadn't seen the prime minister, in fact where was he? His light blue hair fell out of place, as he searched yet only counted the same four people. His attention soon turned to the round man, "Where is the prime minister? He was scheduled to visit the town-" --- The man with yellow-green eyes leaned slightly towards his right, his right shoulder tensing as the four individuals discussed the death of the prime minister. --- They had returned to the possibility of ending his life. Which to him seemed pointless-in fact what good would that do? If they strike the wrong person and midnight comes, then the monsters still come, and the gate to the underworld would still be opened. They would still meet their ends, and wake up at the beginning as the previous attempts. At least that is what the Vicar, Round Man, and Yard Captain and Women in red kept claiming. Yet they also claimed that by ending the man's life, the world-this game would end. Right, game.. His eyes skimmed the bibles thrown across the room. But that's exactly the issue... His yellow-green eyes skimmed everyone across the room. These people were dead on the fact that death was a necessity to press onwards. "Could it be possible, that initiating someone's death is what brings the end? Like a key to a door-" He was cut off, hearing the doctor speak up. --- The yellow-green eyed man looked at the doctor, then over at the women who too was looking back at him. It was brief, but there seemed to be no answer. In fact what kind of question was that? How did that relate to the issue at hand? "No.." He answered, brief and simple.
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Post by Auransky on Aug 9, 2019 17:10:09 GMT -5
The Monster Room: Questions? "-Please...stop." The tied up , and forcefully positioned doctor had remained silent throughout this entire exchange of words. He had listened to them all reason back and forth. He was fed up with it-perhaps just done with all of this. He knew not what they were talking about in terms of reply, repeating, resetting. But the monsters, the illness, the claims, and the fog were all real. They were all real to him-and he could still see the faces of countless lives falling under his care. They had been under his care and he had been unable to save them. He was not a man of faith-but a man of science. A man who chose not to believe in the church, and while not able to run for government due to being outside of the church, his position of doctor allowed him to learn about the minds behind each descision, every choice, every minute of every day. Yet-he was human. And the deaths the toll the pain-were causing him countless sleepness nights. Hearing the people die , replay in his head: over and over , and over again. He had enough-he just wanted the images, the screams, and cries the pain and sorrow to end. He believed in no god, but he was at the point that if given the chance-he would pick one and pray. Pray for the safety and wellbeing of others-not because he believed in it, but because he was willing to look at other outlets of possibilities to save the people he cared for deeply. The same people who suddenly overnight called him a traitor, a monster, and on top of that the monster that will destroy them all. Still being imprisoned, torchured, and pained to death he now more then ever wished for this to end. Just himself-to stop hearing all of this. He wanted no part in this. He cared no more, he just wanted silence-all silence. No more pain, no more suffering, just silence. Whatever anyone wanted to do with him, he would comply. He had no fight in him, maybe none to begin with. zeph! Cloverleaf mintedstar/fur ((Won't be splitting the chars often, but there is a strange theory that I just have to debunk.)) ((Happy Reading))
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Post by <Raintalon> on Aug 9, 2019 18:16:33 GMT -5
As the bells finished ringing, the doors opened one last time, and a boy, about nineteen or twenty, squeezed into the tavern, then hastily shut the door behind him. Once he’d done up the locks again, he heaved a sigh of relief, shoulders slackening as he realized he’d made it to safety. He knew his father would be angry if he found out he’d cut it that close, but at least he’d made it, right? He pulled his hood down so it was on his shoulders instead of over his head, and ran a hand through his light brown hair. Then, he yawned, stretching out his arms before letting them hang limply at his side. Judging by the whispers of the tavern regulars and half-glances in his direction that his arrival had created, he was somewhat of a gossip mill, but neither that nor the fact that several people had noticeably inched away from him when he’d entered seemed to bother him. Instead, he fixed his eyes on the ground and began to make his way across the floor, taking odd half-steps, skips, jumps, and even sometimes twirling around to walk backwards a few paces as he went. It seemed like an utterly illogical dance, unless you were keen enough to notice the pattern of cracks in the old wooden floor he was studiously avoiding. He was giving this task so much attention that he seemed to notice little else, even the people he nearly bumped into, until he reached his destination, which happened to be the front counter.
When he reached it, he finally looked up from the floor and slid onto one of the bar stools, leaning his elbows on the counter and staring with wide blue eyes at the people working behind it. Waiting for somebody to notice him, so he could order.
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Post by Sησω on Aug 9, 2019 21:12:49 GMT -5
"That's weird," Mallory commented, crossing her arms. If it really was true that people in this town were disappearing, she wondered what the reason could be. Maybe it wasn't true for her mother, but she hadn't seen or heard anything weird on the way into town. "I promise we'll be just fine," one of Anika's heads said, though she didn't argue as Mei and Amico talked to the innkeeper. A couple of the serpent's heads swiveled towards the window at the sound of the bells. If those kids were telling the truth - which she was ready to believe, as the small boy seemed really worried - then they were supposed to stay inside for the night. No matter what happens, I'll make sure my daughter is safe, she thought. "Thank you, sir. Mallory, follow me," the dragon thanked the innkeeper and waited for her daughter to wave goodbye to her new acquaintances before asking her to follow. Though the room's door was as tight as the tavern entrance, the inside was quite spacious. "This'll work perfectly," Anika stated, tails swishing in delight. She'd been to a few inns before, but this was the first one to have a room designed especially for dragons. paradoxnpc
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Post by ~∂єѕтιиу on Aug 9, 2019 21:46:58 GMT -5
Vincent glanced back as he heard the tavern door slam shut, lifting his eyebrow at the frazzled looking new comer. The man seemed relieved to have found shelter, so perturbed by the myths of the village he’d presumably rushed away from his business outside in order to take cover at the sound of the bells. It was ridiculous. And hilarious. His eyes slid back to his meal as Matt began his course to the bar, the performer’s gaze innocently following him for a moment as he skipped across the floor. He took a slow sip of his drink as the man joined him at one of the near bar stools, his pale eyes gliding in his direction with a smirk tugging on his lips as he lowered the brew. “You came in in...quite the rush.” He hummed to the man, turning slightly to address him properly. “Is it really as dangerous out there as they say?” He purred, distastefully looking over the man’s attire before finding his face again. <Raintalon>
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Post by <Raintalon> on Aug 9, 2019 23:01:47 GMT -5
“Super dangerous,” said Matt, nodding a little as he turned his gaze to the man sitting in the spot next to him. The man who was either too new to know to avoid him or just didn’t care about the gossip. The miller’s son is mad was enough to deter most, but not all. “People go missing and stuff all the time if they stay out,” he added, running a hand through his hair. He frowned, narrowing his eyes as he looked the man over, taking in his attire and his attitude with a surprisingly sharp eye considering his laid back approach to things. “But if you’d lived here all your life, you’d know that. Everybody knows that. Where are you from?”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 9, 2019 23:53:38 GMT -5
Orpheus listened for Kelsier's thought process, nodding along as he heard it spoken through. His own mind was running through the answer as quickly as Kelsier's, and he had arrived at the solution perhaps a second behind the other blinker, but Kelsier voiced it first. "Exactly!" He replied, delighted as another door opened in front of them. He passed through it, humming to himself, but his voice broke the moment he passed through. It had been on a note that would've been high for others, but not for him... and that dreaded realization broke through again. The House, for whatever reason, was taking his voice. Still, he didn't want to worry Kelsier, so he started making a plan. He couldn't stop the dread from settling in his stomach, or the way his heart seemed to ache with the inability to do perhaps the only thing he could really do well, but Kelsier didn't need to see the pain on his face or the hear any cracks in his voice when he spoke. "This room is strange," he observed, glancing around, having to shout to keep up the same volume he'd had in the last room. The door was high up on the wall, too high for Orpheus to reach. Scattered around were various planks of wood, none tall enough to scale in order to get up. "Maybe we need to build a ladder, or... something?" Kelsier let out a light laugh as it worked, and the door opened. “Nice work.” He congratulated the other blinker, and headed through the door with pout hesitation, ready to face whatever came at him next. He had no idea what was happening to Orpheus. All he has was the faint knowledge that he’d sounded a little further away and maybe a little strained, but both things were completely understandable, given where they were. Really, he hadn’t thought about it all that much at all. So when Orpheus shouted, he missed the added strain, mistaking it for weariness as the room went on. “They don’t usually have this many parts.” He mused, frowning a little at the new task: piles of wood. How were they supposed to work together on this one, if they were in different mirror images? ”At least, I don’t think so. I haven’t been in too many, honestly.” Was it worth asking what the point was? He didn’t think the rooms had a point, and he wasn’t even sure whether their actions had much to do with anything that happened, or whether it just looked that way. Not that it mattered right now, when all he could see were boards and a useless door, and all he could hear was the increasing strain in his new companion’s voice. “I guess so.” He answered, doubt seeping into his tone as he moved forward and knelt by the wood, his fingers brushing the smooth surface. “But how are we supposed to work together? Do you know how to build a ladder?” Orpheus frowned. It seemed that Kelsier hadn't noticed his predicament yet, which he supposed was for the better. The longer Kelsier was in the dark about it, the longer they could just work on getting out of the room. Although Orpheus didn't know the older blinker particularly well, he had a feeling that he would be the type who would do everything in his power to help Orpheus find his voice again rather than working towards getting out of the room. Orpheus wasn't sure there was a solution to the House taking his voice, though he did hope that, despite L's words, it was fair enough to give his voice back to him once they exited the room. He wasn't sure how he would live if his voice was taken permanently. It was the only tool he had. "At least I'll know that the next room I enter will probably be a little less involved," he quipped, but his heart wasn't really in it. Hopefully Kelsier didn't know him well enough yet to tell by the tone of his voice. Then again, he did tend to wear all of his feelings on his sleeve, so perhaps Kelsier could tell. Instead of contemplating that, he turned his attention back to the wood. "I'm afraid that I have no ladder building experience. If you told me to make a lyre I could probably carve something passable given the right tools, but I'm not sure the room would reward us for music." Mr. Hermes said all the time that the walls had ears, and if he played something beautiful enough, they would listen to him. Orpheus had always rather doubted the verity of that statement, but even here, in a place where the walls were far more likely to be sentient, he didn't think singing would work on them. He doubted the House had a taste for beauty. "Perhaps we could build a staircase and walk up? It may be an individual challenge, and we'll see each other on the other side? This could be the last part."
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 10, 2019 0:20:52 GMT -5
Sam smiled with the same mischievousness he could seem dancing in Nico's eyes. He was right. What could possibly happen to them on the roof, so far from every else? And he'd enjoyed last month. They'd talked about places they'd made up in there head. Places far away that they had heard of but never seen - places they hadn't, but felt just as real. And Sam's drawings, which seemed like things out of dreams, though he'd never seen the starry sky and distant planets even in the word of sleep. He wanted to. Really. And maybe, if he could work up the courage to do it, then he could encourage Nico that they should. Soon. For now, however, he turned to the satchel at his side. He was no artist. He didn't sketch what he could see. But sometime images jumped into his head and wouldn't let him go. His smile was once again a touched embarrassed. "It's the library again this time. One would think I was bookish or something." He set the sketch pad on the table, flipping through it. His shading was poor, his proportion off, and angles would have looked better in an abstract painting. But you could tell what he was drawing. He flipped past shots of people (a woman with short hair, a person with a short fringe of beard and well thought out make-up, a man with a tangle of hair drawn back in a ponytail, an older teen with his hair cropped short) who he had never met. He'd done real people that, on a whim, he'd tried to draw as well. Nico, for starters. And Hector and Kelsier. He'd done people he didn't know as well, just to see what happened, but it always felt like he wasn't drawing what he wanted to. He had only shown Nico those. He wasn't good enough for anything else. Other then the real people, the ones from his head had no names and other than the occasional sketch he never thought of them. There were also regular scenes. Houses he'd never been in. Places he wanted to see. These far outnumbered the people and there had even been some marginal improvement to his latest drawing. Some repeated. The library had been drawn three times. The latest sketch showed a shot of the ceiling with Sam's attempts at stars laid across it. They looked too large and cartoonish. "I don't even like to read that much," Sam said, chuckling. "But there has to be large libraries out there like this. I think I wanted the ceiling painted like the night sky. But it's hard to show with charcoal. The city it would be in would have to be large too. Larger than this town. But with plenty of quite, interesting corners we could both hang out in." He's smile was excited as he glanced at Nico. "But you could look up at this ceiling or out the big windows whenever and see so much." Nico was going to have to accept sooner or later that neither of them led the exciting life that he wished the would. They were never going to go off on swashbuckling adventures together or become anyone of note. Maybe Sam would, eventually, but Nico knew he would never have the courage to leave Kelsier - or the life that was so neatly set out for him - behind. That took a sort of strength that he didn't think he had inside of himself. But for now, they could pretend. For now they could go out on rooftops and look at stars and let themselves believe that they would make a difference in the world and that they were destined for something more than the monotony of the lives they were set down to live. Perhaps one day he would look back and crave that dullness, but for now all he could do was rail against it. "I quite like the library," he admitted, pushing closer to Sam's shoulder so he could see better. "Look at all the detail you got there," he murmured. "I feel like the people are real, you know? Not in the same way portrait artists make you feel like you're actually in the room with the person they painted, but... I feel like that woman there could turn to me and talk, and I wouldn't be surprised." Nico knew that Sam was unlikely to show him drawings of real people in such a public place, so he had to assume that these people he had drawn were from his imagination, and that always struck Nico as strange. That he could just invent people that, although not expertly drawn, seemed so real. "Sometimes I wish I were in one of your drawings," Nico heard himself say. "They always look like they'd be a better place to be than here, but... only if you'd come with me." He gave a tight smile. He didn't fully mean what he was saying. "I wish I could see what you see in your head, sometimes," he added with a small shake of his own head. "If we ever meet any of these people you've drawn... you're gonna have to introduce me," he said lightly, leaning his head on Sam's shoulder and brushing his lips against Sam's cheek in a light kiss. "Maybe they're from places where the stars look different. Where the constellations have different names, and they can show us. Maybe the stars are different in your head because you can create worlds the rest of us can't see..." he smiled softly, letting his eyes drift to the floor. "You never cease to amaze me, Samuel," he added, saying the other boy's full name as though it contained every beautiful thing in the world. As though he was setting it free to soar on invisible wings. "You make me want to look out of windows at stars that don't exist."
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 10, 2019 0:26:36 GMT -5
"I know, but-" The sudden clang of bells cut Auguste Enjolras off. The mood of the place shifted, becoming more somber. Was there some sort of imposed curfew? Enjolras scanned the crowd, gauging everyone's reactions. Something was amiss here. He shifted closer to his younger brother in a subconsciously protective gesture. He met Noah's gaze, quirking an eyebrow in a silent question. What on Earth is going on?| A little bit short, sorry! | Noah turned his head, trying to figure out why there had suddenly been loud bells ringing. It was unusual, especially in an inn, when people were supposed to be free to drink and sleep and in general live their lives for a small fee. This new sound was unexpected to say the least, and at the point of being nearly ominous. He felt Auguste closer to him, and he couldn't say he didn't appreciate his brother's protectiveness. For the first time, he wondered if perhaps they had chosen the wrong inn to frequent that night. Surely there had been another one nearby, right?
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Post by --cato phoenix on Aug 10, 2019 1:10:42 GMT -5
Eliyen was running late. The bells were already ringing as she sped down the road, urging her horse to move faster. Sure, she always cut it close, but this time was too close. There was no way she'd make it to her house, she'd have to go somewhere else for the night. And fast. The elf glanced over her shoulder, half expecting to see the darkness following her, but nothing was there. Not yet. Looking ahead again she saw a young man dart into a building further down the road. The bells stopped. Eliyen could feel her heart racing. She'd never been this late but she had to make it. She had to. Her horse's hooves skidded to a halt in front of the building and she leapt off, barely slowing as she tied her horse to the post before running to the door and grabbing the knob. It was locked. The elf cursed and pounded on the door. Someone had to hear her, she wasn't going be taken by that... whatever it was. "Hey! Let me in!" she shouted. She couldn't hide the panic in her voice, but at the moment she didn't really care, as long as someone opened the door.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 10, 2019 1:18:16 GMT -5
Noah heard the knocking and practically made himself disappear from the table he was at with his brother. There was something dangerous outside, and the voice outside was so distinctly human that he doubted it was whatever the danger was. Auguste was right about one thing: Noah could disappear in plain sight if he wanted to, so that was what he did. He moved towards the door and swung it open long enough to let the young woman in before closing it forcefully. Anything dangerous - whatever it was the bells were warning about - couldn't get through now. At least that was Noah's hope. "You sounded pretty desperate," Noah observed kindly once he was sure that the young woman was actually inside. It seemed he may have been wrong about her being human, and perhaps she was dangerous, but it was clear she was also quite scared by whatever it was that was outside the door. "I'm afraid I'm not from around here... what were you running from?" Perhaps Auguste would be proud of him for finding out more information. He shook the thought away - it was a hard realization to make, but he didn't need Auguste's approval in everything. He knew he wouldn't get it, but knowing he didn't need it to be able to help this young woman, or live his own life... that was strange. "Is there anything I can get you? The bartender seems pretty busy, but we could get you something to eat or drink.." --cato phoenix
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Post by --cato phoenix on Aug 10, 2019 2:32:41 GMT -5
Eliyen shot into the room the moment the door opened. For a moment she paused, leaning on a chair. "Well, you see, I like the idea of living," she said, then let out a laugh. When she looked up to see who had spoken and to check that the door had been locked again she was grinning, her fear seemingly left behind already. "Now that was what I call close!"At the question, she raised an eyebrow. "No one warned you when you got here? Guess it's a good thing you decided to stop when you did, good for you and me," she said, then continued, lowering her voice as if it were a secret she was telling and not a known fact, "See, every night at this time, a strange darkness sweeps across the town. I'm sure there've been plenty of theories made about it, but no one really knows what it is or why it comes, all we know is that it fades by dawn. People who didn't get in before it comes just disappear, and no one knows where they go. That's why the bells were put in- a warning to get off the street before the shadows take you." After she finished her little story, Eliyen jerked her head in the direction of the door. "So thank you very much for opening that when you did.""Hmm..." she paused and dug through a pocket in her cloak for a moment before producing some coins. "I wouldn't mind some mead."
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Aug 10, 2019 9:57:52 GMT -5
“Yeah, don’t count on it. The house has a way of screwing with whatever your expectations are.” Kelsier warned him, only half joking now. The more prepared Orpheus was for the worst, the better off he’d be, in this place. Not that the Mistborn had had much experience yet either, but in his own world it was always better to be prepared than not. There was always another secret. That meant you had to be ready to be caught completely off guard, which was no easy feat when you didn’t even know what you were preparing yourself for. He straightened up, glancing up at the door. His was probably much higher than the other blinker’s was, because otherwise a pewter leap or a good steel Push on a coin would have easily gotten him up there. In fact, he had to squint to see the thing. “At least it isn’t letting me cheat you.” He remarked, smiling a little at that. It bode well for the overall fairness of the rooms, not that he would expect any such thing to last, obviously. He tilted his head slightly. Orpheus sounded....off. That was the only word he could think off to describe it, anyway. He sounded tense, worried, upset almost, which was understandable considering the circumstances, but the room hadn’t been that bad yet. Orpheus had seemed more determined than that, as if... As if something else was going on. But what? And why wasn’t he saying anything? Kelsier shifted his weight, entertaining the idea that he’d imagined the change for a brief moment before letting it go, because he knew perfectly well that he was better at reading people than that. So the only question was: What was wrong, and why didn’t Orpheus want him to know? “I mean, you never know.” He answered, keeping his own voice carefully light and steady. He wanted to figure out what was going on, in case him knowing had negative consequences for the younger blinker. “Maybe you’re supposed to sing a ladder into place. This is the House, it’s the ultimate make it up as you go kind of thing.” He shifted his weight again, hesitant to do anything now that it was possible he was hurting Orpheus somehow. “All right. Let’s see if we can build this thing. It can’t be that hard. See any tools on your side?”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 10, 2019 10:43:59 GMT -5
Orpheus could tell that already. Perhaps he should have expected the House to take the only thing that made him special at all, but the truth was it had come as a complete surprise to him when it started happening. He figured he should start making excuses now, in case Kelsier started figuring it out. “Maybe this won’t lead us to the same room,” he figured, frowning. “I don’t know… you sound a little further away than before, so…” he shrugged, knowing Kelsier wouldn’t be able to see it. Maybe if Kelsier thought they were just getting further away, he wouldn’t question it. “I’m grateful for that,” Orpheus laughed softly, though for the first time he wished he had the abilities that others had. “I suppose could try to sing something together. Mr. Hermes tells me that walls have ears, and they’ll listen to me if I sing, but something tells me the House may not be as kind as my world can be. Even if the wood can hear me… I doubt it’s willing to listen.” That wasn’t the whole truth, of course. The rest of it was that he was afraid he couldn’t sing the notes that made people stop and listen. He was afraid he was now just a boy with a slightly above average voice, that the House had taken away what was really important from his gift. Orpheus looked around at Kelsier’s question, not seeing anything. “I just see the wood,” he admitted. “I can try…” he moved to the other side of one and began to push it towards the wall. It was lighter than he had expected, but that didn’t mean he could carry it particularly easily. It did seem to be the longest of the wood planks. “If we take the long one and…” he grunted, pushing it into an upright position and letting it crash towards the door that was so high above his head. “I dunno if it’ll work, but there’s at least a pole that reaches all the way to the door for me. Maybe we can build off of that?”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Aug 10, 2019 10:56:52 GMT -5
Noah looked at Eliyen, surprised by how quickly she had gotten over her fright. She seemed quite brave, he would admit that right off the bat. “We just got here,” Noah admitted. “My brother and I had to… well, it was time to move on from where we were staying before, and we just barely arrived when the bells started going off. I suppose you’re right. I’m glad we got here before…” he shuddered at the idea of just disappearing. How would people even know he was gone? It wasn’t as though he and Auguste really knew anyone here at all, and they hadn’t introduced themselves to anyone new, so their parents, wherever they were now, would have no idea about the fate of their sons. Would they be worried? Noah pushed the thoughts away. “When did this start?” He asked, although he had no idea what he would do with the information. It wasn’t as though he thought he could stop it. “It seems like more people would have left if this happens every night…” he knew he would certainly leave if he knew he couldn’t ever go outside at night. There was no stargazing here, he assumed. “Either way, you’re welcome. Glad I could help.” He glanced back in the direction of the innkeeper. “Let’s see if we can get you some of that,” he smiled softly, rubbing at the ever-present ink smudge on his cheek. --cato phoenix
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Aug 10, 2019 17:38:56 GMT -5
Sometimes it worried Sam that Nico just wasn't sure what he wanted with his life. Or he did, but wouldn't reach for it when he could. He leaned into Nico, the comfort of his shoulder and his soft hair tickling his face. He wanted something better for his boyfriend and for himself. And he was going to make sure Nico's wishes came true. Kelsier would have to understand. Sam was sure he would want the best for his son - just like Hector wanted the best for him. Nico was sweet and Sam was very glad he was with him. It felt more real than the drawings, but he could still understand Nico's feelings. "Wherever you go, I'll go," he promised. "Even if that's a drawing. But who knows. Maybe there's a place just like this somewhere near here and we just haven't found it." He turned his head, looking Nico in the eyes encouragingly. But he knew that he always said something like that. He forehead bumped against Nico's fondly. "And even if it isn't," he said quietly. "That's okay when I'm with you. Even if we need to build all the wonderful things we see in our head, then I will. Because it'll be with you." He meant it. The lives they were in didn't have to be left behind unless and until they were ready. In the meantime, Sam was willing to wait until he was older and would be able to show Nico they could do this. "Thanks for looking at these," he said to Nico. When Sam was with him it was a continuous struggle not to have a permanent smile on his face. "And I know you have you own world in that head of yours, Nico, that has some places just as amazing." His eyes sparkled. "I draw these places for you just as much as for myself. You make me see great things in these stars." He squeezed Nico's hand before flipping the sketch book closed. "I don't think we'll be able to look at them right now, unfortunately," he said with a sigh. He could tell a lot of other patrons were heading for their room now the bell had tolled. He doubted Kelseir and Hector would let them do much. But maybe tomorrow Sam could show Nico the horses. "Anything else you want to do?" he asked his boyfriend.
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Asexual
zeph!
tired + busy but i'd like to say hello again :]
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Post by zeph! on Aug 10, 2019 20:06:38 GMT -5
Sky tightened her grip on the wand, bristling slightly at the other’s comments. She was beginning to warm up to her idea, but was still uncomfortable knowing she might have to kill someone that night. The four townspeople definitely weren’t helping. She felt the most affronted by the physical and verbal threats from the late prime minister’s wife and the yard captain. Honestly. Did they really think she was that weak? She had a wand! Nevertheless, Sky bit her tongue, and floated toward Willhardt. She stuffed her wand into her pocket, and began to undo his bonds.
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Asexual
zeph!
tired + busy but i'd like to say hello again :]
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Post by zeph! on Aug 10, 2019 20:18:39 GMT -5
Madeline grimaced at the jarring noise of the bells. What was that about? She fiddled with the coins in her hand, recounting them in an attempt to distract herself from the worry blooming in her mind. Her attention was soon diverted, however, as she watched Eliyen’s dramatic entrance. She began to notice the tension in the air, it quickly worming into her thoughts. It wasn’t long until she started to panic. The barkeeper was tellibg the truth. But did that mean anyone who went out after dark would disappear? She desperately hoped not- the girl had no idea how far the next town was, and she’d most likely have to camp one night. She’d be sure to vanish. Her parents would be worried- Madeline was supposed to be in the city by next Friday. Would they go looking for her? What if they disappeared too? That thought had her more alarmed than ever. She clutched her bag by the strap with one hand, knuckles white. It was a surprise it didn’t break. She had to know more before she left the next day- without eavesdropping, it wasn’t as efficient. Ugh. She edged closer to Noah and Eliyen, her hand still on the strap. “Um, hello.” She muttered, looking slightly abashed despite the faint smile she was trying to keep on her face. “Do you mind telling me more about the disappearances? I want to be informed before I leave.”
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Aug 10, 2019 20:23:56 GMT -5
(Dia, you go to such lengths to disprove my poor one-legged theory that one of this lot was a blinker. I give up! I give up! XD )
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Aug 10, 2019 20:30:22 GMT -5
“You too.” Kelsier confirmed, relieved to hear it was mutual. Maybe they were just moving further apart after all...he hoped so. If it wasn’t, there was another layer to this room he didn’t know about yet, and that wasn’t something he wanted to deal with right now. Right now, he wanted to build a ladder and get back into the same room so they could deal with this together. “I have to warn you, I’m not much of a singer.” He replied, pushing away his worry for the moment in favor of solving the problem he knew existed. Like the fact that his pole was in several pieces, looked easy to put together, and probably was actually very complicated. “I don’t know if it’s kind or not. Honestly, I don’t even know whether or not it’s actual a living thing or just the aftermath of some weird magical accident. There’s a lot about my own world I don’t know, pretending to understand another one would just be arrogant.” Ha. There. He smiled as two of the long poles slid easily together. The House seemed bent on making him a pessimist, but today he was going back to the side of optimism if it killed him. “My pole is in several pieces, but I think my door is higher than yours, so it’s probably-“ he grunted as he lifted it up against the wall. It didn’t reach the door, but he thought he could make it with a well timed jump. “-fine. Then we can deal with what happens next.”
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