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 Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:20 pm
A grin pulled at his lips, Valeriu giving a quiet snort of amusement at Quinn's antics. He could very easily imagine the Carnegie brothers giving Quinn the ultimate beat-down. Those two played dirty.
"Neither of us could take them on. They are the kings of brawl. V'e v'ould be slaughtered," he admitted. It wasn't quite the truth - true, they were good fighters, but they were only human. And Valeriu had learned a thing a two about fighting in the time he'd been gone. "And I think your powers fit you. Being ee'ntimidating does not suit you."
It suited Valeriu all too well, but he was also naturally serious. He couldn't imagine a fearsome or cutthroat Quinn - the very idea seemed wrong. No, this worked. Valeriu was the intimidating and dark one, Quinn the bright and cheerful one.
It was meant to be. Like god, like godlings. It was almost amazing how they contrasted against one another, complete opposites. Valeriu supposed not every godling met their divine counterpart in the game. Something just...clicked. At least it felt that way to him. Even if he still wasn't comfortable with all the touching.
Speaking of, he hadn't realized his discomfort had bled through. That was the trouble with feline appendages - they gave you away all too often. Momentarily surprised, both at the man's frank words and Quinn's embarrassment, Valeriu gave the ice cream man a hard look.
Not appropriate.
Resolutely, he took Quinn's free hand back in his own with a mulish frown. Holding firmly and icily, he politely took his ice cream, though holding his head higher in affront and sharp eyes looking far more fearsome.
"Quinn ee's my friend, and I am happy to have him as one. Thank you for the ice cream, sir."
Turning back to Quinn, his frown lessened again at the expression on the other boy's face. "You said you had art to show me? I v'ould like to see ee't."
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:42 pm
Michuleo was incredibly apologetic. "I'm sorry for causing any trouble, Quinn." Quinn, however, as soon as Vale had grabbed his hand, had melted, and was back to his happy, chipper self.
"No, it's okay, Mitchy. You didn't mean to." He took a big bite of his ice cream, wincing because it made his teeth hurt. "Ow ow ow ow ow!" He swallowed it and laughed at himself.
Haha! This boy is growing to like you! Success!
I...Yah. Success.
You didn't sound enthusiastic, Quinn.
That's because I'm not.
Quinn gave a big grin to Vale. "Yah! You're my friend! One of my best!" He leapt into another big hug with Vale, and then dropped back down to holding his hand.
He is not your friend.
Quinn winced, but maintained his smile. "Yes! I'd love to show you art. Oh! Better yet, I'm going to draw a picture just for you. Mitchy, can I have my bag?" The ice cream man nodded, and reached behind his stall, pulling out a cloth messenger bag that he tossed to Quinn. The godling wrapped it around himself, and opened the flap for a second to show Vale a set of around fifteen different colors of spray paint.
"Here, down this alley." Quinn dragged the other godling down an alley that got darker as they went, as it was behind increasingly tall buildings. They got to a section of wall that was really dark, and Quinn pointed his finger in the air, creating a bright star shining over everything, revealing a large amount of his doodles and drawings and suchlike. There were pictures of simple things, like animals, and also fantastic things. He had a small section with caricatures of every other godling he had met; Writ, Fish, Ciro, Persy...They were all there. He didn't head for that spot, though, he headed for a large blank spot near it.
He let go of Vale's hand, and dropped his bag to the floor. He seemed to forget that Vale was even there, and he pulled out a can in each hand and shook them. He stared at the wall, and then began attacking it with short blasts of paint. Occasionally he would switch colors, and he would glance at Vale occasionally, but he wasn't looking at the person-- he was merely looking at the form. Everything else seemed meaningless to him at that moment, and he sprayed vigorously for a good five minutes before he stopped and dropped his cans on the ground, leaning against the opposite wall and taking a deep breath. Before Vale could have a chance to speak, however, he jumped back in for another five.
On the wall was a picture of Vale. Not perfect, by any means, and you couldn't use it to recognize the godling on the street, but it was well-done. Vale was, admittedly, in Quinn's picture, shirtless as he himself was. Quinn had decided he didn't need as many clothes. The Vale in his picture was crouched in a fighting stance, hands in claw-form, like he was about to pounce on the person viewing the picture.
Finally finished, Quinn gave sort of a hopeful look to the other boy. He didn't want to directly pressure the 'Do you like it? I hope you like it!' point, but it was written all over his face.
"It's not my best," he lied, "but I like it okay."
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:43 pm
Vale took the hug in stride this time, tempted to grin back again at Quinn's enthusiasm; as it was, he gave the ice cream man a shrug to show he accepted the apology.
He could be too frank sometimes, as well. It had gotten him into tons of trouble, and Valeriu had learned from his mistakes. Like to never ask a woman about her age, or more importantly, to never say that she didn't look as young and pretty as she did when she was eighteen.
Old women had deadly accurate aim with their handbags.
Curiously looking at the cans of spray paint, he wondered how anyone could paint with them - they looked unwieldy and difficult at best.
"A picture for me?" He followed willingly enough, lest he truly be dragged. He didn't notice the change in light that much - his eyes weren't just for show. The darker it got, the more the pupils widened, and he was fairly sure the red color all but glowed in the shadows. Enough people had run screaming from him at night when he was trekking home, after all. Squinting slightly at the sudden light from Quinn's star, he stared at the wall in amazement.
"V'ow." He was impressed. He had all the artistic capabilities of a three-year-old, and though he had never had the urge to learn beyond simple lines for drafting, he admired the ability to create such works in others.
And what works they were! Perusing the wall, he could recognize people he had met, and people he hadn't. Ciro, and Persy - and a few others he dimly recognized from all those months ago.
Ciro looked particularly angry, he noticed wryly. And Persy looked particularly...like Persy. Spot on.
At the hissing sound of paint being sprayed, he wrenched his attention back to Quinn and his blank space of wall, watching in still and silent intrigue as the godling painted so intently. He couldn't make heads or tails of what the form would be at first - then it turned humanoid, and finally started taking on the dark looks that he knew very well. He saw them in the mirror every day, after all.
"Ee't ee's...me?" A slow, distinctly fanged grin slipped across his face at the sight. It was almost like an epiphany, seeing the physical representation of another's impression of him. And he couldn't say he wasn't pleased to see himself as fearsome and impressive.
He was still a boy, whether ten or teenaged. He did have an ego, and that ego enjoyed the painted praise.
"Ee't ee's v'onderful," he declared, stance a little straighter and chest puffed out to match the inflation of his pride. Of course it was. It couldn't be anything else. After all, Quinn had painted him.
Ridiculous. You can be proud once you've had entire pyramids carved in your likeness. One wall painting? Doesn't even hit zero on the heroic scale.
Privately, Valeriu decided that Tezcatlipoca was just jealous. No one had painted him in a long, long time, he bet.
Turning his impressed gaze from the wall and back to his opposite, his grin widened into something more easy and unintentionally roguish - resembling the adult he'd grow into sooner or later.
"Thanks, Quinn. You are a very good friend, and an equally talented artist. I v'ish there v'as something I could do for you as v'ell."
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:09 pm
"Hooray! I'm so glad you like it!" He clapped his hands happily, then started putting his paints up. "This is what I spend most of my time doing. When I do a sketch here and it turns out really well, I'll find a building somewhere in the city and make a bigger version." He grinned widely, and pulled out an espresso bean to pop into his mouth. "Oh!" He realized after he started chewing, "My ice cream!" He had set it down on the ground, and it was beginning to melt. He picked it up daintily, and was glad for flat-bottomed cones.
He ate it up quickly in silence, then looked at Vale, contemplating his sentence. He could think of a few things the other boy could do for him. "Well, actually, there is..." he paused.
What? What are you waiting for? Go ahead.
I'm baiting him, shut up.
Don't tell me to shut up, young man.
"Nevermind. You know, it isn't important. You wouldn't want to. Nevermind." Quinn took that moment to look downcast. He ran a hand through his hair, and brought his hand back down to trail down his torso slowly and seductively.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:26 pm
Valeriu had, surprisingly, given no thought to the ice cream he still held in his hand - too enthralled with watching how the people who used the other side of their brains worked. But he was quickly reminded, and made short work of the rare treat. Wiping off some ice cream that had accidentally dotted on his nose, his ears pricked forward with interest.
"How v'ould you know I v'ould not v'ant to?" He couldn't think of much that he could do for Quinn, unless it involved his fearsome appearance in some way. And the boy didn't know much about him beyond that - so he wouldn't think to ask for something that Valeriu could build or sew.
His god had gone most ominously silent, but Valeriu paid no heed to the warning prickles in his head.
"Tell me. Ee't cannot be that outrageous of a thing to ask."
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:01 pm
Quinn thought for a moment on the best way to word it. It came to him in a flash, and he grinned. He looked up at Vale, and smiled nervously. "Could you...I know this is going to sound wierd, but, could you close your eyes? I promise I won't hurt your or anything. It's a surprise!" He looked perfectly sincere, and he was. He was looking forward to this; not because of his God, or the orders given to him. But because he really hoped that Vale might grow into being his friend. He kept this thought as private as he possibly could, though, to keep Quetzalcoatl away from it.
He faced Vale, reaching out with both hands to grab the other boy's reassuringly. "It's nothing, I promise. Trust me."
That's quite a convincing show you put on there.
Yah. I'm good at what I do, I guess.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:24 pm
His eyebrows furrowed at the same time his mouth turned down in a frown, ears unsuredly laying back. Sightlessness, he was not comfortable with. There was only so much forewarning his hearing could give him.
Quinn could literally pull a knife on him, and he wouldn't be able to know in time. He'd be able to avoid a killing blow, but he wasn't looking forward to injury at all.
Besides, what reason could Quinn have to have him close his eyes?
A thought struck him. Did it really matter? Either he trusted Quinn on this or he didn't; if he did, and it came around to smack him back in the face, he was pretty strong now. He could handle it. There wasn't anything to be afraid of, no reason to be chickening out at such a small request.
"Alright," he acceded, trusting in Quinn's sincerity for now, although the doubt and utter confusion still shone on his face.
Although he hated surprises. Closing his eyes, even after the briefest of moments, sent his hackles rising and his ears twitching, straining for any sound that would give way an impending attack. He had to loosen the reflexive tightening of his hands before he ended up accidentally squeezing too hard.
"How long v'ill I have to keep them closed for?"
Oh, vulnerability. The nervousness was already getting to him.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:44 pm
Quinn laughed a bit. "Not long, Vale, don't worry."
Keeping ahold of Valeriu's hands, so that the boy could be reassured that they weren't doing anything, he pushed himself up onto his tip toes The boy was taller than him, so he had to stretch a bit. He pressed himself closer, and tilted his chin up to push his lips against the other boy's.
He held it there for a second, and his eyes shut. After a second or so, however, he felt a strange tingle shoot from the bottom of his feet up to his lips, out to Vale. He yelped and jumped backward, hearing a snapping noise. It felt like being shocked by static electricity.
What was THAT?! (Quinn practically mind-yelled)
Of all the times for this to surface...
What did you do?!
One of Quinn's hands was still holding onto Vale's, and another shock went from his hand to Vale's. He yelped again, and pulled his hand away.
"Vale, I'm sorry, I don't know--" He was cut off by another shock at his finger, and he saw a small bolt of electricity jump from him to the ground. "I mean, this has never--" his other hand shot one out to the other side of the alley.
Calm down, Quinn. You're causing it with your agitation.
Of course I'm agitated! Why did you do this?
I knew it was coming. You had to get a power that can be used for battle, didn't you?
Not now! And why would one of my powers hurt so much?
It shouldn't, after a while. Breathe.
Quinn yelped again as a charge ran through his hair. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and the small static shocks dissapeared. He opened his eyes again, and looked for Vale in the alley.
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:41 pm
For the briefest of moments, he wondered what the hell was going on. Quinn had closed the distance between them, and that strange sense of toomuch was nagging at him to put it back there. Abruptly, he could pick out everything about the other godling - the scent of his skin, hair, the warmth radiating out and the blood pounding, somehow audible to his ears. If nothing else, it sent his skin prickling and those killer instincts to come roaring back to life. Telling him to attack, to rend and tear the creature in front of him until that blood spilled upon his hands and that heart stopped beating. Times like this, it was difficult to ignore.
And then Quinn kissed him, and his thoughts and instincts screeched to a grinding halt, eyes flashing open in shock.
He, what, kiss, what?
What?
What?
A shock hit him out of nowhere, and suddenly rational thought was pushed aside as he backpedaled, electricity stinging painfully through his body - followed almost immediately by a second sting, like a whip cutting through him. The mirror in his chest especially reacted badly, leaving a burning sensation around his heart. A chill raced through him to chase away the pain, even as his god hissed matter-of-factly in his ear.
He attacked you, like I knew he would. I told you, did I not? You are enemies. The light and the darkness do not mix.
A new kind of hurt settled around his heart, along with the cold. He'd been attacked. Quinn had tricked him - attacked him with an electricity that was especially painful against dark beings like himself. All this time, he was just waiting for the chance to strike.
His god was right. He knew this would happen. Tezcatlipoca always seemed to know.
The shadows beneath his feet rippled once, twice, and began to rise in spikes, as a new wrath shone in his eyes, even as his fists clenched in frustration at his own stupidity.
"Clever," he all but spat the word out, glowering darkly at the other godling. "Catch me off guard, and then electrocute me. Must be a close contact thing. Very clever."
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:52 pm
Quinn's eyes grew wide, and he backed away from Vale, tripping on his bag of paints and falling backwards. "No, Vale, I--" His eyes were immediately filled with tears. "I didn't mean to, I promise! I didn't even know I could do that!" He looked up at the other boy pleadingly. "Please. I just want to be friends. I'm not clever, I promise."
You could never be friends with this boy. This was bound to happen sooner or later.
No! I won't fight him. He hasn't done anything wrong.
That doesn't excuse what he will do. Tezcatlipoca must be stopped. You have your power. Fight him!
No. I won't make him any angrier with me.
If you do not listen to me, he will kill you.
Quetzalcoatl said it with such cold sincerity that Quinn would have shivered if he weren't too busy being terrified out of his mind. Seeing Vale so angry at him was terrible.
He won't kill me! He's my friend!
You are not friends. Fight him.
No!
Quinn pushed himself up to a standing position, calmly picking up his spray paint bag. He slung it over his shoulder, and turned his back to Vale. "I didn't mean to do that. I'm sorry. I'll leave."
You idiot! Do not turn your back to him! He'll kill you!
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 10:46 pm
Somehow, his rage burned even hotter at the sight of Quinn's tears, like lava welling up from the pit of his stomach and into his throat. It was all an act, all of it. Every single motion, every single word, it was all planned. Even now, he was hoping to trick Vale into letting his guard down again.
Not again.
Never again.
"Liar," he hissed, and his ears were jutted forward sharply, aggressively, as his god whispered more insinuating truths to him.
He couldn't hear himself think, now, even though the rational part of him was doing its best to be heard. Couldn't see beyond the need to rip-rend-tear into the treacherous person in front of him. It was a struggle just to hold himself back from doing that much, a low growl ripping itself from his throat that he hadn't thought himself capable of.
He might've been able to stop himself if Quinn had not turned his back.
Kill him.
His god didn't have to say anything this time. His own rage had spoken for him.
With a powerful lunge, all long legs and solid mass, he'd slammed Quinn against the wall, hands wrapped around his throat and nails digging in like claws. If he'd truly had the claws to match his form, Quinn's larynx would've been no more than tattered ribbons. As it was, he crushed.
He didn't need to use his powers for this. They were back up, long-distance types of attacks.
This was personal.
This was what his body was made for, trained for - what all those months spent surviving in a hellish jungle had honed him into. This was what his newly gifted instincts urged him onwards to be.
A killer. It shone in his eyes, gone cold and harsh. He wanted that snake's throat to crumple beneath his hands, for his blood to run hot and free over his fingers, down his palms and wrists, hearing that backstabbing and cowardly heart stutter, pause, and die. His lips pulled back in a snarl, baring sharp fangs that were all too eager to add to the kill.
Until the shocks raked through him, again. Quinn was still shocking to the touch, and the startling electrical impulses that zapped at him jerked his conscious and rational mind back to the forefront.
He reeled back with a look of horror and distress, hands flying off Quinn's neck and quickly stepping backwards. His fingers shook at his sides unconsciously, ears laid flat. For a moment, regret and worry overrode his hurt.
"Quinn, I..." He'd tried to kill him in cold blood. Tried to kill his friend. His jaw clenched then, betraying the anger that still burned like hot coals.
Not his friend.
"Next time v'e meet, I v'ill kill you," he promised, voice hard and rough and feral and filled with more betrayed hurt than he realized. Looking at his hands, he curled them tighter, then looking away.
"Let us hope v'e do not meet again."
With a final, pained glare, he turned away, his stride carrying him gone and away into the shadows that patiently waited, cloistering about his dark form until no trace of him was left in the narrow alley.
Tezcatlipoca laughed.
He won again this time.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:22 am
As he was slammed into the wall, Quinn’s eyes widened. No. Vale wouldn’t do this. Of course he wouldn’t. But the wall he was being squished against said otherwise. He attempted to speak, but his throat was being crushed by the other godling. The teen was grateful when the electricity began zapping out of his body again. When Valeriu said his name, his heart jumped, hoping that the Vale he hoped for would return.
I warned you, Quinn. You knew this had to happen.
Quinn didn’t respond. At hearing Vale’s threat, he didn’t doubt it at all. Seeing the look in the godling’s eyes showed him that the boy meant business. Quinn slid to the ground when Vale dropped him, sitting against the wall. He didn’t respond at all. He stared at the ground, waiting until the other boy had walked away. He was grateful for Quetzalcoatl being silent, for once. He stood up slowly, grabbing his bag of paints.
He stared straight ahead, walking down the alley towards the light. The bag bounced along his hip as he walked, but he didn’t seem to notice. He turned again, and walked the way the two had come when they had first entered The Scene. As he walked, he began to plan. He waited until he had come back to the marketplace. It was getting later in the day, and wasn’t nearly as crowded as it had been. He went as near to Vale’s work as he dared, then set his bag down and pulled out his first two colors.
He took out all of his rage on the picture, all of his hurt. He shoved all of the emotion he possibly could into it, paying more attention to detail than he ever had with any of his pictures before. The artist paid especially close attention to the facial features of his subject. He made sure that Valeriu looked frightened.
His picture showed the other godling laid out on the ground, frozen in shock while a bolt of lightning from somewhere above the picture slammed down on him. The electricity jumped around the boy’s body, his limbs in odd positions, jerked by the shock. Behind the lightning shock was Quinn from the waist down, rainbow belt and all. One of his hands was in view, clenched into a fist above the boy on the ground.
Quinn began gathering up his supplies, putting them all into his bag and heading back on the long walk back to his house.
He was certain Vale would get the message.
Next time, he wouldn’t be afraid to fight.
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