Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 11, 2006 11:18:32 GMT 12
Seraph crouched on the roof of a tall pale yellow building with ‘fujifilm’ written on its side, his head slightly to one side and his deep brown eyes slightly narrowed. Smoke curled up from the fire on the very edge of the building’s roof, a merry little blaze that had already scorched the ground black. A small pile of assorted narcotics were burning in the middle of the flames. Cigars, cigarettes, and some sort of white powder that Reasons said was pot. Seraph didn’t know what it was – but if it was a drug, then it had to be burnt. Seraphim didn’t want any of the Tribe to be addicted to anything, least of all now that whatever they could addict themselves too was a finite resource.
Of course, it was as hard for Seraphim as it was for some of the others – he’d smoked, too, and was trying to stop. It was harder than it had looked, but he was past the worst. Now he just had to get rid of every last pack of cigarettes he could find. That was harder then getting rid of the cigars – they were easy to get rid of, as there were few of them to begin with. Of course, the really addicted went through the drawers of businessmen and stole smokes from there, but that supply was growing limited too. Soon they entire Tribe would have to be clean.
Seraphim stirred the fire with a length of metal, and was glad for the scarf covering his nose – there fire was smoking terribly. It was a beacon revealing his position, but anyone wanting to get to him would have to come up to the roof first. He’d already tied tripwires on the stairs to the roof and not many people were able to clamber up the side of the building. Seraphim was fairly safe up here, although there was every chance that someone could see the nylon wires and step over them. The idea that someone was sneaking up on him made Seraphim twitch and he removed his switchblade from his pocket, stirring the fire with that instead. It felt much safer that way.
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Mina Crow
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Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 11, 2006 12:00:54 GMT 12
The sun flashed on a pair of lenses on a roof-top across the street. Dancer lowered the binoculars and balanced on the balls of her feet. The Cigarettes were up to something; what could Seraphim be burning on a roof? Curiosity gnawed her, and Mina would not like it if she went back just to report one of Seraphim's fires. It was different, now. He didn't have that maniac, crazed look on his face he usually had during his famous pyromaniac phases. Not that she could easily make out his face at this distance, but it was his pose, his resigned stance. Nothing like his pyro expression - way too close to Mina's own frenzied delighted face at the suffering of others. The fire was smoking heavily; it would attract - or repel - every scavenger in the zone. She had to look at it closer. The binoculars dangling from her neck, Dancer started to climb the long way down the building. She was clearly trespassing in Cigarettes territory, but they would hurt her too much if they caught her - would they? Absorbed in her thoughts, she almost missed a foot-hold on the wall of the ruined building. Gasping, she realized what might have happened; the ground was still over thirty feet away, it would be a nasty fall. A few weeks ago, she would have fallen. Her movements were getting faster, in a subtle way, as if her sense of the reality had been somehow heightened. Shrugging, she shook the uneasy thoughts off. Distraught as she was, she would really fall. Then, soothing herself, she climbed down the last feet and chose her way carefully among the debris on the street, aiming for the wall of the smoking building.
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Seraphim
Administrator
King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 11, 2006 12:33:49 GMT 12
Seraph blinked, smoke making his eyes water. Small glowing filaments floated into the air, dancing like hyperactive fireflies, their gold and crimson colors bright against the washed-out blue and grey of the ruined city. He watched these with a fascinated gaze, half a smile on his face. The little glowing moats winked out after a few seconds, but they were quickly replaced with new stars in the constellation, the space of smoke.
The Master of the Cigarettes unfolded from his crouch, standing near the edge of the roof and staring out over the remains of the city. His scarf and cloak fluttered out at his side in the mild wind that forced the smoke eastwards. The sunlight was watery, tickling the back of Seraphim’s neck, casting his shadow slantwise over the fire, past the edge of the roof. Seraphim watched the wind tear across the city, seeing the ashes disturbed by it move up into the air, the odd plastic bag or burnt newspaper flutter across the shattered remains of skyscrapers. In the distance, he could see the Freedom Tower’s greatly diminished length reach for the sky, jagged tip striving to entangle the few fluffy clouds moving slowly over the sky.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 11, 2006 12:57:05 GMT 12
Dancer caught hold of a pipe on the wall of the building, testing it wit her height before starting to climb. She had no way to predict if the pipe would hold as she went higher, but there was no way she would go up through the interior of the construction. Who knew what might be lurking in the shadows? She was probably listening too much to Mina's crazed ramble, but she preferred not to risk it nonetheless. Besides, who would get her if she was seen on the outer wall? Who had the skill to follow her on the heights? Her confidence increasing as she climbed higher and higher, Dancer got close to the edge of the terrace, pondering how to get up there unseen. The terrace was full of scattered debris where she could hide, but it only took Seraphim looking at the wrong place as she climbed to be caught.
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Seraphim
Administrator
King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 11, 2006 14:35:32 GMT 12
Seraphim closed his eyes and lent his head back, the warmth of the sun falling on his face. The white face-paint on his cheeks itched as it dried up, but he ignored the feeling and stared up into space. What would it be like to fly? Would it be that same rush, that pressure on the heart, as leaping off a building with the assurance you’d land safe and well on the floor? Would it be like sitting in a plane, but with the rush of air that came with poking your head out the window of a speeding car?
If you could imagine the scene as a movie, there would be long, sweeping shots from a helicopter, and Seraphim’s long coat would be flapping around as if it had a life of its own. It might have been accompanied by the slow, pounding music and soft vocals that sad scenes have. And people would have scoffed and called it corny – because it was. Corny as effing creamed corn – how many children dream of flying? How many try to fly, and end up splattered like a red Jackson Pollock on the pavement below a tall building?
Seraphim opened his eyes.
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Mina Crow
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Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 11, 2006 18:28:57 GMT 12
She had no choice but to risk it. The pipe might not hold much longer, and her hands and feet were itching. As quietly as possible, Dancer put both hands on the rail of the terrace and drew herself up until she could find Seraphim. He was standing fifteen feet away, staring beyond the city - too easy, he was dreaming. It would be, as long as he kept his eyes shut. She just hoped his dream was strong enough for that. Pulling the rest of her body up, Dancer rested for a moment there, at the edge. The climb had tired her more than usual; maybe it was the sun. It had not been her brightest idea, to come trespassing on Cigarettes' territory, and ending up checking what their leader was doing, but hell, the climb had been fun. It was worth the danger. Maybe. Seraphim was still off. She needed a place to hide. Dancer shoot the scene a long look as she silently walked around the terrace. The debris pile on the other end of the terrace would make a good hiding spot. Seraphim would not det- F**K!! He had stirred and opened his eyes, and she was completely in the open. There was no chance for her to run and climb down the pipe again, he'd catch her anyway.
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Seraphim
Administrator
King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 9:43:49 GMT 12
Seraphim flinched away from the bright sun burning his eyes, momentarily blind. He looked sharply away from the sun in the only logical direction – down. The city spread out below him, like tendrils of black water, the tarmac slinking away into the distant. Seraph wondered how much it would hurt to land on the ground from here – he hadn’t meant to think that. Why was he thinking that? Reason said – no, fuck what Reason said. She could take over, couldn’t – Seraph pressed his palms to his eyes, groaning. The handle of his switchblade pressed into his skull.
He took a step back from the edge of the roof and spun, his hands still on his eyes, towards the fire. He’d draw his suicidal thoughts away with flames – it usually worked. He removed his hands from his eyes, tightening his grip on the pocket knife’s black handle as he did so. He started, surprised to see someone standing on the roof he had so carefully rigged with tripwires. A quick scan of her face and an expression of hate masked his face. Vampire.
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Mina Crow
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Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 10:02:03 GMT 12
Oh god. F***. There's no way out. And he'll want revenge for Serenity... Oh, f*** it all. There's no escape.
Moving slowly, making sure he didn't think she was threatening him, Dancer raised her right hand above her head, while the left fumbled with the knife tucked behind her back. Cringing, she threw it to the ground, facing Seraphim with both hands raised.
"Good morning, Seraphim. My name is Dancer. I do not mean to threaten you." Her voice was shaking; she was standing unarmed in front of the Cigarettes' leader. If she ever escaped this alive, Mina would not be glad.
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Seraphim
Administrator
King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 10:15:45 GMT 12
“I’m sure your f***ing killers weren’t threatening Serenity either!” Seraphim growled, kicking her knife into the fire with one heavy combat boot. His eyes were as ablaze as the small campfire, something dark and unfathomable hiding in the shadows of his mind, wanting to come out. He had to fight to keep his anger suppressed, and he was shaking with anger, read to lash out. His knuckles were white, his grip on the switchblade in his left hand tight. He hands would begin to cramp if he squeezed the handle any harder.
He would have to search her. Vampires always had extra weapons hidden everywhere. You could never trust them to be truly unarmed. Gods, he needed Reason’s airgun. It was so much more threatening than the short-bladed black switchblade held, for all appearances, in the wrong hand for it to be mobile. Seraphim’s free hand was constricting into a fist. What was she doing here? Was she a spy? A distraction for an attack on Castle Smoke? An assassin?
There were so many possibilities. The lying scum. The Vampires and the Cigarettes were complete opposites and they couldn’t stand the sight of each other – and that was before Serenity was murdered. It had been a blow to the entire Tribe, and any rules that the Cigarettes might have had concerning murder or cruelty dissipated as soon as a Vampire was involved.
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Mina Crow
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Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 10:29:42 GMT 12
Dancer forced a smile. "Are you killing me in cold blood, Seraphim? Are you denying your vow against violence? Go ahead, I won't resist. But that is not your Tribe's way, is it? A Wildcat or a Vampire might attack anyone on sight, but not you, I think. One thing I tell you, Serenity's death was not ordered by the Crow. She is cruel, but not stupid. She wants no open war. But I'm rambling - go on, kill me. I doubt my death would add on something. It wouldn't be the first time I'm abandoned." Her voice cracked; she wasn't used to force it that way. Strangely, the fear was gone, now that she was face to face with him. She would endure anything he put her through, as she had no other choice.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 10:53:54 GMT 12
“Serenity wrote those rules,” Seraph shouted, gesturing with his switchblade, dangerously close to her face. “She thought she could trust you! She knew were murderers but she wouldn’t let us kill any of you an – f***, now she’s dead! I don’t give a sh** weather or not that a**hole leader of yours authorized the f***ing kill!”
Seraph tried to keep calm, but was failing miserably. Serenity’s death was a few weeks ago now, but he hadn’t had a chance to rant like this since the cremation. He hadn’t had a chance to avenge Serenity’s death – Reason hadn’t let him out of her sight for days. She’d worried he’d do something stupid – was this stupid? Was it?! Would she tell him off if he killed the Vampire? Would she dare – she was Beta. He was her boss, she couldn’t tell him what to do.
F***. Seraph closed his eyes for a moment, trying to push his thoughts into some semblance of order if he couldn’t make them pacifists. He wouldn’t do something Serenity or Reason would disapprove of. He could take the Vampire back to Castle Smoke, throw her in one of the storerooms. But he wasn’t the only one feeling the pain of Serenity’s death – he’d have to mount a guard on the Vamp’s cell to keep the others off her. Gods. Reason – he’d take her to reason. He just needed to – a rope. A rope for her hands.
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Mina Crow
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Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 11:19:50 GMT 12
Dancer's eyes widened, and she backed away a step. He was definitely much more like Mina than any of them realized. She took a deep breath. "Serenity's murderer will be punished, Seraphim. And you know how the Crow acts; he will cry for his death much before she is done with him. Believe me, she has some cruel notions about punishment. If you don't care, then kill me, if you think that'd help. I doubt it. I don't care." It was an effort to say those words. The previous ones had been born of sarcasm, while she looked for an escape. There was none, she was now sure. She didn't want to die, she would not fly anymore...
And his similarity with Mina...
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Seraphim
Administrator
King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 12:33:49 GMT 12
Seraphim hissed and transferred his knife to his right hand, then passed it back to his left nervously. He licked his lips and turned away, breath hissing from a gap between his teeth. The fire was starting to burn down. He stared at the dying flames, his heart like a block of lead in his chest. His black ponytail swished in the breeze and he cursed the day he thought life in New Pork was easy. Those were the days before the murders, before food began to run out. Before, damnit, Serenity died. Before that stupid effing Rattlesnake guy.
“Just… kneel, hands on your head,” Seraphim breathed, casting his gaze around for the nearest trip wire so he could bind her hands. It would make it easier to bring her back down and into Castle Smoke. He didn’t trust her enough to let her walk with her hands free.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 12:54:10 GMT 12
Dancer rolled her eyes. She didn't want to tick him more than he already was, but this was ridiculous. Nonetheless, he was armed and she was not, so she knelt and clasped her hands to her head, the binoculars brushing on her chest. "Don't you think I'd have already escaped if I could, Seraphim? I hardly got here by magic. I'm going nowhere. There is no need for that", she complained, pointing at the wire with her chin.
[It would be a good time for her and Seraphim - or Reason - pop into Deep Breath. Rattlesnake's next blow might definitely cripple Solitude...]
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Seraphim
Administrator
King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 13:10:53 GMT 12
“Of course there is, scumbag,” Seraph snapped, and cut cleanly through the wire with his switchblade. He pocketed the knife and made to tie her hands together. He couldn’t let her get away – he’d hate himself, and the most of the Cigarettes would too. Especially that Rattlesnake fellow – gods, Seraphim couldn’t stand the guy. Twitching and finishing a complex knot around the Vampire’s wrists, Seraphim stood back and motioned her to rise and go downstairs. It wasn’t far to Castle Smoke – someone on the roof of the flats might actually have already seen them coming and would be preparing a ‘welcoming’ committee. Seraphim hoped Reason would be there to keep everything under control – he wasn’t sure he could keep the Cigarettes from doing something stupid without lashing out at them and diminishing the already small amount of trust they had in him.
“Why’re you here, anyway?” he asked, a note of warning in his tone.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 13:22:52 GMT 12
Dancer let him bind her wrists, trying not to cringe. He was taking away her most precious possession, her freedom, and there was nothing to be done about it. Better not to think of Mina and the reception she would have if she ever got back to the Tower.
Repressing a sigh, she started down the stairs. Running would be useless. She had to cope with the situation, no matter how much it pained her. "Err... You had a rather large beacon up there. I was curious about it." The sarcasm was well patent in her voice. It was her disguise, her way to not let the fear show true.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 14:26:51 GMT 12
“There’s almost always a fire burning in Cigarette territory,” Seraph pointed out, having drawn his knife again. He marched her down the tight, dark staircase, claustrophobia settling like a heavy, wet blanket over him. He paused at the foot of the first flight of stairs, took a few deep breaths, and continued downwards towards the ground floor, avoiding tripwires as he went. He knew where they were and could point them out to the Vampire before she tripped on them and went crashing down the stairs. That would be a waste of Seraphim’s time, wouldn’t it?
Pushing the door on the ground floor open, Seraph motioned the vampire through with his knife hand.
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Mina Crow
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Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 14:42:41 GMT 12
"True indeed. But this was not one of your mad pyro attacks, was it? I think I know you more than you believe, Seraphim. The birds watch many things from the heights, and the vampires walk the night..." She let the cryptic words hover in the air as she followed his indications out of the building. She could have easily pointed out the direction to Castle Smoke from the roof-tops, yet on the ground the sight range was shorter and the references were different. She had gotten unused to it in her months on New Pork, and so was entirely on Seraphim's hands from now on.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 12, 2006 18:21:29 GMT 12
Seraphim twitched, jabbing her with the handle of his knife. He wasn’t proud of his pyromania – he had referred to the subject himself, but that didn’t mean she had any right to continue on it, did it? It was his own private business – and only a fraction of the reason that there were always fires burning in Cigarette territory. Fire kept wild animals away – or, in this case, wild children. The Wildcats were a threat that the Cigarettes had to deal with, but the fires seemed to keep them at bay – they were fairly good at staying behind their own borders.
Seraphim felt more at home on the ground, and he put on speed, his black cloak flapping in the updraft that howled down the streets to dash itself to pieces on the side of the few remaining buildings. He kept his eyes peeled for more Vampires, but he was fairly sure no more than one Vampire was stupid enough to stumble this far into Cigarette territory. Seraphim paused at a corner, glancing at the blue strip of fabric between three white ones. Airforce 3 was on patrol – they had Daisuke with them, and his arsenal of binoculars. They would have to have been seen by now.
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Mina Crow
Administrator
Maelstrom Synkkyys
Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 12, 2006 23:41:59 GMT 12
"Oh, the big bad boy is sensitive to that, isn't he?" she said with a sneer - then snapped her mouth shut. He was on the upper hand, after all, and her dodging skills had a severe penalty with her hands tied. And she couldn't forget she was a Vampire and he a Cigarette; hatred ran free and raw among the two tribes. And Serenity, that didn't exactly help as well.
She sighed softly when he stopped, staring at the strips of fabric and shaking her wild mane of hair off her face. "Come on, will this take all day? I'm not exactly comfortable. If you are looking for something or someone, use these", she jerked her head toward her binoculars, "and be done with it. She was pointedly avoiding his eyes as she talked. It was bad enough to see that kind of expression on someone who protected her; in someone who held her prisoner, it brought more than creeps down her spine.
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