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 Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:56 am
Just the heart? Liom found himself wondering as he started yp at the Goddess statue that had pulled him forth for this task. He looked down at the items he was given, a bag and a pair of scissors, tools needed for the task within some labs.
They didn't make it. He wondered who, but perhaps it was better not to think about it. A task was a task, especially for someone like himself. A candidate, not needing to question but ask what was requested of them. It proved them stronger, the ones fit to be hailed a Goddess.
"Alright," the boy nodded, swinging the bag over his shoulder as he made his way to where she had told him to go. He didn't catch that fleeting smile.
The opening was thin, but easy enough for him to slip into. But what greeted him first were three very impressive large doors. He nearly whistled at their might. Actually he did.
He was probably supposed to pick one, and his lips twisted up in indecision. Eyes floating from one to the next, each one looked different; designs and symbols. After a moment in thought, he went with the simplest solution, he chose the middle door.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 3:43 am
Milo!
Milo
Milo
It was like a puzzle falling all around him, yet the pieces didn't want to interlock and connect. Voices, images, flashes all calling out an unfamiliar name but sounding so happy and excited. Liom tried to glimpse them as he passed through but they disappeared so quickly, leaving nothing in their wake but emptiness and still bodies covered in shadows. He knew they were staring at him though.
It was weird to know they were there, but given a few minutes later when the door closed behind it it was downright eerie. Because they were probably still there but he simply couldn't see them, much less anything, in this darkness. Much like his excellent skills of fighting, he fumbled and stumbled about as he went. There were probably so many things he ran into and the biggest one seemed to be a crate of some kind. At least that's what he gathered as he groped it in the darkness.
It was making sounds too.
Thud
It wasn't moving. And so he wasn't either now. It was in the way.
Thud
His hands moved from the side, to see if there was a means maybe over it but the box actually seemed open with an odd shaped... something inside. Crammed inside like it never should have actually fit.
Thud
Liom's fingers laced around the edges of it. Or what seemed like an edge, feeling coarse fabric beneath his palm, he tugged on it thinking to pull it off but it had other ideas. It slide back and out of his grasp leaving a something else, undefined from what he could see except a soft glowing yellow.
thump thump
Was this the heart he was supposed to get?
thump thump
Well okay then.
thump thump
He had scissors after all. Liom held them up for a moment before he leaned over the top of the crate, situating himself for the task at hand. We went to work, slowly cutting away the layers of fabric that wrapped themselves around the heart, peeling them away. It wasn't too bad, just annoying. Especially when he got to the strings. So many of them.
Hitomi
Liom paused, eyes narrowing. Had he just...? Nah, probably nothing he figured, getting back to work.
thump thump
Careful, so careful. But the strings gave way revealing the heart with no more obstacles. The word whispered again in his ears but he ignored it because he had a job to do. And it was to remove this thing. One more snip and it was out, the pulsing fading.
His first earliest memories was on the beach with his little toes digging into the sand, feeling the grains between each space and giggling when the tide washed over them to take the sand away. He was maybe five years old.
"Milo!"
Strange, it seemed like the same name from earlier but pronounced slightly different.
He turned with a wide open smile. "Here 'kaasan!" He called back, waving both hands up in air to signal where he could be found. He didn't move. Even as the woman who had called rushed over, worry written on her face.
"Aa, Milo!" She was quick, like lightning, swooping him up in her arms in an embrace. "I couldn't find you!" Even this young, he could hear her thick accent, but it was familiar and safe. He knew it, he liked her voice.
"Was looking for turtles!" The little boy told her, pushing off her chest to be more face to face with her.
"Kame?" She questioned, turning to the direction of the ocean and the setting sun. "They don't usually come here."
"But Jirou said he saw some!" He protested loudly, wiggling from her grasp. She put up little fight, letting him slip back to the ground and the soft surface below, following him as he waddled towards the rising tide. "There!"
She paused, seeing there he was pointing, kneeling down to be a little more level. "Aa, Coral." She stated, realizing what it was. "Tide low, coral show at the break of the water." She explained, petting his head before resting it there.
"But!"
"Coral."
His brows pushed together, saying no more. Unhappy with what was being told to him, bu accepting it none the less.
"We'll find kame tomorrow, okay?"
"... okay."
It seemed to dissolve before his eyes, fading away like the end of a scene and Liom found himself blinking to clear his head. He shook it once. Odd, he thought, shoving the heart into the bag he was given.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 4:01 am
Liom thought nothing else about the weird vision he had been shown once he had gotten the heart free from its strings and fabric. He had other problems to deal with, anyways. The road he had been traveling had become slick and hard to trudge through after some time, slippery and a little dangerous. He still couldn't see very well, which meant progress became slow as he tried to steady his step.
And then even slower when he found himself at a wall. A dead end. And with a strange sound following him. Everytime he turned, there was nothing there. He tried not to think about it. But with the shadowed faces from earlier. Well.
He pushed off from the wall, attempting another pass at the path. Seemed okay until the water level rose, creeping further up the further he continued on. Deep down, he didn't mind the water, but in the darkness like this. Didn't seem as fun. And, not with the sloshing sounds growing louder.
"okay, seriously." He hissed.
"Please give it back." Came and odd reply. But there was nothing there! And it just kept getting annoying the more he walked, the water was at his neck and the strange sound was getting louder.
"Please give me back my-"
Liom moved to confront it, whatever it was. But he felt two hands grab him tight and push, sending him under the water. Panic. He couldn't breathe, and no amount of flailing seemed to get this thing off him. It just seemed insanely powerful, barely needing to put much effort into holding him down beneath the water. Staring down at him with dull lifeless eyes and decayed teeth.
"Give me back my heart."
It wailed, the voice sounding.. familiar.
"Milo!"
That same voice, the pronunciation changed again.
"Milo," she knocked, "your sister called." She knocked again, louder this time. "Can we talk?"
There was a click of the door and it came slightly ajar but there was nothing but utter darkness in the room for her. The corner of the room held a shuffle and then the springs of a bed being bent slightly as a body returned to it. She sighed and pushed forward, letting the light from the hallway flood into the depressing state of his room. The only thing to illuminate the space. She'd allow for his darkness for now it seemed.
His mother moved further into the room, moving past the various items that littered the ground to navigate to his bed where she sat herself down where he lay, hugging a pillow and looking dreadfully mournful. "You know its a long flight, but she said you were very upset."
He said nothing. Her hand rested on his back and then moved in slow gentle circles.
"I know you wanted to get into the academy very badly," She seemed to be trying to pick her words carefully, "but.. don't think this should stop you from trying." He still wasn't moving.
"Just... an obstacle for now, you can try again in a few months, hai?" Again nothing. "I read it online, try again another time. Now you know what its like, do better next time." Her soothing circles stopped as she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.
"I go make you grilled cheese." Her hand reached up to brush a few of his brown locks from his face, and then she was off the bed and out of the room. The door still ajar as she had entered though it.
"Thanks mom," he whispered, still ever gloomy.
Bubbles reached the surface, understanding reached his eyes as he looked into those black eyes.
This was his mother.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 1:28 pm
It was painful to comprehend, being drowned and the actions that had transpired prior to this unfortunate event. Unknowingly cutting out the heart of your mother. This was her revenge, it seemed, her response to such a horrible act a son could do. He would have accepted it, having seen those memories and how kind she was to him (he hoped it was true with the ones still unseen).
But, he had no choice. Because unlike her, he had to fight and was chosen for a purpose and unfortunately she was a cost in this task, a sacrifice for his greater good. She would be helping him become great, as she helped him so many times before. And if he ascended to what he felt he could become, perhaps he could repay her. I'm sorry, he whispered as he twisted one arm to clasp onto one of hers. His other already armed with the scissors, pulling it out of the water and aiming blindly at her open chest cavity.
He only knew he struck her clear and true as she let out a shriek, pulling back and releasing her tight hold to grasp at the instrument that protruded from her chest. She wailed, screaming out his name and then vanished, taking the water with her. Leaving him cold, wet and alone. And sobbing.
Liom didn't realize how much it had hurt. Not just the water. But the delusion he had given himself to justify his actions. He cried bitterly, bringing the bag close to his chest. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I'm sorry," he whispered to it, over and over as he held his mother's heart tight. So sorry. How could he. So horrible.
"I'll do better..."
He had to, he promised himself as he got up to finally leave, briefly catching a glimpse of a figure in the distance with the scissors. Liom smiled bitterly, sadly... and just walked out.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:24 pm
[ b e g i n . d a y . t w o ]
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:37 pm
That was an odd statement, Liom never thought that he had been trying to escape. Running head first was how he figured he was doing it all, without much thinking; none of this needed much thinking did it? Tasks, battles. Though, that's all he seemed to be doing, leaving the whole rest of the world out there.
So, hearing her lecture had been surprising. Was he afraid, was that why? She was Omnipotent, perhaps she knew more about his heart than he thought he did. And that's why he was given this new task, and a dagger to accomplish it. It was a beautiful blade, far more than what he had acquired and he looked it over even as the sharp edge rusted and weathered away. It still looked like it held some power, that it could help him.
Liom had to fend for himself. "Alright."
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:51 pm
It was cold, that's all Liom could muster as he startled himself from his slumber, wrapping his arms around himself for a vain sense of warmth. When had he fallen asleep? He had been talking with the Goddess, hadn't he? Blur eyed, the boy pushed himself upright, designating his situation.
Bright room, stark white walls. Different, such a different color than normal. And he was on a table, metal from the looks of it. And a humming sound, louder, piercing. His hands moved from his sides to his ears, trying to block the sound but to no avail. He still kept them there though, as futile as it was, even as he slid off the table and onto the ground. Because, even in the bright white he could make out the outline of the door and it was as good as anything right now.
It appeared unlocked upon examination, sacrificing a hand to check and open it. The grey boy took a step outside with a frown. Face his fears. Was this supposed to make him afraid? So far, it just seemed annoying. He took a few more steps, jumping slightly at the sound of the slamming door. It was expected to find the one he had gone through to be the culprit but it was still as he left it. More frowning and a cautious look down the rest of the hall. Might as well, he thought and continued downward.
And walked. And kept going, endless it seemed. Boring.
Then a door, finally. A way to leave this place that had been less than stellar. Liom nearly snorted. Face his fears. How was a white room supposed to be scary? The exit would take him out, this task was far too easy, he rolled his eyes.
Until the sound. That thud. He glanced behind him. Nothing. That door. Nothing.
But there was something the second time he looked behind him. A shadow. Getting closer in its calculated sort of walk, one hand armed with a pair of scissors - how did it get something like that?
His first instinct was the go running at it, blade in hand and attack but that didn't seem an option. So he ran the other way, best to keep some distance between him and it.
He ran, as much as his legs could carry him, trying to keep a good pace and not outwind himself. Keep going, he told himself. Keep going. But another door had other ideas.
A passcode? Really?
And in the fleeing moment, he realized that perhaps he was actually afraid (just a little, he told himself).
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chirigami rolled 1 4-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:53 pm
Entering random numbers didn't seem to work, there were probably variables in this, math he didn't know that would explain how randomly typing in a code wouldn't help him in anyway. Liom looked around, anxious and maybe a little frazzled. He had to get away (because he couldn't fight it or anything). He looked around him, perhaps there was a clue or something, someone accidentally dropped something.
He actually found one in the form of a red stained piece of paper with numbers. He didn't know what these meant, s**t!
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chirigami rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:58 pm
Figure this out, figure this out. Come on Liom, you could be smart for once in your life. This strip of paper was going to get you out of this place and this stupid task.
He stared, stared really hard at the paper. Okay, these letters should mean something, right? His fingers slid to the keypad again, maybe he had this. He typed in a sequence.
0 - 2 - 4 - 5
The door slid open. "Yes!" He was so awesome. He pushed past the door and out, still running.
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chirigami rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:18 pm
Liom kept running, his body probably tired but he wouldn't let it stop, fueling with the need and the desire to just get out of this place. It was weird, it was actually a little creepy and he did not need some weird shadow attack him with scissors right now.
He didn't even dare to look behind him, probably would just add some weird delay. He kept going, tuning out their taunts.
Give me back my heart, Milo! It cried out to him. He tried to tune it out, the oddly familiar voice that taunted him with words about hearts. He didn't have anyone's heart but his own? What was its deal?
Through trees he traveled, opening the obstacles would slow it down as he tuned out its cries and malicious words. Soon enough, he found himself at a bridge, rickety and old. It was swaying, even in the softest of breezes.
Well, better this than nothing. Liom leapt onto it, hands holding onto the fraying ropes as tightly as he could while he trekked across it. It wasn't so bad really, making a few bits of noise - that turned out to work in his advantage, taking out the boards behind him after he passed along them. This could work, this could buy him time.
Liom kept moving.
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chirigami rolled 1 6-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-6)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:25 pm
This was it. Liom stared at the looming building that presented a sort of final destination, blocking any and all paths to keep the running game and keep away from the monster that lurked behind him.
He could still hear the whispers behind him, demanding a heart. It's heart. His heart. Calling him a name he did not know. Making threats and hisses.
Liom turned and stared it down, narrowing his eyes. Because there was no place else to run and it was time for the tactic that he had wanted to do from the very beginning. And dagger in his hands seemed to agree, glowing a soft red like his very own core. The Goddess whispered to him.
Now or Never
The dagger was held in the air before he even took a step. It was ready, he was ready and the creature he faced was as well, the scissors in its hand ready to plunge into him. But he wouldn't let that happen. He wouldn't.
He was sitting on the porch, his legs bent and to his chest and his head resting on his knees. His body was swinging, swaying, moving on its own as his little shoulders rocked from his quiet sobs.
He didn't know how long she had been standing there, but he felt her presence sitting next to him in a quiet gentleness. He didn't often see this side of her now, always pushing him like his siblings but she understood his grief.
No matter how small.
Ipo had been with him since he was born, a faithful companion. A wonderful dog, playing with him, sleeping at the foot of his bed and running through the surf. But now. Gone. A life cut so short by a careless driver.
His dog was gone.
His best friend was gone.
And she understood. Shooed his brother and sister away as he cried outside on the porch, even though it had been a few hours now. Just let him grieve. Just gave him his silence to come to terms. She would talk to him later no doubt, but for now there was just the silence and a comforting hold around his small frame.
She whispered a phrase in Japanese, one he did not know. But it sounded nice. He leaned into her and just grieved.
Liom caught himself by surprise as the silent memory played in his head. His breathing hitched as he looked from the face of the struck figure to his hands and the dagger that stuck from its chest; it had hit true and direct.
He wondered what this meant. Why he had seen what he had seen and if it had some connection with what this thing was. It used the same name, it had the same voice but it did not have the same look.
And now it was dead, falling from him and to the ground before it disappeared into nothing and leaving only the dagger behind with a haunting red glow. Liom stood over it for a moment, trying to make sense of it before he took the dagger in his hands.
Behind him he heard a door swing open, granting him passage. He frowned and then moved on.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:50 pm
[ b e g i n . d a y . t h r e e ] Tea Log
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:56 pm
The smile was off putting at first, mostly since he wasn't used to such... happiness radiating from the Goddesses. Usually they were rather placid, to the point and certainly didn't offer them cookies. Liom smiled, taking one from the tray she held out as she went on about love. Love for him, love for others. A powerful emotion he could be sure but he had yet to remember any to the fullest - or had he? Perhaps some had slipped away.
But she was offering something, besides the tasty treats, and ushered him to a doorway that seemed fitting for a tea party perhaps. Liom wondered if he even liked tea.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 9:24 pm
There was music, he couldn't really place it nor the nostalgic scents in the air. They were on the tip of his tongue but quickly vanishing before he could fully collect his thought on it. It wasn't too bad.
Liom made his way to the table as he let the ambiance of the room swell around him. Two jars sat in front of him, each offering different things. His hand hovered between them before he settled on the pink one; it was a lighter shade of red after all and it seemed like it would probably be dealing with something better emotionally than what else they dealt with in these tasks and quests.
Drink me, it had written on it. So he did, he would still hold to instructions despite what happened in that altar and didn't regret it (well for now anyways) as a peaceful euphoria spread throughout his system. Happy, he was happy and a goofy sort of smile appeared on his lips. The table was spinning and tilting for a moment and at first he thought it was all the drink creating a hallucination. But when he reached out his hand to what appeared, it was solid just like anything else. Food, desserts.
He took a cookie, hoping it would be as good as the one the Goddess had given him. It had a different sort of taste on his tongue, on par with the other one he had gotten and at least calmed him down from the drunk feeling from before. Brushing the crumbs from his lips, he suddenly came to realize that cups had appeared in the place of the other food (bummer).
Pink, Ivory and Yellow. Something deep down, pushing through his core seemed to draw him to the yellow cup and he placed his hand upon it.
"You ready?" She straightened up his tie as she smiled proudly at him, but there seemed to be a tone of uncertainty in her voice. Job done, his sister dusted off a little bit of lint from his shoulder.
"Of course," he heard his voice; energetic, happy, anxious, so many emotions rolled into those two little words. It had been two excruciating months since his nineteenth birthday, two long months to have to wait - and many more years before that even - for him to legally be able to take the Police Academy assessment tests. And finally he had an open spot, a beautiful Thursday morning to get himself into the dream he had had since he was about ten years old. It had been a stupid, childish inkling then that probably wouldn't have really reached much of a spark but it somehow managed to flourish and almost became on obsession (not as much as the Power Ranger one); he had been counting down to the day since his eighteenth birthday.
"Well, good luck," his sister kissed him on the cheek and then slapped it lightly, "get going, you don't want to be late and break traffic laws to get there," she joked now pushing him by the shoulder.
He pushed her back lightly in retaliation, grabbed his car keys from the side table and went off to get his dreams on track."
The liquid from the tea was gone by the time the memory played out, leaving nothing behind but an empty cup and a new steaming teapot sitting on the table before him, waiting for him. His mind lingered on the vision, still smiling from the hope and the happiness of it. A nice one. Returning to the present, he tugged on the note on the pot to see the further instructions.
Drink drink, fill the teapot. Fill out diary. Simple enough. And if any of the memories were anything like that one, Liom would enjoy this - even if there didn't seem to be any fighting involved.
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:00 pm
Tea Guest Log Colour of Tea Tasted: Soft Pink Description: Happy, excited, hopeful. Your commentary on its flavour: Hopefulness wasn't foreign, but Coyote couldn't fathom putting so much stock and importance on a single thing that may or may not come to passing. Vaguely, as if from a long long time ago, she thought perhaps there might have been a time when dreams seemed that obtainable, but not now. Still, the happiness radiating out from the happiness and excitement radiating out from the young man was enough to make her smile, if only for a moment, despite herself.
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