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 Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 3:28 pm
--- ❀ Haunted house ❀ --- Miss Felicity Wickes (X Purple--Platypus X) with her Caedos, Claudia & Mr Seymour Luikart (FallenSiren) with his Putesco, a Kiseru.
At Symour's house in Sherygoed, the weather is freezing cold and there is a blizzard blowing. It is in the early night. Having trudged up from the drift she had tumbled into from the cart Claudia was now absolutely freezing. Tiny droplets of frigid ice were compacted in her leg leaves and she tendril like black fingers could barely flex any more... Resembling broken winter twigs more than the supple slashes of ink that they usually looked like. Making it into the house with the flickering fire inside the windows was the key to her survival, if she didn’t make it inside to the warmth she would certainly die... Her body would dissolve away into nothing more than a black stain against the tumbling white... Or worse a filthy forest animal would snatch her up and take her corpse away to some putrid den where the animals could strip her body of material... Shuddering both from the heart crushing cold and the terrible idea she looked up at the comparatively huge door.
There was no way of getting in... She could not leap and scramble through any cracks – she hadn’t the energy. Neither could she even get to the heavy looking knocker. Alerting whoever was living inside could only be achieved via a desperate knocking on the wood. Thus the petite girl began to hammer the thick would with the last of her diminishing energy source. Failing to create much noise with her puny fist the caedos resorted to taking a stumble of steps backwards and hurling herself at the base of the door. The pain shuddered through her and she felt utterly humiliated by the action but it would hopefully attract the attention of the residents. If they were asleep she would die... She imagined the man or woman in an armchair by the warmth of the fire. Her dazzling white expressions curled into a desperate grimace.
“Please... Help me!” She whined, tumbling against a strong gust of wind which ripped at her petal dress with the malicious flakes that it carried. Leaving home was a mistake... She wished she was back at home with Felicity. Even if the woman was deranged and boring at least she wouldn’t die in the wilderness... The cold wardrobe was nothing compared to this... If plagues could cry Claudia would have been sobbing by now. Her feeble fingers scratched minute trenches in the surface of the snow drift building around her..
“Help... M-meee..” She sighed; Unable to throw herself even one more time. She was spent.. If the owner of the house answered she might survive. Failing that, she was ready to curl up and let the frost take her soul.
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:38 pm
Staring out from the window as the blizzard torn though the surroundings of his cabin, Seymour let out a small sigh. He had woken up to do his chores as usual, but the blizzard struck and now only half of it is completed. With the blizzard in the way, the rest of the chores will have to be piled up for tomorrow. Not to mention twice the work with all the snow on the porch and possibly damages to the cabin.
Tap!
Tap!
Seymour snapped his attention towards the door. Was someone knocking? No, it couldn't be. There's a blizzard right now, and no one would be insane enough to travel in the middle of a blizzard.
Maybe it was the wind?
He listened carefully once more, hearing the faint sound of...something, knocking against the door. Maybe someone really is behind the door? Maybe they're freezing and needs a place to stay? Should he go check? Should he not? A list of questions bombarded his mind as the blizzard continued. If there really is a person, they would probably be cold as an icicle by now. He should probably go check. Just in case someone really was outside..
Seymour hurried towards the door and opened the door slightly, just big enough for him to see. He let out a small shiver as the ice cold wind rushed into the house.
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Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 9:11 am
By the time the door was opened and the warm light of the fire inside lanced out into the cold black night, illuminating the swirling white flakes Claudia had been half buried by snow. The caedos had believed at first that the shining light was something entirely different. A hallway to another life, the blistering cold of the snow was going to fade away and she would pass on... However, the continuing shrill wind nipping painfully at her and the lack of any definitive signs of having moved on from her mortal existence made her chase after other explanations and a moment or so later her cold befuddled mind realised that the door had opened and perhaps her last shot at survival was presented to her! Feebly she rose to her feet, dislodging the mound of thick white that had started to gather around her.
“Help! Help me...” She called, crawling forward, her limbs moving like a badly animated puppet – they were so cold and stiff that she could only move at a snail’s pace. Making it to the door without assistance seemed very much like an impossible feat. If the rose wanted to get inside the figure at the doorway would have to lend a helping hand.
Unfortunately, though she couldn’t really see much of them thanks to the darkness outside and the glare of the firelight inside rending them nothing more than a shadowy figure, she assumed that the human would look straight forward – at normal human head height – for signs of the knocking they had come to investigate. If that was so he would overlook her on the floor and potentially close the door leaving her to die. Somehow she needed to draw his attention... A difficult job considering firstly that she was no taller than a human hand span, she was primarily garbed in white, and she didn’t have enough energy to make any large movements; waving her arms and flailing to pull his eye downwards was out of the question...
No. She had to rely solely upon her voice. Even if she was fighting against the wind snatching it away she had to persevere. “Down h-hereee! In the snow! I’m f-freezing!” She yelled, biting back against the shivers rocking through her body.
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Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 11:08 am
Seymour bit back a hiss as the cold wind made contact with his face. Though the opening, there doesn't seem to be anyone standing there. The man shook his head, shivering slightly as he felt the cold sipping into the house, truly an unwelcome guest into his warm home. He should probably close the door before the wind forcefully blows the door open.
“Down h-hereee! In the snow! I’m f-freezing!”
Was...was that a voice he heard? Seymour opened the door a bit wider, sticking his head out into the cold. trying to figure out where it came from. Could it have been the wind? No, it's not possibly, the wind could moan but not talk in full sentences. But where is that voice coming fr--
Looking down into the snow, Seymour caught sight of something odd, something that stood out from the snow. It was black and green...and it was flailing?
Seymour stared at the tiny thing, he wasn't sure what it was but it seems to be freezing in the blizzard. He should bring it inside. Gently, he picked up the tiny plague and moved back into the house, slamming the door close as soon as he entered. He got a cushion and placed the plague on top of it, setting the cushion beside the fire place.
Up from above the fire place, a soft sound of laughter was heard. The sound went unnoticed to the human, however...
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Posted: Mon Aug 30, 2010 5:56 am
Salvation came in the form of a men’s hand depending through the frigid night’s air to scoop her carefully from the snow. Flecks of white frost were also cupped as she was whisked into the safety of the man’s hold but Claudia hold feel the bitter flakes dissolving into nothingness against the warm palm of the man... To the near frozen plague his skin was like a furnace and she snuggled into the calloused and work worn skin; her spindly fingers digging into the lines of his hand like root tendrils searching for life in hard earthy soil.
Her stay on his hand was short lived however and before she could settle herself she was placed gently upon a much softer yet equally warm surface. The flower’s eyes cracked open at this, for they had closed in ecstatic relief as she’d soaked up the man’s warm touch. Where was she? The sound of crackling and the flickering light of the fire placed her on a couch and examining the material she had been placed upon revealed her location as a pillow by the fireplace.. Already the warmth radiating from the burning logs was filling her with heat that was driving the bite of the cold away and making the petal garbed femme feel a pleasant glowing at her core.
Surprisingly the man hadn’t said anything... The flower thought the human would have at least expressed his surprise. Felicity was nearly always muttering and talking to herself and the rose had gained the impression that was simply how most humans acted. This strapping figure of a man had only admitted a chuckle of amusement.. Curious, considering Claudia hadn’t said anything funny. Pondering why he might be finding humour in the situation the flower nervously adjusted her petal skirt. Did she look a mess? If her appearance was laughable she would be mortified, not only with herself but at the man. How dare he mock her!
Then again, she could not throw out accusations and act the usual haughty being that she tended to be. She was a guest in this man’s home and without his hospitality she would be certainly dead. “Sir...” She called, hoping her voice was strong enough to be heard. “Thank you sir!” Such politeness was unheard of in Felicity’s company but on top of needing to keep on his good side this man didn’t seem to be a dithering idiot – unlike the rose’s guardian.
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Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2010 2:58 pm
"You're welcome." Seymour replied, giving a small nod in response. The man stood up to fetch a cup of warm water and placed it beside the pillow, in case the tiny being could use some. Rather she could drink the warm water or not is beyond him, but at least she could gain some warmth from it.
Observing the tiny being as she soaked up the warmth radiating from the fire place, Seymour began to think: What in the world is this tiny being? It has a face, arms and legs, however, it is not human. It doesn't look like a fairy, but it doesn't exactly look evil...What could this little being be? The man looked to be deep in thought as more and more questions and possibilities popped into his mind. However, one thing is for sure: the tiny being is very pretty and very frail looking. Maybe because it appears in the form of a flower? Flowers are beautiful, but could be frail depending on how you handle them. Seymour sighed slightly before reaching his hand over to give the tiny flower a gentle pet.
"Hey! Up here! Up here!" A voice suddenly chanted. It sounded very light and rather excited as it repeated the same phrase over and over. Trying to draw the attention of the little flower below. In comparison to Seymour's voice, this voice sounded much lighter and the tone made it seem like that of a child's!
"Can you hear me? I'm up here! Come talk to me!" The voice requested, ending with a small, lighthearted laugh fading into the background as the fire place cracked.
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Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 2:10 pm
As his giant finger came down and tapped her on the head Felicity clasped the edge of her hat and quivered, half afraid that by some twist of fate he was about to pin her and squash her with his hand.. However, after a few rough (due to his size) yet gently intended taps he relented and a curious voice reached her ears. Curling her feet around the glass of warmed liquid in a heat imbuing hug she looked upwards from where the voice had come from. It was very odd! Nobody was there... The human hadn’t spoken and there was no room for anything capable of speech on the mantelpiece...
Never the less the rose found that she wanted to investigate. There wasn’t a hint of malignance in the laughter that had crackled alongside the popping of heated wood in the fireplace... Surely asking the man to raise her up to fullfill the mystery being’s wishes would not be too bad? The heat from the fire was pleasant... But the rolling waves of hot air were swiftly drying her out and she didn’t want to be made crispy or burnt! Her delicate plant features couldn’t tolerate extreme temperatures at either end of the spectrum.
Thus, she stood up, leaning against the glass and waving to her saviour. “Excuse me..!” She called. Hopefully he would be ok with ferrying her about. Already much of her strength had returned and she was able to raise her voice louder and catch his attention with more energetic waves and even a hop or two on the spot. “Excuse me! Would you be so kind as to move me up onto your mantelpiece...” She kept the polite and hugely thankful act up well. Taking the hem of her petal dress in one spindly hand and squishing it gently like a shy child asking an adult for a favour.
“I do like to be up high you see – I’m only small so I’m afraid of being stepped on. Not that I think you would ever do that!” She let out a cute giggle as she made up this false reason. He hadn’t seemed to have heard any of the voice’s words thus far and the plague firstly didn’t want to appear mad by hearing invisible people and secondly didn’t know if this was some sort of being that only plagues could interact with... It wouldn’t surprise Claudia... Humans were so stupid.
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Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:14 pm
Seymour was staring at the flower, nodding slightly before picking up the tiny being and placed her on the mantelpiece. He gave her a look to tell her to stay there and to be careful before going to put the cushion and cup of warm water away.
"Hey! Hey! You heard me! You really heard me!" the voice chanted again, this time a little louder. The voice seems to be coming from...a kiseru? "Hey miss! You heard me didn't you? Can you really hear me? Seymour could never hear me, and it makes me sad at times."
The black smoke released from the pipe seems to be shift in tone with the emotion of the voice. "Seymour's a really nice guy and he takes good care of me, but he could never hear me. I feel sad about it, but you can hear me right? You'll talk to me right? Please talk to me, even with Seymour looking after me I get lonely since he could never hear me."
The voice seems to talk in circles, always going back to the same thing. It's mind set seems to be like that of...a child. After a good minute of the voice asking and talking about the same thing over and over again, the voice finally calmed down and asked, "So miss flowers, who are you?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 1:46 pm
As the voice fired off into a repetitive stream of exclamations of excitement Claudia was still looking for the source of all the commotion... When a tainted curl of smoke issued forth from the kiseru she was surprised to find that there was no other being but instead it seemed as though she was about to converse with an inanimate object no doubt tainted with the black death, much like she was several weeks ago, sheltered as a flower in the bottom of Felicity’s wardrobe. However, unlike her this contaminated object had a voice and didn’t seem to have any qualms about using it to it’s full extent now that it’d found someone to listen to it.
Waving a hand lazily and conducting herself like a regal little princess perched upon the mantelpiece Claudia replied, “I’m Claudia. I’m a plague.” Luxuriously lapping up the attention that the smoke was sure to be giving her she ran a thin finger down the metal barrel of the kiseru, inspecting the item with bemused curiosity. The smoke did not seem to have any obvious source and judging by the familiar scent of death and decay lingering around the object she presumed that the black fog was some sort of manifestation of the future plague’s consciousness.
Well... Better start informing her kin of some of the truths in the world. With a half smile she crossed her leg over, “Your human, Seymour? He can’t hear you because humans are stupid.” She coughed daintily as she inhaled a little of the potent vapour congregating around her seating place. Grimacing momentarily she squatted around her mouth in an attempt to get a breath of clear air. “They’re not as special as us you see.” Scooting over a little bit she watched as the kiseru’s guardian across the expanse of the room...
“He seems better than my woman though. She really is an imbecile.” She laughed bitterly, flashing a grin at the smoke. It was nice to talk like this – to have met another like her, even if this specimen wasn’t really ‘born’ yet. Being cooped up around humans all the time surely wasn’t good for her.
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Posted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 10:56 pm
The kiseru seems to quiet as the flower spoke. The information Claudia had just given him was a bit more then he could bite at that short amount of time, and it took even longer to disgust.
"Plague? Human?" The voice questioned, "What are they? What is a Plague? What is a Human? How are we special? Why do you say Humans are stupid? What's a women? Do you have someone like Seymour?"
More and more questions came out of the pipe's 'mouth', until suddenly the voice paused.
"Why are you able to converse with Seymour while I can't?" The voice seems to tremble as it came to realize the difference between Claudia and itself, "How could you walk while I can't? You hinted that we are both plagues, but why is it that you have such a form while I am a pipe?"
The voice quivered, sounding as if it was crying. With all the confusion, the poor thing was so very confused. Was something wrong with him? Was he just a freak that could never talk to Seymour? So many thoughts all at once. Being so young and bombarded with such information and situations, the kiseru's thoughts were in chaos.
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:24 am
The flower felt the slightest tinge of regret as the other plague seemed to be nudged into a state of mental discourse. The poor vaporous item had probably never been exposed to anything that it could actually talk to... Now she had swept into his life and like a breeze disturbing the smog he was made from, scattering any order that he had managed to attain within the swirling black recesses of his mind. Normally she wouldn’t feel any sense of remorse for causing another being problems – she was typically merciless towards humans, especially Felicity – but perhaps the cold had softened her momentarily. The warmth of the fire not only thawing her physically but making the chill of her persona melt too. Alternatively she may have just found a sense of empathy for the fellow plague. One day he would grow and be like her.
“Have less questions for a moment,” she hushed him, batting yet again at the tendrils of smoke that hung in the air. If they stained her dress she would be irked. “There’s no need to be worried... You’re just young and need to go through some... changes.” Sensing the hysteria rising in the other she scooted back towards the kiseru, running a delicate black finger over the silver mouthpiece. She wasn’t sure if the being would feel this rare comforting move by the flower, but she felt a little better after doing so.
Though she wasn’t fond of humans in general she could tell that the childish voice seemed to exhibit a fondness to his human; Seymour. “You’ll soon be like me – maybe not exactly the same, I was once a flower whilst you will come from this pipe – but you’ll be able to walk and talk. Seymour will be lucky to have you. Humans are weak and useless you see. Plagues are beautiful, strong and... most importantly... we spread death.” Here her eyes lit up. She had been made aware that not every plague would go down that cavorted and chaotic pathway... But to her – that was the heart of their existence: A physical manifestation of the corruption that had slain thousands of weak fleshy humans.
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Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:51 pm
"Young?" The kiseru question softly, "I'll grow to be like you? You mean I will be able to talk to Seymour? Once I grow up some more?"
The pipe released a small puff in excitement as its distress seems to disappear from Claudia's words of comfort. The young inanimate plague started to chatter again, only this time, a little faster and a little more excited then ever before. Missing and forgetting to thank the flower for her compliment of Seymour being lucky to have it, the plague just went ahead with questions. In the utmost respect of course.
"Ms. Claudia! How do we spread death? Why do we spread death? Is that what being a plague means? To spread death around? I won't end up killing Seymour would I?" It questioned, blowing a little smoke as if huffing, it once again changed the topic as it bombarded the flower with more words. "Are humans weak? I don't think they're weak, they seem so big, and we are so small. I wish I could move like you, your presences is so graceful. I feel envious. I wonder if I will grow to be like you..."
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 1:45 pm
As more and more questions rang out of the smoky pipe’s mouth Claudia felt a slight niggle of annoyance rising in her. The kisersu’s sighing was releasing wisps of smoke that drifted in a foul fog around her. Once again she shuffled a little further; brushing her spindly hands once more against her petal dress to ensure that dirt in the black vapour could settle and foul the pristine condition of them. “Slow down.” She retorted, inspecting the tips of her fingers like a human preening their nails. A hint of controlling anger was present in these two words and she hoped that it would silence the other for long enough to answer the questions he had raised.
“Yes, one day you’ll be able to walk and talk and mimic humans in whatever way you want.” Her delivery of this answer was a little snappish – her own dislike of her Grimm tainting her opinion of how fondly this pipe felt towards its master. “We spread death in many different ways –“ She didn’t actually know the full details here... She could not pass the deadly disease on just yet but she was fully aware that her elders within the cult were doing a fine job of inflicting as many of the human scum with buboes and a painful death. “- but you can’t kill Seymour though.” A corner of her mouth curled up in a half sneer of distaste. She had discovered this about Felicity. Whatever bond lay between them it seemed that it guarded the frail woman from the disease – an insurance policy for Grimms the cultist had said. Stopped nasty accidents from happening apparently...
The last volley of rather irritating words made the princess of a plague turn away to properly conceal the irk that the smoke born face was causing. Humans certainly weren’t superior! A greatest size just made them cumbersome dumb giants! Her fingers curled into the edge of one petal... Her tolerance with his childish exuberance was wearing thin. Didn’t he get it? She didn’t like humans, plagues are better. She was on the verge of restating this but his final flurry of compliments softening the icy anger that even her close proximity to the fire could not turn to melt water.
“Thank you.” She cocked her head back towards him, affixing her expression with a knowing smile. “I do try my finest to act the perfect lady. When I first came in I was flustered from the cold, but now I am warm and comfortable with your company~” She trilled in response, hoping to gain further admiration. If the plague recalled her once born and it’s memories (assuming the vapour actually could retain memories without a place for storage) remained the same... She could use an ally.
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 5:23 pm
"I like your company Ms.Claudia. You're the first I could have a conversation with." the pipe replied, it sounded as if it was smiling very cheerfully at the flower. However, the talk was cut short as Seymour entered the private world of the two plagues.
Seymour gave his hair a push back, and allowed it to fall back. The man wasn't smiling but his actions were a bit hesitant.
"The blizzard is stopping." Seymour said to the flower. He felt a little awkward talking to the tiny being, it wasn't everyday you meet a talking flower...especially one with a face and hands and feet. However, upon realizing the amount of smoke his grandfather's kiseru had released, the man swiped his hand across the smoke to scatter it a little. Hopefully the little flower didn't suffocate from it.
The kiseru gave a small giggle as Seymour wiped at the smoke, knowing that Seymour didn't like the amount of smoke it had released. The smoke from the pipe suddenly became a lot less almost immediately. The pipe knows the routine: When Seymour disperses the smoke it releases, it means the pipe had release a little too much smoke. And after the amount of smoke has been reduced, Seymour will clean the pipe until it is sparkly clean again. It was how Seymour handles the pipe, rather to please it or a sign of affection, the pipe doesn't know and doesn't care. As long as he can see that smile on Seymour's face, it was more then enough. "Well Ms. Claudia, it seems Seymour is going to take you home now. It was nice meeting you! Please come back again and we can have another conversation!"
"Little flower, do you have a place to be? I'll take you there."
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Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 12:06 pm
As Seymour came over and spoke to her Claudia quickly tuned out of listening to the pipe. Yes, humans were inferior to plagues and by any means she would prefer the company of the talkative smoke spirit over the dull witted human who had answered her calls at the door... But at the same time she didn’t want this oaf to know that she had been talking so animatedly with a voice that he could not hear. Already he had displayed a surprising tolerance to her – most humans held some sort of fear or prejudice towards plagues – but she wasn’t sure if it was wise to inform him that his pipe was in fact tainted. What if this news sparked fear in his heart? In fear humans could be so rash... She was half certain that if it hadn’t of been for the sentimental value of the rose she had been born from Felicity could have easily done something to snuff out her existence – fear of death was laced within the human mind.
Scrambling to stand up in preparation for her departure she responded, “I would like to go home please.” She gave a brief curtsy of thanks before outlining just whereabouts she had come from, thanking him once again for his welcome and stating that; “Your mantelpiece is lovely and warm – and that pipe... It is lovely. Very fine if I do say so myself. You should keep it safe.” She gave a look back at it and the dispersed smoke that, though now much smaller in size and forced into wispy tendrils, still held the slight expression of the plague to be. An uncharacteristically friendly smile nudged at her lips before she turned back to face the human.
“When you are ready to leave, so am I~” She cooed, smiling sweetly. Though she had nearly perished her sanctuary in here had not been an altogether bad experience. Perhaps one day in the future she would see Seymour again and with him he would have an excitos? She hoped so...
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