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 Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:27 am
"There You Go"
META
There was silence from the man for several minutes as they slinked through the hallways, careful to stop dead in the shadows if a guard were to pass by during their rounds. His breathing was shallow to begin with, though he was somehow able to make his breath cease for considerable periods of time. As they would pass, he would make his way across the hall as quickly and noiselessly as possible, a dispicable grin forming on his face.
"Little one, you have not made much noise in a while. Have you finally seen the good?" he cackled, allowing his hands to slacken.
Blaithe held her broken stump closely, making sure to keep it off of and away from the disgusting cultist's filthy flesh, her clothing piled messily on his palm. Holding herself close, her light completely gone, it was almost as if she wasn't there. She waited patiently for the man to check on her, though it seemed as if he were only going to show his curiosity by questions. His voice almost made her sick.
"Little one... you do not do well by holding your tongue when addressed. Speak." His voice had become testy, almost forming a growl with his gruff voice. Blaithe couldn't tell, but he sounded like an older man... one that shouldn't have been able to do the things he was doing. He was so lithe and agile, while any older man would have been crumbling at the knees.
How odd.
Blaithe remained silent, keeping as still as she possibly could. The man's stride, while quick, was silky smooth like a shadow on a wall. If only he HAD been a shadow. The young Phasmas held no fear of shadows as they could be dispersed by her own light. This man was physical... her light held no chance against him, only making her obvious in the dark corridor. Patience was what was needed. And patience, while new to her, was something she had. Placing her head against her arms, propped up by her knee, she waited for the man to lose his temper.
And it worked.
"I said you try my patience, little one. Speak!" he whispered angrily, shock contorting his face as he opened his hand. Nothing but the Plague's tiny clothing rested unceremoniously in his hand. His breathing changed, becoming quickened and nervous as he knelt down in search of the escaped Excito. Along with the dropped the clothing, Blaithe fell down to the floor, landing with more force than she had expected. Still, she held her breathing the best as she could, making as little noise as possible before crawling away towards the safety of under one of the tall and low-set shelves.
"Little one! Where have you gone? Y-you did not dissipate, did you? You are still here with me, yes?" The man's voice was panicked and hurried as he crawled along the floor, looking under vases and shelves in search of his new-found treasure. "Y-you cannot do this to me!"
The man scuffled along, his attention set on looking for Blaithe. It seemed as if he couldn't leave without her, though she held no pity for the man. He stole her from the only place she belonged; with her Grimm.
Footsteps rang from down the hall, but fell deaf upon the pathetic man's ears as he searched frantically for the Plague he had 'worked so hard' to capture. "Little one, please, come to me!"
Holding her place, Blaithe heard the footsteps of her saviors. A flash of relief washed over her, though she still had the predicament of the man before her. Having removed his mask in order to see better, the Excito nearly wanted to lash out at his exposed face. Adorned with a disgustingly horrible face, his age was well revealed. How was he able to do the things he had?
"L-little one..."
"YOU THERE, STOP WHERE YOU ARE!"
The Cultist sprung to his feet, instantly putting his mask back on before turning tail and running. With the guard not far behind, he made chase into the darkened corridor before a tiny "wait!" rang from underneath one of the large shelves. Stopping in his tracks, the armored man watched as the Cultist disappeared into the black, inky shadows.
He would never have caught up.
"Who asked me to wait?" he called, glancing around in the darkness before a small glow came from under the shelf. Kneeling down, he peeked under to see Blaithe crawling out, glowing brighter than she normally would. He offered her his hand, allowing her to climb up. "My clothes..." she murmured, pointing in the direction that the man had dropped them. Despite their bright colors, they would have gone entirely missed had she not pointed them out. The guard grabbed them and placed them within Blaithe's reach.
The guard took one more look in the direction that the man had run off to. Someone would have to guard the infirmary for the rest of the night, and every other night, decidedly.
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:28 am
"Crossing the Frame"
META
It wasn't a terribly long process, but it felt like it had taken hours. Blaithe found herself huddled into the farthest corner of her and her Grimm's room, tears streaming down her sudden, human shaped face. It certainly hadn't been comfortable, changing into this form, but she had kept herself quiet in hopes to not disturb her slumbering owner. She was cold, her bare form seated against the cold stone of the abandoned base. Her own body heat unable to keep steady, no matter the amount of friction she produced.
Blaithe was afraid to stand and walk, unsure of her new body's weight. While she was relieved to see that she had obtained a new leg, a seemingly working leg, she was unsure of how to properly use it.
Scared, she glanced up toward her still-sleeping Grimm. While they had finally been moved back into their own quarters, it was still common for him to be put to sleep by alcohol by the few medics that had remained on site. As far as she was aware, he was out cold and not waking up until the dawn. Blaithe knew she had to find something to keep her warm. Lacking clothes didn't bother her in the slightest, but it was too cold to be without. Plus, she had never seen a bare human before, so surely there was a reason that everyone wore their own articles of clothing on a daily basis; unless it was also to keep warm. Who knew?
Finally convincing herself to stand, Blaithe stumbled to her feet. She refused to remove herself from the wall, afraid of falling from such a great height. Being so far off of the ground without the help of anyone dizzied the poor girl, her stomach doing flips. She could barely feel her feet as she walked, the cold nipping so much worse than what she was used to.
Stopping at Jin-Ho's clothing drawers, she quietly pried the first one open. Thankfully, it had been filled to the top with warm, thick shirts. Blaithe hurried, forcing the shirt on top of her small frame before searching the next drawer for some pants. Once again, luck struck as she quickly pulled them on. They were much larger than her but she already felt so much warmer. Still, her feet were nearly frozen on the stone floor, but she didn't think anything of socks or what on Earth they were. Looking around, there was nothing else she could have done to gain warmth as she continued to shiver in this ridiculous cold. How did the other inhabitants endure this every day?
Jin-Ho shifted in his sleep, mumbling softly. Blaithe's newly-found heart fell to her stomach, unsure of how her Grimm was even going to take to this, especially in his alcoholic stupor. He didn't seem to stir, she worried about him waking up at any moment, and from the looks of it... the most comfortable place to stay until dawn would be under the covers. She had absolutely no idea what would happen if she were to stay in the cold all night. She had no idea what her human body would do. What if she got sick?
Blaithe couldn't stand the cold any longer.
"J-Jin-Ho..." she whispered, gently nudging at his shoulder. Still, he didn't stir, nor did he even make a sound. He was out cold, so to speak, leaving Blaithe at a complete loss. What was she going to do? What if he woke up in the middle of the night, once the alcohol wore off? In this harsh cold, it was beginning to matter less and less as she could feel her body becoming stiff and sore from the harsh cold. Why would a human live in an environment such as this when it affecting their bodies this gratingly? It was madness; suicide, even. The brush’s mind couldn’t even wrap around it.
Gently lifting the covers, Blaithe slipped one leg under, then the other, submerging her entire body before carefully nuzzling up to her Grimm. She froze as Jin-Ho moaned, though once she was sure he was still in a blissful, drunken sleep, she nestled herself comfortably. Relishing in Jin-Ho’s warmth, the girl soon fell into a deep sleep.
--
By the time Blaithe had awoken, her human hadn’t returned to the world of the conscious. Normally, the girl would have been worried but with the amount of drink the other mages had given him, surely he wouldn’t wake for another hour or so. The sun had started pouring in through the thin, vertical windows, but they hadn’t yet reached Jin-Ho’s side of the bed. The paintbrush wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or nervous, but she carefully slid herself out of bed to rummage through her Grimm’s drawers again, desperate for something to wear. Maybe she could find someone else in the castle who could explain to her just what was going on.
--
As Jin-Ho awoke, his eyes bleary and his head pounding, he sat up in his bed. The alcohol was wearing off and he could feel the stinging sensation return to his arm and side. That’s right… it’s still gone. Sometimes he wished it had merely been a bad dream, that Felicity… that she hadn’t betrayed him and his weakened emotions. He could feel tears sting his eyes as the remaining alcohol brought out the worst emotions in him. How long would he have to endure those terrible, heart breaking memories?
”G-good morning…”
The familiar voice brought the former-scribe back into attention, but who his eyes landed on sobered him up in the blink of an eye. This girl, roughly the size of a small child, sitting on the edge of his bed and staring back at him with the most confused of expressions had Blaithe’s unmistakable voice. Had… had she grown? Was she finally an Anhelo? No, that couldn’t be. There was no way; she looked nothing like Blaithe in her previous form. She looked as if some child had meandered into his room in the middle of the night! Her short, tawny hair and blue eyes held no recognizable hit toward his ward; but the voice was definitely hers.
”Blaithe…?” he croaked, his voice nearly painful as the grog of sleep worked its way out.
The girl nodded, her eyebrows knitting up in frustration as an expression of sadness or remorse washed over her face. She was shivering, bundled up in his far-to-large clothing rather than hiding under the sheets for any grasp of warmth.
Was he still asleep? No, the pain was much too real for that, not to mention the bite of cold against his face. What was even going on? Why was Blaithe now a human girl, pitifully quivering on the other side of the bed? When did this happen? The expression on her childish face held no answers, nor did it seem like she knew, herself. Jin-Ho sighed, turning his head away and forcing himself off the bed. What to do now, he didn’t know, but he couldn’t lay in bed all day despite his injuries and the alcohol still floating around in his system.
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:29 am
"Let It Go"
Meta
It was strange having a human body, but at least Blaithe found herself a bit more useful to Jin-Ho now that she was big enough to carry things – or even write. For the most part, her Grimm had dismissed any help from the other mages while she was like this, allowing her to do more than she pleased when it came to being of assistance. It was like her dream had come true.
As she entered their quarters, the defeated look on Jin-Ho’s face made her own expression falter once her eyes drifted from his eyes to the paper in his hand. It looked exactly like the last one… Blaithe swallowed hard as she walked over to the bed and gingerly took the paper from her human, slowly reading over it. Her face paled, looking back up to Kyon. He looked dismissive, but she could tell he was torn.
”J-Jin-Ho…” she stammered, lifting a hand to her face. The letter had given them two options – either he was to be inflicted with the Black Plague, or she would remain as a human for longer. The amount of time was unknown, but she could feel her heart sink at the idea of Jin-Ho becoming infected. It couldn’t come to that, no matter what she had to go through, she decided. Whether or not her Grimm had the same idea, it had already been decided in her mind. She would be human for longer, no matter how much she actually hated it. Sure, it was handy to be big and to have a second leg, but she missed not feeling the sting of cold against her pale flesh and the exhaustion of going all day. It had to be done, there were no questions asked.
As the medics came to sedate Jin-Ho for the night, Blaithe watched from the corner of the room. Once her Oji was out for the count, she knew what she had to do. Waiting patiently at his side, she squeezed his hand as he slipped into his drunken stupor. If only it didn’t come to this, but she didn’t know whether he would inflict it upon himself or if he would allow her to go through with her plan.
Once everyone had retired, Blaithe slipped out of the castle to fetch one of the dead birds as instructed by the letter. The thought almost made her gag as she plucked it of its rotting feathers, but she had to. She couldn’t stand to watch her Grimm in as much pain as he was already in, there was no way in hell she would have him suffer the very core of her own being. While she didn’t know what it was like, she had seen others who had been inflicted and it certainly wasn’t pretty. Who knew what would happen to him in his already weakened state if he were permitted to become ill.
Fetching a mortar and pestle from the kitchen, the girl snuck back into her quarters and started working on her concoction; she had convinced the medics to leave the mead just in case Jin-Ho awoke in the middle of the night and they had hesitantly abided. She figured if she could mix the ground-feathers with the drink, it would wash out the rotten taste and go down easily. Blaithe had never tried mead but from what she understood, it had to be tasty considering how much some of the other humans would consume it. Still, the nervousness swirled in her gut uncomfortably as she continued to grind the plumes into as fine a dust as she could muster. Hopefully the taste of the drink would dull it out…
Holding the cup in her hand, Blaithe froze with the cup in her hand as Jin-Ho stirred. He didn’t wake up, but his turning caused her stomach to drop further at the idea of what exactly she was doing. She would burn the letter before her Grimm could wake, that way it was out of sight and mind. Taking a deep breath, she quickly downed her noxious beverage, using all of her will to not heave it back up. The mead burned as it went down, and she immediately felt her face flush. Feeling herself stumble, she made her way to the nightstand to grab the letter. In her state, she could no longer think of burning it, but merely tore it up into as many pieces as she could muster, flinching slightly at the noise. Once again, it didn’t wake Jin-Ho, so she continued. Once it was as destroyed as she could get it, she clumsily clamored up onto a chair to release the shreds to the wind.
That was the end of that.
Unable to shake the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, Blaithe nearly fell off of the chair as she descended, crawling to the bed to lie down. She could feel her innards churning from a mix of the rotting feathers and the alcohol, but she would have to hold it down as best as she could. The after taste lingered in her mouth, making the process even harder. Would vomiting undo the work she had done? The brush hated this feeling, having never dealt with such human tortures when she was small. She never wanted to be human again, though she still longed for this larger, more useful body.
Finally, she had drifted to sleep, aided by the mead.
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 11:30 am
"Wake Up"
Meta
Now that his wounds were starting to get better, visits from the medical mages were becoming less frequent for Jin-Ho. It suited him fine, he’d rather not be put to sleep by so much alcohol; it usually resulted in him waking up with terrible headaches, and he had to deal with enough pain as it was. The wound at his side was now scarring and his arm was healing nicely, and he was quite thankful. He was sick of all of this pain.
Having sent Blaithe on an errand, Jin-Ho took the time to go on a walk. He dismissed the guards who wanted to follow him, but at this point he wasn’t an important figure anymore. What would it matter?
The day was overcast but calm, snow falling lazily in small flurries down to the perfectly white blanket covering the ground. These were the days he liked, despite the bitter cold that nipped at his nose. He had missed the peace, but since everything had changed so quickly, it was finally beginning to lull. Jin-Ho wasn’t about to argue, it was an extremely welcomed change. At times, he found himself missing the company of Lady Estratus – and sometimes even Sloane. Things had begun to go sour between the two of them, but he longed for the days where they were beginning to understand one another and tolerate each other’s company a bit easier. Part of him wondered if those days were long gone or if they’d ever come back. Living in separate bases certainly hindered the chances to soothe their relationship; or what little they had of one.
Something dark caught the corner of the former scribe’s eye. Instinctively, Jin-Ho quickly turned his head to look, but as soon as he noticed the figure it was gone. His heart raced as his eyes remained glued to the area as if it would appear once more. Blaithe? Why was he thinking about Blaithe, now? She was safe in the base, most likely with one of the children inside since she should have finished her errand by now and wasn’t at Jin-Ho’s side. Still, it nagged at the bag of his mind like a chattering bird.
Being outside no longer seemed like a pleasant idea, he thought as he turned back toward the castle. With a quick nod to the guards stationed at the entrance, Jin-Ho was allowed entrance. The heat of the fires quickly warmed his body as he continued forward. His first priority was to check on Blaithe to get the screeching in the back of his mind to cease. Just as he figured, she was fine and playing with one of the children; some kind of silly game that he had once refused to include himself in. Of course she was safe, so long as there are no strangers in the castle, everyone was safe. Still, whatever it was still scratched his subconscious like a puppy trying to come in from a terrible storm. He couldn’t quite put it to words, but it bothered him more and more with each passing second.
With Blaithe being fine, Jin-Ho set off to do more of his evening chores. He needed to finish his laundry and to fetch more paper from storage, along with some inks and other things. While he had nothing in particular to write, he needed to practice writing with that damned left hand of his so that he would at least have some use to his life.
Once again, the dark figure caught the corner of Jin-Ho’s eye, who turned as quickly as he could to face it in vain. It was gone, as quickly as it had been seen, once again. Was it the alcohol lingering? No, it couldn’t be, he felt just fine and his thoughts were clear as day, sans the one still scratching at the doors of his conscious. What was going on? Was he going mad? Tugging on the cart that held his laundry, the man sprinted toward the washroom in haste. This wasn’t sitting well with him at all as he, once again, began worrying needlessly over his Plague.
Jin-Ho could feel his frustration rise as his mind swarmed with crazy, unwelcomed thoughts. Placing one of the wooden troughs closer to one of the corners, he sat behind it with his front facing the entirety of the room as he washed his clothes. Whatever it was that followed couldn’t get away now, no matter how quick it was. It would have to appear before him, there was nowhere else to go now. There was no one there as he finished his cleaning, no one interrupting as he pressed the water out of his laundry and no one bothering him as he placed everything back onto the cart to wheel back to the room. Maybe he had, indeed, been seeing things. Perhaps the strange contrasts of light against shadow as the Sun climbed the sky, now lowering with the evening.
Sighing in relief, despite that nagging feeding into his paranoia, Jin-Ho wheeled everything back to his quarters. After laundering his clothing, he had stopped by a storage room to grab some paper and now had everything he needed for the night. Surely Blaithe would have finished playing by now and would be waiting patiently in their room.
As he opened the door, he nearly dropped the armful of paper upon what he saw. Just before his bed stood a muscled, tanned man covered in feathers; crowned with the head of a crow. Blaithe, having been worn out from playing, lay asleep on the bed, her back turned toward Jin-Ho and their guest. It was a terrifying sight, the man’s heart beating so hard he couldn’t hear anything else. The bird man was pointing toward Blaithe, though his soulless eyes remained on Jin-Ho in silence. Even if it were to say anything, the mage didn’t know if he’d even be able to hear it over the rush of thoughts circling his mind and the deafening rhythm of the haywire heart in his chest. It raised its head as its hand fell to its side. Finally, it spoke; its voice deep and inhuman, Jin-Ho’s blood running cold as it rang clearly in his ears. ”Is she safe?” it asked, disappearing as soon as the last syllable was spoken.
Kyon’s eyes stuck to where the strange being once stood, his breath caught in his chest as he tried to make sense of what just happened. Was Blaithe safe…? No… no, no one was safe. Safety is an illusion. There was no such thing as safe. His mind swirled madly as his eyes finally landed on Blaithe, her sleeping form breathing slowly and comfortably under the covers. She wasn’t safe, not here. She would never be safe, but she was even less so here at the Northern Base. Something had to be done.
Quickly, Jin-Ho threw himself toward his desk and began writing. Even if it was messy, hopefully someone in Anica could read his scrawl and send the word to Sloane. He would have to send Blaithe away immediately. She wasn’t safe with him, he couldn’t even protect himself. Sloane, however, he could guard her better than Jin-Ho could ever dream to.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:29 am
Changing HandsJin-Ho finds it better to send Blaithe with Sloane as a safety precaution and a stress relief.
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Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:05 am
"Salt in the Snow"
MISSION
Part 1
It was times like this when Jin-Ho wished he had never left Imisus. The harsh bite of the cold air nipped angrily at him and his crew as they trudged forward in this horrid excuse for weather. They snow was far too thick to travel by horse or carriage, and the men had only thick cloth wrapped around their faces and arms to protect themselves from the wind and frigid air. Had it not been his assignment, they would all still be comfortably nestled in their homes.
No, there was a job to be done, and it was necessary for it to get accomplished as soon as possible. With numbers dwindling and their structures becoming less and less secure, it almost seemed like the Fellowship was beginning to fall on its last legs. With his faith in most failing but his alliance with his faction strong, Jin-Ho had no other choice (let alone hope) but to do what he was told and serve his masters, especially now that he had fallen back to the bottom.
"Just a little further, now. Over this ridge," the man to Jin-Ho's right declared. Even with his voice muffled, he was just barely audible, but everyone nodded their heads. With the weather the way it was, this mission was to be quite difficult, but there was a lingering sense of assurance in the air. No matter how hard it would be, in their number they would be able to succeed.
As they marched forward, the snow began to cease but the winds continued to push against them with all of its might. The man had been right, though; the base spoken of stood before them just at the bottom of the gentle slope. Whoever had been there last had certainly done a considerable deal of damage. It was a pitiful sight.
Making their way down the hill, Jin-Ho just behind the lead, the ground below came deeper and deeper in the snow with each step and the dirt reduced to mud. Walking had become difficult and those who where unprepared for such an obstacle had to deal with potentially losing a shoe in the sludge below.
Such a shame, to lose a foot from frost bite.
"Everybody, inside!" Jin-Ho called over the howling wind, each man following as close to the next to the possible. While the crumbled, stone walls and missing roof wouldn't protect from any weather, it would give them a shield from the wind and a moment of calm.
All gave a sigh of relief as they all piled in, each removing the wraps from their faces; a chance to finally breath properly. Eyes and noses red, they all looked to Jin-Ho, most thinking and some saying, "what now?"
He watched, his tousled hair falling over his eyes upon removing his own scarf. The man looked a mess, and with his arm still not completely healed, he probably shouldn't have even been out in this mess. Yet, here he was, and so were the dozen or two others that had been assigned to him and this task. At least the Fellowship still appeared to have enough faith in him to do this job, regardless of how unpleasant it was.
"Look around once you've caught your breath," he said, voice echoing against the still air between the hollowed walls of the base. "Check for stragglers, Cultists or bodies."
While the day started young, it would be a long and hard day before any of them were to rest again. To their luck, nobody had been found; dead or alive, so their would could start immediately. Jin-Ho kept watch as he was unable to join in any amount of labor, instructing when approached and giving advice when needed. At times, the man at Jin-Ho's side would offer a hand if needed, but mostly kept an eye on the injured Mage to make sure all was well.
Rebuilding from the bottom up, by late afternoon supplies were beginning to dwindle and energy began to run low. This was surely not a single-day job and Jin-Ho wasn't about to push that. Rallying the men, they started their trip back to the Northern Base for the night. Luck was on their side, as the skies had cleared and the air had calmed, making the journey home much more bearable.
There was to be a large supper and a roaring fire prepared upon their arrival.
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Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:47 pm
At Ease, My SweetWhile Blaithe and Sloane enjoy their quality time (and Blaithe getting some R&R), it seems that someone is still thinking about her...
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:01 pm
"Ten Speed"
Mission
Part 2
Time had passed since the last time Jin-Ho’s men were rallied together, and while he didn’t want to, he was still responsible for the completion of this mission. It had been weeks, he believed, and the fort certainly wasn’t going to fix itself no matter how long they waited. What use it would be to the higher ups, at this point, was beyond him and his men, but they all begrudgingly traveled back toward the pitiful excuse for a building placed in their care.
At least this time, the weather was much more agreeable as they trudged onward, the snow sloshing under their boots in an uneven rhythm. Along with the weather, their spirits were much higher than the last time as they sang songs to pass each hour. They had been able to bring along more supplies, their stronger men dragging along a carriage as horses still wouldn’t be able to comfortably trot in the deep and melting snow. Jin-Ho felt a bit better about today, though he still would have given anything to stay in the comfort and protection of the Northern Base’s stone walls. The mission was looking more and more doable and hopefully soon they would complete it and be able to remain at home from then on. However, in these warring times, it was unlikely and duty would come calling again.
The half-way completed base came into view as the group passed over the final hill, each man carefully making sure the carts didn’t slide down and crush the rest as they made their way downward. Now that they got a better look, the stone building was looking more like a proper stronghold since the last time they had been out. It had already been three trips since the task had been started, and he was sure it would only be one or two more before it was finished. A small smile spread across Jin-Ho’s lips as he signaled for the men to continue forward.
His same right-hand man, so to speak, had returned once again to help more with the labor as Jin-Ho directed. Back then, he would have been able to help along, but now that he could only stand watch he mentally cursed the Cult once more. Had it not been for them, perhaps he would have been given a more important mission.
Walking along the beaten path, the former scribe looked over the work that had been done. It was certainly looking far more grand, perhaps they were even be done tonight if they were lucky, but that would involve a little more pushing and effort on the worker’s parts. Most of the men were busy, either handing stones to those on the make-shift scaffolding or holding the beams carefully so that they wouldn’t buckle and throw the other men to a fate of a broken limb or two. Jin-Ho, of all people, knew that in this weather it was certainly a circumstance best avoided. Diligent, he kept watch over every little thing to assure nothing was amiss and everything was running smoothly. Much to his luck, things were just fine.
”Master Jin-Ho!” his second in command howled, dropping his tools and drawing his weapon only to freeze in place as Jin-Ho was grabbed from behind, a blade pressed to his throat. In their mirth and hard work, no one had noticed the man in white, hidden against the snow. It seemed as if he was waiting for the opportunity to grab who he assumed was leader of this rag-tag group of workers with the patience of a saint. Each man, whether up high doing the work or down low holding the stands, could only watch in horror.
”Seems you fools were too distracted,” he hissed, pressing the blade even closer to Jin-Ho’s throat, who grunted in response. Under his white mask, the man smiled as he harshly yanked the scribe backwards, further from the group. Perhaps this man had the information that the Cult had asked him to retrieve, seeing as how he was in charge and all. ”You will tell me what I came here for…”
Stone, Jin-Ho swallowed hard against the blade, flinching at the sharp pain against his neck. This was it, was it? He sure as hell wasn’t giving the Cult any more information than they had already gotten out of him, he would rather die first. Part of him wished that, that damned woman had done the job already. ”No,” he said firmly, closing his eyes.
Having not been the reaction the man expected, he spat a curse under his breath while holding the knife closer. ”You think I am joking?” he enquired, his voice shaking from the cold. He had lost count of how long he had been hiding in the snow, but most likely he managed to catch some kind of sickness in the process. Once again, he cursed under his breath while dragging Kyon further away. He actually hadn’t thought this far as he grasped for straws. If the man wasn’t going to speak, what would he do after killing him? He couldn’t outrun so many capable men, even if they had worn themselves out with work, and if he let him go… well, most likely he’d be caught faster. Even though Jin-Ho only had one arm, he was still probably stronger.
Refusing to answer, Jin-Ho remained tense in the stranger’s arm, refraining from fighting back but still making it difficult to drag him around. With the knife at his throat, he couldn’t move enough to strike the Cultist with the back of his head, and his left arm wasn’t strong enough to do any serious blows. He almost wanted to tell his men to continue building, regardless of whether his life was in danger or not. Even if he didn’t live past today, maybe they could still get the tower finished and manned before nightfall.
The masked man grunted, obviously losing strength and drive as the two of them went. Now certainly would have been a good time to still be able to use magic, but Jin-Ho found that his spiritual strength had greatly lessened in the last few weeks. He certainly didn’t want the blood of another man on his hands, having accidentally finished the job for the woman who snuck into the base that fateful night. Maybe he could overpower him, but if caught what would they do with him? Thinking, Kyon supposed that they could tether him down to the cart and bring him back to the Base for judgment. It was better than having more guilt on his conscious, he figured.
Too bad for the mage, his physical strength certainly was lacking; but as luck would have it, one of the more nimble men had separated from the group and made his way around to the Cultist’s blind spot. Jin-Ho had failed to notice him, but a loud blow to the side of the stranger’s head and the knife quickly being pulled away with the rest of his body put his mind at east as he pushed himself away.
”Are you all right, sir?” he asked, scooping Jin-Ho off the ground and slinging an arm over his shoulder.
Nodding, Jin-Ho gently pushed himself away. There was no need for a human crutch as he was fine, merely having been shaken. He would need to ask Lady Estratus someday about her ability to cast spells without the use of a staff. He could no longer rely on others; he needed to do things on his own. ”Have the men continued working?”
”Under Faeth’s orders, sir.” he said with a nod.
”Good,” he stated, brushing snow off of his shoulder as they made their way back to the camp. Jin-Ho’s eyes widened as they cleared the hill, the fort merely a few hours away from being completed. Their mission was almost done, and the man sighed in relief. He would have to have someone write the good lady a letter, explaining what had happened and their luck with finishing. Surprisingly, the mage was washed over with excitement and relief in the same moment. His eyes rested on his second-in-command, offering him an exhausted smile.
Everything was all right, they would be going home tonight without a problem.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 6:23 pm
Paintings of BladesAfter many months of therapy and tutoring, Jin-Ho begins to see things in a new light once more. As chance has it, he meets a new face and 'family' member in the market.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2012 5:39 pm
MEETINGThe Old Dirt RoadA pleasant meeting with an old friend is well appreciated, even if it is strictly on a professional basis.
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Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 4:31 pm
“Animal”
Sometimes it all seemed so strange; it didn’t seem like too long ago when Blaithe had to constantly stay by her Grimm’s side, her range of movement greatly hindered further by the destruction of her wooden leg. The mere thought sometimes made her shiver, the memories of that particularly deadly night forever engrained into the young girl’s mind. That, however, is an entirely different beast. Now that she had dear Hero by her side, mobility was no longer an issue. Jin-Ho had little problem with their idle wanderings now that the brush was with company.
Daintily held in the feline Phasmas’ arms, Blaithe couldn’t help but think back on these things. An even shorter amount of time had passed since Hero’s growth. Sometimes Blaithe couldn’t help but notice that even he was taller than her, something that always hit a sore point with the tiny Excito. Never once had she met someone smaller, but it seemed as if that was inevitable at this point in her life. Maybe one day, when she would be an Anhelo, she would be able to do all of the things that others did with ease. Maybe one day she could be the one to help, rather than be the one who needed it.
The hallway was definitely chilled, though not nearly as harsh as the vast hallways of the Northern Base. Still, she missed her time there with the few friends she had ever known. Of course, if they were still there, Sloane would be gone. Blaithe couldn’t even remember the last time she had seen Clurie… or if he was even okay. Most everyone had left the base for other places, not that she blamed them. Lady Sage had been granted such a high title, of course Sloane would go with her. That left the question about Clurie; something she feared would never be answered. Jin-Ho had always dodged the question or merely shook it off, explaining that it had been quite a while since he had even met with Chauhn.
”What has you so quiet, Blaithe?” Hero asked, his voice barely over a whisper as they wandered through the darkened hall; the only light coming from Blaithe’s tiny, glowing form. He didn’t really need it, honestly, as his sight was so much stronger than a normal cats’.
The brush’s daze disrupted, she glanced back up toward her companion. His perfectly black form would have disappeared into the black of the unlit house if it weren’t for her glow. ”Just thinking,” she said. Had Hero known her in her brightest days, this silence would have been strange indeed. Now, she had become much more reflective and reserved. She remembered her days of naivety and carelessness with a strange mix of sadness and longing. She missed having little to worry about, relishing the love of her Grimm and their happy beginnings together. What if the incident had never happened? What if that rose and her mismatched Grimm had never waltzed into their lives? Would things still be perfect and happy? Maybe something else would have come along and ruined things, who would know?
”I understand,” Hero purred, gently pulling her closer as they turned the down the hall. His paws soundlessly treaded the cold stone, though he took no notice. It was a nice night out, and he certainly didn’t miss Shyregoed the way that his friend did. If it were up to him, he’d like to stay in Imisus for good, relishing in the warmth of the summer. It was chilly in winter, yes, but in the summer there was nothing more pleasing than lying in the Sun that poured in from the windows. Yes, he quite liked it here. Not to mention, the amount of attention that Sir Sloane had allotted Blaithe was discomforting. He couldn’t help but feel a ping of jealousy at the brush’s obvious longing for the blade.
After a few moments of silence, unbroken by the tiniest of feet, Blaithe finally spoke; her voice small and dainty against the chilly, quiet air. Her mind had gone through several places over the last few minutes; mostly through memories of young Hero. ”Do you remember when you grew?” she asked.
”Yes, quite clearly.”
”Do you remember from before you grew?”
There had been another moment of silence, Hero carefully contemplating his answer. ”Yes and no,” he said, a low rumble sounded in his chest; a purr. ”I… remember senses and feeling. I was alive, after all.”
Another thing Blaithe was rather envious of. As a paintbrush, she had no recollection of happenings before her ‘birth,’ only what others have told her. She wondered if it was the same for all inanimate Plagues. Another thought entirely, this was irrelevant to her current ponderings. ”You saved me…” she hummed, still lost in thought. Without him, she certainly wouldn’t have left unscathed in those deep, dark hallways of Anica’s base. In the grand scheme of things, the encounter wasn’t much; but what happened afterwards had certainly left a mark.
”I remember,” Hero said, hugging the small girl closer. They weren’t far from Jin-Ho’s room now, their nightly stroll coming to an end. It was always around this time that Hero had become restless, though Blaithe always found herself growing weak and weary. Still, she didn’t mind going out on these strolls; it allowed her to ‘stretch her legs,’ herself. Had she a pair of eyes, perhaps they wouldn’t be able to stay open as she was cradled comfortably in such a warm hold. ”A rat, right?” he asked, his attempt at remembering gauged by the length of his pause.
Nodding, Blaithe offered a weak smile. Hero had still been a cat, a bit larger than he was now, when it happened. He had only wandered off alone for a mere moment while Sloane was out of the room, leaving the brush alone and defenseless. While she had defended herself against Claudia the one time, she never quite figured out how to do it again, no matter how hard she tried. She was too small, too weak. Maybe she wasn’t focused enough, much like her Grimm.
During her time alone, it seemed a rat had made its way into the base, or at least something had attracted it out of its hiding place. Possibly, it had been attracted by Blaithe’s strange scent and light. Maybe something had aggravated it into coming out, but once its attention was on the poor girl she was lost. She remembered seeing smaller ones when she was younger, nothing compared to this one though. It could have been ten times her size, maybe more, in her eyes. The monster could have potentially eaten her in one large bite, though that might have been her imagination getting the best of her. Without her leg… she couldn’t run, she couldn’t move. Had Hero not been there… had he not returned in time, she wouldn’t be there now. She had only ever felt fear that grand once before, and she most certainly didn’t want to feel that ever again. With Hero, though, she knew she was safe. She had a friend, protection. He would never replace Sloane, of course, but at least she had someone.
”You’re lucky that I could smell him,” Hero declared. The smile on his face had then turned downward, the thought displeasing. What if he had been too late, even? Maybe it was he that was lucky that he smelled the damn rat. He could still remember the feeling of change, the rat's dead body seeming to grow before him as he became smaller; his front paws no longer needing to distribute his weight, his torso elongating. It was strange, becoming an entirely different being. He couldn't lie, some things from before he couldn't even begin to remember. Other things were clear as day, much like the struggle to end the rodent's life to protect the one most important to him. The taking of that creature's life changed his forever.
”Yeah…” she said, the same thought passing through her mind as they walked through the doorframe; Jin-Ho soundly asleep in his bed. Blaithe smiled, taking notice of the small stairway the man had constructed for them mere days ago. It certainly made things easier at night, though then again he may have made it so they would make less noise trying to climb the nightstand. Regardless of intent, it was still sweet and Blaithe knew that he still cared. His attitude was definitely returning to normal, but the girl highly doubted things would ever be the same. He no longer had the carefree attitude he once had, much like herself.
At least things were getting better.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 10:13 am
Illumination of Personal OrderA surprise visit from the Grand Magus and her bladed knight leaves Jin Ho in a less than pleasant state -- both physically and mentally.
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:39 pm
“Don’t Look Back In Anger”
If Sloane’s last act hadn’t been of kindness, the decision would have been much simpler.
It had barely been an hour since his former employer and her companion left, the sound of her quiet apologies and chiding remark of her Plague still playing itself over in Jin Ho’s rushing mind. He felt like a fool; he had lost himself momentarily, showing weakness in front of those he had always tried so very hard to impress. This was the second time he had exposed himself, intentionally or not, and even now he felt as if he were paying for it. Staring down at his crudely wrapped hand, he flexed his fingers as he had since the wound had been acquired – they were stiff, as expected, but it would heal. He didn’t need magic, though it certainly would have sped up the process and made it smoother. Instead, his scar would be more noticeable.
Blaithe had been delivered by Min Ho shortly after their guests left, along with the ever present feline Phasmas. The two had been quiet as their shared Grimm stewed over his bottled emotions at his desk, watching patiently whenever he would exercise his hand. The brush was worried, though she still had no idea of what happened between her best friend and her guardian alone in that room.
She could still smell his blood, and so could Hero.
With some hesitation, the former mage cleared his throat. Without looking at the two at the corner of the desk, he simply stated, ”You’re not to see him again.” His voice was still uneven, broken by every self-destructive thought and idea that passed through his mind.
”What?!” Blaithe cried out, nearly attempting to stand despite Hero’s grip around her waist. ”Jin Ho, how is that fair? I don’t understand!”
He had expected such a reaction, closing his eyes in response while letting out a hollow breath. Carefully running his bandaged hand through his hair, Jin Ho leaned back in his chair. His thin lips formed a tight line, unable to find the proper words before he let out a frustrated grumble. ”If it weren’t for his temper, Blaithe, I would not have been injured. Our wall would not have been dented,” he stated, allowing his hand to rest over his torso as he refused to look at his own Plague. ”He insulted me and my abilities. I may not be the best Grimm, but—“
Cutting himself off, he gave out another sigh.
Blaithe, on the other hand, wasn’t convinced. With Hero’s silent help, she was on her foot, her hands resting carefully in her companion’s. ”But I don’t understand how you might think this is fair! Once upon a time, you were excited to have me meet him and now I must stay away?” Her voice was hurt, light in the air but heavy in accusation. Her own mouth, glowing pink against her white, luminous skin, tugged downward like a crescent. She was displeased and rightly so – this wasn’t the first time her Grimm gave off conflicting ideas. ”What has he done that has you so upset?”
This time, her voice held a twinge of sadness.
Looking up, Jin Ho furrowed his brows. He didn’t quite return her gaze, looking out the window instead as he stared at the path leading away from their humble home; the path that they would have had to take upon their exit. With the Sun down it was hard to see against the dark greens of the fields, but having gazed upon the land day after day he knew what to look for. ”I have not been the best guardian to you, Blaithe, but… Please believe me when I say I have been trying.”
The brush’s expression softened slightly, though her confusion lingered. ”I still don’t understand, Jin Ho.”
With his fist balled, he looked down at the poor wrapping job – even with something so simple, he needed the help that he so vehemently refused. His expression softened as well, eyes settling on nothing in particular as he thought only about breathing. Of course she didn’t understand; he wasn’t even sure he did. He had struck a chord in Sloane; they had something in common, however they both had different methods of getting their messages across. Jin Ho couldn’t wrap his mind around how easily he confessed to Sloane, even if it was a result of injury. At the same time, Sloane confided in him as well, though far more violently – both were easily touchy subjects.
Jin Ho knew he was too controlling, too constricting. Every decision was made on Blaithe’s behalf… and now that he thought about it, the only justification was her size and her safety. He grit his teeth, angered that it was true, but he couldn’t bring himself to let it go. She needed to be protected, and while taking her freedom away wasn’t the best choice, what else was there to do? Even with Hero’s help, there was no telling what could happen to her without his supervision?
”Maybe one day…” he started, covering his eyes with his hand as he rested his elbow against the desk, ”I will allow you to see him again. Just… for now… do not leave me. Perhaps one day I will explain.”
While not content with the answer, Blaithe could only nod. While Sloane was unaware of the young Grimm’s work, the brush knew well that he was working as hard as he possibly could to keep her comfortable and content. She wasn’t as happy as she once was and maybe never would be, but she was aware that all of this was for her. With Hero’s help she was seated once more.
As a consolation, Jin Ho leaned over, pulling a spare sheet of paper from one of his many drawers and slid it before the two, and while he didn’t smile his expression shifted away from its earlier irritation.
”I just want you safe.”
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Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:40 pm
“Stop Crying Your Heart Out” The next several months, it seemed Blaithe and her Grimm fell off the map; hardly anyone could find them unless they knew where to look and even then they laid low. Much of their work was through their garden, tending and selling to those who would come calling so long as they were capable of proving alliance.
For weeks at a time they were away from home, studying and attending therapy under Amory Kempe’s care in Gadu. While frustration was still a problem, these meetings were certainly helping in the long run and it was obvious to even the Kyon household when the three would return home for rest. His anger was in better check, taught how to handle and subdue his mood swings if he managed to catch himself in the act. Jin-Ho was becoming more and more used to life in Imisus and the calmer atmosphere did wonders for his attitude. While he was still greatly hindered, his missing arm oftentimes making many chores difficult, part of his training had been to work past it.
During sessions, Blaithe would spend time with Doctor Kempe’s many stunteds, often obtaining aid of her own. They were very friendly, very helpful and goodness was Rene a flirt. The brush was enamored, much to Hero’s dismay and frustration, but he would allow it so long as nothing was acted upon. She was learning how to overcome her own frustrations of being small and helpless though at a far slower rate than Jin-Ho had been improving. It was hard to convince her that she was useful despite her miniscule size, often becoming discouraged with herself and her abilities. Blaithe was so eager to grow, so eager to take on a human shape and actually be able to help those around her more than she ever could even imagine at this size. No matter what Rene or his friends did she would still revert to habitual sadness. A lot of the time those feelings were triggered by how much she missed Sloane, thinking about how useless she was and how she would only be able to rest in his hand, not by his side.
More often than not Blaithe was kept in Min-Ho’s care while Jin-Ho tended the garden, perpetuating her feelings of uselessness. Her Grimm didn’t know this, not often confided in with these negative emotions out of fear for stressing him. Hero was the only one who knew, his pride swelling with the idea that he was her one and only confidant; despite her near constant time with her Grimm’s sister even she was kept in the dark.
Min-Ho relished her time with Blaithe and Hero; for her they were practically her brother’s children and she loved them dearly, always trying to spoil them. Hero was grateful, and while Blaithe was as well it hardly went to her head. Her constant fears of never growing, never becoming something of use to those around her, overshadowed many joys in life. Especially now when she was no longer allowed to see Sloane, she couldn’t quite dig herself out of her hole. Even though he was now so far away she would have gone any distance to see him, but she couldn’t bear the idea of Jin-Ho becoming displeased with her. What if he were to toss her aside like he had once before? Sure, he came back for her, but it was one of the most terrifying things she had ever encountered; rats included. She never wanted to go through something like that again, she didn’t want to be cast away. Perhaps that was why her time with Min-Ho was bittersweet – she was constantly being handed off and it was scary. Yes, he was nearby, but the sentiment was the same.
Hero’s presence was always appreciated – never once had he left her side since the day he was gifted, even before he grew to Excito. Sometimes he was overbearingly protective but Blaithe had grown accustomed, knowing full well that he was there to keep her safe. Did Jin-Ho teach him this before he sent him to Anica? He mentioned in the letter that he was a friend, a gift and a guardian in so many words. She had a friend, someone bound to her and eager to please.
Life had become simple; much more simple than Blaithe was used to and while it was quite boring at times she couldn’t help but at the same time she couldn’t deny its comfort.-------------------------------------------------------- Loose EndsEvening's fall brings out an old acquaintance; perhaps old ties can be mended.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:59 pm
HospitalityA generous offer is made as Jin Ho's final therapy session comes to an end.
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