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 Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:00 pm
✖ PRP: Salty Sweet ✖
Wherein, this January, Cesc and Vivi deliver salty sweet goods to Ronan. * [ongoing]
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:02 pm
✖ PRP: Of Morning Light ✖
Wherein, after her night at the Navigator's Pub, Melisande visits Cesc at Vermillion. * He was happy when she came, and happy when she left. No sense of loss from her could dim what he found in her aura.
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 11:04 pm
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 3:13 pm
✖ Meaning of Fear: Permission ✖
“I don’t like it,” said Shepard lowly, rubbing the back of his neck. He sniffed, a wet, sick sound.
Cesc was unperturbed. “But I can help.”
Vivi crossed her ankles and sat very straight, her gaze distant. She seemed to be working out something in her head.
Cesc took the moment of silence to press his advantage. “It is my power – to find things, people. I will not be alone.”
“That… is true,” said Vivi, considering. “Alex will be there, and Zul, and Lazarus…”
Cesc shook his head. “Many more, I am certain. I cannot stand by when I could lessen the burden.”
Shepard looked unconvinced, but in the end he nodded.
“I still don’t like it,” he muttered.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:29 am
Meaning of Fear: Expectations
__________________________________
Cesc and Iorek Cesc closed his eyes and pressed the side of his head against the bus window. There was a quiet rhythm to the wheels that made him feel sleepy. And there was a certain expression on some of the others' faces -- some his friends, others he did not know -- that made him feel a touch anxious.
He tried to remember Dr. Kyou. Golden eyes, he had a recollection of. Black hair. An easy smile. Vivi had liked him, and he was quite young but quite in grateful awe of the man.
They were only impressions. Not enough to go by, not to catch the man's 'scent' with…
Nevermind. It was an impossibility this far away, anyhow. Cesc pulled himself up and looked around the bus for anyone whom he had not seen in a while.
Iorek's heart was racing and the adventure had yet to begin. He took a deep breath and sunk deeper into the seat. The truth was, he hadn't fully convinced Lillian that this was going to be a safe trip. In order to get this far he lied and somehow, much to his surprise, had gotten away with it. Thank goodness for Tyson and his quick thinking.
But now that Reks was on the bus all that confidence he possessed earlier was gone. Courage had burned brightly when he explained to Lillian why he had to go. He felt that he was strong enough to protect himself and others. So it was for the benefit of the group that he went!
The raevan thought he'd be happy after making it this far and instead he was sick to his non-existent stomach.
He groaned and leaned forward to rest his forehead against the seat in front. The floor wasn't so interesting to stare at so he glanced to the side and saw a familiar pink.
"Cesc?" It was going to be a long ride and he'd get over this troubling guilt-ridden nausea talking with friends. "Hey, you."
Cesc saw Iorek almost at the same moment as Iorek saw him. It was a moment of instant relief, the tension in the stag's shoulders dropping almost instantaneously upon making eye contact with his friend. It had been a long time since he'd met Iorek -- they had not spent long periods with each other -- but he knew much of the Raevan from Shepard's descriptions, and felt close to him all the same.
"Iorek!" Rhedefre said cheerily, waving the gargoyle over. "It is nice to see you -- I hope we will not be in need of your strength on this outing."
Reks smiled widely and maneuvered himself into Cesc's seat. It had taken a long while for them to meet and they hadn't really seen each other since. It was weird considering how much he hung around Shep.
"Heh, well I'm usually just a paper weight so if there's a chance to use my strength I wouldn't mind it." He chuckled but by that he meant just lifting things. Honestly, as much as Reks talked about beating up the bad guys he was nervous to actually engage in an actual fight.
Glancing around before focusing back on Cesc he asked,"Do you think we'll actually run into some action?" Reks didn't want to show it but he did look a little worried.
Cesc let out a faint laugh as Reks described himself as a paper weight -- it was not a happy laugh, more of a release of anxiety. He shook his head slowly, and his brow furrowed in thought. None of them really knew, did they? No matter what expressions others held on the bus, none of them could be described as confident. The bottom line was that they were all heading into the unknown.
"I wish I could say," the stag said at last. "I hope it will not be necessary to fight. Just to look. But…" He lifted his shoulders in a slim shrug.
"But you, whomever goes with you will be quite relieved, I am certain." Cesc clapped Iorek on the shoulder, trying to lift his spirits.
Reks nodded in agreement, "Mm hmm, I rather be a search party than an army, too. With this many of us we should be able to find Dr. Kyou in no time." At least that's what he was hoping for.
"Me? Nah, I think a lot of folks will want to partner up with those who have their torsos. They're a lot stronger than us freis. But if we do spilt up I'll definitely be doing my best to keep my partner safe. I haven't been doing all this training for nothing!" He grinned and flexed his arm for Cesc, waggling his brows in a goofy manner.
"Course all those scary movies say it's best to stay together...so maybe we'll just be a big patrol?" Although that probably wasn't likely considering how vast of a forest it was they were heading into.
Reks thought quietly for a second and then turned his smile back on as he gave Cesc a look over. "Now, lets see...I have strength, but what's your gift? It's gotta be something really neat." If Shep had told him he couldn't remember now and it was always a good idea to know what everyone else was capable of before venturing into the abyss.
Cesc turned and looked behind them as Reks spoke, looking at the others. Who would he want to be with? He had no idea. Everyone brought their own talents to the table. Reks' was strength, certainly -- but what of the others? The green-haired one, the rabbit-eared, the older man sitting amongst them…
He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "Mine? It is nothing. It may not even be useful. I can … locate things, lost things." He laughed, a slightly rueful sound. "It SOUNDS useful in a search party, certainly, but it is no charm. I cannot find something unless it calls to me, and I have no control over that."
His mouth straightened into a line. "I hope Dr. Kyou does call out. I have never had to find a person."
Reks whistled, "I'm impressed. Now that is a cool power." He playfully nudged his seat-partner. It looks like they were both working to keep the other positive and at ease. "He could! And if he does you'll find him just like a bloodhound on a case."
He sat up and peered around the bus like a prairie dog before he plopped back down beside Cesc, "So do you know everyone by now? I've been around here longer than you and I still don't know some of the people on this bus. Think that's bad?"
Half of Cesc's face lifted in a smile at Reks' compliment, his eyes softening. He allowed a sort of cautious optimism to enter his voice and expression. "I hope I can help."
But with that, and a punctuating sigh, he buoyed himself. Looking around, he laughed and patted Reks' shoulder. "I know most -- I will tell you whom and we can see if between us we know everyone."
And the conversation drifted to other avenues.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 3:42 am
Meaning of Fear: Naptime
__________________________________
Cesc and LuLu LuLu’s head was bobbing softly while she rested in her seat, her softened features rolled along with her head. Both her ears were laid gently over the headrest of the seat in front of her. The rabbit’s breathing had leveled out into the softest of snoring. The sleeping sigel almost embodied peaceful slumber. That is, until the bus took a sharp stop.
A sharp crack erupted through the bus as her head whipped forward and collided with the plastic backing of the chair before her. It was a surprise she did not break the thing as the blow practically shook the whole row. The girl had her tender forehead clutched in both hands. She cradled her injury tenderly as she bit down on her lip, the only thing keeping her from sobbing. LuLu whimpered timidly, “Ooooow.”
A pair of surprised ears flicked upwards in the seat in front of Lulu as the bang smacked the chair forward. They swiveled backward, still half-hidden by a pair of sharp-tipped, velvet antlers. Then suddenly a pink head loomed over the bus seat, revealing a clear, boyish face and concerned golden eyes.
"Are you alright? That was quite a thwack," said Rhedefre.
LuLu’s face went alight when she realized someone had noticed her blunder. The color in her cheeks brightened by degrees as the embarrassment sank in. She nodded her head while she sat up. The sigel eyed Cesc carefully to gauge his reaction for judgment or anger. However, the frei seemed genuinely concerned. In fact, everything about him put off a vibe of gentleness. Her eyes danced uncertainly around his ears, fur covered and animal like hers. The rabbit settled down soon enough and pulled her hand away to reveal a small knot already forming in the center of her forehead.
“I am fine. I can handle a bump.” Her hand then slid along the seat in front of her. “Sorry if I disturbed you.” Any elegance she was displaying was being offset by the bleariness of sleep still clouding her eyes and the numerous cowlicks gracing her blond mane.
For a long moment, as the sigel seemed to be staring at him -- whether sizing him up or just bleary post-sleep staring, he couldn't quite tell -- Cesc took the opportunity to observe the rabbit girl. Her hair was mussed from sleep, the space around her eyes a touch puffy from her abrupt wake-up. Her eyes were wide and full of an almost childishness displeasure, despite her size and quite-adult beauty. He inclined his head forward, folding his arms over the back of the chair, and consciously fought back the desire to take her hands away from her wound, say 'there, there', and offer her a candy.
"It is nothing -- are you sure? That is a golf ball you are working on there. We could ask if any other Raevans can conjure you some ice, perhaps?" He tapped his forehead in the same space as her bump. "Ah -- I do not think we have met! I am Rhedefre, but most call me Cesc."
LuLu waved her arms frantically to dismiss the stag’s idea entirely. “Ah! Please no. I have interrupted enough already.” In all honesty, she just did not want anyone else to catch on to what had happened. She did not think her modesty could take that blow. What if Zul had found out!? What kind of little sister would she be then? Here to protect him and she ends up hurting herself instead!
LuLu smiled at the frei. It was still a bit awkward from her sudden rousing but full of warmth. “Pleasure to meet you Rhedefre… Cesc.” The rabbit felt out both names in her mouth before she made a choice. Either one made her tongue roll in unusual ways. Still, she had to pick one of them. LuLu settled, “Cesc.” LuLu shifted in her seat to dip her head down gently and accept his greeting. It was the closest she could get to a curtsy in such a small space. “I am LuLu.”
"Lu -- Lulù?" said the frei, his accent forcing him to stress the wrong syllable. He smiled at the name -- it was fitting to her. He said as much, lifting one hand to ruffle his bangs back from his head. There was something about her, in general, that made him want to smile. "It is a pleasure, Miss Lulù."
But wait. He knew that name, did he not? From Luka, the creature that attacked him. But was it possible? An ink monster? There was nothing threatening about this rabbit girl… not that he could tell, at least. He felt unsure how to react. There was certainly more than one Lulu in the world, wasn't there?
"I do not want to disturb your sleep, though," Cesc said at last. "The chairs lean back slightly, do you want me to lean it so you are not head-against-plastic? A bit more of a pillow that way."
The rabbit’s nose crinkled delightedly at the way Cesc pronounced her name. It was smooth like a foreign silk draped over her ears. She almost wanted to ask him to repeat just so she would have the gratification of hearing it again.
LuLu blinked at the seat for a moment. The woes of being short were made ever noticeable as she gauged the distance between her and the back of the chair. At last, she nodded. “That would be lovely.”
She was charming, thought Cesc, watching her nose wrinkling. Absolutely charming. He lifted a finger and lowered himself down to pull the lever beside the chair, slowly making the chair tilt backward toward Lulu. After a moment, he could see her face from over the chair without having to float too far upwards.
"There," he said, pulling himself back up and gesturing to the chair. "A bump-free sleep for you awaits, then, Miss Lulù."
LuLu’s lips curled a bit more, into a cute bow. Her eyes crinkled softly at the corners. “Thank you, Mr. Cesc.” With that said she rested her forehead against the cushioned portion of the seat. It felt much nicer on her neck than her previous position. Fortunately, she was just tall enough to manage the action. Either ear flicked over the headrest and brushed at a lock of the stag’s candy pink hair. She could vaguely smell his scent embedded into the fabric, clean and earthy.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:49 am
Meaning of Fear: Romantic Interlude
__________________________________
Cesc and Xiu Cesc rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. After chatting with various Raevans nearby, he relaxed into staring at the passing landscapes, watching the grass blur as it sped past. Wherever they were going, it seemed endlessly distant… He tried to read passing signs, but the names meant nothing.
At last, he pulled himself up from his chair and shook off the reverie. He looked around again, trying to find someone that did not seem too busy, or that might want to chat. Some were sleeping, others chatting together. He lifted himself and stretched his wings -- and as he did so, saw a head of long white hair toward the front of the bus.
Xiu! He hadn't seen the Raevan before, somehow, sitting up there at the front! Instantly, Rhedefre relaxed. He felt Xiu was a capable Raevan, and a good friend. It was nice to see him here.
He lifted himself from the chair, floating to the front of the bus to make his hellos. However, just as he came close, he saw that Xiu was seated beside Lazarus (Laz -- the sigel working at the Lab -- it dawned on Cesc suddenly how stricken with worry the fire sigel must have been.) He opened his mouth to extend condolences, and witnessed, purely by accident, Lazarus lift Xiu's hand to his mouth and press a kiss to its back.
Rhedefre cranked his mouth shut, blinking in surprise, and continued floating forward, suppressing a smile. An awkwardness crept into his posture, suddenly unsure of what to do. He had not meant to nearly walk into a tender moment!
Still, part of him was nodding, inwardly. That was one mystery solved, at least. And Vivi, as it were, was right. (As always.)
But now what was he going to do? He floated up to the front of the bus and needed now an excuse for being there rather than to greet his friend. After all, the sigels looked like they were quite engaged with each other… maybe they hadn't noticed his approach? He floated up to the bus driver and cleared his throat.
"Great -- great job," he said, slightly lamely. Then he turned again, rubbing his cheek with one hand, trying desperately not to laugh at himself.
Xiu could feel the blush colouring his entire face as Lazarus tenderly kissed the back of his hand. "Lazarus..." said Xiu softly with a smile.
That was, of course, before the white Sigel heard Cesc's voice thanking the bus driver. Startled, Xiu quickly pulled his hand back only to come face to face with a grinning Cesc.
"Uh..." said Xiu as the blushed flared across his features once more like an allergic reaction.
For all intents and purposes, Cesc seemed to be grinning at absolutely nothing, his eyes very clearly NOT on the pair. However, it was with great decorum and dignity that the stag managed to smooth out his grin almost entirely when he met Xiu's blushing face.
"Hello, my friend," said Rhedefre, amiably. He reached out a hand and patted Xiu on the shoulder, a friendly, reassuring gesture. "It is very good to see you."
"Y-Yes, wonderful to see you here too, Cesc," said Xiu, trying his hardest to decipher Cesc's expression. Did the Frei see the kiss? Did the frei NOT see the kiss?
Another bout of blush threatened to overcome the Sigel and Xiu quickly gazed in Lazarus's direction to see how the other would react. But who would have guessed, the Firey Sigel had simply gone back to staring out of the window once more.
Giving Cesc a sheepish smile, Xiu waved at the Frei. "We'll talk more once we are at the meeting point?"
"Absolutely," said Cesc. It was still somewhat awkward to float as he was in the bus, and it was getting harder and harder to keep checking his smile. "But I must tell you I feel quite safe knowing you two are aboard."
With a wave, he left the pair, floating back to his seat. It was not long before the smile inched back onto his face.
Well. At least there was something nice coming out of the trip so far.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 10:07 am
Meaning of Fear: Uncertainty
__________________________________
Cesc and Luka Cesc continued to float down the middle of the bus, a smile still on his features after his brief greeting with Xiu. It was not until he spied another white head that he decided to sit, his smile tempering somewhat, but still full of warmth.
"Luka!" he greeted, sliding beside his brother-frei. "It is good to see you, my friend. How do you feel?"
Luka looked up when he heard the all to familiar voice of his fel sibling. "Cesc! I'm doing better. What about you?" He asked, returning the stag a warm smile of his own. It was a slight lie, but not one that Cesc would see through easily. "I never knew there were so many other Raevans I hadn't met yet." He said with a slight chuckle as his eyes looked over the sea of brightly colored heads.
There was a mild, unguarded concern in Cesc's eyes as he sat beside Luka, although he did not perceive the other's discomfort. His concern was purely his own. Should Luka be coming along on such a trek, not so long after suffering his injury? Who knew what was out there… But he could not deny that Luka's light would certainly be useful, should the search go into night. Clearly, however, Luka felt himself up to it, and Rhedefre could not deny that in this case, Luka surely knew best.
"I know," agreed Cesc. "And here I thought myself social. Not to mention the other humans -- I feel absolutely a hermit."
"Heh. There are probably some Raevans that didn't join in on the search as well. I wonder if maybe one day we will meet them all." He turned to give Cesc a smile. "And, Elai was worried about me coming. I think he feels that we won't come back or something. I told him I would be alright. Especially since so many of us are going, we're strong together." He said slowly, as if doubting his own words.
Cesc smiled. "I hope to, one day. It would be nice, I think… or maybe it would be nicer to not be able to, if there were so many."
His smile faded as Luka continued to speak. "Yes… Vivi and Shepard were… less than excited, themselves. But I think we are more capable than that. And, if nothing else, we owe it to the doctor."
He looked down, his expression anxious, then lifted his eyes to Luka's. "We will be fine."
"I'm sure you'll met them all some day. Lab always has its parties and so many people seem to attend." When Cesc mentioned Vivi and Shepard, Luka couldn't help but place a hand on the stag's shoulder. "As long as we come back fine, there won't be any more worries for them." When he caught Cesc's anxious expression, he couldn't help but knock foreheads with the stag. "The good always prevail right?"
Cesc relaxed into the gesture, letting out a faint laugh.
"Yes," he said, after a moment. "I believe you are right."
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Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:03 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:05 pm
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Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:06 pm
✖ MRP: Waking Up ✖
Wherein a bloodied Cesc finds Melisande.* He squinted in the glare of the medic's light.
"This might hurt a bit," the doctor said.
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Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:08 pm
✖ MRP: Patching Up ✖
Wherein Cesc has a chat with a Raevan who earlier thought him a murderer. * He slept.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:56 am
✖ Ruin ✖
He didn't want to go in.
It was just before dawn.
The bus had left him on the corner, at his request, close to Vermillion before going on to the Lab.
"This is my home," he told the driver, and the man took pity on him, with his bandaged head and torn hands and empty eyes. He stopped and let the stag out, and then he went, the bus's noise fading into the morning quiet. Passengers still huddled inside, asleep. They had ridden for hours. The scenery had shifted, the trees had thinned, the ocean appeared. They rode over a bridge and back into the world that Rhedefre recognized.
The dawn whispered to him, but his torn ears were deaf. He hadn't slept, not well. He'd wanted to, he'd tried to, he'd slumped in the seat and closed his eyes and maybe, maybe, drifted off just barely. A paper-thin sleep, still aware of all his surroundings. Whispered words. The movement of the bus, rocking without rhythm.
More than once his eyes snapped open. He turned in his seat and counted heads, over and over. Had they left any behind? Would he know if they had? He tried to reach out with his power, to feel for anyone lost, but he was worthless and spent. There was nothing to him, nothing but ripped, sewn, and bruised skin, velvet hanging from his antlers.
He hovered outside the bakery with his hands at his side and his brain broken.
The dawn tried to fill him, snaking her fingers into his tired brain, but he was a glass with a hole in it and she filtered through him. His eyes glazed and his horns split with light, and all he felt was a sudden and terrible fear. He didn't want the power she lent him. He didn't want to hear more loss, to hear more things and people reaching for him, he didn't want it. The voices in his brain. People he couldn't help. The volume on them adjusted with the dawn and all he could do was scream over them in his head, don't you understand, they trusted me and I failed them, I failed them, I caused pain and brought others to the brink of their nightmares, don't you understand.
He stared at the bakery windows. Tried to ground himself by reading the script on them.
He tried to turn his mind. They would open soon. The baguettes would need to go in, the cupcakes would need frosting. What was the flavor that day? He could open, couldn't he? He could stand with Vivi in the kitchen, a piping bag in his hand, and listen to her voice. She would tell him stories and he would laugh and work, like always.
He had to go in, first. Had to show them what had happened to him.
His hands shook.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:08 pm
✖ Ruin: II ✖
Vivi closed Cesc's bedroom door behind her. Her face was still white and drawn. She walked and her movements gave her a ghostly quality, floating and indistinct. She sat on the couch beside Shepard and put her head in her hands.
Beside her, Shepard was all of rage. He twitched and moved and fidgeted as though it threatened to explode within him. His mind sputtered and shot at everything, his anger boiling over, looking for someone to blame. Someone to punish. His fingers curled in the edging of the couch cushions. He hated everything and everyone he'd ever seen. He wanted to go to the jungle and burn it and every living thing within it.
They didn't speak. They fished for words, but one felt she forgot them all and the other came up with too many.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 12:11 pm
✖ PRP: Sleeping Nest ✖
Vivi calls for help in the form of Zurine when Cesc shows no improvement. * The night was long, and full, and quiet. He slept with his arms around her, his forehead on her shoulder, and did not wake a long time.
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