Welcome to Gaia! ::

Acel had been keeping an eye on Sarah the entire duration of their battle. Not because he felt he had to watch over and protect her, but because he wanted to see how she fought--how she handled herself in combat, and if she was reliable. Not to be mean, or anything, but it payed to have people you knew could handle themselves in a battle when you were up against some fierce enemies. These enemies, of course, were not much to scoff at, though they were able to hold their own, to a degree, against Sarah, it was only because of the fact that Sarah lacked the power behind her attacks. She was nervous and delicate, and that was okay, to a certain degree, but when it came down to it, the enemies she was facing were well rounded offensively and defensively. It kept them from falling behind in any of their fields, but also kept them from excelling in any fields. Right now, Sarah had trained her body vigorously in form--she was elegant and beautiful to watch move around the battlefield. She had even managed to really do herself a favor or two by weaving a defensive style into her elegant softness. This was likely due to her A.I.'s influence, having a Royal Guard within her.

But, when she attacked, these elegant soft movements were often difficult to see coming, but easy to shrug off. If they were a little stronger--a little more harsh as they came down on their foes in that artistic way she moved, then her combat style would not only be impenetrable, but also a devastating force. Acel smiled as he walked toward them, moving with a purpose toward the last A.I. that stood against them. This mission would not be hard-pressed. It would be relaxing. It would be simple. They would be safe. He had wanted to escape the buzz of the city--to focus on something so that the horrors of his life could slip into the background...this had helped with it very much. When this all ended, however, he feared the amount of it that would come flooding back to him. He did not want to have to face it anymore...his own past...his own reflection. He felt as thought nobody who found out his secret would ever forgive him...how would Sarah feel when she found out what he had done...she would hate him. Or fear him...or just want to keep him away from her family and friends. He would be isolated or killed...experimented on. He wasn't even sure that he was human...and the very thought of that gnawed at the back of his mind. It chewed at him, and caused him to fear for his own humanity. Each step he took toward them however, calmed his beating heart. He had something to focus on.

As Sarah went about her flurry of attacks toward the enemy, he watched the woman go to work, and again, he couldn't help but imagine just how incredible it would be to see her with a little extra force behind her blows. He resolved in that moment to train her body--to work her out vigorously until she could deliver a more devastating strike. As she finished her several strikes toward the enemy he slid in directly behind her, moving past her as she finished the last strike and shooting past the enemy, bringing a blade smashing toward the Daggerspine's side, halfway through the movement he spun bringing his other arm around and down in a hammer-like strike toward the back of the thing's spine. If these strikes did not do the trick, a quick cross slash would follow, both blades coming down in opposite angles toward the back of the thing's head, as Acel slipped around him, using Sarah's attacks to position himself at an advantageous position. He could only hope that the combination worked out as well as he thought it would.

Line Count: 794

OOC:

Sarah Hartwell

Sarah couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. Why she didn't know? Wasn't like she could just stop the fight and look around to see who it was. But she could only guess it was Acel, he took out all of his opponents quickly, not like he had much else to do currently. She wondered what he would see if he truly was watching her. A struggling girl or an actual fighter? She wasn't sure. He spoke positively toward her, but one could say one thing but think something else. She learned that quickly. Jenny had her heart and thoughts on her sleeves and wasn't afraid to say what she was thinking. She wondered what she thought of Acel, especially when she heard about his family and how it was destroying him inside and out. He was letting his feelings interfere with interactions with others around him. She couldn't say what Jenny would say, she could be unpredictable with her words. One minute she would say how they needed therapy to suddenly saying they need a good lay, her actual words.

The Daggerspine dodged her attacks with ease again, even smacking each one away. She felt herself get frustrated when suddenly Acel appeared from behind her and tore into the AI. She watched him herself, though it was a little difficult, he moved quickly. But she could honestly say he was strong, his swings were true and hit their marks as if being led on strings right to them. And the power behind them were obvious as well as she watched as sparks flew from metal hitting metal, chips of metal coming off of the Daggerspine. She watched as Acel hit the AI and just as quickly killed it as he killed the other two. It almost seemed unfair to them for be torn to quickly, but she didn't say anything. She watched the thing slowly being turned to code, hearing it's last words. She felt her heart drop a bit, looking away from the thing as it was complete code now. It wanted to die and she took forever doing it. If that wasn't a bit of a blow, she wasn't sure what was.

She didn't look at Acel as the codes were absorb into them, slowly glancing at the cave. The cane was surely inside it. She glanced at Acel when he spoke to her telling her she did a good job and her form was good as well, then asked if she was alright. How should she answer that? She didn't want to lie to him, but at the same time, she didn't want to open up to him. She didn't trust him completely. “I-I w-w-will be.” She said simply. It seemed it wasn't the right answer to say, Acel immediately asked what was wrong. She didn't want to talk about it, she knew that, quickly turning away. “We.... we sh-sh-should look for the c-c-cane.” She pulled out her phone, tapping on it a few times before a light on the back of it suddenly appeared. It seemed the simple distraction wasn't enough, because Acel continued to talk, telling her that she could talk him to. Even trust him. She felt the tears start to sting in her eyes, quickly trying to fight them off. No she wasn't going to cry. She couldn't, even if Acel wasn't him, she couldn't trust him so easily. “N...no I can't.... the last person I.... I trusted.... out-outside my family..... Don't-don't ta-take offense... I just... just can't.... pl-please stop.....” She quickly wiped the tears away. She hoped Acel would stop, she wasn't sure if she could last any longer.

She quickly moved to the cave, hoping it was the end of the conversation. Unfortunately, Acel still had more to say. Not well at first, he seemed a lost for words, but he soon found them. She felt bad, he was confused about her actions from before and now. She came to him to comfort him when he was at his possible lowest, and here she was, blocking him out when she was upset. She supposed he deserved an explanation. “I treated.... you like that... because I knew how it felt.... I was close to wanting to end my life as well.” She thought back quickly, tears silently rolling down her cheeks as the thoughts of just giving it all up came. Vincent's harsh ways of making her give up, the training wasn't easy either. She was a musician, from a family of musicians. None of them had the gift of combat. None of them. Sure a few of them could fire a gun, but that was for protection from buglers, not for fighting AIs. She remembered sitting at night, her body sore from training and Vincent's 'convincing' methods that she would light there and wonder if she would die just from the pain alone. Acel was surprised at this news, who wouldn't be. But hearing him say that everyone she met adored her and shouted her name and ran over to see her was the so great, why would she leave that, she actually felt anger. That was false love, they loved what she did. Not her. They didn't. She shot a glare at him, feeling offended as well as hurt, tears still shiny in her gray eyes. “Because the love of millions... doesn't mean anything... if you can't find the love in the one you're suppose to be with forever.” She said it, she didn't want to, but surely that would explain it.

But Acel's next words were a the last crack to her dam of tears she was trying to keep in place. He told her, exactly, what Jenny told her, but in sweeter, much nicer way. Jenny had been harsh and lashed out at him and her. Then again, Acel didn't know Vincent like Jenny had thought she knew him. "Why would you want to be with someone forever, if you can't find love in them? Not to make light of anything...but why bother if you can't see love there? It isn't worth wasting forever on trying to make them love you...especially when there are people out there in the world who would love you willingly. If he did not...then you weren't meant to be with him forever." He paused for a moment after saying this. "I can tell you one thing...he clearly didn't deserve you if he made you feel like this." She covered her face, sobbing. "I know that! But... It doesn't change what happened... it doesn't change the fact that I did care and he didn't.... that he didn't like my plans at all that he would go as far as......” She choked on her words again. It hurt all over again. She didn't want to bare it, not again. He didn't need that weight put on him, the truth as to why she was scared of everyone. Acel went quite silent for some time, as they searched through the cave, but when he spoke, it was as if the life had drained from him. "I killed my wife and child." He stated simply. "They didn't die in some sort of attack on Bergerac...I was the attack on Bergerac. You know the person you saw...the THING you saw...underground in Chicago. It's an A.I....but it's...more complicated. It's me. It's a part of me, but not. And, it thrives on despair. So, to gain power...it took control of me, and it slaughtered everyone I ever knew. The woman I was married to. My four year old girl. Sarah...you were saved by leaving behind someone not worth your love. I hope that you can realise that at least..." He wiped his face of the tears that had sprung loose. "At least you still have a chance..." “You couldn't have been able to control it right? No code core? No training to keep it in? You.... you can't just take all blame... when it wasn't all yours.....” She listened to Acel as he told her what all he remembered, why he was so cruel to the children. "I remember everything... I remember the things they said... Or I said... I remember the looks on their faces... I have still kept in control now... So, how can I be sure I didn't have control then? There is no way for me to know...I don't have anything, Sarah. I even mistreated those kids... Because I couldn't look past their age... Because I was afraid of seeing them hurt, like my daughter...I am compromised. My heart was taken from me, that day..." He stated, tapping on the metal chest plate. "I have no more chances. You, though... You were given a chance to find someone better... Someone worth the love that you gave and did not receive. Don't waste it on mourning after the person who did this to you... Just my advice." It made sense, so much sense now. She looked at his chest, seeing the metal protruding from the shirt. He quickly asked that she didn't tell anyone about what they were talking about. She looked at him, for a long while before speaking, looking at the ground and thinking about what he had said about having no chances left. “I still think you do.”

She glanced at him when he laughed, watching him shake his head. She realized just how damaged he was, almost as bad as she was. "I appreciate it... But I'm all used up. I might as well be dead... I already am where it counts..." He didn't believe he had a chance, just like her. Her reasons different than his, but so similar at the same time. It was almost sad to think. She shook her head. “No you're not... You still care.... Caring is actually connect to a lot of emotions. So you're not all used up.... You just wish you are.” She glanced at him when she saw he was silent, looking around the cave. She started looking around as well, figuring maybe they were done talking. She glanced around the floor with her phone, bright as it was, it still limited her still. She wasn't surprised when she looked over and saw that Acel had found the cane inside a hole in the wall. “You're right... But it's better that way. I won't ever feel loss like that... I refuse to ever feel it again.” Sarah stood quiet, staring at the cane and thought about his words. It almost seemed like he was echoing her own thoughts. She didn't want to feel what she felt either. That it was better to not let it happen again, by any means. She stood deep breath. “He hit me.”

Before she knew it, Acel was close to her, looking her over. “Where? I could have sworn I saw you avoid every strike!” He said, still looking her over. Sarah was too surprised to say anything at first before realizing that he thought she meant the AI, not her ex. “No no.... no.... I mean.... my fiance.... my ex-fiance.” She corrected quickly. That seemed to almost slap him, causing him to suddenly stop his search on her. She looked at him to see his fists were balled up. He was angry. “Excuse me?” He asked through clenched teeth.

Sarah took a deep breath, wrapping her arms around herself, feeling she needed to brace herself. “At first, it was all rumors. He was seeing other women, having dinner with them, some even say they saw them leave his home or office. Our engagement was arranged when we were fourteen, my parents were trying to make sure I would be alright, with me being deaf and all. I ignored them, thinking they were jealous. that was normal in my world. I didn't notice the signs, him not learning sign language for me so he could talk to me without writing it down, not always attending our family functions. I didn't want to see it. I wanted to believe we were a happy couple. Then... I decided to become a Baiter after seeing a news report about a girl my age being killed, that was almost at the same spot I was that very day. It could have been me, and because I was deaf, I didn't hear her. So I told my family and finally got my hearing. Vincent was happy until he realized I didn't understand what he was saying immediately. He avoided me then, at least until I could start making sentences. But I had a bad stutter. It aggrivated him. and that's when the verbal abuse started. I was stupid, I sounded like a complete child, I couldn't get anything right. Then when I started training and wouldn't stop, he start hitting me. Telling me I needed to be a good wife, stand there and look pretty....” As if she was some kind of trophy.

Sarah quickly flinched when a loud bang suddenly sounded, seeing that Acel had actually punched the wall. She felt her nerves begin to spike, he was really angry. "That is not a man. That is a swine. A bacteria. Lower than that...and you, Sarah, as much as you may have cared for him, you are foolish for doing so. I don't say this to be mean, but because I sincerely hope you discover your own self worth. You are beautiful, talented, kind, strong, you are what most men would die to have. He was the piece of trash that threw that away for his own selfish reasons. For his other flings and... And to lay hands on you is to tell you physically that he has no respect for you and that you are nothing to him. To betray the love you gave..." He growled. She never heard anyone speak of Vincent like that, b*****d was usually the word used to describe him. She didn't stay on that thought, mostly because Acel had much more to say. He did punch the wall again, making her flinch and back away. She didn't that anger pointed to her. She didn't want it to. "If you waste another second of your life in sorrow over such a man, then you do not deserve to be happy, Sarah. Because you choose to be sad over someone absolutely and completely without value. You can't pine over a man who did nothing for you. Showed you nothing but hate and mockery. You have done so many incredible things, Sarah, and you should see them as incredible. Just like everyone else does. His opinion means less than a fleas. You are stronger and smarter... Better than him and his disgusting ways." His hatred for the man clearly emanating off of him.These things were not something she wasn't use to hearing. She didn't say anything to him when he was done, she could only look away. She wasn't sure what Acel did to calm down, but he eventually calmed down enough to actually apologize to her. "I... I am sorry... I know that's probably the last thing you want to see given what we're talking about... But there is one thing I absolutely can not abide by...and that is a man who would dare lay hands on a woman he is sworn to love and protect... Not that I can say much..."

“You didn't.... break your vows.... and it's not like we actually married. It was just a promise with a fancy ring.... no value.” She was thankful they didn't go the next step, they had planned to marry when they were both twenty-five, but it all ended at twenty-one. She glanced at Acel when he asked why she was still hurt if she realized that the relationship was nothing. She took a deep breath, tears coming to her face again. “Because I was dumb enough to have it last for seven years, and I fear that I'll make that same mistake again because I'm still so desperate.” She looked at him. “Just like you... it's better to feel that way... so I won't feel that loss.”

۩…………………………………………………………………۩

Outfit: Day clothes
Headphones: Attached: Can hear
Line Count: 968
OOC: Song:
Translation:

Sarah Hartwell

Sarah would admit she was surprised at Acel's action to come close and hug her. It was the last thing she ever thought he would do. She felt her entire body stiffen in fear. She knew it was because it was because she didn't have must trust anymore. She wouldn't want to admit to anyone if they asked, but she knew it was a trust issue. Something she would have the rest of her life and she wouldn't be able to fight off. She watched closely as Acel's arms wrapped around her, feeling warmth and pressure that wasn't from her family or close friends. Sure she had gotten hugs from others, but they were very brief. Yet here she was, letting a man she hardly knew hug her after she had just cried her eyes out about another man. Was that okay? She felt her face slowly grow warm as she felt his fingers go through her hair, even feeling them bump the headband of her headphones. She didn't care much, it was hard to work around them, even her own family had a hard time adjusting to trying to show affection toward her while still petting her head. Only her family ever did try to comfort her through this method. It was a great surprise to her to see that even Acel would try. Most would try to avoid touching her head in fear of messing up her headphones, though it would be hard to do unless they were going to hit them hard.

Sarah felt tears begin to p***k her eyes as both the comforting motion and his words worked at her. She kept her face covered against his chest, not wanting to show her face anymore, as she stuttered out her muffled words. She didn't return the hug. She didn't have a reason, she just couldn't find the strength to actually hug back as he held her and rubbed her back. This man seemed to know what to do. Of course, he loved his wife and child, he had a lot of practice, that's all it was. He just knew what to do because he cared. Once again his words surprised her as he said he would be the friend that soaked her tears and made sure she wasn't alone, making her look his smile with wide eyes when he pulled her back. She almost asked him why? Why would he want to that for her? That seemed more of a burden than anything. He hardly knew her, even stating that to him, yet he was quick to counter her statement, striking her speechless. She could only shake her head when she couldn't think of what to say. He seemed happy with his slight win in wits, saying he wanted someone as nice as her as a friend. She could look away at embarrassment, not sure how to react. She was finding it hard to respond right. Maybe it was just because she had gotten emotional with him.

She was glad to the change of subject, going back to the cane, though a part of her felt bad. She had almost completely forgot about the cane, knowing that was the whole reason they even came out here. The man was having trouble currently and there she was crying about her past troubles. Though now that the memories were stirred up, it was hard to fight off the feeling. She tried to quickly assure Acel it was fine, they didn't need to take any longer. He of course didn't seem to believe her, but didn't argue she was relieved to see. She tried to be much careful on their journey back, though it did slow her down more. She felt the silence weight between them but didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say to help it seem a little better between them. She wondered what Jenny would do in situations like this. She couldn't really say, she never knew Jenny to be in a situation where she didn't know how to talk to a guy.

She looked at Acel in surprise when it was him that spoke up, actually asking a question, one she didn't expect him to ask. Her mind went to the first memory of when she first heard the violin, it had been accidental. Her family kept from playing any kind of music in fear of influencing her. They took a trip a diner, she didn't have her headphones at the time, still uncomfortable with the stares she would get with them. She put them on so she could hear her family speak to each other and she heard the music playing, a violin solo at been playing and it was so beautiful that she wanted to know how anything could make such a sound. She smiled at the memory shyly, feeling silly about how happy it actually made her feel. She muttered her answer shyly to Acel. She began to think back to the first time she could hear, how terrifying it was, actually blabbing it out to him, causing her to blush in embarrassment. She was sure he would laugh at her, some did when she spoke about it. But once again, surprise, he didn't, even agreeing that it would be a terrifying thing to experience, even calling those idiots. She never had the nerve to call them that.

Sarah heard the sounds before seeing the source, the banging and the drawn out grinding sound. Sarah looked in amazement to see that the other villagers were helping him clear what was left of his home, covered in black from the soot. Sarah followed Acel into the clearing, feeling a little odd when everyone seemed to stop and look at them. Sarah wondered what they saw, but her thoughts ran off when the man came running at them, clutching the cane close him as he wept. A few of the villagers put their hands on the man in comfort while smiling at them. Sarah couldn't help but feel shy as the man thanked them, slowly moving behind Acel with a small smile. She wasn't use to people thanking her for anything else but her music. It was different when they thanked her for something she had never done before. She looked up at Acel when he found her behind him, feeling bad a bit when he asked if she was alright. She could only nod a bit, though that didn't seem to convince him as he whispered “Okay... erm... are they bothering you somehow?”

Sarah shook her head slowly. “I'm just... not use to this kind of.... appreciation.” She admitted slowly. Her face became redder when he laughed a bit. She gave him credit trying to hide it, but she could tell. She watched him handle the villagers smoothly with his small speech, giving the villagers a bow as well when he did before giving them a small wave of goodbye as they turned away to leave. Sarah felt guilt build up on her when she realized she made him talk to them in her place. She glanced at him, wondering if he was annoyed at all. She took a deep breath before speaking. “I'm sorry for not speaking.....”

“I'm sorry for not being better at it. Kind of sounded cheesey......” Sarah quickly shook her head. “No no, you did fine. Better than me.” She hadn't even tried to speak up to them at all. As soon as they came forward and showed their thanks, she shied away. She wondered what the villagers thought of her. Her thoughts scattered when Acel spoke up. “But only because you're shy. I know you're worried about what people think about you, but believe me, there are very few people who could dislike a woman as kind and lovely as you are. You will come around to people, I am willing to bet my life on it.” He said, giving her a wink.

Sarah looked away, feeling her cheeks warm again as she wasn't sure to say to come back to counter what he said that wouldn't have him on those speeches he seemed to do when she tried to down talk herself. “Gambling doesn't end well.” She mumbled. It was the only thing she could think of. She needed to talk to Jenny to see what kind of advice she would have to handle someone like Acel. Besides try to sleep with him, that would be her first advice. “Tell that to the winners. Sure it doesn't always end well, but it has potential to.” He said with a smile. She thought about the winners that won something worth while, and shrugged her shoulders. “I suppose.”

“You're saying you don't ever take chances?”

Sarah looked up in thought as she tried to think of anything that actually cost her life. Nothing came to mind. She shook her head a bit. “I suppose, but nothing that would cost me anything. Wearing one outfit instead of another during a show. Jenny was the one that took the risks between us.” A thought came to her, realizing she did almost take a risk just recently. She heard him laugh, flushing. She didn't realize he was talking before speaking, taking a deep breath and spoke quickly before she lost her nerve.

“Clothes? If outfits are the kind of risks you have taken then that man surely wasn't lo--” “Though I suppose I did take a chance when I went after you after you were... well... before.”

Acel seemed to give her a dumbfounded look as he said “Well, I suppose you've got me there.”

Sarah quickly covered her mouth when she realized she had interrupted him. “I'm so sorry.”

Acel smiled at her, easing her shame of interrupting. “I'm a listener, anyways.”

Sarah looked away in embarrassment, trying to figure what he was trying to say before but couldn't remember what his words were. “What... what were you saying?” She asked.

“I think you've got better risks in you. Ones that you'll hold onto for the rest of your life.” He moved a little closer to her. “Ones that will show you the meanings to things that you thought you knew all about... Trust me.” He paused to say the last two words before continuing on.

Sarah felt confused. She missed a hidden message in his words. She saw him shake his head, feeling bad that she didn't get his message. “I don't know... what you mean... I'm sorry.”

“I-I-It's nothing. Just... prattling. I am sorry.” He said quickly, making her doubtful. He was going to hold things in when they were just talking openly not too long ago. She shook her head in disagreement. “No, you said that for a reason...”

“It is not my place. But I laughed because you said your risks were outfit choices. If you had ever truly loved--if that man had inspired love...that is one of the greatest risks of all. If it was without that feeling...just...in my experience, if they don't make you feel like every day is the risk of losing them, and it would be the worst pain in the world...well, it just might surprise you what you've still got left to feel.”

Sarah thought about his words but could only think of that old phrase. “It's better to have loved and lost, than never have loved, is that what you're saying?” She asked him.

“I'm saying you may not even know what it feels like to have loved yet. And believe me, I know how insulting that may sound. But...from everything I've ever heard, or seen from you, involving your past...love is not one of them.”

She shook her head. “It's not insulting when it's the truth.....” She knew he was right now that she thought about it. It wasn't love, not a real one anyways.

“Then don't pretend it isn't. Don't hold on to the years of your life that he took from you, like you treasure them.... you don't.... and you don't need to hold on to them.”

“But I need to hold onto them.” She counter quickly. “To make sure I learned my lesson.” They were the only things that were protecting her from making that same mistake, she was sure.

She stopped walking when Acel did, surprised. She thought a part of her thought he would was ready to yell at her for countering him but instead he put his finger on her heart. “Your lesson is learned here.” He moved his finger to her forehead again, not helping but follow it until it touched her skin before meeting his eyes again. “And here. You're a smart girl, Sarah. It's easy enough to see. That part of your life is over. You move forward—you live for yourself, and you love yourself. Because you've always got you. And you're amazing.” He grinned then, as she tried to drink in his words. “You remember, but you don't have to relive it.”

She could only stare at him, unsure what to say back at him. He simply took her logic of how she should be living her life and threw it over a cliff. When he seemed to realize that she wasn't going to say anything, he held his hand out and motioned toward their destination to leave the area. She looked at his hand, she wasn't afraid to grab it, but at the same time, she didn't want to do it. She opened and closed her hands at her side before walking past him to head toward the beacon. She snapped her head at him as he spoke. “Like the strong, independent woman you are. Of course. It's a good thing.”

Her face went completely red when she realized that he misunderstood her brush off of his hand. “No no! It's nothing like that.... I just.....” She couldn't admit that she viewed hand holding as a sort of special thing. That seemed childish. She couldn't say it out, looking at the beacon. She didn't know how to get it started. She glanced at Acel, who quickly pulled out a card and held it to the machine. She felt the start of teleportation, closing her eyes and then opened them to find that they were back at headquarters.