Hal
Soldier
Wings of Courage
I've got 99 problems and Elesia caused every one.
Posts: 215
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Affinity: Light
Profile: Hal Kailas
OoC Alias: Kenshin
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Post by Hal on Feb 14, 2012 3:14:18 GMT -6
"Uh.... Um.... I kinda can't just up and leave... Sorry..." He had told Miori, she had looked disappointed as she left. Hal had finished his meal, he had searched for Karen and offered to help out till closing, he had nothing else to do. He figured he'd be able to find out where he was in the morning and what he would do then. He was assigned the task of doing dishes. An easy job Hal had grown used to doing, he did group up in a decent sized family after all.
Stack after stack was piled up, they were coming in as quickly as he could do. How did people manage to get them that dirty? He was merely half way done when his fingers started to prune up, deciding he needed a break he asked Karen if he could step outside. He wasn't paying full attention to where he was going and bumped into a drunk on the way out. "Oh I-I-I-I'm so-so-sorry s-s-s-sir, please ex-excuse my rudeness."
"youuuuu better be shorry kid. I otta shlap the shhit out of youuuu for that. Get out of my faccce." Hal had scurried across the room and made a hasty exit from the inn.
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Elesia
Mage
The Feral Flame
"GOD DAMMIT ELESIA"
Posts: 148
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: RENEGADE FOR LIFE
Affinity: Anima
Profile: A Grizzly Affair
OoC Alias: Nayru
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Post by Elesia on Feb 14, 2012 4:42:50 GMT -6
The meat had met its grisly end with solemn resignation, savaged and devoured without regard for dinner etiquette. Elesia was unperturbed by its valiant sacrifice - or the bits of sauce flecking her face. She hadn't recognized most of the flavors in it, but despite the weirdness the entire thing had been remarkably delicious. Only one shiny metal left, though, and apparently she needed two to get more.
That was alright, though. She was full enough for now. Looking for all the world like the cat that got the cream, she settled for kicking her feet idly to an unseen tempo, licking her fingers off in meticulous succession before settling for watching the rest of the inn's guests through the fringes of her bangs. They all looked so strange, covered in strange clothing and sometimes weapons. Adventurers or soldiers or something - she was still fuzzy on what the difference was and didn't much care.
This was kind of fun, actually, like a great adventure to - wherever. Elesia decided that exactly where she was headed wasn't especially important or worth worrying about just yet. She was going to need more gold, though. That was what people called it, anyways.
A fracas at the edge of the room caught her attention, an older, much smellier man yelling at a quieter - and smaller - person. Maybe one of them would give her gold? She didn't think so - neither of them looked especially happy, and unhappy people hadn't been very good sources of gold so far, whether she asked for it or just went hunting while they were asleep. The pungent stench of the larger man followed him in, a horrible aroma that set her eyes watering and nose curled in disgust; the smell was familiar enough after her recent escapades but the sheer concentration, less so.
It didn't take long for her to follow the smaller one outside, not willing to deal with the smell any longer. She pattered across the floor and out the door before it had even stopped swinging, glad to be out of the smelly place but realizing only after reaching the promised lands of outside that the other human person thing was still there.
Part of her wanted to just make a run for it, but she was also sort of curious why the two had gotten along so poorly. Maybe they weren't very good friends? Elesia stared at the blue-haired person for a few moments before shrugging, both physically and mentally, and silently setting course closer to him. Stopping a few feet away and cocking her head, she spoke without preamble, curiousity evident in her halting words and open eyes. "You and him. Not... friends?"
It was right around then that Elesia realized that she had no idea what else to say. Maybe she should have said something first, too?
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Hal
Soldier
Wings of Courage
I've got 99 problems and Elesia caused every one.
Posts: 215
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Affinity: Light
Profile: Hal Kailas
OoC Alias: Kenshin
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Post by Hal on Feb 14, 2012 6:12:12 GMT -6
"I wonder how Mother, Father, and the others are doing. I hope they get the packages of money I send home, what am I to do next?" Hal had been outside by himself for a few minutes before he heard a soft spoken girl ask him something. He turned around and just stared blankly at her. He wasn't sure what to think, she had looked so... Wild. Most girls he had met at least tried to take care of their appearance but this one hasn't.
"Oh... Th..that man, I don't know him. I wa...was distracted th...thinking of home, then I bumped into him. He had the smell of achoal on his breath." He stood there silent for a second. "My name is Hal, what about you?" He had forced out a smile, he had felt he drew strangers like a flame does to moths.
(OoC:sorry for the spelling mistakes, no spell check on my phone :/)
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Elesia
Mage
The Feral Flame
"GOD DAMMIT ELESIA"
Posts: 148
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: RENEGADE FOR LIFE
Affinity: Anima
Profile: A Grizzly Affair
OoC Alias: Nayru
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Post by Elesia on Feb 14, 2012 17:41:35 GMT -6
"...Elesia?" It came out closer to a squeak than the self-assured statement it was supposed to be, and she hated herself for it a little more, dropping her head immediately to hide behind the falling hair. She felt somehow less for doing it, but it was suddenly hitting her that she had expected the other person to just answer the question and walk away, not initiate a conversation, and she had no idea how to interact in that regard. Um. Maybe she could try being nice and see if that worked? "That's a - nice name." Elesia was watching with round, open eyes to try to decode his reaction, but wasn't actually sure how to do so.
He seemed sad, though. Lonely. Frustrated? Bad emotions. Not good ones. That hurt a little bit; she didn't know anything about Hal, but she wanted to make him feel better. Home was a familiar word, one that she could empathize with all too well. "Home is. Good. But, um," She trailed off a little, not really sure what to say. That he missed it was obvious, but she had no idea what parts of it, or why. Not that she could stop there without trying to say something else. Opting to scratch her side to try to break the awkward, gangly feel of her body, she continued. "Much more. To learn? I think."
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Hal
Soldier
Wings of Courage
I've got 99 problems and Elesia caused every one.
Posts: 215
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Affinity: Light
Profile: Hal Kailas
OoC Alias: Kenshin
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Post by Hal on Feb 14, 2012 18:37:49 GMT -6
He stood there biting his lower lip after she said her name. Only one thing came to mind, this is awkward. He nodded his head a little in hopes of not sounding rude, "Elesia... I like it" he mumbled. Why was she here, what did she want, and other things of the sort ran through his mind. Hal sighed and looked to the ground. Seeing a pebble he kicked at it's direction for a minute.
The only thing he could really think of say was to find out what she wanted. "Soooo....." Hal had paused, almost to scared to open his mouth again. This was it, he was going to finish what he had started to say. "This is some nice weather we're having?" He had chickened out at the last second, hopefully she'd start talking more then him... He found almost every girl does.
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Elesia
Mage
The Feral Flame
"GOD DAMMIT ELESIA"
Posts: 148
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: RENEGADE FOR LIFE
Affinity: Anima
Profile: A Grizzly Affair
OoC Alias: Nayru
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Post by Elesia on Feb 15, 2012 6:07:46 GMT -6
Did people always respond in kind to kindness, some sort of social contract, or was Hal just trying to be nice? It bugged her more than she was comfortable - it seemed incredibly awkward to outright ask him that but people seemed to vastly differ without apparent rhyme or reason. Different upbringings, she supposed, though it was still hard to actually imagine them. Maybe she should look for a book on the subject. Later.
...It sounded incredibly petty, even to Elesia's socially retarded instincts, but it was oddly comforting that the other human, Hal, was having about as much trouble with the conversation as she was. Almost made her feel more comfortable with the situation than if he had been suave and talkative. She wondered if that was weird, then shrugged. Mentally. Not physically. That took some effort, but the incredibly socially gifted teenage girl was trying really hard to put up a good front, vaguely aware of the fact but not really sure why.
"Do you know any magic?" It came out without any further thought, blurted out on a spur of the moment idea that proved frustratingly slow to actually blossom into anything. He still seemed bothered, though, and she wanted to make him feel better. Not that she had any idea how. Once she had started talking, though, Elesia felt as though she had to continue. "...Can I, um, help you?" Oh yes, she was smooth as... something that was really smooth. She didn't really care; someone she could relate to, even if only on the weakest level, was endlessly fascinating.
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Hal
Soldier
Wings of Courage
I've got 99 problems and Elesia caused every one.
Posts: 215
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Affinity: Light
Profile: Hal Kailas
OoC Alias: Kenshin
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Post by Hal on Feb 15, 2012 10:45:10 GMT -6
Hal's face almost light up when Elesia had asked if he needed help, normally he was the helper not the helped. This time he didn't have to force a fake smile, it was a genuine smile till he realized he didn't really need any help. Sure he didn't know where he was or where anything was located in town, he felt it would be rude to use her as a guide dog or something.
"Well, I'm lost... I g-got turned around in the woods the other day." He said shamefully, kinda slouching as he said it. "I k-k-kinda wanna see my fa-family again..." Hal had felt home sick the day he ran away, lately it has been worse. He had always been worried about the day he goes back, knowing it wouldn't end well. He wanted to change the subject and fast.
"Oh yea, to answer your other question, the only magic I know is how to pull gold coins from behind your ear..." He had chuckled as he told her his 'magic' trick "Or at least that's what my little sister would tell you." Then the homesick feeling kicked right back in, so much for changing the subject. Sometimes Hal wished he thought before speaking, he didn't want to seem upset in front of Elesia. He wasn't sure what was with this girl, he still had that awkward feeling but since she had offered to help it died down a little.
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Post by Soul Essence on Feb 17, 2012 0:27:36 GMT -6
OOC: Hall, you accepted Soul appearing. And Nayru said she doesn't mind Elesia meeting with Soul, so...
IC:
Soul had met up with a caravan in an inn in Etruria. Captivated by her beauty, the caravan decided to help her out and allowed to ferry her over into Lycian territory. The plusses when you're a woman, unbelievable.
Unfortunately the caravan ran into to fiends. Not the most pleasant of things to run by, but zombies were not only scary to look at, but had dangerous claws. One swipe was fatal enough. The caravan was almost decimitated by the horde of zombies, and only Soul and a couple of others managed to escape unharmed. Seperated, Soul was now lost in Pheraen territory, shocked by what she had just witnessed. All she needed was some good sleep, and some nice food. She had some money, so affording would be alright. But how long would her tired legs carry her?
Wandering aimlessly, with a wary spirit and tired body, Soul had just come across the street with a nice inn in it, when her legs gave in and she collapsed.
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Elesia
Mage
The Feral Flame
"GOD DAMMIT ELESIA"
Posts: 148
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: RENEGADE FOR LIFE
Affinity: Anima
Profile: A Grizzly Affair
OoC Alias: Nayru
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Post by Elesia on Feb 18, 2012 4:34:37 GMT -6
"Magic?!" Out went the shyness, the hesitation that characterized so many of her interactions with the rest of humanity. The wellspring of repressed curiouity erupted; Elesia grabbed her companion's arm fast enough that it could reasonably have been taken as an attack had her grip not been so gentle... albeit insistent. Both hands wrapped around his right upper arm, excitement on her face, eyes shining through messy bangs, mouth set in a crooked, hopeful grin; she hadn't met a mage in a long time, certainly not one that had wasted much time on her since that one so long ago, and conjuring gold sounded like an amazingly useful skill. "Making money is better than fire!"
Then she realized that she had just insinuated something was better than fire.
"Well, uh, almost as good as!" Good save. She was pretty proud of herself for that one, but didn't bother passing out the congratulations when there were more important things to deal with. "Can you teach me?" There was another half-heartbeat pause before Elesia realized something, furrowing her brow as she squeezed slightly. "...You're really strong."
There was a dull thud behind them, accompanied by a rotten stench that set her skin afire with tension. Something horribly, horribly wrong, an ill wind that sent her careening away from Hal with hackles figuratively and literally raised as she skidded to a halt on all fours a few meters away, facing the threat.
Who was a human. A woman. Unconscious, the relatively small but technically functional logic circuit in her brain noted clinically. The smell was attached to her - Elesia sniffed it again to be sure - but not a part of her, and she looked horrible. Well, pretty, but in really bad shape. The foundations of her restraint already removed, the forest girl was a living black hole of knowledge, a sentient need to know more that overruled any sense of shame. She approached cautiously, back to two legs but skulking like a thief in the night, before unsubtly poking the possibly-dead woman in the back of her shoulder, fishing for a reaction. "Hurt?"
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Hal
Soldier
Wings of Courage
I've got 99 problems and Elesia caused every one.
Posts: 215
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Affinity: Light
Profile: Hal Kailas
OoC Alias: Kenshin
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Post by Hal on Feb 18, 2012 5:19:44 GMT -6
Hal had stared blankly when she had exploded with joy at his comment. He was joking but she taught he was serious. Before he was able to speak Elesia had changed her facial expression to a sour one. He stood there wondering what her reaction reminded him of, then it hit him. She moved like an animal on the prowl towards the fallen woman, he waited a few moments after she started to poke her to slowly approach them. "If she starts to foam at the mouth and convulge I'm out of here." Hal thought to himself.
Peering over Elesia's shoulder looking at the woman he started to speak in a panicked tone. "A-a-ar-ar-re you o-o-okay? Y-y-y-you flipped o-o-o-ou-out before darting over he-he-here, it kinda sc-sca-scared me"
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Post by Soul Essence on Feb 18, 2012 5:53:48 GMT -6
Soul lay there motionless for what seemed like eternity. She was now going through a nightmare. Zombies were closing in on her, their grotesque look frightening. Soon, two fell upon her, their stench so putrid, so horrible, she thought she was going to vomit non-stop.
And then they started tearing through her body, their faces emotionless, their claws stained with fresh blood, and all Soul could do was watch as they continued to tear through her...
Soul woke up with a start. She felt her heart beating violently, pain in her knees and a pounding headache. She felt like puking, but she had been starving for a long time, and she turned right as all she vomitted was bile. Her arms began to shiver. She was in need of food and water, and fast.
She steadily got up, stumbling in the process, but then went into a sitting posture. She looked around- there were two people staring at her right now- a green haired girl with stunning malachite eyes expressing curiousity, and a blue-haired boy, looking rather nervous. She cursed herself, it seemed she attracted attention with her collapse.
"I... I'm so-sorry I startled-" she said before she began coughing, and the vomiting again as more bile came out of her mouth.
"I think... I need food." she said as she started closing her eyes, taking in deep breaths. She had to conserve her energy. Until she got some food and a bed... hopefully.
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Hal
Soldier
Wings of Courage
I've got 99 problems and Elesia caused every one.
Posts: 215
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Affinity: Light
Profile: Hal Kailas
OoC Alias: Kenshin
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Post by Hal on Feb 18, 2012 10:02:44 GMT -6
So this girl wasn't dead, she moved about a little then rolled over with her back towards him and Elesia and started to vomit. Hal almost gagged at the very sight of bile oozing out of the woman's mouth. The closer the sickly woman got to sitting up Hal had moved towards Elesia.
He had gently placed his hands upon her shoulders, hopefully she wouldn't notice the slight tremble in his hands. He wasn't sure what had caused the woman to collapse, then start vomiting. Was it food poisoning or some type of illness and was it contiguous? He didn't want to risk his new... acquaintance and himself catching what she had. What good could he do for his family if he was sick?
Goodness gracious she had started to cough and spill out more vomit after attempting to speak. He had leaned in closer to Elesia whispered into her ear. "I... I think we should go... She... Looks fine now..." He nudged her shoulders backwards as he wanted to start to back away.
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Elesia
Mage
The Feral Flame
"GOD DAMMIT ELESIA"
Posts: 148
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: RENEGADE FOR LIFE
Affinity: Anima
Profile: A Grizzly Affair
OoC Alias: Nayru
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Post by Elesia on Feb 19, 2012 23:15:01 GMT -6
She was still suspicious of the overpowering stench surrounding the woman - why wasn't Hal acting like he smelled it too? He seemed more disgusted by the bile than the horrible aura for some reason. The woman was in terrible condition regardless; she already looked dead, as though she had given up days ago. It was pitiful, but Elesia was not so much judgmental as curious what in the world coudl have caused it. She had seen people die before, and none of them had smelled like that before. Dead animals came closer, long dead, but there was a vile ichor in the air that was completely new to her, one that kept her on edge and determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"What - happen?" She didn't want to be too close to the woman, her initial fears somewhat sated by the fact that nothing particularly horrific had happened upon touching Soul, but it was impossible to relax. Elesia settled for slowly circling her, watching every movement. "You smell bad." She was trying her best to articulate adequately, but her words still came out haltingly, moreso as she was splitting her focus between intonation and controlling her fight or flight response. "...Not you, but the smell on you." Why was it so damn hard to explain what she was trying to say? The subtleties of the language still eluded her, even as hard as she attempted to express it.
Hal's words fell on deaf ears, Elesia's immediate response a noncomittal, borderline dismissive grunt. The woman didn't look fine at all! ...Though, she realized, she hadn't actually been thinking about the woman's well-being at all, merely the smell. It was kind of admirable that he had been thinking of it. "I don't..." Pause. She didn't really want to argue with him, but didn't understand what he was saying. "...think she's fine." Another pause, Elesia still considering her options, before trying to get something more out of this. "Are you - really alive? Still? The smell on you isn't." The last sentence was a statement, not a question.
She wasn't actually sure if smells could be dead or if that sentence had been even dubiously grammatically solid, but it would convey the message. Hopefully. Maybe. What she wouldn't give to be able to communicate better sometimes.
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Post by Soul Essence on Feb 20, 2012 0:20:19 GMT -6
Soul just sat there, eyes closed, continuing to take in deep breaths. She felt at peace, just sitting there like that. She did not feel lik moving from that spot, or actually talking. All she hoped was that she died soon, and if there was a place like heaven, go there...
She just couldn't give up, but it seemed like it was right to do so. No... she couldn't be rude to those two who were staring at her. What would they be thinking? "Better answer them, even if I'm close to taking my last breath..." she thought.
"I.. *cough* was with this caravan travelling here. We were *cough cough* attacked by the dead-" she couldn't take the hunger anymore. She started holding herself tightly, trying to endure it. " The dead started walking, attacking us." she finished.
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Elesia
Mage
The Feral Flame
"GOD DAMMIT ELESIA"
Posts: 148
Bern Fame: 1
Lycia Fame: 1
Profession: RENEGADE FOR LIFE
Affinity: Anima
Profile: A Grizzly Affair
OoC Alias: Nayru
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Post by Elesia on Feb 20, 2012 3:16:25 GMT -6
"The... dead?" Her voice, while questioning, was not so much doubtful as thoughtful, Elesia mulling over the concept while trying to reconcile it with her understanding of reality. Dead things didn't walk - they were dead. That was kind of what dead meant - if they were still wandering around, they were alive, right? She certainly hadn't seen any dead things traipsing about in the forest. Dying, sure - sometimes a creature escaped hunters or one of her traps and she'd come across them before they gave up their last breath, but eventually they stopped moving.
The idea of them moving again was equal parts creepy as hell and awesome.
Elesia disappeared back into the inn without a sound, emerging a few moments later short a piece of gold but wielding bread with pride, an offering to keep the woman talking. She proferred it with poorly concealed eagerness, along with what might have come across as concern had she not stated her words with the rawest factuality. "Not eat too fast. Can hurt stomach if not eat long time." A doctor she was not, but that unfortunate fact was something she had learned on her own the hard way over the many times she had gotten to go hungry before getting a proper trapping network set up.
She wasn't sure how dead things could attack - maybe they just stunk worse than usual or something - but it was intriguing, and she found herself desperate to learn more, even if the woman didn't seem particularly eager to share. "What happened to the others? Will you show me where it happened?" She paused, realizing that the woman would probably need time to answer... and didn't really look in good shape to head out immediately. "Um. Later maybe?"
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