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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:48 am
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Cert goes here!
Zoomutt The neglected Red Doll that had been sitting on the secretary's desk as a gift looked around. Good, noone was in the office. With a slight grin (or more so than usual), she/it stood up, brushed the dust off itself, and began searching the desk for various interesting companions.
Two haunted scissors and a haunted stapler later, she turned around, only to find herself face to face with her mortal enemy: The Shredder. The Shredder was all fangs as it snarled and snapped at the Red Doll. For some reason it had also acquired a pair of glasses, though from where was another story. The minipet fought for her life but it was no use: the Shredder was slowly overpowering her. She took a wrong step, and with a gasp, fell off the edge of the desk.
The Shredder leaned over the top of the desk. It was over.
It never saw the crumpled minipet on the ground twitch, just slightly.
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:51 am
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Name: Larkspur Anne Kilborn
Nicknames: Lark
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Faction: Reaper
Race: Shaman -- familiar-based instead of weapon. Lark has a kangaroo familiar named Benjamen.
Natural Ability:
Spiritual Communication: Shamans with this ability can understand animal spirits and elementals as easily as they can speak with and understand anyone else.
Personality:
Lark is the definition of unpretentious. Simple, functional, streamlined... for the most part. Like any other denizen of Halloween, Larkspur is not without her quirks and eccentricities.
Being the only shaman in her family, Lark always feels as though she's got something to prove. She wants to be the best at nearly everything (as long as it doesn't involve wearing dresses, baking spookies, tea socials or twittering about boils), and Lark will push herself as hard as she possibly can. Every obstacle she comes against is a personal challenge and failure is usually not an option. Even when she succeeds, there's usually something she finds in her performance that she's unhappy with. She could have done this different, she could have done that better -- it would almost seem as if Lark's never happy with herself. Her inner turmoil over being so different from the rest of her family has a tendency to define her personality despite Lark's desire to believe otherwise.
While Lark considers herself an open book, so-to-speak, there are a few things that are emotionally off-limits and addressing them (even unknowingly) will immediately cause Larkspur to clam up. Her family is a topic that Lark will never willingly bring up despite loving them desperately.
Her lack of a weapon is another touchy subject -- while she does care deeply for Benji, he isn't a bowie knife or something equally badass. Despite all this, any sort of digs at having a boomer as a familiar will surely end in a scrap. Never let it be said that Lark is afraid of a physical altercation. At times it seems the ghoul thrives on throwing down in a good old-fashioned fistfight. As far as Lark is concerned, it's a right good way to work off extra aggression. While she doesn't go around looking for fights, Lark is not the type of ghoul to walk away from them.
Lark is something of a tomboy, and loves physical activity. She loves spending time outdoors and can lose herself for hours at a time going on walkabouts through the fields, forests and caves of the Scarefari (often returning with another poor lost minipet to add to her collection). Friendly spars in the Gym are going to be constantly sought after.
Despite being especially hard on herself, Lark is a rather chipper gal. It's generally easy for her to make friends as she's usually a pretty happy-go-lucky. Lark is a friendly enough ghoul with a heart of gold. Loyalty is something that Lark understands and holds in high esteem. Once broken, it's hard for Lark to find it in herself to forgive.
She has a love for critters big and small (especially denizens of Halloween that have a natural form) and is a bleeding heart for minipets -- the ugly ones.
Why are they enrolled in Amityville Academy?
Simply put, Lark's parents aren't quite sure they're capable of teaching Lark everything she needs to know. All of her family are Grim Reapers and they all have weapons. Neither of her parents have familiars, and because of this they've sent her to Amityville. Her mother and father both hope that she can learn all she needs to at the Academy. Lark wasn't very pleased about it, in all honesty, and she's not real pleased by the fact that she's got a fleabag kangaroo for a familiar.
FEAR Ability: (Swift Strike) Boomer Barrage -- Lark sends Ben in to attack one target -- Using his powerfully muscled tail to support himself, Ben uses his feet to pummel the target repeatedly, without mercy. Sometimes Ben listens and other times he doesn't. What a jerk.
>>Lark's Family<<
Father's Name: Isaac Kilborn
Age: Middle 40's.
Class: Grim Reaper
Personality:
Okay, you know that one friend you have who has the dad that everyone loves and everyone wants to hang out with? Yeah? Okay, cool.
Isaac is not that dad.
Mister Kilborn is and always has been kind of a hard-a**. Though he won't come out and say it, Lark is something of a disappointment to her father. Well, not so much Lark, really, but more of her lack of being a Grim. Up until Lark was sent to study at Amityville, Isaac was something of a control freak -- keeping Lark on a tight schedule, berating her when she got into a physical altercation, complaining about her choice in outfits and her tomboyish nature. In fact, it almost seems as if Lark's subclass of Shaman has been more distressing to Isaac.
Mother's Name: Lily Kilborn
Age: Early 40's.
Class: Grim Reaper
Personality:
Lily is more like her daughter than she would like to admit. In fact back when she was younger, Lily often found herself taking walkabouts in the scarefari just like Lark does now. Ironically, Lily always dreamed that she'd always have an animal familiar as opposed to a weapon. Because of this, Lily and Benji have a relationship that infuriates Isaac. Lily is always sure to pack extra food for Benji when she sends care packages to Larkspur and Benjamen.
Now, Lily isn't the most doting of mothers even though she tries. She takes her duties as a Grim very, very seriously and doesn't really spend much time at home -- this is another reason that she's relieved that Lark will be attending Amityville.
>>Fun Facts<<
Lark's ancestors were/are actually mainly mages, necromancers, sorcerors and witches.
Until recent generations, the last name Kilborn was spelled Killburn.
Lark is actually the first shaman in her family!
Lark and her family are all based off of various fears that have to do with death brought on by things in Australia. Lark herself thrives on the fear of Australian animals. They are pretty terrifying.
Benji is about the same size as a red kangaroo, maybe a little larger!
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:52 am
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Name: Benjamen
Nickname: Ben, Benny, Benji, Rat b*****d, Bowie (a joke between Lark and Ben).
Gender: Male/Buck
Age: Physically, 3-4 years old. Ben is a middle-aged boomer.
Personality: Forever butting heads with Lark, Ben sees his opinions as the only opinions. He's very possessive over Lark and he doesn't care how she feels about it. As far as Ben is concerned, Lark is his. Regardless of their differences, Lark and Ben are Reaper and Familiar, and so their relationship is complicated to say the least. If anything should happen to Ben, Lark would be lost, and vice versa. Ben knows how Lark feels about being the only reaper in her family that isn't a magic-based class -- and the only reaper in her family who has a familiar.
Lark hadn't been expecting to have a familiar instead of a weapon. Truthfully she was in denial for quite some time before finally coming to terms with the fact that she was not a Grim, she did not have a weapon -- not only that, she was graced with a big awkwardly shaped mammalian beast as a familiar as opposed to something more compact ... like a dingo or something.
In truth, Lark depends on Ben. His friendship and his guidance are things that Lark cherishes despite all outward appearances. He is her closest friend and she does trust him with her life. |
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:53 am
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:54 am
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:59 am
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:03 am
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:04 am
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:58 am
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SOLO
WC: 888
One day from now she'd be stuck in a school that she had no desire to be in.
One day from now she'd be leaving behind her best friend.
One day from now she'd be saying goodbye to her mother and father.
One day from now was nowhere near enough time to do all the things she wanted to do before leaving.
"Yer a right mess, then, Lark," Ben mumbled softly, thumping across the floor to gaze at her with gentle brown eyes. He leaned against the edge of the bed, ears pinned back. Her upset troubled him.
Lark sat in the middle of her bed, legs crossed, face buried in her palms.
"Don't wanna go, Ben," she huffed, the words muffled against her hands. "The oldies treat me like I'm a damned drongo. I know I'm different, Ben. Dad has made that plain enough to me. Never happy with me, always grouchin' and groanin' like ...like I'm the one who chose to be this way."
"Too right," Ben agreed sadly. It was a damn shame how Isaac treated his only daughter, and Lily was never around when Lark needed her. "He's a bit daft, girl. I know it all seems drab now but... this might be th' best thing what ever happened to us, hmm?"
Larkspur dropped her hands into her lap, morosely staring at Ben with dampened cheeks and wet eyes. Maybe he had a point, maybe he didn't. All Lark knew was that she wasn't ready to say goodbye to Kettil, to Kettil's family. They'd been more of a family than her own had been. Exhaling roughly, the sudden expulsion of breath sending her fringe into a tizzy, Lark reached forward and rubbed Ben's chin.
"I just want to make dad happy, Benji," she mumbled sadly, wiping the back of a slender hand against tear-stained cheeks. "It's all I've ever really wanted." Lark shook her head, shuffling to the edge of the bed. "Mother doesn't even care, it feels like. Now they're sendin' me off like some kinda piker. I can't help but feel either real sad or mad as a cut snake." Rising to her feet, Lark grasped for her hat that she ritually kept on one of the tall bedposts of her bedframe. She mashed it on her head in annoyance.
"Lark, look at it this way, girl. Yer gon' be able to make new mates, right? This is gonna be a corker, Lark. A right corker of an opportunity. I know yer sad now, treat. I know yer gonna miss Kettil annis family but... she'll be right, Lark. Ol' Ben will be there, so it ain't all bad, too right. 'least yer not bein' tossed off all by yerself, hmm?" He nudged her leg with his nose.
Lark ran her fingers through Ben's reddish mane. He was just trying to make her feel better and Lark knew it. She didn't want to make it seem as if she weren't appreciative of it, either.
"Too right, Benji." She smiled softly at him, "I should stop pockin' around like some bludger. If I ain't have these bags packed by suppertime I'm sure I'll get an earbashing from dad."
Lark fell silent again, reaching for her half-filled leather bag. She'd already filled it with her boots, pants and shirts. Moving to her chest of drawers, Lark scooped up her grundies and socks before returning to her pack. Tossing them on top of everything else, Lark zipped it up and tossed it to the floor. Clothes all packed. She glanced around the room once more.
"You think I should pack any pictures, then, Benji?" She wasn't sure she wanted to, but common sense was telling her to box up a few personal effects. Lark was upset now but when she was gone, maybe she'd regret not bringing anything from home.
"Reckon so," Ben grunted. "That one of the three of ya is nice enough if you ain't gonna pack all of 'em."
Picking up the picture in question, Lark held the frame between two hands as she gazed down at the picture therein. It was an older picture of Isaac, Lily and Lark. They all looked happy. "This is before I found out that..." she trailed off, shaking her head before placing the picture face down on the top of the dresser. Suddenly rage flickered across her face.
"I read the paper, Benji. I read 'bout that field trip they took. I read about how that school might get closed down. Swarmin' with boogies." She shook her head, pounding her fist against the chest of drawers. "I'ma give this a fair go, Ben. Dad wants me to learn how to be the best reaper I can be, I'll do it." Lark slid her hand off of the top of the dresser and lifted an index finger.
"You mark my words, Ben. Fair dinkum, if I get to that bloody school and it's all sorts of bodgy, we're leavin'. Straight up, too right, no lookin' back. We're not gonna stick around waitin' to be kicked out. We're not gonna take a chance on things goin' wrong, Ben." Lark shook her head, eyes narrowed.
Ben rarely saw Lark get riled up, and so all the boomer could do was nod his head solemnly.
"Right, then. Lets go eat."
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:07 am
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"Socks."
"I got 'em."
"All ya treads."
"Got 'em."
"Extra --"
"Aw fer Jack's sake, Ma, I got 'em. I got everythin'. Bloomers, got 'em. M'hat, got it. Packed all m'shirts. Packed all m'clothes - I ain't got much, so it weren't too big of a deal, right?"
Ben cleared his throat softly. Lily looked pained.
"It'll be good for you, Lark. You'll make friends."
They were forcing her to leave her best friend in the world, Kettil.
"You'll learn new things."
Oh, how it pained her to see this graceful, slip of a woman speak to her about learning new things. Did she really care? Did her own mother really care, or was she just thankful that Lark would be out of her way, out of sight, out of mind?
"Right. New things. Has dad left, then?"
Lily glanced at Ben. The roo shifted on his feet. Lark had her answer. The tall, leggy blonde grit her teeth and shifted on her feet, just as her familiar had.
"I'm ready t'go, then. No sense in jackin' around when there ain't a reason to, too right."
Lily had never been good at this mother-thing.
"Maybe while you're there you might work on your speech, hmm?"
Larkspur tensed up so tight it seemed she might shatter. Lily glanced at Ben, and the roo just shook his head.
"C'mon then, Lark," the roo nuzzled his bonded fondly. "Y'got yer bags, then? I can carry some if y'like, girl."
Lark gave a grunt and hefted her bag over her slender shoulders. She refused to look her mother in the eyes, absolutely refused.
Lily cleared her throat and trailed after her daughter, chewing on her lower lip as if she had something she wanted to say - needed to say - but couldn't. Her rich green eyes flared with an undeniable pain, but Lily knew how her daughter was, knew that Lark wasn't going to give her a chance to explain everything that was going on, the real reasons behind the decision to send Lark off to school.
As the group moved out of the sprawling two-story house, Lily trailed behind the pair as Lark packed her things in the back of the rarely-used carriage. With barely restrained anger the blonde ghoul slammed the baggage door shut before turning to her mother, jaw clenched and arms crossed over her chest.
Ben shifted on his powerful feet, idly scratching his belly as he peered between the two females. The silence between them stretched on and on, and Ben opened his mouth before closing it with a decidedly loud and poignant click. He knew that if he tried to talk, Lark would desummon him - and he absolutely hated it when she did so without so much of a warning.
Lark was furious. Lily was apprehensive. There was an impasse forming between mother and child, one that was unbelievably difficult to cross - one that would only grow and grow until one of them said something to the other. It wouldn't be Lark, and Lily knew it, so as most mothers did when placed in such a situation, Lily tried to smile. It was rough and wobbly, but it was a smile filled with blind adoration for her daughter.
"I'm sorry, Larkspur. I know this isn't what you want. I know that you'd much rather stay here at home, but.. with your father travelling and ... well, it's better this way."
Neither of us know what to do with you, at any rate.
Those words remained unspoken, which was probably for the best - however, they hung over mother and daughter like a weight. A heavy, black weight that tainted the air around them.
Lark narrowed her eyes at her mother, that stubborn jaw jutting out in a way that was fast becoming familiar. "Right, then. Send me off t'school so y'both can do whatever it is that y'want. It's cuz y'ain't got the perfect daughter now, yeah? Y'got me. I ain't what y'wanted. Y'wanted somethin' like you n' da. Well. I'll go off t'school. I'll go off and I'll do m'learnin' jest like y'want. But I ain't never goin' t'forgive y'fer this. I ain't never goin' t'forgive da fer this, either."
That being said, Lark turned her back and clambered into the carriage. She didn't yet desummon Ben. She knew that the familiar adored her mother, and vice versa. While she was angry, she didn't want to hurt Ben's feelings. He was the only thing she had left. He was her closest companion. No, Lark merely sat in the carriage and let her eyes wander in the direction of Kettil's home. She heard the mumbling voices of her mother and Ben, and when she heard the clearing of a throat outside, she desummoned her familiar and crossed her arms over her chest.
As the carriage pulled away, Lark didn't look back.
wc: 816
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 10:08 am
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When Lark arrived in her dorm, she was more than pleasantly surprised. The Reaper dorms were, by far, the nicest of dorms in the area, and Lark gave Ben a very impressed look. The boomer returned the look with a smile, and once she'd figured out where her dorm was, Lark swiftly made her way there.
It was a small enough room, not that big, with a bed and a desk and a small kitchen within. She hadn't been expecting a kitchen of her own; the ghoul loved to cook, and would spend hours whiling away in the kitchen trying this recipe or that.
Lark closed the door behind her and let out a low sound. Ben moved around the room before rocking back on his tail, looking quite at home already.
"Ain't half bad, Lark."
"Too right. Ain't half bad at all, I suppose."
"Could'a been worse."
"Could'a been a lot worse."
Ben was quiet as Lark spoke again.
"Ain't home."
"Not yet, Lark, but y'know we can make it home, yeah?"
She let out a grunt and finally set down her knapsack.
"I s'pose. Still ain't happy about it. Gonna take some time."
She fell silent and slowly began to unpack the things she'd brought with her. A few more trunks were due to arrive in the following days, and Lark had only packed the necessities in the knapsack. A few pairs of clothes, a hairbrush and toothbrush, soap and shampoo, a towel. She had some silver seeds for food, and it would have to be enough for now. A monthly stipend had been graced to her courtesy of her guilty father.
There was a small book of pictures to remind her of home - one of her and Kettil grinning into the camera, one of her bedroom, one of her kitchen. One of her parents looking rather unimpressed with being forced to stand in the same picture with one another. A picture of Ben and Endy. A picture of the backyard of their home.
Lark grunted. This was her home now. She was nothing but a disappointment, and she had so very much to prove to everyone who had ever doubted her.
"Tuckin' you up," she muttered to Ben, the familiar immediately disappearing. It wasn't the kind of warning he liked, but Lark wasn't in the mood for conversation. She was in the mood to be alone with her thoughts, although Ben would always be a sort of silent comfort hidden away deep inside.
Lark placed the picture book on her bedside table before flopping back onto the bed, arms out and eyes closed. It was nice, she supposed, to have a place of her own without the heavy weight of disapproving parents haunting her. Even though Ben was gone he was still there, and while it was a sort of comfort, sometimes Lark wished that she could really be alone sometimes. It got a little exhausting to have a presence always in the back of your mind, even if he was your second-best friend and number one confidante.
Opening her eyes, Lark peered at the ceiling and sighed softly. It was kind of scary to face a big academy like Amityville, a place where she had zero friends. It never had been easy for her to make friends, either. Ket had been the only friend she'd really had, and he was her friend because he could put up with a lot of her s**t. Larkspur knew that friends like Kettil were friends for life, and sometimes it bothered her that he thought of her as only a friend.
She'd had a crush on him for what felt like forever.
Maybe the distance would help. It certainly had made agreeing to attend school easier. On one hand, she jackin' hated the fact that she'd had to leave everything she cared about behind. On the other hand, she was glad for the respite from everything. Then again, she was furious at her parents for even suggesting that she leave home to learn how to become a better Reaper. She knew what motivated them. She knew what drove her mother and father to even suggest it. They were disappointed in her. They always had been.
Lark flung her arm across her eyes and let out a low groan.
She felt so conflicted. She felt like she wanted to do well, just to make her parents proud. She felt like she wanted to do well to make herself proud. She felt like she wanted to fail just because it was what everyone thought would happen. She wanted to be happy for once in her young life, happy and content and in a place where she belonged.
Lark had a fleeting hope that this place might be what she wanted.
Only time would tell.
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