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 Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:17 pm
Herald 
When you come upon the scene, it is a weak and dying Herald that you find, unable even to stand. A few scattered feathers on the ground are the only remnants of the wings it once possessed. It has come to this place to die...or be saved? That, of course, is up to you.
You are alone when you find the angel. The Heralds have long gone unsaved, and though it appears to you, it does not hold much hope of living on. Near to where the two of you meet rests a grey stone slab that the angel seems desperate to reach. With your help, the Herald climbs upon it, needing something from you to save its life. What will you choose to give it? And what significance does that item hold for you? Is it a family heirloom? Something you happened to have on hand? Something you'd purchased earlier that day? A lucky charm?
You may have noticed that many details have been left off. This is because we want you to have plenty of freedom to develop the scene yourself. Consider time of day, weather, season, etc. when you post.
Brewing Storm Metaplot Considerations for your Prompt: The time of day is still open for translation. The only thing that is set is that it is raining when you find your fallen angel, with the scent of a strong thunderstorm in the air. Cloud-to-cloud lightning is optional, but no cloud-ground.
Now, as she stood by her locked car with one hand on her hip, she could only release a small sigh and squint into the distance. The other researchers had been here, although hard to tell she could see the tracks and cuttings along the sand dunes. Large holes, small holes...you name it and the dunes had been subjected to it. She could hardly call it abuse but given where this place was situated she would have thought they would have been somewhat tidier.
"River, river." Releasing a sigh, she shook the rain from her head and the closely bound braids. While working she would often tie them out of her way and for once she was extremely glad she did - granted, she now craved the off shore tropical islands around Gambino but there was no use weeping over spilled milk, she had a job to do.
It was with that in mind that she braced herself against what looked set to be even worse weather than she had anticipated and trudged towards her goal. Footsteps heavy against the dampening soil, sand and clay beneath her feet...
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
Mutter.
And she continued until at last she caught side of the point in which the river met the ocean. This was where the unusual amounts of contamination had been located alongside localised reports of 'mutated' wildlife. She made a mental note not to be surprised at the discovery of three eyed fish and continued forward - another mental note was in reference to a lighter or more comfortable ruck-sack.
And yet, as she thrust herself through the sand and rain something caught the corner of her eye. A faint glow to her left caused her to stop (again) and once again, craning her neck and squinting her eyes she attempted to discern exactly what it was.
Feather, feather - maybe it was a bird?
Arm, leg...Skin. If the biologist hadn't been pale before then, she lost all colour and began to spout many expletives. Truly, this woman was a master of vocabulary as she swung round and threw herself in the direction of the lump of - well, she assumed it was a person and she wasn't far wrong either. It was only when she drew nearer that she realised the severity of the situation and furrowed her brow.
At her feet lay a naked individual, pale and shivering. Dropping her rucksack at the side of the individual's head she was quick to check for vital signs, heart beat...breathing. Luckily, whoever it was still seemed to be alive - admittedly the breathing was exceptionally erratic but it was there.
"Unconscious." She muttered, swearing under her breath as she opened her bag to locate the foil wrapping that was often used to fend off hypothermia during severe weather conditions. What a person was doing out in this weather without clothes on was beyond her.
Still, as she began to rummage it gulped in a huge breath of air and heaved itself forward, extending a hand towards what looked to be a large stone slab.
Splat.
Blinking rapidly the woman looked up from the large droplet that had deposited itself on her forehead and glanced towards the creature/girl...if she was entirely honest she wasn't certain of what it was!
"Hey, hey, hey!" Grimacing the woman attempted to grasp hold of the small person, however, said 'person' appeared to have other ideas as it made another attempt to reach the slab. A small, almost pleading whimper followed and with a disgruntled snort the woman cupped the creatures shoulders and rather roughly set the creature down upon the slab - it hadn't been far away from it anyway.
Another shiver and then with yet more 'hidden' strength, or perhaps the last reserves of what other energy it possessed the small individual extended a hand outwards slightly. Not a word, not even another whimper - just that hand. The biologist could only raise a brow at first, having come here to research the contamination she had not been prepared to be rescuing something that appeared to be mute.
...What did every person need?
Water!
Snapping her fingers, the woman swung round to grasp the first thing that came to hand. Given that approximately 70% of the contents of her pack consisted of water, the logic behind her madness was that she would pick up something of use. However, what she did grasp wasn't a water bottle but instead a test tube - inside, consisting of sea water, some stray sand and what appeared to be a strand of seaweed.
Unfortunately, she failed to look at said object as she thrust it towards the petite creature and continued to search for something more substantial. Food, another foil blanket (for herself). She scarcely noticed as the individual clasped the object offered to it - more to the point, as she turned round once more to wrap the foil blanket about the small form she didn't see the small glimmer emanating from the object before it seemed to literally turn into dust.
More concerned with the individuals immediate well being, the biologist concentrated on wrapping the foil blanket round the creature instead of paying attention to the manner in which the dust seemed to be absorbed into the skin that was quickly turning from pale white, to a sickly blue.
Not good. She was going to have to move and quickly.
Clucking her tongue, the woman slipped the rucksack back onto her shoulders and with another swoop of her arms, lifted the tiny form into it. Despite the size, it was surprisingly light and with very few extra expletives (she had exhausted her supply on the way up), she made her way to her car which was still warm from the heater.
Bloody summer and this place still demanded she turn it up, oh how she missed Gambino Port.
...Once sat in her car, the young woman closed the door behind her and released a sigh. Curled up, the individual (who did look human) had reverted to its somewhat unstable condition but perhaps the heat and water would do it well. A trip to A&E might be a bloody good idea as well but there was no way in the name of Gaia that she was bringing a stark naked kid to the hospital.
It was with great displeasure that she then realised she would have to delve into the world of the living...in the worst possible sense of the word. She was going to have to go clothes shopping...
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:11 pm
 [.mini-mall meeting.] After encountering the peculiar and weak child near the shore, Adelle makes her way towards the mall in search of some form of clothing to cover the being's weak frame. Unfortunately, not everything goes to plan... As Adelle returns to the front of the mall she unceremoniously forgets where she has parked her car and encounters someone she hasn't seen in a great number of years.
Such a small world is this...
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:37 am
[.adelle and the housing executive.] Needs to be revamped and rewritten... Stay tuned!
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:48 am
Herald 5.2.07
You sit inside, protected and comfortable as the weather rages outside. The evening meal is on the table, and you're filled with an intense feeling of well-being.
Your mind veers, against your will, to the dying creature that you had come across. It certainly wouldn't be comfortable tonight. What are you thinking? It's probably already long gone. But...what if it isn't?
What's it actually like outside? Do you go in search of the Herald? What do you bring to make it more comfortable, if so? Do you even find it?
It was a little strange though...As she rested against the wall and eyed the rather empty room she had to admit that she hadn't lived in a house for quite a while. Actually, it had been many years since she had and now that she had chosen to buy a new one to accommodate her research and the duration of her stay she found it rather comforting. It brought back quite a few memories of home with the exception that home had furniture, curtains and looked more lived in.
Well, at least the place was warm.
Still, resting the plate of chicken wings on her lap, the woman continued to watch the rain as it battered the window panes. Surrounded by boxes she found the entire situation rather cosy but the words of that annoying little child continued to replay in her mind. That little girl, Elf's child had declared her irresponsible and now that she really had time to think about it...Well, what did a six year old kid know?
Unfortunately, Adelle's mind wasn't entirely convinced by this. Deep down, as she watched the rain batter the protective wall between her and the extremities of the weather she couldn't help but wonder what had happened to that child. It had been incredibly ill when she had found it and then it had simply vanished - poof! Regardless, as the wind howled and caused her window to 'creak' slightly she twisted her lips into a grimace - if anything, it must be incredibly cold out there.
But it had vanished.
Shaking her head she glanced down at her uneaten meal and then towards the foul weather again. She had already been out in it enough in the last few days, there had been no signs of that kid and it had disappeared without a trace. All the logic in the world informed her that chasing after something such as that was foolish, especially when she hadn't the slightest idea where to start.
...Especially when she didn't know if it was real. Perhaps it was lack of sleep, weariness from travel but she was not inclined to believe that a person could simply vanish without a trace. Not a fan of the super natural she was quick to push aside that feeling (that still pursued her) and returned to her rather uncreative meal.
If she had been destined to save a person there would have been a 'sign' by now and a niggling doubt in her mind didn't make her stand to attention.
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Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 11:50 am
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:52 pm
The weather had cleared up considerably, there were moments when the rain subsided and the sun pierced through the grey clouds in an act of rebellion. It was enough to brighten the mood considerably and it was as another stream of light filtered in through the window of the empty sitting room that the woman paused. The paintbrush in her right hand and the other on her hip, she turned her gaze towards the outside world and afforded a very rare smile of appreciation.
The foul weather had forced her to do a number of things. The first was to stay in doors but the other was to keep the windows open to allow the fumes out of the house. This left the inside rather cold but that being said, the poor weather had forced her to take matters in to her own hand and to find something more constructive to do until it soothed. So, she had taken one look at her new house and had decided to transform herself into an interior designer.
...It had worked, sort of. However, now as she glanced around the room it was clear that she may be able to paint even coats onto the wall but she certainly didn't know how to put furniture together. She hadn't really thought about that when she had ordered it - she had assumed that because of her job it wouldn't be too hard but apparently it was.
Maybe it was her nature as a woman to lack the skill to do anything remotely 'complicated' in that regard but it was just a little infuriating.
"A break...?" The kitsune like creature purred as it drifted into the room to observe the cream walls carefully, "Makes a change -"
"Well it isn't often that it stops raining, is it?" Adelle replied calmly as she flicked her eyes towards the window again and released a sigh. She supposed that wasn't the only thing bothering her. So she couldn't go out and enjoy her work, she couldn't set sail to gain samples due to the unpredictable seas but there was also the issue of that strange creature she had found before.
She hadn't been superstitious and hadn't believed in spirits until a series of events had caused her to consider it, the Koa had been one of those and now she couldn't help but worry just a little bit.
"You know how you can just disappear and reappear when you grow bored?" She began somewhat uncertainly.
"Yes?" The Koa placed his paw in the paint and pressed it to the wall in an attempt to help his new owner, surprisingly the application was even and didn't leave Adelle feeling agitated by the intrusion.
"Where do you go?"
"Anywhere I want," He gave another pat of paint against the wall and canted his head to the side, "We all have safe places to sleep, safe places to go and think..."
"And to heal?"
"I wouldn't know," The Koa smiled faintly and offered his paint covered paw to the woman, "I've never been hurt." He pointed out gently, purring appreciatively as he was lifted into the woman's arms and set on to the windowsill so he could look outside and watch the world fly by.
While his response wasn't exactly what Adelle had wanted to hear she simply gave a nod and returned to drawing the paintbrush along the wall. The little girl Elf had been with had said that whatever the thing was would come back to her at some point so maybe everything would be alright, maybe when she saw it again it would be healthy?
"Is Cyrus coming over today?" The Koa enquired curiously, without glancing round.
"I wouldn't know." Adelle replied, although she did furrow a brow a little bit - now there was a problem. How was she going to explain a kid to the latest addition to her 'family'?
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 2:07 pm
If that hadn't made matters worse, she had made him help her with her redecorating before now!
That being said as the man continued to watch the Adelle and the way in which she paced it was clear that she felt just a little uncomfortable. Actually, if he really thought about it he'd never seen her quite so bad and became all too aware of how vulnerable she felt. That made him feel just a little uneasy as well given that she may have been about to inform him of something potentially life changing.
Christ, she wasn't pregnant was she?
"Because it sounds strange," she was speaking again and he turned his gaze towards her in a good natured way to indicate he was listening. Leaning back on the floor, his right shoulder resting on the corner of the chair, he was the picture of relaxation though he didn't really feel particularly relaxed. By the sounds of things she wasn't pregnant as he'd never heard any one refer to pregnancy as 'strange'.
"All right," he nodded agreeably and quickly closed his mouth again at the disapproving glance.
"Okay, well you know I haven't been here all that long and whatnot...you also know that technically I should be sleeping in a hut and that I don't like permanent housing. So you must be wondering why in the name of the gods I now have a house and I seem to have settled down to an extent," she took a breath, had her parents been there her mother would have agreed rather reverently with her personal observation. She was well known for never having settled and was the least likely of all her family to settle, let alone get a boyfriend.
"Well anyway," she shook her head to dismiss the thoughts and continued with her explanation, "There is actually a reason behind it...One I didn't really think was even possible..." she had never been good with words and it was definitely showing through now as she struggled to express herself in the most appropriate manner.
"See, while I was out gathering samples on the beach I found this child...a really ill one and I started to panic. I mean the poor thing was naked and it looked half dead so I figured I'd pick it up and take it to my car," another breath and she placed her hands in her pockets, leaning her back against the door frame and well away from the paint. "I guess in hindsight I really should have taken it to the hospital but instead I went to the mall to get it some clothes..."
Ah embarrassment, it made her glow like a beacon and he couldn't help but smile...though he was a little perturbed by the way in which she kept referring to the kid without a gender. Instead of commenting though he kept his lips firmly shut and watched as she brushed the hair away from her eyes.
"Bumped into an old college friend there, she has the weirdest looking daughter...glowing wings, yes wings." She sighed and shook her head lightly, "Weird thing is when I got back to my car that kid wasn't there and I'd locked the door - my friend's said I'd found something called a 'Herald' and I'd been 'chosen' or something odd like that - but get this," she seemed terrified of stopping for fear of being questioned by the man who might deem her a complete nut case.
Which she was.
"Her daughter accused me of being irresponsible for not believing her, she said that kid is meant to come back and what the hell am I meant to do with a kid? Especially one with wings..." She mused finally and then folded her arms across her chest. Her breathless story seemed to be slowing to a halt now.
"So yeah the main reason for telling you this is that I wanted you to know that I'm expecting a child. I have no idea when it's coming but apparently I have to take care of it whether I like it or not and I just didn't want you to feel pressed into anything...?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 2:17 pm
Alright so 'pregnant' didn't quite cover it. Cyrus fought the urge to gawk and considered her words carefully. Granted to the outside world she would sound mentally disturbed but he had seen the kids with wings before, they were called Heralds. He'd been informed of this when he had arrived in the town and had been given his job. During his training he'd been told he would meet many creatures beyond his imagination...particularly Heralds which seemed to spawn in this particular location.
...But to actually know of a person who waited expectantly for the arrival of one? Now that he hadn't been trained for and he definitely wasn't a parent himself. It would appear that neither of the pair were prepared for such responsibility and yet while he had the opportunity to run the problem fell squarely on Adelle's shoulders to the point that she couldn't. Now he understood why she had decided to tell him sooner rather than later.
She was giving him a choice.
"You must be a damn sight more special than you give yourself credit for," he mused at last, raising a bemused brow as he continued to watch the woman pace backwards and forwards. The more she paced the more agitated she became and it would no doubt spiral out of control in the next few minutes unless he said the right thing.
"You have to have a special gift to attract a Herald," now that made her stop dead and he offered a small smile. He was uncertain of what he was doing but it had been a long time since he'd had the connection he shared with her. Granted, she was a loose cannon and could be a terrible cynic but there were moments (when she relaxed) that she became someone he absolutely adored.
"What a welcome though eh?" He grinned lightly and his expression became wistful. Oi, men really weren't cut out to have such emotional issues placed on them so soon in a relationship! "Doesn't make anything different - alright it does but it just means you'll have to redecorate a damn sight faster..."
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