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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 9, 2020 2:15:55 GMT -5
In actual contrast to sleeping on the bed, which Myrnin had no intention of doing, he ended up changing out of his bloodstained clothing, tossed it toward the back of the closest, and put on something which was likely considered odd by most standards. It matched well enough to what he'd previously had on. The theme, that was. Nothing actually matched.
He found a hat too. Several. Nice.
Then whatever he'd tried on instead? It ended up on the floor. He ended up on the floor too. Minimum softness and maximum amount of sleep. He was fairly curled up only. He was fairly certain the boy hadn't gone anywhere, so he was probably doing the same thing. Good.
Sleep was easy compared to the nagging hunger. And he didn't really acknowledge the other not-human's words. Heard them yes.
But he couldn't make those promises ...
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 9, 2020 2:38:23 GMT -5
Maybe they were both threats. Both dangerous. Kelsier didn’t know for sure how dangerous he actually was, and he had a suspicion that Orsino was the stronger of the two of them, but he didn’t actually know that. The tiny influence he’d had seemed like nothing in comparison to what the boy had just done, after all.
He tensed when Orsino’s eyes closed for a few seconds, and relaxed again as they opened. He was trying to stay calm and focus on the problem at hand, because that was what he needed to do, but that was a little bit hard when he didn’t actually know what he needed to do. Something to stop the bleeding, naturally. He needed to get to Orsino, he needed to stop standing back and just….go.
He didn’t, though. Because he had to take it slow. Because he couldn’t risk the kid panicking. Mostly the latter reason.
“Good.” He said, smiling. “That was the idea.”
He hesitates. Then he came just a step closer, stopping again and standing still. “Don’t.” He said softly, shaking his head. “Don’t do it. Don’t sleep. Please, don’t sleep.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 9, 2020 2:47:35 GMT -5
Nico could hear something in Kelsier's voice, but he couldn't quite place what it was. Concern? Worry? It seemed odd that Kelsier would have such feelings towards him. After all... if hew as responsible for the shadows, wasn't it possible he had hurt Sam? They didn't know where Sam was, didn't know how to get to him... the thoughts flitted through Nico's head for a moment before they were gone again.
He watched as Kelsier came closer, noting the way he tensed at the feeling of someone coming closer. It wasn't just Kelsier. Did the man know that? Did he know that though he was exacerbating Nico's fear, he wasn't the root cause of it? Nico didn't remember the root cause. He doubted he ever would.
He didn't trust Kelsier. How could he, after the start they had? But now, for whatever reason, he didn't believe Kelsier wanted to hurt him. He'd had plenty of chances to in the past several minutes, had he actually wanted to. And yet Nico was still alive. Injured, yes, but not by Kelsier.
"I'm trying," he mumbled, glancing up at Kelsier. "I don't... I don't want..." whatever it was he was going to say faded as a particularly large tremor tore through him.
"Am I still bleeding?" he asked in a tiny, detached voice, with the same tone someone might have used to inquire about whether it was still raining outside.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 9, 2020 3:14:39 GMT -5
Well, considering the fact that this whole group was growing more awkward by the second, Macon really wasn't sure what to do. Other than the distraction which came from hearing someone else not far off.
Macon turned just a little, angling his body in the direction of the faint noise of someone approaching.
"There's someone coming?" he said. He didn't sound surprised, but he was. He hadn't thought there were any other people here. He hadn't thought there was any reason to assume that they weren't completely alone and Skye's observations had turned up no one. So what else had he supposed to have assumed?
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 9, 2020 19:49:45 GMT -5
Kelsier was worried about Sam, of course he was. He was more worried about Sam than he was about himself at the moment. What had made him attack?
But he was mostly worried about Orsino, because Sam probably wasn’t in danger of bleeding out right now, and Orsino was. Hopefully the other boy had found shade, at least. He would rather not get out of here and find anyone dead, though he the man who had done this might have a few…questions…to answer when they found him.
He didn’t want to come any closer. He didn’t want Orsino to panic. He didn’t know why, but he thought that was likely to make the bleeding a lot worse, and he’d lost a lot of blood as it was. But Kel had lost blood too, and it was hard to think clearly, and he kept moving, step after step, closing the distance one small movement at a time.
Was it him? Was he the reason for Orsino’s fear? He didn’t know, and at the moment it didn’t matter, because he was the only person who could help, and he wouldn’t let the kid die. He wouldn’t do that.
He was finally close enough to look at the wound, and he knelt by Orsino, still keeping a small gap between them, though he doubted it was big enough now. He inspected the wound, his expression dark and searching.
“Little bit. You’ll be fine.” He said lightly, and he smiled. “I’m just going to put some pressure on the wound, okay? Just to stop the bleeding. May I?”
Rue was still moving. The shadows wrapped around her comfortably, though she did occasionally have to blur across a patch of sun, which hurt. She stopped at last, not out of breath but feeling odd, feeling…
She was hungry. And she smelled something. She raised her head, tasting the air like a cat. Something was making her hungrier, something…
Rue closed her eyes, fighting it for just a moment longer.
No.
And then she was moving towards the smell, the sound of a heartbeat drawing her in. Two heartbeats, actually. She could tell as she got closer where they were, she could feel them, she needed…
Hungry. Hungry. Hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hung-
She blurred towards them. The smaller one was the easier target, so she ignored the two taller ones, her eyes burning crimson and her fangs snapping down in an instant.
And Rue leapt at the boy, making no sound at all, her body shooting forward like an arrow.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 9, 2020 23:42:50 GMT -5
The temperature inside the shadows got steadily colder the closer Kelsier came, but Nico didn't say anything. He didn't try to move back. He could do this, he could sit there without panicking and let Kelsier help, because there wasn't a whole lot Kelsier could do to him unarmed. Well, actually there were plenty of things he could do unarmed, but Kelsier didn't seem the type to play nice and then attack. He had been perfectly forthright about wanting to attack when they'd first arrived. Had that only been a few hours ago? It felt like much longer.
Lightly, he tilted his head so Kelsier could get a better view of his bleeding neck. He was too scared to talk. Too frightened to give his verbal permission for Kelsier to try to staunch the bleeding. But he could give him this much, even if his body was shaking and his fear was radiating from him so strongly it was nearly tangible.
He loosened his hold on the cloak, too, in case that was what Kelsier wanted to use to help with the bleeding.
He watched carefully, shrinking back a little bit as Kelsier reached forward, but he did his best to stay still.
-
"What?" Orpheus' voice was surprised by Macon's statement, and he immediately straightened up, looking around. Whatever was happening with Macon's dream eating could wait if there was someone else here. It was possible that whoever it was had answers, or at the very least, that they weren't alone in whatever had happened to them. Another person was a good thing. If it were an adult, perhaps they would consent to their dreams being taken too, so Orpheus wouldn't be Macon's only source of food. It seemed like working out a system could be possible.
And then he saw her, a blur of motion more than anything else, headed right for Skye.
Without having time to warn him, without thinking about it at all, Orpheus leapt forward, pushing Skye behind him and blocking the path the person was taking. Someone moving forward at that speed was dangerous if they crashed into someone, and Skye was right in her path. Better he get hit than the kid.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 10, 2020 0:15:12 GMT -5
Macon's world slowed down a bit. Or it seemed to. He could see the girl moving, at a normal running speed to his mind. Her eyes were red - which by accounts he would have previously thought to be abnormal, but now who knew. He was familiar with the look in her eyes, however, and he frowned. He looked in the direction of Skye and Orpheus, but they seemed to be moving a lot slower - nope, things sped down to normal understanding again. The girl was just fast. Macon stiffened, unsure what to do what so ever. Other than the fact that she seemed to maybe have the same opinion as him. That these two were food. Odd that he didn't consider her like it. Her blood didn't smell right.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Which was a rather tame answer when considered with how badly he had stiffened up. He was very badly stiff. Something was wrong. Something was dangerous, in fact.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 10, 2020 1:46:56 GMT -5
The cold was probably controlled by Orsino as well. That was what Kelsier was gathering, anyway. It seemed like the kid had a lot of powers, actually. Under other circumstances Kelsier might have thought that was a good reason to think he was a threat, but now? Now he was just grateful. Orsino seemed to be using his powers for good, and not bleeding to death, after all.
So much had happened in their short time here. Kelsier knew he’d messed up, he knew he’d picked the wrong threat, but he couldn’t change that now. All he could do was try to figure out what had just happened and how to stop it from happening again.
He hesitated a moment longer, then decided that was as close to permission as he was likely to get. He leaned forward and gently took the cloak, then pressed it against the wound, keeping his movements slow and careful.
“Nothing to worry about.” He said quietly, still smiling. “I can’t say I’ve seen worse, but I probably have. Call it a hunch.”
He didn’t like how scared Orsino was. But better that than dead.
-
Skye looked at Macon, blinking. “What do you - “
And then he was being pushed and he yelped, startled. At first he thought he was being attacked, and then he thought he wasn’t, and then he realized he’d been right the first time as something crashed into Orpheus.
-
Rue was aware of one thing. The hunger that was making her insides seem bent on destroying themselves. The hunger that drowned out everything else. Instinct took over, hot and ruthless and drowning her, and she didn’t care that the smaller one was out of the way, she didn’t care that the taller one had gotten between them. The taller one was still food. Still blood. And that was what mattered.
She bit down, sinking her fangs into his neck and holding him down. She wasn’t weak after all, the thought echoed across her mind as she pinned him, she wasn’t small and helpless like she’d felt. She was so much stronger than she’d thought.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 10, 2020 2:12:13 GMT -5
As frightened as Nico was, as much as his body revolted at the thought of someone coming close, the feeling of someone actually there and not hurting... it felt like it had been much too long since that had happened. It felt... his body curled closer to Kelsier without hesitation, leaning into the closest source of warmth. The feeling of the cloak against his neck hurt, but it wasn't all that bad. Not as bad as whatever he'd been afraid of, at least.
Nico's eyes closed without his volition, and his heartbeat managed to steady itself.
"I have, too," he managed softly, not looking over at Kelsier. "The scars prove it." He hadn't been able to count how many stood out against his too-pale skin, but it was a lot. Many of them probably life threatening.
He didn't know why he was trusting Kelsier. From everything he'd gathered, he shouldn't. But he was exhausted, and Kelsier was being friendly, and Nico didn't want to be the kind of person who was afraid of everything, who put people on edge that easily.
Without even thinking, Nico let himself relax entirely and let his head fall onto Kelsier's lap. His eyes closed after another few moments trying to keep them open, and the shadows wavered just a touch.
-
Orpheus didn't cry out. It occurred to him that he probably should have, but he lay on the ground instead, eyes wide and shocked. He didn't even register the pain at first, just lay there completely unmoving. That... hadn't been what he'd expected, but better him than Skye.
After another few moments, realization hit and he tried to pry the girl up off of him, but found he couldn't. Whoever - whatever - she was, she was strong. His heart was racing, trying to pump more blood to replace what she was taking. He was shaking, he discovered with some surprise. He hadn't expected that.
"If you wouldn't mind," he managed softly, voice shaking with a combination of adrenaline and uncertainty, "I would prefer if you didn't bite me." He could feel his thoughts slowing, desperately scrabbling at some sort of explanation. Was this normal? His head was spinning.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 10, 2020 3:21:24 GMT -5
Macon stared at the small girl for what had to be several seconds. Then he looked at Skye. That look was enough to deem that this was not normal and also apparently supposed to be highly disturbing. Why? He didn't particularly get it. Orpheus seemed usually. The girl seemed frantic and hungry. (It was a familiar reaction, or so he thought.)
But even still, she was being a bit more rude than the boundaries that Orpheus had set up before.
Macon stepped forward and practically grabbed the small girl by the back of her neck.
"Let go now," he said firmly. He could smell the blood. He could tell that was exactly what she was taking.
"Let. Go."
It was as forceful as he could be. Which was hopefully forceful enough, because she was going to get pulled off otherwise.
Macon glanced at Orpheus, then the girl again. He somehow got the impression that he wasn't being as helpful as he could have been.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 10, 2020 10:01:43 GMT -5
Kelsier held the cloak to the boy’s neck, and he was relieved to discover it was perfect for soaking up blood. Probably not intentional, but it worked, and he was grateful to whoever had designed it.
Then Orsino curled closer and Kelsier’s smile stopped being only for his benefit and started being real. The kid was afraid but he was still a kid and he deserved protection, same as Kel had tried to give Sam.
“Yeah, I think we’ve both been through some things.” He agreed softly, glancing again at his scarred arms. He didn’t know it, but there were scars on his face, as well.
He looked at the kid, his expression softening. How had he threatened him? How has he really looked at him and seen nothing but a danger? He didn’t know, he had no idea how his judgement had been that off, and it disturbed him. Why had that been his immediate conclusion?
He felt Orsino relax against him, and he continued holding the cloak to the wound, feeling the blood slowly stop soaking it. Was he still in danger? Kel didn’t think so. If he were going to die from this, he probably would have already done it. Which meant it was probably safe to fall asleep.
Still. The longer he stayed awake, the better his chances seemed.
“Let’s try not to get any more scars, okay?” He murmured, resisting the urge to brush Orsino’s hair out of his face. “Stay awake just a little bit longer. Then you can sleep all you want.”
-
Skye stared. And kept staring. Horror made his eyes widen and the color drained from his face as he stood, frozen, unable to do more than watch as Orpheus…
He didn’t know what was happening. He just knew that the small girl was hurting Orpheus and Orpheus had promised protection and hadn’t made him give up his dreams and had shoved him out of the way to save him and more, so much more.
“Stop.” He managed, his voice sounding very far away. “Stop it….stop…”
And there wasn’t anything he could do. He couldn’t make himself move forward to pull her off. He couldn’t make himself move at all.
-
Rue pressed him down firmly as he struggled, ignoring his attempts to remove her. She was hungry. She needed this. This felt right, and she stopped fighting it, stopped wanting anything more than blood.
She wasn’t really aware of much more than the vague thought that he was making sounds, and she ignored them. They were irrelevant to her, irrelevant to the fact that she needed more blood, as much as she could get.
She heard the other one speak, his voice slipping into her brain and telling her to stop.
Let. Go.
She didn’t want to. He couldn’t make her. She was stronger than she’d thought, and the blood was easing the pain, easing everything, making other thoughts come into her head.
Not enough, not enough, not enough, not enough, she needed more.
She didn’t listen. She was drinking as fast as she could. She wasn’t going to stop.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 10, 2020 11:29:37 GMT -5
Nico felt... well, not safe, exactly, but warm. And tired, and Kelsier was being awfully rude keeping him awake like this. Still, better rude than threatening. He gave a soft sound of acknowledgement, but that was all he was capable of. It didn't matter whether or not Kelsier wanted him to stay awake or not, he was losing that battle. He was loosing that battle badly.
He shivered once more, his body seeming to relax to the blood loss. Was that why he couldn't think, either? It was a weird feeling. He didn't like it.
Nico tried to force his eyes open one more time, but found he didn't want to. It was so much easier to just... sink into sleep. His breathing steadied and the expression on his face fell still, the shadows around them dropping suddenly. The sun was hot and bright, but Nico didn't seem to react other than burying his face into Kelsier to block out the brightness.
-
Orpheus struggled for a few moments longer before he just... stopped, his body lacking the strength to keep pushing against her. So much for someone who could help. He had the distinct impression that he should be panicking, that he should be scared, but he wasn't. Not really. He was surprised, certainly, and in pain, but little more than that. Perhaps it was just that his mind was having a difficult time processing what was happening. His vision swam in front of his face, though beyond the girl he could see Skye, looking horrified, and Macon. Macon seemed... unusually calm. Was that how Orpheus appeared, too? He felt... odd. And he couldn't think.
"Please," he managed, his voice containing a little bit more desperation now. "Please." He tried one last time to push her off, but his limbs were heavy and he found himself scarcely able to lift them from the ground. Was this... was this what dying felt like?
An idea occurred to him, though he didn't know how or why. He began humming softly, hoping that would either persuade the girl to get off, or give himself enough strength to push. Either way, it made him feel better, somehow.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 10, 2020 22:03:43 GMT -5
The humming was reminiscent of what Macon remembered from Orpheus' dream. He shivered a bit, then gripped the back of the girl's neck just a bit harder. Then he leaned over and practically pried her off, in a way he he hoped wouldn't be too damaging to Orpheus. He'd hoped to make this easier, but it seemed like the girl had other ideas. So he didn't wait for anything.
"Come on."
He said. And he wasn't necessarily stronger then her in the sense that she couldn't struggle, but he was still skilled enough that he was fairly certain the hold he had over her was better. Never mind that, but he wasn't going to see Orpheus die.
"Help him," he snapped at Skye. He had to hold back this very odd girl. The one who was like him, but had instead opted for blood.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 11, 2020 11:36:45 GMT -5
Kelsier wasn’t sure whether it was safe for him to fall asleep yet. He wasn’t sure how long the kid needed to stay awake for that to happen. He just knew that there was a chance he wouldn’t wake up again, and he didn’t want that, he didn’t want to see Orsino die.
He had a feeling staying awake wasn’t happening, though. He didn’t know what was safe and what wasn’t, he had no idea. He just had a feeling that it was bad to fall asleep right now.
Maybe that was wrong. Maybe it was fine.
He still found himself panicking when Orsino drifted off.
Still breathing. Heart still beating. Kelsier checked quickly, watching him like a hawk, ready to shake him awake if need be. He didn’t even notice that the shadows were gone until something warm trickled down his neck and he reached up, feeling the bite marks. They weren’t bleeding baldly anymore. He wasn’t really in danger.
Should he move Orsino? Was that safe? He wished he had more information. And where had the others gone? He needed to find Sam and make sure he was okay, but he couldn’t leave Orsino, and it wasn’t like he could bring him with him. What if it happened again?
Kelsier wrapped the cloak around the wound carefully, securing it in place while he tried to think of something to do. The kid was curled close to him now, using him to block out the sun, and he couldn’t help smiling a little.
“Sorry I misjudged you.” He murmured. “I’ll protect you. You’ve nothing to fear while I’m around.”
Maybe a house. He didn’t know where the others had gone, but he figured they’d probably gone inside. Which meant he needed to figure out which house that was so he could avoid it and pick a different one. There would probably be blood on the doorstep, he figured. Careful not to knock the makeshift bandage loose, Kelsier slipped his arms under Orsino and lifted him, letting the boy’s head rest on his chest as he started towards a nearby house, adjacent to the one the others were in. He could barricade himself inside of need be. They just needed to not be in the open anymore.
-
Rue didn’t care about the others, she didn’t care about the fact that she was killing someone, she didn’t care about the voices trying to make her let go. She wouldn’t. She didn’t want to, she needed this, this felt good and right and it was easing the awful hunger.
She ignored the protests, the feeling of her prey struggling under her. It made her bite down harder, determined to take what she needed.
She didn’t listen. She didn’t care.
She wasn’t…
What?
Something slipped into her brain besides the hunger. Something she didn’t understand, but it made her slow her frantic efforts. A soft, gentle sound from the thing...the person...she was killing.
And Rue let go. Her fangs released Orpheus and retracted and she pulled back a little, her eyes wide and as shocked as if she were the one who had been attacked.
Then Macon pulled her back and she let him. Her red eyes turned back to her normal soft dark brown and she stumbled a little, letting him hold her back.
When she lunged forward again, it wasn’t to kill.
It was to save.
She had to stop the bleeding. Reverse this. There was no time, she knew how much blood she had taken and he couldn’t afford to lose any more.
“Let me go!”
-
Skye jumped, startled as Macon snapped at him, and his eyes went very wide. How could he…?
It was over fast. The girl was pulled off and Orpheus lay on the floor, bleeding, too much blood.
He ran forward and hesitated, his breath coming in too fast, his entire body frozen in terror.
“What do I do?” It was meant to be a shout but it was more of a whisper. “What do I do?”
Everything was spinning. He felt like he was going to pass out and he couldn’t afford to do that. He couldn’t...he couldn’t….
“I can’t.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 13, 2020 23:30:29 GMT -5
The pressure was gone, suddenly, and Orpheus managed to breathe. Okay... well, as long as he wasn't dead... his head was spinning, though. And it was hard to concentrate on Skye and Macon. And the girl. He saw her eyes change, though he didn't know what that meant. Perhaps... perhaps it meant the music had helped. Well it had helped him, so it made sense it might have helped the girl as well.
The ground was wet. He could feel it in his hair, it was dripping down his neck. Was it raining? He tried to peer into the sky, listlessly tilting his head and searching the sky for for any signs of rain. There weren't even any clouds, though they were in the shade now. It was cold in the shade. Was it just the shade, or was it something else?
"Don't worry," he mumbled softly to Skye, hearing the panic in the kid's voice. "It'll be okay." He didn't know that. He didn't know how much blood he had lost.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 14, 2020 7:15:02 GMT -5
"Stop the bleeding," Macon said firmly and commandingly, looking at Skye with the stern expression of someone who was not only use to giving orders but that they were usually followed. "Put pressure on it. Don't let him talk to much, that isn't likely to help. And whatever you do, don't let him drift into unconsciousness until you're very sure there isn't any ill-effects."
He'd completely ignored Rue through this, but when she was done telling Skye how to help, he took the small girl and spun her around to face him. He looked her over.
"Are you going to do that again if I let you go?" he asked.
He frowned, stiffening ever so slightly, and shook his head. He at least loosened his grip. "Leave Skye alone. He's afraid."
Then he looked at Skye.
"If you need assistance, ask for it, but in the mean time I'm expecting this to work. So do what you can."
As for Orpheus ... well ... Macon had to hope it would be alright.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 14, 2020 10:41:27 GMT -5
It was Macon’s expression more than his words that made Skye move. His panicked expression shifted and he opened his mouth a little, then stopped whatever he’d been about to say and walked forward instead, falling to his knees by Orpheus.
“Don’t talk.” He ordered, pressing shaky hands to the wound. Pressure, right? He could do this. He wasn’t about to pass out. He was needed, Orpheus needed him, and if their places were reversed, then wouldn’t Orpheus be there for him?
“Don’t fall asleep.” He added, in case Orpheus hadn’t heard Macon. He glanced up, eyes wide as he checked with Macon to see whether he was doing it right.
-
Rue gasped as she was suddenly facing the person holding her back, and she stopped fighting, staring back at him with huge eyes and lips parted.
“No.” She said as forcefully as she could. But she didn’t know that. She didn’t know that for sure, how could she?
“I don’t know.” She said after a minute, her voice breaking. Terror flooded her expression and her mind was racing with ways to make him let her go, some normal like drop her weight unexpectedly and stomp his foot, some creative like bite him and scream. Her head hurt, whether from the fact that half of her was completely panicking about being restrained and half of her was pretty sure she didn’t want to be let go, or from whatever she’d just done, she didn’t know.
She wanted to run away. She wanted to run far, far away.
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 15, 2020 23:14:41 GMT -5
Orpheus had heard Macon, but his oxygen starved brain didn't seem to process what it was he was saying. He was... tired. And chilly. It was hard to stay present enough even to feel the pressure of Skye's hands on his neck, but he was doing his best.
"I'll be alright," he managed, trying to smile at Skye. "I feel..." he tried to put a word to the sensation, but found he couldn't. That was odd. He was usually good at words. Maybe... what had they been talking about before? Food? Maybe he was just hungry. He tried to press himself to his feet, head swaying even with a little bit of motion.
"If... if I can't sleep, then I ought to get us food... right? We were hungry." He tried to smile again, then tilted his head.
"Aren't you hungry?" he asked Macon, his brain fuzzing as he did his best to sort out his muddled thoughts. "If you were hungry wouldn't you... want me to sleep?"
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 17, 2020 5:24:32 GMT -5
Macon didn't let Rue go, though he could see plenty of reason why he should have. But he wasn't willing to trust her with that just yet. So instead, he slowly pulled her forward, toward Orpheus.
"If you plan on running," he said to Rue. "Then don't. Take what you need to to work this out."
Anyway, they hadn't seen anyone here other than the three of them. He needed to know if she had more information, but first it seemed like he needed to make sure Orpheus didn't hurt himself.
Macon gently - or tried to gently - press him down again.
"Wait. We are fine. Do not talk. You are injured and you will stay still for that."
It was hopefully going to work out. He wasn't sure how much he could get close to Skye without really causing him stress. Similarly with the fact that he was dragging Rue along.
"Skye ... can you keep an eye out for anyone else?" He wanted to give the other person an out.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 20, 2020 23:06:50 GMT -5
Skye tried his best to stay where he was. He really did. And he managed it…for a couple seconds.
But the truth was that he was still terrified of Macon, and now he was also terrified of the strange girl who had just tried to kill the only person he wasn’t afraid of. Having both of them come closer at the same time was too much. He backed away quickly, shaking his head, trying to breathe.
“Okay.” He said quickly, latching into the suggestion with the same kind of desperation as someone clinging to the edge of a cliff. “I’ll...yeah. I’ll go do that.”
And then he hurried away, ignoring the fierce pang of guilt at leaving Orpheus behind. It felt like the wrong thing to do, and here he was, doing it anyway.
Rue didn’t fight. She could have. She might have even escaped, given her newfound strength.
But she didn’t. She let herself be pulled towards her victim - she shuddered a little - and her dark eyes immediately began to assess the damage.
She didn’t answer immediately. She was, in fact, planning on running. It seemed like the only thing she could do, and the closer she was to these people, the more danger she knew they were in. How could she not run? How could she stay when proof of what she was lay bleeding on the ground?
She watched the boy - Skye - leave, and her eyes widened. She twisted, staring up into Macon’s eyes instead, her gaze intense.
“You have to put pressure on the wound.” She told him, her voice low and shaking a little. She didn’t know how she knew that, but she did. “Let me help. I...I won’t run. I’m not going to hurt anyone. I promise.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 20, 2020 23:20:08 GMT -5
Orpheus wanted to object, but Macon's voice was firm, and Skye looked scared. If staying still would ease any of Skye's fears, then Orpheus was inclined to do it. He took a deep breath in, focusing his gaze on the sky. The sun was getting higher and higher, warming the village as it did so. He... he wanted that warmth. He was cold, probably from the blood loss. That... made sense, right? Because blood was warm, so it helped keep people warm, too?
"I... I'm alright. No need to worry about me." He gave a small smile, trying to prove to the others that his words were true, but he couldn't help the wince that came along with the expression. Moving too much hurt. Moving his head hurt most of all, and it felt like his head was... exceptionally light. Was there even anything in there?
Wordlessly, he watched Skye go. Hopefully he hadn't frightened the boy too badly.
Finally, his gaze fixed on Rue, and in a gentle voice he managed a very quiet "Why did you do that?"
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 20, 2020 23:43:56 GMT -5
Macon didn't trust her though. But he didn't think he had a choice. He just looked her dead in the eye and said, "I could catch you again."
He let get go, gave her a pointed look that said he might not have any memories, but he still knew how to run.
He hurriedly dropped down to Orpheus' level and started applying pressure to the wounds. He didn't glance at Rue - unless she ran, of course - and instead said, "We were just having this conversation. About what I think I eat. I think she's the same way. So I guess maybe there are two sorts of ... people? ... here. People like me and people like you."
Why did he get the sense that going after blood would be a bad thing though? That dreams were safer - better?
Maybe it was because of what was happening now?
He once again shook his head though. Orpheus didn't seem to be listening about keeping quiet.
He unbuttoned his coat, revealing a white shirt underneath, and used the coat to help with Orpheus' injury.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 21, 2020 0:01:04 GMT -5
Rue took an unnecessary breath as she was released, and he backed away from them both, hugging herself a little as she tried to get the feeling of being held off of her skin.
She wanted to run. She wanted that so badly she almost couldn’t help it, and she did glance at the door, her eyes wide and careful and almost calculating.
Could she make it? It wasn’t like Macon could leave Orpheus in his condition, just to catch her again. And she was fast, probably even faster than he was, even if he was a lot bigger. She was agile. She was good at losing people. She could do it.
She’d promised not to.
Well...she’d promised to help, too. And the most helpful thing she could think of was to get away, fast, before something else happened that she couldn’t take back.
She’d nearly killed someone.
Just like the others she had been so focused on escaping.
She was about to run. She’d even shifted her weight and set her feet in the direction of the door when Orpheus’ words froze her in place.
She couldn’t look at him. She couldn’t answer, either. It would have been better if he’s started yelling at her, she thought miserably, rather than that gentle, quiet voice.
“I didn’t mean to.” She managed, her voice trembling a little. “I’m...I’m so sorry. I didn’t...I never meant to…”
She bit her lip. Running wasn’t really an option anymore. Where would she go?
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 21, 2020 0:19:38 GMT -5
Orpheus frowned at the feeling of the coat on his neck - he was cold, but weren't coats supposed to be worn? He didn't think they helped warm people up when they were just... pressed up against a person's body. A quick glance down at his now almost entirely red shirt reminded him that Macon was trying to fix the blood loss that was probably causing Orpheus' mind to feel as fuzzy as it did.
He glanced at Rue, breathing in softly as he heard her explanation. It wasn't much of one, and Macon's seemed to make more sense. She needed blood like he needed dreams. Unfortunately, Orpheus didn't have nearly as much blood to offer as he did dreams.
"It's okay," he managed softly, meeting her gaze from where he was laying. "It doesn't seem intentional, and... and I'm still alive, right, so it's okay." He tried to sound reassuring. He wasn't sure it really worked.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 21, 2020 2:06:14 GMT -5
There wasn't a lot that Macon could or would say on the matter. He just kept his attention on what was needed in the moment, paying attention to Skye and Rue second. He could still hear both. He just didn't care to acknowledge them.
It was only when he was sure he had a firm hand over the wound and that it was starting to slow the bleeding did he finally say anything. Just so long as something was keeping Orpheus alive.
"It happened," he said. "Deal with it. Running away from it doesn't change what happened. We don't even know what's normal here. He isn't going to die." Not if Macon could help it. "So there is only a mistake. Whatever occurred that can be prevented again. So work out what to do now rather than worrying if you will do it again. Fear doesn't protect anyone - and right now you shouldn't be alone. So start working out a way to protect everyone else. Then you can work on whatever issues there were."
His voice was firm, but not unfeeling or unkind. Just no-nonsense.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Dec 23, 2020 15:58:17 GMT -5
Rue looked between the two of them, and her eyes settled on Macon, her expression still half panicked.
As he spoke, she calmed down a little, focusing on his words. He was right...she knew panicking would do nothing. She knew that she couldn’t afford to let her emotions devour her. It wouldn’t take what had happened back.
She nodded, breathing out, “I’m sorry,” she told Orpheus, her voice a bit calmer now, even though her heart was still beating. It was a strange sensation. She didn’t like it.
“I won’t run.” She added, her voice trembling just a little. She looked at Orpheus, then Macon, and her expression shifted a little, determined rather than just terrified.
“There...are more people like me.” That seemed like something she should mention. “I ran away from them because they attacked people and I thought they might attack me, too. I didn’t really think I was the one who would attack.”
She looked away. Then, in the same soft voice, “I’ll do what I can to protect you.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Dec 23, 2020 16:58:54 GMT -5
"Don't worry about it," Orpheus murmured, closing his eyes for a moment. His head hadn't cleared yet, but it felt like he was slipping a little slower now. "I believe it wasn't your intent." He shifted just a little to get a better look at Rue, then seemed to realize, slowly, what Macon was doing.
"Thank you." His voice was soft and gentle, genuine through and through. He was trying to do as Macon had asked, staying still, at least. The not speaking part was out of the question. Orpheus had things to say and questions to ask.
"Maybe," he murmured softly, eyes closing for just a moment, "The people like you didn't mean to attack either. It's possible it was a misunderstanding." He hesitated for a moment, the silence falling over him like a shroud. "I take it that I'm not the only one injured now, then?" If there were others... shouldn't they try to help? Shouldn't Macon be worrying over more than just him?
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Dec 25, 2020 7:29:04 GMT -5
"One step at a time, boy," Macon muttered. He was still trying to focus most of his attention on this small amount of people, never mind anyone else. "Believe it or not, I can't save everyone and be everywhere." At least he didn't think he could.
"We can certainly see if there's ... anyone else ... but first I'm going to stop your injuries. Can't help anyone if you pass out."
Something told him, first, that he didn't like talking in that many sentences or explaining himself that much. Second, he assumed that if someone else had been attacked, that if they hadn't gotten help, then there was likely nothing to be done for them. He certainly couldn't help from where he was. They may well be dead.
He was sure he didn't like people dying. But he was also sure a second, more selfish reason he wouldn't want anyone here to die was because he didn't know if they had any more information about what happened.
"Do you know what happened to them?" he decided to ask Rue. He doubted Orpheus would listen to him unless there was something keeping him here. Maybe more information would do that. He had vague hopes ...
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Jan 4, 2021 21:06:22 GMT -5
Rue paused, watching the two of them, shifting her weight back and forth.
“I think they’re alive.” She said softly, looking uncertainly between the two of them. “Something strange happened and all the people who could attack got knocked away. I don’t understand it really but...last time I was there, no one was dead.” That was really the best she could offer them. She shifted again, then moved closer to Orpheus, looking at the injury with a cautious expression. It didn’t look like it would kill him, at least. That was good.
She got the sense she was used to seeing injuries. Maybe not quite like this, but she definitely wasn’t as freaked out as the other boy had been, and she was smaller than him. Did that make her younger? She didn’t actually know.
“I can lead you to them.” She offered tentatively. “If you want to talk to them.”
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Transgender
strider
No mourners, no funerals
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Post by strider on Jan 5, 2021 22:45:41 GMT -5
Orpheus almost immediately told Rue that he wanted to talk to these others she had mentioned, but he had the distinct feeling if he tried to walk somewhere, he wasn't going to make it very far. He rested his head back, staring up at the sky.
"I'm tired," he murmured after a long moment, "And I don't think my thoughts are working right." It was as much of a confession as they were likely to get out of him that he didn't feel well enough to actually help. He didn't like being worried over, he found. He would rather be up and helping, even if he was in pain.
Would others have blamed the one who had attacked them? He didn't see how he could, the girl obviously hadn't meant to. Something had compelled her to. It might be worth figuring out exactly what that was.
"What's your name?" he murmured after a minute, pushing a bit against Macon to get a better look at Rue. "I'm Orpheus," he offered, trying to smile. It ended up as more of a grimace, but the attempt was there. "I think... it might be easier for us to figure out... things... if we know each other a little. And since all we know is our names..."
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