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Post by Coby on Aug 30, 2009 15:54:04 GMT -5
A slight breeze jostled the leaves of Portage Inlet. Rolling clouds announced the begging of fall, and the coming of rain. It was something he'd gotten used to when he moved here. The rain was relentless in the city, especially in the winter. It snowed perhaps once in January or, earliest, December. But that was fleeting slush; worth for nothing. The bodies of water, such as the Portage Inlet, never froze. If they did, people thought the world was going to end. The world never ended because of a little frozen water, so Ritchie always had to make fun of the people who freaked out over it. He sat on the edge of the walk, watching as the sun glanced off the glassy surface. It was about noon when he arrived that day, he checked his watch and saw he'd been there for nigh on four hours already. He shrugged his shoulders and dangled his feet over the edge, humming happily.
Why was this handsome man so happy? Well, he was young and handsome for one. He was smart. He was well liked. And he'd just broken up with his cheating girlfriend. He found her mauling some guy in his room. Well....he showed them, didn't he? Furious the Vampire hissed, swooped down on the bastard and showed his teeth. he grasped him by the neck and threw him, and his clothes out the window. Then he turned on his girlfriend, who was completely terrified (though she knew he was a Vampire), spat in his face and told him to "Fuck off!"
He smiled at her, "Oh? Really... well," he picked up the whole dresser and TV with one hand and threw it across the room, "Get out of my house." She gathered her things and left, leaving him to his peace and quiet.
But, why was he so happy?
Shock. Pain.
He dearly wished for companionship, although he didn't want to go and seek it for he also wanted to be alone. What did he want? He wanted people like him, who understood him. Braxton sighed, picking up a stone and throwing it across the Inlet. It landed with a deep sploosh in the water, and he leaned back on his hands. Still humming. |
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Post by fester on Sept 1, 2009 2:22:05 GMT -5
(May I join?)
Meanwhile, the same breeze blew back the light brown hair of a rather stunning lady. She walked the small path that winded the inlet with confidence, but not to a point of cockiness.
Work had been rough that day, the small venue that held her employment had hosted some small band she had never heard of, Krypton Gale? The band wasn't what one would call talented, in fact, they were the exact opposite. The guitarists were decent, but the singer was a whole different story.
After they played, the singer requested a drink, so off she had hustled, the work of a bartender/waitress was never done. But when the jerk of a man took a sip, all he could say was "Not cold enough". The woman, Calypso, had made it clear that it was nay possible for a beverage to be colder than the one she had brought. He called out her manager. The manager, Tim, was even more of a jerk that the singer. He told her that her efforts today were inexcusable and that she was to leave work before she disappointed any more precious costumers.
It felt strange to not be working at this hour, her hands almost itched to carry trays upon trays of alcohol though mazes of tables. Still, a break was nice. She had decided to spend her newly found spare time going for a walk, it had been a while.
The weather was cooling down. What time was it, 4:15? Calypso had to remind herself that no, she was not supposed to be working. It wasn't working at all, the anxious feeling just wouldn't go away.
Eyesight stretching forward, she saw a familiar figure, someone from her clan? Softly curled, chocolate brown hair... Yes, she recognized him, though his name slipped her memory.
Feet and legs clad in her high, suede, boots, she approached slightly faster, though her feet continued to make no sound.
Soon she stood directly behind him, a vampire; the tiger parts of her could smell it. Lightly as air, she opened her mouth to speak in that sweet, cotton candy voice of hers, the one that had belonged to no one before herself.
"Looks like someone is in a rather happy mood. Might I ask why?"
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Post by Coby on Sept 2, 2009 1:50:45 GMT -5
Ritchie barely looked up from the inlet, his eyes straining on the shimmering water. A seagull swooped into the inlet, dipping it's head into the waters and disrupting the flow. Ritchie smirked at the thing; that rat with wings. They were almost as bad as rats, those seagulls, and they had some serious boundary problems. People had to eat carefully at beaches because seagulls, if fed, would actually come up and take food from the hand. Ritchie watched it swoop and dive as gracefully as a 'gull could into the waters, emerging with a small fish clamped in its disgusting, yellow beak. It fiddled with it a moment, decided it was edible, and swallowed it with one gut wrenching, throaty muscle spasm.
He let it fly from his line of sight before speaking, still not looking up.
"Well, hello there." he simply said, his voice flat . He chewed on the bottom of his lip, noticing how dry it was; he needed to buy some more lip chap. In his mind, he made that a top priority. Why a Vampire needed lip chap was just a waste of lip chap, but Ritchie liked the smell of it and the tingly feeling it left after he applied it. Thinking about lip-chap still, as it was a good distraction from his worldly problems, Ritchie leaned back and lifted his eyes to the woman. " 'Happy' is a long, long time gone now." He looked back at the inlet, "Nice view, though." The man ran a nervous hand through his hair and pulled his knees up to his chest;
shifters always made him nervous.
OOC- lol seagulls... |
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Post by fester on Sept 2, 2009 13:48:00 GMT -5
((Seagulls, indeed!))
The woman shifted her weight until she was able to stand comfortably.
"Yes, one of my favorite places. Even better when you can swim, I can't in my human form, and..."
She jerked her head towards an elderly couple on the other side of the inlet.
"Too many bloody bastard humans around for that."
The Charstoneg leader had a large distaste for humans, it was true. But who wouldn't? Their females cared about nothing other then their crazed amounts of shoes, and the males strutted around like they were tougher than the Gifted themselves. Yet somehow, they were not only pathetic, but male. She played with their little heads like a cat would a mouse. Calypso didn't even LIKE the attention. Her little games had become no more than a bad habit. Humans thought they loved, but they also thought that the universe revolved around themselves.
She was snapped out of thought when her eyes happened upon an orange butterfly, settling on the top of her right boot. Sighing, she bent ever so slightly, and held her finger over it's front legs, waiting for it to get on. When it did, she took a step towards the inlet, tossing the creature and watching as it freely flew away.
She turned back to the handsome man.
"I'm sorry, I've been rude. Do you want me to go elsewhere?"
Another small breeze unfolded, tossing fragments of her ponytailed hair into her face. Her hand, soft and quick, snatched it, tucking it in behind her ear.
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Post by Coby on Sept 5, 2009 14:09:46 GMT -5
Ritchie nodded passively. He was beginning to hate those stuck up little nose bleeders too. They thought they knew everything, didn't they? Running about like they owned the place. He hated them. Well, after what had happened he guessed didn't help. Normally he was quite tolerant of them and treated them more like little ignorant, innocent children. There was nothing innocent about them. He looked at the water once more, watching the gentle swells and the geese and gulls floating along with the current. They were so peaceful. Animals had it right. They didn't care, they only wanted to survive. Ritchie didn't have to try. Sometimes he was jealous of the humans, the shifters and the mentals for being mortal. He wanted to be able to grow old, to live only one lifetime. There was no such luck.
He looked up at the woman and scented the air again. She reeked of shifter. He had to look away.
"Yes," he muttered, "The humans are a real pain in the ass, aren't they?" The man brushed his long hair from his face and rolled onto his feet so he could stand and face the strange woman. She was pretty, he'd give her that.
"You're a shifter," sounding a bit bored he asked, "What's your animal?" He waited for her to respond before adding, "I am a vampire. Though, being a shifter you must know all about us, don't you?" Ritchie held out his hand for her to take, and for the first time, he smiled. Her response about being rude made him laugh a little bit, but not much, "No, please stay. I don't mind. M'names Ritchie Braxton. Loner Vampire, single now." His voice tinged with venomous bitterness. |
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Post by fester on Sept 5, 2009 15:06:10 GMT -5
Calypso smiled slyly at Ritchie's human comment. They were so ignorant to inhuman life, the damn know-it-alls. In her opinion, they were jealous of the Gifted, jealous that they themselves were perfectly ordinary and Gifted, were not.
At his question of her animal, the woman tilted her head slightly. This wasn't some newborn vampire.
"I am a white tiger, so really just a super sized household cat. And you, are probably the most non-bloodthirsty seeming vampire I've ever met."
Her small smile turned into a wicked grin as she added a "No offense".
She reached out her hand, long fingered from hours of piano practice, took his, and shook gently.
"I'm Calypso Island Drews, though Calypso will do fine. A pleasure, Mr. Ritchie."
She took a moment to process the tones that had flown through his voice.
"Judging by your vocal venom, I'm guessing that your singleness is newfound. Maybe a little uncomforting. Humans suck."
Calypso lightly took her hand from his, and took a few steps to where he had been seated before. She sat in one fluid motion, then her hand flew up and beckoned for him to sit beside her.
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Post by Coby on Sept 6, 2009 12:17:07 GMT -5
Ritchie grinned slightly, showing his fantastic white teeth. He didn't have his fangs out right then. He wasn't hungry. He was pale, his lips were blood red. his eyes were a dark brown and his hair was silky, dark tight-curls on top of his head. He watched as the woman replied to one of his many, bored questions. She had caught him by surprise with a comment about his blood-thirst. He got over his initial shock and smiled broadly.
"Do you not know, miss 'White-Tiger' ?"he jibed, clasping his hands behind his back and checking the sun again, round and hot as ever. "Human blood is a treat for us; much like chocolate, and has the affect of alcohol. Gifted blood, on the other hand, is instantaneously poisonous. The effects are almost immediate; we die. Poof! Away we go. Animals are like vegetables to us; we need them because really, were herbivores. Didn't you know?" he ran a hand through his hair, happy to have schooled her. Not that he was an ass- okay maybe he was just a little - but he didn't like the consensus that vampires were bloodthirsty killers. Not all of them are. "And, no offense taken, miss."
Ritchie was shocked that she shook his hand; it was so warm and so soft. He looked away and pulled his hand back as soon as she did. "Pleasure to meet you as well, miss Calypso." he muttered. He frowned bitterly; she hit the nail right on the head.
"Yes," he sighed sadly, " I thought she was my love. I was wrong." Without even thinking, the vampire followed Calypso's invitation to sit...and sat. His back against a tree, Ritchie gazed out onto the water. " And you?" he asked, unconsciously fiddling with a twig he found laying beside her. |
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Post by fester on Sept 6, 2009 13:23:08 GMT -5
At the vampirism teaching, Calypso bit her lower lip in curiosity.
"Ah, I didn't know! I guess I'm not very appetizing then!"
She grinned a friendly wink, one that displayed such a smart innocence, most wouldn't be able to help but smile back.
She had been correct, once again. Yes, the poor man was feeling kind of heartbroken. She felt empathy for him, for he was a nice guy, no doubt about it. Humans thought that because the gifted were another species, they had less sensitivities. Wrong. Humans themselves were hard, cold, and heartless when compared to the gifted. Such fools they were.
She watched his hands carefully as Ritchie fiddled with the branch. What could she tell him? That she lead a clan of gifted, had been the vicious killer that he was not, and worked in a music venue where her main job entitlement was to run back and forth with over sized trays to men who drank like freaking horses?! No, that wouldn't do. She would begin with simple and less intimidating facts.
A soft breeze caught her hair, pulling more pieces from her ponytail. Sighing, she reached back and pulled the elastic out, allowing the rest of her brilliantly luminous hair to fall forward. Calypso never took her hair down. But today had been long and she felt rather comfortable with Ritchie's presence, so why not?
"Well, I play piano, love ginger snap cookies, go for walks very often, sing, and have never really been in a serious relationship. I guess I just never feel I can trust people enough..."
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Post by Coby on Sept 8, 2009 13:15:44 GMT -5
Ritchie examined the stick closely. It's bark bubbled and twisted around the stick. It wasn't that interesting. He wound back and tossed the thing into the inlet with a meek 'splish' and watched it float back to the top, and stay there. A crane swam over from around the bend, probably hoping it had been some fish. Disappointed it swam off to the shore and began looking for other means of sustenance. Ritchie sighed and leaned back on his palms, turning his head every once in a while to look at Calypso.
He was a handsome man. His skin was a light dusted brown, if not looking a bit pale for obvious reasons. His hair was a mop of dark brown curls that sat neatly atop his head. His face was normally, although not today, kind and happy. His eyes were almond color and bright. He was muscular, broad shouldered, and just...healthy looking. Strange look for a vampire. But, hey, it happens.
He looked to Calypso, thinking about what a strange name it was for a woman in this era. He flicked an ant off his arm and looked to the sky, blue, clear and the wind that blew across it tussled the clouds. He winced at her last comment about relationships, and looked as if he were about to comment.
He promptly changed the subject;
"So, you're into art. That's cool, I like art. Not much of an artist myself though you'd think I'd have the time to learn, eh?" He chuckle, but his mind was obviously elsewhere as he trailed off. He cast a quick glance at Calypso, holding back a wave of hope, "Hey, just out of curiosity, are you a loner? Or are you in a clan?" |
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Post by fester on Sept 8, 2009 18:51:59 GMT -5
Calypso's soft cheeks blushed scarlet for mere seconds before turning right back to their normal shade of ivory. She hated it when that happened. So very, extremely, embaressing, why couldn't her skin be normal like everyone else? Oh yes. Because she was a "white tiger", it probably came with her abilities.
Might as well get it out. She took a deep breath before muttering what sounded like:
"Im in Charstoneg."
She closed her eyes tightly, blushing only on the apples of her cheeks, as if waiting for the vampire to snap. Had she done wrong by not telling him right away? She really hoped not. Calypso quite liked the man. He was sweet, humorous, not TOO too talkative, and be was like herself; stuck in a world who hated them. This was no pathetic human boy, Ritchie was not to be played with. She mently shuddered at the thought of him changing his mind about her because of her clan. Life just wasn't fair.
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Post by Coby on Sept 12, 2009 14:08:59 GMT -5
Ritchie sighed, pulling his legs in so the soles of his feet were flat on the ground. He wasn't hungry; he'd just killed a few hours before, so he was feeling quite full. And when you're full, you're normally tired. And that was what Ritchie was feeling. Even though Vampires never slept, he could still feel the nice ' tired after turkey dinner' feeling. He liked that. Now, whether or not he actually felt it or he jus knew how it was supposed to feel, he couldn't guess at, and he didn't care. It was a nice feeling.
He turned to Calypso with wonder and hope in his dark eyes as she spoke, his tiredness swept away by the idea of a new life. He disregarded her seemingly uncomfortable stance on the subject and smiled broadly. For the first time all day, Ritchie Braxton actually smiled. It was a big thing, for him.
He leaned forward on his hands, toward the woman, staring at hes intensely. "You are from a clan? Well..." he took a moment and looked out onto the water, his head swimming with questions. Finally, he picked one. "How do I join? I mean, you must know if you're in the clan... what are the ranks like? Are the people there...well, cruel, kind, neutral...? What's it like?" He felt like an excited child, asking so many questions. So, he paced himself, leaned back, and attempted to regain his 'cool'. He ran a hand through his hair, looking out over the water, "Sorry about that. So, how do I join? And what is it like there?" |
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Post by fester on Sept 12, 2009 17:15:16 GMT -5
Although the subject was extremely uncomfortable for her, Calypso couldn't help but ease up at his grin. Her placement didn't seem to affect him too badly- she had been able to seriously talk to others of her kind, and never had they seemed almost pleased by her ties.
As the vampire leaned towards her, she caught his scent, cooler and sweeter than it had seemed before. She liked the vampires. There was nothing like being around a fellow shifter, who knew how confusing animal instincts could be, but vampires came next. They always seemed well gathered to her, curious, watchful, full of thought, in this case even polite. Calypso's strict, curt look deepened into a smile at his questions. Ritchie was interested in joining? This pleased her.
"Not a problem! Well, the other clans can be very strict and tight, but Charstoneg is different. Our laws, for example, don't call for such a strict obedience as those of the others. People come and go as they like. No one forces you to stay, but people find themselves mently tied after a while. People like it, I suppose. Even when they leave, they often find themselves drawn back."
Calypso quieted for a minute, remembering what else he had asked, and friends who had left, only to be executed on the territory of others. Mercy wasn't very meaningful in the darker two clans, though one might be spared in Tallyshir. Although, there was one fairly decent clan, the other two were to be avoided. Too much news on the deaths of her former members in their spaces had been spread lately. No more was needed.
"The quality of our people? We are a fairly accepting bunch, mostly made up of the unaccepted themselves. Most of us live together in a, well, a fairly large home. Of course, those who prefer their own living spaces may do what they wish. Our members tend to be quiet, not uncomfortably, they just like to stick to themselves..."
Again she stopped. Was that enough? She didn't know what else to say about her dear clan. It seemed like she had covered most of it. A prickly sensation tingled on a part of her leg that wasn't covered by the light green fabric that made up her clothes. Her bright eyes darting to the spot of irritation, a spider. The same one as before? She watched him for a little while, as he continued traveling to her knee. Calypso's weight shifted to one soft, long fingered hand. The other, now free of helping to support her weight, snatched a falling, slightly yellowed leaf from the space in front of her. She examined the tiny piece of the tree above her, and once satisfied, nudged at the little arachnid with it, until he gave in and climbed all eight legs into the center of the leaf. Holding the tiny fellows new perch in front of her, she again stood up in a motion so fluid, walking just wasn't a good enough word for it. In the same pattern of movement, she wandered a couple steps to the water's edge. Calypso knelt, placing the spider's "boat" on top of the calm, smooth water. Another breeze caught the pieces of lead that were folded slightly upwards, acting as sails and moving the tiny being at an angle from which he would end his little voyage in a few minutes.
Again, she stood, then wandered back to where Ritchie watched, and sat. She turned her head to look at him, though to meet his eyes she had to tilt her head upwards slightly. Her surreal expression changed to a weak smile.
"As for joining, all you have to do is ask nicely."
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Post by Coby on Sept 14, 2009 22:33:33 GMT -5
Ritchie smiled warmly at Calypso, although he was shrouded in doubt. Suddenly the thought of a clan seemed so foreign to him, so terrifying, he didn't know now whether or not he wanted to join. The man looked away from the woman and stared thoughtfully at his hand. Grass formed a soft border around it; his hand so pale and the skin so thick that it looked like he was a soft shade of brown, instead of the dark color he was before he died.
The sun wriggled across the waters surface, flashing like soft gold. It caught his eye, reminding him of how much his Ex loved water. He winced at the memory of her, and squinted his eyes together with pain. He looked up to Calypso, and smiled. The things she said to him about her clan bode well. The more she spoke of it, the more and more he began to like the thought.
He watched as she played with the arachnid, wondering why in the hell she was putting it in the water. It didn't really matter to him though, what she did to it or not- it was just a bug. Bugs didn't matter half as much to him as animals or humans or the gifted, although he still considered their lives whenever he squished one. Not that that ever stopped him from squishing an invasive pest before, but he still respected their lives.
He let silence settle between them then, his mind wandering off into the darker places in his sad mind. The vampire looked up to the woman finally, still unsure, and smiled a full toothed smiled.
"And, so, who would I ask?- politely, of course." |
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Post by fester on Sept 26, 2009 9:55:34 GMT -5
She looked him straight in the eye, and felt herself blush into scarlet.
"That would be me."
Many leaders would be proud of thier status, and Calypso was, but sometimes she wished that the biggest thing about her would be something more normal. She hoped to god that Ritchie wouldnt feel intimidated or somthing of the sort, she was hoping they would be friends...
OOC:// Short post is short. >>'
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Post by Coby on Oct 5, 2009 22:32:34 GMT -5
Ritchie's eyes grew a little wider, his eyebrows lifted. This was the leader? huh. He would have never guessed. Though, he shouldn't doubt her. History has shown him that the most unlikely of leaders often turn out to be the greatest. The example he admired the most was Queen Elizabeth, the illegitimate, bastard queen. He smiled broadly at Calypso, his teeth straight and white and slightly pointed. His eyes sparkled.
It was as if what had happened had gone.
"Well," he started, standing suddenly, "then I would like to ask you, Miss Drews, if I may join your tribe?" he paused and waited for a millisecond before adding, as if on an afterthought, "I am a strong fighter. I can run. Drive. I am capable in many ways of adding great strengths to your tribe. Will you consider my request?" |
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