|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 12:17 pm
The winter chill was quickly seeping in, and as the nights grew longer, Arias was becoming less and less pleased about the trips he made outside after dark. He was substantially bundled up when he decided that he didn't want his poor little sister heading home in the cold dark, so he packed up a thermos of hot chocolate, a few leftover cookies, and an extra coat; girl scouts might have prepared her for a lot of things in life, but the cold? He couldn't let his poor baby sister suffer through that.
So, he'd made the (albeit short) trek to where they were having their meeting and waited by the door until she finished, rocking on his heels and squeezing the thermos closely to try and sap some warmth into it. He waved to get her attention when they looked like they were finishing up; he might have looked a little out of place in his big swear and jacket and gloves, but it was cold! He worked in front of a nice, warm oven all day; he didn't want to deal with winter! And Carlee shouldn't have to, either!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:23 pm
Carlee didn’t really mind the cold, not as much as her brother did, at least. She ran over to him, her nice green hat firmly on her head, covering her ears and keeping them nice and toasty. “Hi Arias! Did you come to walk me home, because if you did, that’s very nice of you, though it would be even nicer if you had a car…because it would have a heater inside of it.”
She stuck her tongue out at him, then hugged him quickly. Sure, she didn’t mind the cold, but that didn’t mean she liked it by any means. She would much rather be sitting around a campfire than just out in the open, but when you were walking, campfires were normally nowhere to be seen.
The preteen waved to her friends and began walking, laughing as she did so. “Did you have a good day at work, Arias? My meeting was awesome! I got to pick who I’m going to be getting for the secret santa, and I’m really glad it’s someone that I like! If it was one of the girls that I didn’t like…that would have just been bad.”
She was always so talkative after meetings, and sometimes it was a good thing. Other times…well. It was quite a splendid distraction from everything else that also roamed the streets of the city. But hey. She didn’t care much!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 3:33 pm
Arias nodded and chose to keep his responses brief so that the girl could talk. He wasn’t as chatty as his sister and often preferred to listen, but before she got too ahead of herself, he held out a small bag of cookies and the thermos of hot chocolate. "I didn't know if you ate, but I wanted to make sure you didn't get cold. Do you need another coat?" he asked, dangling the extra he brought. He held it out in offering, though didn't really wait for a response before he was making an effort to respond. "I'm happy you got someone you like for your secret santa. If I had a car, I'd offer to drive you around to go shopping, buuuuut…if I buy a car, but then I wouldn't be able to get you a Christmas present. Besides, walking's good for the environment. You want to make sure your grandkids will have fresh air to breathe, don't you? And it's a pretty night. The stars are really clear. Come on, let's get out of here, away from these lights. I'll show you. And you can humor me and tell me what it is you actually want for Christmas, so I can get my shopping done early."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 4:42 pm
Carlee took the offered thermos and cookies happily, taking out one of the cookies and shoving it into her mouth. After she finished it she laughed. “Yeah but if you had a car we could go so many more places, Ari. And you can just get one after Christmas…so I can still get my present, plus then we could drive places when it gets really cold out.”
She held onto the thermos tightly, enjoying the bit of warmth it was giving off. “You should already know what I want for Christmas, you are my big brother after all, you should know everything about me. Mom knows. Why don’t you just ask her?”
The brunette took out another cookie and shoved it into her mouth, laughing and spraying crumbs everywhere.
Walking home with Arias was always the very best thing ever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 5:13 pm
Except when it wasn't.
While Arias was distracted watching his sister spray crumbs and trying desperately to figure out what she might like so he didn't have to go ask his mother, he failed to realize that he was doing a very poor job of making sure they were getting home safely.
The further they walked from the building, the quieter things got—the darker.
He had taken the shortcut so many times that it was just second nature to him, and while he was usually aware of his surroundings, tonight he was totally unaware of the cold eyes watching them.
A loud, metallic scraping noise filled the air and at first, he thought someone had been in a car accident; he spun his head to get a better look just in time to see a towering monster creep from the shadows.
It’s neck was long and thin and it had a flat face and way too many teeth; it's body was similar to some great bovine, but it's arms, gangly and long and dragging against the ground, looked like large hooks.
Arias had absolutely no idea what he was looking at, but it knew, and it took another step towards them, dragging it's hooked hands along the ground.
"Carlee," Arias said slowly, thinking perhaps that if he spoke too loudly or too quickly it might incite an attack; be it the cold or the monster in front of them, he was feeling very numb. "I think we should run."
The youma before them twitched for a second—and then charged in a strange mess of limbs.
Arias wasn't thinking it was a good idea to stick around; he grabbed his sister's hand tightly and pulled as he started running away from the creature.
It was just gaining speed behind them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:34 pm
Carlee stared at the creature for a good, long moment then let out a yelp as she was tugged away. What in the world was it? She held tight to the thermos and finally just decided to let it fly out of her hand, right at the monster that was coming their way.
This wasn’t much of a fun trip home after all. As her legs moved as fast as they could, she looked towards her brother. “See! This is why you need to get a car! If you had a car, we wouldn’t be getting chased by the lost monster of Destiny City!”
It was a quick name that she had given the youma, but hey. It worked. Though maybe lost monster was a bit of a misinterpretation. Maybe thrown away monster worked better…because if this thing was lost. Nobody wanted to have it found. “It should have just stayed lost!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 6:35 pm
There had been something stalking the creature that was stalking the two siblings. This something had four furry feet and a large, fluffy tail, and was not happy with how things were turning out.
Julienne was racing along a tree branch and let out a little laugh as the small girl threw the thermos at the monster. She had the potential, she had the ability to do something about this…the boy, well. He didn’t have anything that she could work with, but the girl…she was something more than what she appeared.
Quick as a flash, Julienne jumped from the tree, landing right on the male’s shoulders. “Hello. Don’t freak out, I’m here to help the both of you! But mostly her, I’m sorry darling, but there’s not much I can do for you.” She gave Arias a small nuzzle and turned her attention to Carlee. “Do you want to help out here, sweet heart? I can unlock the power that you need!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:54 pm
Arias wished he would have had some quip about having a car—but not only was Carlee right. If he'd had a car, maybe they wouldn't have been here. Or he could have run it over.
Or not had a talking cat—talking cat—on his shoulder?
Okay, well that was pretty much the weirdest thing he'd ever seen—second only to 'the lost monster of Destiny City'.
"No," he blurted to the cat instinctively, not sure if he was crazy or dreaming or what. Even with the cat, he was determined to get Carlee out of there and continued to run, pulling her along with him. "No, she doesn't want to help out, she wants to get home and be nice and safe, so no thank you."
He cringed when the monster swung one hooked arm in their direction; it narrowly missed them, but it's claw smashed into the ground beneath their feet and sending large chunks of it flying in every direction—and totally knocking Arias off his feet altogether.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:55 pm
Carlee looked up at the talking cat, mouth falling open in surprise and awe. What was even going on here? First there was a giant monster, and now there was a cat saying that she could do something to help…with the giant monster. Did the cat want her to try and fight it, because hey. That was just too much, seriously.
Her legs were getting kind of tired as she continued running and she looked at her brother rather imploringly. “But Ari…if the cat says I can do something, shouldn’t you let me try and do it? Wouldn’t that be the best idea right now? I mean…I really don’t want to get eaten…”
Why was it only she that could do something though? What was wrong with Arias? Well, now that he was on the ground she supposed there was a lot wrong. It was only her quick thinking and a well placed jump that had kept her on her feet. “I guess I’m just more special than you are, Arias…the cat said so, so uh…yeah! I’ll do whatever I can to help!”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:56 pm
Julienne scoffed at Arias’s response. How could he be thinking such bland thoughts! She was offering a way to help, a way to really get them out of there. “How could you not want to assure the safety of yourself and the city! You are a coward, sir, and it’s no wonder that I can’t aid you in any way.”
She wanted to take a swipe at him, but she tried to calm herself down, looking back at the approaching youma.
The girl though, she seemed to have a lot more sense of the here and now and seemed ready to take the power that Julienne was offering, so with a slight purr, the cat hopped off of Arias’s shoulder and landed smoothly on Carlee’s head, a pen falling down into the girl’s hand. “Now. I want you to hold this up and say, “Elvira Power, Make up, all right? Then you’ll be able to help me fight this thing.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:09 pm
A coward? A coward? Some talking cat was telling his sister to fight a monster he wasn't even sure the police could handle, and Arias was a coward? And here he was, thinking he was just trying to be a rational big brother that didn't want to have to explain to his mother why his sister had gotten eaten by some alley monster while on her way home from girl scouts.
He could handle his sister being more special than him, sure; he didn't mind taking a back seat. But he didn't want her to get hurt. "Carlee," he said hesitantly—and struggled with the words. There were things in Destiny City that he'd read about, things that he didn't understand.
Things he wasn't sure he wanted to understand.
But there was a monster behind them, and a talking cat that said she had the answer.
He could keep running, but that thing was throwing attacks, and it was only a matter of time before it hit them. "Carlee if you think you can do something, all right, but I'm not going to stand by and let you get hurt."
Fight that thing—did she really want to fight?
The youma swung another hand at them, though this time it arced so close to Arias' head that the back of his neck burned. He had done the only sensible thing he could do; he grabbed Carlee close and dived to the ground to keep the second claw from hitting them.
They hit the ground, hard, but had the unwanted benefit of giving the youma time to catch up. Arias had tried to soften the landing for Carlee—and even that cat—though he didn't know how bad they might have gotten hurt. All he knew was that he was seeing stars—and the monster's face mere feet from theirs.
He was torn between scrambling back and trying to chase the thing away from his sister, but one thought rang clear—get up. He didn't question it and tried to sit up immediately, planting both his hands on the ground.
The texture was odd, though; when he put one hand down, it wasn't cement that he was touching. It was soft.
He didn't have time to look and see what he had touched before the change happened. When he looked at his hand, the first thing he noticed was that those were not his gloves. The second thing he noticed was that he feel things—something good, and warm, and something very nasty.
He looked at Carlee with a lost expression, but the youma roar's forced him to keep his attention on it. He stood, regardless of all the confusion, and did what seemed to be the most logical thing; he tried to swing a fist at the youma to force it to back up.
It wasn't Arias whose fist collided with the youma's torso, or who called back to Carlee, "Are you all right?"
It was Newgrange.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:01 pm
Carlee caught the pen and privetly thought that the cat might be a little confused about everything. There was no way that she could be better than Arias…because Arias was clearly the coolest, most amazing awesome big brother in the whole world and there was nothing…
She looked over towards where her brother had been on the ground and paused, frowning. Where did he…where did he go? There was someone fighting the monster, punching the monster…asking if she was okay…but that someone wasn’t her brother.
Her purple eyes were wide, and quite fearful by this time and she clutched the pen tightly. Had her brother been turned into this new guy? It sort of sounded like Arias, but then again, maybe she just wanted it to sound like Arias?
The preteen swallowed and looked down at the pen in her hand. Maybe if she got rid of the monster…maybe she could figure things out after that…First though she looked back at the green clad stranger and nodded. “I…I’m okay…?”
She held up the pen and drew in a breath. “Yeah. I’m okay…E-Elvira Power, Make up!” Hey, it was worth a try, right? Besides, even if it didn’t work…she had tried. The cat couldn’t say that she didn’t.
When the words finished being spoken, Carlee felt a sudden warmth and power flow through her and it seemed as though she was being put in a brightly lit…well. Something, or maybe that was her imagination too. But when she opened her eyes and looked down at her clothes she let out an audible gasp. This hadn’t been what she was wearing before. Not at all…but it was kind of cute! Her shoes were really cute and she looked at them with an expression akin to awe. “What…what is going on here?”
Where had her clothes gone?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:12 pm
Julienne had hopped off of Carlee’s head when Arias had gotten up again, changed. She couldn’t help but stare. Well. It looked like he wasn’t something with no potential. He was a knight, or at least it looked as though he was. Felt like it too.
They just might make it out of this thing alive. She felt another power awakening and looked towards Carlee who was finished her transformation into a brand new Chibi Senshi. “Welcome, Sailor Elvira! It is very good to see you. Let me just tell you, you are the chibi senshi of Poinsettias. And I love your little pants!”
The cat took a moment to rub against the new chibi’s leg before stretching. “Now. Together, let’s get rid of this youma. Your friend over there has the right idea, but I’m going to give you a little bit bigger of a push…you there, knight boy. Step aside please.”
She gave only that warning before running up, shooting a beam of energy out of the star on her forehead, aiming it right at the youma’s ugly face.
At least she could give the two new defenders a bit of a chance!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:50 pm
The male barely had any time to get out of the way; he seemed confused that Julienne was talking to him, though didn't hesitate to comply. He stared at the beam that came out of her head and then turned his attention, briefly, to Carlee.
Except…she wasn't there.
The cat was there—and a girl was there—but not Carlee.
Just a girl with big hair and…she was about the same size, and…
"Carlee," he chanced, backing up. "Are you okay?"
He wasn't entirely sure what the cat had in mind, but he didn't mind letting someone else take the lead. As least she seemed to have an idea of what was going on; he was still reeling with too much confusion.
"How—do we really fight this thing?" he asked, quickly eyeing the cat.
The youma wasn't moving; it was howling in pain, but the cat's laser seemed to have done its job. It was struggling to move, but it was trying, and even the thought of it attacking again was horrifying. "You said Carlee could help fight it—how?" he asked hastily, and while no one seemed to be attacking threw another punch while the Youma still wasn't moving. It shrieked again and part of its torso collapsed into itself, though it was still standing strong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 6:36 pm
Carlee…no, was she still Carlee? She was something. The cat said Elvira? Well. She was Elvira now. “Yeah! Yeah Arias…I’m all okay! I feel different, but I’m okay! Are you okay?”
He knew her name, so he must still be Arias…so that was good. “We…well, the cat hit the monster! So we can too, right? She said that I can help so! So let’s do it!” She ran up to him and hugged the male around the middle. “What do we have to do? I don’t really know how to fight much…but you do, right? You are a boy after all!”
Boys clearly knew all about how to fight…and they were strong, and her brother was stronger than anyone! Because her brother was her brother, and nobody elses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
