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 Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:23 pm
Arlen nodded slightly. His shoulders slumping.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:24 pm
Baizou gave him a sympathetic expression, "If either of you could tell Ellie where I am if she comes in." He said, nodding to the room before stepping out the front door, waiting for Trina.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:24 pm
((Which forum SD?)) Maara sighed, resting her head on her arms on the table. "What for?" She asked, tail drooping a little.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:25 pm
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:27 pm
"I couldn't protect her," Arlen murmured, staring at the scar on his right hand. "I was just useless."
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:31 pm
((Copious amounts of medicine have lowered me to 99.5. Yay. And uh, most of this was just for me... wrote it yesterday and today between naps. Dun have to read anything but the last paragraph, really - isn't important at the mo'.))
While she slept, she dreamed. At first, they were peaceful, visions that set her soul at ease. From her position curled up on the floor, Lily smiled, making a soft, humming sound of pleasure.
For more than a day, her dream-self wandered, traveling in a field of light, surrounded by creatures of a kind she'd never before encountered. They spoke with her, whispered secrets and ancient knowledge - as they left, she forgot their forms and faces, and that which they'd told her was lost as well. So, not greatly perturbed, she continued on, taking in the sights and smells of the exotic flora and fauna around her. At one point, she met up with Vincent, and for a while, their paths were the same. However, after a time, he left her again alone, citing a need to go right while she needed to go straight.
When they'd parted ways, she found herself cold, not remembering her name or when she'd last eaten. It grew darker, and colder still, and she now found herself afraid. Somehow, she'd wandered into a stone labyrinth, and her bare feet made soft slapping sounds on the rock beneath her. Without a clear idea of where she was going, she walked on, absently noting the moving frescoes on the wall.
She knew the people in them, though she still could not remember herself. It was Arlen and Cerri, Ukaia and Tomo... Kaen, Baizou, Trina... everyone she'd come to know and love in one way or another. It was strange how looking at them now brought only a small happiness, and no one of them felt any dearer to her than the next. It was then that she registered the ring on her hand; idly, she noted that it was cold, and cast it off. It hit the floor with a hollow sound, and she forgot it almost immediately.
It was now so chilly that her bones ached in protest, but still she walked. There were voices ahead, and she yearned for company once more. The smell of food caused the now nameless young woman's stomach to growl loudly, the sound echoing through the hall. She felt no embarrassment at that, nor for her nakedness - both were natural. There was no need for shame, not now... and not here.
Pushing open the door that stood between herself and her goal, she entered the room. The roaring fire did nothing to warm her, and she shivered as she approached the men. "Master Guan, Xaldin." she greeted pleasantly, not at all surprised to find them talking civilly over tea.
"Ah, yes... we were just discussing your future." Guan nodded in agreement with the other, sipping his drink while offering her a muffin. She ate it, though noting with disinterest that it had no flavor; nor did it satisfy her hunger. "Guan thinks you will return to your friends, but I think you will stay here."
Xaldin took her hand, and she was warm again. "You can still see them, after all. You will be able to watch over them, and speak with them when they dream... and they will no longer be able to cause you pain." That was reasonable, she thought, nodding a bit as she gazed into his eyes. There had been hurt in the past, caused by her love for them, her concern for their safety. She couldn’t quite recall the feeling anymore, emotions curiously numb, but she did recall that it wasn't pleasant. Here, everything was nicely muted. "Yes... see? You don't really want to go back. Stay here. Your every need will be met, and you will be able to watch over them until they die."
Expecting a rebuttal, she looked to Guan, or what she'd decided was her mind's depiction of him. The man didn't speak to her still, simply smiled. In his eyes, she read the simple fact: it was her choice, and one he could not make, one he had no right to interfere in. She nodded, then looked to Xaldin again. "I will st- what is that?" For Guan had held out his hand, and there, in his palm, was the ring she'd thrown away earlier. She gazed at it for long moments, trying to remember why it was important. "Arlen." she whispered at last, then turned her eyes to the wall. Ukaia, trapped in the dungeon was revealed, and she frowned. "They need help... but here, I can only watch." she said aloud, slow and thoughtful. "I cannot touch, I cannot speak... I cannot love." She stepped away from Xaldin; he snarled, annoyed at having been thwarted.
She reached out to Guan, taking the ring and slipping it back on her finger. "I am Lily, and I do not belong here. I would like to go home now. Please."
With that, she woke, though she couldn't sit right away. The cold that had been forgotten manifested itself now in her physical form, and she could not make her aching muscles respond. Eyes roaming across the room, she tried to hold on to the dream, but most of it slipped away before she could grab it, locked away until it was needed. All except for one thing. "Ukaia..." she whispered, then began the arduous process of climbing to her feet. When that was finally managed, she limped out the door and down the stairs, shivering still.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:33 pm
"It's not your fault Arlen...you know you're not weak...you helped me out right? These guys didn't play fair..." She then waved to Lily.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:39 pm
Lily tried to speak... and found that she couldn't. So instead, she just gave a very weak and forced smile to the girl, giving Arlen a concerned look before continuing her slow, shuffling gait to the door.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:42 pm
((*whistles* That's very important. GLad you're feeling better, even if only slightly))
Arlen looked up as Lily came down, almost as if he could feel her there. For once since his magic had manifested, he was visibly injured. There was a small bruise forming on his chin where he was kicked, there was likely one where he was punched in the stomach as well, and of course the two scars that marked where the skewers pinned him to the wall. Qithout saying anything he stood and rushed over to her, hugging her tightly to him.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:47 pm
Lily blinked, trying to assess his injuries while still hugging him back just as tightly. Voice not working, she lifted a hand to lightly brush over the bruise on his chin, a question in her eyes, though she was afraid she knew.
((Rawr. Thanks.))
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:48 pm
((*huggles and kisses on Cerri* I'm sorry you've been sick!!))
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:49 pm
Maara didn't giggle as she watched the pair, mildly concerned for both of them.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:50 pm
"Please don't leave," Arlen begged her, his voice cracking slightly.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:51 pm
As if on cue, Ellie came down the stairs, in search of her faithful ducky. Fixing some tea, she hummed, looking around and quite obviously not finding her read headed cat boy. Her ears drooped a little bit, but she still smiled as she worked.
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Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2007 7:52 pm
Lily considered for only a moment; she'd no idea how much time had passed here, and there was probably someone already on their way to help her. And so she nodded, then kissed him softly before going back to simply holding him tightly. Looking at Maara over her shoulder, she mouthed: "What happened?", hoping her meaning would come clear.
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