|
Post by Del on Jun 11, 2010 19:59:32 GMT -8
Parisa :: Gorge
Nodding congenially to Kallias' greeting, Parisa took the vial in her hand. She took a swig from it, tipping her head back, only to find Rassus and a 'gift' he had brought her upon lowering it. Intensely, the scrunt looked at her, gauging her reaction. It was almost as if he was trying to scare her with the creature... or give it to her as a peace treaty... though she doubted the latter...
Unsure of what to do, Parisa simply pushed the bloodied carcass away with her big toe. Rassus blinked, snatched it up, looked at her, and scurried off... She could never tell what that thing was thinking... though that may have been the point.
Turning her focus back to Kallias, who had returned his attention back to the bike, she asked him a question...
"H-how, long...?"
Of course, her voice cracked and broke, not having used it in ages, but she got her point across.
|
|
|
Post by Gabby on Jun 14, 2010 10:53:51 GMT -8
[ Kallias – En route to Baris, Desert Gorge ]
Kallias once again brought the back of his hand to his forehead where the little scrape actually bled quite steadily. The edges of his mouth stretched into a displeased and slightly irritated line as if his body was overreacting. When Parisa spoke, though, he quickly forgot about it and returned his attention to her. He cheered up noticeably, even with all of the obstructions on his face.
“About an hour or so,” he answered, laying back down and scooting beneath the bike again. “I just need to patch up a few more things…” He trailed off until he was lost within the complexities of the machinery once more.
Rassus, a bit upset that his ploy did nothing to shake Parisa, hunkered over to the dying fire pit and spat the corpse into the sand. He paced around in circles, tilting his chin up and letting out a most grating whine. He was complaining about the dead flames. Every few seconds he’d stop and conspicuously look over at Parisa, hoping to see something, or, better yet, hoping to get her to do the work. Despite being a wild animal, the scrunt had gotten a bit spoiled while traveling with Kallias; cooked meat tasted better than raw. He could go get some branches himself, but… that’d be too much effort.
|
|
|
Post by Del on Jun 27, 2010 15:25:39 GMT -8
Parisa :: Gorge
Upon hearing Rassus' screeching whine, Parisa turned to see what the problem was. He was running around the fire pit in circles, staring at her all the while. She noticed the small corpse he had offered her earlier was lying in the ashes of last night's fire and guessed that the scrunt desired to cook his meat. Unsure, Parisa looked back to Kallias; he was absorbed once again in the repair of the motorcycle. Shrugging to herself, Parisa stood and walked to the fire pit. She grabbed a couple of small logs and some kindling and used that to build a small fire; she figured that a large fire was unwise since they would be leaving soon... After a couple minutes of assembling the various sticks, Parisa gave her fingers a little snap to create some sparks in order to get the fire started. After a couple tries she was successful.
"Happy?" she said sardonically, turning her head slightly to look at Rassus. He responded with big blinking eyes and a quick clicking sound before he circled himself a few times and sat down. He watched the meat intently. Yawning, Parisa sat back and enjoyed the fire for the remaining hour, waiting for Kallias to finish his endeavor with their transportation.
|
|
|
Post by Gabby on Jul 11, 2010 9:12:28 GMT -8
[ Kallias – En route to Baris, Desert Gorge ]
Despite Kallias’s estimates, the bike was finished in half the time he predicted. His own ingenuity could be thanked for this. After double-checking his work, he dug into the bag he brought only to extract some dried meats. Marching over to the rekindled fire, he plopped down next to Parisa and held out a handful to her. He used to his other hand to jut his thumb back in the steambike’s direction, indicating that after they were finished, it was time to head out.
However, it was Rassus they ended up waiting on. He took his sweet time devouring his roasted kill, his eyes constantly darting to Parisa or Kallias, hoping to catch some tinge of jealousy from either of them. He received none. Kallias pushed sand into the fire pit to extinguish the flames while Parisa made her way to the vehicle, snapping her fingers a few times to get a spark. They soon left their campsite in a roar of dust, leaving only the rodent’s carcass behind.
Kallias traveled ‘upstream’ for the most part, knowing that the river that once ran through the canyon must’ve flown from the mountains: their destination. The walls also provided convenient protection from that colossal spider, of the likes he hoped he’d never get to see again. He’d seen a lot of things – a lot of monsters – on his travels, but that thing… it was difficult to comprehend. But they were safe now, so there was no point in dwelling. Kallias figured that within the next three or four days, they’d arrive at Baris. But this was only if they managed to find enough food and water. Knowing the chances were slim – since a good deal of water was needed for the bike – Kallias decided on taking a short detour. When the canyon walls finally leveled out at the end of the day, he strayed slightly from the riverbed and headed in a more northeasterly direction. This tactic would prolong their trip a bit, but it was necessary if they were to stay fueled and fed.
The same routine took place over the next two days: traveling all day, stopping when it got too dark, eating, sleeping, tuning up the bike, and traveling some more. In the afternoon of the second day, though, Kallias’s intended detour came into view. It was another oasis, but this time he knew for a fact that it was real – and safe. Not a murderous tarantula in disguise. This one was also inhabited; covered caravan wagons, huts, and even taller buildings rose up from the sand. It was a trading outpost, if anything else.
|
|
|
Post by Del on Jul 24, 2010 0:00:40 GMT -8
Parisa :: Dühl Adim, The Merchant Oasis
From the back of the bike, Parisa watched with anxiety as they came closer and closer to the Oasis. While it was relieving to know this oasis was not a giant desert spider, the thought of being surrounded by a crowd of people did nothing to ease the young woman's mind. Soon, the machine sputtered to an end as it pulled up to the Oasis' edge. Craning his head, Kallias asked Parisa if she was ready. Nodding reluctantly, the two climbed down from the bike.
As they entered the flow of the market, Parisa stuck to Kallias like a tick, all but holding onto the cloak draped from his back. For the better part of an hour, she continued to stay close behind her companion as he bought and bartered food and water. The noise and bustle here was dizzying; white dots danced across her vision every few minutes. Overall, she was not enjoying her time in Dühl Adim. If anything, her experience could have been described as tense at best.
Still, Kallias seemed to pay her no mind, only looking back a few times to make sure she was still there. Eventually, the two of them stepped into a large and brightly colored purple tent. Clothing hung down from the rafters on various hooks, bars, and chains: a clothing store. Parisa was perplexed by this and continued as such until Kallias inadvertently answered her.
"Please," he said to the store's attendant, "find some clothes for the girl."
"W-what?" she asked in mild alarm before she was carted off by the eager attendant and pushed into a makeshift dressing room. At first the confusion and suddenness threw her off balance, but she eventually settled down after the clerk had left to find clothes for her. It was there in the cracked and stained mirror that Parisa realized how beat up she looked: Her skin was brown with sun and dirt and sweat cut paths across her forehead. Her hair was tangled and windblown and most likely contained a pound or two of sand. Her already dirty and threadbare clothes was all but destroyed, and she had lost a shoe during their run in with the desert spider... Their purpose for coming here no longer seemed so perplexing.
A minute or so later, clothing arrived by the pile in an almost aggressive fashion. Shawls, scarves, dresses, robes, and skirts now rained down upon her. It took her some time to pick something out; clothing hadn't been something she had thought of for a very long time. In the end, Parisa chose her ensemble by color. She selected a matching, vibrant blue top and bottom and a marigold yellow jacket; her new shoes were also blue.
She stepped out of the changing room, her old clothes tucked beneath her arm, and found Kallias a few feet away admiring a jewel toned shirt. She gave him a nod of confirmation, and he gave the attendant a few silver coins.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Kallias responded with a silent thumbs up.
|
|
|
Post by Gabby on Jul 26, 2010 19:22:38 GMT -8
[ Kallias – En route to Baris, Trading Outpost ]
It astounded Kallias how much a simple change of clothes could change a person. When Parisa stepped out from behind the curtain in her new outfit, it was like staring at a different individual. No longer did she seem so destitute or ragged; however, the trials of her life still remained visible, outlined by the streaks of dirt and sweat coating her skin. Wiping his own brow, Kallias noticed that he, too, wasn’t in the best of conditions. The sun seemed to have seeped into his skin, generating unwanted heat. They needed some sort of shelter for the night – camping simply wouldn’t do.
The answer to their dilemma was a local inn. He had stayed there a few times already, so the man at the front desk knew simply from Kallias’s nod to put the expenses on his tab. Though the attendant was not startled at Kallias’s appearance, he was a bit shocked when Parisa’s head poked from behind the wanderer’s shoulder. Never before had Kallias had company – only that moody scrunt. His shock wore off eventually when he noticed she was a Lonely, though; the inn had – in the past – also served as a hiding place for fleeing Lonelies on their way to Baris. Kallias was moderately well-known for helping in such a cause. The attendant figured she was just another poor soul Kallias decided to help. He handed him the key.
Kallias jerked his head towards the staircase in which they climbed. Down the hall was their room. It wasn’t the usual room Kallias booked; the attendant picked out one with two beds this time around, for obvious reasons. Each was draped with a silken canopy and furnished with lush pillows and blankets – laced with golden tassels – to fight off the desert night’s chill. To her, it seemed pretty fancy, but really it was standard. The western end of the room housed a long table with a ceramic bathing bowl, a pitcher of fresh water and towels beside it. A mirror hung above. The eastern end had just two long windows that provided a decent view of both the small oasis and the desert beyond it.
Rassus sprung in with Kallias following, Parisa lingering in the threshold a few moments longer. Plopping the large travel bag at the foot of the bed to the right, Kallias stretched his arms and sighed. The sun had only just begun to set, but already his internal clock was shutting his body down. Sitting down at the edge of his bed, he stared out the windows at the colorful sky, silent, still.
Brain buzzing, brow furrowing, Parisa – who still haunted the doorway – watched her companion settle into that familiar trance. It confused her but didn’t necessarily worry her since he always snapped out of it. Finally moving, she made her way to the bathing bowl, pouring the water in and watching it slosh against the smooth sides. Being sure to save enough for Kallias if he wanted to do the same, Parisa set the pitcher down when the bowl was half full and cupped water in her hands, splashing her face. She did her best to wipe away all the grime. She even dampened a towel to scrub her feet, knowing that at least one of them was significantly dirtier than the other.
Not soon after she did this, Rassus’s head emerged from beneath the pillows on Kallias’s bed. Swiftly, he scurried over to the washing table wherein he leapt into the now cloudy water. His body managed to cause the bowl to overflow slightly, spilling as he proceeded in grooming himself, regardless of what Parisa had been doing before. Parisa snatched another towel before Rassus got it wet, gently dabbing her face and neck dry. Rolling her eyes, she mirrored Kallias and sat upon her bed, letting out a small gasp as it curled in around her shape. She couldn’t remember feeling such comfort before. Parisa crawled up and sunk into the pillows, closing her eyes.
It was then that Kallias stirred. Parisa didn’t pick her head up, instead listening. Kallias stood up, slowly walking past her bed and to the wash bin. There were splashes from Rassus initially, but they were eliminated after a small squeal and a soggy plop on the floor. Chattering angrily, the scrunt shook himself dry. Picking up the bowl, Kallias marched over to the windows, opening them and then dumping the dirtied contents over the edge of the small balcony. A cool breeze rolled in. He returned to do as Parisa did, his goggles and mask thudding against the wooden tabletop. At this, Parisa turned her head slightly so as maybe to catch a glimpse of his face, but the mirror only reflected the glare from the setting sun behind him.
When finished washing up, Kallias removed his shirt and set it into the bowl, rinsing it of filth before heading back to the balcony again. He dumped the water but also hung his shirt on the railing to dry.When he got back to his bed, Parisa listened as he took off his boots with a grunt, peeled over the bed covers and secured himself beneath them just as night officially closed in on the day. She figured that he assumed she was asleep because he didn’t say a word about tomorrow’s plans. She didn’t let it bother her, though. Instead she delved under her own blankets and drifted off.
|
|
|
Post by Del on Jul 29, 2010 18:21:55 GMT -8
Parisa, Kallias, Rassus :: On the road to Baris
Just as the sun peaked over the desert horizon, two cloaked figures were preparing their transportation. Kallias and Parisa had woken at the crack of dawn in order to get a head start on their journey to Baris; the less time they spent in the scorching desert sunlight the better. Climbing on behind Kallias, A rested but sleepy Parisa made sure her cloak was fastened tight.
Rassus, who had been resting on Kallias’ shoulder, climbed under Parisa’s cloak and nestled himself in one of the pockets of her jacket. She thought the scrunt had some nerve. When he wasn’t using her, he was trying to gouge her eyes out. Still, Parisa figured it was better to let the scrunt have his way lest she give him yet another reason to plot against her. Settling in, she prepared for the long ride.
Kallias kick started the bike, and the two of them started off on a long day’s journey. As they raced over the sand and rock, Kallias had to periodically shift in his seat; a sore behind was never something he enjoyed. Still, regardless of how he shifted or moved, the occasional kink in his back still snuck up on him. It was too bad that Parisa was still so cautious around him or he would have asked her to give him a nice back massage. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case... For the most part, Kallias’ thoughts were nonexistent; staring across the vast expanse of desert for hours on end was tiring, so he chose to detach his thoughts instead.
They rode most of the morning, taking an hour break at high noon when the sun was at its hottest. Here, in the shade of a large rock, Parisa, Kallias, and Rassus had their lunch or dried meat and fruit. They rested and stretched before returning to the road.
From the back of the bike, Parisa surveyed the expansive environment. It was difficult for her to tell how far they had come and how far they had left to go; after all, everything looked the same. Or at least it looked the same to her; she wondered if Kallias knew the difference. He seemed like the type to know every dune from memory.
Rassus debated the potential consequences of soiling Parisa’s new clothing from his place in her breast pocket. Surely it would bring him great pleasure, yet he was beginning to take her seriously. Much of her personality had already begun to change; she was no longer the scared and mechanical girl Kallias had picked up a few days ago. It was quite possible that she would fling him from the bike or set him on fire... For now he would not tempt the fates.
The rest of the trio’s time was spent in the same absentminded thought process. Just before nightfall, The group stopped once more in order to rest and eat. This break was much shorter than the first and they were back on the ‘road’ soon after they had stopped. It took them roughly seven more hours of driving before the peaks of Baris appeared on the horizon. At the sight of the mountains, Parisa, Kallias, and Rassus all breathed a sigh of relief; it had been nearly twenty four hours since they had left Dühl Adim. Much like it had been when they initially departed, the sun was barely beginning to rise.
After another forty minutes of driving they arrived at the base of Baris. For Parisa, being up close was much different than seeing it from hundreds of miles away. While relatively small in comparison to other mountain ranges, Baris still boasted an impressive size. Parisa was awestruck in its presence.
Kallias dismounted from the bike and held out his hand for Parisa. After he had helped her down, Kallias grabbed the bike and pushed it along as the two of them walked closer to the base of the mountain. As they neared, Parisa was puzzled. How were they expected to get up the mountainside? There was no pathway to the top. Were they expected to climb it?
Parisa was, once again, surprised. Once they had reached the side of the mountain, Kallias pushed a plate-like rock out of the way, revealing a cave. Kallias entered immediately, Rassus at his heels, yet it took Parisa a few moments before she mustered up the courage to step into the mountain’s threshold. Inside, the rock rolled back behind her. She was now in a long tunnel, a few feet higher than her head, and along the sides of the pathway pyres of light floated eerily in air; light magic was being used to light the pathway. Sitting a few yards away in a woven chair was a man, his silver eyes reflecting in the glow of the pyre-light. Instinctually, Parisa’s body tensed in preparation to fight or flee, but this reaction was cut short when the stranger stood and hugged Kallias; it seemed they knew each other. Kallias turned and waved Parisa forward. As she came to his side, Kallias began speaking.
“This girl is Parisa. I found her outside my observatory in the desert. I believe she is an escapee of Orphanage VII.”
“Gun aydin!” the man said loudly to Parisa, “Welcome, we’re glad to have you!” He gave her a friendly pat on the back which nearly sent her flying. “I can’t imagine the crap you’ve had to put up with! You must be exhausted, child! My names is Benti; I’m the gatekeeper of Baris! Kallias hasn’t made the trip too rough for ya’ has he? Well, now that you’re here, we’re gonna take real good care of you! Kallias has a nice little place of his own, got plenty of room for another guest. You’ll have to stay with him until we get something set up for you. Anyway, I’ll run ahead to my wife and let her know the both of you are here. It’s a big community, but everyone knows everyone, so they’ll be excited to have a newcomer.”
“Benti,” Kallias began, “Later in the day, please come and find me; I need to talk to you. A caravan of lonely are headed here, so you may want to begin making preparations for them as well. Parisa is fine with me for now.”
“Wow, a whole caravan? I’ll surely come by and get the details later,” Benti said as he turned and ran up the cave path. “You folks take your time; it could be a few minutes before we can tidy up your loft!”
Once the echo had faded, Kallias turned to Parisa.
“Shall we?” he said with a flourish of his hand. Parisa nodded and man, woman, and scrunt were on their way up through the dim tunnel to Baris’ peak.
|
|
|
Post by Gabby on Jul 30, 2010 11:19:16 GMT -8
[ Kallias – Baris, Fortress ]
Kallias watched as Benti scurried ahead of them, quickly disappearing into the shadows. The pathway was dimly lit with small torches, but they only started a good distance down; the reason for this was purely tactical. You can’t have a well-illuminated, conspicuous secret entrance, now can you? Either way, the trio wouldn’t have had an issue. Kallias had helped excavate this cave, and Rassus was an animal of the underground. Parisa was indeed lucky to have these companions.
The earthen corridor was more than it seemed, though. As they traversed further and further, it became more of a labyrinth. This, of course, was also intentional, and all of Kallias’s design. A final defense of sorts. The pathways branched off, looped around, abruptly stopped with dead ends. There was no way to navigate it unless you knew it like the back of your hand. There might’ve been miles of caves underneath this mountain, all for the sake of protecting the fortress above. Parisa grew anxious and skeptical more than a few times, confused by the layout and their seemingly random trail. But Kallias had done her no wrong thus far. She had no reason to doubt him.
Surprisingly, though, their walk only lasted a few minutes. They finally came to a large staircase carved right out of the stone, spiraling upward to a ring of light. When they reached the very top, a spacious room closed around a fortified door, already cracked open – probably from Benti. Parisa’s eyes surveyed the area, marveling at the sheer size, sounds, and smell of it. Every small step and shuffle echoed forcefully about them, and the air – while heavier from the earth all around – was still significantly lighter, probably because of their altitude. It was also very cool and a bit damp.
As her eyes took in everything, they eventually fell upon the door. Jumping, Parisa was startled by a small frame hiding in the gap between the door left ajar. Silver eyes peered curiously, dimpled fingers latching to the cold metal. Only when Kallias looked over his shoulder – in reaction to Parisa’s shock – did the small person shout happily and reveal herself. Bare feet padded quickly across the floor towards the wanderer who chuckled from behind his mask. Parisa took a step back. Squatting, spreading his arms, Kallias accepted the child into his embrace. He stood back up straight once more, the Lonely girl clawing at his mask before finally managing to peel it from his face and down to his chin. They nuzzled noses.
“They told me to wait with everyone else,” she giggled in a sing-song way, “but I didn’t listen. I ran here as fast as I could!”
Kallias smiled. “So that’s why it’s so quiet. I was a bit worried.”
“Mhmm, everyone is running around like crazies, getting ready. I don’t know why; it’s just you and…” The girl cocked her head at the sight of Parisa who brought her arms to her chest.
Shifting the bag hanging off his right shoulder, Kallias turned a bit so that he could see his female companion. “This is Parisa. A new friend. And there are more on the way.”
The young girl waved happily to Parisa after a moment of processing. “Hello!” Parisa relaxed slightly, returning the gesture with less than half the enthusiasm. The child brought all of her attention back to Kallias. “C’mon then! Let’s go!”
Kallias jerked his head to both Parisa and Rassus for them to follow. Using his free arm, Kallias pried the doors open enough for them all to fit through. It opened to another long hallway, but the floor was carpeted with crimson. It led to another door and yet another set of stairs that again went upward. By that time, the din of others was prominent, hurried footsteps and voices cascading from the top. And soon, the sources were revealed from behind a final door.
Parisa stuck to Kallias just as she had in Dühl Adim. She was amazed by the numbers of people – and not just any kind of people. Lonelies. Free and smiling Lonelies. Inhaling sharply, Parisa vied to keep composed as flashbacks plagued her weary mind. It was extremely difficult. For every new face she saw, an image of one she’d harmed came to her. Men, women, children… Many of them shouted greetings to Kallias, which he returned with a wave. They had found themselves in a courtyard of sorts, open to the mountain air and sunshine. It was well-kept but modest. Green pine trees rose up almost as far as the grey walls that surrounded them, sturdy and nigh impenetrable. Grass grew in squares in their shades. The cobblestone streets converged into a large intersection that pointed to different areas of the fortress.
Rassus hissed on Parisa’s shoulders as more children flocked towards Kallias, grabbing his hand, latching to his legs, jumping all around him, trying to talk to him all at once. A few of them tugged on her pant leg as well, but she was far too flustered to even give them proper recognition. But her expression was obviously something they were familiar with; they backed off gently and left her alone. She heaved a sigh of relief.
“All right, children, calm down. That’s enough. We’re all happy to see Kallias.” A voice pierced the multitudes of others. It rang with humor and assertiveness simultaneously: the perfect combination to snag most of the kids’ attentions.
“Adrana!” Kallias exclaimed contentedly. He address the woman now walking towards them, her arms crossed at her chest, face scrunched into a contained smile, biting her bottom lip to keep it from growing. “So good to see you,” he added as the two of them pecked each other’s cheeks politely.
“And this must be the one from Orphanage VII,” Adrana pointed out, staring at Parisa.
“Yes, her name is Parisa.”
“Well, Parisa, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Parisa nodded once, forcing a small grin. Adrana wasn’t bothered in the least by Parisa’s reservation.
“Would you mind taking her to get cleaned up, Adrana?”
“Not at all. I hope you plan on doing the same,” she joked, waving the air around her nose. Kallias let out a few exaggerated laughs. He then turned to his partner.
“Adrana will take good care of you, I promise.” A Lonely child suddenly jumped up and grabbed Kallias’s arm, dragging him down momentarily. He chuckled. “I will find you again later.”
Before she knew it, Parisa was being led away from Kallias and the herd of children. Rassus hopped off her shoulder and glared at her as she departed.
|
|
|
Post by IceCoffin on Jul 31, 2010 17:03:20 GMT -8
~Elveda: Sam's Place~
By the time Sam had finished his work, it had been little more than hour. The Lonely, his gun, and his friend were now covered in "stickies"- just the sort of thing that would catch anyone's attention.
Dante, thankfully, had been incredibly patient about the whole ordeal. Though he may have looked ridiculous, Dante also knew that crossing Sam, or making a fuss about it, tended to end badly.
...It was moments like this that brought back memories for the both of them, in a way. Proof of an old friendship, though they weren't particularly close to one another.
Sam had tested Dante's patience many times before, in Baris. Sam was well-known for wandering through the snow-covered streets, barefoot, and randomly barging into people's homes to clean things up. He would come inside, then compulsively dust, sweep, and mop people's homes while mumbling incomprehensibly about whatever was on his mind. Then, he would leave and shuffle through the snow, ready to break into the next house he wanted to clean. Sam would do this regularly, and without any care as to what was going on around him.
Dante was originally less-than-amused by Sam's habits. He had been charged with being "Sam's Keeper" ever since the deranged Lonely was freed from the Orphanage, and was expected to keep tabs on him while in Baris. And Sam was a most inconvenient sort of person to keep tabs on: he could be anywhere. But, at the same time, Sam was also easy to track: one could write a schedule according to his actions.
And though it was sometimes difficult to keep up with Sam's activities, and highly inconvenient for everyone else in Baris, Dante learned the hard way never to try interrupting Sam. Most commonly, Sam would simply stand in place, immobile, his glassy-eyed gaze staring ahead into space. Other times, Sam would react violently, screaming incomprehensible words, peppered with curses and flailing his arms.
But, most rarely of all, Sam had been known to fight back. Often unpredictable, and rather dangerous, it was Sam's near-murder of a fellow freed prisoner that pushed the Sons of Su Seheri to assign Dante to his case. Dante was experienced and strong, and perhaps even a bit tenacious. It was a perfect match.
Even today, Sam was no small danger. So, why didn't anyone tell Dante that Sam was in Elveda? Sam himself was sure that they assigned Dante to track him from afar. He was suspicious, and unsure that Dante was truly unaware of his whereabouts.
But, in a way, it didn't matter. As paranoid as he was, to Sam, Dante was a part of life. A friend, and a constant. In a way, Dante's presence helped Sam feel safe. Safe, and secure. There was no way in hell that They would ever challenge the two, if they traveled together. And about those that 'betrayed' him? Lana and Sidri were in for a big surprise.
Sam grinned mischievously, "I don't think They have a chance in the world, eh, Dante?!"
|
|
|
Post by CO on Aug 1, 2010 12:16:32 GMT -8
~Elveda: Sam's Place~
Dante looked up and noticed Sam grinning mischievously, "I don't think They have a chance in the world, eh, Dante?!" he said.
"Even though I may regret asking this, what do mean Sam?" Dante asked.
|
|
|
Post by Del on Aug 1, 2010 22:54:19 GMT -8
Parisa :: Baris
“Fetch another bucket of water, Delenia. The dirt is painted onto this one,” Adrana called, emptying a bucket of her own on Parisa, “I’ll scrub you clean if it kills me!”
Parisa did not doubt that Adrana would, in fact, kill herself in an attempt to clean her body. Adrana was a very determined woman; it didn’t take her long to get Parisa undressed and looking like a wet dog. Despite Adrana’s firm but gentle hands, Parisa shut down; she was too intimidated to run away, and without Kallias she was too confused to think for herself. Adrana didn’t seem to take much mind to Parisa; it was likely that she had dealt with other similar to her before. Soon after Delenia returned with the extra pale of water, the bath was over. Adrana stood Parisa up and dried her off with the help of Delenia. The two women turned her around to examine her one last time; scrubbing off nine years of dirt and grime was challenging. To their satisfaction, they succeeded. Yet with cleanliness came scars. A great deal of them. Although many were faint, they were still distinguishable. Most of them were located on the lonely woman’s back, long and pink – a product of whipping. The canvas of her body painted a sad picture indeed.
“You’ve endured a lot, haven’t you, dear?” said Adrana softly, approaching her from behind, “But I hope you’ll find it nice here. No one is going to hurt you ever again. I promise.” She put a hand on Parisa’s shoulder and turned her around; Adrana was surprised to find her eyes swimming with tears. “Oh you poor thing!” she cried, embracing her. Why she was crying, even Parisa did not know. She broke in Adrana’s arms, sobbing and shaking violently; the kind woman signaled Delenia to leave them be.
Adrana held her for the better part of an hour. Once Parisa had settled down, Adrana handed her some clothing.
“Now, we’ve taken your clothes to the wash, but I’ve gathered this dress and robe for you to wear in the meantime. They’re made of silk, so I think you’ll find them rather agreeable. Once you’re ready I’ll have Delenia take you to Kallias’ loft.” Parisa nodded in response and Adrana bid her goodbye. Alone, Parisa slipped on the simple silk dress and robe. She was astonished by the material; it was like wearing water. Running her hands up and down the knee-length dress, Parisa walked to the door. Before she made it out she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror; compelled, she stopped to take a look: without dirt, her face was smooth and creamy; untangled, her hair fell in soft, damp curls. Seeing herself like this, it made Parisa feel almost… human. She lingered for only a moment, thanking whatever god had brought her here.
Parisa left the bath house soon after with Delenia. She was headed to Kallias’ house where she would find a seat near one of his stately windows. There, Parisa sat and gazed out at the mountains of Baris, waiting for the closest thing she had to a friend.
|
|
|
Post by Gabby on Aug 2, 2010 8:56:40 GMT -8
[ Kallias – Baris, Fortress ]
Kallias lay in his tub, choosing to make as little effort as possible. He practically floated, letting the dirt and grime fall off his body rather than scrub it off. It was nice to be back in Baris, his “home” if you were to ask him. Most of all, the mountainous air was so crisp and so easy to breathe that he would no longer have to wear that stifling mask. The wanderer took a deep breath and dipped his head below the waterline, blowing the air from his lungs to make bubbles. Rassus – perched at the end of the tub nearest to Kallias’s feet – sharpened his glare at his companion’s strange antics and wished he’d hurry up. Dinner time was almost upon them, and the scrunt was very much looking forward to eating some quality food. Glancing over his shoulder, Rassus looked longingly at the door. But, while his attention was snagged elsewhere, a foot slowly arose from the depths. A squeal emerged from the scrunt’s throat as oddly dexterous toes wrapped around his long, bushy tail, attempting to drag him into the warm water. The scrunt put up a small fight, his claws scratching the tub futilely. But, in the end, he entered the water with an angry splash.
When the water finally began to get too cold, Kallias got out, dried off, and leisurely began to dress. Rassus pulled himself out of the tub on his own, the weight of his fur holding him down, making the task that much more difficult. He managed, though, and eventually scurried over to a window, trying to use the sunlight filtering through to dry off. It didn’t do much. Despite the fact that it was summertime, the stone fortress was naturally chilly, and their altitude only cooled the temperature down even more. The place was a miraculous safe haven from the scorching desert. Rassus shivered and chattered in annoyance.
Kallias dried his hair and studied himself in his mirror. Freed from the weight of the dirt, sand, and sweat, his hair was free to go about in whatever direction it pleased. His vermillion eyes were surrounded by a few, sun-born freckles against tan skin. He was never that great with shaving, so there was still a little bit of stubble on his chin. Shoulders bouncing with chuckles, he took note of the very prominent tan line from his shirt. He shook it off and slipped on his light pea coat and buttoned it, the fur lining its collar tickling his neck.
Shutting the doors to his loft behind him, Kallias turned around and was a bit startled to see someone in the corridor. She sat in a windowsill, hands folded in her lap, details outshined by the light coming in from outside. It didn’t take long for him to recognize Parisa, her frame accentuated by the flowing silk she adorned. There was a lightness about her that hadn’t been there before. Kallias hoped that those shackles – both literal and figurative – were slowly being peeled off. She didn’t seem to notice him, caught in the daze as she stared out the window to the courtyard below. He took a step forward, ready to greet her, but hesitated; he dabbed the area around his eyes where his goggles once sat. How would she react when she saw that he was a Twin? In his mind, he hoped she’d already come to that conclusion. With Rassus, how could she not? Nevertheless, doubt still lingered in his gut.
He finally got a hold of himself. Approaching the Lonely woman who sat most serenely, he hovered beside her for a moment, wondering if she was really so absorbed that she didn’t notice him at all. Soon, though, her head turned, silver eyes traveling up to his face. Kallias felt the edges of his mouth involuntarily lift in a soft grin. Her brow furrowed slightly, and this worried him a little. From behind, the pitter patter of claws against the stone sounded, and Rassus climbed his way onto Kallias’s shoulder. The scrunt looked once at Parisa, looked away, and did a double take, astonished by the transformation.
|
|
|
Post by Del on Aug 2, 2010 21:23:49 GMT -8
Parisa :: Baris
Kallias?
Kallias…
Kallias!
His name raced through her mind, repeating in a river of shock and confusion. His face was rugged and unshaven, handsome without a mask to hide it. His jaw was square and powerful, and his brow had a stately air to it. His fine, sandy brown locks waved every so slightly like the curls of an infant. His soft, pink lips turned upward in a childish grin. Yet it was not his face, in all its beauty, that had shocked her so; it was his eyes.
It was like looking into a wound, red and dripping with blood.
“K-Kallias!” Parisa said aloud this time. In her panic, she stood up in the chair, looking down at him as her heart raced like a wild horse. This man, he was a twin! Kallias was a twin! In her mind, it was not him, yet in her heart she felt the familiar gentleness of his spirit. It did not seem possible. Twins were cruel, hateful, twisted; Kallias was kind. Who was this person staring back at her? Horrified, Parisa could not break away from his gaze; sterling and blood mixed as one.
She was not sure how long she stood there, standing on the chair she had sat in moments ago, before her heart beat began to calm. Clarity returned and sharpened her mind, and she was able to think with a clearer head. Was being a twin all that bad? She did, after all, hold the lonely – her own people – in great contempt… but weren’t twins the enemy? Hadn’t they been the ones who had kept her like a caged bird for nine years!? And where was his twin? She had assumed him to be lonely, like her, since no one traveled with him besides a homicidal scrunt!
In no hurry, Parisa lowered herself back into the chair, her eyes connected with Kallias’ the entire time. After a few more minutes of silence, she broke their gaze, looking down at her hands. After all the sins she had committed, she had no place to judge someone who had been so kind to her. Still, somewhere in her heart her trust in him had been damaged, and her mind began to revert back to its mechanical tendencies. Parisa lifted her eyes from her hands, seeing Kallias in a new light.
“I… I apologize for that…” she said quietly, almost as if she was saying it to herself, “I’m not very good with surprises… or anything else for that matter.” It was strange, hearing herself speak; this was probably the most she had said to him at one time. After that, Parisa couldn’t bring herself look at Kallias… it just seemed wrong to do so.
|
|
|
Post by Gabby on Aug 3, 2010 10:32:18 GMT -8
[ Kallias – Baris, Fortress ]
There it was. Kallias could see it in her eyes as she stared into his incredulously, perhaps a bit disappointedly. His original contentment faded, but he maintained a calm and unaffected façade for the sake of the moment. Clearing his throat, Kallias prepared a response to Parisa’s reactions.
“Surprises?” he half-heartedly chuckled, trying to play dumb. He slapped on an expression of playful realization. “Oh, you mean Rassus!” The scrunt’s snout wrinkled at the mentioning of its name, confused. “Yes, I wasn’t quite sure I’d be able to get that moldy smell off of him either, but I think I did pretty well. It was a surprise for me, too. I figured it had just sunk into his skin…” The wanderer went to scratch Rassus under his chin to signal that he was only kidding, but the desert creature nipped at his finger.
Parisa continued to look away, though, and Kallias knew his horrid attempt at humor amounted to nothing. Exhaling through his nose, he rubbed the back of his head, glanced around, then cleared his throat. “I… don’t mean to be too blunt, but…” It took him a second longer than he’d hoped it would have to gather the necessary words. The issue couldn’t just be unaddressed. “If we bother you, or in any way make you uncomfortable, when we head to the dining hall, I will introduce you to others… others with whom you can relate. Feel free to mingle with them. They will be more than happy to help you adjust to your new life here. You will in no way insult us, I promise.” He rested his hand over his heart.
Silence prevailed. He smiled solemnly. “Come,” he invited gently. “Let us eat some real food.” Kallias lifted his arm towards the end of the corridor where the stairs awaited descension. At this, Rassus screeched, scuttled across Kallias’s shoulders, down his outstretched arm, and leapt from his hand, hitting the floor running.
|
|
|
Post by Del on Aug 3, 2010 23:38:25 GMT -8
Parisa :: Baris
Parisa couldn’t quite answer Kallias. She tried, yet there seemed to be something blocking her words. She followed Kallias down the stairs, past the various books, trinkets, and gadgets lining the walls. Without words, they traveled slowly down the snowy, cobblestone streets, shuffling past running children, families, and friends all headed to a similar destination. Occasionally, Parisa would sneak a glace at her somber companion. Kallias seemed a bit withdrawn now, and rightfully so, than he had earlier; it dawned on Parisa that he had been excited to finally show his face to her. She felt her stomach knot in shame. She wanted to make up for her earlier outburst to Kallias, and yet she also found herself wanting to run away screaming. Emotions were complicated. She craved a return to her past system of obey without question or thought.
Soon, Parisa, Kallias, and Rassus found themselves at the dining hall. The crowd made Parisa uncomfortable, and she in turn made Kallias uneasy as well; Rassus was just hungry.
“Well,” Kallias said politely, “shall we?”
Parisa responded with forced a grin.
|
|