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 Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:10 pm
Kyu watched Theo push onwards and a worried frown crept quietly into his features, barely noticeable to people that weren't used to his perfectly calm face with the quite, amiable smile always tugging gently at the corners of his lips. This sudden exhaustion wasn't a good sign, as a matter of fact it felt pretty unnatural to begin with. He had witnessed something similar before, but even though he had he wasn't exactly sure that the cause was the same. And so, worried more than anything, he found himself hurrying, almost running after Theo. Yelling at him to turn back would be hopeless, it would seem as he weren't capable of even listening to him at all.
When he saw him finally falter he realized it a bit too late. Making a leap forward he caught him just in time not to hit the ground and gathering him in his arms he shook his head a little before sighing. That was yet another trouble to have in his hands but he couldn't possibly bring himself to leave Theo alone. He'd have to carry him for now.
(So miserably short... >> I'll post Phil's reply in the morning since not everyone has posted yet~)
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 4:39 pm
Kalypso thought over the idea. "Yes two hours should be good." Turning her head she looked over at Cedar. "Unless you turn out to be the shopaholic then two hours shouldn't be a problem for us." Kalypso wasn't a picky shopper nor did she spend a whole lot of time shopping. She just gets what she wants and goes on her way.
"I'm sure you'll find something decent to wear Xerxes."
Two hours would not only give Kalypso time to shop but also let her think about how she feels about her new friends. She wasn't getting no bad vibes from them. Usually she just knows when someone is not someone who you would want to hang out with. They all look like good people to her. That didn't mean they could be the culpits, could it? She just have to not let her guard down around them.
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:10 pm
Ophelia looked up to the dark haired man with wide eyes. He had such manners! Even giving her a slight bow. She felt her cheeks warm up at the gesture. He and Theo seemed like polar opposites to her in terms of gentile. But her reverie was soon demolished and her blush changed from one of flattery to one of anger. Pep talks. It was apparent that they weren't on her list of strong points. Ophelia bit her bottom lip, feeling her eyes water up. He certainly didn't need to yell at her. She hated being yelled at, being made to feel like she somehow did something wrong. She clenched her fists, only to force them to relax as her nails dug painfully into her palms. She wouldn't cry, not over this. But it didn't take long before the boy stormed off. She let out a shaky sigh, trying desperately to keep her emotions in check. She opened her mouth to tell him to wait for her and the other man, but only a shock of voice came out when she saw him stumbling down. She rushed to his side, calling "Theo!" as his friend made it in time to catch him. Wedging herself under his other arm, doing her best to help the armored man pick him up. Ophelia's brow furrowed. She wasn't sure whether to cry, be angry at him, or worry about his well-being. She placed a hand on Theo's head before comparing it with her own, only to discover she was beginning to run a fever as well. This was not going to end well. And despite looking like a man that can handle things, she didn't want Theo's friend to end up carry them both around. They had to find Phil fast. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice trembling as she tried to keep herself together.
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 6:37 pm
At the end of the day, it really wasn't a matter of age or location. A young witch-eater was still a full-fledged witch-eater who needed the magic of a witch's heart as sustenance, only more careless and likely to get caught due to inexperience perhaps. Even in a large town such as Lumena that seemed to be bursting full with people at the moment, there were bound to be alleys where acts of vice could still take place at. Not that Lea doubted that the reapers hadn't thought of that possibility already, but just how big was their organization anyway and how thinly could they afford to spread their ranks in order to cover so much ground? He certainly didn't have the answer to that but he would definitely try to avoid the alleys as far as possible throughout his entire stay in Lumena.
Chuckling softly at the sight of both Cedar and Kalypso lightly teasing each other at the possibility of the other being a shopaholic, Lea turned his head towards the direction that the former had been pointing to and made a note of the cafe's location in his mind. "I'd think something formal like a suit or a tuxedo but let's not get too ahead of ourselves and see what's available first." He proposed gently to Xerxes, his eyes shifting briefly towards the throng of people at the shopping district before returning his attention to the trio once again. It would seem that they weren't the only ones who needed to do some last minute shopping.
"Alright, we'll see you ladies in 2 hours at the cafe. Until then, take care and stay safe..." Dipping his head slightly at both Cedar and Kalypso as he wished them well, Lea turned to Xerxes next, a grin beginning to curve his lips as he flicked one of his ears towards his intended direction of travel. "Let's go see what they have, shall we?" Two hours should be more than enough for the both of them.
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:31 pm
Cedar smiled at the two boys, and then let her eyes drift onto Kalypso. "Well then, why not get going. We want to still have some selection." She laughed a bit, and then linked her arm with the other girls. "Do you have a favorite color?" She asked, pulling Kalypso and making their way through the crowds.
Cedar looked around, eying the options they had for stores. "Hm... It's still a ball. Regardless the words classifies formal. I think that store over there." She reached out and pointed. "It has semi and form wear. We could start there?" Cedar waited for Kalypso's answer before dragging the poor girl.
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:12 pm
Kalypso looked at the store in question and smiled. "Sure we can go and check out that store over there. I know it's a ball and all but what are we suppose to wear? Do we wear customs or a ball gown?" Kalypso asked as she let Cedar drag her to the store.
"My favorite colors are red and black." Kalypso hope the boys would be able to find something to wear. She laughed to herself as a silly thought came to her. "I'm thinking about a cat dressed up as a cat for hallows eve thats funny to me for some reason." Kalypso can't belive that she is actually haning out with someone. Usually about this time she would have been locked up in her room reading a romance novel.
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:13 pm
Xerxes felt some encouragement from Kalypso's words and smiled brightly at her. They would surely be able to find something to wear to the ball within the two hours. "Are tuxedos very expensive?" he asked Lea. He thought he would be more comfortable in something a little less formal than that. But he guess, as Lea said, they should see what was available first. If he found something he liked that worked for attending the ball, he might not even have to worry about something like a tuxedo.
He waved to the girls as they went off to shop then turned to Lea. "Yup!" Xerxes nodded with a happy swish of his tail. He glanced around for a moment. "Where should we start?" He wasn't very familiar with the shops in Lumena, so he didn't know which shops would be the best places to look for something to wear to the ball.
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Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:51 pm
It was really a good thing that both Lea and Xerxes were guys. For one, there weren't as many shops that catered to men's clothing in the first place plus the limitations in style really made it a much simpler affair to begin with once they've both decided on something that they liked and very much within their budget. "I'm not very sure but I guess that's something that we'll be finding out shortly." Was Lea's reply as he reached into his pants pocket to check that he had his wallet with him. If only Xerxes knew that he was equally clueless as well... ah no matter, he would see how best he could get the both of them through this for now. If they managed to find themselves something good at a reasonable price, they could probably wear the same suit during their graduation or any other formal occasions subsequently.
Pushing his way through the crowd, Lea made sure to glance back a few times so as to ensure that he had not lost the other mononoke. It was getting kind of hard trying to keep his tail out of the way and he had to bite back on a hiss when his tail had been accidentally stepped on one time too many occasions. "This way..." He muttered gruffly as he led Xerxes into a brightly lit shop that sold formal wear for both males and females.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:03 am
End of Day 2. One more day until the Ball.
Location: Lumena Town Square, Covered Festival Passage.
The night came on colder than ever. Nobody lingered in the streets once the darkness fell. Nobody except a middle-aged woman, scuttling home after a long day of errands. Her quick footsteps and labored breathing belied her rising fear, as if being stalked by a predator. She rounded a corner, disappearing behind stone walls....and then her shrill scream sounded, quickly cut abrupt. Onions and potatoes rolled out onto the street from where she had disappeared, and a shadow of a well-muscled man stepped out, the glint of a scythe vaguely reflected in the low light from the street. He whistled a homely tune, stepping down the street as if casually returning home.
The next day arrived, detectives huddled over the area where the woman had fallen. She was alive, she was...but she was empty. A husk of a person who might as well have been dead, still clutching the strings of her shopping bag.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:09 am
Location: Lumena Town Square, nondescript corner.
Salem stood alone on a street-corner, leaned up against the rough brickwork of one of the buildings that flanked an entrance to the square. Smoky breath billowed furiously from him in the chill of the autumn morning. He frowned mightily, casting his eye upon just about anything that moved through the square. He was in a foul mood, and almost nervous, given recent events. Things seemed to be speeding up to a fever pitch. Some woman had lost her Witch Heart in a passage across the square. Salem had arrived just as authorities were leaving, and had heard whispers of it between them, piecing together what they hadn’t spoken, for they were relatively tight-lipped. He didn’t blame them. If the public learned any version of the truth other than carefully constructed misdirections, there’d be a riot. The human animal was utterly predictable.
He no doubt looked suspicious himself, for he’d been locked in his silent, brooding vigil for the past hour. Salem had indulged his mind with a concerned vision of being questioned by the many reapers that had already started wandering again, but put it out of his mind when he realized averting his eyes and keeping quiet earned him, at most, a cursory glance. He felt much better this day, having slept off his hangover, and he had, for the most part, banished the traces of the headcold that had started rumbling in him the previous day. The extra strength this had lent him allowed him to renew the glammer that hid his true appearance, and he had no doubt that this helped a great deal with his remaining anonymous.
So he tapped his foot and waited, scanning each new face that entered the square. He’d had to leave the company of Orpheus, Philemon, Rajih, and that one witch eater he’d never learned the name of early the previous day, for his failing strength had begun to pull his disguise away with it. He dared not risk suspicion, so he had said farewell, and bid Orpheus to meet him in the square this morning. With the recent development, it occurred to him it might not have been the best choice of meeting place, but that had been his word, and he’d not lose the damned man again, even if the motivation for their conversation no longer existed. He let air rush out of him in an exasperated sigh, and settled in to wait longer.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 6:46 am
Kyu's home, Lumena
His head hurt. It hurt a lot. Blearily, Theo opened his eyes to find himself in a somewhat familiar place. It felt familiar, and yet whatever he could see was entirely foreign to him. Still, it was rather dark. He tried to sit up but his head pounded painfully, which left him sagging against the pillows. He rubbed his temples, trying to relieve the ache that was assaulting him as he tried to recall what had happened. RIght. He was in Lumena's town square. Then he saw Rajih, met two boys. Lycander and.. Requiem was it? Then Ophelia came. Then Emelia. The witch eater. Theo sat bolt upright and winced as the blood pounded through his head, telling him that it was a bad idea to make any sudden movements.
Then Phil. And Emelia. And Rajih. Theo's eyes snapped open and he pushed the sheets aside, trying to get up. The ceiling and the walls began to spin the moment he stood so he had to sit down again. He looked up wearily only to see Phil sprawled over a couch in the same room. He looked exhausted, frankly. At least his brother was safe. Sighing a little, Theo leaned against the pillows, half lying down and half sitting. They were probably at Kyu's home, by the feel of it. There was always something comforting about this particular house, for whatever reason. A faint light was coming from outside the dark window, leading him to believe it was probably the crack of dawn or maybe the middle of the night.
He let his mind wander over yesterday's events once more, realizing that he had fainted. Which would meant he'd have passed out for quite a while. And he knew he had been unecessarily rude to Ophelia. He'd make it up to her another time. How did he get here? Kyu was also there. Kyu had been there. Kyu had probably carried him back here. Theo blushed a little, unsure why he was somewhat pleased by that. His head throbbed again, clearly saying that now was not the time for it. He was bloody exhausted. His head hurt and felt as if it were going to explode. He closed his eyes again for a moment, content to just lie there until it stopped hurting.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 7:22 am
Kyu's home, Lumena
It was finally dawning. Finally dawning. Kyu stressed the matter intensely in his mind as he maneuvered the small garden to climb the staircase at the side of the White Home not to disturb the children that were most likely still asleep inside. He had spent a restless night, that was for sure but at least his body could endure far worse without any symptoms of extreme weariness showing. Even so his body ached to be somewhere else than his suit of armor and some tea would do miracles to soothe his stressed nerves. He paused and looked away into the distance, sighing in disappointment. The greatest bane of one living to protect was the inability to do so.
At least it was still quiet, he thought to himself closing his eyes and extending his conscience to his boundary to check the area once more before taking his break. Nothing seemed abnormal, the presences of most people softly illuminated by his almost radar-like function. Nothing seemed particularly wrong -yet- nothing was off. Everything was quiet as the sun took to rise and he found himself sighing softly in relief while he slipped inside the house from the balcony letting the aura of his own space itself surround him in its homey silence.
He remained as quiet as he could, removing his armor piece by piece willing to keep the silence as it was as his mind fluttered hastily to go over and account the events of the day that had just past them by. It had started quiet then evolved into an all-out frantic race of carrying a passed-out Theo together with that very kind lady, Ophelia, to finding Phil and dragging him along to have him prepare some very much needed tonic medicine for Theo back home. After that he had left them again telling them to stay inside just in case some incident would occur again. He didn't know what they were up to until that time but with Phil -if nothing- on watch he didn't have to be too worried about Theo's condition -and yet he was.
Leaving his shoes outside, barely making any sound as he moved across the wooden floor paneling he entered his room to find both Phil as well as Theo seemingly asleep. Theo was carefully tucked away in bed where he had left him before departing, while Phil had passed out on couch, looking just as weary and tired as the night before at the very least. He wasn't sure if he wanted to frown or smile gently at the boy's tries to look after his brother but he pulled the blanket that had fallen on his feet and fixed it better around him before going to attend to Theo, brushing his hand against his forehead lightly to make sure he wasn't running a fever or anything.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:27 am
Location: Lumena Town Square - Bittersweet Cafe
Rajih sighed over his cup of tea as he sat in the very same cafe that he had hidden Emelia along with Phil and Orpheus. Even better when Salem came along, it seemed like a meeting of Majins around the two humans. Even more, Rajih was contemplating that of Phil and Orpheus's...togetherness. It kinda of made him feel a little left out as Phil found a love for himself. No no, Rajih shook his head as he sipped the tea. Phil deserved all the happiness in the world! If Orpheus made him happy well, then how could Rajih deny him that.
The good thing was that Theo hadn't found him yet, thank the goddess above. Sure the next time he met his rival, it was sure to be an all out battle for his life. His thought's drifted one after another in the small cafe before resting on the final one: Hallow's Eve Ball. Who was he going to take? He surely didn't want to go by himself, maybe he should find a friend or....Rajih shook his head.
---
Location: Lumena Town Square
Graveyard sighed as she rubbed the spots in her forehead that would help relieve the tension. The square's guards were on end today, nervous and twitchy as yet another victim was found. She watched, as tehy watched with hungry eyes the fear and suspicion rise in each other. Even then, she watched another Ars Lilium, one of her own kind blow up on a Reaper. Her yelling was prickling her sensitive ears and made her frown. Didn't she realize that yelling and accusations did nothing?
Graveyard hugged herself, pulling the small scarf around her tightly as she waited for Cruor. The Dragon had been most amusing the day before and she looked forward to the simple pleasure of shopping with a man. Not only that, but a very handsome, if not a little rude...blunt...kinda of grumpy man. But none the less a man. Her tail curled around her leg, her mind reeling through outfits to find for the tall Dragon. While he seemed harden not to go to the Ball, she had other idea's and felt his Black Heart station would help calm her inner spirits. Fear had laced its way into her as well, regardless that she was an Ars Lilium. Her dreams had been foreboding and had it not been for Cruor being here, she would've left Lumena to go to the Reaper's Ruins and curled into the forgotten structure for peace.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:42 am
Kyu's Home, Lumena
Theo felt himself waking up a little again. He hsifted slightly and was bout to go back to sleep again when he felt fingertips lightly brush over his forehead. His eyes snapped open at the sensation only to find Kyu looking straight at him. While it wasn't the worst way to wake up, it certainly took the spot for one of the most surprising. Theo pulled himself into a sitting position, until he was almost level with Kyu. His head still felt a little woozy and there was a dull pain throbbing at the base of his skull, but otherwise he felt alright. "Good morning." He murmured, running a hand through his hair.
The window outside was slowly brightening, meaning it was about dawn. Phil ought to be waking up soon, but his twin looked completely exhausted, having passed out on a couch nearby. He probably wasn't sleeping enough again. Theo frowned a little. Phil was always lecturing him about his health and lifestyle, but he didn't seem to be doing that great a job either. What failures they both were. He had to smile a little as he mulled over it. Theo rubbed the back of his neck for a moment, letting silence descend over them.
"Thanks for looking after me and Phil yesterday." He finally said, feeling a little sheepish. Kyu was probably the one who had caught him after he fainted. And found Phil. He smiled tiredly for a moment and debated going back to sleep, but he knew he was too awake to return to the peaceful oblivion of sleep by now. He drew his knees closer to him and rested his forehead on them, wishing that his headache would just go away. Maybe he should just ask Kyu if he could stay over night instead of going back to Moonfall later today. After all, tomorrow as the Hallow's Eve ball, and Theo was still wondering if he wanted to go or not. It wasn't so much the lack of a date, because he would go with or without a date if he cared to go. He just wasn't sure he wanted to, that's all. He let out a soft sigh and looked up, his eyes resting on his teacher for the moment. For some reason, he felt his heart skip a beat as they sat there in the silence together.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 1:49 pm
Kyu's home, Lumena
Kyu was surprised enough to have jumped back when Theo opened his eyes so suddenly but he didn't act the part nor did he pull away at all, relieved to see that his student was still holding strong. The corners of his mouth curved into a smile that betrayed his relief but he didn't mind all that much as he brought himself to sit lightly upon the mattress. "Good morning to you as well, Theo." he spoke lightly his voice kept quiet despite the firmness as he withdrew his hand gently to bring it to rest on his lap, eyes watching the younger witch carefully. Since when had he become as protective of his student? He couldn't tell, he didn't know... but just having to recall the way Theo's unconscious body felt in his arms was somewhat hurtful. It was... such a strange arrangement too. There was some gentleness in it as well, a certain level of a feeling that both unsettled him and set his mind at ease. He had caught him before he hit the ground, he'd just have to make sure to be there to do that should something happen.
"Are you feeling well?" he found himself questioning in concern, finally. He had no reason -no reason at all- to doubt Phil's remedy or its effectiveness but he felt compelled to say something, anything at all to break the silence. But then he found himself at a loss of words again and started wondering if he should get up and go start making something for breakfast since he appeared to have quite a few guests over that day if nothing so he could leave Theo to rest more should he need to. His student was surprisingly sturdy, he did know that much, but he didn't want to overtax him. After all... he really did want to ask a favour of him later that day but that would only happen if he would be feeling well enough by that time.
He was a second away from hastily standing up to head to the door when Theo spoke again, offering him kind words for watching after him and Phil on the day before. He was taken aback a little, not used to hearing such words from Theo but he smiled all the same, his hand moving on its own to take Theo's and squeeze it gently as he worded a reply. "It was the least I could do." he didn't know what else to say. There were perhaps a lot of words he could speak but they would be all devoid of meaning. There were too many words fighting their way, stacking on top of one another to make the silence a lot more meaningful at the time. And he had to wonder why it was that he was hesitating to get up still. What more business did he have, disturbing his student's rest time like this? "You gave me a small scare, back there." he admitted, pale eyes lowered ever so slightly.
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