Tracy
dæmian
[.^~*Cieday: 7/06/04*~^.] *Settled as a European Wildcat*
Posts: 100
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Post by Tracy on Feb 7, 2005 20:27:06 GMT -5
Adrienne and Haelphaesus watched as the blonde haired kid and his sand cat dæmon disappeared into the crowd, looking for the boy who now posessed the Alethiometer.
I wish I could warn that poor kid what he's just gotten himself into by picking up the Alethiometer, but I don't know how... Adrienne thought. She truly feared the boy with the sand cat dæmon and she was even more afraid for the unsuspecting kid with the Alethiometer. He looked to be about 12 or 13 and was still rubbing his head when he looked up and realized that Julian was standing in front of him, gesturing to the Alethiometer.
"Hey, kid. I'll trade ya ten pounds for that thing."
"Uh, I dunno mister. This is an awfully nice compass. How about 20 pounds?"
Wow, he's just asking for it, eh? Haelphaesus thought with a snicker. But wei need to get out of here. God knows if that boy was serious when he said he'd finish us later.
So the two slipped out of the crowd as silently as they could, heading for home.
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Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Feb 7, 2005 20:37:41 GMT -5
Not long afterward, he found the source of the sound; a crowd was gathering.
He pushed his way in and saw him. He was trying to buy what looked like a compass off of someone.
Instantly upon looking at it, Metrean felt the same strange feeling that the sight of the knife had given him. This was no ordinary compass.
He once again felt the desire to steal it, to make it his own. He forced down the urge to grab it and shouted out to the boy with the sand cat dæmon.
"Hey, I have a message for you. Come here for a second." He made sure the sword was hidden from view as he said this.
I don't know about this, Thayndriar thought to him, You're not acting like yourself at all. Just yesterday you would have either walked away or challenged him outright. Now you're gonna pull a surprise attack.
Oh, don't be that way. I'm doing this for her.
He waited for the boy to respond.
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Post by Cat on Feb 8, 2005 15:48:57 GMT -5
"Uh, I dunno mister. This is an awfully nice compass. How about 20 pounds?"
"Twenty!" Julian echoed in tones of disgust. He looked upward, as though seeking patience in the heavens, then glared back down at the boy. At least the kid knew how to bartar right. It sort of reminded Julian of himself at a younger age. He smirked, then idly flicked the dagger up and caught it by the tip of the blade. Julian had experience with knives and this seemed no different from a heavy kitchen knife. "Listen, kid. Here's the difference between you 'n' me. You are some punk kid who is holding a good compass that rightfully belongs to me. I am an eighteen-year-old who is holding a dagger and has been pushed to his limits today. But I'm a generous guy, so I'm actually offering you money for that damn thing. And if I don't --"
"Hey, I have a message for you. Come here for a second."
Julian looked up. The boy was talking to him. Uncertainly he addressed Shay aloud. "Do we know him?"
"No." Her eyes were trained on Metrean and his dæmon. "Just get the alethiometer, Julian."
"I'm busy," Julian called casually, trying to look as though he hadn't just been threatening a thirteen-year-old. He made sure to keep the dagger out of sight. He had to be in some kind of trouble, or else why would a stranger ask to speak to him in this place? Unable to shake off his growing anxiety, Julian turned back to the kid, producing a ten pound note from his pocket. "Give me that compass," he growled lowly, not wanting to be overheard. "It's mine anyway. I could have you arrested for this; do you want to go to jail, kid? Or do you want ten pounds and no hassle at all? Make up your mind fast, I'm tired of this."
Shay's body was tense and her growing suspicision was making Julian feel claustrophobic in this crowd. For some reason he didn't want to face that stranger at all. Shay never took her eyes off the unfamiliar teen as she thought, 'The second you have it, run.'
'I will,' promised Julian.
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Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Feb 8, 2005 18:09:42 GMT -5
"I'm busy."
Metrean became annoyed.
"You're busy?" He made sure to laugh loud enough for plenty to hear him. He immediately thought to his dæmon, Be ready. Go when I go.
"I don't think you understand. No one's too busy when it comes to," he drew his sword at this, "retribution."
Both Metrean and Thayndriar lunged at the same time; Metrean at the boy, Thayndriar at the boy's dæmon.
He shouted out, "This is for her!" and swung the blade.
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Post by Cat on Feb 8, 2005 21:58:35 GMT -5
"This is for her!"
Julian yelped in surprise at the same time he ducked, feeling the keen blade slice through air just above. The sword had missed him by an inch. As he ducked, Julian moved back, away from Metrean, but he overbalanced and landed sprawled on the muddy ground, the dagger spinning out of his grip as he gasped out, "Holy hell, buddy, what's your problem?"
The pain that hammered through his side just then caused him to double over. Shay had half-turned to meet Thayndriar's assault, but the much bigger leopard dæmon had sent her crashing to the ground; for a second, in a similar situation as her human. Shay was up in a flash, clawing and biting madly. Julian's heart was pounding now, both with fear and the adrenaline rush of Shay's attack. He looked up at the younger teen with the sword and felt something close to panic pressing in on him.
"Who's 'her'?" he asked desperately. "Who are you talking about? I swear, I don't know!"
Julian could be almost cowardly at times. He liked situations where he was in control, not caught off guard this way. The compass; I want the compass. Make something up..
"Listen, I'm just trying to get my compass back ... when - when my dad died, he left it to me, it's really valuable, and my sister - she has a wolf dæmon," he added on impulse, recalling Hael, "she took it and ran. I just want it back." Lies; now he was in his element. Even as he spoke he moved his hand back over the ground towards the dropped dagger. He was barely aware of doing this, it was sheer self-defense. "It's supposed to be mine. I don't want to fight." This was true: part of him still felt weak from Fossil's forbidden touch. He stayed where he was, on the ground. Behind his back his hand closed around the dagger hilt, but he wouldn't use it until he needed to.
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Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Feb 9, 2005 18:03:21 GMT -5
"It's supposed to be mine. I don't want to fight."
"Oh, yeah? You don't want to fight? You should have thought of that before you hurt her. I was there. I heard the fight. I've taken a liking to her, and I don't like people like you."
Thayndriar thought to him, What's happenning to you? Stop. You're not like this. I... I won't be a part to this!
He ignored his dæmon's plea.
"People like you... it's people like you who cause others pain. You cause the pain without a thought for the one who is on the other end. But then... then you cross the wrong person. Then they take retribution, vengeance, revenge. It's time to pay for hurting her. It's time to pay the price."
He swung the blade with incredibe strength, only to stop in mid-attack.
Thayndriar had stepped between them.
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Post by Cat on Feb 10, 2005 15:45:48 GMT -5
Shay had padded silently up to where Julian was on the ground, staring up at Metrean with an empty gaze. Julian was listening in stricken silence. So, this boy knew about the fight. Before he could stammer out an excuse, a lie, anything - Metrean was swinging the sword. Julian had no time to really react. He could only flinch, throwing his arms instinctively up over his face to protect himself, bracing himself for that final blow. But it never came. When Julian dared to look up, he exhaled slowly, disbelievingly: the boy's dæmon had stepped in the way.
Shay's nerves failed her and she collapsed against Julian. She had truly believed they were about to lose their life. He falteringly picked her up, then his instinct to calm his dæmon kicked in. He tucked her inside his jacket, where she felt most safe, smoothing her tousled fur. He could feel her trembling against him and tried to get up, but he slumped back down, feeling a little dazed.
"Why did you do that?" Shay asked Thayndriar quietly once she'd found her voice. "Why are you helping us?"
"Because she's weak," muttered Julian before he could stop himself. "Her human's strong, but she's weak." He staggered upright, holding Shay tightly against him with with arm, his other hand holding the dagger. His voice was growing in confidence, fear replaced by raw anger. "But that's beside the point. Maybe I do cause other people pain," he shot at Metrean, "it's no business of yours if I do. Not even if you're crushing on that nutcase. That fight was between her and I. Stay out of it!"
Shay dug into him with her claws, whispering urgently, "Julian, don't!"
He ignored her. "I'm gettin' out of here. Don't you dare stop me. I ain't hangin' around to be swiped at with a sword. I just want my alethiometer ... then I swear I'm never settin' foot outside Upper Oxford again. That satisfy you? I won't bother your psycho girlfriend again." With these words, he turned away, but he only took a step before he stopped himself. Then he turned back and added casually, "Here's my calling card."
Two things happened at once. Anticipating something drastic, Shay scrambled out of Julian's jacket and leapt lightly to the ground, and Julian threw the dagger at Thayndriar with as much force as he could muster.
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Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Feb 10, 2005 20:20:30 GMT -5
Metrean moved faster than he had ever moved before. He jumped out, knocked Thayndriar aside, and brought the blade of his sword out, which just barely hit the tip of the dagger, causing it to ricochet off of it and land on the ground about 5 feet away.
Everyone was quiet.
After regaining himself, Metrean haughtily replied, "Never mess with a swordmaster. I know more about blades than anyone. You can't beat me with a cheap trick like that."
He quickly thought to his dæmon, What were you doing? You could have gotten us both killed. I had him! I would have killed him if you hadn't done that!
That's why I did it. I don't want to kill. He deserves it, but that's murder! You can't just go around killing whoever you want! That's not how it works.
How it works!? It's kill or be killed! That's how it works! I'm gonna get him. You don't have to help if you don't want to, but I'm gonna get him anyway! I don't need your help!
He charged, sword drawn, filled with a preternatural hatred fueled from an unknown source. All he knew was that he wanted the boy to die.
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Post by Cat on Feb 10, 2005 20:36:05 GMT -5
Julian's breath caught in his throat. He'd thought for sure he had the leopard dæmon, so fast had he thrown that dagger - but the boy was faster. "Shit!" he murmured under his breath. He eyes darted towards the fallen dagger, and as he leapt towards it, Metrean launched his attack.
'Don't get it!' Shay cried, her voice tearing into his mind, full of fear. 'Avoid him! I'll grab the stupid thing if you want it so badly!'
Once she said that Julian sprang smartly back, narrowly avoiding a considerable blow from the sword. He counted himself lucky so far, but he wished he'd never thrown the dagger. Now he'd made it personal. His instincts were coming into play, and he backed up nervously, stumbling into a member of the massed crowd. People had grouped around and were watching the fight with interest.
Julian frantically dug the switchblade from his pocket - another knife stolen from Fossil. He flicked it open. It was little protection, but it was something. He was playing defensively, though; he continued to back around the edge of the crowd, facing Metrean at all times. In the corner of his eye he saw Shay dart in and snatch the dagger in her teeth, but the leopard dæmon was between them, and Shay didn't dare get too close.
"I don't stand a chance," Julian said aloud, hopelessly. "I don't want to fight ... I just want to get out of here. Will an apology do?" he threw in weakly. "I'm sorry I hurt that girl ... I'm sorry I threw the dagger. Just let me go."
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Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Feb 10, 2005 20:50:39 GMT -5
"I don't want to fight ... I just want to get out of here. Will an apology do? I'm sorry I hurt that girl ... I'm sorry I threw the dagger. Just let me go."
Metrean thought himself ready for anything, but he never expected an apology. He began to realize the position he had taken.
He whispered, "What was I thinking?" to himself more than to anyone else.
He then sheathed the sword, and said, "You don't want that compass. There's something not right about it. I... I'm sorry I attacked you. I wasn't thinking straight." He went over to where Thayndriar stood.
Forgive me?
Of course. But next time you decide to pick a fight, don't.
At this, he couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe sometime, someplace, we can meet on better terms."
He thought for a second.
"If you need me, I've got a strange knife to fetch."
Then he began to push his way through the crowd.
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Post by Cat on Feb 10, 2005 21:09:27 GMT -5
Relief flooded through Julian liked ice thawing. He allowed himself a smirk. He'd come away from that unscathed, and all it took was a false apology and a spot of good acting. In his mind he vowed to hunt Fossil down and make her pay for that confrontation. He didn't know what she'd told that boy with the sword, but it had to have been bad.
A touch on his leg made him jump and he found himself looking down at Shay. He knelt down and stroked her ears, taking the dagger out of her mouth. "Thanks."
"Way to lie," she said coolly. "You've never apologized for a fight in your life. What made you do it?"
"The fear of being killed by a crazy kid with a sword." Julian sighed heavily. "What a way to go."
Shay turned around. "Get the alethiometer. He said you don't want it, but I beg to differ."
Julian nodded and pocketed his switchblade, favouring the dagger. He spotted the kid in the crowd and approached him, trying to resume his haughty air of control. He was no longer in a mood to bargain and his dark, closed expression showed it. It had been some hell of a day.
"Listen, kid, you just give me that thing right now, and I won't slit your throat, alright?" he said wearily. In the back of his mind he seriously hoped Metrean wasn't still watching him. This wouldn't go down well.
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Post by Tyrannus et Callida on Feb 10, 2005 21:24:02 GMT -5
Metrean continued walking, holding a conversation with his dæmon at the same time.
So you're really gonna try to get that knife?
Yes. I think it has something to do with what I did back there... I lost control. In all my life I have never lost control. And that compass was just like that knife... It gave me the same feeling. I think if I can find this knife, I can figure out why I lost control.
He's gonna go back for her.
I know. But I trust she can take care of herself. Besides, if he does touch her again, I'll cleave him.
Thayndriar sighed.
You like her.
He smiled.
Come on. We've got to find that knife.
(OOC: Okay, and that brings Metrean back to the main part of the city. Don't worry. He'll be back.)
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Tracy
dæmian
[.^~*Cieday: 7/06/04*~^.] *Settled as a European Wildcat*
Posts: 100
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Post by Tracy on Feb 12, 2005 18:57:49 GMT -5
Adrienne and Haelphaesus walked leisurely home. They were in no hurry to return to an angry mother who would most certainly ground them for being late and leaving the house. The slums were not as slummy now, but they were still quite far from home.
It was getting dark and Adrienne and Hael's feet were sore, so they decided to rest. They spotted a grassy knoll with a dead tree in it between two abandoned buildings. The dark haired girl and her fox dæmon ventured into the knoll and rested their head upon the tree.
Adrienne looked up at the tree's gnarled and ancient branches and sighed. This day had been so chaotic and confusing that all she wanted to do was to just be absorbed by tree so that she wouldn't have to think about anything anymore.
Hael was restless, so he rolled off Adrienne's lap and into the grass. Suddenly, he disappeared into the ground. Adrienne gasped with terror and screamed.
"HAEL! WHERE ARE YOU!!!!" She desperately searched through the grass with her hands, looking for her dæmon. She had not felt a tug at her heart, which meant that he was nearby. As her fingers weaved through the grass, her hand seemed to slip into a space in the ground. "Wha-?" she gasped in surprise as she toppled into the empty space.
Don't be afraid, thought Hael. Though she couldn't see him, she could sense that he was near. You and I have just fallen through a window to another world. Adrienne landed on the alien ground with a dull thump, right next to Haelphaesus.
"Oh, Hael," Adrienne cried with relief as she wrapped her arms around his furry neck.
"Wow, that was quite an unexpected fall."
"Yeah, but it was only a four foot drop. "
The two looked up at the hole from which they had fallen through. It was a square shape, like a window that let them see the sky from their own world. Adrienne and Haelphaesus crawled out from under the hole, just in case another curious pair fell through the opening, and stood up to take in their surroundings.
"Wow this place is beautiful, but where are wei?"
Little did they know that they had just fallen into the strange and haunting world of Cittàgazze. They had landed very close to the city, so they ventured into it and searched for someone who could tell them where they were.
((OC: Yay! Now to create the Cittàgazze thread!))
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Kamy
dæmian
All thanks to me being here goes to Cat
Posts: 323
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Post by Kamy on Feb 13, 2005 10:54:46 GMT -5
As Killer and Alexandra enter the slums, something comes out of nowhere and slices open Alexandras stomache. As she was dying, Killer had reacted fast and tried to kill that thing, but it got away. Looming over his now fallen partner, his bad memories started coming back. Those bandits torched the orphanage in search of him, he could never forget them.
Killer walked around aimlessly, thinking and wondering.
Maybe if you would have listened none of this would have happened Said Forgotten.
SHUT UP YOU STUPID THING! Killer whispered loudly into his jacket where forgotten lay dormant.
Just then Killer saw someone standing near some kid apart from the rest, looking like he was trying to blend in. He walked up to this person and asked them thier name. "Hey kid with the sand cat daemon whats your name?"
(OOC:Hey this is kinda like improv!)
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Post by Cat on Feb 13, 2005 12:14:35 GMT -5
(( OOC: -blink- Let's assume Julian has the alethiometer now, m'kay? ))
Pocketing the golden compass, Julian started to hurry out of the crowd, never wanting to return to the Slums again.
"Hey kid with the sand cat daemon whats your name?"
Julian half-turned, studying the guy who'd addressed him so crudely. Shay's fur bristled as he smirked, muttering to her, "I'm not even gonna dignify that with a response."
"Let's get out of here," Shay whispered. Julian knelt down and scooped her up.
"Where to?"
"Far away." She dug her claws into his jacket.
Shay hated this place more than Julian did. The memory of Fossil's hand brushing her fur made him shudder inwardly. "Alright," he murmured. He turned away from Killer and started walking away, breaking into a run once he'd escaped the crowd.
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