It had been gruesome and painful, with the blood and watching those two faces twist and grin as they took whatever life had been of her. But even with the tears in her eyes, Jessie had died with a smile upon her face and in the company of someone so warm and loving. It might have been a fleeting notion, but she could have said she had died happily simply because of Fluffy's presence even though she her light had faded so quickly after his arrival. But he had cared enough to come to her in his random wanderings, and sit with her even if he hadn't totally understood. Because it had been enough.
Those were the things she had always wanted to hold onto in life. There were always bad moments, but Jessica had always just wanted to remember the good ones to show the world wasn't such a bad place even though she more or less bumbled around in it without a clue half the time. Even as classmates got her down, people made fun of her because of her weight or her grades. Where they ignored her and made her feel like nothing. Jessie only wanted to push past it. She always tried though, with a smile and upbeat attitude and a professional air and it had always worked out in the end for her. Well most of the time.
She had gotten this job, hadn't she? Even if it had ended up like this. All this mess, all this destruction. She had made it here. Fresh out of school having completed her second degree in Veterinary Medicine, her first being in Biology with a steady passing interest in mythology when she was bored some nights on wikipedia and decided to read about random subjects here and there. It was like a match made in heaven when the offer came on her doorstep some few months later. Such disbelief that this was really happening. The chance to work in a new and secretive sounding project funded by some billionaire sounding guy. Science, creatures and work. Wonder Park. It had been like the stars had aligned, offering this chance.
And she had taken it. How could she have said no?
And never regretted it, even as she didn't fully understand it at first and how such a place could have been possible. Even until the very end. Because she believed what was told to her, that this place had been of magic. She saw it everyday, as she trained along others, even as they were a hundred steps ahead of her and grasped what they were doing so much quicker. Jessie saw it everyday simply by living on the island and saw all the creatures living and striving around her. That could have been a regret in a way, never really bonding with the human population that she worked along side with everyday. The interactions with those of her own kind, so many chances lost to make connections and life long friends and colleagues. She had been so steady in her professional life, trying to keep on pace and not mess up. But they weren't like the creatures she came to know and love. Even if she didn't always remember their names. She had such a terrible memory.
The Fantasy Fields and the Monster Mountain had been her favorite places to work, she had always requested work in the two locations but could never say she was disappointed when working elsewhere. But those two were special. Maybe it had been the hard paths to get to them, especially the mountains that required some work and the fields that were so vast. It always felt that the creatures there cared a little, and that she had a little more connection with all things there great and small. Always wanting to hug each and everyone of them, even if it would look terribly unprofessional. Even if they were doing simple tricks for food, only for the food but Jessie always felt there was unconditional love from those that resided and those that she helped look after. It was what could get her through the day, each day as she made her way past training and finally on her own, armed with her notebook and her ever present smile. Because she did it for those creatures that she dearly loved, that she thought were amazing.
Like Fluffy, whom she remembered from the Mountains that she had inevitably named without realizing. The pup that had been included into the fold one day along side such a large dragon and a giant globby cube among other things. A large creature with the energy of something so much smaller his size and a heart that seemed to be as large as he fully was. So jovial, so happy, so ready to play at all time. Who stayed by her side while she drew her last breathe. Hopefully he wouldn't be sad, he would find the others and live on upon the island. Free to roam, to grow and to find his own happiness. To find comfort in the others, even if there were no humans around for him, because there would be others for him to play with and to love. Jessie could only wish that they would all find what she had, the wonder and awe and with smiles and an open heart.
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Staff Name: Jessica Addams Job Description: Handler Physical Description: A little heavyset, but filled with stamina (kaythanks), the 25 year old reaches a height of about 5'4 without heels (who would want to wear those anyways?). Jessie's hair is jet black and cut in a very cute bob which she styles often with cute burettes and headbands. Her eyes are hazel and she tries to make sure she looks very professional. Brief Character Profile: Fresh out of school, and training even, Jessie is still wide eyed with wonder at everything in the park (so many creatures!). She's still green with her duties, still learning the ropes a little here and there but takes things very seriously since she does not want to mess up anything. (Jessie has a habit of carrying around a notebook of protocol in a pocket for reference). Creatures in her area tend to get a load of personal nicknames, mainly since she's horrible with names.
Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 10:41 pm
Death...
Most people had told her time and time again to fear it, just as they always told her to fear the things that lurk in the shadows. The noises under your bed when you slept at night. Things a normal human should run from, and yet Cora wasn't one of them. She was different, always had been, and she knew it. Time and time again, her adopted parents told her she was special. Her friend told her she was special.
All because she had this eye for beauty, she saw something different when no on else could. In the most scariest moments, she saw the light from within. So for her, she never saw death as a scary or ugly thing.
It was the same even with this vacation she gone on with Antonio. The only reason she agreed was simply it was him. Tonio was her best friend, even with the way she felt for him. She pretty much realized back in high school she give him anything he asked. It was no different then when he asked her to join him. And so she did, and there she was in this SUV, with people she didn't know. Seeing a world and creatures that up until that point in her life she was told were stories, fantasies....
Myths.....not real....
And yet, she was staring wide eye at a dragon as it chased her friend. A Cerberus soaking the shirt of one of her tour guides. It was all surreal, and she was starting to wish she never had to leave this wonderful place. In that short time, she realized how much she respected and grew fond of Les and Mel.
They were her and Tonio, only in reverse. She being Les, Tonio being Mel. Only problem was, she wasn't as brave as Les was. She could never honestly tell Tonio how she felt, and yet watching them. She thought just maybe, if they could....just maybe....she could.
She was going to tell Tonio that morning, at breakfast. But it never happened. Her beautiful, wonderful, magical word had come crashing down before her eyes. None of it she understood, and all she knew was she had to find Tonio. She had to find him, make sure he was okay, be there for him.
It was who she was, she protected those she cared for the most.
In that small amount of time, that protection grew outwards towards Les and Mel. She felt the need to keep them both safe. In her mind, she kept saying that would find Mel for Les, they had to. But slowly, she knew it would never happen. They wouldn't find her, so she was determined to keep him alive. Only problem was, both men wanted to keep her just as much alive.
It was the first time in her life, she truly felt fear. She actually saw monsters instead of beautiful creatures. That she wanted them dead more then anything, because if not, they would have her dead.
Then he showed up, this monster...no not a monster. Fluffy....he showed up, with Les. He begged her to bring him back. The lifeless broken young man, Les. He was sweet, charming, and so easy to smile for because he was full of life. She hadn't realized until until holding him, knowing he never wake up how much she cared about it. Death had a way of making people realize things, and here she was mourning a man who she wanted nothing more then to open his eyes and just tell her he was okay. To let the Cerberus know he was okay, to ease his sadness.
It was in that moment, she realized slowly that she and him were no different. They both felt for Les, they both cared about him, they both wanted him to wake up.
She been done at that very moment, wanting death to just come swift and take all her pain. If Les was gone, then so was Tonio...something told her he was gone.
Her sweet Tonio, the man she grew to love. Fearing for her life, when she wanted nothing more then to show him out much she appreciated his life that moment he called out to him. And she did, she didn't care who saw them. It was there that she gave herself up to his warmth, his embrace, his love. If she were to have died, she was glad in would have been in his arms in that moment.
Wonder Park, a simple amusement park. But even that she learn wasn't the case as she cracked the files of Cecil's computer. Hunters, monsters, horseman. It was all very real, and these monsters, no these creatures were all apart of it. Her anger for a man she never knew grew quickly, as she saw him as the monster.
This only grew to be even more true when once again Fluffy was dropped into their laps, as a small child. One who was honestly scared, and unsure what to do as he stared at them all. She could see it in his eyes, the same fear that was echoing in her own. They feared one another, and yet at that very moment they were so close to being the same. That protection, it grew, for a young child, who she knew could snap her if he so desired.
She held him, as if he was her own. Cradling him and hiding him from the world around them, from the mayhem and anger. She just held him, as she tried to take all his fear away. Then she did the one thing she didn't even know she had it in her. She walked out, knowing full well she could have died just giving him back tot he ones that love him.
Dear sweet Fluffy...who finally caught her heart the way Tonio did. But her love for the young Cerberus had grown to be something far different then the love she had for anyone.
She knew Tonio saw her as a careless young woman, but she figured that was what he love about her. That she was willing to give her heart to so many, and not ask for anything in return. She was his adventure, while he was her calm. So when he yelled at her, she was more happy then anything that he just needed her to be with him. That he just needed her and nothing else.
Feeling the tug from the Kraken as it pulls her deeper under the waves, she didn't fight it anymore. She just closed her eyes as she accepted it. Her thoughts drifting back towards the last two people she seen.
Fluffy....why hadn't she just begged to bring him with them? She could have hidden the tail. It would have been simple, and he could have stayed with her. She could have protected him, nothing would have happen to him. He would no longer fear her or anyone else. They could be a family, and she would always be at his side. All she had to do was fight for him, refuse to leave him, refuse to let him go.
Tonio, she love him, more then life itself. She only wish they got to spend more time together, even get away. She was ready to take the next step and be his one and only. She just honestly wish they had a chance, she wish she was with him at this moment, even in her death. That she was cradling him in her arms, and she in his. That she felt his warmth surrounding her, instead of the cold murky water as it stole her life away.
As her eyes drift close, she couldn't help but smile.....
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Guest Name: Coraline Dolan Guest Profession: Photographer HP: 20/25 Physical Description: Standing five feet, seven inches, she a beauty in her own unique way. With boy cut dark brown hair, its highlighted with blood red through the whole hair. Her bangs are longer and hang in her face most of the time. Slate blue eyes, with freckles all over her cheeks and nose. Normally spotted in a simple spaghetti strap shirt and flare jeans. Brief Character Profile: Full of life, she always has a smile on her face. To her, even the worse moment can be the best picture if you look through the eye of a camera. She loves to talk to everyone, and always tries to include everyone in.
Only the good die young so us who are bad try to make a good impression, his father was always the comedian, how he hated the mans sense of humor. Though as he slid down the slimy throat of the Kraken, muscles tightening around his limbs and compacting them, it was that very saying that flickered to mind. Of course what followed was a question of his own impression on the world, and as he slipped lower and wheezed for just a few more breaths of the fleeting air, the answer played back to him in moments of brief flashes.
First impressions were really something that lasted, Cora's was at the forefront of his mind. They had met in high school and bonded over a love of swimming, ironic enough that he was now being drown. Cora was adorable as ever and never really grew out of that stage for him, at least until this trip. The girl just couldn't master her dives and since he was captain of the swim team it was his duty to take the youngling under his wing. So of course he showed off, perhaps that hadn't been the best impression...but she did laugh and had joined the team full time afterwords..
Several seasons passed though and looking back now it was so obvious how much he had relied on her, so needy, again not the best impression. Whenever he was sick, overworked or tired it was always Cora coming to his side, even when she had something more important to look after or do. Tonio knew that when it came to Cora he was a selfish man, though then he just didn't realize how selfish. She was his rock, his adventure, his everything and his nothing. Why hadn't he seen this so much sooner? A tug at his chest had his fingers curling helplessly against his side to try to sooth it, it wasn't just suffocation it was heartache for all the lost time. Since now admitting it was so much easier, he asked for forgiveness. I'm sorry, I could have loved you sooner, please forgive me. The heartfelt words echoed mentally then faded fast much like his conscious.
For a moment as his feet stung and legs tingled, no doubt the handy work of the acidic juices of the monsters bowel, he started to shiver. While he was being swallowed like a mouse his thoughts turned to becoming an Author. Not the most elegant of impressions there either, he was the new writer that stole all the fame with his supposed good-looks, idiotic assumptions and yet he stopped going to public signings because of them.. He had let down millions of fans that turned up, some who's single wish might have been just to meet him. Antonio choked on something foul tasting as he gaped for air again.
Though popularity wasn't something he could control it seemed to feel like he had always done something so underhanded..If he had just ignored the talk instead of being a coward, could he have changed something? The thought lingered for a moment as his eyes open to the darkness. Could he have impacted the life of another by simply showing up to greet his supporting fans?
Lower still the memories dug until stopping at his mothers death. I should of been there, it was all the man could think as hot tears streamed down his cheeks in the darkness. How could he..what a stubborn man he had been. That one, it was to painful, a push shoved it from his mind but the guilt was there as he pleaded for forgiveness in his mind.
Friends? There had to be an impression he had made that was good? Something, anything, he begged the darkness to put him at ease, but nothing came to mind. Not a single thing in his entire life could he recall, or at least a single second of shining good.
It was depressing that in his final seconds the only memories that seemed to be coming back were those that would haunt him, the bad, was that really all his life had been? Or was this the regret part of death? It must have been the later, all the what ifs right? Frowning as his last gulp of thin air was taken, Antonio refused to go out like that. Refused it by forcing his anxiety ridden mind to shut the hell up and letting his creative imagination relive that one moment in his life he could never regret.
Never.
Cora and The Kraken's Nest, the title of his last memory was a sure-fire best seller, it was really too bad he would never be able to turn that into a chapter of an autobiography.
But for those few short moments it took him to suffocate, nothing but his most precious memory mattered, if only he could do it over..
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 1:46 am
He was never going to finish his book. In the instant he died, Leonard Dickens regretted that. He'd been working on it on and off for about a year now, in between trips to whatever part of the country a new creature had been spotted in. In time, he'd planned to travel the whole world over in search of new things to take pictures of. He didn't have to worry about the money; his trust funds were more than adequate to take care of everything he needed or wanted. His little projects, his mother had called them.
He'd wanted to do something that would make her proud.
At fifteen, he'd taken a picture of something in the woods of their summer home that had looked very much like a ghost. Whether or not it had actually been a ghost, Len didn't know; but he'd taken a few hours to do a little research and dig up some local ghost stories at the library, slap together a quick story and a presentation, and taken it to the newspaper. He'd learned from this experience that small-town newspapers liked sensational local-interest stories, that they'd jump at the chance to fill part of a page with breathless speculation, the more lurid the better. He'd gotten published for the first time, and the attention had been better than any drug, better than getting drunk with his friends.
He'd stopped partying after that, little by little, begun chasing the thrill of seeing his name in print, his pictures in the papers. He'd gone from mediocre student to nerd, but losing the interest of one set of friends hadn't been that big a deal, not when the new set he was picking up more than made up for it in adulation. The journalism club adored him. He'd been published. And his parents, seeing that Lenny's new hobby was improving his grades, had encouraged his new obsession, were buying the club better equipment than they'd ever get on a school budget.
Len didn't notice that part of it. It was just something that happened. When he wanted something, he got it; the fact that other people didn't was invisible to him. It never occurred to him that maybe that was why he never lacked for friends. Of course people liked him. Why wouldn't they? He was cool. He did cool stuff and he had cool stuff.
Bullshitting the articles became, somewhat to his own surprise, actual interest. He started paying attention to biology, to animal behavior and habitats, to environmentalism, and his grades went up and his participation in clubs looked great on college applications. Not that there had ever been any doubt that he'd get into a good school. He was a Dickens. Of course he would.
He studied actual photographic techniques in college, coasted through his general-ed requirements, did best in creative writing and biology, though no amount of solid scientific fact could shake a growing conviction that there were animals out there that hadn't been discovered by science, that there were creatures out there that couldn't be explained by science. He'd seen a ghost, and then he'd seen more. He'd caught an unidentified flying object on camera, snapped a photo of a weird, tall, pale man in the woods, sold a picture of something that damn sure looked like a Bigfoot to a regional tabloid.
Unlike some of the cryptid people he met, he firmly believed it. There were scam artists and Photoshop wizards, bullshitters and fakers, and it made him angry. They were making genuine researchers like him look bad, tarnishing the reputation of the whole field of cryptozoology. He wrote an article that made it into a national publication - a somewhat sketchy one, sure, but it was national - and started a blog, earnest and filled with meticulous documentation. He was the real thing, and he was proud of his work.
He was going to prove to the skeptics that his work was legitimate. He was going to make the big discovery someday, bring indisputable proof to the table and make cryptozoology respectable. He was going to get published and famous, even if that fame was limited to the scientific community. That was all that really mattered.
That and making his parents proud. Someday he'd do that. With Ian's encouragement, he'd hit on the idea of writing a book. He'd be a published author, and he'd present them with his work once it was sitting on bookshelves across the nation.
He never doubted that that was what would happen.
The invitation to Wonder Park was a surprise, but an exciting one. He accepted enthusiastically. If this guy was for real, Len would have proof, would have backup for his work. Maybe he'd even be invited to study cryptids in captivity, do real, reputable research, if he gave them good publicity.
The reality had been a system shock.
He had no time to contemplate his own death as the shockwave washed over him, knocking him out and crushing something vital inside him. There was an instant before everything went black, in which he hoped that Ian was okay, that Hannah had made it, that the monster puppy was safe. Ian's cats needed to be fed, he thought stupidly.
He wasn't going to finish writing his book.
Guest Name: Leonard Dickens Guest Profession: Photographer Physical Description: Painfully skinny, tall, and gangly, Len wears cargo pants, t-shirts with sayings he thinks are witty printed on them, and vests with lots of pockets. He wears oval, wire-framed glasses with thick lenses, and has dyed his short, messy hair a violent blue. Brief Character Profile: Len (not Lenny) is an amateur photographer who is best known for his photographs of cryptids. He spends his time researching and tracking down local legendary creatures, proving or debunking their existence. Len is opinionated and loud, interested in everything, and willing to ask nosy questions.
Nothingness was a feeling he knew, and yet... it was foreign. There was a darkness that came with the pain and emptiness of dissipation, and then there was... this. A feeling of conciousness slipping away into some lost place. A place he couldn't fathom in the slightest. But even as he felt it fading away, as that odd, equally unnatural form he was in vanished beneath the blanket, he still had questions. Questions he wasn't sure if he could answer, if anyone could answer.
The world was an interesting place. Filled with laughter, pain, wonders, sadness, and perhaps love. Love was certainly there. Even amongst all the hate, the incompatibilities that separated them all time and time again. And int he end finally won out. They weren't meant to be near each other. A wise dragon had said that to him, more as a warning for himself than anything. But Fluffy hadn't always been the brightest. Not stupid, just young, too young and excited, no, enamored with life to really think about the consequences of not listening to that advice. Even when he'd experienced the pain that came with not heeding it. Repeatedly. A sad movie that was stuck on that setting, to forever play as long as he kept wishing for it.
Fluffy should have listened to Tavast more. Certainly. He complained that no one listened to his own words, but then... when did he take the wise things told to him to heart properly? Hypocrisy was never something to praise. And yet, the Cerberus had little concept of the fact he was doing such a thing. He'd only wanted things to go back to how they were, even it was impossible. Even if it meant doing tricks for a man who obsessed over your pain, being shooed back away from those you wished to enjoy the company of with fear. Even if it meant feeling hungry, starved all of the time. He missed it. He missed the smiles he got as he greeted handlers, even the look on the faces of the guests as he'd said hello to Mel that day. A mixture of wonder, awe, and... fear.
That fear was why they couldn't get along. He feared them. For what they'd done, what they could do... the chance of them turning his general good will to anything else. And they feared him. For his strength, wished for or not, for is ability to always return. He was stronger, harder to break than them. But only on the outside. Inside, it hurt. He hadn't realized it hurt so much when the fun began, when he'd been able to play with them all. High on the feeling of freedom, chaos, and generally being a child let loose at an amusement park with as many tickets to get on rides as he wanted. Sadly, novelty wore off as reality set in. He'd realize that freedom came with a cost. The cost of all those smiles that greeted him, all of those kind words.
Because where there was pain there was also love. Acceptance in a way. Mel might have disliked the affection she got, the kind that ruined her shirt, or how playful and close he got to those 'guest' humans. But she enjoyed being around them, she liked playing with them all. There were others. Layla had loved them. She'd come trying to help them, protect them. Maybe it would have worked out had Cecil not shown his face. Fluffy wanted to protect her too, she was so kind to them. She'd... gone down with a ship for it. For being afraid. Fear had driven them to run, to go so far away. To somewhere no one could protect or reach... to that lurking death below.
Fluffy had never been afraid of the water, he'd liked it. However, a kraken... that was something he could feel unease from. To want to stay far away from it for all eternity. He hated that thing for taking her, even as it took one of the cruel heartless ones with it. He didn't know the one who'd shot him, he didn't care. Humans who would hurt him could stay away, but those that looked past and tried to accept him for who he was and not what... he wanted to save them. To see them continue to smile. But that last wave she'd give, her hand raised high over her head... as the boat lurched to a stop. It was the nail in the coffin perhaps. Or should have been. He should have realized then... or perhaps shortly after. That they could never be together as one big happy group. He just... wanted to cling to that hope a bit longer.
But he'd found so much evidence. Evidence like finding Jessie, that woman who'd always played with him on the mountain on the ground. Life slowly fading from her eyes as she practically bubbled out a few last words in his face. He knew she was going, he'd understood that. By what? He couldn't say, but she didn't deserve it. Jessie wouldn't have turned on them, she'd always been disgusted and upset when violence was used to keep them in order. Because she knew they weren't bad. She'd seen them for what they were. Individuals who were just as scared in return, who just wanted to be understood.
Or that's what Fluffy wanted to think. That was why he'd stayed with her as breath left her lips, simply laying quiet aside from those sad little whimpers. He seemed to be witnessing so much death, even when he tried to ignore it it came back to haunt him. He would have saved her if he could, but there was no way... nothing occurred to him. Only that quiet silence as even her gurgling breath, so choked with her own blood, had stopped and she remained still. She hadn't damned him for being one of them. She'd never shown anything but love in those last few moments. Perhaps happiness even as she was wracked with an agony he knew, but also seemed to never known. Because it never lasted. It was never an end. Jessie had loved them as they should have loved her for it. And yet they'd done this. Because, even if not by his own massive paws, she was on the ground, cold, still, breathless. But beautiful in her last moments.
It was sad. Too sad. How could they have been so cruel? Fluffy couldn't understand, he couldn't fathom it. He didn't want them dead, even as much as they'd hurt him... could hurt him. He couldn't die, they could. Even if he was scared, even if the thought of being locked up, stabbed at, made to feel the pain of life draining from him for failing a simple trick again. Even if it meant all of that... it was better than this. Than knowing they'd never wake up.
He could understand their fear a bit. Why they ran scared. To them, this was an end. One that wouldn't go on for eternity.
Even as much as his heart had ached at those thoughts, that reality crashing down around him. The empty feeling of wanting to turn back time and being unable, he couldn't remain there forever. He'd bellowed a few sad howls to the sky above, whimpering, wanting to cry the way it felt she had. But nothing was bringing her back and his life hadn't ended. He had to move on. Because, as much as he was beginning to feel it would be less cruel, he couldn't even die of a broken heart. Because each life he seemed to witness the end of was another stone thrown at the only fragile thing about him. That little entity that made him him. Fluffy might have been a big strong monster, but he still had feelings. And they could be hurt like any other creature that lived and breathed.
And this was just hurting.
He wanted to save them, to stop the chaos. To explain it to his brethren. They didn't need to kill the humans. They weren't bad. They'd smiled with them too. He wanted to say it. But as soon as he'd left Jessie, as soon as he'd resigned that she would never say his name again. He'd found another, one who... while not as kind, had never outright meant him ill. Lesley hadn't looked so alive when he found him, wrapped in the coils of the snake. Fighting for a chance to keep going, to see the light of day. He'd looked scared, terrified to lose everything. Something Fluffy could only feel anger for. The snake didn't realize, it couldn't understand that? That killing someone who hadn't harmed them would do no good? Such a thing was cruel, useless, and so was his own attempts. He'd taken out his anger, livid with rage as he tore the snake apart to save him. To save that which couldn't return. The snake? It would live to see another day, though Lesley... no. He hadn't ever gotten up again.
Fluffy hadn't known it was his own attempts to aided in the end. Though it wouldn't have changed much even if he hadn't come to protect him. Lesley had told him he tried, he'd said his name in the again. Once more, a human only wishing him well as that once bright luminescence faded from them. That ever unique, delicious feeling seeming to seep away. Lesley had been scared, scared and... somewhat alone. He hadn't thought him dead, just hurt. Painfully so. He wasn't as beaten up as Jessie externally, and he'd always been with humans. There was a building nearby. He had to get the man to them, humans... they'd always helped each other. Sadly there had been no help for the tech.
As the woman sobbed, shaking her head in a no to him, that pit in his stomach only grew, knotting around what had been his heart. Had he even had one? Could monsters have a heart? It hurt enough, but he was beginning to question it with all he saw. None of them cared, they just wanted to destroy that which was foreign. Which locked them up at one point. They'd all forgotten the good times, the smiles. It wasn't all pain and agony. Just... an occurrence here and there. Unfortunate, but it passed. It passed to bring more happiness and fun.
Playing on the island with Kip, Tavast, Banshee, Caesar, and even Bubbles. That moronic cube. It wasn't so bad. They got to play, fight, scratch, bark, and then sleep. Then the handlers came and they might get pet if they were friendly, groomed, fed... honestly. Even if they were caged in, they had a lot of space. He couldn't argue that, all in all, it wasn't so bad. They hadn't wanted them dead. Just gentle. But he wanted the humans gentle too. It was reasonable. All of it was. He couldn't hold it against them anymore, much as they scared him. Much as they could hurt him. He didn't want to hurt them back.
He could always try to explain again. They couldn't.
And he couldn't save them. Tavast even told him, time and again. They shouldn't be together. He wanted it, he was willing to accept what came with it. He didn't mind. He just... he missed those hugs, that gentle pat and being told he was a good boy. He wanted that back. Because a cruel world was what truly took away the things you didn't know you loved before you even realized you treasured them. But as Cora sat there, burying what had been the lab tech before his eyes, as he merely curled up and whimpered by one of his own. It was another moment of reality showing you how it was. Even as logical as Tavast's advice had always been. Grumpy comments aside. He didn't like seeing it. Yet it was true. She'd taken Lesley away, not brought him with. Cora too, had wanted to separate human and creature. She'd known the laws of reality. He was just too stubborn to understand it. The human that arrived after, he'd understood as well. They both did. Going to their own corner for what he couldn't say.
The act itself still baffled him now, even after he'd seen it twice. Humans... they were odd foreign things that made so little sense. But he liked them, there was a kindness in them along with that cruelty. A kindness he couldn't replace with just his own species and race. It wasn't the same. The dragon was so forgiving of his stupidity, his little games, he was full of the same deep affection, below the annoyance and snide remarks, he too was like them. Reasonable, willing to listen. To explain. He was special to the canine, even if he wasn't a human. Even if he wasn't seen the same way. Protective as Tavast was, careful as he was, the Cerberus didn't seem him like he did the humans. He'd been raised by humans, he saw them as a figure to turn to when all else made no sense. Tavast was wise and logical, older than him, with a better grasp of the ways of the world. Certainly all of that was important. But he wasn't quite the same. Loved, but not in the same format. Even if it was unconditional, forgiving all the times he knew the dragon took it a bit too far perhaps. Even with it all he couldn't hold it against him. Because all he had wanted was for the two sides of this war to find their own places.
If they were apart none of this would have happened after all.
Sadly they weren't. Though now this seemed to give new meanings to those invisible walls. It had given the humans a place to run to, to keep away from them. Those walls had been what was needed. Once they were torn down to worlds never meant to touch had collided in a catastrophic way. But perhaps, perhaps if he tried he could save something. He'd had it explained once to him. What he was. Cerberus. A gatekeeper. Something that protects what it cares about. Even if he wasn't perfect, not an exact match. Maybe he could do that. Tavast had followed the humans this one last time, perhaps he could do the same.
He had little hope for Tonio and Cora, but he could try. Too bad that hope was meant to see reality yet again. For the upteenth time. Perhaps he just enjoyed the pain of feeling loss. Again. And again. And again. Those bullets at the falls hadn't hurt nearly as much as all of this.
As he realized the humans, even in all of this, still meant them good will. For they forgave him. Took him in as he found himself cold, scared, and feeling alone in a form he didn't know. They'd taken him in. Certainly afraid when they found out he wasn't truly one of them, but they wanted to protect him, do what they felt was best for him. Even if it meant pain. Len had tried to shield him, he realized that know in his daze as the world seemed to fade a bit. He realized that deep down, the man had wanted to save him. Humans protected one another the same way they had protected each other. As Tavast kept an eye on him and he was not keeping an eye on those humans. It was a big circle of wanting to save each other.
They weren't so different when you looked at it that way. It was a matter of physical strength that separated them.
Len... was never a bad man. He'd offered him treats, perhaps more out of fear of being the next snack instead, but he'd never swung at him. Merely tried to figure out what was going on. And Cora? Cora, after she found what he was, hadn't known what to do. She'd been willing to risk everything to help him though, to take him to the only thing she knew could protect him. Because she hadn't had the strength, but she knew one who might have. Thus she'd gone out, despite the angry roars and noise outside she'd taken him back to the dragon as carefully as she could. Not throwing him away, but ushering him back to what was safer. Because the creatures were destroying that place, demanding of the humans death. They were too far gone, he'd tried to explain even after being returned to his own world. He'd tried.
No one cared what a young Cerberus thought though. Well, Tavast tried to, but he didn't exactly agree. He just... resigned that it was inevitable. Let it happen. At least he hadn't made it worse, and at least the humans had escaped once more. Off to where he wasn't sure, he hadn't been able to walk. He wasn't a human. Being a mixture of a Cerberus and a human alarmed him, but not enough to leave him motionless anymore. He'd do his duty. He was a guard, he could save them. Just this one last time. He couldn't die. They could. If a bit a pain was enough of a sacrifice to save their eternal end, he could handle it. He'd wake up again tomorrow even if his arms were ripped free. It had happened time and again after all. They... he didn't want to think about it.
So as he wobbled along, determined to merely aide in their escape, to let the worlds be separate. They could deal with humans, he could deal with monsters. It was that much. It was as simple as that. He'd found them halted due to one of his own. He'd ended it's life, yet again... so many were eager to finish off the last of the humans on the island. He'd thwarted their attempts twice, thrice. He didn't care that his entire body, small and frail as it seemed now, was wracked with pain. Every part of him hurt. But not nearly as much as the deep sick feeling in his chest. Not again. Please not again.
Sadly, he had made the same mistake. Being too fond of humans was always a mistake for his kind it seemed. Not that he could hate them, so fondness was the only result. Each time he had returned more beaten and bruised from a fight that woman had coddled him, not unlike the humans seemed to huddle together when afraid and hurt. She'd wanted to protect him, even if she didn't understand. She couldn't. She was far to weak to save him. That's why he'd saved her, smiling a bit at the appreciation. She knew he meant well, that he loved them for their kindness. Such was enough for him. That was all he wanted, even if he understood even, at the moment when he was resting so peacefully in her arms, as if the world was perfect while they finished their trip to the helipad. He knew he was going to lose them. One way or another they'd leave him forever. They were running to get away, but at least it wasn't to escape him. Just those that wouldn't listen.
They at least knew he was good. He was a good Cerberus. He'd saved them. Or so he had hoped.
But life was cruel. Unforgiving of those who didn't listen to it's laws. And Fluffy had been a bad, terrible monster. One who never listened to commands, who never listened to reason, who DARED to defy it and try to love what he shouldn't. He was a beast. And he should have known humans were off limits to the likes of him. He really should have learned to listen to that dragons advice.
The water was cold, certainly freezing when he hit it to try and chase after the woman's already missing form. It stung like nothing he'd ever known as each of the deep cuts and wounds were opened by that disgusting salt water leaving no end of pain. His mind had felt as murky as it did now as he tried to clasp at the water and urge himself forward. To no avail. Arms, legs... they didn't work like paws. His clawed hands couldn't catch at anything solid as they traced through the water. The kraken had no interest in him, it had it's prey, it took them away from him. Everyone was taken from him. He should have known. The instant they left his side they died, stolen away for eternity. Because he... he could never follow.
The water's proved that as despite his kicking and cries that were lost in the salt water he'd been drug back to the beach. Not before the world punished him with a few dull smacks on the dock to prove it's point. He'd only be hit more if he continued to try and ignore reality. To try and save something he was meant to destroy. He should accept it already, but he couldn't. He didn't even have the energy to move as the water lapped at his sides where he lay, curling into a ball and waiting for some inevitable end.
One that could never come. He couldn't die. Tavast had explained they didn't die. That was why humans feared them. But if that was so, why had Cora been so worried for his own well being? He understood the look in her eyes now. That fear, toward the end, wasn't of him. She hadn't ushered him away, but drawn him closer. Trying to sooth away the hurt he felt. Even if he didn't fully understand the meaning behind it, or that last bit of affection that Tonio had been trying to ignore. In their last moments they'd known them to not be beasts? She'd even wanted to take him with, to carry him along forever. He'd been invited to their world. Even if he hadn't had the strength or will to follow, they'd accepted him. At the end of it all, that hadn't wanted to be apart.
So perhaps it wasn't all for naught. Even if they died, they understood how he felt. Even if their words never met each other, never managed to truly be comprehended. It had become something. Something that ended when reality crashed down. As it was doing now. That light that even passed over, brightening his bleary tear stained world from under the blanket as it hit the island. Pain rocketing through his already seemingly numb form as he felt existence slip away, drifting into something he didn't know.
Or perhaps now he did know it, all too well. There was such a thing as death. Even for their kind. It just... took a special kind of pain to bring it about. And so, even as a quiet, sad whimper escaped him while he felt himself fading into nothingness he cried to himself. Not for his own demise, no, that was fine. He'd lost everything it seemed at this point. No, he was a bit happy. Maybe this was better. That creature said humans went to a better place when they passed, so did monsters go there too?
Could he be with the things he'd wanted to love again? To have them love him back? He had to wonder... but he'd never truly know. He fell asleep before he could. Because... death didn't answer questions. It merely took. That was something Fluffy had come to know well too.
It didn't matter. At least that pain in his chest was gone now. Because there was nothing left to feel the pain.
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Name: Fluffy Species: Cerberus Short Description: Currently stuck in humanoid form. Looks to be about 8-10 years old, male and somewhat tanned. Covered in scars from playfights. Has shoulder length messy black hair and eyes as well as his ears and tail. Wearing just a blanket since wat r clothes? About chest height for a tall male human, all black with black eyes, and a bit wild looking. Only one head and is just a 'pup' of a cerberus.
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 3:40 pm
This dissipation was different. It hadn't felt like the others. It was far more painful - more gut wrenching and awful than any other "death" he'd experienced so far. He wondered, for a moment if perhaps he had been wrong. Maybe they could break like the humans did.
He had many regrets. He regretted that Cecil had lived - that he hadn't been able to behead him as he had Rin. He regretted not getting to chase Tonio again - though it had been fleeting entertainment at best.
His greatest regret however, was not being with Fluffy at at this moment. So clouded by his need for revenge, he had let the pup go with the humans. He hoped they were all okay, that they had escaped. He hoped they had shown fluffy that not all humans were evil - that they could have overridden the hate he had slowly been feeding to the small pup.
He regretted that if Fluffy was suffering the same fate that he was all alone - that he wouldn't know what was going on. Feelings of failure and self loathing washed along his final moments.
HOW COULD HE HAVE LEFT FLUFFY ALL ALONE! Humans or no... HOW COULD HE LEAVE THAT POOR PUP DEFENSELESS! Was Cecil's death really worth it?
No.
No, it had not been.
His last thoughts, before he faded to never return, were on the small Cerberus pup, all alone, with no one to protect him.
Tavast - for the first time since he'd been birthed into this world - wept.
Well, that's no ordinary rabbit. That's the most foul, cruel, and bad-tempered rodent you ever set eyes on. Look, that rabbit's got a vicious streak a mile wide, it's a killer! He's got huge, sharp-- he can leap about-- look at the bones! And we'd better not risk another frontal assault, that rabbit's dynamite. That’s what everyone would say when they saw Monty. That’s why he got locked up in a cage away from all the others that lived in Wonder Park. But Monty was just misunderstood, he didn't want to hurt anyone he just wanted them away from his territory.
None shall pass.. That was Monty's motto for his territory. I move for no man, he always thought to himself. When he would have to battle to defend his area he would always screech out that he was invincible. When he would get hurt by lose of tail he would screech out that it was just a flesh wound, or tis but a scratch. When someone got to close to him and decided to run before Monty was able to go after them he always liked to taunt them with Oh, oh, I see, running away then. You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off! But no one ever wanted to come back and give Monty a chance to rightfully defend the spot. Monty was sleeping as peacefully as one could after being hurt in battle when the blue strange lights came to cover the island. He was attacking the things when he felt the sharp pain like he's never felt before. Then nothing, he didn't hurt anymore, his tail and everything else was replaced but he was gone.. never to come back. The strange blue lights never even came him a chance they didn't follow the rule of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch....
"And Saint Atila raised the hand grenade up on high, saying, 'Oh, Lord, bless this thy hand grenade that with it thou mayest blow thy enemies to tiny bits, in thy mercy.' And the Lord did grin, and people did feast upon the lambs, and sloths, and carp, and anchovies, and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats, and large --"
"And the Lord spake, saying, 'First shalt thou take out the Holy Pin. Then, shalt thou count to three, no more, no less. Three shalt be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shalt be three. Four shalt thou not count, nor either count thou two, excepting that thou then proceed to three. Five is right out. Once the number three, being the third number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch towards thou foe, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it.'" They never even started to count........
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Name: Monty Py. Thon Species:Evil Bunny Park Location: Containment Facility Physical Description: Small and white about the size of a teacup chihuahua with sharp fang like teeth. Brief Character Profile: Monty is a nice bunny till you get to close to him. then he tries to take off you finger, hand or whatever he can get a hold of. He was never able to be around the other creatures because of this so he has a little pent up rage for being kept inside a cage away from the fresh
There was probably a huge sense of irony hidden somewhere in the fact that Barry would meet his end at the hands of a giant ******** spider. Or more likely it was karma for the dozens of spiders he'd squished with his boot when someone screamed at the mere sight of them, and it was his duty to take the bloody thing out. Whatever the reasoning behind it, the handler had found himself unable to escape with the others. Someone had kindly removed much of the sticky substance from him, but as soon as that stuff had been removed and the person had moved on, he'd been blasted again. With a lot more of the substance. He found himself recalling some fact about spiders and their webbing being stronger then steel. Well, he could vouch for it now because he was being cocooned in the stuff and for the life of him he couldn't break it. And dam did it hurt like a b***h. It really, really hurt and he was pretty sure his skin was melting underneath it. Probably digesting him already to make the spiders job easier.
There were plenty of things going through his mind at this moment. Was his life flashing before his eyes? somewhat. He recalled moments in his time as a ranger, flying high over the outback as he patrolled the area, making sure the animals were alright, or flying towards a destination to set up traps for the feral ones. And there was that one time too when he stood before the crowd of eager tourists, a wedged tailed eagle on his arm, as he spouted some random facts about the species. Though he found himself recalling more about the recent life he was living on the island. That strange, surreal time spent among myth and fantasy, feeding dragons and trying to tame Pegasus. The time he spent among his colleagues, and the times he spent with September. Ah, those were some good times. Nothing better then having a drink with your mates, he always thought.
Barry struggled some more under the cocoon of webbing, not wanting this to be his final moment of living. Because really, he didn't want to be eaten. He wanted to hold on to his life, get the hell of this island (after finding Zuckerman and giving that guy a punch in the face, he always wanted to do that), and make that bar with September and do all the stuff that he wanted to do. To just experience life as it was, as he had been doing.
He stiffened as he heard rummaging behind him. He moved his head as much as possible to try and spot September and Tobias, before a savage pain tore through his side. He screamed as the spiders fangs tore through him, before he felt nothing. The venom that was being pumped into him was fast, and after a few seconds his vision blurred, his thoughts becoming foggy. Anger and regret swirled inside him, as well as a tiny bit of hope that maybe the other two escaped. Though as he finally lost conscious, he sighed, thinking one last thing;
Damn I could go for some Vegemite toast right now...
Quote:
Name:Barry Mug Warren Job Description: Handler Short Description: Tall guy with a Akubra hat. Wears a brown shirt and long brown pants. Has a mullet
Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 9:09 pm
In hindsight, Hawkeye felt that maybe he should have patched up his wounds when the new monsters came out on the scene. It hadn't come to mind at the time since there was no immediate danger, however. That was, until he saw that shining blue light grow until the point that he was completely enveloped in it.
Further back, he probably shouldn't have accepted the invitation to this magical island full of wonder. As he thought about it, this all drew a number of parallels with Jurassic Park. Except, instead of dinosaurs, they had dragons. And many other dangerous sort of creatures. At the start, it was fine. He was skeptical, and was very vocal about it until he saw the real proof before him.
Maybe things wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't completely turned to s**t. Despite all of that, he had made the best of what he could up until this point. He managed to evade most dangers. Some might have called him a coward for fleeing while others were in need, but to him, it was a matter of survival. He didn't know these people. He owed them nothing. Their sacrifice of being his personal live 'bait' helped him prolong his time a little on earth.
It was unfortunate that survival instinct faltered a bit at one of the more crucial moments.
Even the small band he had joined with that SUV train, he probably would have ditched if things went to hell. Though, he had to admit that Granny was pretty bad a**. Driving a ******** SUV into a dragon and living to tell the tale. Hell, maybe she's still alive now. Who knew? He couldn't tell the fate of the helicopter. Either it had turned into a flaming ball of death like he was anticipating, or they actually made it to safety. Or maybe something else happened altogether. That wasn't his concern any longer.
Chris did always look out for himself over everyone else. Say that he's full of himself, that he's selfish, or whatever. But he had made it as far as he did because the way he was. Becoming a visual effects artist wasn't easy, and he had no qualms about using some others as stepping stones along the way. Survival of the fittest was how he saw it. Or.. .something like that.
And in the end, he was not among the 'fittest'. That was fine, he supposed. But... there was one final thought he had. Or rather, his final words before he'd depart into the unknown.
To the one who caused this catastrophic failure on the island? The saboteur the staff members had mentioned being the catalyst to all of ******** you..."
Interesting wasn't really the word Penelope was looking for, but it was the closest thing to describe the situation they had just escaped from.
No. Wait.
A beautiful nightmare.
It was the only thing Penelope could really think of to describe what had gone down. She didn't join in on the conversation of everyone around her, keeping an ear out should she have been addressed.
A coat was dropped around her shoulders, surprising Penelope as she glanced up with a startled look. "Thank you," She muttered softly, gaze sliding back to watch as the island started to emit a blue glow, and then it was explained that everything was being taken care of, human or monster, on the island.
She found herself gripping the bar of the ship as she stared at the massacre of what was left.
She hadn't noticed when the conversation had changed, and sooner rather than later she felt a lull in her body, leaning heavily against the rail as her eyes fluttered shut. After the whole event, it was no wonder that she was exhausted.
The last thing she saw was her gun slipping out of her hands and into the water.
---
"I'll see you folks on the other side," Was what she had really wanted to say, but never had the chance. The last thing she remembered was dropping her gun into the water, breaking the surface.
There were bubbles that came to the surface of the water.
And then silence.
'Dying' in her sleep hadn't been on Penelope's top list of ways to die.
Gunshot wound, definitely. Hit by a car? Maybe. But in her sleep? It hadn't even listed in the top ten.
The detective had found peace in her last few moments of being awake, the last image on her eyes the tranquil water of the sea.
She recalled the first moment she had remembered wanting to be a detective. She remembered saving people. She remembered those she couldn't save.
She remembered the nightmares.
The nightmares were the worst, and Penelope found that even in 'death', she couldn't escape them. Running, chasing, hunting things down... all in the line of detective work that Penelope just seemed to have a knack for.
She'd been good at her job. She just wished she had been better. Better enough to save everyone, not just some.
That wasn't how life worked, though. Fate was a cruel mistress, and she had to resign to it.
Penelope had a best friend she'd left behind. She wanted to take him with her, but at the last moment he'd backed out, due to an issue with work coming up and leaving her to come to the place alone.
Was she mad about it? No. But she was quite relieved. Even though Ren had a lucky break now and again, she doubted that he would have made it out like she had, and shook her head at the mere idea of it. She knew she never would have forgiven herself if something had happened to her beloved best friend, and secret crush.
She'd never be able to see him now, but... she was okay with that. To her, his life was worth more than hers. She'd saved countless lives, but Penelope had no idea how much of an effect she had on making a dent in the lives and deaths of everyday life.
"So this is where we're at. A crossroads, of sorts." Penelope wasn't quite sure if it was death, but she knew that there was a decision to be made. The redhead didn't know of she should make it at this juncture.
What did fate want from her? Hell, what did anyone want from her? She saved lives, and did it so much that it just became second nature to her. The detective stared at the ground for a long moment, her fingers reaching out and grasping the gravel in a futile gesture. She had lost her gun, and there were those who died who she couldn't save. Penelope hadn't known them, but she still took the loss hard, knowing full well that those people had lives and families and would never see them again.
Penelope felt naked without her gun, and naked without people to protect.
Without any of those things, what did that make her? Who was she?
"I care about people's lives. Even sacrificing myself... it's a part of who I am. I can't change that. And I won't ever change that." Taking a shaky breath, the redhead stood, reaching up to tip her hat down with a firm gesture.
She knew who she was. Despite not having anything left, the girl still knew who she was.
"My name is Penelope Jones. I am a detective, and I will make a difference. No matter what."
Quote:
Name: Penelope Jones Profession: Writer/Detective Description: A short spunky thing with red hair, and a 'babyish' look about her. Looks young. Always wears a red checkered hat and refuses to take it off, due to it being a gift.
Action: -- Target: -- Roll Results: --
My HP: 12/35 My Items: 1 Kevlar Vest (+10HP) 1 Handgun (+3 to DMG) 1 PARABLE POOL SPECIAL ACCESS CARD
Guest Name: Leonard Dickens
