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 Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 10:34 pm
Simply put, to Adal, the entire point of festivals was fascinating, but the response to the idea was appalling. There was a twinkle of eagerness when Georgie, in his sickly, snotty self, convinced him into going to the event in the first place, and he admired the myriad of performers that made themselves known there. To see the poorly dressed and insufficiently fed musicians with instruments, beautifully played and in perfect condition, bemused him and made him happy. To see the performers, otherwise simply homeless men with nowhere to go, be able to perform skills requiring a tremendous amount of brevity, made him lighthearted. When Adal saw the dirty snow pile up near the plaza and the stink of unwashed and sickly bodies fill the festival area, however, he felt a tinge of remorse, though he kept a weary smile about him all the while. There was still a great illness going on around the entire continent, but Shyregoed kept the thread of the epidemic the farthest away, and keeping Georgie away from doing anything stupid kept his mind astray for the time being.
His freckled brother strayed off toward the stands shortly after the performance they were watching had ended-- a dazzling performance with an array of costumed contortionists. Both of them had, in total, less than ten Shillings, but Georgie was rarely hungry, and enjoyed the idea of filling his stomach to stop it from shrinking any less than it already had, by then.
The food at the stands were cheap enough, though the boys from Mishkan-- while they'd been traveling around for a good number of years for half a decade-- were still not inviting to the Shyregoedian idea of festival food. Ideally enough, even the poor merchants of the markets just east or west of the northern region had a warm fire that kept their food warm, or a simple carriage that kept anything from getting too cold. Inevitably, the cheap Shilling's-worth of dried meat and questionable loaves of bread were rather cold and stale, and when Georgie tried to rip a slice of bread into two, it merely broke in half instead.
"Sorry." Georgie sniffled; his nose was as red as the apples he ate, and his words were drenched with sickness. As their days up in the cold wore on, Georgie seemed to wear another new layer of clothes every morning, and at least three scarves to follow, though his jackets were usually so big in comparison to he that he hardly had much trouble moving around.
"'M not hungry, thanks." As his brother handed him a portion of food, Adal stared at the pieces of dried meat and stale bread with a judging pair of eyes, his cheeks raised and brows furrowed in a casual disgust.
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:56 am
With eyes as wide as the mouths with which they gaped, Chauhn and Clurie stared at the vibrant displays of artistry and skill like the two giddy street boys they were. They stood transfixed, their bodies tense with the thrill of high strung anticipation, the magic of the carnival. Like a majority of the other shivering urchins that managed to pull on enough clothes to brave the coldness of the outside Shyregoad air, Chauhn was pressed up near the stage, his happy frostbitten face red with glee. For a few moments, he was lost in the show with his brother, completely entangled in the visual web that was the Troupe's best, a fantastic myriad of colors and fabrics, faces both painted and stretched into place. He felt like a kid again. But those few moments were fleeting as, when he was pushed closer with the stumble of the crowd, the cellist gave a mean glare in his direction. Chauhn, for a few moments, forgot just who he was, what he looked like, but with her continual stare came his slow realization. The warm clothes upon his back were ratty, his hat was worn, and the scarves upon his neck were nothing but an accent on an already painted picture. Immediately, he understood the look, and he backed away from the stage, giving her ample room and a smile that bespoke his good intents. He understood what it was like to guard your meager earnings, especially as the poorly fed group of magicians that they were. They earned it and Chauhn, unlike other urchins who might have had itchy fingers at the sight of the freely given tips, wanted none of it, no matter how easy it might have been to snatch the jar and dash away into the anonymity of the crowd. He hoped that perhaps that cellist could see the admiration in his eyes as he moved ample space back away from the stage.
Clurie, on the other hand was totally engrossed in the show, the fire dances and their breathing, spewing, and licking of flame was so fantastic! And, being so close to the stage, Clurie could almost feel the heat if it wasn't for the hungry cold swallowing it up more quickly than it could reach him. Still, he was delighted enough by the smell, oh, the smell and the light! The very belch and puff of flame! It inspired Clurie, and with a rub of his hands, he gave off a couple sparks of his own, a frightful prelude to the kind of power that he could display given a proper tinder. Instead of urging the sparks to burst aflame, he rubbed at his glowing cheeks, happily spreading little tufts of ash all over Chauhn's shoulder and all over himself.
"Brother, I can do that!" he announced happily, "I can, right? I can be a fire dancer, a fire weaver! I can throw it up, and spew it about, like they do! Play with curtains of ash and cough it up!" Bouncing eagerly as the show came to a temporary close, Clurie retreated to the tuck of Chauhn's scarf, keeping to the side of his chin in case he tucked his head to his chest. He watched from the folds of Chauhn's scarf as the players of the troupe melted into the crowd, his cheeks still hot and red with excitement. "I can be like them, brother."
"Nah, Clurie," Chauhn said, smiling as he pushed his way away from the stage to meander the crowd as it milled about, momentarily dispersing for lack of focused entertainment. "You can be bett'r than them. Way bett'r, ahm sure!"
Clurie's cheeks brightened to a blinding yellow at that point and he giggled a bout of ash into his scarf, "I can! I can." he agreed, his mouth turned upward in a happy smile. He felt so warm all over, so excited, like his own little body was a hearth and he was burning up through and through.
Distracted by the focus-less crowd, Chauhn turned about, pressing his way through the backs and fronts of people who idled too long in his way. He had no particular place to go, but he thought that there might be something worth in wandering around. As he scooted about, his green Mishkan eyes set in an Imisese shape wide open, he saw a few people he had met before. He recalled the priest and the woman he was currently engaged with, the matronly lady who helped him when he was ill. Through a bit more of crowd, he spotted the fidgety woman once more confronting Jin-Ho, the scribe. And, not too far away from them, was Sloane and his Lady. They looked particularly tense, so Chauhn tried to meander away, though, he couldn't help but give a happy wave to the sword Plague. He didn't want to pass without at least giving him a wave of his hand. Then, burrowing himself into the crowd, he was abound again, adventuring in the small square. Everyone looked busy, it seemed, and Chauhn had more than enough manners to stay out of ongoing conversations that did not include him. Instead, he sailed about, looking for the players and troupe actors in the crowd.
In the middle of his search, Chauhn focused on a familiar hat and yellow curl of hair next to another capped fellow with a red nose. It was Georgie and Adal. Gulping, Chauhn felt nothing but belittled at the sight of them, his energy and excitement wilted. After his last encounter with them and the Doctor, Chauhn felt entirely disgraced and disgruntled in their presence, like he didn't deserve to be a Grimm, and for a few moments, he believed it. But Clurie was his brother. And that's all that mattered, not them, not the Doctor, not anyone. Steeling himself strong, Chauhn tried to slip away from the apprentice brothers without attracting their attention.
"Brother! That's Adal. Adal and his brother, like you are my brother," Clurie pointed out helpfully. "HEY ADAL!"
"Hush! Hush. Ah know, ah know," Chauhn said, his voice hushed into a whisper, "They look like they don't want to be bothered. C'mon, let's go see t'other actors, shall we? More fire breathers mayhaps?"
But with those words as he tried to spin away into the crowd, Chauhn and his little passenger nearly ran headlong into the tall boy with the bells on his back. Thanks to his quick reflexes, Chauhn was able to stop himself from completely colliding into the other, but he did, thanks to the push of the crowd and the slick of the brown sludgy snow beneath his soaked boots, nudge into him just enough to make a couple of the bells on his back giggle with sound.
"Oh! M'apologies, sir, ahm terribly sorry," he said earnestly, trying to act as best he could like an urchin wouldn't after purposefully bumping into someone to steal their easily accessible gold. "Ah wasn't watchin' where ah was goin'."
At the same time, Chauhn felt a pang of regret in his gut. If Adal and Georgie had looked their way, it was no doubt that they would be shaking their heads at his clumsiness. It didn't seem like he would ever be able to make a good impression with the Malt brothers.
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 9:06 am
As intent on sticking to business as Sloane was at the moment, he was not with a heart of stone.
If it was important, then she should do it, and by her tone it seemed it was. This performance meant something to her more than idle fun and merriment and had the worry of keeping an eye on her, her NOT being Lady Estratus and the little one locked up inside her pocket, he would likely be enjoying himself a grand deal more.
A stiff sigh came from him, largely inaudible, and his posture softened. On stage, the performers were going about their practiced routines with precision, everyone watching wide eyed and interested. The candle mark passed, roughly an hour. They still had one more to kill, but his Lady's double turned to him and announced they could go if he wished. He did, but didn't want to spoil what was important to her. Clearing his throat, he stood at attention, arms behind his back and kept his eyes on the stage. "Do not feel restricted, my Lady. If you wish to stay, we shall. I merely need to be by your side."
His eyes flicked back over the crowd, attempting to spot Lady Estratus' assistant and his familiar crawling colorful companion. Lost among the crowd. Still, they would probably seek him out when the show was fully over and it came time to leave. Another candle mark to go, another hour to kill before the grand finale.
Suddenly, a jingle of sound erupted from one of the far sections. A familiar cap and hair, no longer as tousled as it used to be. Chauhn and Clurie! Dammit all, and he couldn't break away to say hello. If Jin-ho were with him, he might have taken a moment to at least call them over and socialize, but it would be awkward introducing them to Beatrix as it was. They had met Lady Estratus, and Beatrix would not remember them because she had not been there.
"Would you like to eat something? Still another candlemark before the final act," he offered, attempting to be casual. It was difficult with this one; trying to keep up the front that he was familiar with her and that she was his Lady while still having to introduce various customs or mannerisms to her so that the act could be kept up. Still, he would occasionally eye the pocket with the matchbox. That was what made interacting with her the hardest of all. Perhaps if she accepted the offer he could bring the topic of candy Plague up more gently and see if she really knew what she had on her hands.
A sweet healer.
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 11:48 am
Just as soon as he had promised his little one, something else just had to come up. Jin-Ho glanced back at Sloane after starting towards a table, surprised to catch a returning glare and a nod to come back. It nearly surprised him, but at the same time, Lady Estratus had informed her Plague to keep an eye on the three, or more like four of them. He was hesitant, but he handed a small, torn sheet of paper to Blaithe, holding her just a little bit closer and turning back around to face his "keeper."
"I'm sorry, Blaithe, but Sloane's calling us back. Will this be fine for now?" His voice was apologetic, but there wasn't much he could do. No matter how high of status he was to become, he would always be under Sloane; Lady Estratus' right hand man. The idea didn't really bug him, but it made things harder, considering the beastly man wasn't very fond of him.
Blaithe happily took the paper, licking the back and sticking it to Jin-Ho's palm. It didn't matter if they were to walk or anything, she was just excited to have someting to write on. Without a word, she began scribbling and drawing on as much of the scrap as she could.
To be honest, Jin-Ho hadn't been paying too much attention to the shows and attractions. The people in the crowd would catch his eye as soon as he was content with someone juggling or playing music, but it didn't bother him. The festival was much different than what he had grown up with, and though amusing it was, he was easily distracted.
With Blaithe cupped gently in his hand, two younger, familiar faces caught Jin-Ho's attention; someone he was very eager to see. The last he had seen Georgie and his Plague, he had happened across them on his way to his tutor. They were interesting, and something about them was welcoming. He hadn't expected to run into them here, but then again, it was a public event, and they were prominent figures, at least in the background.
Torn between his need of going back and following Sloane and his want of talking to Georgie and Adal, Jin-Ho called out, at least enough to get their attention and possibly meet up with them later, or have them follow.
"Georgie, Adal!" he waved, holding Blaithe closer in his other hand, "I have something to show you--!"
Before he could get it out, a small voice had interrupted him; a voice he had never heard before. The question had almost caught him by surprise, but he was holding out his Plague for the world to see; and boy, was she visible. He turned, facing the rather meek woman in front of him, pausing a moment to look at the woman. She obviously didn't take very good care of herself; her hair matted and messy and her skin pale and sickly. As his eyes traveled down to take a look at her clothing, he stopped as a small movement on her shoulder caught his eye. She was carrying an Excito!
The Plague, obviously having grown from a flower; covered it petals and greenery, perched herself confidently on the slightly older woman's shoulder, her smile bright against her dark skin. It must have been her that called out; the voice was a bit too small for the woman standing in front of him.
The sound of chiming bells had caught his attention for a split second, catching a glimpse of Chauhn. Damn... there was no way to talk to this woman, talk to Adal and Georgie, talk to Chauhn and go back to the commanding Sloane all at once! Jin-Ho swallowed, turning his attention back to the woman and her small companion, figuring that it was easiest to take care of one thing at a time.
Catching Sloane's eye, he gave an apologetic look and faced the woman once more.
Hesitating only for a split second, he stretched his doodle covered hand, complete with a busilly working Blaithe, to the woman and her Plague. "This," he said, gently nudging Blaithe with his free hand, "is my Excito, Blaithe! She was once a paintbrush."
With the help of Jin-Ho's finger, Blaithe stood up in his palm, no taller than an inch, and examined the Plague in front of her, the blush on her cheeks brightening. She knew she had smelled some kind of floral tinct! "Hi! I'm Blaithe! You're very pretty, what's your name?" The colorful little Phasmas hadn't noticed the woman holding the Plague before her, but she meant no offense. "You're all covered in white! What's your favorite color? Do you like to draw?"
Jin-Ho laughed, his attention drifting back to the flower's Grimm. "My name is Jin-Ho Kyon. It's nice to meet you."
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 12:25 pm
Beatrix did not mean to be a pain, especially knowing what her duty was. And now that she had come to see the performance she was satisfied for the moment, though she didn't like someone watching her at every moment. But it could be worse.
She knew that it could be worse.
Beatrix watched her keeper, the formal conversation something she would unlikely get used to. Especially the title of 'my Lady'. If only. Regardless, she got the feeling that he didn't truly want to stay, at least not with her, anyway. "It's fine. I've seen the performance and I wouldn't to endanger..." She trailed off, as she wasn't quite sure what she was endangering by being here. Herself? Perhaps, but that was an afterthought. The mission? Probably.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, like a proper lady. All these strange people did not suit her, but she was not nervous. But she simply did not feel any connection to them, to their merriment outside of watching the performance. She was a stranger and knew no one. But even back west there was no one (she did not call where she lived home - it would never be home).
It calmed her once the man began to talk, for she truly had little words for him. "Oh, yes, that would be nice. Something sweet, perhaps?" She said, ready to follow after him if need be. She'd always had a sweet tooth, especially when she was a little child.
Beatrix lived and breathed the sweet things in life.
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Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:06 pm
It seemed as though the man with the blob of colour on his hand was torn between various different conversations and for a moment Claudia thought that her perfectly polite inquiry was going to be rudely rebuked. Her smile dipped for a moment as he glanced around, looking towards a grisly looking fellow with barbed teeth but she propped it back up as he returned his attention to her. The answer he gave was most enlightening and if she had possessed them her eyebrows would have certainly lofted with interest. Another excitos? She had not considered that... She had deemed the splatter of colour too small, the vibrant being barely reached up to her thigh!
“Oh!” She exclaimed, leaning forward to look down at the girl busily scrawling on her human’s hand. “Hello Blaithe.” She called, feigning a friendliness that was certainly not honest. She was taken aback by this specimen’s runty visage! How could Blaithe be so small? Obviously it was a sign of some sort of deficiency – a weakness in her makeup. Obnoxiously the flower noted the light tint to the other girl’s body. Translucent with a hint of a human blush in her cheeks... Well that explained it – Blaithe wasn’t a caedos, the superior type of plague, no chaos born plague would be so pitifully small.
Never the less, she was obliged to speak and remain polite towards the other and the compliment that the minute rainbow hued individual did bring a curl of a proud smile to Claudia’s face. The comment about liking drawing was an interesting one... Truth be told the rose had never even given much time to being artistic. Now that she considered it... there seemed to be little point in the practice of drawing. Whatever she created with paint of pencil wouldn’t rival the real life counterpart... A self portrait for example could never hope to be as perfect and as beautiful as the real life Claudia – so why bother?
Politely she phrased her response. “I’m Claudia, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re very... eye catching!” She chuckled, waving a spindly black hand. Social etiquette meant that she was required to give a compliment back to the girl.... but nothing dictated that it couldn’t be ambiguous or even backhanded. “My favourite colours are white and green. They’re the most elegant in my opinion.” She looked slightly smug at this but before she could let her appealing facade slip and the truthful arrogance peep through she hurried onwards, “and I have never tried. It doesn’t interest me... I take it you like drawing?” At this she pointed towards the human’s hand and the childish doodles present.
“H-hello...” Responded Felicity when she was sure that her ward had finished speaking.. If she cut over the top she was certain to receive a malicious tug on her hair. “I’m F-felic-city...” She stuttered... Her eyes flicked nervously over the man. Jin-Ho was equipped with a staff... A mage... The very type of person Felicity had been told to keep an eye on whilst about her day to day life in Sherygoed... “Enj-joying the f-f-festivit-t-ties?”
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Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 5:53 pm
She seemed to be content now, so Sloane gave a shrug to her rebuke of the offer to stay. However, Blaithe probably wanted to and Jin-Ho would likely want to keep her happy as much as Sloane did, neither of them being able to resist the adorable Phasmas for long. They had only arrived a two candlemarks ago as it was and coming without watching the grand finale seemed rather pointless.
Glancing over his shoulder as the call of two vaguely familiar names -- though he couldn't place from where -- Sloane was able to spot the Imisian from the crowd. He was taking his sweet time, but he started approaching once he was finished addressing whomever he was speaking to. Then, random chance hit and Sloane let out a huff. Passersby, crowd folk. The woman was turned in such a way that he could not see her small companion, let alone smell her due to the excess scents wriggling about the immediate population. Their wayward companion gave him a sympathetic look and Sloane chided him silently but nodded him off.
Beatrix's sudden change in tone and attitude at the mention of food brought a wry grin to Sloane's face, though he kept his teeth concealed as best he could. Particularly the mention of sweets caught his attention, and the sword Plague idly mused this, shaking his head in slight amusement while leading her over to the buffet table. There didn't appear to be many assortments of cakes or baked goods, though there were few. Hard candies were present, made from the sweetest natural ingredients in the area.
An idea was brewing in his thick red noggin, and he wasn't about to let this breech in activity from the show or Beatrix's attention of it slip so easily by. Reaching out, he took a small piece between his fingers and examined it, stepping closer to her and holding his palm out with it dotting the center.
"May I present you with a hypothetical, my Lady?" he started, though left only the minutest amount of time for her to reply, the respect level not quite there for Beatrix as it was for Sage and this was a very important matter he had on his hands with very little time to present it in. "As a lover of sweets, has the idea come to you that perhaps there were a way to... condition sweet things that bring so many joy into bringing health?"
He paused, awaiting her reaction.
This was it, this was how he could get through to her. It was the only way to do so. Him being a Plague, he could feel the disdain she had for him just by existing, intensified by the fact he was one who could only spread. Oh, how that fact tore at him deeply, down into his core, but seeing others... others that had the capacity to heal... Through the jealousy, it made him feel such unbridled joy.
This was how he would be able to get the sweet candy Plague into the open air and out of her portable matchbox prison.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:35 am
Beatrix wondered when was the last time she had seen street performers, especially a troupe such a this one. Not since she was a child, no doubt. How old did that make her now? How many years had slipped by her, wasted? But it wasn't like that anymore. She was making something of herself, with no help from anyone. There wasn't anyone left that she knew, regardless. And from the people she had met so far, there didn't seem to be any people she would mind continuing to stick her around her.
Beatrix watched Sloane with a serious expression once again, wondering if the man was somehow mocking her. But she said nothing and instead navigated through the crowd, staying close to her protector as they made their way to the buffet table. Her eyes scanned the food, all the food - a feast. Somehow, she felt a momentary sadness at seeing all this food but her attention was brought back.
The Plague seemed to have a curious question for her, though she didn't seem to wary of it. "Of course. That's why I've come all the way to Shyregoad, to purchase some herbs. Back in Gadu I make candies, you see. I want to make candies that can relieve sickness." She said, her voice tinged with pride, but a slight irritation that said mission had been interrupted and also the fact that the man in front of her knew nothing about her and had not bothered to ask. And still he thought he could judge her.
It didn't seem to be a task that was impossible, considering her knowledge of both fields. She felt that this was something productive she could do and... maybe it would make her father proud, if he was still here. But he wasn't, because of the Plague. Because of beings like the thing in front of her and in her pocket.
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Friendly Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 12:09 pm
Any thoughts Theo had been entertaining about the woman being familiar quickly vanished with the snappish tone she took with him completed with a scathing glare. As she shoved him away the second time the crowd nudged them together, his lips pressed into a firm frown, his hand still keeping Ophelia pressed to him protectively. Instinctively, all pretense forgotten, he had an equally snappish reply prepared - something about how of course it was his fault that the crowd knocked into him, how could he have been so careless? - when he noticed the tiny figure that tumbled from her hands.
.. There was no way.
"You have one," Theo said. "You're a Keeper as well?" His hand remained in place over his own Plague, but he seemed to notice how much the tiny thing wriggled to free herself of his fingers. Instead he was trying to get a good look at the one the woman carried. From what he could see, it was definitely different from the ones he'd seen so far - the one that belonged to the street urchin boy had only been a wriggling pile of dust. No, this one was more like Ophelia, but with some differences.. was this the variation in the Plagues that Lady Sage had mentioned to him?
Ophelia managed to free herself in the meantime and dared to peek over the collar of his coat, unnoticed by Theo. She followed his line of sight and her dead pan eyes widened a little at the creature settled in Elsie's hands. So her master's words had been right, it was another like her.. but he looked so strange. Where was his arm? His eyes? But as her gaze traveled up to this new Plague's keeper, she remembered the unkind words the woman had dared to throw at hers. The jingling of bells on stage as another human paraded out, and for a moment she nearly forgot what she had intended to say to this woman. But the warmth of her presence at their side as the show continued kept the thought in the back of her mind. She would not sit out this disrespect towards hers. Amendments would be made.
"I insist that you apologize this minute." Her normal monotone took on a steely edge. "My master was pushed himself, there is no need for rudeness. Especially if us four present are of similar.." Her eyes drooped into their normal state, in a look that could be interpreted either as distaste or a pause to think. ".. Circumstances." Ophelia could not keep the thought away as she examined the girl's companion. What a queer little Plague this one was.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 2:33 pm
Interesting. That was certainly a more positive reaction than he had hoped for, and his face lit up to show it. Giving her a modest smile, he reached out and tapped the hard candy in his palm with a finger, locking eyes with her once more. "What if this piece of candy right here could do it?" Entirely hypothetical and unfathomable.
In actuality, Sloane didn't find much credence in candy being used as a cure for the disease but he certainly approved of Beatrix's gumption and determination towards the idea. It was all the same in the end, their goal; between the Scientists and the Mages, all they wanted was a cure, whether their methods clashed or matched, they only wanted the exact same thing in the end and that was that. They were together on this, the thousands of them that made up Panymium and their various factions among the millions of poor and destitute people in need of assistance.
Beatrix already had part of the cure with her and didn't even realize it.
"With a little help, it could be possible, you know?"
Gnawing his lip with excitement, careful not to make himself bleed, he adjusted his stance and stood just a bit closer so that he could lower his voice. "When one is infected by the venom of a snake or a spider, where does one go to for a cure?" Being a woman of science, surely she would know this. It was a fairly recent development in Panymium, the knowledge of anti-venoms and their origins, but they were coming along and it rather mirrored the situation with the Plagues entirely.
He leaned closer, no doubt puncturing her personal bubble, "We go to the source," and as quickly as he leaned in, he was back again, close enough to make most people unfamiliar with him uncomfortable but not quite breaching that bubble any longer.
Just as venom was capable of being twisted into the exact opposite of itself and able to cure with the help of science, so to was the plague able to contort itself naturally into the exact opposite. What he was, spreading the Plague that was his very blood, Cassandra would be able to rid people of with a touch. Surely Beatrix was hooked now, she had to be. If not, there was not much he could do for their mutual cause or the little one's well being, but Sloane stood silently and hoped beyond hope that she was not bored of this conversation and it would continue on the right path.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 3:46 pm
Beatrix watched warily as the Plague's face lit up, wondering what about her response was so pleasing. She very much doubted that he was suddenly interested in her, so it had to be something else. Had he been leading her into a trap?
She looked at his hand as he pointed at the candy but she did not take it. "It will, someday, if I have anything to say about it." She said, even if he hadn't been expecting an answer. It was her own pride that made her say that she believed that she could do this, that she could make a difference in the world.
But that wasn't the point Sloane was trying to get at, at least not truly.
As he continued to explain himself she felt calm, at least at the distance he had been before he had begun to hover so close to her. Her hands had balled up into fists, as if ready to defend herself, but she did not strike him. Closer, and closer - daring, forward - no man should be able to get so close to her!
She felt threatened, and from the appearance of this man she had every reason to be. He was a man, a Plague - however way she spun it, she felt like she wanted to be away from him. Her eyes widened, looking at him like he was a monster.
"I - yes, of course." Beatrix managed out, stepping away from him as much as she could without bumping into the person behind her. Her breathing had quickened and her fists were still curled up into balls, staying absolutely still, not daring to move.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:05 pm
He took careful note in her sudden change in demeanor, looked on to see her composure faltering as she tried to keep it up and her fists clenched. The look in her eyes said it all--she was afraid of him, intimidated, and thought him nothing better than the very same disease he was born from.
Fine.
She could think of him like that. What did it matter in the long run? She was here to do a job and she was doing it quite well, meeting expectations. If they were to keep a professional relationship, then that was what it needed to stay. The hint was taken, and Sloane dialed back his enthusiasm, bowing his head slightly in forced apology as he, too, back peddled as much as possible without hitting the person behind him.
"What I mean is, my lady, that the answers we're searching for are right in front of our noses. It's so close we can taste it and yet only few have realized this." Taking a deep breath, he closed his hand around the candy and held it close to his heart, a dramatic act if there ever was one but it was heartfelt; his hand was held out once more. "Our answer is in the disease. In the Plagues..."
This would be tricky. From here on, he would have to take the utmost care in his wording so as not to make potential eavesdroppers interested but be sure that she was understanding what he was getting at. He lowered his voice as best he could, keeping eye contact. "Many, so many carry the disease within them, spreading it, infecting people left and right," he left out the part that he was one such being, though he felt no desire to spread as most natural born Infitialis did, "Fewer have the potential for magic, they are able to control the powers of the earth, the elements..."
His expression turned serious, an emotional tinge tainting his face and his words, then. "But fewer still, my lady, have the potential to heal. What carries this terrible disease we are fighting so hard, my lady, can also cure it." Sloane closed his hand around the piece of candy, then placed his other over top of it, looking at it, now trapped inside. "That is what you keep locked away in that matchbox, my dear... Only with your nurturing hand will she grow... and blossom into a cure..."
Sloane's heart was bounding. He didn't dare look up. There was an intense doubt she would believe him, believe the word of a monster as she so saw him. But there was still a chance...
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:27 pm
Beatrix watched him, ever standing still and her expression ever concerned, even as he seemed apologetic. Something had snapped within her and now everything was going to unravel unless he was very careful. Of course, he had no idea exactly how unstable she was - in appearance she merely seemed a little shaken, but underneath the surface.
She listened, although a bit vacantly, only snapping her attention right back to him and the small gestures. She didn't want to be around him, near him, him talking to her - about this... about that wretched disease. Why her? Why always her? Hadn't she been affected enough by the plague? Why did it want to follow her so?
Her own heart was thumping loudly, nearly blocking the Plague's words, though she felt too anxious to miss even a single one. He was taking about diseases and earth and cures... So few, there always so few... The words buzzing and out of her brain as she watched him, his eyes, those eyes... those predatory eyes.
But once he spoke of letting the plague out, at least the implication of it, of letting it blossom... the disease... "I won't stand for your lies! You think you can lie to me? You want me to let it out, let it kill people, just like you!" Her voice was a whisper, but a hysterical one nonetheless. Ever a lady, even in anger. "You killed him, isn't that enough for you? You took away my father and you stand here and try and manipulate me, you monster!" She was keeping her eyes from welling up, but her body was near shaking from fury.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:40 pm
Sloane deflated.
His shoulders sagged, posture crumpled, arms dropping to his sides and dropping the candy to the ground. This wasn't what he wanted, nor expected, but now it was clear he was going to have to clean up this mess... This mess he had made which could be blamed on no other.
Her accusations, hysterical remarks, they all sunk through him like an arrow piercing his flesh, and each one made him recoil. So hard, so hurtful, but he had to keep up the facade that everything was fine for the public eye, they could not be seen as suspicious characters and there had to be that ever present air of importance and togetherness if people did happen to recognize either of them as Lady Estratus and her Sword.
It didn't make it hurt any less.
Now, though, he was beginning to understand. He was beginning to see why Beatrix was so adamant about keeping the tiny Servos locked away in her portable prison. It truly was hard to believe that the embodiment of such a rampant disease could have magical potential or the ability to heal, and as far as common knowledge went, there were none, this was true. To her, any physical representation of the plague was simply that, the plague, wanting nothing more than to kill everything in its path in a slow and sadistic rage, relishing in the death and sorrow.
He was beginning to understand... and he hated it.
At the mention of her father, his own fists clenched. Accusing him of murdering someone he had never met in cold blood, of taking an innocent life intentionally with the powers he held no control over. His hands shook, face turning stony, but he could not keep the look up. She was far too pitiable. Sympathy replaced the tense expression.
"I'm sorry..." he offered shakily. It would be so hard to explain this to her rationally, and now really wasn't the time. Such a public and open place, anyone could hear them... Their charade would be over. "We do not have to speak of this anymore..." It was hard to look at her, so he didn't, averting his eyes to the crowd. "It is nearly the finale..." They would have to pick this up later, in the privacy of the North Base.
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Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:18 pm
The Caedos' less than pleasant personality made Jin-Ho pull his hand back slightly, but he left Blaithe in sight of Claudia and vice versa. Blaithe, on the other hand, didn't seem to notice the other Excito's personality, hopping quietly in her Grimm's hand.
"I love it! It's so much fun, and you can draw anything you want! Even if it doesn't exist, and, and... it's pretty!"
Hugging Jin-Ho's finger, she gave Claudia one of the biggest smiles that could ever fit on such a small face. It was obvious that, no matter the personality, Blaithe enjoyed being around others of her kind. She was always eager to meet one, if only once. "You're like Clur! You're much bigger than I am...!" She tried to stand straight, still not being the most accustomed to her wooden leg, needing a finger of the hand she stood on for balance. To illustrate her thought, she raised a hand as high over her head as she could. "Oji says I'm special! I'm the smallest he's seen!"
He wasn't very comfortable with Claudia's "charming" antics, but Jin-Ho turned his attention back to Felicity as she stuttered her name once he knew Blaithe wasn't bothered. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Felicity." He bowed, making sure not to dip Blaithe or make her lose her balance. "What I've seen so far, yes. I haven't been paying the most attention, but it's very interesting. Festivals and public events are a little bit different from what I'm used to, but it's a nice distraction. A lot different from the East." He paused, unsure of what to say next. "How about you? Are you enjoying yourself?"
Blaithe tugged on Jin-Ho's hand, trying to urge him closer to Claudia. She couldn't help but admire how pretty she was, even if she couldn't... "Take off your cloth! I want to see how you look! You smell very pretty! I bet you're really pretty, too!" Unable to deny the wish of his little Phasmas, Jin-Ho slowly and carefully stretched his hand forward, watching Felicity and Claudia for any signs of discomfort.
Jin-Ho also glanced back toward Sloane, barely able to make him out from the crowd. He was talking to The Lady... his expression was strange. Jin-Ho had never seen the Plague like that.
Now wasn't the best time to go over, he suspected.
"So what part of the world do you come from, Miss Felicity? Was it hard to get here?" Small talk. Even if it was awkward, there really wasn't much he could do without the possibility of leaving the woman and her Plague; in otherwords, be rude. If it weren't for the Caedos, it might not have been as bad...
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