Welcome to Gaia! ::

She sighed boredly, puffing on the cig and began to walk. Humming a favorite, Skiaska bumped into Krii'Ouse. "Gah. Sorry, hun... Oh! That's right, I was meanign to ask how you liked my outfit!" She smiled and did a slow turn. ((See Hunter's for outfit))

Skiaska sighed at his anger. "Let it go, hun, let it go." She smiled lightly as she thought over his question. "Oh, I got a good amount of rest", she lied. "Anyway, I have to go to the mall and get some more 'regular' clothes." Skiaska waved and went up to Hunter's soon ot exit.

((Jump to mall.))

William had just finished talking to Len, Kerrigan, and the others in the medical room, and now he was back in his office. Bloody, awful, horrible, just plain evil paperwork! Oh, how I hate it, loathe it, despise it! Just as soon as you get through one pile, two more form up on your desk! Why God?! I'm just a fighter, I see bad things and I kill them dead! I'm not an administrator! I wasn't supposed to do this sort of shite when I came to New York! I was supposed to be a loner, a problem shooter! But noooooo. "Billy, the last Hunter leader got his fool self killed, ya want the job?" Sigh. Ah well, no use crying over spilt milk. The die have been cast, and I need to accept the way that they've fallen. Besides, being leader isn't so bad. I get this office for one thing.

He was shaken from his internal monologue by a crisp rapping at his door. Lifting his head from where it was hovering over the mess of papers, he looked up towards the door and called out. "Come in!"

The door opened to show Skiaska standing in the hallway. Beside her was an older man with slightly graying hair who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties but easily could have been in his early to mid fifties. Regardless of his age, Will could tell from his bearing and manner that this man was a veteran fighter. The military uniform, decked with ribbons and badges, confirmed the man's veteran status. Will had spent high school and his college years in the Reserve Officer Training Corps, training for the day that he would become an officer in the US Army; those plans had been changed on the day that he saw a vampire draining a fellow student dry. As such, he understood and respected the armed forces in a way that most civilians could not. Standing up from his desk with his face composed in an emotionless mask, Will motioned for him to come in. The soldier stepped into the office and Skiaska closed the door behind him, leaving him and William alone in the room.

The two men stood silent for a long moment, studying each other in the dimly lit room. Will broke the quietness, his voice soft and his tone polite but to the point. "It is common military etiquette that a superior is to be saluted, soldier."

The tableau was broken and the requested salute given, returned by Will's own; crisp, sharp, hand held in a knife-edge shape and brought up to the right temple at a slant. Many wouldn't see or understand the importance of this moment, but Will did. This action was carefully designed to make one point and one point only clear to the older and no doubt more experienced man, that William Jackson was now his superior and was to be treated and obeyed as such. Ending the salute, Will gestured to the chair on the other side of the desk from him. "Please, be seated."

Will and the other man sat down across from one another, and Will clasped his hands together underneath his chin as he regarded the newest Hunter. "Before I introduce myself, I want to make a few things clear to you. I can tell that you are a military man born and bred, so I'll be blunt and brief; I won't coddle you like I have to with the others. Firstly, we operate as a sort of underground militia, waging a secret war against the supernatural forces in this city. Discipline and military experience might be lacking, but keep in mind that we are a volunteer unit unsupported or recognized by any government and as such a loosening of certain standards is necessary to keep morale high. Secondly, don't judge anybody here by their youth.; they all go out every night and take on creatures that would make many soldiers piss themselves and they do it willingly, with dedication and determination. Most Hunters start out from either childhood or their late teens, and few live to see their twenty-first birthday; even if you beat the odds and last in this business for more than two years, you'll either be dead or driven insane before you reach 'retirement' age. Third, while you might find Haven to be different than any other base or headquarters that you've been assigned to, remember that it is the one place in this entire city where we can feel safe and secure. It is a bastion against insanity and battle fatigue as much as it is a fortress against our enemies, and for many Hunters it is their home. Keeping morale and spirits high when every night is patrolling and fighting is probably our most important struggle, and so it is nescessary to make this old, abandoned, underground fallout shelter that we call home as homey and comfortable as possible so that people have a chance to truly relax here. You've no doubt only seen the living quarters, in the lower level is where we have our training areas and armories. And as you no doubt noticed on your way down here, the entrances are heavily fortified and guarded; it would take a well organized and well equipped military force to invade Haven. Finally, once you join us, once you become a Hunter in full, your loyalty is to us and us first, your duty is to protect your comrades and the innocent and ignorant civilian population. If you ever betray us, it will be considered treason and I will have you put on trial and then blindfolded and shot. Is this all understood, soldier?"

The older man nodded slightly. Will allowed himself to smile slightly as he held his hand out for a handshake. "Then in that case, I officially welcome you to New York in the name of the New York Hunters Group. I'm William Jackson, leader and commander of the NYHG. Welcome aboard."

Krii'Ouse slid down the ladder from Hunter's. He went to his room, panting, in pain, and exhausted... 'Oh.:.pant.:. my God.:.pant.:. I never want.:.pant.:. to go to the Park again...' he panted out, as he walked to his room.

'Too many.:.pant.:.damned Lycans.:.pant.:. that are loony and wanna kill me!' He entered his room, after passing Mina's room, and quickly admiring the paint job on the door. He fell down onto his bed, and stared at the cieling from behind his shades. He shut down his brain, but remained slightly conscious. Just conscious enough to get up and talk, if someone entered.

Skiaska stretched, proud of her accomplishments for the day. She had gotten her room furnished, painted, wired, and carpented all within four hours! Pulling on her more casual clothes, she thought about going over to see Krii.She whipped around when her phone rang. Grabbing it, she let out a happy "Hello! Skiaska speaking."

Skiaska blinked a few times before sighing. "I'll pick up the lamps in-" She looked at her clock. "-thirty minutes abouts. See yas." Grumbling, she threw on a black, hooded jacket. Not bothering to zip it, she swung her hair into a high braid and put on some every-day sandal-heels. Also grabbing her red and balck purse, Skiaska threw in some random junk.

"Going to the mall... AGAIN!" She was starting to get tired of it. Running up to Hunter's an through, the door, she grabbed yet another taxi. I really need to get my car out of the shop. Skiaska sighed when she reached her destination. She began to hand the driver a ten but smirked. "If you wait here until I come back, I'll give ya a fifty."

He nodded his head, his greedy hands reaching out. Pulling out a fifty, she ripped it in half. Gving one of the halves to him, she put the other in her pocket and walked off.

((See profile for casual clothes. Also, jump to mall.))

Skiaska entered her newly decorated room. She turned ont he lamp and looked at the time. "Only 12:37? Hm! Ah well, better get some sleep. She took of her clothes and jumped into the bed, snuggling in the satin and silk sheets. "So comfy..." No sheep were needed as her eyes closed and her mind fell into a dream.

Skiaska cried, her body curled under the sheets. Her door was locked and she just continued to cry. All of the words kept coming to her. "Monster! Freak! No one!" "Stop, stop, stop, stop, STOP!" She screamed it out and began to tremble, shaking violently as she rocked herself under the thin layer of silk. "Please..." She just broke down, all of the tears held up fell. In torrents, salty water fell down her face onto her the bade, everything around her. Skiaska whimpered as shouts of cruelty were lashed at her.

((Sorry about all the angst... sweatdrop Anyway, I'm just filled with angsty posting, and I had to let it out. This is the result... More sweatdrop ))

She came back from Hunter's and headed towards the bathroom. Once there, Skiaska hurled everything she had eaten and drunk in the past twelve hours. Gagging and brushing the disgusting liquid from her chin, she went over to the medical area and smiled at Gail. A stab of guilt got her when she saw she was looking for her gauze and disinfectant.

Skiaska went ot her room after grabbing a bag of ice. Lying down, she put the cold blocks on her head and tried to get some sleep. Although a little afraid that she would have the same dream, she fell into rest. Thankfully, no real dream. Just a young Skiaska curled up in the darkness. She shivered under the covers as she didn't take off her clothes, just replacing her pants with some thin sweatpants.