shylarah

Fire and Ice: The Ghoul Wars

She knew he and his team were stronger than she could taken on, possibly even with support from the group that had saved her all those years ago. But the fact that he hadn't so far only meant he might be playing a longer game. And yet...

Something Tsitua did resonated with her Sight, and the young woman slowly reached out to tap into it. Someone who seemed a lot like her...his daughter? A Seer, with her sense of reality shattered. Amuné shuddered. She knew that feeling, she'd come so close to losing herself to it. It still threatened at times. Pain both remembered and shared brought silent tears to her eyes.

When the vision was over, the girl remained silent for a long moment. "I believe you," she said at last, feeling like an intruder. "And speaking from the position of someone who knows how she felt...I believe your daughter would thank you." She looked at the ground, weighing her choices for another long, silent moment. Amuné decided to make the leap.

"It was a long time ago, now. My father did not handle Mom's death well. Whether it was his knowing decision or if he was taken advantage of, I do not know, and it doesn't matter. A group called the Ring of Shadows acquired me. I was what, three? Four? My memory of what followed is...fragmented at best." The words came slowly, softly, the endings bitten short as if parting with each each one was an effort. "I wasn't the only one they'd found, nor even the only Seer. It was...." She trailed off. "There are no words. Agony barely begins to cover it. Had my powers been different, I would have been brainwashed and trained to fight for them. As a Seer, my value lay in visions. They had a drug that lowered my control, my ability to shut things out. My barriers...there were telepaths that had been twisted so they were little more than slaves, sent to fish through my thoughts and report whatever might be useful." Even remembering it hurt. Amuné shuddered, hugging herself as if it would help her stay together. The pattern rippled, strands breaking and coming loose, and the world wavered around her. She stopped to take a deep breath, strengthen her inner stability. "The other Seer tried to protect me. The Ring knew enough to know I was more vulnerable, being so young, but in the end they really weren't very cautious. Madness claimed her, and still they drugged her, drew what they could from her mind. Until she just...burned out. I barely knew reality from vision by then. It all just blurred together.

"After their actions were uncovered, the facility captured and those of us who survived rescued, recovery was...slow. I spent most of a year on the border of sanity and madness." She turned away, bowing her head. "They came very close to breaking my mind, leaving me unable to tell past and future from present, unable to separate myself from those in my visions. Some days I still have trouble. I learned techniques to help me stay grounded and keep it all straight. It works well enough, usually, and the times I lose track I can find one of my anchors and weave it again. But it's...terrifying," she confessed, sounding reluctant. Despite her reticence, it was a relief to be able to share this with someone who might be able to comprehend some of it. "I worry that one day I won't be able to find a place to start, and that will be the end." Slowly the girl turned back to Tsitua, arms still wrapped around her chest. "I don't react well to people who want to invade my thoughts. Even those who approach politely give me trouble. I don't...I can't trust other people in my head. It's hard enough to trust myself." Grey eyes watched him, seeking understanding.

---
The woman moved close and then she buried her face inJareth's shirt. For the space of a heartbeat Jareth was frozen, too shocked to move. He slowly wrapped an arm around her, gently, as if she might turn out to be an illusion if he pressed too hard.

Lya lead the way to the hanger, where they had entered the facility. The lady working on the bike leaped up and gave him a hug. He took a step back, but she grabbed him all the same, squealing and calling him cute. A hot bush rose in his cheeks and he looked over at Lya with a pleading expression. "Um...it's nice to meet you?" What he really wanted to meet was the bike she'd been working on. "That doesn't look like the motorcycles I've seen..."

Looking for 1x1 partners! [IGNORE POST-COUNT]

@choraki I've wanted to pit Sherlock against the supernatural for some time now, and have half a story going off in my writing piles, but I keep stalling. Unfortunately, I rather suck at playing canon characters in general, as I have a crushing doubt of my ability to play canons well, especially characters I adore. That said -- regarding the romance rule, I see no reason to require romance, and in fact the character I would prefer to hit Sherlock with is not old enough to be a valid love interest, most likely (not to mention Sherlock not doing that sort of thing in general).

ALSO HOLY CRUD LUCIFER! *tackles* Last night's ep was amazing and I have all the feels.

I'm a huge fan of fantasy in general, including dark fantasy and light horror. I am usually okay with reading gore, but I'll speak up if I get uncomfortable. I like Victorian England/steampunk, though usually I require a twist (may be fantasy, or possibly somethign else) to keep me interested. I dunno how well I could leave clues for a mystery, nor how well I could solve one, but I'd be willing to discuss OOC so that it can be played IC. And while I don't think the idea I have for Sherlock includes a portal to another world, nor particularly creepy things...well, it might be possible to have that odd character do something that she screws up enough for it to be a problem. ^.^;; Open for discussion, at the very least. <3

I am fairly unpredictable in length of posts. Sometimes I have a lot to say. Sometimes I have only a little. Sometimes I want to pause to ask you something, or give your character(s) a chance to respond without running off and leaving them in the dust. I never mind reading lengthy posts. Never. I love reading just as much as I like writing, possibly more. Feel free to drown me, just don't expect me to post pages of reply on a regular basis.

I am a native English speaker and have a grasp of the slang of my native US as well as at least a general awareness of that of the UK and Australia, though I may find words I need to ask about. I love learning new words, and I have no problem with non-native speakers so long as I can understand what you're getting at. This would not be an issue with you, as you write better than many native speakers I know. ^.^;;

I'm online a lot, and I do my best to be patient with others. I'll always say if I'm having trouble, or going to be away. I can and do post more than once a day when I have the time, if there's replies to answer. I can and have waited months for a favored rper to return to pick up where we left off as well.

I'm in my late twenties, if that matters, though I often act like a child. I may not be entirely sane. Probably not, actually, but that's true of all the best folks. ^.~

Sum up your week in roleplaying in just 3 words

All the feels. <3

Bot Reporting 2.0

@NekoMizu It is a sad day when even the bots get bored. =/

RPGN Rebirth: Issue #2 24/10/2016

@RomanAria <3 I need to know about #3 if it was that awesome. Also I'll totally look into doing non-written media for contests in the future, I had no idea that was a thing. YAY NANO! November, as my friend Sandy's char says, is the season for turkey and crazy writers. <3

My request of Aria is that she come back and write more Prince because I am addicted to feels. I will feed both of her all the muffins she wants. And pastries, since we know both he and Bits like those. <3

Bot Reporting 2.0

alphha At least this one doesn't have numbers, though it's not a very /active/ bot...can I keep this one? Maybe I can train it....

Fire and Ice: The Ghoul Wars

"If that was a concern, then why the hell am I here?" she demanded, eyes narrowing. "Were you hoping to have him play with my mind, let him undo everything I've worked so hard to rebuild? Perhaps you find it amusing?" Dirty fingers digging into her mind, ripping her thoughts apart with a touch so cold it burned. "Or maybe my privacy doesn't matter, as long as it's your hands I'm in and not someone else's." She couldn't attach the right meaning to Tsitua's words, couldn't fully grasp what he was saying. The stains they left behind, seeping into her, unravelling the threads that tied her to reality. Nor could she steady herself, even carefully measured breathing did nothing to calm the restless energy that filled her, telling her this was not a safe place, that she had to run, run, run, get as far away as she could from the ones that sought to invade her thoughts. She could feel it happening all over again, the ones with the cold minds peeling away layers as the fire they pumped into her veins consumed her from the inside. Amuné tried to slow her heartbeat, regain a steady grip on the paranoia that would love to consume her if she let it, on the familiar patterns that let her be some sort of whole. She strode to the table and poured the requested drink, then moved to hold it out to the seated man. But she did not sit, instead pacing like a caged tiger. "Maybe you do think it is for the best, but let me tell you this. While I would not rather give myself over to the Kabuto than stay here, I am not entirely sure that finding an airlock would not be preferable to remaining one more minute near him." She closed her eyes for a moment as she moved, back and forth, taking a breath even deeper than the seven in, seven out she'd been taught for meditation. She wasn't going to let someone take her away from herself. Her grip was weakened, not broken. Five steps and turn, five steps and turn. She didn't need to look to feel it. A punching bag would be better, or one of her sparring partners with the pads to target, to engage every muscle in controlled strikes until she settled enough that she didn't have to keep moving, but this would have to be enough.

If Coodaudu was watching her, the unsteady halo of energy she'd exhibited since Nunque's assault slowly steadied as she paced, bit by bit gathered up and redirected into a pattern that, while apparently automatic, was deliberately constructed. If not interrupted, it was several minutes before the girl finally came to a stop with a sigh and turned to look at Tsitua. "I may have overreacted," she acknowledged, sounding calmer. "But I wasn't kidding about the last. If this is going to be a regular occurance, I will not stay."

---

Jareth started to get to his feet, but never finished the movement. Instead he rubbed his face with a sigh. "No, I understand," he told the woman, his smile lopsided and not quite reaching his eyes. "I would have done the same. We're unknown variables, it's natural to look to us first, rather than the ones you've been working with for a long time." As Lya turned to go, he slid to his feet, moving to the doorway. She seemed upset. "Hey, um...well, since she's gone to cool off...maybe now might be a time you could show me those things you'd mentioned...? I mean, if you still want to?"

@TheMinorFall

Fire and Ice: The Ghoul Wars

That's how Eric went blind? Dear gods....O.o working on a post~!

Fire and Ice: The Ghoul Wars

But the other woman said nothing at first, and took long enough about it that the frightened anger the Seer was holding back caught up with her properly. "If you have nothing to say, then move," she snapped, brushing past Lya and out the door. Following a gut instinct that suddenly seemed a bit stronger, Amuné made her way to where Tsitua was, stalking into the room with a quiet rage. "How dare you," she said, her voice shaking. Was it anger or fear that made her tremble so? "You claim to serve those who want peace, to wish to keep me safe and provide me with shelter. Yet when I gamble on you, I am brought here, only to be attacked?" Her voice intensified, but she did not shout, each word snapping out like a whip. "Corruption stains your crew, oh brave but injured leader. See to your troops -- or they will surely see to you."

((@TheMinorFall how's that~?))

Artanis

@TheMinorFall

Fitz made to chase after the girl, but a hand on his shoulder brought him up short. By then Amuné was almost to the doors. The man was right, chasing her would do no good, and he wasn’t going to be quick enough anyhow. “She dinnae know where he is,” he told Cain, “and I doubt she’d think of it. Nor can I be haring off after her, wish to though I might. I cannae ignore my post for a single child, howe’er fond I be. Nay, ‘tis you as must protect her. Oi!” Fitz lifted his voice, calling to a guard heading for the hall. “Reggie, get this man his blade from the Colonel’s office. Quickly, now!” He clapped the assassin on the shoulder as the other guard nodded and continued on his way. “Godspeed, man.” With that Fitz turned in a different direction, angling toward a side door that likely lead to servants’ stairs.

---

Amuné wove through the other people, darting through gaps that closed instants after she left them. Her breath was short by the time she made it out of the crowd, but still she pressed on. The noise, it had come from the gate. Something bad, something awful -- the alarm bell rang out its warning overhead, and the emotions around her pulsed and swirled. Her head hurt, but she had to find Kirk, had to apologize. He was a guard, so he’d be fighting the bad guys. Past the library, and on through the cluster of tiny cottages and apartments that housed the majority of the staff she raced, but as she went, the pressure in her head grew worse. Now there was fear, anger, and so much pain. The girl stumbled, fell, and picked herself up again. It hurt, it made her want to cry and run away and throw up all at the same time. But she had to keep going. Had to find him. She pushed herself onward, each step harder than the last. Five more houses before the gate. Then four. She collided with the wall of the third, went down hard, tried to get up. A few more staggered steps and then she collapsed. She couldn’t, it was too much. Sobbing quietly, Amuné dragged herself to a bush by the cottage wall and curled into a ball, praying her friends would be alright.

---

The guards at the gate were doing what they could, but they were not able to do much against giant boulders. Still, they did not flee. Any who might already had, and those who had been assigned emergency duty as the first defense were experienced, and would not run. Arrows hissed at the intruder with the matted white hair, and those who hadn’t been crushed by the attack destroying the gate had their pikes or swords and shields ready.

It took Reggie considerably longer to reach the gatehouse and retrieve Cain’s weapon, but as soon as he had it the older man sought the assassin out. He didn’t say anything, giving only a brisk nod before joining up with another team. It was clear from his face that this was not the usual sort of thing the academy had to deal with, but it wasn’t his job to wonder why, merely to defend.