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 Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:09 pm
Battles sucked. And Zippeite had been running into them recklessly head on ever since Babylon interfered with his fight with a page. He didn't know why he was so angry or what he hoped to accomplish, but it was only a matter of time before he bit off more than he could chew.
Especially tonight.
Ever since his brother had left for college in the fall semester, being home alone with their father while the man slowly drank himself to death had become unbearable. Tonight had been especially rough, so it had been a typical night of running out into the war head on to seek validation, or at least take out his anger and feelings of helplessness on someone else.
And it had clearly gone badly because he ended up slumped against an alleyway, battered and bruised with what was probably at the very least a cracked rib and spot on his cheek he could feel radiating heat against the cold winter weather. Speaking of, he hadn't even noticed his arm was cut until he saw the red on snow and became alerted to that pain too as he tried to catch his breath and get his bearings.
He only let out a frustrated groan at his own state of injury and inability.
Captain Zippeite was not having fun.
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Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:38 am
Another night, another excuse to go out and try to avoid the emptiness of her apartment. The feeling of being all alone. So even when she should be studying or whatever responsible college students should do, she preferred to spend her time out, clubbing dancing, finding parties of any kind. Anything to keep her busy and away from her cold, empty apartment.
With that fact in mind, she chose to walk, rather than call for her driver to come pick her up, unless the weather was just too cold, or if she felt like she was being watched too closely, most nights. And tonight was no different. After hours of dancing at her favorite club, she was finally ready to go home, and she was enjoying the walk when she heard it.
A groan, which sounded like someone was in pain. And it was nearby. An innate sense of curiosity, and a need to help those who could use it, had her heading in that direction before she could even consider whether it was safe or not. As she drew closer, and saw the blood, she ignored all instincts that were screaming at her that this wasn't the smartest idea, and she should just call someone for help and have them deal with it. Someone was hurt, and though the amount of blood wasn't too bad it was enough to state that the injured party could use immediate aid.
At first, she didn't see who it was that was injured, and when she did, she did not notice his unusual style of dress, not that it would really stick out in her mind, there were enough unique individuals she saw on a daily basis around campus, or at whichever club she happened to frequent or whatever. All she noticed was they were -he was- battered bruised and bleeding. And in the cold, he could go into shock, and she had to do something...
Pulling her cellphone from her jacket pocket she hit #4 on her speed dial. 'Hey Dell, I need you to come pick me up... Uh-huh... Use the damn GPS finder on my phone .... I'm at the entrance of an alley... I don't care but you need to get here now... thanks.'
Tapping the end call button on the screen, she slipped the phone back into her jacket pocket and addressed him. 'I'm not sure how you got injured, frankly I don't care, but if you could tell me just how bad it is.. my driver is on the way, and I can have him stop to grab some supplies if needed. He'll be able to get here quicker than some ambulance.'
She knew that he hadn't asked for her help, hell, she didn't even ask him his name or even if he wanted her assistance. But she didn't care. He was going to have her help, whether he wanted it or not.
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:59 pm
Zippeite could feel every part of him capable of tensing up do just that and in a moment, pain seized him, but it was overtaken by panic and survival instinct.
A stranger had approached, and had called someone else, and he wasn't in fighting shape. When the neuroses associated with human interaction slowed their rapid fire adrenaline, he became aware she was a simple civilian and probably not part of the war effort.
But that didn't make it better.
A ragged breath escaped, followed by a hoarse inhale that was scarcely made without his lungs causing enough pain in his battered torso to derail the very carefully formed sentence he had spent this moment making.
It was hard to be coherent when you were recovering from a hell of a beating.
"You don't know what you're messing with," He snarled, nothing more than a kicked dog, cornered by his circumstances.
"Who are you?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 1:38 pm
'I don't know who you think you are, but that really isn't any way to treat someone who is only trying to help. It would serve you right if I were to just leave you here to deal on your own.'
There was a part of her that was annoyed with the attitude the injured young man was giving her. She was only trying to help him, dammnit. And while normally anyone giving such attitude would be granted a tongue-lashing, he was in fact injured, and she was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it was just the pain talking.
It was amazing to her, to see how badly battered he was, and yet.. he was still standing. But if the way his breathing sounded, and seeing him swaying on his feet, it probably wouldn't last much longer. Pride and something else, something indefinable seemed to be the only thing keeping him conscious, and she could at least respect that.
So holding back a lot of what she might have said in other circumstances, she focused on visually assessing the injuries she could see from a distance and seeing how bad they were, trying to decide what she would have to address first once her car and driver arrived, along with her first aid kit.
Making sure the car was warm would have to be one of the first priorities, she didn't know the blood loss and she didn't want to see shock set in, which was a distinct possibility. And then cleaning the dried and drying blood with the antiseptic...
'My name is Lianna.'
She may or may not have said more, but at that point her phone signaled that she had received a text. Quickly pulling the phone out of her pocket, she read the text, nodded her head as if it was expected and then dialed Dell again.
'The car is plenty warm, right? ... Thanks Dell... Yea, I think I'll need your help . It looks bad, but could be worse... I don't think I'm strong enough to help him to the car myself... Uh-huh....' She shut the phone and back into the coat pocket it went.
'Look, my car is here. You will be coming with me, whether you like it or not. So just make it easier on yourself and cooperate.'
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 5:46 am
Lianna's bold words were met with a feral snarl. His gold eyes snapped to her neck as he visually imagined himself wrapping his fingers around it and squeezing.
His wounded pride and inability to handle being talked down to by what he viewed as a lesser species was at war with his physical inability to move or attack, and all he could down was scowl at her while slumped against the wall.
While the offer of help and survival was tempting, he was also lingering on the fact that she was a starseed pull away from learning her place.
But he managed not to. It took a robotic shut down of his higher functions to make it to the car. If asked later he wouldn't have even been able to recall how exactly he got there or why, he just knew that he had somehow made it to the vehicle she'd summoned with a trail of small specks of blood in the snow behind him.
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Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 1:22 pm
He snarled, but she didn't care. He was injured, weak. And she would help him- whether he wanted it or not. As she heard her car and driver pull up, she moved forward to sling the young man's arm across her shoulders so she could walk him over to the car. Luckily they were almost the same height or it could have been really awkward...
She could see his eyes go blank, when whatever was holding upright and proud left, and he became drained. She could feel his body go limp and started to drag her down with him. They were close enough to the car though, that she was able to get him there, without asking for Dell's help to do anything but open the car door. She got him into the vehicle and settled.
Then she started to feel unsure. Ok, so now he in the warm car. Next step was to clean the wounds and assess the injuries, right?
'Dell, get us back to the apartment as swiftly as possible, but do take care.' She looked back at his prone form. 'And you are definately going to be needed to get him inside.' She opened the first aid kit, pulled out some clean gauze and the antiseptic cleaner, and began to wipe away the dried and drying blood.
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Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 5:17 pm
Lianna's attempts to get him cleaned up were met with an initial jerk away and a groan from the impaired Negaverse captain.
It took a moment for him to settle and accept it, and at that point he just looked exceptionally confused, even as he pulled the outer layer of his uniform away.
Under the hooded coat section of his Negaverse uniform was a fairly plain black t-shirt but without the hood and heavy sleeves, the bruises and cuts were suddenly visible on his arms. He was a soldier through and through, sculpted from years of climbing, running, patrolling rooftops, but he was clearly battered, and tonight he had fallen from one of those rooftops.
"Who are you?"
He knew Destiny City had an elite upper class, but he had never been privy to it. He was the son of an office temp and a day laborer, and his family struggled just to make his tuition at Hillworth. Wayward granddaughters of long dead politicians were way, way off his radar.
But it didn't change the fact he was very aware she had money, and was doing something silly like helping him.
"You know, there are consequences for taking terrorists home."
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2014 7:54 pm
The groan and jerk caused her to pause in her ministrations for a brief moment. She did not like to cause pain unintentionally - and in most cases, intentionally - but she steeled her nerves. Yes she would be causing some pain, but in the long run, it would be worth it if it helped even a little.
'My name is Lianna, Lianna Beauchamps.'
Then he started to remove the outer layer of what he was wearing. Normally when someone started to remove layers of clothing around her, she would take the time to admire their bodies before... well, anyway. And in other circumstances she would definately take the time to admire him. The cuts would need cleaned, but there was little she could do about the bruises... and any other injuries that she couldn't see.
She leaned closer once again with the supplies and very cautiously started to clean the more stubborn dried on blood and particulates that got stuck in the cuts and scrapes.
'Well, there's not a lot else I can do about the bruises, but at least the cuts, superficial though they are, are clean. I can't see anything else... but the way you were breathing earlier, I think you might have bruised your ribs. They will need to wait until we reach my apartment. I will be able to bind them there.'
She heard his comment about consequences and terrorists with a bit of a scoff, being blissfully unaware of just who and what he was.'There may be. But I don't see any terrorists here.'
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2014 2:16 pm
"That's not necessary," Zippeite winced out. While his mind was slowly processing that this was much needed help and he should probably be grateful, or at least mimic gratefulness at some point, he didn't want to be captive in someone else's home when he really needed to get out.
And besides, removing the outer layer of his uniform was one thing but anything further was going to require powering down and he definitely didn't trust a random civilian in a limo enough to do that in front of her.
As he tried to move and shift in his seat, though, the pain that shot through his body made him wonder if he even had a choice.
He paused to narrow his eyes at her, and then rolled them upwards to the top of the limo. "Right, okay."
He found himself entirely baffled on how to handle a civilian with no knowledge of chaos or magic.
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:47 am
Though she didn't expect thanks or little more than acknowledgement for the effort she was going to, wanted or not, the least he could do was accept her help with a little bit of grace. But then, she was practically kidnapping him. So he did have the right to be a little defensive or angry. She hadn't even asked if he had a home, if someone was waiting for him or even if he wanted her help or if he'd prefer to go to the hospital... but it was too late for that now.
'Look, I'm sorry about the kidnapping and all,' she could at least acknowledge that although she had good intentions, she could have done things differently. 'At least come to my apartment, get cleaned up and let me bind your ribs. After that, Dell can drive you to the hospital or wherever you want to go.'
Just then the car came to a halt. 'We've arrived, young miss. Do you still need assistance?'
'If you could just help him out of the vehicle, I think I can get him the rest of the way to the apartment. Keep your phone on, you might be needed later.'Quote: Apartment floor layout - four standard bedrooms, each with an attached bathroom, master bedroom/bathroom, a very large kitchen, two guest bathrooms (shower, tub,sink, toilet, fully stocked medicine cabinet, etc), two studies, a living room, a gaming room, a dining room, a laundry room) the colors tend to be neutral/natural, mostly hardwood flooring - exception includes the game and living rooms. The furniture is plush overstuffed and elegant. There are paintings around the house, mostly landscapes and portraiture though a few 'story' and abstract pieces.
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2014 1:21 pm
Zippeite’s face remained in that one, stubborn facial expression the entire trip, but once they were in the apartment, once it all seemed to be in the face of tangible proof that he had not been tricked, not been killed, and that he was somewhere safe, something clicked in his mind and this was real. Her help was real.
And her apartment was entirely unreal, at least from his perspective as a lower middle class kid who had parents who struggled through menial labor their whole life just to provide him and his brother with a room to share. He stood, at least for a minute on his wobbly feet, looking around in awe at what had to be the most expensive place he’d ever been allowed to be in.
And then he stumbled and had to lean on something, keeping a close watch on the ‘Dell’ man that had let him in. “Okay,” He said, cautiously, staring at Lianna like he was still trying to size her up, or figure out where this was going.
“I can accept that,” He said, still sounding like he was carefully and slowly choosing his words.
But what came next, now that they had successfully and safely made it up to her apartment alone, was something that took him a lot of emotional effort to accomplish. He powered down in front of a civilian, the first. He had been exceptionally careful with his identity through the years, even when he was young and naive and just starting out. But the captain was in a bind and couldn’t remove any more layers of uniform without it anyway. Plus the energy to keep it up was wearing on his broken body.
So instead of fearsome captain Zippeite, there was just tall, broad shouldered Cas. High school Senior, wearer of ripped jeans and a threadbare hand-me-down t-shirt. And his torso hurt like hell.
He coughed, and then grimaced at the strain it put on his muscles to do it, and grimaced to the girl who had been helping him. “Can I… Is there somewhere I can sit?”
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 3:38 pm
Lianna bustled about, gathering together towels, washcloths, and other first aid supplies so he could get cleaned up, if nothing else, before going off to do whatever it was he wanted to do. Used to the elegance and opulence of her apartment, she didn't even really notice it anymore. She didn't understand the effect that wealth such as she was used to had on others. It was all she had known.
She paused for a brief moment, turning around just in time to see him power down, not that she realised what was going on. 'You can sit down wherever. It's fine. Do you need help to clean your wounds or are you ok to take care of them yourself? The bathroom is just down that way, third door on the left.'
Lianna had good intentions, and good intentions paved the road to hell. At least that was what they said, not that she believed in such. And even if it was so, she didn't care. She would still offer her assistance, wanted or not, if there was a chance for it to be useful. Even if she didn't know exactly how. Even if all she could do was to allow someone in her home to use her shower and clean up.
'If there is anything else I can do, just let me know.'
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 8:28 pm
"No, I can take care of myself now," He panted. He'd had some recovery time, and he'd gotten his bearings. Magic had mended him enough before he'd powered down to withstand a little more effort.
After he sat and rested for a few short moments, he made his way to the bathroom and closed the door. After he cleaned up a bit, he powered back up and teleported away, and offered no explanation for his sudden disappearance.
But he'd remember her later.
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:16 pm
Lianna heard the door shut, and water begin to run, so she busied herself out in the kitchen. Far enough away to give privacy, but still close enough to hear if he called for help, or just whatever.
Busy work, since she didn't know exactly what she was doing or what was wanted. She set a tea kettle on the stove, and turned it on, heating up water. Tea was good for whatever ailed someone. And perhaps he was hungry, loss of blood and all that.
She was sure there were a few basic meat and cheese sandwiches in her fridge. She put a few on a plate and started a tray, hoping that he was almost done, and she wouldn't be interrupting anything. Maybe some fruit would be welcome? She got an orange from the fruit bowl on the counter and added it to the tray.
The kettle whistled indicating the water was done. Adding a mug, the box of assorted tea bags she had, the sugar bowl and cream, and kettle to the tray, Lianna carried it to the bathroom door then set it on the floor so she could knock. 'Are you almost done in there? I've put together a tray if you're hungry.'
Silence. She waited another moment before knocking again. 'Hell-o. Are you alright in there?'
Still nothing. Was he alright? Had he passed out? Or maybe he had felt dizzy or light-headed and somehow managed to hit his head on something, or... A million scenarios ran through her head. Nudging the tray out of the way, she stepped up to the door and reached out to try and simply open the door. The knob turned. So it wasn't locked.
She opened the door, prepared for the worst. But the bathroom was empty. A pile of used washcloths and towels were the only indication that someone had been there. Where was he? He couldn't have just vanished into thin air... could he?
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