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 Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:05 pm
β πlake πΏrinity β
ββββ  "H-hey! Geez... Don't say things like that, dad. It's depressing," Blake murmured, stepping back from her father when he'd hit her on the head. She was about to reply to her mom's rather heartfelt sentiment, when Rowan's hand came down on her head. A little surprised, the blonde looked up at him with wide eyes, actually getting to see him, for the first time in almost a week. Whether or not Blake's worry about her own condition had anything to do with the Knight in the first place, it was significantly more calming to have him around. The woman wanted to try to be even a little upset with him with about the last few days, but it seemed impossible to hold onto anything like that, at least not at the moment. "R-right, just do what we can for now. Okay." It made sense. It's not like there was anything they could do about it now, and there wasn't sense in doing something stupid that'd end in tragedy, something that wouldn't be good for anything. Blake lowered her gaze, taking a deep breath, trying to relax, just a little bit. We've just gotta prepare for this...in whatever way we can. I just hope there isn't as much suffering as Gram seemed to be describing, not because of us... Rowan seemed to reading her mind, mentioning the question, or rather lack thereof, about whether or not this was due to them. His next statement, however, made her eyes light up, whatever liquid had built up in them momentarily reflecting the light of the sun, as she met his gaze.
This way... for some reason, the Knight looked far too similar as he had in his first life. Between that, the palm on her head, and the way he was speaking, it was almost as if it were Ian talking to her himself. Technically, that was very much the case, but all the same, technicalities were tricky things. He was even bringing up stuff from back then... things only he knew. For a second, Blake could only look up at this strange sight with that awestruck expression, chest pounding, before it opened up in a bright smile. "Eheh! Yeah, you're right. Thank you." She wiped at one of her eyes with an open hand, glad she didn't actually end up crying, though this exchange was getting her close. Taking a deep breath, the fae continued; "I agree. Heh, I'm glad we came to the same conclusion 'cause I don't regret a thing." That was when Cheyenne, saying some...slightly embarrassing things. Although Blake had wanted some answers for his actions before, her mood was now through the roof.
"M-mom! G-geez...don't put it like that..." the girl stammered, waving her hands back and forth. The conversation then escalated significantly, causing Blake to watch for a moment with a dumbfounded expression. She had to cover her mouth to hide the fact that she was giggling at some of what was going on. Her mom and her Knight were actually going at it, and despite the fact Blake wished they got along, this scene was almost comedic. It didn't look like the were going to stop at any time soon. Eheheh...if I get in the middle of that, I'd be afraid of getting crushed from the pressure! "Ah...dad?" she asked pointedly, looking over to the man.β π¬listair πΏrinity β
ββββββ£  Cheyenne was probably somewhat perplexed by Alistair's calm demeanor and actions. It wasn't as though he didn't agree with the woman. As soon as the man had seen the state of the house, he'd feared the worst, heart dropping in his chest. Blake's lack of realization regarding this was somewhat disturbing, but fretting about it now... wasn't going to help anything. He just gave the woman a reassuring smile before Rowan moved in to join the group, stating something that Alistair agreed with. It was surprisingly positive coming from the kid, but it was probably something that Blake needed to hear. By her reaction, it definitely seemed that way, but that was when Cheyenne started in on the young man. No matter was going to happen in the future or when, Alistair had a feeling that his wife's disdain for their daughter's Knight was never going to lessen. For a moment, he just sort of watched with a slightly amused expression as the bickering between the two escalated. The back-and-forth seemed to be at least distracting the woman from her woes. Although, it didn't look like either of them planned to let up any time soon. It seems even Blake saw that much. He raised an eyebrow at the young woman.
Wouldn't you be more effective with these two, kid? he wondered. That was when the dragon woman piped up about seeing to salvaging what they could, something that Rowan and Cheyenne seemed to have missed due to their...conversation. It was a decent suggestion. If there were anything left, it'd be best not to chance losing anything else due to negligence. Going through the remnants of their destroyed house sounded rather dark, but there wasn't any sense in leaving something important behind. "Perhaps Natalia is right, dear," Alistair murmured, standing behind the woman and placing both of his hands onto her shoulders. "This is a deplorable thing that's happened, but there could be something left." He doubted the woman could be deterred from her current...conversation, but perhaps the kid let up if she did...
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:45 pm
NATALIA
- - - - -
"Let me show you the supreme art that is war."
NPCβ Dragon Kinβ "...Maid"  Natalia was quite surprised that Rowan hadn't dropped her almost referring to Blake improperly. It wasn't, however, in such a way that she would've expected. There wasn't a correction of whether or not a maid should be referring to someone in such a way, but he addressed the word itself and the blonde's feelings in the matter. What she found the most interesting, however, was his oh-so-very subtle mention of his own. The woman grinned at the thought, scanning the debris now that the Knight was finally speaking to his dope of a Mage. Heheheh, those two really are grade schoolers, huh? How cute. Hmm... there really isn't much of anything left. Whatever hope she'd had for this little project of hers was slowly dimming. The sudden escalation of voices caused her to turn around, Cheyenne and Rowan breaking into quite the bicker. She blinked.
"Two forces as strong as those two colliding might just take out the rest of the Kingdom," she muttered to herself, smiling. The two of them might as well have been sharing jolts of lighting, their words and actions at an intensity that was almost tangible. Pride, huh? What inspiring words... It's almost as though he's experienced such things himself. Of course, whatever atrocities you've committed, though, I'm sure they're nothing compared to what you might think of what I have done... From what I hear, though, you might have an idea. Why even attempt to comfort your own murderer? You're quite a character aren't you, superior? Cheyenne's husband seemed to be attempting to interfere, even complimenting her own idea to try and find some things among the home's ruins. Something silvery caught her eye.
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Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 2:00 pm
Johto Crisp [SO, THEY BEGIN CLEANING UP AN SALVAGING WHAT THEY CAN! ALISTAIR AND CHEYENNE HEAD INTO TOWN TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY THEY ARE A PART OF! OUR HEROES STAND IN FRONT OF THE WRECKAGE.] ~Rowan / Cheyenne~ "There used to be a point to everything, but since that day I can't seem to find myself caring about anything anymore. It's not because I don't want to, but because it's best if I don't." βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ 
After Cheyenne and Alistair finally departed from the general area, Rowan merely sat down in front of the slightly collapsing structure that used to be their old family home. While Rowan did not think too much about it, he recognized that this must be a pretty agonizing time for the two of them, and as such he mostly kept to himself while their family grieved over the loss of about twenty years of their life. No amount of money in the world could replace the treasures that they had lost. No matter what you have... you'll never be complete without the things you could never replace... He thought to himself as his mind went back to Lucy, and he was suddenly overwhelmed with quite a bit of grief in regards to his situation. Had he made the wrong choice when he decided to leave her behind, to allow her to live a life of luxury without any worries? What would happen once she grew up, and he was no longer there? Surely she would stop being happy once she found out the truth, that he was never coming back. So what was the point in giving up everything and trying to allow her to move on? He was here... so why was he keeping his distance.
The mental pain he was subjected to was becoming quite apparent as he sat there. He was no longer paying much attention to Blake or Natalia, simply minding his own business while he pondered the effects of his decisions. One thought lead to another, and he was suddenly reflecting back on the past once again, thinking to his time in the Academy and having to raise Lucy after just barely graduating. I really laid into those two when they tried to take her away from me, telling her how much better her life would be. I was so protective then, so angry that they were trying to take my sister from me. I didn't even realize who the two of them were. And now... here I am forcing myself to do the very thing they tried to do to me all those years ago. Am I really allowed to just grit my teeth and bare with it? Surely, she's going to turn out badly if she lives a life like that, wondering where the man that raised her disappeared to. Even if I'm gone for a year, she might not question it... but eventually she's going to remember me... remember her brother. And then what happens when she learns the truth? Rowan thought to himself, biting his lip slightly so that he could calm himself down.
This was probably one of the first times he had committed to such an action, and, for those whose senses were particularly high, the smell of blood was very distinct amongst all of the burning debris. Calm down... If you let them see you struggling... then they'll just end up worrying themselves without any reason. You need to look strong... appear unmovable... a wall without any regard to other things. Just anger... that's the only emotion they need to know you're capable of. They can't know that you get sad too... that you worry. Otherwise, they'd never rely on you at all. Rowan thought to himself, hardening his heart a bit before suddenly standing up and looking around him. He was obviously checking to see where the other two might have run off to after they finished searching the destroyed house. Argent was a little ways away, napping near the cinders that used to be the house. Obviously it was very content with the heat that was coming off of the rubble, finding it mildly satisfying. Such a lazy creature.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ "Even if you tell me that there was a point to bringing me back, that still doesn't seem to mean anything to me. All I am is a weapon, and that was all I was trained to be, since the beginning." Z.O.M.B.I.E.
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Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2017 11:02 pm
NATALIA
- - - - -
"Let me show you the supreme art that is ...housekeeping."
NPCβ Dragon Kinβ "...Maid" Well, there wasn't much left here at all. They'd found a couple things up til this point that were still worth anything. Blake was helpful enough in discerning those sorts of things. The rest was scrap or charred beyond any sort of repair. There...was opportunity in this. Yes, yes, at least it's an excuse for Blake to ditch her old wardrobe and where things more appropriate suited to her form. Eheehee. Perhaps this wasn't such a bad thing after all. Ehh, she couldn't quite commit to that thought, though. It was a little depressing to watch the brat just kick around whatever burning pieces of wood she saw. At least she was trying. Rowan, on the other hand, seemed to be stewing by himself over something. Was this mood ever gonna lighten up? There was that one thing, but the dragon kin knew what that was; she'd seen it before. Natalia had stumbled upon while...doing laundry. More accurately, she was just going through Blake's clothes for some possible dirt on her, leverage for more teasing. Really, the kid made it way too easy.
The first time she'd opened this stupid box, she found its contents...annoying. It was one of those things that one remembered but couldn't quite place, no matter how hard they tried, like a distant memory, or something that didn't necessarily pertain to one when the memory was made... It was like a person whose face you recognized but couldn't recall where from or even their name. She found the moment to be so annoying that she couldn't even open the thing when she picked it up, just shoved it into the collar of her dress. "Oi! Miss Blake! I think we're about done here. Have you found anything? If not, might as well stop. Can't really waste much more of the day." With a sigh, the dragon woman removed the box before waving it back and forth in her hand. "Found this, though. It's yours right?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:46 am
β πlake πΏrinity β
ββββ They'd found a couple things worth saving, but most of the really important stuff had gotten destroyed. Blake looked down in the dust, staring at some shards of broken glass. Running a funeral home wasn't a cheap matter, losing something so important like this... She hoped her parents were having better luck with the insurance than she expected. The half elf inhaled deeply before glancing over to Rowan. He seemed in a rather far off place, like something was on his mind. Mmm, I wonder... what he's thinking about. It could've been several things. There were extremely powerful people after them, Gram took over his body, he seemed to be in the Armament during that time... What was he thinking when he drove himself into solitude for nearly a week? I think we're done here. There's not much else left... Glad I had this on me. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if it'd gotten destroyed. Reaching into her pocket, she made a cord from the necklace inside and pulled her hair up with it. After a moment, Natalia called out something about finishing up. The Mage giggled awkwardly, a little embarrassed that she'd given up on looking before the dragon kin. What was even more embarrassing was the box she was waving around like it was nothing. "Oh- ahaha, that? No, no. It's fine. Toss it. It's totally empty. How do you even know something so vague is mine, anyway? I've got it, so just... toss the box. L-let's just get moving. We've got a lot to do, right? I'll start packing up if you wanna do one last once-over or something..." Blake had broke out into a bit of a ramble before her voice trailed off. She moved over to Rowan as he stood, hands in her back pockets.
"I, uh, think we're about done. Can't find anything else, so I guess we can head into town and find a place to stay for a couple nights. Not like we can't afford it, right?" A pit was forming in her stomach, but things still felt weird. Maybe it was because they were standing in front of the remains of her parent's destroyed house, but either way. "Look... You can get all defensive if you want, but I've gotta get something off my chest. I don't know why or what was going on... if it was Gram or something else, and honestly, this is probably not our biggest problem right now..." Her voice was low, perhaps trying to keep Natalia out of the conversation. Rowan was always telling Blake not to endanger herself for other people, but this was the second time he'd done it, himself. First lying about who he was so she could move on, so she wouldn't be in any greater pain. No matter what reason he'd hid away in the room, he was usually the first one to not want to be lazing about... Even back at the temple, he'd told her that he'd worry about himself. She looked up at him. "You don't have to ostracize yourself if something's wrong. Just... speak up, alright? Please? Even if you don't think I can handle it... especially if it's because of me... It's worse for me to be left in the dark while you're in solitary than whatever the consequences of telling me would be. I'd rather know and deal with it than wait around guessing, and that especially goes for cases where I'd be hit in the face with a door..." she muttered passive aggressively. Geez, I really hope that doesn't bruise or anything. "You don't have to be alone. If not for your own mental health, then for mine, Rowan..." I'd tell you it's because I care about you or that I'm here if you need me, but things like that usually get my head bitten off. Mages shouldn't worry about their Knights and all that blah-blah, sure, but you already... know how I feel anyway... Finally telling him this was kinda liberating, so even if he did fly off the handle or something, at least he knew, and at least she wasn't stewing over the situation anymore. Blake's hands moved rather elegantly as she began making a bag for what they'd found, awaiting his response, be it one way or another.
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:51 am
~Rowan / Cheyenne~ "There used to be a point to everything, but since that day I can't seem to find myself caring about anything anymore. It's not because I don't want to, but because it's best if I don't." βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
Why are you even... Is this how you try and kick a man when he's down, by trying to reprimand him for keeping someone alive for a week. Do you even know the mental turmoil I was going through!? Rowan raged in his mind after his Mage had approached him and tried her best to reprimand him for trying to be alone for the week, to leave her out of the loop. Slowly, he rose up and towered over her, looking down at her with a look that he seldom had. It was a dark look, not full of hate, but probably reflecting some sort of feeling that is not easily described. "What gives you the right to invade my privacy and know every little thing about me? What makes you think that I want you to know everything about me? What I go through... is my business. Who I am... is my business! If I want to lock myself in a room to keep that woman from dying after we just managed to save her, that's my business!" He raged at the woman, his eyes suddenly becoming fierce. "You don't think I didn't see the way you looked at me on that island, when I lost control!? You think I didn't notice how you were slowly regretting ever bringing me there, watching me take my revenge. Every second, every fight, your soul was slowly being battered around by my actions!" He yelled at the woman furiously.
"Even when we went out of town for the first time, I knew what you were thinking when you watched me fight those dragons. 'That's just cruel, isn't it?' Even if you say now that you never thought that, the look in your eyes when I chased them down that day cemented that feeling you gave off, those thoughts. That was only reinforced on the sky platform!" Rowan confronted her, obviously upset about something else but the current situation having set him off on some sort of rant. "And now, I'm struggling not to kill the very woman you didn't want me to. Because I could tell that look in your eyes. You didn't want your precious white knight to stain his hands with anymore blood. You didn't want your precious Ian to be shattered! Because that's all you care about, is the man I used to be, not who I am right now! You're obsessed with it, completely and utterly fixated on that previous existence! Everything I do, everything I am is judged in relation to who I used to be, who I once was! Well guess what, Blake! I'm me! This is me now, I'm not him! I'll never be him again! I'm struggling to preserve an image for you, to not shatter that carefully constructed fantasy you've created for yourself! And in reality, I shouldn't give a damn about it!"
Rowan stood there for a moment, his eyes having become fierce and he was in breathing a bit heavier, having yelled quite a bit out at the woman. Obviously, his anger had been misdirected and was about something else, but there was no way to convey that to her, and his pride prevented him from doing so. He would not bend or break in this situation, no matter what. "It's a joke... trying to be your Knight. This whole farce is a joke. Because no matter how much I try, not matter how much I try to be your Knight, I never will be. Ian Reignhart is your Knight in that little fantasizing brain of yours... and there's no remedy for that. That's why.... I can't be your Knight anymore..." Rowan stated as a light enveloped both of them, the sound of shattering echoing across the smoldering wreckage. This was an act of passion, of misguided feelings. That was what this was, and as such his actions were completely irrational right now. "We're done. You have your money, and you can find a place to stay. Natalia's your maid now as well." Rowan stated, turning around as his white coat swayed in the wind. "Goodbye..." He stated before disappearing suddenly. Rowan... was gone.
βββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ "Even if you tell me that there was a point to bringing me back, that still doesn't seem to mean anything to me. All I am is a weapon, and that was all I was trained to be, since the beginning." Z.O.M.B.I.E.
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 6:27 pm
β πlake πΏrinity β
ββββ Blake really didn't have much to say. Not that she didn't have anything to say, but the Knight had left her totally speechless. She was prepared for him to get upset with her, if that be the case, but not to this ferocity, this intensity. Taken aback by how quickly things had escalated, the woman could only watch him as he went off on her. Ah, so he really blames me for this, too... Even after she'd told him that she recognized him as someone else, after their talk on the pavilion, after everything they'd been through... this was the way he saw her? The more he spoke, the more clear he made his resentment for the girl, and the much less stable Blake became. I don't want you to be him. I've already told you that's not what I want... I get it. He's gone. That's something I've already accepted, so why're you bringing this up now... That's not how it is. I was worried about you... I just... She slowly began dropping her gaze, gripping on to her arm so hard that her knuckles were white. Blake couldn't help but cringe at his words. How long... how long had he felt this way? Even from so far back...? If that was the way he'd thought all this time, then why even entertain the idea of how she felt about him? It took everything shed had to fight the tears that threatened her eyes.
"R- Rowan, you know that's not-" her voice cracked, causing her to stop. "That's- ...What?" A...joke? Even if things were bad now, saying those sorts of things... His words left her totally speechless as he went on, speaking as if she were so stuck on Ian that she might as well be crazy before the statement that made her heart crack and shatter. Whatever pieces of her that she'd been able to mend from the events of the day all seemed to simultaneously crumble and break away. Whatever parts of her that she had been able to salvage were gone. You...can't be my Knight? Wh- what's with that...? You're taking things out of context... Why don't you understand? Blake opened her mouth to speak, to beg, to try to form some sort of words to get him to stop and rethink, but all that caught in her throat was some broken sob as he shattered the bond between them. The magus dropped to her knees, trembling fingers covering her mouth as she attempted to even process what was going on. All she wanted to do was let him know that he didn't have to fight his battles on his own, but it seems there really had been more to it than that... No... No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I don't need that. I don't need any of that. You can't just... "Rowan, please. Don't leave me. Please don't. Not now. You know that's not how it is. Look, I'm so-" There wasn't any reasoning with him... Rowan was already gone, leaving Blake alone to be crushed by her own guilt.
For a while, the woman would just sit there in front of the charred rubble of her own house, attempting to wrap her head around what just happened. Whatever Natalia was doing at this point didn't even concern her. Not having a place to stay for the night, not having much of anything left of her home, those were now the least of her concerns. Blake, completely overcome by guilt and grief, didn't even realize that she was crying until something between a spiteful laugh and a sob escaped her. She leaned her head back to look up at the sky, clouds passing by overhead. It was too nice out. Inside, there was an overcast. Why couldn't the whether reflect that? "Well, at least he opened up to me..." the half elf stated with a sniffle and a wry smile. That was when the gray of the sky opened up into a storm.
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