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 Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 10:53 pm
Within her moment of stillness, Madison just might capture his moment of similar nature. She was still again, did that mean she was afraid? More afraid? His hand began to slowly slip from hers, as if trying to escape without being noticed. The very last time Madison had frozen like this, it was followed by her running away. And if she was going to run, he needed both hands...he would lose...again...but he would go down fighting. But before his hand could escape, before his heart gave up that last twinge of hope, she squeezed her grip firm and tight. The blood between their hands made for a squeaking sound when she braced him.
Shock. That was the look on his face as his violet eye peered into hers. He was speechless, and yet speech was not needed to express his emotions. His teeth sunk softly into his top lip, and his bottom lip quivered like jelly.
“We’re going to be okay, dear.”
And then, before he could say a word, or breath a sobbing breath, Madison was embracing him. He was pushed against her, despite the cold metal she was warm. There was a moment of stiffness, of uncertainty before his arms slipped up around either side of her and did his very best attempt at a hug, and a squeeze. A squeeze as if she was a lifeline, his desperation clear in the tight grips his hands made at the material of her pants, turning his knuckles the color of ivory. She would be able to feel him, shaking in her hands. Silent, but shaking, his breaths barely audible. Tensed, but unable to let go.
“We’re going to make it out. We’re going to be okay…”
The dam broke. And then they fell. Like a storm breaking, like an unknown amount of years worth of repressed tears should fall. Hard and heavy with deep lungfuls of sobbing to accompany every sniffle and every stream of black that poured from his eyes, past the mascara dark shadowy bags, staining his face with black streaks as he nuzzled and tugged himself closer to her. Closer, and closer. Until she was delicately pulling him away, and only then did his hands soften their death grip, only then did he realize exactly how lost in the moment he had allowed himself to become. The boy moved back, his hands slipped away. Her fingers nudged his chin up and he looked at her one eye dripping black, and the other a black and gray stained bandage. His chin quivered, but his hands were already moving to wipe away the tear track that lead down his cheeks and to his chin.
“You won't have to do this alone. I'm going to be here beside you. But I need your help to do this.”
Wordlessly he nodded, his hands fell from his face to his side, where one moved to the ruler tied to his belt. He looked as no child of this age should look, like a soldier ready for war, assured of his own demise. She looked to the door, and his gaze followed.
The door was unlocked, unbarred, and if she moved for it, it would immediately open, and shut seemingly of its own accord once she and the boy entered. Despite the clammour outside, the Principals Office was entirely silent. And seemed entirely normal. Directly in front of the duo was a large mohagany desk. There were book racks on either wall, a potted plant at either side of the desk and two small uncomfortable chairs opposite a very large plush office chair on the Principal's side of the desk.
The lights in the room however were dim. The only active light in the entire room was a desk lamp, beaming a halo of flourescent white light on a pair of white pale hands, with their fingers interlaced. The hands belonged to a set of arms which vanished into a dark silhouette against the chair. And then the principal spoke. And when he spoke, the darkness peeled back to reveal a set of triangular sharp, fang-like teeth set in a grin wider than seemed natural. A mouth true to the boys description. The boy who was positioned behind Madison.
Ah, Alice! Its a pleasure to see you again! Its been so long...
The mans voice was smooth, but unnatural, as if the darkness between them was actually a long hallway and the sound had to echo down it, warbling and warping as it did. Also, clearly the Principal was suffering from a case of mistaken identity. He leaned forward, cutting the shape of his head out from the shadow of his chair back. His entire face was shrouded in black, but the outline of oddly shaped hair, as per the boys warning stood out.
...What brings you to my humble office this time?
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 1:25 pm
The two of them had finally managed to have a tender moment. He clung to her as though he didn’t want to let go, but some things had to come to end. Madison smiled down at him and made her way to the door with her hand still holding onto his. Slowly, she began to reach for the door handle to discover that it swung open to reveal it to be unlocked and awaiting their presence. Slowly, Madison made her way into the room with her free hand tightly on the ruler at her hip and made her way in with a great deal of caution. Each step was taken with a great deal of caution as she had no idea what was going to happen. There before her she noticed the interior; it was very much similar to the front desk that was in the Crimson Hawk except this one was a great deal smaller and appeared to be quite older. With the young boy’s hand still in her grasp she moved another step to see the menacing man before her. She couldn’t make out his face, but every detail that the boy mentioned was accurately correct. She could feel both of her knees beginning to quiver as the sharpened teeth grinned at the sight of her. Madison was ready for anything. Maximos Ah, Alice! Its a pleasure to see you again! Its been so long... The mans voice was smooth, but unnatural, as if the darkness between them was actually a long hallway and the sound had to echo down it, warbling and warping as it did. Also, clearly the Principal was suffering from a case of mistaken identity. He leaned forward, cutting the shape of his head out from the shadow of his chair back. His entire face was shrouded in black, but the outline of oddly shaped hair, as per the boys warning stood out. ...What brings you to my humble office this time? Madison blinked for a few moments as she heard the other name echo into her ears. Her grip loosened slightly on the ruler as she ran the name by her mind yet again. That was a definite throw off as she knew that wasn’t her name. Clearly he was mistaken. “I’m afraid you are mistaken…Mister…whatever you are. My name is Madison…” Despite the fact on how confident she sounded, she hand was shaking rather nervously. Afterall, this man was a rather frightful sight considering that he was supposed to be their “Princi pal”. “And this, is my first time here and I want it now to be my last. I am done playing your game.” They were brave words for the rabbit. However, brave and stupid were two very different things. “So, I think it’s time that you let me go home.”
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:26 pm
The Principal, one might expect, to be rude or at the very least monstrous. By all accounts this was an individual that kept little children tortured in terrible gory nightmares. Clearly, by the look of his face and features he was a frightening individual. Individuals of such a frightful appearance, individuals who do such acts of domination over others, they usually like things done their way. Madison was in every way defying the Principal's way. One would expect he would object or counter or even interject some words of his own but he did not. He was, seemingly, a gentleman about all this. Madison spoke and the room fell silent. The sheen of sharp teeth cut out from the black vanished as lips closed. He leaned back in his chair. The Principal seemed to be listening. His hands never twitched, no angry noises came from him. One might imagine he vanished, but his hands were still visible. He said not a single word until Madison said... “So, I think it’s time that you let me go home." At which point the dark shadowy and mysterious outline leaned forward again. Just to the brim of the light, just to the point where his pale chin poked through the halo cast by the lamp. Madison, of course. Thats right. I'm hurt Madison...The Principal let out a small hurt breath and moved his hand up to where his chest in dramatic display. You dont recognize me? And you want to go already?There a playfulness to his voice almost a tease. He was patronizing her. Of course she didnt recognize him. Of course she wanted to go. Who wouldnt? He leaned forward, just enough to show where his pale chin met pale lips, and then leaned back in his chair with a flip. A pale hand made a dismissive waving gesture. If you want to go, go. You'll find your freedom quite-- I'm going with her! She promised! I wont stay trapped any more!The boy interjected, stepping out from behind Madison with his ruler held like a sword at the blacked out figure. The Principal's free waving hand, suddenly came to a stop, hanging in the black like a dead albino spider, hung by its own web. His entire tone shifted, from amiable to dark, deep, he finished his interupted sentence and yet it was entirely clear that this ending was entirely different from the ending planned just seconds ago. ...Impossible. He leaned forward, his hand spreading to either side of the lamps glow as if bracing, his teeth moved forward, his figure hovering at the edge of visibility again. His voice stark, and powerful. Anyone, who allies themselves with him....He said, stabbing his finger forward like a knife at the small boy. A long inky black sleeve of a suit jacket cleary visible. What had this boy done that was so wrong? What had he done to deserve this? ...deserves every bit of what they get here. The Principal retracted his arm, his form leaned forward, so that his mouth, pale cheeks, and a sharp fanged teeth pearly white teeth became visible as he spoke, and as his mouth pierced through the darkness, so did his voice. No longer did it echo, but instead now it was clear. It was cold. But for Madison it was something else. Familiar. Familiar in an impossible way. A way that defied logic, but was unmistakable. Oh you can leave...There was a pause. And the Principal said the boys name. It was a pretty name by some standards. A name Madison had never heard before. A name very few people had heard in a long long time. ...you and Nocturne...As he said the name, the Principal, abruptly stood up, his quick motion knocked over the lamp, which now instead of pouring white light downwards onto the table poured it straight up, bringing the Principals full features into view. The boy, Nocturne, his description was right. This principal, this monster, he had sharped fanged teeth. He had crazy hair that was spiked backwards and colored a dark cobalt almost navy blue. And his eyes, true to description...they were unnatural, his right eye was a light shade of gray so light it was almost white. And his left eye was black, not soulless and empty but a sort of unnaturally dark brown. The Principal looked down at Madison, and the boy with a steely dark mismatched gaze, filled with a sort of terrifying intensity. And with almost a growl on his voice, Maximos said. ...Over my dead body!
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 11:25 pm
Madison listened to the voice speak to her with his rather playful voice. But it continued to talk rather coyly as it had it’s own conversation. She didn’t speak but only listened as her heart continued to race. Let’s face it, this situation was indeed rather frightening considering that the two of them were facing. Maximos If you want to go, go. You'll find your freedom quite-- I'm going with her! She promised! I wont stay trapped any more! The young boy finally made an appearance from behind her and faced the creature. She may have not directly have promised him freedom, but in a way she did. Nervously, she took a deep breath in and looked up towards the shrouded figure. This was possibly going to be a fight for both of their lives. Maximos ...Impossible. He leaned forward, his hand spreading to either side of the lamps glow as if bracing, his teeth moved forward, his figure hovering at the edge of visibility again. His voice stark, and powerful. Anyone, who allies themselves with him....He said, stabbing his finger forward like a knife at the small boy. A long inky black sleeve of a suit jacket cleary visible. What had this boy done that was so wrong? What had he done to deserve this? ...deserves every bit of what they get here. Madison watched his sharp fingers point at the young boy as he loomed over the both of them. The boy could only remain within his position. Madison continued to watch as the two of them stood in front of the desk. Both were waiting for something to happen. Something massive. Maximos Oh you can leave...There was a pause. And the Principal said the boys name. It was a pretty name by some standards. A name Madison had never heard before. A name very few people had heard in a long long time. ...you and Nocturne...As he said the name, the Principal, abruptly stood up, his quick motion knocked over the lamp, which now instead of pouring white light downwards onto the table poured it straight up, bringing the Principals full features into view. The boy, Nocturne, his description was right. This principal, this monster, he had sharped fanged teeth. He had crazy hair that was spiked backwards and colored a dark cobalt almost navy blue. And his eyes, true to description...they were unnatural, his right eye was a light shade of gray so light it was almost white. And his left eye was black, not soulless and empty but a sort of unnaturally dark brown. The Principal looked down at Madison, and the boy with a steely dark mismatched gaze, filled with a sort of terrifying intensity. And with almost a growl on his voice, Maximos said. ...Over my dead body! Madison couldn’t breathe as she saw the face of the owner of the dream. It was a good friend of hers, almost like a brother to her. It was Maximos. She couldn’t believe it, she didn’t want to believe it. But no, he loomed over him as though she was the enemy. But that was something entirely different. “...Max...” She managed to cough up some words of disbelief. It was rather clear in her voice that she didn’t believe the sight before her. But what was even more important was the fact that she knew that she was supposed to fight him in order to get out. An experienced fighter versus a rabbit. But that was indeed the case it appeared, Madison looked up at him and narrowed her eyes slightly. Something didn’t seem right, not at all. Especially considering what had happened in recent events, they had a great deal of bonding moments. And if it was him, how could he have mistaken her for someone else? Why didn’t she recognize his cool calm voice? “Max, I don’t want to have to fight you. Let’s just go home...and go have some tea. You know, like we normally do.” Madison had tears forming in her eyes as she spoke these words. She really didn’t want to believe that this situation was true. However, every moment seemed to become even more real than the next. “Please...let’s just....go home.” Madison stopped moving backwards and stood her ground. She didn’t want to have to bail out again. Besides, this was negotiations. She didn’t want to have to hurt one of her close friends. That was one of the last things she ever wanted to do. But the real question was Madison going to side with a boy she had just met? Or was she going to have to hurt someone that she dearly cared about? This was definitely a difficult decision that this young woman had to make.
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 2:42 am
Principal Maximos did not say a word, neither did he have too. Anything he could or might have said about himself in this role was already said. The last few pieces were all that remained on the board, all that was left was to play it through. Maximos looked at her with a sort stillness in his gaze. He was a rock, a mountain. Unmoveable and untouchable. He did not scoff or laugh when Madison spoke. He did not call her bad names, insult her weakness or rush in for a ferocious attack in a moment of doubt. Maximos just stood completely still, and stared at her. Into her. Through her. As he did, the boy beside her did exactly the same. There was a look of shock on his face, of disbelief, disbelief that filled him even as it faded from Madison. And then, with Madison's last words as she cemented her stance he said. You know him?!I'm sorry, but I cant do that Madison.Said Maximos. Then with a flourish the boy drew his weapon from his hip. Both of his hands gripped the taped end of the ruler as one might grip a sword. The lamp shined a golden streak down the copper edge of the measuring instrument. No, it doesnt matter!He shouted with vehement unshaking resolve. You cant believe him! He's a monster, and I said I'm going to make sure you get free!The weapon snapped to his side, the boy's body bent low, his armor creaking and glistening a faded sunset gold, reflecting the lamp light. His violet eye was locked and intense. His face firm. Even if it means I have to fight him alone!And then he charged. His feet swiftly moved under him, every foot step was a pound of metal on metal, the armor had to be heavy but the boy charged like an avenging night. At the foot of the desk he leapt, with all the agility of a skilled warrior. His sneaker flew out, kicking off the seat of one of the two square chairs, launching him higher into the air. Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!He screamed at the top of his lungs, rage, anger, ferocity all visible. He was a hero in that moment. He was Madison's hero. As his leap brought him eye to eye with the unmoving, unphased Maximos he moved his sword overhead. And then, with all the force he could muster, with all of his weight and power he brought it crashing down onto Principal Maximos' forehead while crying out. DIE! The ruler struck its targets forehead, with a dull smack. In the moment before gravity took hold again, Maximos' mismatched eyes non-chalantly moved from Madison to the boy and he disappointedly said. Really Nocturne? Thats just a ruler...With a blur of impossibly fast black his arm lashed out. There was a horrible crunch and the scream of metal warping it impacted the boy with a deft backhand and sent him flipping and flying like a rag doll. With a sickeningly terrible crunch the boy impacted a bookcase to the far right, immediately shattering the shelf so that as he fell to the ground in a heap, nearly a dozen books fell on him. Maximos' eyes fell back on Madison. His hand as if it was just a hand, and not a weapon for sending children soaring, casually gestured to Madison, and he said. I suppose that makes it your turn. Lets get this over with. My staff is getting anxious...
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Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 4:28 pm
He was staring at her, no he was staring through her and Madison could feel it. He wasn’t treating her like she was even human, but rather an object. She could feel her eyes beginning to water as he continued to gaze at her. She couldn’t believe this. She didn’t want to believe this. Maximos You know him?! I'm sorry, but I cant do that Madison. Said Maximos. Then with a flourish the boy drew his weapon from his hip. Both of his hands gripped the taped end of the ruler as one might grip a sword. The lamp shined a golden streak down the copper edge of the measuring instrument. Madison attempted to speak, but it seemed that the young boy named Nocturne wouldn’t allow it as he defended her. He promised she was going home, and Maximos wasn’t allowing it. Madison’s hands clenched tightly in fists as the battle raged on, unmoving, uncaring. Her heartbeat pounded rather loudly within her ear as she continued to watch. There waaaas a loud crunch and scream heard as the boy went flying across the room. Madison practically jumped backwards at the sight. Nocturne had fallen, and he wasn’t going to get up any moment in time. “…Nocturne…” Madison’s words could barely be heard as they leaked out of her mouth. This boy fought for her freedom as much as he could, and he barely even knew anything about her. All he knew was the fact that she was trapped in here with him and a name. But then there was Maximos, unlike the boy he knew quite a bit more about her. They had history together from travelling to having tea. And now, the worst was yet to come… Maximos I suppose that makes it your turn. Lets get this over with. My staff is getting anxious... Madison looked up to see that the dark figured man was looking directly at her, and he did not seemed all that pleased with her interrupting his office time. She had a variety of choices that she could try, in fact they were limitless. She could stay and fight for her freedom and for Nocturne’s Honor, she could run away and face the doctors yet again, or she could even try and talk with him again. There were ever so many choices. Reaching into her sheath she had than pulled out the long ruler with the sharpened edge and looked at it. She resembled a knight preparing to slay the dragon, there were tears running down the sides of her face as she continued to stare at it. It was just a ruler, but at the same time it was a weapon of combat. A weapon to be used against the dark creature before her, the monster that many feared. CLANK!
That was the sound of the metal ruler hitting something rather hard; if one wasn’t paying attention they would have thought that Madison had hit Maximos to defend Nocturne’s honor. But instead, Madison was just standing there with the ruler tossed on the floor in between them. She could feel herself beginning to shake as her head slowly looked up to stare Maximos straight in the face. “I’m not going to fight you.” Her voice was a mere whisper as her crimson red eyes stared right into his mismatched eyes. Her body was still shaking as she stood there, but really could you blame her? Maximos was a scary individual if you were not on his good side. But the feeling of anxiety began to drift as she continued to move forward slightly. “Nocturne said that you were frightening and scary. In fact he described you as a monster. But you are not a monster…you are my friend. I can’t fight you. I would never dare do anything to cause you harm. Ever.” Madison removed her home made helmet and caused another clank on the floor as her ears began to move freely. The shaking had stopped for Madison was feeling less afraid. Finally she was at the edge of his desk and she stood there as though there was a border between them. “If I have to hurt you in order to get home, I’ll just have to find another way than.” She remained standing. The tears were gone now and the only thing that remained was her rather serious expression on her face. “So if you are going to hit me, fine. Hit me. But I am not going to fight you, Maximos Lucilien Dark.” She didn’t wince or prepared herself for the worse. Whatever he was going to throw at her, Madison was going to feel it.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:06 pm
Again, almost like a pre-written scene Principal Maximos stood completely still, his eyes on Madison, and his arms moved back to fold across his chest. He was, despite the intensity of his eyes yet still being a gentleman about this whole thing.
Madison, stepped forward as something near the epitome of fear, of a little girl. Her emotions seemed almost unmoved for the boys sacrifice, as instead they appeared focused on the loss of a friend.
And then a sword fell to the ground. Strangely enough, though Madison chucked a ruler, it was clearly a copper sword that clanged against the floor. Madison, the small bunny, had been here to for known as an expected to be a few things. Human, innocent, young, all in their fullest regard. She did not rush to rescue a stranger, she ran. Her humanity made obvious. She did not bravely and immediately take up arms against a friend. Her innocent given voice. She was now brave and cold as the boy, but filled with tears. Her youth made plain to see.
But one step at a time, one trembling advance after another she was doing something wholly unexpected and become, or revealing someone else. She discarded a helm, her eyes locked on her fear they did not dodge. And soon, they did not even tear.
By the time she stopped speaking, a transformation had completed. It was not that in a few step become something or even someone else, but infact quite the opposite. Fear, and weakness, they may have shown themselves. They may have even at times overridden Madison's personality like thick swaths of black paint over a masterpiece. But...Madison was still herself. Even if she did not truly know who that was. In a few determined steps, against tears, and doubts, and fears...Madison had transformed, into herself.
She was not leaning on a boy. She was not hiding behind fear. She was not quivering under doubt. Madison found strength in herself. Her bunny legs were strong, her form wasnt even tensed. It was beautiful is what it was.
The Principal began to clapping. Normally a clap would be a sign of praise but the flat and entirely unmotivated look on his belied this entirely. He spoke, not angry words but smooth words, soft words, not forceful in their delivery or volume but powerful in their meaning and intent. He said.
Thats very good. Honestly praise worthy.
His hands fell down, one hung at his side, the other ran its fingertips along the edge of the table as he began to walk around it.
What you mean to tell me, is that you wont defend yourself? You'll just let me beat on you in the hopes that you'll earn some other way free?
He was now on the far end of the table just inches from the fallen Nocturne, and turning a corner. A smile was beginning to play on his lips, despite the seriousness of the situation.
Are you honestly, truthfully risking your freedom on the belief that as long as you do whats right, things will turn out alright?
Now he was on the side of the table Madison stood on, she stood in front of the desk and in front of the desk were two chairs. With his foot he kicked her sword back over near her. And with his hand he pulled out of the two chairs, one of which Nocturne had leap off of and carried a sneaker print on its cushion. He did not choose that one.
How romantic. How poetic. So tell me...
Maximos said, something almost accusatory in his voice, though his tone was nothing but Maximos Trademark Friendly, and his face carried an almost innocent grin. As he spoke he sat down, now easily within arms reach of Madison. His legs folded, his hand interlaced in his lap.
...How is standing there, unwilling to defend yourself or your friend, hoping on the impossible...any different than running away?
Oh he had swung. A viscious swing even, but his hands never moved, and Madison would earn no bruises or cuts. No magic was involved, just words. A delicate attack, purposefully aimed at her doubts.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 8:58 pm
Madison was speechless as the principal continued to walk around and speaking with her. He had made a very good point. Were her actions any different than running away? She had yet again tossed the young boy aside to defend for her own needs. In a way, she had repeated the incident in the hallway all over again. Her throat tightened as though she wanted to break down at that point, was she such a terrible person? Everything that had been occurring thus far indicated to yes, from her reaction to his sacrifice to her fleeing by simply watching him.
This was possibly the first time Madison had to sit and think about her morals, her beliefs, and everything that she stood for. As long as she could remember she was told to do the right thing. There was never room for even to consider doing the wrong thing. However, because she was sticking to what she believed was righteous and true, she had stabbed the boy who was helping her in the back as well as throwing the opportunity of her freedom out the window.
As she continued to stand still, she could feel herself begin to question why she was fighting to go home. It wasn’t as though she really had one in comparison to now. The only things she could think of that was worth the fight was seeing a few individuals. And even with that, they were a few and far between. Madison also didn’t exactly have an establishment to live in. In all honesty, she was nothing more than a lost cause. But yet, she wanted to go back there, everything in her body and soul said she longed to be in the arms of safety, where ever that maybe.
There was an opportunity that she wasn’t going to be able to go home at this point if she kept playing by her own rules. And Madison had been there long enough to know that this world didn’t seem to be the ideal place to play by her own rules. Even though her intentions seemed to be good, here, they only seemed to cause nothing more than harm to the individual she was partnered with.
Madison’s eyes fell down to the ground to see her discarded armor and weaponry tossed to the side. In comparison to Maximos’s weaponry, these were just toys; small toys which would certainly seal her faith in this terrible place. There was still opportunity for her to grab a hold of her home made sword and defend herself, but she seemed to only stare at it as though it was a foreign object.
“See, that’s where you are wrong, Maximos.” At that moment Madison looked up at him again. She had a bit of a smile on her face showing that her confidence was showing. She knew exactly what she stood for, and she knew her own integrity.
“I didn’t say anything about not defending myself.” Her eyes moved off of the floor and back into his face. She looked tired, worn, and filled with a great deal of sadness. But yet there was something lurking inside of her. Something dark and twisted was forming, and yet it was managing to fuel the motives which she decided to take.
“And I don’t have to hide behind a weapon to do so.” It was true; Madison did not need those sorts of toys in order to play this sort of game. Madison had never been exactly skilled with any sort of weapon combat to begin with. If she was going to play, she was going to do this part her way.
“So, let’s play, Maxi.” She continued to stand; she may have not looked as though she was ready for any sort of combat. But she knew she was ready, or at least she felt ready. Her eyes lightly skimmed over towards Nocturne’s injured body. He had been fighting for her, despite everything she had done to him, he was continuing the fight.
Now it was her turn.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 10:33 pm
The twisted grin on Maximos' face stretched and warped, and even though the lamp was shining up and away from him his teeth still seemed independently cut from the darkness. Impossibly white, almost glowing.
Her strength was amazing, he looked, for a moment completely and honestly proud. But only a flash before it faded under that dark toothy smile. She had challenged him, outwardly even. And now, Maximos seemed ready to move.
His foot unfolded, his hands unclasped. One hand immediately moved to the armrest of the chair, the other moved forward. This was not a punch, a smack, a swing, or anything of the sort, his hand moved so slowly infact that if this was an attack even a blind man could have dodged it. He would move, until his hand was beside Madison's face, where a human set of ears might be. And then he would snap his fingers.
A whisper would come from shadows cast behind her, against the lamp light. And it would speak in her voice, and it would say.
“If I have to hurt you in order to get home, I’ll just have to find another way than. So if you are going to hit me, fine. Hit me. But I am not going to fight you, Maximos Lucilien Dark. I am not going to fight you, Maximos Lucilien Dark...I am not going to fight you...”
And it would continue to echo that for a few seconds as Maximos leaned back in his chair again, and as he did so, made a motion to her fighting stance. Clearly in opposition to her previous statement. And in that simple motion again called into question everything she had just said. He would give a pause for that to sink in, and then he would soft, almost sympathetically say.
Fellowship, the fourth myth of reality: As the tides of war shift, so do loyalties. Heroics, dear Madison, they only earn you tragedy. No matter what you do in life you will always lose something.
He gestured to himself.
You can fight me, and give up your morals.
His hand moved over his shoulder, a thumb jutting back at a pile of very still books with a boy underneath.
You can not fight me, and give up everything sacrificed for you...
And then his hand gestured in a wide arc to her.
You can give up. And leave GUARDIAN and everyone you are responsible to, and for, and Lord Shin, and everyone who cares for you. Tossing back their every wasted emotion, in their faces.
And his hands laced back in his lap. He had attacked alright. This time, far far harder than a moment ago. Far far more than a punch, or kick, or even a stab.
That is the cost of being a good person...it costs you everything. Even you know I'm right, deep inside in that part of your gut that feels like its twisting down into a bottomless nether...You know. Dont you?
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 3:40 pm
Madison stopped for a moment and looked at the man within the chair. His choices seemed rather broad. But what was even more confusing was why would he bring GUARDIAN up? The rabbit cocked her head slightly and with a raised eyebrow. Something didn’t seem right about that statement to her. However, unfortunately she knew she was right when he was right with his statement. Her eyes fell to the ground and she looked down at the tiled floor sadly. Madison knew that more than anything about the pain of a sacrifice.
But it was at that moment where she wasn’t sure what exactly she wanted to sacrifice. There was the sacrifice of two friendships, there was the sacrifice of a responsibility, and then there was a sacrifice of her freedom. Slowly she folded her arms across her chest as she thought. She was feeling small and weak now and that was clearly obvious as her ears no longer stood upwards but down at the side of her head.
Finally, her focus fell on the idea about GUARDIAN and her responsibilities there. Despite what she did have, she didn’t really have much of a role there to begin with. Most of the time, she was left in the dark as she never heard anything that was going on within the system. Plus there was the issue of Shin; she deeply cared about him as she did with any of her other friends. But, she never did ever get to see him ever because he was always busy with certain things. However, her mind wandered a little further past that, to where Max was and his knowledge.
“…How did you know about GUARDIAN? I have…never told you about it.” Madison had a very valid point for she knew she never really had any obvious connections with it other than her connections with Lord Shin. She never wore the uniform, she never really had missions, nor did she ever talk about it. However, the more she seemed to think about it. The more she realized the true face that GUARDIAN had, and more and more did that choice seemed more pleasurable. But despite how nice the option seemed, there was still another issue.
And that was indeed the matter of fact of Lord Shin. She couldn’t explain it, but every inch of her filled up with the worst kind of pain ever, this was the first time that she had ever experienced this. It was like something inside her was breaking even at the thought of it. And she wasn’t just thinking about her at this moment, she knew that Shin would feel the same way.
At least, part of her did. For she knew that deep down, his feelings were still directed towards another. It was a woman with red hair and pale skin, his childhood friend. She had never met her, but she had seen her only once. And Madison was well aware about the connection they had. But that woman still meant the world to him, and the rabbit knew that. She knew that with every inch of her being that he still cared about her that much.
But she knew that if she played that card. Madison would be running away from the problem. Running away like she always did. She ran away from the laboratory, from a circus, from a place where she felt at home. Never did she ever stay in one place, not once in her life. But the real question what was she going to do?
Nothing but tears began to run down the side of her face as she thought of the answer; her insides were tearing apart as though they were being chopped apart. She didn’t want to have to make this choice, she wished she there was another way out. But despite all of this, she knew that nothing was ever going to go this way.
“I still stand by what I say; I am not going to fight you Maximos….” That narrowed down part of her choice, now there was only two more to go. Pulling her head up, Madison shook her head in order to allow her hair to get out of her face as well as allowing the tears to be less visible. However, her voice was still rather shaky as she spoke as though she was sobbing for quite some time. She was definitely trying to pull herself together before completely breaking.
“…Nor am I going to quit GUARDIAN and leave Lord Shin like you desire. I…I am going to stay here.” Madison had made her choice. Although, she knew that because of her choice she was never going to see any of those individuals again. Madison took a deep breath in as she stood still. She did not want to have to have the heart wrenching moment to having to tell Shin that she was going to have to leave him, knowing that she gave her freedom for that.
“If my freedom means that I have to hurt the people I care about, I don’t want to have anything to do with that.” Madison sniffed a little as she continued to try and keep herself together. It was hard, for the pain was making her want to keel over. But she knew that in this situation it was the best one.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 3:35 am
Sadness. Averted glances. These were the signs of a successful attack. They were in every way like flinches, groans and cries of pain from a stab, kick, or punch respectively. If this was a fight, the grin on his face said he was sure he was winning. “…How did you know about GUARDIAN? I have…never told you about it.” No. You didnt.He said quickly, his eyes looking away from her at the decorated walls of his office. Mismatched glances passed over macabre paintings which hung on the wall, demotivational posters were motivational posters belonged. But I know Lord Shin. I knew of GUARDIAN when they tried to take Teira from me, to kill her, so she could "save the world". For you to be close to him, you had to be close to them...He smirked and chuckled. She was breaking, he was smiling. He could almost see the extra sheen in her eyes, the shivering orange glimmer from tears trying desperately to fall. I know alot of things...His right hand raised again, thumb pressed to index finger ready to snap. Tears. They fell like silent rain, sweet sweet silent rain. Maximos was about to say something, but he didnt. A gentleman, unless absolutely necessary, does not interrupt a lady. “I still stand by what I say; I am not going to fight you Maximos….” Especially not when the lady in question appears as if she was struggling not to break. He could see the effort behind the look on her face. He could see the way she strained. The way she fought. The way she warred with the choice she was faced with, a war that was tearing her apart. Was there more strength beneath the words? Beneath the tears? Beneath the struggle? Or was Madison on the edge of a breakdown? There was a smirk on Maximos face that said, he didnt know the answer, but he knew exactly how to find out. He held his fingers pressed together, like one might hold a readied weapon, like a grenade. “…Nor am I going to quit GUARDIAN and leave Lord Shin like you desire. I…I am going to stay here.” She said, and she meant it. She really meant it. She had weighed the cost in her mind, and made a firm choice. To which he sardonically replied. Awww...Like the sort of sound you make when a puppy plays with a ball, or a baby makes its first cutesy sounds. It wasnt friendly. “If my freedom means that I have to hurt the people I care about, I don’t want to have anything to do with that.” Almost rolling off of his last expression, he leaned forward in his seat and said, in an almost shocked and disappointed tone. ...You sound so human when you say it like that! But your not, are you? What would your family think?He reached his hand forward again, and as he did, he spoke. His words were timed so that as his hand reached beside one of her large flopping white ears the sentence would end, and to punctuate it his fingers would snap. Or have you forgotten them?Snap. The voice played. Immediately familiar. A lost voice. A voice she would never have heard again. A voice with meaning. Old meaning...a voice attached to a memory that was being replayed in audio only. Vith zhis serum, you vill be normal again...
The voice wafted past one ear, soft like a breeze. It looped around the back of her head, replaying her response. She remembered her response didnt she? How she turned down the cure? How she chose to remain how and what she was?
A freak...
The first voice returned, whispering in her other ear.
A monster...Von of us...von of our family... Maximos spoke again, leaning forward his nose mere inches from her nose, his grin wide, and sharp and as vicious as his words. But his words had no malice to their tone, they stung with the sharp edge of truth. A memory of another decision. And where was she now compared to then? Did Mary, Marcel, even the Doctor, a surrogate family, no longer matter? Your not one of them. So why think like one of them? You'll only suffer. That man, he tried to be hero too. A good person. Heroism only breeds death. That Doctor, and his entire twisted family are dead.Principal Max leaned back in his chair, with all the swagger and smugness of a king. Far to proud of something. Casually, as if it meant nothing at all, just another trophy on the wall, he said with a small waving gesture. I killed them myself.
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 1:18 pm
Maximos But I know Lord Shin. I knew of GUARDIAN when they tried to take Teira from me, to kill her, so she could "save the world". For you to be close to him, you had to be close to them... He smirked and chuckled. She was breaking, he was smiling. He could almost see the extra sheen in her eyes, the shivering orange glimmer from tears trying desperately to fall. I know alot of things... “…Teira?” Madison looked rather confusedly at him as he mentioned this girl’s name. She seemed rather important to Maximos, but she had never heard of him. Not from GUARDIAN, from Shin, or even from Maximos. This was something that she had never heard before. However the conversation never seemed to cease there as the rabbit made her decision. However, this seemed like to be the wrong one. Maximos Awww... Like the sort of sound you make when a puppy plays with a ball, or a baby makes its first cutesy sounds. It wasnt friendly. “If my freedom means that I have to hurt the people I care about, I don’t want to have anything to do with that.” Almost rolling off of his last expression, he leaned forward in his seat and said, in an almost shocked and disappointed tone. ...You sound so human when you say it like that! But your not, are you? What would your family think? Madison froze at that statement. It was terribly annoying simply to hear the false sense of pride. But he was sounding rather disappointed, in fact overly so. But that was beside the point, now Maximos had played a new card into the playing field. Her family. Maximos Or have you forgotten them? Madison looked up at him only to hear that unforgettable snap to occur once more. It was a voice, a very friendly and kind voice that she hadn’t heard in years. As the voice spoke she replayed the memory in her head. Everything felt so real again as she stood within the office where a man held a vial in front of her. She could feel herself wanting to sob, but right now she was continuing to play a battle of wits. But for her to hear that voice once more made her feel slightly more comforted than the feelings that she had been experiencing within this place. She had not forgotten about the memory, she had it simply tucked away in the back of her mind since it did cause her much sorrow. Not because of the connection, but rather because what had happened between them. Somedays, Madison wished she could go back and see them again, but she was never sure if they would welcome her back with open arms like they did the first journey there. Maximos Your not one of them. So why think like one of them? You'll only suffer. That man, he tried to be hero too. A good person. Heroism only breeds death. That Doctor, and his entire twisted family are dead. Madison had returned to the reality of this terrible place to see that she was now face to face with the principal of this school. His words were ever so sharp and piercing. But she continued to stare at him as she pieced together the last thing he said. That Doctor, and his entire twisted family are dead. “…What?” She couldn’t believe it. Maximos must have been telling her things now to try and make her fall. But his grin never seemed to fade as she stared at him. Maximos had returned to his chair and continued to flash around his pride. The modest Maximos that she knew was now grinning and waving around as though he was conducting an orchestra. Madison only looked at him as she could only hope that it wasn’t true, but his face was saying otherwise. Her red eyes widened as she looked at him as she felt another strand of her sanity snap. She couldn’t breathe as her chest felt heavy as well as her legs. Buckling beneath her, Madison fell to the ground where both her helmet and her home made sword was sitting. She could only stare down on the floor without a sound as she tried to place everything together. Her body was shaking as she rested in her spot. Every emotion was running through her at this moment and she couldn’t piece it together for herself. Rage….
Sadness….
Disbelief…. All of them boiling together as she was forced to make a decision on how she felt. “…I don’t believe you.” Her voice was shaky and quiet as she stared down at the floor. She was clenching her fists ever so tightly that her nails were creating small little cuts in the palm of her hands. “I…Don’t believe you!” Madison could feel the tears beginning to fall like a waterfall. They were fine when she had left them. They had a tight knit security system that had almost even killed her. It couldn’t have happened not to them. Not to the members of the black hospital. She remained sitting on the floor with a very heavy heart. Madison wiped a few more tears only to find more to fall in it’s place. Madison still could not believe what he was saying despite what she was hearing. He was CLEARLY mistaken.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 2:10 am
And boom. Like a one two knock out punch, Madison was down for the count. Principal Maximos had floored his opponent and never once swung. Never touched her! But he didnt seem smug about his faux victory.
“…I don’t believe you.”
Her voice was shaky and quiet as she stared down at the floor. He could have said so many things, but he didnt. There were words, like bombs that could be used to devastate, but none were spoken. Instead, the expression on the pale Shadow's face turned to something sad, and grim. Something tragic. Something verging on sympathetic.
“I…Don’t believe you!”
Madison could feel the tears beginning to fall like a waterfall. He leaned forward so that his elbows rest on his knees, and that...the hand that had performed such vicious snaps of the fingers reached forward. It was his right hand, and if Madison did not push or move away it would reach down slip its index and middle fingers under her chin.
And then kindly, gently, almost lovingly make an effort to lift her face. If she looked up, she would see...Maximos. Her dear friend, with a sort of sad empathetic look that only Maximos could bring. As if he not only saw you were in pain, but in some way experienced it himself along with you.
His mismatched eyes would fall deeply on her own. And then his left hand would raise ever so slowly, until it was even with his left shoulder, his hand balled in a loose fist. His thumb poked out, sticking out over his shoulder. And in one smooth motion he brought his left hand, and thumb, from his left shoulder, across to his right shoulder, crossing his neck. The universal symbol for "dead". The sympathy in his eyes fell, his lips twisted into a convoluted menacing grin and he even added a...
Krrrrrrrk!
...Sound effect, as was customary with the gesture. His hand would fall from her face.
Dont you remember the being that chased you in the snow? Black wings? That was me. It was only a matter of time before I learned how to get in. I left a dying person at their door. They came to claim him. I took Marcel first, the bumbling useless abomination. I took time with those limbs, t he largest first, then the smallest...When his sister came to defend him, the patchwork puppet of a woman I dispatched her. Clean strokes of a blade undid her stitches...
He laughed, and laughed hard, for harder than was necessary in order to prove it was humorous, but just hard enough to drive the twist of tragedy home...
...She tried so nobly to stand as she fell apart like a tossed unkempt doll, spilling its padding...or in this case necrotized viscera all over the snow, it made the prettiest pinkish green color...With the fortress gates open, I ascended on the Doctor himself. The twisted madman, he barely put up a fight. I do believe his heart was broken...
A frown, a frown so fake it hurt to look at. He was saying this, every bit, in all of its detail, to hurt her. To make her feel his point.
...I made sure his body was just as torn apart before he finally passed. I'm sure he said your name a few times before...
A chuckle, his eyes finally falling back on her.
But I digress. Your right to forget them. Monsters, all. I believe you had a decision to make, didnt you?
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 11:00 am
She had lost. As his words had chopped her into two and made her lose the match that she had faced. However, there was a moment that she never thought she would be able to experience. His middle and index fingers reached beneath her chin and he lifted her head up. She didn’t struggle as much as she wanted too. But she finally saw the most comforting thing that this place had offered so far. Madison met Maximos’s mismatched eyes and she felt slicking better. It was only for a moment though as she saw the charming friend that she knew. Her tears didn’t stop falling, but she felt deep down slightly better to see this sort of a gesture of kindness. It was only for that small moment before his sympathetic look disappeared to reveal the twisted grin that she was faced with this entire adventure since they had reached the office. Madison knew what was coming now; it was going to be another trip on emotional turmoil. Maximos made his gesture and Madison attempted to turn away to look back at the ground. Although her movements were not fast enough as she witnessed the symbol and heard the nails on the chalk board sound. Finally once he let go of her face Madison’s head fell to stare back at the ground. She didn’t want to look at him. She didn’t want to see the sick pleasure that he got from it, however the sound of his voice didn’t seem to hide the amount of pride that he had received from killing each of them. He didn’t hide any details from her. He even decribed the order of death as well as how each of how his blade moved. However, nothing hurt even more than what he said about The Doctor. Maximos The twisted madman, he barely put up a fight. I do believe his heart was broken... A frown, a frown so fake it hurt to look at. He was saying this, every bit, in all of its detail, to hurt her. To make her feel his point. ...I made sure his body was just as torn apart before he finally passed. I'm sure he said your name a few times before... Madison couldn’t breathing as she sobbed waterfall like tears. Her stomach was tied tightly in a knot which made her feel absolutely sick and disgusted. Every part of her body hurt as the tears continued. She couldn’t speak, she didn’t want to speak. But her mind raced with a variety of different thoughts about. Marcel… Mary….
Her “Father”…
All of them were dead.
She never had a chance to even say good bye. All that happened was they ended on bad terms, Madison left them. She had basically left them for dead. Her body shook as the overwhelming sensation of guilt filled her. This was her fault. She could feel Maximos’s eyes fall back on her, which only made her wish he stopped staring. But his cool words only continued as she knew he was smiling at her. Maximos But I digress. Your right to forget them. Monsters, all. I believe you had a decision to make, didnt you? Madison could only feel her urge to want him to stop talking. She was growing tired of hearing him use his mockery towards her. At this moment, she just wanted to be left alone to her own thoughts. But she knew she wasn’t going to have that opportunity, not yet. “…You are no better than them…or me…Mr. Maximos.” Madison finally managed to utter out words. They were still very frail. But from the distance that they were at she was positive that he was able to hear every word that she was saying. As she spoke her right hand made its way slowly to the ground in order to grab a hold of the ruler ever so cautiously as she attempted not to draw attention to her hand gesture. “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster.” Lifting her head she finally was able to look at him in the eye. Her corners were now a bright vivid pink color as they had sobbed a great deal of tears. But it was clear that they were full of pain and hurt. “And judging by your actions, you weren’t paying attention to the process.” Madison grabbed a hold of the ruler more tightly and swung towards the man in order to attempt to hit him with the sharpened edge. The rabbit at that moment didn’t care about anything else that was happening around her. She didn’t care about her morals, her beliefs, or anything. Maximos had caused her a great deal of pain, and she wanted to have some vengeance. Not for her pain… But for her family. Madison had shattered from the person she was. Everything that she knew, her foundations, her relations, everything. They were all merely broken shards in her mind, and now she was acting on instinct and rage. Madison was no longer playing the good person anymore.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 4:09 pm
The ruler, in her hands, was no longer a ruler. It was a copper toned sword with a razor sharp edge, a white leathery hilt which seemed to be made of layered strips, and with a wooden core at the center of the blade with lines every inch or so for measuring.
This was a weapon.
This was a killing tool.
And it was a mighty uncivilized thing Madison was about to do. Something not kind. Not innocent. Not warm or good. Madison, had let go. Much as she let go outside in the hall, impaling a nurse's arm with a pair of scissors. Only this was not some random stranger, this was her friend. A good, close friend.
It stood to reason that Principal Maximos might have seen her lift the ruler. His eyes met hers unrelenting. A mismatched gaze still serving as the face of all her doubts, as it had since this "fight" began. She spoke, he listened. And then violently, and viciously, she swung.
The sword moved in an even line, lamp light blazed along its edging allowing it to draw a shimmering copper arc in the air. It moved unhindered and effortlessly from one of Principal Maximos' shoulders, to the other. It moved so effortlessly in fact it seemed that it hadnt struck at all. As if he had dodged, perhaps faster than she could see. Such a thing would not be out of the ordinary for Maximos. Maybe she had failed...maybe...
But the pitter-patter of blood sliding a red trail down the sword and off of its tip to spill onto black rug, said otherwise.
Maximos was still looking at her, still smiling. There was a pride on his face, now, a pride that was not for himself as much as it was for her. But he looked untouched, uncut, even despite the blood. He said...
You are absolutely correct. I am a monster.
A pencil thin line of red came into view along the base of his pale neck. Just above the collar of his impossibly jet black suit. Thin enough to be missed, if it didnt shine wetly reflecting the lamp light.
And outside, there is no one to stop me.
The twine-thin line across his neck broke its even shape, dripping long ropes of crimson down his neck, staining his shirt and standing out in stark contrast against his incredibly pale white skin.
No blade should be so sharp. But this was a dream. Her own willingness to hurt, to kill, to maim fueled her weapon. It moved from a harmless ruler, in the hands of a boy who lost his will to fight...to a pristine armament with its place in legend.
His face was suddenly so soft. He looked at her, as he had looked at her while pulling that glass shard from her hand in her hotel room. Kind and caring. His hand reached forward, to touch the side of her cheek, speaking as he did.
You did good. But dont forget this when you...
His hand stopped, blood was rushing from his neck furiously, like an overflowing sink spilling rose colored life down body. His head began to slightly c**k to the side. His words never stopped. Even when his lips stopped moving, even when his head slid from his shoulders and thumped to the floor with a wet smack the words echoed and hung in the hair, haunting.
...wake up.
His body slumped to the side, a heavy shoulder impacting his desk and making it rock just enough to roll the lamp onto its side. Its bright line shined cruel and blinding in Madison's eyes painting her entire world the pinkish-red color inside her eyelids.
And then her eyes would open. The sun was high in the sky, its brilliant early morning rays filling her vision. When Madison awoke, she would find herself on the exact roadside where she fell asleep. There was no boy. No school. No evil principal. Despite how vivid it all was, despite the principals dying words, it would probably seem all to ease to think, maybe it was all just a dream.
But Madison, would find that near impossible. As she looked at herself, and tried to wake, she would be able to clearly see and feel, that she was still wearing a suit of pots and pan armor....held together by construction paper and duct tape...And in her hand, clutched oh so tightly, was a ruler with tape bunched up at one end...And a stream of fresh red blood staining its copper edge.
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