|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 12, 2019 20:44:55 GMT -5
The shift in the atmosphere was noticeable, though Romi couldn’t have said what the issue was right away. She noticed Derek’s lack of a response immediately, knew that she herself was being a bit overly paranoid for no good reason. Adjusting her grip so that she could hold the bear better with one arm, she reached out toward Derek. Not grabbing or touching him, but just lingering nearby. “Hey, sugar,” she murmured gently, kept her tone quiet and unhurried, not like the giddy excitement from before. She didn’t want to startle him, if the sudden quietness had anything to do with his DID. “Are you okay?”
Was he in the middle of a switch? That was what the textbooks and Derek himself called it, though she was unsure if she was using it in the proper context. Still, she didn’t know what Derek’s unique signs for it were yet.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 12, 2019 20:56:02 GMT -5
Slowly, Derek forced himself to focus on Romi as she spoke. He gave a slow nod in an attempt to clear his head. "Y-yeah, I, uh, I just f-feel weird..." he muttered. Reaching up, he rubbed his temples with the palm of his hands, as if that would sort all everything. "A-and everyone's moved up front in my brain. Things are crowded. I might switch soon, so i-if I start blinking a lot or twitching, that's what's going on. I have n-no idea who will take my place, though."
The boy shook his head and looked up to meet the witch's eyes. "S-should we keep going?" he asked, thinking the sooner they moved on, maybe the strange feeling would resolve itself. He could only hope. Maybe it things returned to normal, Winter would at least move back a bit. If Sam took over, he knew the protector wouldn't be far, but if he didn't, then he didn't need to have him co-hosting. Of course, he had no more control over Winter than if he was a separate being, but he could hope that's what he would do. "Maybe to a quieter spot?" If they were away from the distractions, maybe Sam would loose interest. He felt bad for trying to prevent Sam from experiencing the carnival, but he didn't want to burden Romi with him right now.
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 12, 2019 21:09:21 GMT -5
Romi felt proud of herself for at least being somewhat right. That meant she was learning how to properly judge the situation and Derek’s personal quirks, that she was learning the signs of his particular case of DID and how the others inhabiting the same space all coexisted with one another. She wasn’t happy that his head felt so crowded, though, and gave him a sympathetic smile. “I’ll keep an eye out,” she promised, whether or not it would offer him any comfort, she didn’t know. Of course she meant it — she would look after him, after all of them — but that didn’t necessarily mean Derek would feel any better. Wouldn’t stop her from doing it no matter what. He needed a friend to look out for him.
A quiet spot sounded like a good place to be. Romi glanced around in search of a place that might offer a bit more privacy, settled on an old wooden table near a peacefully bubbling fountain. Water sprayed up into the air, turned red and orange by the neighboring lights. It was not only quiet, but secluded and rather serene. “Let’s sit down for a bit,” Romi suggested, as she placed her bear on the seat beside her so that she could face Derek. She might have offered to get him a snack, except that she was afraid to leave him alone. Winter could take care of himself, like he said, but she didn’t want poor Sam wandering around this place all on his own. Plus, it would be awful to come back and find them gone, no matter who was in control. “Do you need anything, Derek?”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 12, 2019 21:26:10 GMT -5
It did feel nice knowing that he didn't have to be on complete guard like he normal had to be. Whenever out and about, he walked a thin line to make sure he switched as little as possible. It wasn't something he could control, or any of them really. Yes, they could force switches, but that wasn't really recommended. It all just depended on who was where on any given moment. It helped some that their system was comprised of only three people. Some systems could contain forty or more alters in one body. Having three meant there was a lot more space and time in between the switches. Even still, he was always thinking of where he was and what he was doing in case a switch happened. Knowing that Romi was there to keep an eye on him lifted a bit of that burden from his shoulders.
He followed her over to the fountain, glad for the small space of calm. He did as he was told and sat down at the table, propping his elbows on the surface so he could hold his head. "N-no, I'm fine," he muttered. It wasn't like he didn't deal with this on a daily basis. He paused for a moment, listening to the internal dialog going on in his head. Winter was making vain efforts to tell Sam why he didn't need to see the carnival, but the kid wasn't having it. He would get his way sooner or later. Derek just hoped it was later. "D-do you feel strange here?" he asked, pulling himself back to the outside world. "E-Ever since we g-got in here, i-it's been weird. T-the air.. It feels.." he wasn't entirely sure how to describe it to her in a way that made a lick of sense. So he just kind of left his statement where it was in hopes she would be able to understand his meaning.
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 12, 2019 21:36:03 GMT -5
Derek didn’t need to explain any further for Romi to understand what he meant by his question. The air most certainly did feel strange, ever since they arrived. At first it was simply the buzz of magic, which was not uncommon during the autumn season at night, but then it shifted. Changed into a stifling, heavy feeling that weighed down her shoulders, clawed at her spine and left her cold. She didn’t know what to compare it to, as the sensation was unfamiliar. “I feel off. I have since I bought our tickets and that man flinched away from me. I don’t know what it is, but something seems a bit odd,” she answered honestly. Off and different. On edge, wary. Afraid that her paranoia was warrant and they were being watched by someone, for one reason or another. “I’ve never felt like this.”
Not a good sign. It meant she didn’t know what was going on, what could happen, or if they were in any real danger.
That feeling of being watched had only grown worse. Their little corner of the carnival seemed a tad too dark all of a sudden. “Maybe we should leave,” she mumbled, not wanting to put an end to their night so early, but she didn’t want to risk it. “You don’t have to go home yet, though. You can come back to my dorm with me.”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 13, 2019 8:23:08 GMT -5
Having Romi agree that things weren't right only mad his own anxious feelings grow worse. They shouldn't have come here. What if it was his father? Had he tracked him down already? It was a thirty minute drive from their house to the campus, so it could have been. Yet he never experienced such an atmosphere in his presence. At least, that was during the day. Didn't Romi say demons were stronger at night? Normally, Winter took over by this time, so he wouldn't know.
"W-we should l-leave," he agreed. Guilt flooded him, knowing he was partly ruining what was supposed to be a fun night, but they had just gotten here and he was already asking to leave. Not a great start to whatever friendship they were forming, he thought. But fear and worry were too deeply rooted in him now to stop imagining his father hiding in every shadow or appearing from the crowd around them. Best to leave now before something bad happened.
He was just rising to his feet when a new wave of whatever was charging the air hit him, freezing him where he stood. The strong sense of dread and malice, the need to run, to hide, to be anywhere else but there. His breath caught in his throat, and Winter was loud in his mind, the message clear: They had been found. A second later, a heavy hand clamped down on his shoulder and all the color drained from his face. He didn't have to turn around to know who was behind him. The way the fingers dug into his shoulder was telltale enough, followed by the same cold voice. "So this is were you've run off to, huh?"
Behind him, seeming to tower over the know trembling boy, stood a man much larger in bulk and height than Derek. His features were harsh and stern, hair and eyes black. There was little resemblance between the two, but there were little details, nose shape, tilt of the eyes, the way they spoke, that signaled that this was indeed his father. Derek quickly shook his head, trying to turn in his father's grip to face him. "N-no! I-I w-wasn't ru-running! I-I just w-wanted to...t-to see w-what was g-going on-n," he spoke, voice desperate. It made little difference in the end.
Quicker than anyone could have seen, the hand that held the boy was removed, only to send a vicious slap across the face. The force of the blow floored him. A whimper was all that escaped as he crumbled to the ground, stunned scared. "And with a little witch on top of all things," he continued, glancing in the girl's direction. "Oh, isn't this hilarious? Witches won't help you, boy. If you were smart enough, you'd know that." Bending down, he grabbed Derek by the back of the neck and hauled him up as if he was nothing more than a rag-doll.
Derek, for his part, looked close to tears. He could feel Winter present, trying to take over, but it wasn't working. He was stuck as host, something that happened from time to time. Sometimes one of them would become stuck in the body, especially after a traumatic occurrence. Sam would get stuck if he had a fit of PTSD, or Winter might get stuck when there was too much mental breakdown going on inside. This might not be the cases all the time, but as far as they had experiences with it, that was what they could think of that caused these moments. Of course, he had to get stuck in a time like this. He was already in too much trouble, so fighting or pleading would only make things worse. So he just stood/dangled there in his father's grip, hoping he wouldn't do anything to hurt Romi, or that Romi wouldn't try and do anything. Demon or not, his father was cruel. Witch or not, he knew Romi would get hurt if she stepped in.
( ^^^ Disclaimer on this, I don't know the actual causes for alters getting stuck. I've seen it happen to the YouTuber I watch, but I don't think she gave an actual reason why it happens. So I could be wrong. I'm just going to go with that, and if I happen to find out more info, than I will correct it the next time it pops up.)
(Out of curiosity, did you have something in mind that should happen here? Or is this all foreshadowing? Either is fine, and I like it. I just didn't want to do anything that would complicate your idea.)
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 10:24:55 GMT -5
(( Mostly foreshadowing for something bigger that’s going on. I was thinking that people who are part demon like Derek would basically be magnets for trouble. But we could definitely have something happen, if you want! It wouldn’t ruin any plans or anything. Maybe a run-in with Derek’s dad or a different demon/creature? ))
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 13:04:35 GMT -5
(( A run-in with Derek’s dad would be interesting! Having him show up and be a general jerk could be a good way to get the plot rolling. ))
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 13:53:47 GMT -5
(( Sure! ))
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 15:26:13 GMT -5
(( It’s okay, don’t worry about it! Write what you think fits best. Considering we’re combining a real life disorder with supernatural elements, I think that the way you write Derek and the others is very realistic and believable. I love reading your replies. ))
A sound like thunder reached Romi’s ears, the crack of the man’s hand against Derek’s cheek. The low, malicious booming of his angry voice. Taunting and sneering, that this little witch could do nothing to help. A sharp spike of anger burned her chest, shook her hands and shoulders. How could he do that — how could he call his own son stupid, how could he harm him so cruelly? Demon or not, it was despicable, deplorable, a crime in every definition of the word. The man deserved a fate worse than death, to know what it was like to be too scared to go home, to never know what it meant to have a friend or loved ones.
He didn’t deserve to have Derek or Winter or Sam as a son.
“Don’t touch him!” Romi spat as she leapt to her feet and with not a trace of fear in her burning eyes, grabbed onto the man’s arm. The necklace at her throat was hot against her skin, burning, warning her of evil and danger. She knew what that evil was, face to face with it now. She wasn’t physically strong enough to force the man to let go on her own, but magic was a powerful tool, and her nails were sharp as claws as she dug them into his skin with as much strength as she could muster. Her nails might have been claws, for all she knew; she didn’t have a solid understanding of her own magic yet. Couldn’t control it well enough to know. She didn’t stop, even when she knew he was bleeding. It hurt her hands, to hold onto him so tightly, but her grip was like a vice. “Let him go or I swear, you’ll regret it. You’ll regret the day you ever met me. Let him go.”
This witch was going to help Derek no matter what happened. Romi knew that this would end badly — she was going to get hurt, one way or another. She might even lose this fight. That wouldn’t stop her from trying to protect her new friend, though, and it wouldn’t stop her from pummeling this piece of demon garbage into the ground for how poorly he had treated his own kid.
The lights above them were flickering, popping in a shower of sparks and glass. Somewhere nearby, a popcorn machine burst into flames. Whether it was the work of the demon’s influence or Romi’s own magic spiraling out of control, she didn’t know. It could have been both, could have been either. Her magic hadn’t been so unpredictable since she was a child, barely able to use or understand it, and now it was all rushing in full force. Magic resulting from strong emotions was often dangerous, volatile and destructive.
“You’re going to let Derek go and you’re going to leave,” Andromeda whispered, her voice soft and deadly. She was scared for Derek, for his safety and health, but not of this monster. The fountain beside them was bubbling violently, a sound that almost drowned out her next words. “I’m not afraid to use magic in public.”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 13, 2019 15:58:33 GMT -5
(Thanks! I feel like their determining what's going on with the switches more than I do. XD )
Amusement sparked in his dark eyes as the girl demanded he would release her. "And you'll do what, witch?" he spat the word as if it was a curse on its own. "Will you try to bind me? Banish me? I doubt you would have the -" his words were cut off as her nails dung into his arm. Hissing with pain, he snarled at her. Human teeth took on a more sharper appearance, his own hand forming claws and skin tinting to a darker shade as he started to morph. However, he didn't let it happen for long as he regained control over himself. Though her fingers stabbing his arm wasn't pleasant, it wasn't the worst he'd ever experienced.
Instead, the man just laughed, throwing his presence out around them. He was the one that was responsible for the lights exploding, allowing the darkness to creep upon their portion of the grounds. The air grew colder. An essence of hunger and misery clung to the edges of shadows. "And risk the life of my worthless whelp?" he asked. In one swift movement, he brought the arm Romi was clutching up and forced her away. She might use magic, but it would do little without the proper spells and symbols. Charms were useless against him, as he had already had the pleasure of finding out. Then moved so Derek was more in between him and her. "I don't know why you've grown attached to him. He's not even capable of much. Hardly worth being even a measly familiar. Waste of flesh really, but if you need something submissive, I guess you found a decent choice. Not that I'll allow you to take him, though. He's still very much under my care, and will stay that way."
All the while, Derek had closed his eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks. He should try to tell Romi to leave. To just walk away and leave him be. It would be better this way. He wanted to beg for help, but knew better. If Winter were there, he would fight, spit, shout, do something to defy this monster. Yet he could do nothing. Claws were dangerously close to piercing his neck, and self-preservation was all he cared for. He felt like a coward, but what was he to do? His primary focus was not to do anything that would cause him or his system harm. If that meant leaving Romi to fend for herself, well, at least she was much better prepared than he was. That didn't mean he could stand to look at her while it happened.
"Tell me, little witch, what would you do if I simply..?" the man continued, shifting so he held Derek's head between large hands and letting the sentence go unfinished. Let her ponder the threat that he had started, for there were many outcomes of this scenario. A whimper sounded from the boy, but that was it. How many times had he threatened this same thing or worse? Toying with him, tormenting him. Every time, the boy could never tell if he was telling the truth or not. "Would I put an end to whatever amusement you've found?
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 16:30:28 GMT -5
Being shoved away hurt — on another day, she might have flinched. As it was, she caught herself and stood her ground. Disgusting black blood covered the nails of her hand, reeling of death and eating away at her skin like acid. Derek’s head was being gripped between the man’s hands, like a measly watermelon about to be smashed. The thought caused her stomach to churn, ice to flood her veins. Perhaps the dark sense of dread and the cold chill under her skin was simply the work of the demon’s influence, but nothing chilled her more than the thought of him hurting Derek. “Don’t,” she said, quickly, and had to stop herself from reaching forward. Begging wasn’t something she would ever do and she knew that the demon would only be amused by it. He would never listen to any pleas for mercy.
What could she do? How could she fix this slowly worsening situation? Her mind was reeling, struggling to come up with a reasonable solution. As smart as she was, she was also young, inexperienced, and a bit sheltered. Romi had never met nor dealt with a demon before yesterday, she knew no spells to help her out. Drawing a blank at a time like this could be a fatal mistake.
“I would hunt you down like the rat you are,” she snapped, answering his question the only way she knew how: with attitude. All she could hope was that it at least bought her a little time. Part of her doubted that he would really kill Derek, not if he was this determined to keep him, but he was clearly not against hurting the poor guy. She didn’t want that to happen. “And you’d make more than one enemy.”
A thought popped into her head and she didn’t think twice before putting it into action. In her back pocket lied a glass vial, filled to the brim with salt. She never left home without it, on account of her parents being paranoid. It wouldn’t do too much, probably, but it might create a nice distraction. Grasping the vial, she slowly held onto it, and waited. When she threw it, she aimed at the man’s face, though it was anyone’s guess if it would hit or not. Her goal was to make him let go of Derek. If she could get him out of harm’s way, she could do whatever she liked without worrying about his skill being crushed like a grape.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 13, 2019 16:54:08 GMT -5
The man saw the vial being flung at him and he easily knocked it away. However, the force in which he did so did cause the vial to break. Salt found its way into the wounds left by the witch's nails, and the man hissed once more in both pain and annoyance. Again, it was tolerable, and it also gave him some good information about the girl before him. He chuckled once more. "You've never meet a demon, have you?" he asked. "Big words for someone so young. I've half a mind to let you join my son in his lessons. You might be able to learn faster than he can about what it means to be a demon. But, as you say, I'd make more than one enemy. You witches are like a hornet's nest. I have no interest in you."
He once more grabbed Derek, who could hardly stand on his own at this point from shaking. The boy's face twitched slightly as he was more or less dragged towards the shadows. They would leave the same way his father had gotten there. Witches weren't the only ones who could transport themselves. Granted, they wouldn't be able to get far since both were only half demon, but they could leave the carnival at the very least until the man was able to transform into his demonic form.
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 18:05:32 GMT -5
(( Nooo poor Derek needs to be loved and Romi’s over here calling in the back up lmao. We can skip or continue from here if you want. I can just edit this post! ))
If witches were like a hornet’s nest, then Derek’s father had just thrown a stone at the hive. Romi was furious. So mad that she was shaking, standing there by herself in the dark, cold from more than just the strong nighttime breeze. She wanted to scream at the employee that swept by the ask if she was alright. In the end, she wound up scowling, giving him a snappy answer, and crossing her arms.
Romi wasn’t about to give up so easily.
With trembling hands, she yanked her phone from her pocket and called the one person she told herself she wasn’t going to call once she started college. She was never going to hear the end of it, either, but now she was ten times as worried about Derek as she was before. His father was much worse than she could have imagined and the thought of Derek being with him made her skin crawl. It was her last resort and she hoped it worked.
“Hey, I need your help,” she said as soon as she heard the tone of the phone being picked up. “Please. It’s an emergency. And don’t go telling ma and pa about it, either. Just...please? I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” When she got what she wanted, she almost jumped. “Yes, thank you, thank you! Can you get here tonight?”
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 18:20:19 GMT -5
(( Lol yes, when in doubt get an older brother involved. xD Sure, I’ll work on a starter! ))
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 19:12:57 GMT -5
(( That works for me! ))
|
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 20:37:23 GMT -5
Andromeda spent the following days searching desperately for Derek. In the cafeteria, the library, around campus and in classrooms. She came to realize that she knew very little about the man — not his last name or major, whether or not he spent a lot of his time on campus outside of class. She knew he liked the library, but when she went to search, she could never find him outside the building or around the main room. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that she was worried sick over his well being. Her hair was messy today, she didn’t bother putting on any makeup, and she couldn’t get a wink of sleep. Every little noise put her on edge, though she was not normally a jumpy woman.
Her only comfort came from the tall, bulky man that followed leisurely in her wake. The same dark reddish hair, tan skin, the very same nose and blue-gray eyes. A relative to be sure, despite how he loomed over the much shorter woman.
“I can’t find him anywhere,” she sighed, rubbing her face with her hands. Two days of fruitless searches had driven her into a state of perpetual worry that something truly awful had happened to Derek. “His father is a nightmare, Aries. He’s awful. I’m worried he did something to him, I’m worried that we won’t find—”
“Whoa, whoa, easy, Andy. Take a deep breath, alright? We’ll find him. From what you told me, it’s unlikely that his father would’ve killed him over yesterday,” Aries rumbled in a deep, steady voice. He had his hands shoved into his back pockets, sunglasses pulled down low over his eyes. “Which I’ll say was a very stupid thing to do, for the record. He could have killed you and then where would I be? At your funeral telling stories of your idiotic life decisions. Now, come on. Let’s check the library again — my familiar said he spotted someone fitting his description there a couple minutes ago.”
When they reached the library, said familiar was perched on the stone wall, tail lashing from side to side. A fluffy brown fur ball, with a squashed face and unfriendly yellow eyes. He lifted his head at Aries’s approach, jumping down to walk along his side as they entered the building. In the split second it took to open the door and get inside, what was once a grumpy cat was now an equally grumpy man. Shorter than Aries, but fit with broad shoulders, dressed simply. He jerked his thumb to the back area of the library, toward the private rooms. “He’s there.”
“Appreciate the help, as always, Gil,” Aries said and patted the man on the back. He would have preferred to take the lead, but Romi beat him to it as she practically rushed to the door and knocked on the wood a couple times. She was an antsy mess.
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 13, 2019 21:20:05 GMT -5
The past two days hadn't been fun. Derek was lucky the night of the carnival. By the time they reached their home, Winter had made it out, but no matter how much he fought, there was no winning. He simply wasn't strong enough to compete with the man. If there was anything he was thankful for was the fact he had been knocked unconscious before too long. Demon spawn he might have been, his human body could still only take so much. Mentally, he had been spared, but physically he still bared the aftermath.
Due to his anger, his father hadn't been as careful. Usually, he left his face alone. Everywhere else could be covered with an article of clothing. Not this time. Today, his face still sported the bruise left by the initial slap, as well as a torn bottom lip that was just beginning to heal. About his neck, just barely covered by the color of his shirt, was a burn mark that perfectly encased his throat. When he walked, he did so with a limp. Something had been bruised or cracked around his left hip, and he wasn't sure what it was exactly. It hurt like hell, but he wasn't going to let it stop him from leaving home.
The day started off with Derek in control. The boy, drained and feeling more dead than he looked, contemplated even getting out of bed. If he didn't, he would just stay in the house within easy reach for the next beating. So he, quiet literally, dragged himself out of bed, changed, and left the house. His father drove him to school. Why? Who knows. It never made much sense to him why he would be so concerned that he continued his education when it was clear he could care less about his well being. Yet he did it anyway. There was no goodbyes given. Derek just grabbed his bag and limp towards the building. When he was sure his father had gone, he changed directions. There was no way he was going to make it through his classes. so instead, the boy made it to the library. By then, Sam had made his way out. It had been a while, but the kid, upon entering the safe haven that had become the library and the lovely, grandmotherly figure of Mrs. Smithers, Sam was out and seeking comfort. One look at him, and Mrs. Smithers could tell that was exactly what was going on.
So for the majority of the morning, Sam had sat in the back room, crying and curled up in his bean bag chair while Mrs. Smithers did her best to try and calm him. While he might not have been one of her own grandchildren, that didn't stop the woman from treating him as such. It hurt her heart to see the sweet boy under so much distress. Eventually, the crying stopped and Sam was tucked underneath his borrowed blanket with his favorite stuffed animal, a medium sized penguin that was just the right size for his teenage body to cuddle that he had named Waddles. It wasn't long before he had drifted off to sleep and the librarian, very much worried, returned to her job.
And there he slept rather peacefully. That is, until hurried knocks sounded on the door. Jolting awake, Winter found himself once more in control. He took a second to remember where they had ended up before finding the will to speak. "What?" came the gruff, sleep muddled reply, thinking it must have been Mrs. Smithers coming to check on him. So far, the elderly woman was the only one he could tolerate, and that was just because Derek and Sam both adored her so.
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 13, 2019 21:35:45 GMT -5
Romi pushed the door open slowly and poked her head inside, all concerned gray eyes. She motioned for her brother and his familiar to wait as she slipped inside. There was no need for them to come with her, they would only either frighten Derek with their sheer size or cause trouble by being snappish. Aries and Gil weren’t known for being kind souls, though they were reputable for being a powerful pair. “Hey,” she said quietly, unsure of how to start or what she should say first. If this was Derek — and she couldn’t be too certain that it was — she wanted to apologize. If it was Winter, well.
He had every right to yell at her, after what had happened. She decided to start with an apology no matter who it was.
“I’m sorry,” Romi murmured softly and rubbed her arm with her hand. There were so many bruises on his skin — around his cheek and busted lip, the skin red and blistered across his neck. Her own bandaged hand, burned from exposure to partial demon blood, was nothing in comparison. She couldn’t imagine how much pain he must be in and the guilt weighing down her shoulders was tremendous. “I thought it would be okay...if you spent one night out. I didn’t think your dad would hunt you down in public like that. I’m sorry he hurt you.”
Sorry didn’t feel like a good enough thing to say.
Then, with a deep frown, she added, “But I won’t let him hurt you again. I don’t know anything about demons or how to deal with them, so I called my brother and asked him to help. He’s a lot older and stronger than I am, plus he actually has a familiar. He knows what to do. I was… Last night was bad, but I meant it when I said that I wanted to help. If you’ll let me.”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 14, 2019 9:31:09 GMT -5
The slow footsteps indicated that it was not Mrs Smithers. Opening his eyes, he saw Romi, looking a little worse for wear herself and about as nervous as Derek usually was. He wasn't going to lie, it was good to see her knocked down a peg. While her motives might have had good intentions, but her way about it and her confidence had cost them two days worth of pain. So her humbled approach wasn't going to deter his annoyance and anger.
"And yet, we told you what would happened," Winter muttered."You just had to have that last say, had to do this good deed. Look what your good ideas brought?" Up until now, he had yet to really move from the position Sam had curled up into when he fell asleep. The stuffed animal was still tucked under his arm, but if Winter seemed embarrassed to be seen holding it, he didn't give any indication of being so. However, after his statement, he forced himself up, first sitting, then standing. There was no energy to be found, but still he wanted to prove a point. He wanted her to know what he actions and plans created without an inkling of understanding had caused. Standing up as straight as he could managed, he limped a step towards her, grey-blue eyes cold as he tried hiding any signs of pain. He reached up and pulled the shirt collar away a bit to expose the burn.
"Because of you, I had to get the collar again," he spat, his exhaustion the only thing saving her from the full force of his own seething fury. "Have you ever had to wear a chunk of pure silver clamped around your throat for hours on end? There's no way to take it off. It just sits there and burns. Never enough to kill, but enough to make sure the wearer doesn't get a moment's worth of peace. Have you ever had it chained to the wall that it prevented you from falling to the ground. If you can't stand, well, getting choked is like a walk in the park."
He let go of his shirt and glared at her. "You might be sorry your plans didn't go as you wanted, but I highly doubt you're sorry for it all. If you knew nothing of what you were getting into, than you shouldn't have gotten into it in the first place. I don't want your help, much less your brother's. I don't want Derek to want it, but he's the one with the need for human companionship. What I want is for you to go back to wherever you came from, and leave us alone. Last night wasn't even a scratch on the surface of the hell we go through. It only gets worse."
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 14, 2019 9:54:03 GMT -5
It was true. Winter had warned her of the consequences of interfering, that it would lead to bad things for him and the others. She was foolish to think that one night would be okay, that just a single night of fun would be safe. She was wrong and she knew that.
Romi folded her arms and looked at Winter, at the burns on his neck and the bruise on his cheek. “I thought it would be okay to let Derek have a fun night. He deserves to have fun. You deserve to have fun. I am sorry, that I had a stupid plan and that you got hurt because of it. I should have been more careful.”
Being guilty and sorry didn’t mean she was willing to back down.
“That’s why I want to help you, Winter! Because — because he does things like that to you, because he hurts you. He forces you to wear a silver collar and he hits you and he makes you bleed,” Romi shot back, not angry so much as she was frustrated. She wanted to take him away from such a horrible life, wanted to treat his wounds and give him a safe place to stay. A place where he would never be hit or treated like garbage, no matter how much attitude he gave her. “I don’t want you to go back to a home where you’re not safe, where every little choice might get you punished. He’s a monster and he has no right to control your life the way he does.”
It was awful, knowing that he had to live in fear, in danger. No one should have to do that.
“Please just hear me out, okay? You deserve to have a good home, Winter. Think about it for a second. A home where Sam doesn’t have to be scared, where Derek doesn’t have to worry about tiptoeing around your father, and where you don’t have to worry about how you’re going to keep them safe,” she said softly and though she stayed where she was, she held his gaze. “They feel all the same pain you do. Is that really protecting them at all? Let my brother deal with your dad. Come stay with me. I know you don’t like me and I haven’t made the best choices, but I care about you.”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 14, 2019 10:27:53 GMT -5
Silence followed her words. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, she was right on a few things. Derek and Sam deserved a place where they didn't have to constantly look over their shoulders. A place where Sam could run around without needing constant supervision. A place where Derek might be able to make friends and live outside of isolation. Winter didn't so much care what he got, so long as the other two were happy and healthy. But what was he to do? Running was out of the question. Fight was what he wanted to do, but this body was kept in poor condition that it couldn't put up much of a fight. He might try to figure out how to transform into a demon, but he didn't know if the others would know what was happening or not. After all, their physical body would be changing. Surely that had to do something mentally. Romi was also correct when she said they felt all the pain he did, just more in the aftermath and not in the moment. They felt every little bruise, burn, and break he endured whenever they took over, the echoes of long nights he shielded them from. He couldn't protect them from the physical pain, but he could protect them from the toll it took on the mind.
"And what will happen when your brother is killed?" Winter asked. "What will happen when you discover you led your brother to a fight that ended his life? Will you try and get vengeance? Will you regret it? What will happen when it's you're own flesh and blood that's caught in the cross-fire instead of a demon spawn?
Besides," he continued, voice steeling and taking on a more growled tone, "if that man dies, it's going to be by my hands. He's not leaving this world until he's known the pain he's inflicted for the passed twenty years of our life. I intend to see that much is carried out, and I'm going to savor every moment of it. You will not get in the way of that."
(Yeah, the more I bring Winter out, the more I realize, "This boy's broken." Like, Sam and Derek might have a lot of PTSD and what not, but it's Winter who's going to become a psychopath. XD I don't know how this happened. He wasn't supposed to be this way, but this is what we got, lol.)
|
|
|
Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Oct 14, 2019 14:36:28 GMT -5
(( Winter wants to watch the world burn and the other two just want to be happy ))
Romi felt mildly insulted that Winter thought she would care more about “her own flesh and blood” being killed than she would “a half-demon spawn”. This wasn’t a contest of who meant more to her — frankly, she would have been equally upset to lose Winter or Derek as she would be to lose Aries. It wasn’t like they had known each other forever, but a life was a life, and she would still mourn if she happened to lose him. She didn’t want to lose anyone. “Winter, just because we aren’t best friends doesn’t mean I want to see you get killed,” she argued. “And my brother isn’t going to—”
“Pardon the interruption,” a voice called out from the other side of the door, which cracked open and almost hit Romi in the leg. Aries leaned halfway inside, so tall that he needed to duck down a little to avoid hitting his head on the doorframe. He looked calm, composed and maybe just a little sleepy. “I didn’t portal all the way here to stand outside and listen to the two of you argue. I’m here to banish a demon. Although, from what I hear, this young man would prefer to do the banishing himself. I can respect a man who likes to take care of his own problems.”
He mimicked the same pose that Romi stood in, with his arms crossed, but his entire demeanor was different. Confident, collected and very sure of himself. “Listen, you’re a grown man. Make your own decisions, go where you want to, do what you want to. I really don’t care. But I didn’t come here for no reason, so let’s make a deal, yeah? There’s a reliable way to get rid of pesky demons and all you really need is the proper supplies. I’ve done it quite a few times in the past hundred years.” The man stuck a single hand out to Winter, his knuckles scarred and calloused. “So let’s make a deal, Mr. Demon Spawn. I give you everything you need to make your father disappear and you watch after my foolish baby sister.”
|
|
*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
|
Post by *Nightwhisper on Oct 14, 2019 18:30:51 GMT -5
(Pretty much. XD)
Winter prepared for the comeback as she started talking, wishing she would just get the hint. All she's done is made their lives worse so far, and he wasn't about to let her weasel her way in to be a permanent figure to anyone in his system. He ever got to say whatever jagged response he wanted to make. Romi didn't even get a chance to finished speaking because the door opened a bit.
In stepped in a mountain of a man, same hair and eyes as Romi, but that was where a the similarities stopped. Winter couldn't stop himself from limping back a few steps, instantly on high alert. He had a great aversion to people of that build and size thanks to his father's demon form. So he watched this newcomer with distrustful eyes. This man he could easily believe to be a witch or whatever magic user title he claimed, and Winter was certain he meant what he said about knowing how to easily dispose of demons. When he offered out a hand towards him, the boy jumped back, lips drawing back in a snarl out of reflex, only after the fact did he realize that he was just offering a handshake.
"And why should I trust you?" Winter questioned. For all he knew, this new man might see this as a chance to rid the world of two demons while he had the chance. Romi might want to help him, but there was nothing to say that her brother did. Sure, he seemed calmed and collected now, but he knew that some people were good with hiding their true intentions.
|
|