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 Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:12 pm
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
Burning, burning, ashes falling everywhere.
A peculiar rhyme lingered within the back of the girl's mind, repeating itself during her training at Poena Privus. Ruria was on her way home now, feeling fine as she left, save for a few bruises and cuts she had acquired during her training, but as she got farther and farther away down the road back home, her feet began to slow, to drag, her vision clouding with clouds of dark, her mind clouding with even darker thoughts.
Burning, burning, ashes falling everywhere. If you can't save the world, burn it, drag it to darkness to sleep forever in its ashes. The world does not want a ghost in it, anyways.
It came so quickly, so fast that Ruria did not even have the opportunity to comprehend what was happening, as if somewhere, someone had flicked a switch from "Good Ruria" to "Dark and Destructive Ruria". Her steps came to a completely standstill so suddenly, her arms dropping at her sides loosely, like a marionette whose puppeteer had dropped its strings.
For a long moment, she stood there, oblivious to the fact the presence of another was near. Violent swirls of torturous desire roused inside her, burning like a cursed fire that threatened to consume her very soul. Finally, she flinched out of her momentary lapse, realizing the presence was that of an Exorcisma, one she had never met. Her head barely tilted in Cassiel's direction, her soft red eyes sliding beneath lightening bangs that seemed to lose part of their hue, even as she merely stood there, staring at him with hollow, pleading eyes.
Go away, she thought. Don't see me like this. Don't look at me when I am like this.
The feeling around her was cold, dark and suffocating, reminiscent to drowning, and it permeated off her in pulsing waves.
" What ever is the matter? Is there a monster before your eyes?" she murmured towards the man as he approached, her lips, usually so gentle and soft, curved into an almost sinister smile, but her eyes spoke very differently, hollowed as they were. Save me, they begged. Make the pain go away. Don't let me turn into a monster.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:33 pm
The day had been great for this exorcisma. He got up early and walked into town to acquire some delicious fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. He craved the treat for days and finally convinced himself that the walk was worth it, and boy was he happy now! He had several dozen in boxes within a travel bag slung on his shoulder. One box was open in his hands as he ate while walking. He barely finished chewing one before another was popped into his mouth, crumbs littering the breast of his shirt. But the guilty pleasure of his came to an abrupt stop when he saw a woman on the road.
He stopped several yards away to watch the girl curiously, one final cookie shoved into his mouth before he closed the box. But her words made him choke a bit as he swallowed. Monster? A look was cast from the girl to the left, then to the right, then back at the girl. "Am I supposed to see a monster?" He asked innocently while brushing his shirt clean, his eyebrows raising with the question. He didn't see one; just the girl. "I'm sorry but I don't see a monster. I only see a young woman who..." His voice trailed off, studying the girl. Something was wrong. He couldn't put his thumb on it though. Her demeanor was different form her eyes.
"Is... something wrong? You seem to be split. I cannot tell if you're possessed with another spirit or if your spirit itself is in turmoil." He explained, keeping his distance as to not provoke her. For a moment he debated on offering a cookie, but surely that wouldn't help the situation. "I won't hurt you. I have no reason to."
✖
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:03 am
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
Ruria's mouth held her suspicious smile as she kept her eyes on him. He looked casual enough, but she knew very, very well how deceiving looks really were. Never judge a book by its cover. "Hurt me?" she parroted, laughing softly. "My, my...what makes you believe I am afraid of that? I'm not afraid... I'm not afraid of anything," her voice softened. It was true that many things that should did not frighten her, or cause her panic or pain, but it was a definite lie to say she wasn't afraid of anything....
Still, she was somewhat wary of him. Could he so easily see what it was that ailed her? If so...could he reach down, deep inside of her, and grasp the horror that was the truth? "Tell me, then...if not a monster, what do you...see." her words became stifled somewhat, her vision darkening ever more. "If you don't see a monster now, if things go the way they are, you will in the near future." she said darkly. Ruria dropped to put her head near her knees, arms holding her legs, balancing on her ankles. "Mind you...I'm really just rather..sleepy."
Though her words were innocent, and her demeanor just as such and exhausted, the air around her increased in its spine-tingling chill, the feeling of dread that made the bones feel gripped by ice, and turned the heart to stone, though all was quiet...the calm before the storm.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:00 pm
Cassiel stood there and listened to the girl speak, surprised by her confession. "Not afraid of anything? Now that I don't believe. Everyone has a fear, no matter how small and insignificant it seems. But to face it, one must admit it. Only then can you overcome it. Even I have fears." He muttered, watching how her demeanor changed yet again. She puzzled him. How could someone so innocent and frail looking seem to be shrouded by a heavy darkness? He could almost feel it in the air. This... invisible presence that was consuming her within.
"I am not sure what it is that troubles you..." He started to say, taking several tentative strides towards her as she collapsed in on herself. "But I can sense something controlling you. Something evil." Sure, he was merely pointing out the obvious to her, but the look on his face was genuine concern. It must be exhausting going through what she was. Cassiel certainly didn't want to experience this sort of pain. Coming to a stop just several paces away, he crouched down to be at her new eye level. He was careful not to get to close at first, but when she seemed to be at ease he waddled closer; one careful step at a time. Hesitantly he reached out to her, brushing those pale locks from her face and checking to see if the girl had actually fallen asleep in that position. It would be horribly uncomfortable on ones back!
"I'm not sure if there is anything I can do to help you. But sleeping here is not a good idea. Would you like my assistance in getting home?" He offered. There was no way he would leave the girl in this condition... he'd even follow against her will to make sure nothing bad happened to her; or anyone else for that matter. "I will get you home, and you can finally rest there."
✖
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 4:36 pm
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
Her initial reaction to this one's concern was to cave into it - let him comfort her, let him take her home, but the minute his hand brushed her forehead, her body was wracked in reverberating pain, flashes of Rajih smiling at her, doing the same thing, before his image disappeared. She gritted her teeth, practically snarling. "Please...don't..." her voice was practically a whimper. "I am not evil, I am not," she murmured. The darkness swirled inside her, twisting her thoughts, manipulating, clutching precious memories and distorting them into shreds of violence inside. She could already see it play out with this one...caring now, concerned now, but later, once he realized what a burden she was, what a true monster she might become, he would flee, as Rajih had.
Burning, burning, the city is burning...~
Ashes everywhere, yearning, yearning....~
Her eyes snapped up to meet his, something dangerous and empty within them, brows furrowing in some form of rage that was reflected in the soft, harsh crimsons. "Don't...touch me." she muttered, her voice dark and low. Black, ghostly tendrils wrapped around her, snapping out like razor whips at Cassiel as she slowly stood back to her full (albeit unimpressive) height, the air of dread pulsing around her like a cocoon.
This was not Ruria, not the sweet, awkwardly gloomy girl who would smile even when in the deepest of pain, but something else, something dark and dreary and full of anguish, despair, and destructive will. As she looked down upon Cassiel, she no longer saw a man who showed concern or care, but a man who showed the promise of betrayal and abandonment. He had, afterall, called her evil inside, did he not?
Her blank face smiled down at him, though there was nothing endearing about it at all, as she took one staggering step after another towards him. Bring him there, where he belongs. It can end no other way. It is best to end it now. Bring him there, in your embrace, there, where the gates will open and you both may sleep forever.
"There..." she murmured, repeating the dark thoughts that bubbled inside her, manipulated by the poltergeist. Her arms extended towards him, open, as if she wanted to embrace him. "Shall I bring...you there with me?" Did she really intend to use Hel, her most devastating, double-edged sword on him? The urges were so strong within, all she need do was wrap her arms around his chest, and drag him with her.... "Nnnh..." she struggled momentarily, only freezing in her steps.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:28 pm
Everything about her next move was completely unexpected. He never should have let his guard down; but her innocent look got the better of him. "No, You're not evil." He echoed, springing back on his heels the moment she cocooned herself in darkness. Being close to her was not beneficial to his health so he put as much distance between them as he could. Back peddling away from those open, inviting arms, he discarded his beloved travel bag to save his cookies from the impending battle. He really didn't want to go back to town and purchase more. His stomach was speaking far more than his mind at that moment. Safe guarding food... Only an idiot would put baked goods over their own life.
His attention quickly snapped back to the girl, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. She wanted no ordinary hug, and although she stopped in her steps he wasn't going to take any chances. "Neuma en' templa." He muttered the words, his hand rising into the air with each syllable. Swiftly, as if throwing an invisible dagger, Ruria would find herself glued to the spot. His hand remained outstretched, keeping the spell active should she struggle to free herself. "I apologize for touching you, it will not happen again. I can promise you that." He said as his spell wavered ever so slightly, preparing to cast another spell upon the girl.
"Lova poldora..." With the words said, he tried to use his power and weaken that evil entity within her. He aimed to free her from the pain, even if temporary. But he found it rather difficult to fight against such a powerful and restless spirit. This certainly was no ordinary possession. Perhaps it wasn't even a possession at all and Cassiel's first assumption was completely wrong. The man frowned as he watched the girl. Was there no way to help her? An exorcism of the girl wouldn't benefit her in the least! Plus... He didn't dare get close enough for one now. "I don't want to hurt you... I only want to help."
✖
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:44 am
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
"What...foolishness...is this..that you..mock..me..with..!?" she gritted her teeth as she struggled against the bonds. "I don't want your help! Let me go, let go let go let go let go let go!" The black tendrils pulsated, reaching and retracting, forming horrific shapes around her as she struggled almost violently. The ground around her seemed to tremble, but only around her, and then...cracked, crumbled, pieces of the rubble vibrating and rising in the air, roughly slamming down as the hole around her caved and she plummeted with the rubble twenty feet to the "new" bottom.
For a long moment, the only sound that came from the bottom of the hole was that of small pebbles and dust trailng their way down, tapping against the girl's body. She didn't move, her hair, which somehow seemed a little..lighter, now, covered face.
A loud screeching and wailing manifested behind Cassiel, as two blurs whooshed by him, covered in blue spirit fire, and they loomed over the hole, before both disembodied, defleshed heads turned towards the exorcisma.
"You foolish, long-eared fiddlestick!" one cried, flapping about in a rage. The other shook its head. "As dreary as life is, you mustn't extinguish that one's yet," he said in a voice that oozed manic depression. "Even if she seems like it, she's not evil, except for once every month."
"That's right, four-eyes!" the other said, clacking its mandible as it drew near to Cassiel's face. "If she had a broken leg, you'd kick her crutches out from under her, you fathead bully!"
A moan sounded from the hole, accompanied by the noise of shifting rubble, and a startled squeak. "W-what is this trickery...I-I've been buried...Uwah..." Whatever darkness had seemed to overtake the girl had mostly diminished, seemingly satiated by the outburst of destruction she had created, that had ended her in the very hole she now lay in. "B-bitter, Biter, I hear you...have you come to usher me into the afterlife?"
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:30 am
Cassiel's spells broke the moment the girl played her disappearing trick. Although, falling down a hole isn't really disappearing. Oh god, he hadn't meant to kill her! But before he could rush forward to check on the girl, a horrid sound came from behind him as two blurs whizzed past in a hurry. At first he thought it was an attack from behind and he spun on his guard. There was nothing behind him.
Turning back, he now saw the skulls floating at the edge of the hole. He had no idea how far down it went or if the girl survived, but those two already accused him of the worst thing imaginable! "I wasn't trying to kill her!" He said in his defense, looking between the two. He'd never take the life of another. Life was too sacred to waste, even if the soul was rotten to the core. But the girl, she could have her soul saved somehow...
As one of the skulls drew into his face, his eyes narrowed in annoyance. This is why he was glad he never had a familiar; they're too damn noisy. "You should mind the name calling if you want my help to get her out of the hole. Or can you manifest a body to go with your airhead?" He asked the skull in his face, and in a 3-stooges like manner he used his pointer and middle finger to poke out the non-existent eyes. Hooking the skull with his fingers, he swooshed it out of his face with an annoyed sigh and began forward as he released it. "Be glad I don't bowl you down the road."
At the edge of the hole, he crouched down to his knees and leaned over. It was too dark to see but he could hear the girl below. Thank the heavens she was alive! "Sadly, I only usher the dead to the afterlife. and you, my dear, are still alive. Just hold on and I'll get you out of the hole." Cupping his hands together, he spoke the words for a simple levitation spell. The small spell orb descended from his hands, glowing it's way down to the girl. It found it's way below her bottom before expanding into a seat and lifting her sky bound. When she was within arms reach, Cassiel easily lifted her out of the hole and placed her down several feet away. He was glad to see she was alive, though was unsure of injury. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
✖
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:50 am
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
"Airhead!?" biter cried in his screechy voice, clackering in indignation. He began a tirade of insults and threats that went mostly unheard, Bitter watching pity.
Ruria found herself being retrieved from the hole, lifted up into a man's arms and set down on solid, not-crumbling ground. She had a few cuts and scrapes and bruises from the rubble tumbling on her and against her, but she shook her head, biting her lower lip. "I don't hurt anywhere," she murmured. Her demeanor had vastly changed. There was nothing very scary about her now; she seemed ruffled yet gentle, like a doll that had been dropped and lost. There was shame in her eyes, and it seemed difficult for her to make eye contact with Cassiel.
"I apologize," she murmured, her eyes looking at his shoes, rather than his face. She had brought her knees up to her chin and had wrapped her arms around them in a childlike demeanor. "I didn't mean to...I'm not..." She chewed her lower lip worse than ever.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:45 pm
Cassiel was rather relieved that the girl seemed... normal? Was that a good word for it? At least she wasn't trying to kill him anymore. He took the chance to touch her once more, tipping her face up to check it for injuries. "I know I'm not supposed to touch you, but I must look." He said softly, looking at her face. All the cuts would heal without scarring, so that was good for her.
"There's no need to apologize." He said, releasing her chin so she could curl into herself. She seemed so broken and lonely it made Cassiel feel sorry for the girl. "I can tell by your emotions that you don't normally act like that. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time..." Standing up, he offered his hand down to her. "Come on, I'll escort you home. You look exhausted and I'd hate to leave you in this state of mind. Plus, sitting on the road isn't a good idea. What if someone drives by and hits you?" Although leaving a twenty foot hole in the road wasn't any better... oh well. He couldn't deal with that.
"Just let me get my bag from the side of the road... I don't want to leave my things behind." No, he couldn't forget about those delicious double chocolate chip cookies! He was already salivating as he began to think about them again. "By the way, my name is Cassiel. I'm not really sure I can help you with your... situation... but I'd be willing to try an exorcism. Although I don't think it'll really do much good. I'm not sure what possesses you at the current moment." Ever the helpful man, he stepped away from her to retrieve said bag and turned to face her, smiling. "That is... if you want help."
✖
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 2:34 pm
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
She didn't fidget as she felt his digits touch her chin, only somewhat raised her eyes, briefly meeting his. She had only just truly realized he was an Exorcisma, with those looong, long ears. When the word "Exorcism" came up, she cringed as if stung by a hot needle, catching one of her floating skulls as it swirled around her and holding it to her chest like it were a protective doll. Bitter looked outward from its place, compliant but awkward.
"My parents tried an exorcism with fire, when I was little." she murmured, her voice soft. Though he couldn't see them, there were many scorch scars on her lower back that had been left behind from the fake exorcism. "It didn't work, because I'm not possessed. I don't want it ...to go away." her eyes hooded slightly, and she held bitter tighter. "I want to just know what it is, and how to control it, so it....cannot control me." She chewed her lip again, a nervous habit she had picked up long ago. "My name...also, it is Ruria." she looked at the ground again, before letting slip one hand towards him.
"Hey." Biter appeared near Cassiel's ear, hovering just behind him. "Hey. Hey, four-eyes. Hey. Hey. I bet I get more 'head' than you. Get it? Do you? Hey!"
Ruria's face gloomed as she looked at her other familiar, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "Biter, that's inappropriate!" she cried.
"Oh dear, oh my." Bitter sighed in Ruria's arms. "It seems little Biter has developed a fancy."
Ruria flustered, releasing Bitter and sailing towards Biter - and Cassiel, attempting to tackle the horrible skull, and Cassiel, in the process.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 3:25 pm
Her words at first took him aback. There was no way he could hide the shock that overcame his face. She wanted to not only keep that evil inside her, but to control it?! She was tougher than she looked and his eyes softened slightly. He had little hope she'd win that battle in the end. "Controlling something like that... It will take a great amount of mental strength." He warned, opening his mouth to say something else, only to be cut off by Biter babbling nonsense. What a pest!
Cassiel frowned at the nuisance, staring at him with a quizzical look upon his face. No... He didn't get the joke. It went right over his head..."I have a head too... and what did I tell you about name calling. I'm not mocking you. Do I need to teach you a-gah!" Cassiel never finished that sentence as he felt himself knocked off balance, the wind knocked out of him. There wasn't much that could knock a six-foot man down and how Ruria managed to surprised the exorcisma! With a groan he turned under the girl, looking up at Ruria with a rather confused look upon his face. How he ended up under the girl he had no idea. But it was definitely beyond his comfort zone to be in this situation.
"Do you mind... getting off me?" He asked politely, gently placing his hands upon the girl's hips to give a helpful nudge to the side. "With a tackle like that you could play on that silly sport the humans like. I forgot the name of it..." He never really did pay much attention to what humans did in their spare time. But once Ruria was off his front, he sat up with a small wince.
✖
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 4:53 pm
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
At last, her fingers gripped the accursed cranium, though she had ended up splayed over Cassiel in the process. It took her a moment to realize the tragedy of the situation, and she yeeped, especially when she felt his hands go to her hips, but slowly extracted herself off of him. Bitter had mosied up to Cassiel's other ear, leaning toward it as he sat up.
"...Did you see?" He waited a response, and then... "...The bountiful valley, did you glimpse it?"
Ruria's jawdropped. "H-how graceless!" she cried.
She bit her lower lip, deciding to offer Cassiel a hand to help him stand. "I already know what kind of path I'm taking." she said softly. "But if it's removed, I am removed. That much I understand...that whatever it is is not only a part of me, but it is me. The me that wants to watch the world consume itself, not the me that wants the strength to hold the world in balance." She paused, taking another look at him. "You're an exorcisma. Surely you know something about this kind of magic."
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:04 pm
He helped the girl off of his person, and it was fairly easy with how petit she was. But when he heard a voice in his ear, he shivered slightly and cringed. "Not so close to the ears... and did I see what?" He frowned at the skull, eyeing it. This bone head was off it's rocker. "There's no valley around here."
Looking from the skull to Ruria, he took her hand to stand. He released it once he was stable on his feet and fixed her with a look. "Your familiars seem to be quite the handful." He stated, glancing between the two skulls with an unimpressed face. He was not envious of the girl at all. They'd drive him up a wall! But to her inquiry, he nodded. "Yes, I am an exorcisma. Usually the ears give it away. And although I do know some about necromancy I'm not sure if I can help... or if that's what it truly is. You're quite the puzzle to figure out and I'm curious to know the answer. I'd like to help you if I can, but I'd need to know more about your... situation. My initial diagnosis is apparently completely wrong."
Stepping away, he moved to where he discarded his things. The brown travel bag and half empty box of cookies were retrieved from the ground before he turned to face Ruria once more. He smiled now, inclining his head to the side slightly. "Why don't you tell me more about your magic powers on the walk? I'd like to hear more."
✖
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:07 pm
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
"I don't know why you would be interested, rather than afraid, or disturbed." she gave him a sideways glance, before beginning to walk with him. "I don't know what there is to tell you. The best thing I am good at is destruction." she smiled softly, like a little girl who had been given a delicious candy. For a while she was quiet, still assessing Cassiel. Why was he interested? It was curious to her that an Exorcisma was even walking around casually with a human, though she had seen more and more of them roaming lately. Finally, she spoke again, her voice soft and just barely audible.
"When I was little, really little, if I cried, the walls shook, and things rattled and flung themselves around the room. The lights would flicker and burst in their sockets, and once, even part of the house crumbled on its foundation. My parents believed their humble home to be haunted, which was no good, since they were trying to marry their only daughter off to nobility." she smiled again, though somewhat sad, and faraway. "Soon, they found out it wasn't their house that was haunted, but their daughter. They tried to exorcise me with fire. All I remember was that it hurt, and I broke the house again. They couldn't understand why their daughter was not interested in money or nobility, and why she chose books about ghosts and goblins over those about true love and princess stories. But, I thought it would end when I left them..." she sighed, scratching a finger on bitter's head. "Such a lovely zygomatic arch you have, Bitter. I've always fancied it."
She was silent a long moment longer, before continuing. "I guess things were fine for a while when I joined the Academy. I was learning a lot of dark spells and using them well, but...re..cently.." she fumbled over her words, remembering Rajih's face, and almost stopped in her tracks. The same dreadful feeling pulsed like a heartbeat back into existence, but then dissipated again. "..All I have learned is that my emotions haunt me, eat at me, and to destroy satiates their need for destruction. If I use dark magic, then I feel better, if only for a little while. It isn't like someone else is taking control of me...but that I lose control to my shadow. It's still me...it is still me. But I do not wish it to evolve me into something else, like a monster, if I cannot control it fully. It's not that I'm afraid. I just don't want it, like I don't want grapefruit."
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★✰
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