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 Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:50 pm
At this point, the elder Owl was gritting his teeth in a mix of frustration and annoyance. Even though he'd ensnared Tai in setup of cards and slammed him down onto the relatively soft sand, he knew he'd still be back up in no time ready to ride that thin line between life and death. Che wasn't a murderer, but it was becoming apparent that he'd have to bash this child's head in to get that point across. Now that electricity was covering his being, adrenaline seemed to just course through his veins. In actuality, he was able to think somewhat faster due to the heightened speed of the signals moving about his glittering, crackling nerves. He couldn't be too reckless, but he couldn't be too defensive here either. The Mastering Owl knew he'd think of something as this situation has been set before hundreds of times in the past.
Sebastian's nonchalant and statuesque stance was beginning to get to Che. The Italian did the best he could to pay it no mind as it was probably just another mind game of Will's butler. Even as Tai's attacks reared up to come at him again, he found himself giving an askance to the tall, creepy man every now and then. The elder couldn't fly at this moment as his cards had been ejected from his person to avoid destruction. This meant he had to rely on just this element to get by now. He leaped over the spears and started a run towards Tai now. He had to incapacitate him or tire him out to leave Seb by himself. Che evaded more spears on the way and even crushed one in his hand as he ran. Dragging his hand in the sand, he formed a sphere of concentrated electrical force which he knew would do the job with just one strike. Before he could jab the young fighter with it, portals....portals everywhere.....
Sebastian again? Che didn't even bother to think about where the attack had come from as doing so would only be a trap now. The attack that had left a trail of glassed sand behind him was rolled on towards Tai like a bowling ball down a waxed alley. Unless he could free himself from Che's cards, the kid would be taking a nice chunk of damage. As for the portals, Che simply resorted to his trademark expressing. His serious business scowl. Before the needles could hit him and possibly melt against his electric exterior, he let out a nice stream of electricity that fell into the portals. Whether or not they were still open around Sebastian wasn't Che's concern as for some reason, he couldn't see past the spacial rends. If they were open, they were open, but if not, more portals would simply appear. Che was ready for either scenario.
~~~
Roulin's first order of business was to place Bailey down on the couch Che and Kate were sitting upon before this little session began. Now that she was out of his arms and resting comfortably on the couch, Roulin took to an empty seat and sighed heavily as if impatient or waiting for the next big thing. After the vector woman spoke, Roulin found himself grinning. What was an expression of assurance soon became a chuckle, then a laugh. "Oh, I know you won't," replied the Owl of Life in a rather forward and somewhat condescending manner. He meant no harm as his next statement would explain. "You won't and neither will I. Although you can't see it, I'm fighting back your power as we speak. I only have four though, so what I have to put up with is only a fraction of what you have to put up with." Smirking again, the owl looked around the room taking in the familiar faces whom his old self would've embraced on the basis of just missing them.
When Aeon healed them all, Roulin's eyes lifted to the girl. He personally didn't need to heal as he'd done almost nothing. It may have been just that that contributed to his seemingly bored and uncaring demeanor. Bailey's wounds, that Roulin honestly wanted her to feel as a reminder of what's going to happen next time, were healed thus rendering him somewhat dissatisfied with the effort she'd just put in. Nobody learns from painless endeavors...Roulin knew how to act the next time. Behind him entered Lomoli, his brother, Anderson, his cousin, Anya and Cecilia. They were all healed and could probably go back and fight again. "So...what have we learned her today? Hopefully something that'll allow us to pull something spectacular off in Exire in two weeks. And dad isn't back up huh? Sebastian and Tai are probably giving him a run for his money down there..."
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:22 pm
The three fledgling Heralds and Anderson, who was being carried by Cecilia made their way to Will's office where they were sure to receive some form of treatment to their wounds. Cecilia was forced to adjust and shift Anderson a few times, for even though she was used to carrying heavy loads, carrying a person who was being a dead weight was different. This would happen probably everyday for two weeks. Only two weeks of training before they must go into battle. It might be enough, it might not. A ragtag group of Owls against tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of Owls. Yes, their group possessed some of the strongest Owls in the world, but so did Raven's. Not to mention the Heralds on her side as well.
Cecilia's thoughts were greatly interrupted by a strange tingling sensation upon her blue form. The pain she felt from the few injuries she had received had diminished. Cecilia looked down ad saw that her bruises and scrapes had healed leaving her skin almost flawless, save for the old scars that she had received in battles long passed for they were long past healing and would permanently be etched within her flesh for as long as she lived. But who had done it? The only person she knew of who could heal was Roulin. Maybe Lucien? Of course, she wasn't sure about the latter. She wheeled her head around to look at Moli and Anya. "This is probably a stupid question, but did any of your wounds heal as well?" she asked with bewilderment in her jade green eyes.
She had a feeling that it wasn't Roulin, for she had been healed by him before during the battle in New York, which seemed such a long time ago. This healing felt a lot different from that. "My wounds have been healed, but I don't think it was Roulin. It didn't really feel like him." Cecilia knew that she shouldn't worry about it. It was more or less her curiosity getting the better of her. The temptation to interrogate all of them was tempting. Perhaps a la The Godfather? Yes, she could scare one of them into talking by cutting off the heads of horses and putting them into the beds of everyone. Cecilia bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing, but a small chortle escaped.
The group arrived at Will's office. Will was in there of course. Where else would he be? He didn't seem to have moved much. Cecilia thought for sure he would've been training. She didn't question it. Roulin and Bailey seemed to have finished. Her eyes lingered on Roulin for a few moments before shifting towards Bailey who seemed to have suffered greatly during battle. The weariness in her aquamarine eyes made this clear, as well as the blood that spotted her clothing here and there. Cecilia backed up towards one of the other plush couches, which were vacant into the office and knelt backwards until she was half sitting, half standing and gently discarded Anderson onto the soft surface where he slumped over still unconscious. Standing up, she placed her hands on her lower back and arched herself backwards popping her stiff muscles.
Her jade eyes fixed themselves upon Roulin once again. She studied him for a moment before answering. "It's too soon to tell. We have two weeks until the real battle. Training can only take us so far. We won't know our true strengths until we step out onto that battlefield." Cecilia knew that a few training sessions could only do so much. The rest would be determined in the real battle. Turning, she walked towards a vacant chair and sat down in it. Crossing her right leg over her left and moving her right foot up and down rhythmically. If the circumstances had been different, Cecilia would have rushed into Roulin's arms, but as they stood now, she remained where she was. The two arrived in Will's office. Bailey was thankful when Roulin set her down upon one of the empty couches that brought Will's office some bit of comfort. She closed her eyes, preparing for sleep when she felt the strange tingling sensation that Cecilia had felt. She could feel her broken bones mending themselves, a warmth enveloped her. The many cuts, bruises, and lacerations she had suffered were healed as well. She looked up at Roulin thinking he had done it, but the expression upon his face told her that he hadn't. In fact, he looked unhappy about it. Yet, Bailey still suffered for she could still feel the deadly ethereal arms inside of her. Even now, she was fighting them. Gripping the back of the couch, she pulled herself into a sitting position wincing slightly as there was still some pain in her body.
"We all have burdens that we must bear. Some are greater than others," she said, her lips forming a small smile when he mentioned that he too was in battle against his own vectors struggling to keep them under control. "Four vectors can sometimes seem as much as six, or even ten," she said. The number did not matter. It was the level of malice, which they carried that did. She looked up as four more who seemed to have finished with their training entered. Toying with the hem of her tattered skirt, she fell silent. She would remain in the office, just until she regained better use of her legs before going back to the room to get a shower and perhaps seeing what Luca was doing. Great fear enveloped her at the thought of being around so many when she was out of this much control. But she thought of it as part of her training. She would need to learn how to be around many. She couldn't shut herself away from the world just because she was afraid of killing them.
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:49 pm
Amara opened her eyes as she looked at the time on the nightstand. She hated feeling so vulnerable...was she being selfish? She honestly didn't think she was...if anyone was being the selfish one it was Lucien. The blonde psion got off the bed and went towards the bathroom to go and wash her face and make herself presentable. Washing off her tear stained face she tried to collect herself. Amara really only knew how to be one thing and that was strong...right now though she didn't feel strong at all. As she brushed her hair she began to think of the numerous relationships with people she had, not necessarily romantic but the connection she made with people. Amara felt that people expected her to be a strong individual, to always know what to say, to be in control of a situation, not to break....like she had to be the support of anyone she knew but in all honesty who was there to support her?
Once she finished applying a little makeup she left the room and locked it behind her making her way back to Will's office. She assumed that most of the people were done training and that they would be discussing what to do next. She needed to get things together and now she put back on her "mask" of emotionless Amara and walked back through the door of Will's office. She stood to a distance though, noticing that people were being healed she noticed she was being healed as well. Looking over to Lucien and Aiden she had to stop herself from crying. How could Lucien say he loved Aiden but still wanted to continue with his plan? She leaned against the wall crossing her arms not really listening to what anyone had to say...there physically but emotionally and mentally she had clocked out. Taking in another breathe she knew she couldn't bare being in this room, the lose of Amaya may have been too much for her to bare. She said nothing as she excused herself into the hallway, staring down at the Casino below.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:26 am
Roulin glanced up to Cecilia when she inquired whether or it was him that healed her. He opted not to respond and set his eyes back upon Aeon, Lomoli's girlfriend. At least she was here healing them rather than trying to kill them as she had back in Rome. Familial issues, Roulin assumed, were finally set aside. Shrugging, he cared not for as long as it was this way, he figured she'd get to keep on breathing. He found it odd that Moli was almost torn up and Cecilia had only been negated. Cocking a brow in disbelief, he asked himself what kind of Herald was this guy. Was he that weak, or was Cecilia just too much for the little blonde? Roulin only shook his head thinking that as his brother, a Presidiomni, he should've been able to do much more. His essence was her weakness after all.
After finally settling in as well as he could...as much as this happy reunion would allow, Roulin felt a strange sensation trace it's cold hand up his spine. It was his old ability playing with him again. Of course, that meant that in the vicinity, there was someone who's emotion was beginning to get far too strong for his innate ability to just ignore. Quietly activating his ability, he found his culprit in the form of someone he'd never expected it from. It was Amara. Once again, Roulin shook his head wondering to himself just what had gotten into these people these last few months. "Burdens huh? It's all in the back of the man, woman or Owl that's carrying it Bailey. Now if you'll excuse me..." started the Life Owl who deactivated his vision as he stood up, "I think I'll go outside of a minute or two. In fact, someone come and get me when Che gets up here please." And with a turn of his person, he vanished into the glow of the morning sun with his power of teleportation.
Roulin didn't need to force his ability to locate Amara. One would've assumed that they shared a kind of bond given the short amount of time it took the Italian to find the saddened girl. If there was a bond, Roulin doubted he'd admit to it. He hoped Amara would do the same in the end even though they were close thanks to Che's hand in their lives. "It's people like you that made me wish my power wasn't so...out of my control. Since it isn't, I guess I'm going to be drawn to you until I figure out why you're trying to pass yourself off as cool and collected right now." Giving a light scratch to his long flowing tresses of onxy silk, Roulin, somewhat under the control of his born ability, asked uncharacteristically calmly, "Just what's wrong you Amara, hm?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:43 am
Amara looked into the crowd of people as she studied them, hearing some of their thoughts, and helping random people who she felt were deserving, win a few rounds by helping them cheat. That's when Amara heard the voice of Roulin. "It's people like you that make me wish my power wasn't so...out of my control", she turned around to face Roulin, someone who she shared a bond with, but hadn't spoken to directly in over four years. "What do you mean people like me? I've done nothing to you Roulin" she said calmly. She then looked back down towards the busy casino.
Amara knew exactly what was happening, he was reading her like a book...Amara was never one to get offended for people invading her privacy, she did it quite often but emotional things...well that was a whole different story. She was so used to being shut off from the world. "There's nothing wrong Roulin just a few things on my mind. Thinking about a lot that has happened this far...thinking over my life...what I've done, the decisions I've made...you know?" she asked with a little smile that soon faded. The psion was normally direct...but her speaking...was drawn out as of now...revealing several subjects in the span of seconds. "I think about the events that took place almost 15 years ago as children Roulin...the day that shaped the rest of our lives" she said. "I remember how I met everyone and it's funny. I honestly hated everyone at that damn school Roulin...and as a seven year old girl...that shouldn't have been that way but I guess when your guardians display nothing but aggressive behavior that's all you can display back."
Amara moved slightly, shifting her weight. "I met Jhelae first...I was writing a list and I noticed her. I remember thinking, who taught her how to dress, because she was adorned in all black...but she was my first real friend. I fell in love with her mind...not in a romantic type of way but an adoration of how she thought. Then it was Aimee...that girl there. I didn't pay her any mind because I was just being a girl and felt that I had made enough friends who were girls for the day...and then it was you, Lucien and Artemis...late to history class" she said with a soft chuckle. "That right there made me know I would not like any of the three of ya'll...ya'll were prolonging my education" she said shaking her head. "Then the teacher asked us who triggered WWI...and Lucien answered telling her the events that really triggered and the death of the person who actually started...and Artemis getting it confused with WWII and you correcting him....I know I'm rambling...sorry Roulin" she said. "I just never thought that I would be tied to people as long as I have...especially you all...I remember the ambush just as clearly...Armand...." she said pausing out of respect.
"If it wasn't for the prankster being sent in to initiate the attack...who knows where we would have been....you know?" she asked. "And you looking like a total retard thinking you were a super hero and I explained to you all what an OWL was....don't you wish sometimes that you were a kid again Roulin? I mean...all of us didn't start out from the best...but we were children none the less. At times...I feel that me...I can't believe I'm admitting to this...me murdering my uncle and aunt...forced me to grow up...what seven year old do you know that is THAT ******** up in the head to commit a double homicide and then turn around and murder a group of thugs who were intimidating her for being different...something that she couldn't control" she said with a small giggle. Amara was avoiding the initial question...she hadn't talked to Roulin in years...and perhaps she just needed someone to listen to her for once...no matter how long it took...she felt that Roulin would probably understand and just engage.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:00 am
Not surprisingly to Bailey, Roulin didn't linger for long. Instead he had teleported to most likely take care of some other business that he had. Bailey's blue jeweled eyes fell upon the others briefly before she forced herself to stand up. Grimacing in pain, she made her way to the door. Looking back at those who still remained, she gave them all a pained smile before turning and walking very slowly back towards her room. It wasn't one of the largest rooms, but it was cozy, which was what she liked. Once inside, she shut the door softly behind her and began to remove her bloodied clothing including her under garments.
She discarded the clothes in the bathroom before gazing upon herself in the long full length mirror. She was thinner now. Even though her ribs were not prominent, it was clear that she had lost quite a bit of weight over these past few months. Her skin was as pale as the underbelly of a dead fish. Circles had made themselves at home under her weary eyes, which had once been full of life and color, but were now dull and almost listless. The tired Owl lightly touched her neck where the collar had once been. It was destroyed. She would now have to rely on her own strength of will to keep herself from becoming a monster.
Turning the water to the shower on, Bailey waited until it adjusted to the temperature she enjoyed before stepping in. The warm water felt wonderful upon her body, which ached so. Even though her wounds had been healed, dried blood lingered upon her pale flesh. Yet thanks to the warm water, it was now being washed off of her body and down the drain. After having washed every trace of dirt and grime from her body and her hair, she shut the water off and stepped out, drying herself off as she did so and wrapping the thick fluffy towel around her small frame before she began brushing the tangles out of her curly raven hair. She then blow dried her hair, which took a bit of time because of the thickness of the many tresses.
Walking back into the room, she sifted through her bag, which carried so few possessions and chose a long red pencil skirt that fell down to her knees, a long sleeve button up blouse and a black vest that fit over it along with a pair of shoes with short heels. She donned the outfit. She had truly lost weight for they had never fit her this loosely before, but they'd do. They weren't loose enough to fall off of her in a large crowd of people. After pulling her long dark hair back into a long low loose ponytail. A few shorter strands managed not to get ensnared by the thick band, which held her hair back and framed her small doll-like face. She didn't bother with make-up because she didn't have any. The young Diclonious Owl then departed from the room and decided to head down to the casino. Maybe some of the others were down there.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:20 am
Roulin half opened eyes gradually widened as Amara poured just what she was thinking onto him. It was a mouthful needless to say and interlaced with all those words regarding the history of the two owls standing there now was a sense of nostalgia. Roulin easily picked up upon this with little to no effort, but just the thought of Amara feeling nostalgic came almost as no surprise. What surprised him the most was that she was crying, something he didn't expect her to be able to do thanks to her she'd been keeping herself. Still, the evidence still sparkled dryly on her face. The dried trail that let him know that tears had not long ago been streaming down her cheeks possibly into her hands or a pillow. Looking at the girl now, in a different, more human light than before, he couldn't help but ask where was Lucien when he was needed?
"Yeah, I suppose those were the days..." Roulin answered, his assuring words cloaked and subdued heavily in an unsure tone. he facepalmed in thought and somehow managed to crack a smile. Not at the fact that he agreed with her, but because he found it silly that she'd be thinking like this at a time like this. Still though, if she was nice enough to speak her mind to him, then the Owl decided he'd be decent enough to reply. "I'm pretty sure you know just how I feel about all of this Amara. I'm not a fan of war, but if it'll get us to where we need to be in the world, then so be it. That isn't to say that I don't wish I could go back...change things...reflect more on certain choices and say things to people I should've a long time ago, but I can't. If I could, I don't want to. What took place fifteen or so years ago happened for a reason. In two weeks, we'll know just what that reason is."
Fleecing the collar of his shirt, Roulin leaned against the windowsill of the massive stained glass portrait of the seven headed demon himself. Crowns adorned each serpentine head and beneath him was a sea of magma cleverly painted to resemble boiling blood. Grinning at the notion that they were indeed in hell, Roulin decided to continue on with Amara. "Yeah, them. You, Me, Lucien, Aimee, Artemis and Jhelae. And no, you're not rambling. You're just going on and on about the past. Nothing wrong with that....as for the aunt and uncle thing.....do not carry yourself on that alright? I'm sure even Bailey would say that that was just simple human instinct to live....to fight against that which is harming you. I can't say that it is that justification that'll free you of everything you've done since then, but that alone is it's own instance you understand? We've all murderers. Just some for good and some...some for bad you know?" Turning an eye to the young woman, Roulin could now see just where she was coming from...or at least where he knew he stood in the scheme of things. For him, it was question of salvation, protection and morals. The thought scared him and it was evident in his expressively purple eyes. Whether or not Amara would notice was something Roulin didn't concern himself with. His fears were his to face alone now and he couldn't return from his mistakes.
"If you don't mind me asking Amara, how do you feel about this? All of this?" asked Roulin as he held open his arms and rotated once. "This training, fighting, Exire...humans and Owls? Does this scare you at all? Do you fear dying in the upcoming war, or is it something that you've been able to see past?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:48 am
Amara took in everything that Roulin was saying, it was comforting to hear him speak to her. Just with his words alone she was able to forgive herself of the chains of memories surrounding her childhood. When Roulin asked how did she feel about all of this, the training humans, OWLS, she stood in complete silence. It's not that Amara was at a lost for words, she had to organize her thoughts accordingly. "I've never had this conversation with anyone Roulin...." she started off. "But honestly I feel like we're fighting a war that's not even ours...do you know why you're honestly fighting, not because you feel it's the right thing to do but do YOU know why YOU are fighting? There are millions of OWLS in the world and out of all of them YOU'RE leading the fight....I feel that we entered this thing ignorant to life..." she responded as honest as she could. "Exhire...I love the concept...a Utopia for OWLS, and I won't sit up here and lie and give the textbook answer that humans and OWLS should live peacefully coexisting because I'd only be lying to myself, even to entertain the thought that it could happen would be a lie...but I do feel that the methods of bringing this about is all wrong. Fighting oppression with oppression can only bring about more oppression. Right now as we speak...Raven is slowly breaking...she's just one woman..." she started out.
If history repeats itself, which it almost always does, she will either collapse under the weight of everything...or...she'll be betrayed...someone is envious of the work that's she's doing...whether it be one of her followers....or someone from the outside...Exhire will not last peacefully...I can tell you that much" she said removing some of her blonde hair from her face. "Humans...OWLS...they're really just titles Rou...nothing more....we're all people. If you cut me I'll bleed just like if you cut a human they'll bleed...well some OWLS may not bleed but you get where I'm going with this.....but I suppose it's human nature to 'categorize and organize' the things on this rock we call a planet" she admitted. "As far as I'm concerned...we're all the same. We can't control the fact that we may be able to leap off a fifty foot building as much as a person can control the color of their skin" she said. She then focused on the fact that he asked did this scare her, she then knew that his questions were stemming from his own concerns.
"You're afraid aren't you Roulin?" she asked. "It's okay to feel that way..." she assured him. "I think me and you click so well because we're just alike...I mean we do have our own and different viewpoints on things...but we're alike none the less. You feel that you have to be the support of everyone, the go to guy and that fear shouldn't be in your vocabulary...I feel the same way Roulin....and to be truthfully honest with you, this does scare me. Not for myself...but for my son..." she stopped taking a deep breathe and trying to control herself. "I'm afraid that my son will be dragged into something like we were dragged into it...a fight that should have never started but since it did...should have ended ages ago" she said. "I don't fear death Roulin...I've died twice before...and even if I don't come back a third...I don't fear death...it's something that I've come to accept as apart of life...I honestly feel for you to appreciate life...you've had to stare death in the face, and then lay with it for the night" she said to him. "I'm not afraid to die for myself...but I am afraid of my death for Aiden's sake..." she trailed. That was her biggest fear, her son growing up without parents.
Amara began to think back on her childhood. "I sometimes feel like we were cheated out of certain things in life Roulin...me and you, we could have been way better friends than what we are now if it hadn't been for the fact that we spent 10 years away from each other...we have nothing but time right now anyways, might as well just talk. What happened with you in those ten years, and no I'm not trying to change the subject...I just feel that everything we say in this conversation will give us not only a better understanding of each other...but ourselves as well..." she said. She remember hearing that in the mind of psychiatrist once.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:05 am
Roulin demeanor changed noticeably when Amara said to him that this war wasn't theirs and that they were cheated out of a real life. Rather than feeling sentimental and empathetic as he had been thanks to his ability, his disdain with her way of thinking broke him free of it, but only to an extent. When he stepped forward once, a few strands of his hair fell forward covering his left eye. It wasn't blocked out entirely, but this alone made him look like a different man altogether. Looking over his shoulder once to check if their were any wandering ears around, he scanned finding no demons running around or any of his quote en quote teammates spying. "You think this isn't our war? I assure you, I'm not leading anything. Just like you, Will, Cecilia, Moli and everyone else, we're just soldier! Collectively working towards a common goal. Che's giving us the plans, but not even he is the leader. I will admit that maybe this war is more his than it is ours, but it's our responsibility, Amara, that we fight for those who cannot. Why? Because we're the best of the best. The cream of the crop. We're the strongest Owls here today! If we don't fight for those without voices....then who the hell will?" Roulin's almost silent tone still echoed through the hall. Try as he might, whispering wouldn't save him here. As he trailed off on that explanation, he heard the mentioning of Raven's name...that name...just the utterance of it sent him against the wall where he'd just lifted himself from. Looking over to Amara through the strands of hairs covering his eye, he said, "I'd rather not talk about her right now."
Amara continued to go on about Raven and all that did to Roulin was sour his mood even more. What was a conversation was now just a playback of all the mistakes that he made along the way and not just in his fights with the terrorist leader. There were many sleepless nights he'd spent kicking himself for thinking that in that small shell of a woman that there was some kind of humanity left. She embodied just what this world didn't need. She embodied what they were fighting for and if Amara thought she'd be taken down by an inside man, some off handed bullshit or just weakness, she was dead wrong. "Like I said, Raven isn't something I want to talk about at the moment. As for your question about categorizing and stuff...I'd say the world makes that. Society rather. Especially when a form of currency is introduc---then again....it happens when there are people jocking to be the best you know? Like what I said earlier. We're upper level Owls. We're qualified to fight this war. Would you send a baby psychokinetic to do an adult's job? They're both capable of the same things, but personally, I'd send the baby. All of that untrained power released onto a crowd? Whew...." Obviously, the Italian was joking about that. Never would he risk such a thing nor would he make such a mistake. Amara knew that too and if she didn't, the male's smirk would easily divulge that.
"It's human nature to surpass and excel. Those who are surpassed are just checkpoints for others. Remember that alright? Heh, me and you clicking. There was a point in time where I thought we were perfect for each other, but obviously, I was wrong. Anyway, you're right. I will admit that we have more in common than most people. You fight for your child and I fight for my friends. What we don't have in common are our fears. Obviously. Between you and I, I don't fear death either. I fear where...I may end up you know?" said Roulin with a weak shrug and a dejected sigh. He didn't expect much of the afterlife, but he could only hope that he was doing what needed to be done to get to that promised land. "I've died before...and it wasn't fun. I'd rather not die again. And yeah, me and death have danced many times before. I don't want to die for nothing though, get it? You have Aiden and I have my family, Cecilia and to an extent even you Amara. This goes back to your earlier question too....if you can't fight, then I'll fight for you. Understand? When your voice dies out, I'll speak for you. That's why I fight."
As for Amara's final statement, Roulin's mood showed a bit of change once again. He lightened up, shrugged and even chuckled before looking over to the young psion with a grin. "We're not good friends now? We probably shouldn't be as I attacked you when I shouldn't have. I apologize for that by the way, so no hard feelings if we're going to be on the same team. Pull that crap again and I will try to kill you. Heheh, but yeah. I don't think you're going to let me leave that easy. If you want to talk, then just keep talking. If you put in the effort to speak, I might as well dignify it with a response right?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:26 am
He had barely spared her a passing glance, Cecilia noticed as Roulin teleported out of the room almost as soon as the Quartet arrived. Cecilia's expression remained stoic as she perused the magazines. These weren't your usual fashion girl or Home and Garden magazines. They held stories about different satanic rituals or satanic cults. She snorted in what could be assumed as amusement. They seemed to fit The Satan Owl himself. She would have expected no less of him. It was in the back of her mind to pick up one of the magazines and at least thumb through it, but she didn't like herself to get involved with religious matters.
Cecilia drew herself away from the satanic magazines and rested herself against the back of the sofa. She missed him, she did. Despite her calm and mellow demeanor, she sometimes wished she could open her mouth and scream at the top of her lungs, scream at him. To ask him why he had abandoned her and then when they were finally near each other, he would not even speak to her, he would barely look at her. Part of her wanted to run to him, to have him hold her, but there was that other half of her that stayed back. Maybe he wanted nothing to do with her anymore. After all, his path in life had altered. Perhaps she wasn't part of it anymore.
Unable to remain with anyone in this office anymore, she stood up and turned to the others, her lips forming a smile, even though on the inside, she was screaming. "I'm going to my room to get cleaned up. If anyone needs me or something, just call my cell or come find me," she said before she left the room and took the elevator up to her suite. Once in her room, she prepared a shower, which she spent a good amount of time in, allowing the adjustable shower head to knead the knots from her tightened muscles. The shower head could have been used for intimate matters as well with the pulsating steam coming out of it, but that definitely wasn't part of her mood at the time.
Finishing her shower, she shut the water off and stepped out drying her azure body off before she brushed her thick silver tresses out and blow dried her hair for she knew that it would just be a frizzy ball of mess if she let it air dry. She then wrestled it into a large clip and walked into her room picking out something to wear. The outfit consisted of a one shoulder jersey knit reddish-purple top, a pair of tight dark blue jeans, a pair of short black boots with long thin heels, a black belt, and a pair of black feather earrings that adorned her ears. Yet she did not go anywhere right away. Instead, she plopped herself down on the ornate couch and hunched over, resting her elbows on her knees punishingly and rubbed her temples with her fingers. One way or another, she had to speak to Roulin whether he came to her or she was forced to corner him somehow and force him to talk to her.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 3:36 am
Amara was surprised on how Roulin reacted to the mention of Raven. If this had been a few years ago, Amara may have snapped at him but she listened and processed every word. She then looked into Roulin's eyes...it was clear to her at least...that...he respected Raven...or had some kind of compassion for the terrorist...was it affection?...she did however disagree with this view on the war but that's human nature as well. Some people feel that war is a necessity and others feel like it's one of the most pointless things in the world. "A soldier huh?" she laughed a little. "I guess you could call me a soldier I'm as about as ******** up as one who would return home after a war..." she said thinking of the many mental ailments many soldiers were diagnosed with. "Oh and bushy hair...you know I won't let you fight for me...I can still whoop your a**, what makes you think you can save mine?" she asked playfully. She had to admit she did value their friendship.
"Yea back to what I was saying...why I'm so ******** up and every relationship I've had with a person is a screw up...why my views on the world and war and everything else in between is so distorted. I remember when I was thirteen, Che sent me on my first solo mission. I was so excited, I was going to Madrid, Spain and as a little girl, all I could think about was FASHION CAPITAL OF THE WORLD" she said with a laugh. "I was sent there to find a mole in our company. While I was there I met a young boy, named Aiden...." she said stopping. This was painful for her, but she figured to might as well chop off the foot rather than the leg, figuratively speaking of course. "Aiden and me became very good friends, in fact we were boyfriend and girlfriend and looking back at it, it's so foolish because we were so young...we didn't even know what love was...anyways, we spend more time together and eventually he ask me out on our first date. His dad is having a company get together and I'm invited. What I didn't know was that his dad was the mole that I was searching for...and that the party was thrown by a company that trafficked OWLS...Che made sure to show me everything once the mission was over. I learned that I had messed up the moment I set foot into that party...Aiden's father was a telepath, figured out I was trying to scope his brain and wanted to kill me" she said to him. This may have seemed like rambling coming from her but she had a point to prove.
"Right when I thought that his father was going to kill me for sure....Che arrived. Holding Aiden in his arms, he was going to 'push' me to fight back. When Aiden's father was about to kill me, Che killed Aiden, and in response I killed his father...I hated Che after that...more than I did when I first met him. It's funny though...Che has influenced me more than I ever would have known...he proved to be my security...the only person I could talk to about the other voice in my head...I feel like when he died he left me all alone" she said. "My biggest fear Roulin is being left alone...I'm realizing that and it's happened to me more than once" she realized. "Do you know how it feels to have a struggle with not only yourself, but with other voices in your head....I had to deal with my other personality...and then...the herald of mind possessed me...and in a way...she comforted me..." she said to him. "In a way she made me feel more confident than I had ever in my life...to feel like a god almost...not to sound arrogant...but it provided security for me...especially when Che had died" she added.
"Of course that was ripped away from me....not saying I missed it for the power...but...it was my security blanket. Sometimes I want to blame it for the reason me and you didn't work out...but I honestly believe I was scared....I see so much of your father in you....I just felt that things would repeat itself Roulin...I had to find myself...not saying that I don't love Lucien...because I do...I just felt you should know that" she said to Roulin. "I feel you should know everything that goes on through this psychotic psion's head....because that's what we are, we're great friends...even if it took me years to realize it" she said. "Now I noticed that you became quite hostile when I mentioned Raven...you know I'm not the one to pitter pat around when it comes to sensitive subjects that maybe I shouldn't pry into...but...why not...how do you feel about Raven? It seems that there's more there...definitely not hatred or animosity towards her...almost a sympathetic nature towards her...talk to me Roulin I won't judge you by your response" she said to him. "How has your relationships been with people in general anyways Roulin...you were always so awkward, and how are things with you and Cecilia?" she asked. She was curious...she was certain once that Roulin answered he would turn around and ask her the same thing, and she was sure that she would be nothing but honest on how she felt about Lucien and their whole situation.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:21 am
"A soldier." The Life Owl knew his role in this world, in this battle and in the grand scheme. He didn't treat it as a task, which it undoubtedly was, but more so as a purpose. Whether or not Amara did or didn't wouldn't make him think of it any less or any greater. Given from his lighthearted reaction, it was clear that it didn't weigh on his heart or mind more than anything else did. "Not all soldiers are ******** up. Just look at.....not all soldier are ******** up. And bushy hair huh? Back when I was weak and didn't understand what it meant to be a fighter? Heh, we'll spar one day and I'll show you what I mean." Roulin flashed a smirk that could barely be seen thanks to his back being against the sunlight. On the radiance of his eye could be seen through the thin shadow that covered his visage.
The Italian could only roll his eyes at Amara's story of her first mission with Che and Paine and Aiden. All of it...everything she explained all fit under the category of 'things Che would do to get a point across'. While he pitied her for having her first love taken away by the man whom she somehow considered her security, he knew what Che was capable of mentally. That setup seemed like just a test for her. A test that she ultimately failed. Still, Roulin had some sympathy. She was a child, therefore he knew she couldn't have expected that. If Roulin were put in that situation ten years ago, he knew he wouldn't have been expecting it either. As Amara went on, Roulin found himself cocking a brow in both interest and confusion. He hadn't shared anything major with Amara, or at least nothing he considered major, but what she'd revealed was something of a surprise to him. "You hate feeling alone huh? Being left behind by people you thought loved you? Being left in the cold by what you considered your only true family? I'll admit, that would scare me senseless if I didn't know how to cope with it. On a more personal note, that's one of the reasons why I've attained so many powers Amara. For protection. Protection for those I care about and for protection against people I cannot trust. The feeling of loneliness...that sharp knife that digs into your heart and...and twists the longer you let it sit...it's a pain that has dulled inside of me. Now it's just an itch." Roulin jeered about the girl's insecurity.
Loneliness wasn't what she should be worried about thought the Life Owl. It's what'll happen when you get there. No defense, no one to fall back on....no one to love or care for you. "I understand you pain Amara. I can't say I've ever been alone, but I've been in situations where I've needed help. Hell, I'm in one right now. I don't have a supernatural being to aid me, nor do I always have my father, my brother, you, Lucien or anyone else. Sometimes it's just me. Sometimes it'll be just you got it? Just learn how to get back home if you get too far away. Someone will always be waiting to pick up and continue on. As for your voices, you may need a therapist for that. I can't say I've dealt with that before really."
Laughs were shared and many secrets had been laid out on the table for the two. Roulin acknowledged that he hadn't felt this relaxed in a while. Even still though, his mind and body were tensed and ready for the worst to occur. His mind was running ragged and so was his spirit which by now had probably eroded into crystalline dust. Amara's presence wasn't enough to heal him, but it was enough to make him recount his past few months. Then, in the blink of an eye, it all seemed to vanish. Roulin pushed himself from the windowsill when Amara asked about Raven and Cecilia. With a sigh, he rubbed the bridge of his nose and asked in groan, "Why do you care what I think about them? Raven is trying to kill people and I can sense that Cecilia is starting to get tired of me avoiding her. That's how it is!" Roulin's eyes lifted, almost fluttered open, then once more he sighed and looked up at the ceiling somewhat apologetically. Moving the strands of hair away from his face, he wheeled his sight back to Amara and said, "Goddamn it Amara, I apologize for that...I'm going to try and answer this time without snapping alright?"
"Don't lie to me or yourself. You are one to pitter pat. Simple curiosity or whatever the hell you want to chalk it up to. Anyway Amara, between you and I, I can honestly say that how I feel towards Catherine is more sympathetic than anything else. I don't hate her....I'm---I guess I'm particularly fond of her well being and her future you know? She's not a weak woman. She has a brain, she has spirit and she has followers, but all three of those things are going to go to waste as long as she keeps this s**t up. Catherine is going to die and I'm going to look down at her and know that I've...that I've failed both her and my own kind." Roulin was once again able to rest his body against the windowsill. He hadn't been able to put into words just how he felt about Raven and her situation. Now that it was starting to just flow out of him, he found himself gradually calming and becoming one with the true circumstances of their relationship. "I want from her the same thing I want from you, Cecilia and everyone else I know and love. I want to see her prosper and live. I don't want to see her become what the Humans want her to. I don't want to see her become what everyone expects her to. Just another killer lost to the ages. No one will know her story. People that write history don't give a damn about the story of those they win against! C'mon." What Roulin described as an itch earlier was now a knife digging into his heart twisting like a knob. The man was but a man though. Mortal as they came. He wished not to fail anyone nor himself. He wished to live successfully as every American did, but at this rate, it was proving to be more of a task trying to help everyone else to the top. Even Raven and her band of killers. "As for Cecilia...that girl..I won't know how we are until I talk to her....I'm not ready to talk to her Amara. I hope that answer will suffice because...I really don't know what to say about it. I love her, but there are somethings I want to work out with myself first. I fear that she'd only slow me down or get in the way at this point. She's already expressed disapproval of my recent methods of working, but I can't let her hinder me. I'm reaching a breakthrough and I can't let anything keep me from reaching it. Not even her."
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:41 am
The casino was full of life. The noise of the people, the cards being artisically shuffled, the levers on the slot machines being pulled, and many more sounds filled her ears. Scantily clad waitresses carried trays of expensive drinks back and forth to the patrons who tipped them well. The place was crowded. Bailey was forced to weave in and out of different groups of people who walked around. Her vectors seemed to be moving around excitedly within her. They craved blood, something which Bailey would not give them. They struck her from the inside again out of anger that their master would not give them their way. Bailey tensed up, but took a deep breath and continued walking through the casino.
She didn't see anyone she knew at first and was about to turn around and leave in disappointment when her eyes caught a glimpse of two familiar faces. Luca and Jeannie seemed to have come to enjoy the sights and sounds of the casino as well and most likely gain a bit of money from it as well...or lose it depending on how their luck went. Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, Bailey walked up to them. She was sure that she was a sight to behold. Even with her current state of cleanliness and the smile on her face, there was no masking that sickly look she carried. "Now why am I not surprised to see you here," she said looking from Luca to Jeannie folding her arms across her chest. She always took Luca for a bit of a gambler. "I was wondering if I could join you guys?" she said rather shyly giving them both a weary smile, but sleep would be impossible for her. They would not allow her to sleep.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:09 am
Phantom walked through the hallways of the office building holding Vincent's arm over his shoulder for support. Phantom looked down at the tired owl, smiling through his mask. "You did very well. I've got to say I threw many different situations at you and you still prospered. I'm rather impressed with your work." He said as they entered Che's office once more, upon entering he saw the gathering of Owls, From Lucien to Will and Amara and Roulin. He walked Vincent over to a couch and gently placed him on it. He patted him firmly on the shoulder and then looked towards Lucien who was still enthralled with the small child held in his arms. Phantom sighed and walked towards him. "Lucien you're holding that baby as if he'll shatter if he moves." Phantom reached down and loosened Lucien's grip on Aiden, he then positioned Aiden in a different slightly sitting up position. "He's a baby not glass don't treat him like he is." Phantom looked over his shoulder at Will who was beyond the balcony, but thanks to an earlier outburst from one of the owls the doors leading to it were now laying somewhere on the floor. He turned and walked towards the door stepping out he looked to his right to see Radiant standing there waiting for him. He smiled under his mask and walked towards her. "You look like you had quite the chat."
"Yes I suppose I did." She said as she leaned forward now up against Phantom. "Perhaps it's time we throw away the facades, and the masquerading around. It's fun but, all performances must come to an end someday." She said as she gently gripped his shirt.
"I understand." He said calmly as he reached up, slowly removing his mask he dropped it to the floor, staring now at her through his regular face for the first time in years in public. "I was beginning to think that mask was my real face, I've been wearing it for so long."
Radiant smiled and shook her head. "Then our son wouldn't be nearly as handsome as he is now would he?" She said as she hugged Phantom.
Luca looked up as a familiar voice rang out in his ears. He turned around from the table to see Bailey. He smiled and got up from the table looking at her he looked at her neck and raised an eyebrow. He reached out and hugged her, bringing his head close to her ear he said. "What happened to the collar? Did your training go well?" He asked her quietly, he didn't want to alarm anyone in the casino with this sort of news there had already been a sudden death which stirred quite the commotion and he didn't think en-sighting a panic would be smart, regardless of whether or not this was Will's domain.
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Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:24 am
Bailey welcomed Luca's embrace for she had not felt it in over two months. She immediately recognized the warmth that enveloped her as he held her. She was considerably shorter than him, so her head rested just below the tops of his shoulders, below his chin. In the midst of the noise of the casino, she heard his voice, a mere whisper, but it was clear. Drawing her head back so that she could look him in the eye she responded. "My training went well for what it could have been. Three of the vectors are now some-what under my control. But three still remain. I'm still doing battle with them right now at this very moment."
As if on cue, one of the uncontrolled vectors struck her from the inside once again causing Bailey's entire body to tense up in pain. Looking up at Luca, she formed a small smile. "As you can see, they're really taking their anger out on me because I refuse to let them out. But better they take it out on me than on someone in here." She peered her head around Luca at the table where he had been sitting. "Mind if I sit with you?" she asked as her aquamarine eyes gazed up at his silver ones. "Or do you want to go somewhere else?" Where they went didn't matter all that much to her.
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