Chapter 2: Suspicion. | Page 26 | â˜… Metaplot | Guild Forums

Dakka Domi

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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:48 pm

Salem.

When it became apparent his spell had no effect on the monster, Salem had taken a step back to watch the fireworks from a distance. There would be no point in getting thrashed if he couldn't claim the glory for it later! And maybe one or two of those damned reapers might get killed, and Salem would have that much less to worry over in the future. Black Hearts made life so difficult; the world could bear to lose a few. But that didn't seem to be their fate, and Salem watched with the tiniest hint of surprise as the humies proved they could handle themselves yet again. Such tenacity.

He said nothing as the monstrous fallen reaper breathed his last and keeled over, opting instead to take silent pleasure at how the rest of the ever-so-valiant band that had fended it off stood blinking amonst the ashes. He would have had great fun with this pastime, if he hadn't eventually laid his eyes upon Orpheus, stumbling away in a manner Salem knew all too well. In defeat. He eventually came to rest when he met the wall, slumping down with his back against it. The poignancy in the position he took up, head sagging to meet his upraised hands, began a violently radical shift in Salem's mind. His eye flashed, and anybody watching would have sworn the color CHANGED from a metallic silver to a deep, vivid orange.

By the time Salem realized what had happened, he had taken up position beside his friend, knees folded up against his chest, arms linked around them to keep balance. After a moment of silence, he sucked in a heavy breath through his nose, unsure of how to begin. For all his charm and despite his way with words, Salem had never known how to cater to the heart. One might even say he was deaf to emotions, for his own were strange, warped things that didn't follow the conventions of what most humans felt. He could only hope he didn't mince these words he knew so well.

“It's...” Salem began, and then paused. His voiced lacked the usual strange tone, the laughing insanity that made him sound like some maniacal comic-book villain. He sounded like a regular man with no idea how to make things right. “It's madness, my friend, every last ounce of it. Madder even than me, maybe.”

He placed a hand upon Orpheus' shoulder, gently, squeezed softly, keeping his fingers straight to avoid poking the man, and offered a smile in his friend's direction. Words wouldn't fix this one. He jumped to his feet, figuring his time at the ball was about done. “I'll be on the streets a while yet. If you need me, you need only look, and I will come to you. Rock on, Orpheus.” And with that, he slipped away, trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 3:47 pm

The crowd had thinned considerably and with that, it was as if a fog had been lifted, thereby making it easier for Lea to make a clear distinction between the scents belonging to the individuals who were still in the ballroom. He had run around like a headless chicken, nerves frayed as he searched high and low for his missing friend, worried that something untoward might have happened to her be it due to the fight or whatever other reason from the chaos that had ensued. Just as he was contemplating taking on his animal form so as to hasten the search process, he finally located her. Or rather, the unique scent that was hers and vaguely reminded him of cinnamon and sugar. Strange how he would describe it that way in the first place; maybe it was because he was hungry.

The sudden calm as well as the saturated sensation of an immense amount of magic that had all been released at once made him stop to reassess the situation and he felt the tension that was in his shoulders begin to ebb away some. He had no idea how they did it but it seemed to him that they were victorious and the threat had been... eliminated. Still, Cedar remained to be found and the amount of magic that lingered in the air was starting to smother him, evoking strange thoughts and sensations that he had never before possessed.

A... craving.

And just as suddenly as these had come, they were gone the moment Lea had stepped out into the open. Maybe all that he needed was some fresh air after all. Emeralds spotted first the blue-haired witch then Cedar's unconscious form cradled in her arms and he quickened his pace to reach them. Was she..? Almost as if she knew what was on his mind, the young witch explained the situation to him and he nodded in acknowledgement as he finally allowed himself to relax, reaching out with one hand to gently brush a loose lock of Cedar's hair from her face. She looked so serene that he had thought that she... No, he quickly reminded himself as he watched her closely. She was fine now and that was all that mattered.

baby_gwing

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LunaRei_SilverBlood

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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:41 pm

Cedar was able to know what happened. And as the fight ended, and things were 'settled' the roots retracted from the legs... And slithered back into the floor, creaking along the way... Cedar always wanted to put things back the way she found them. Once the roots were settled back into the ground... Her body had been moved.

This made it a bit difficult for her to awaken as quickly as it would have. She struggled inwardly, but her body jerked, and she took in a deep gasping breath... Her eyes lit up again and she quickly leaned forward, her hand moving to her ribs, and she winced.

"Ahh... Shoot that really hurts..." Her fingers felt something protruding that shouldn't have been. She looked around and saw Lea starting at her, his hand out stretched, and she blinked blankly.

She was slightly bewildered before she turned back to the blue haired witch. "Well, thank you for keeping my body safe... Though maybe next time you could keep it closer by. " She laughed.. But it was a scary thought. "I almost didn't know where to return too. Are you alright?" She asked. Not wanting to move to much right now. She'd have to see a healer after this.

"I'm just glad that everyone is safe. Though I didn't have the bravery to run at him like you did. I don't even think I could have gotten that close. Oh, and where are the others, are they okay?" After tonight, she was ready for a nice warm bed...

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:53 pm

Ballroom

Myra winced in sympathy at the Witch's words. She was unsure of what to do earlier but now she knew what to do for the next time. A light chuckle escaped her lips as she slowly let go of the brunette and allowed her to balance herself.

"Sorry about that.... I wasn't quite sure what to do.... I um..... I wasn't really paying attention to the rest of the fight.... I'm sure one or two other people had gotten hurt but I couldn't tell you who. Do you need me to help you out any more...? Everyone seems to be leaving.... And after today's scene I'm sure we could all use a nice bed to sleep in...."

Hhymn

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Kiareii
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:34 pm

Lumena || Castle Ballroom

Dread filled Azra'iel the moment the lights went out and his hand immediately went to his hip, in hopes of the reassurance of his absent-sword hilt. He watched, hand clasping the air next to him, almost numb, as a fellow student he had run into in the library was attacked and tossed aside like a doll. When the ...was he a Reaper? A Black Heart? Either way, the man calling for assistance made his heart ache to join the battle, but he resisted, knowing his youth made him more hindrance than help.

Ruria's words repeated in Azra'iel's head as the battle raged around them. He did not want to run, but he knew neither of them stood much of a chance in the fray. He was not even certain he could successfully protect himself or his date if it became necessary!

As her hand tightened on his, he gently pulled Ruria closer against his body so he could more easily cover her if trouble approached. Backing away from the action, he muttered more to himself than to her. "Of course you wish to stay... I am not certain we have a the option of leaving anyhow: we cannot get to the door." He took in as much of the light around them as he could, hoping a barrier might offer them some protection.

A stray spell sent stone or wood flying in their direction, nicking Azra'iel's cheek; but the witchling stood transfixed watching the battle, his arms loosely circling Ruria. The flashes of the Black Heart's blade mesmerized the young man and the flails of the mysterious Reaper in charge of the situation fascinated him. When the headmistress he had yet to have class with moved in to protect another student, Azra'iel swore his heart froze in his chest. Even from across the room he could feel the Sage's power. He was still recovering from it as the corrupt Reaper fell.

Golden eyes cleared slightly from their fear-laced daze and moved down to the pink-haired girl still in his arms. He knew they should move or leave or, well neither of them were healers, they could not help here, but... "Are---are you alright, Ruria?" The residual magic swirling through the room was oppressive, making Azra'iel feel tired and slightly disoriented.

Omiekins

Lumena ~ Castle Ballroom

Étaín had frozen in a stiff posture the instant the doors of the room cracked into the wall mere feet from where she lingered. Time seemed to slow around her and all she could do was watch the pieces of the door fall. Screams echoed strangely, all sounds dulled to a murmured roar the moment the crazed Reaper entered the room.

Trapped in memories, the young witchling had been unable to move and not powerful enough to assist even if she hadn't been overwhelmed by visions from her not-so-distant past.

As each event transpired in front of her eyes, her traitorous mind overlaid images of the attack on and subsequent death of her father. She did not blame the Reapers for killing him, she blamed only her father for his weakness in devouring a witch's heart. This traitorous beast, however, was far more powerful and crazed than her father had been---but before the powers he held turned inward, she had seen the same look that had been in her father's eyes when...

Blinking, Étaín felt as though time snapped back into place around her when the white-haired Sage moved in to hold the rogue Reaper and protect another Makai student. Sounds of shock and horror assaulted her ears without the buffer of shock and the only thing she could think of was escape. Shaking and pale, the majin girl looked frantically for a path to the main doors. She had to leave. The wild emotions and loose magic were overwhelming, making it hard to control her hunger.

As groups reformed and tried to recover from the catastrophe, Étaín tried to slip from the ballroom: as unseen as she had entered.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:15 pm

✰★✰ Hᴏʀʀᴏʀ ♥ Mᴇɪᴅᴏ ✰★✰

When the fighting began, it felt like she had fallen into a trance, ruby eyes locked onto the movements of Sibelius, of the reaper, of Cruor and Miusa, and everyone else who moved, who had done something. It was an amazing sight to behold, and her eyes kept straining to see the movements made by Sibelius. Even when she felt herself drawn to the warm, solid chest of Az, and she tightened her grip on him, her eyes did not change, nor did her expression.

There was a burst of sparkling light as reaper was emptied of its hearts. Beautiful...those were people's lives, in a way....the beauty in their soul.

Az's voice was the noise to break her trance. Ruria snapped from it, realizing she had begun to breathe quite deeply. "Oh, uh..." her words disappeared from her lips, and she shook her head to regain her concentration. "I'm alright, I - you got cut." Hands slightly shaking, she reached into the small purse she had brought with her, pulling something out...a traditional bandaid. She slapped it onto his cheek and gave a satisfied nod. The bandaid had small skulls on it, something she had probably picked up around the time of Halloween, but knowing her, she had stockpiled them somewhere because of their theme.

"I'm not really sure what happened just now. That was a reaper, wasn't it? That guy and the blackheart I spoke to the other day...they both called him their brother."

(( EDIT* FFFF mule post. Oh well. >>;;; I multi-task!))

Lilium Hallow
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Lilium Hallow
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:12 pm

This would be the first of many strange occurrences. What was affecting normal humans to act in such heinous ways? Something about the happenings at Poena Privus seemed unnatural, almost unsettling, ye even the ones who resided there seemed to be in the dark.

One thing felt sure, however. Dark, dark times were ahead.

Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 10:15 pm

Chapter 2 is over! If you wish to sign up for the drawing now, just post after me. You must have participated at least 1-2 "days" in the meta to join.

The prizes are: Incense of time x 3 (one per person who win) and one Wish Brew tea.