Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 23, 2006 14:34:09 GMT 12
Reason was in a state to do murder. Today just wasn’t her day – the entire week had been hectic, but today was just problem after problem. First Daisuke freaking over the lack of wind yestrady and what the rain was doing to his radio reception, then Seraphim and Rattlesnake picking a fight – then Seraphim and Rattlesnake picking another fight and almost murdering the Vampire as they did so, and now Seraphim just flat out leaving. All Reason had was a hastily scrawled note, which sort of gave away that Seraphim intended to be back but wasn’t sure if he would be or when.
Reason was pounding a hole in the straw-stuffed dummy on the roof. Her airgun ripped holes through every part of the cloth figure, the pellets dropping to the ground so she could reload her weapon when she ran out. The gun was warm in the wetness and cold of the autumn, and steam smoked from the muzzle as it recoiled. The dummy’s head spasmed sideways and Reason paused to blow on her fingers before continuing her shooting spree.
She wasn’t sure how long she’d been up there, but it was getting dark, and it had begun raining. Reason gathered the last of her ammunition to her and disappeared from the roof, her flowing red dress and coat streaming behind her as she passed her room, throwing her weapon and ammunition down on the pallet before moving down the stairs towards the cells. One of them had been made comfortable for the Vampire girl now that Vox had done the best she could for her, and Reason was attacking her mind to keep it still while she formulated what she would say to the girl.
Seraphim’s note had said to release the Vampire once she could walk and hold a knife, or escort her as near to the Gargoyle tower as they dared go. Reason had every intention of doing this, and her misty eyes had skipped Seraphim’s explanation for his decision on this the first time she read his note.
Reason knocked on the door before opening it – it was unlocked, naturally, and she folded herself quickly down to the floor to sit cross-legged on the floor. He hands were open, palm up, on her knees to show she was unarmed. Of course, she had a switchblade in either pocket, but she doubted she’d need them.
“Anne?”
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 23, 2006 14:50:11 GMT 12
[If you see any "Dancer" on my posts, it's due to the habit. It's Anne. And the title of the thread does not augur well...]
Anne was lying on the bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling but not really seeing it. Her pillow was wet with tears, but they seemed to have stopped for now. Eventually, they would. She was trying not to focus on her own body - it hurt every time she blinked - but even that was better than recalling those memories. She was locked; no matter what she did, the cage was there, she could not fly. Wings cut. The girl tried every method she had to relax, even picturing birds on her mind, but their wings kept changing to a flood of darkness, their claws to vicious, thirsty talons. No peace on that. Not that she could find it somewhere else, after all. Anne heard the door open, Reason's light steps marching in, yet did not move from her position nor turned to face the newcomer.
"Yes?"
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 23, 2006 15:28:15 GMT 12
“I need to you to answer me truthfully - did you say anything to Seraphim that would make him leave?”
Reason understood that pointing out that Seraphim was missing might not have been the smartest move, but that was beside the point. Reason needed to know where Seraphim was so she could go out and kill him before he got himself killed by the Vampires or the Wildcats. Then she’d skin him alive, and then she’d let him go. He couldn’t very well just leave, not with him being the Master of the tribe – he was supposed to lead, not to run away when some scandal engulfed him.
Reason swallowed hard to calm her raging mind and examined Anne – she really didn’t look like she was in good shape. Her entire body – what was visible, anyway – was covered in cuts, bruises and abrasions. Pity made a nest in Reason’s belly and refused to leave, even thought it new that the girl didn’t need pity.
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 23, 2006 20:16:01 GMT 12
"Hmmm?" she mumbled absently, not quite aware of the question. What did she have to do with Seraphim lea- What? She must be kidding me. The girl rotated her head, fixing both healthy and swollen eye on Reason. "You gotta be joking. He spanks me, then leaves to wind out his fury at someone of his own size, and now it's my fault? I'm not your dear leader's wet nanny. Next time you will blame me for every prisoner he beats, right?" Her voice dripped poison. How did the girl dare? Seraphim had probably gone on one of his pyromaniac sprees - again. So what? If it kept him clear from her, Anne was just fine with it.
[Ooh. Slightly bitter. If a look could kill, Reason would be thrashing on the floor in convulsions... I get the feeling one of the switchblades is flying to someone's throat.]
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Nessy
Hunter
Music Whore
The Owl!
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Post by Nessy on Mar 23, 2006 20:18:20 GMT 12
(Rofl, spanking. *Cracks up.* BTW, isn't she in Vox's room? XD If she is, Vox isn't there. She's, er... Reading a book somewhere else. XD; )
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 25, 2006 16:31:14 GMT 12
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” Reason said as diplomatically as she could manage. She shifted her weight and spread her dress over her knees, calmly, her mind going in to overtime, cataloguing responses and storing answers away for later use. She’d adopted Daisuke’s voice again, as it was smooth and mellow – entirely safe to use in any mood, as it stayed almost the same in any emotional state.
“I’m just wondering if you have any idea where he’s gone – he didn’t visit his room to fetch a lighter, so I can rule out one of his flaming rages. He didn’t even get a weapon from the store room, according to the guys down there. I just need to know if you have any idea where he might be,”
Reason paused and brushed thick copper hair out of her eyes, her head slightly to one side. Her cool hazel eyes stayed on Anne’s face without staring or being intrusive, slightly unfocused.
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Mina Crow
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 25, 2006 16:49:51 GMT 12
Anne rolled her eyes. That hurt. The Beta was speaking on a calm tone, but she was not exactly feeling calm herself. And anger always made her sarcastic and to the point.
"He is your Master, not mine. You are supposed to know him, not me. The only thing he said was an apology – that didn't solve much, did it? Words never mended fingers, or that caretaker of yours would have had quite an easier job than she did. By the way, give my compliments to that nice little brute, he certainly knows how to beat the hell out of someone. Next time, try to keep someone carrying Band-Aid close to him. It should be a gracious move."
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 25, 2006 16:57:43 GMT 12
“Rattlesnake’s pretty much locked up for the rest of his natural born life,” Reason exasperated. “And I’d thank you not to insult Vox, as she’s a good person and she’s giving you the chance that you might be able to use that hand again.”
She paused and, on a gamble, used a rough imitation of Mina’s voice when she next spoke. Maybe it would trigger unconscious obedience, maybe it’d freak the hell out of the girl, and maybe it would have no effect. Either way, it was worth a try, right?
“As for Seraphim, nobody knows him – that’s the problem. The one person who might be able to follow his thought path is dead. Killed, as it was, by a Vampire. Do you get what I’m saying here? I’m not accusing you of anything, but don’t think you’re getting any extra pity from me. Seraphim had a right to do what he did, because quite frankly, Serenity’s death affected him, okay?”
Reason took a deep breath. He voice was morphing slowly into Seraphim’s, but she didn’t notice that. “If you don’t have any idea where he’s gone, it would be just as easy for you to say so – there’s no need to twist this conversation into a pity-party. Your wounds will heal and you’ll be fine – I doubt very much there’s any psychological scarring, so count your lucky stars.”
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 25, 2006 17:13:05 GMT 12
Anee inhaled deeply. Ouch. Can't I do anything that won't hurt everywhere?
"I'm not insulting Vox. She is the only one here who didn't threaten me. That's a gain on all of you." When Reason went on, she frowned for a moment, staring at the ceiling. She knew that voice... Oh, it was Mina's. What was Reason trying to play with?
"As for Serenity's death, I told Seraphim her death was not authorized by Mina. Her murderer shall be punished. We deal with our own problems and honor, thank you. Don't need others to interfere." Now the voice was changing again. It was...
Anne jumped. She really jumped – out of the bed and back into a corner of the cell, pains forgotten in that rush of adrenaline. She stood there, back to the wall, panting like a caged creature, eyes wide-open, looking for an escape.
There was none.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 25, 2006 17:23:06 GMT 12
Okay, so I take that back, Reason thought, startled. Her first impulse on seeing Anne move was to throw herself to her feet and draw one of her red-handled switchblades. She spun, looking for any sign of Rattlesnake or Seraphim. There was none – then what had scared – oh. Her voice. Reason raised her voicebox and used her own, heavily accented voice.
“Okay, so ah take that back,” Out loud this time. Reason closed her switchblade and put it back into her pocket. What’d Seraph done that he hadn’t told Reason about? Beating someone usually didn’t leave a scar like this – only long-term bullying. It was the reason for Seraphim’s temper and Reason’s fear of using her own voice when someone threatened her or sounded drunk. But this – this was frightening. Reason’s respect for Seraphim reached an all-time low.
“What’d the bastarda do the yeh?” Reason asked, her voice inquisitive and mild.
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 25, 2006 17:40:45 GMT 12
Anne just shook her head, eyes almost popping out of her head. Her legs were trembling violently, so she let herself crumble onto a tight ball on the corner, arms curled around her knees. Her mind had room for nothing else but those frenzied eyes, the gaping mouth and the enveloping darkness, reaching for her, luring her, twisting and burning. The girl whimpered softly, like a small rodent trapped by a snake, and started to rock herself on place, eyes now firmly shut.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 25, 2006 22:01:32 GMT 12
Reason pocketed her knives, shock infusing her entire being – what’d Seraphim done that neither he nor Rattlesnake had revealed to her? What’d make the girl so damn terrified? Seraphim was a scary guy, really, even when you knew him well, but it seemed odd that’d he’d done something so bad that the girl’s psyche was completely whacked out. Reason made a mental note to kill Seraphim the moment he walked back into Castle Smoke. Then she’d skin him alive, roast him over hot coals and send him to the Wildcats and the Vampires in turn before she killed him again.
Reason blinked and padded closer, her pale eyes confused and her expression astounded. She reached out, slowly, and put one hand on the girl’s shoulder. She was prepared to heave her hand shrugged off or bit or some such, what with her outburst moment before, but she hoped she was wrong about all this. Was Seraph really as bad as all this? Had some of his father rubbed of on him?
“Hush, lassie. Hush.”
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Mina Crow
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 0:24:16 GMT 12
The girl cringed, edging away from Reason's touch.
Flicker.
Suddenly, her dark eyes opened, shining with fury and hatred. She never stirred an inch from where she curled into a tight ball, yet the memory was still too fresh not to react.
"Don't touch me", she snarled, baring her teeth at the Cigarettes Beta. A trapped being indeed, a caged feline, mistreated and beaten down but not yet defeated. Not yet. Never again.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 26, 2006 9:55:09 GMT 12
“Hey, hold it down there!” Reason snapped, her voice changing on instinct to Daisuke’s. She withdrew, but she drew her switchblade as she went, holding it up where it was visible to deter the girl from doing anything stupid – not that the Vampire was in any state to even be standing, but that was beside the point – fear could do strange things to your adrenaline glands.
Reason’s cold hazel eyes were confused – slightly startled. She wondered if she’d been wrong about Seraphim, or if something else was happening here. Maybe an effect of having her head banged against the floor so many times was coming out in the Vampire? Reason certainly didn’t think either Seraph or George where quite this bad.
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
Posts: 686
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 10:16:31 GMT 12
Anne tried to stand up - and failed miserably. Her legs could not sustain her, so she just kep on the corner, glaring at Reason with those feral eyes. Her wild mane of hair helped to the crazed, furious look she shot the Cigarette. Her heart was pounding violently against her ribs, blood ringing on her ears. The knife was just a smudge on the corner of her vision, and she didn't mind about it. If the other girl came just a step closer, she would strike her - it didn't matter she couldn't even rise, she would attack Reason anyway.
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
Posts: 382
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 26, 2006 10:24:13 GMT 12
Reason was freaking out. She took a few steps back, pocketing her knife. She reached behind her and opened the door before slipping out, her heart pounding like crazy – something was going on here, and she was going to get to the bottom of it. She had to see what Vox had to say on this subject. Maybe their medic had studied conditioned behavior like whacking out at the sound of someone’s voice.
“Pavlov’s bloody dogs,” Reason murmured in Seraphim’s mildest voice before she set off to find Vox – someone needed to come and see what was wrong with the Vampire. Was it something Reason had said, and not Serpah’s voice at all?
[What’d happen if Vox mended what she could and then the Cigarettes dropped Anne back at the ‘ Tower? That’s be interesting.
MSN is screw'd]
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 10:31:54 GMT 12
[Dropped at the Tower? Interesting, indeed - and she'd be skinned alive by Mina and Sven both. Pity, poor girl ;D Reason's reaction is so funny xD]
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Seraphim
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King of Castle Smoke
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Post by Seraphim on Mar 26, 2006 10:55:49 GMT 12
[Wait for Vox or just drop her now? Daisuke and Reason can do it. It’ll be interesting to see what Mina does to her – XD, Seraphim’s doomed too, though, once Mina and her boyfriend see the state Anne’s in. ]
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Mina Crow
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Madness waits for some. It creeps up on others.
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Post by Mina Crow on Mar 26, 2006 10:57:46 GMT 12
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Nessy
Hunter
Music Whore
The Owl!
Posts: 339
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Post by Nessy on Mar 27, 2006 13:44:58 GMT 12
Vox had been studying a book she had found in one of her researches of basic medecine. She looked up at Reason whenever she would found her and frowned. Standing up, she dusted off her light dress and hugged the book to her chest. Brushing some hair behind her hair lightly, she watched her silently for a moment before sighing and knitting her eyebrows sadly. "Anne, right?", she asked in a whisper. And, before Reason could say a thing, Vox walked with large steps towards her room, where she had left Anne. Opening the door, she gasped softly and walked up to her.
"Anne!", she yelped, scared. "You should be resting!", she put the book down and approuched carefully - she wasn't a fighter, and she didn't want to be attacked. "Please. Let me take care of you.", she tipped her head to the side and smiled. "You need to dance again.", she whispered softly, taking another step in her direction. "And I promise I'll do everything to fix you."
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