Raiha

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I want my character to get her jollies with Ozy's character. It is possible I've figured, because she's got the healing factor, and theoretically it'd work well with someone else of her race. Species. Whatever. Who cares? But the point is, even if it does burn her, and repeatedly...everywhere...it'd still be worth it, because she likes the pains after all. And I find that smell of roasting flesh to be somewhat tasty. Ideas? Good? Bad? Oh Raiha you charismatic stallion...[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]I am teh cook. I'm not a good cook. I am a competent cook. I can eat my own food without gagging. I can follow a recipe and it'll generally turn out alright. It won't be food that sets the world on fire, but it won't be awful.[/i] My best dishes however tend to be baked items like casseroles, lemon garlic chicken with potatoes and carrots and onions. I'm reasonably competent at stir fry, but I can't get it to taste quite like my mother's cooking. I have a killer recipe for spaghetti and an even better one for an italian sausage ragu, but I don't think my pasta is particularly tastebud shattering. I make awesome chocolate chip cookies from my secret recipe, and I have an excellent Russian Tea Cake.... Which is essentially powdered cookies with nuts and ginger. But don't ask me to bake you cakes. I don't have a mixer and I do NOT do anything that can't be replaced with lactaid. Being lactose intolerant results in my dishes tasting slightly different from the typical. And I feel bad about that but it gets me out of eating things that I hate. Like mayonnaise laced stuff.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[b][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Six weeks later.[/b] [i]I awoke very slowly. Lights flashed in my eyes, painful at first, then slowly blending down into a mere annoyance. At least I think I was awake, and I figured they were lights. I was so confused. But I only know what happened next because the ships cameras were constantly recording. Vicky was standing directly above me, monitoring my vitals while watching color bloom back onto my face. I remember feeling, through the confusion and insanity, that I was both hungry, and excited. Reviewing the videos later, I watched my newly awakened self reach up and pull Vicky down to my lips, kissing her as if she were the only person left alive in the universe. In the video her eyes had opened wide, then closed, and an instant later I?d let her go and flopped back again, exhausted and sleeping naturally. I didn't understand it either, but William and Connor both had scientific explanations. I?m sure they were very interesting, but no matter how valiantly I listened, everything seemed to whoosh right over my head.[/i] ?It?s called the space sickness. The body can?t process the emotions or the sensations and jumps automatically to what will assure it that everything still works as quickly as possible. Hence, your instant attraction and sexual reaction to Vicky?s presence. At that point, you were operating on pure instic-? ?It?s like a fever in the blood, from the slow hibernation, and then the rapid awakening. Your emotional and psychological faculties must have been completely scrambled, hence the-? [i]And at that point I stopped paying attention completely. Gavin was still struggling to suppress a fit of hysterics, while Andrew was looking somewhat out of sorts. I felt embarrassed to be sure, but on the other hand, it was giving me plenty to think about while not panicking about our situation. We were thousands of light years from home. Millions maybe, I have no head for this kind of spatial...stuff. Neil assured me that everything was safe. While I was out, everyone had organized and ranked themselves. Gavin was the uncontested Captain. It was his children after all. Andrew had taken over the piloting almost exclusively. William was the science officer, reading the scans and making meaningless reports. At least right now. Connor was scouting, leaping ahead and then back and forth through the endless universal dimensions to ensure our perpetual safety. And Vicky I?m sure was doing something akin to keeping the peace as well as cooking. We?ll call her Ship?s Counselor. Don?t look at me like that. I loved Star Trek. About the time I was finally figuring out the ship?s hierarchy, I was also realizing that I wouldn?t even have a place on the ship. Because as soon as my body had recovered from the first bout of hibernation, I was going to be put back. But in the meantime, I was being sedated virtually constantly. My system, my energy, my magic was the virtual antithesis to everything that the ship was. Technology, logic, physics? My body, my physiology reacted to it at an instinctual level.[/i] ?Seriously guys, she emits a Murphyonic field. That?s the only word for it.? ?I think it?s cute. It throws her hatred of technology into such sharp relief...? [i]Everyone was talking about me, even while I was in the same room. To be fair, I could only hear snatches of their conversation. I felt like saying something.[/i] ?You all realize that I am RIGHT here.? [i]But my tongue felt heavy, and it dragged against my lips and the words never made it out. At least they weren?t insulting me. I?d already tried starting a fire in my palm, but I couldn?t even raise my hand without a monumental and heroic effort. Just walking around the ship, or shuffling really, was exhausting. Guess that?s what Vicky was going for, because I was starting to wonder if this whole thing wasn?t just some ridiculous herbally induced pipe dream. I heard another snatch of dialogue from what I guessed was Connor. Hard to say, his voice seemed to slip and blend and skip like a malfunctioning CD player.[/i] ?She should be on a motivational poster. ?Technology! Raiha does not like.?? [i] But seriously, it was starting to make me wonder just how Dad had made it to Earth. I made a somewhat foggy note in my mind to ask him when they put me down again for the next month and a half. Gavin caught me mooching down a hallway towards what I assumed was the place where he slept, and picked me up without another word. My arms automatically twined around his neck and I began to kiss his throat and the sides of his neck. He nearly dropped me, but instead kicked open the nearest door, which I can only assume led to a storage area, set me down on a shelf, and reciprocated. Either the space sickness was still in me, or I was just hungry after weeks of sleeping alone, and while higher thought was beyond me, my instincts were working just fine. [/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[i][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]In the end, we’d decided it was safer to just put me to sleep. For a few weeks at a time anyway. Space coma, they call it. We all boarded that very evening and I kept up a smile. I didn’t feel brave, but I didn’t feel a rampant fear. Some fear is good fear. Caution. Discretion. Neil and the other Saiya-jins looked excited. Connor and William looked pensive. I kept my expression neutral. Without eyes it was easy to keep a poker face. Go me. My parents stood beneath the ship as we took off. I’m sure people were waving but I didn’t watch. Afraid I would see omens in the trailing smoke and steam, I couldn’t bear to watch. Vicky caught my eye and led me on a short tour. We saw the galley, the infirmary, the barracks as she called them, and the bridge. It turns out Vicky and William both were very good at piloting. They’d shift back and forth while Neil and Gavin took care of the other functions. I however appeared to emit a Murphyonic field in the form of intense heat, unsafe for technology. We discovered this relatively soon when I passed my hand over a rather unimportant console and shorted it out virtually instantly. Andrew gave me a look.[/i] “I think it’s time for you to get to sleep.” “We haven’t even gone through the atmosphere yet! I won’t see anything!” “I think it’s time for you to get to sleep.” [i]Gavin had already joined the conversation and was patting me reassuringly on the shoulder. I sighed with resignation and turned to Vicky, who was beckoning me to go down the hall. Apparently, she’d thought ahead and prepared a hibernation pod for me. I laid myself down after stripping naked. Shivering in the relative cool of the chamber, Vicky flicked a needle, the contents in a glass tube, rather than a plastic one. I would’ve melted it anyway.[/i] “You won’t feel a thing. Try counting back from 100.” “Wait, you’ve already asked me to climb into this technologically advanced cot... Does that mean you’re also asking me to do math at the same time?” “Certainly not. That’d just be cruel.” [i]She gave me a reassuring touch once more and I looked up at her. Trusting in her science to keep me alive. To my left I saw Gavin and I managed a smile. The needle pierced the flesh, liquid rest sinking into my veins. Slowly. Quietly. Deepening my heart, quieting my thoughts. The last thing I heard was Gavin saying he loved me. Or at least I think that’s what he said. I was so tired. So tired. In a moment, or so it seemed, I was gone. Empty. I felt weightless, floating quietly through emptiness and voids. Nothing. Shapeless and formless I felt disembodied, spiritual, sanctified. And then I saw my father’s face, melting back into the darkness, but still his face. I heard his voice. Felt it.[/i] “Earth is under attack. She waited for all of you to leave. Then she went for it.” “No! We have to turn back! I’ll tell the others!” [i]I was panicking. I was a babe in the woods. I was frightened and freaking out and paranoid beyond reason that somehow this was all a conspiracy to render me helpless and incapable of helping my family.[/i] “You can’t wake up now. You won’t either. But don’t be afraid. We have your mother, and the others as well. Leila too. I wouldn’t want her on the enemy’s side.” “....you’re lying to me. You can’t tell me this without lying.” [i]Reflected in his eyes, I saw my mother's face. Fierce, bloody, eyes glowing a brilliant blue. They pulsed, then were replaced by an image of Neil's father yelling and swinging upwards with a massive fist. As if I were scrolling microfiche, I saw everyone who could fight, flicker before my eyes. The last image was of Leila, both feet almost rooted into the Earth, her eyes wild and sparking with all of nature's fury. It was at that point that I recalled she was a goddess. A goddess tied to the soul of Earth. Suddenly I felt smaller.[/i] “I won’t lie to you. I never did. I told you the birthing madness would pass, and it did. And I’m telling you that we will endure until your return. And you WILL return. I’ve seen it.” [i]I turned away in sadness, feeling cold once more. My father always had that knack for seeing omens in steam, smoke, mists, and I inherited it, only I didn’t have the iron will he had. So I turned away from that gift. Or I had. I was Cassandra. I had no faith in my ability to divine omens without working under the preconceived fears. I shook my head. Or I shook what I felt would’ve been my head if I’d been fully conscious. Instead I felt heavy and yet empty at the same time. I wanted to feel my husband’s arms around me. To know that he was close by and holding my hands. A flash of rage sparked behind my eyes as I remembered how weak and cringing I’d been earlier that day. Or was it even the same week? Where was time? What was time? Where was it all going?[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[RIGHT][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetavatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/catherinesaraavatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/alexanderedward-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][/RIGHT] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]"I suppose I wasn't taken because I wasn't thrown in the same area as the others were by the explosion." "I'm sure they would've tried to claim you as well, had you not recovered and gone to ground so quickly." [i]Macey frowned as she read the notice from the Sergeant. She didn't like him in the least, but she didn't doubt his loyalty to the nobility. Lady Catherine's expression was drawn and frightened. At least she wasn't an alchemist herself. Macey looked up again from the note.[/i] "I suppose someone should send a message to the good Sergeant, informing him of my safe return to Rosengard." [i]Gadget looked up at his new lady, watching her expressions change with the conversation. Macey felt exasperated with her family, but at the same time pleased with their concern. It was like they expected her to be able to find her father after a deafening explosion so loud it had rendered her deaf for more than a few seconds. It was so bright, she'd barely been able to find her way down the halls until she'd put out her fingers and began feeling for the various pictures and posters she and her fellow scientists had put up on the walls. At least it was something different from the same old tired lines about Vincent, and the Archard family, and the dishonor and shame. With a sigh, she stood and bid Gadget to stand as well. The boy jumped up with alacrity, as if he was used to obeying Macey's non verbal signals. Aunt Catherine watched her carefully. She looked even more pale than usual, the veins of purple and blue blood under her skin appearing like spider's threads. Gadget next to her looked equally pale. Perhaps they both needed rest. She stood as well with a gentle smile on her face.[/i] "You look positively worn out Macey. Perhaps you need to go lie down for a few moments." "Sound advice Auntie, I'll be up again for dinner." [i]She managed to take a few steps away from the table, then felt her knees buckling under her. Using the last of her presence of mind before the darkness overtook her completely, she shoved her chair out of her way and crumpled to the floor, listening to her family's cries and gasps of shock echo in her ears like the calling of birds. The last thing she saw was Gadget leaning over her, his expression frightened. Alexander had already crossed the room in long strides, gently nudging a crying Gadget aside as he picked up Macey's prone form.[/i] "Macey's fine. She's just completely exhausted. You must be tired as well." "Take them both to bed Alexander. I'll have someone send up some tea in a few hours." [i]In a state of semi-awareness and half darkness, Macey watched as Gadget trotted behind Alexander, afraid his mistress would never awaken again. She felt her eyelids growing heavy, and let them close again. Just a few minutes, and she'd be alright.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]“These red lights represent planets Morrigan has destroyed or enslaved.” [i]He turned the remote in his hand and the display changed to yellow lights, less of these, but still somewhat evenly dispersed.[/i] “These are planets that Morrigan has on her list. She just hasn’t gotten to them yet. This is Earth.” [i]He pointed. Surrounded by red lights, was our one yellow light. The safe haven we had built for ourselves was going to fall. People were dying. Dying. Everywhere. Gavin gave me a gentle touch and I began to pay attention again. Connor was speaking. I knew before he finished what it meant. We'd have to leave Earth and go beyond.[/i] “She’s been taking young Saiya-jins and raising them as her children. Brain washing, experiments. She’s trying to create perfect body guards. Genetically engineering an army.” [i]I didn’t shiver consciously, but I shuddered, and I gripped Gavin’s hand. Vicky, sitting across from me, shot me a glance, and William to my direct left gave me a gentle nudge. I didn’t know it at the time, but everyone says I began crying tears of flame. Flickering down my cheeks. My father said it was at that point that the fire began to burn again. And I felt anger. Rage again. The ice in my heart melted. At that point, all I could feel was a sure and steady loathing. Neil tells me it was fury. He out of all of us, would know. It had never occurred to me in that hazy time after my initial reaction and the depression...that my children were suffering without me. When they disappeared, I guess I'd assumed they were simply dead. I had been grieving their deaths in my heart, not even daring to hope for their lives. I was embarrassed, sick to my stomach of myself. Ashamed and horrified with my own weakness, I felt my nails sinking into the flesh of my palms. Before I knew it, I was on my feet, holding no one’s hand, leaning on no one's shoulder. I was burning up, my skin beginning to flare and crackle, the tattoos I’d had since birth flaring up to glow in the semi darkness. The scent of burning fabric filled the air as my clothes began to singe.[/i] “Nobody will brain wash my children.” [i]I spit out every word with venom and bile, the fangs making it difficult to speak, but I got the words out anyway. Gavin stood next to me, a hand hovering near my shoulder, then he quickly turned and grabbed my fingers, pressing them to his cheek. I felt the pressure, then my nostrils flared against the smell of burning flesh. He held his hand there for an uncomfortably long amount of time, my skin singeing his body, my anger unquenchable even in the face of his self inflicted scars. Vicky stood as well, holding up her face closer me, her eyes beckoning. I pressed a finger against her cheekbone, and then released after a few moments. A brand. A mark of solidarity. She did the same to me, cutting my cheek open with her nail, the blood sizzling down my face and puckering against the bone. I repeated it with William. Andrew. Neil. Connor. They had lined themselves up without gesture or invitation. Our parents smiled. I felt better already. My mother stood, imposing with her dark gray jacket, her mane of black hair flaring and billowing behind her in the wake of her ki.[/i] “The ship is ready. We’ll give you a single escort out of this solar system, but once you’re out there, you’re on your own.” [i]Leila stood as well, next to my mother.[/i] “Tonight you’ll head out. We’ve already provisioned the ship. You’re going to go to her stronghold to take her down completely. Anything could happen. So we essentially just gave you food.” “Ah yeah, who needs weapons, when you have food?” [i]Neil and Gavin were elbowing each other, chortling. Vicky grabbed my arm and we ran down the hall together, and she kicked open the garage door pointed with pride. She had built a new ship. Glorious. But then again, I knew virtually nothing about ships. I can only assume that they had done a good job. William and the others had come up behind us and we stared. Gavin was smiling, and I felt better. Our parents stood with us and for that moment, I felt safe. I knew that once we had departed we wouldn’t be safe ever again. I looked over my shoulder and saw my father gazing up on the starship, not with pride but with confusion. Technology kinda wasn't his thing either.[/i] “Wait. I’m confused. Are you going to wrap Raiha in fireproof fabric or immerse her in liquid oxygen or what?” [i]I looked back up at the ship, then I looked down at my blackened and charred clothes. Then I looked back up.[/i] “Huh.”[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]So normally I don't start threads here, but on the occasion that a movie rolls around that I really did appreciate.....it's time for me to roll out the gushing fangirl carpet and go wild. "I Am Legend" Will Smith, A dog, and a fracturing sense of self as he attempts to right his wrongs. See it! Unless of course you're unhappy with heavy philosophical symbolism and characteristically incapable of appreciating good acting without a reliance on many characters to buoy up the story. Also worth seeing if only because 'The Dark Knight' trailer was also shown in the previews. It's one I have yet to find online, and it features almost exclusively...THE JOKER. Health Ledger's dialogue is golden, and honestly the trailer would be more accurately titled if it was called 'The Joker' because Bruce Wayne has like what? Five lines? But anyway, I now charge you all to go see it. Less disappointing than "Beowulf" and more shiny and horror-tastic than say...."Hitman."[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='Sandy']The same goes for Callisto Prometheo. ;D.[/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]HAHAHAHAH! BURN YOU LITTLE BITCH! You'll take what you get and like it too! ....uppity little slut, trying to make me look bad in front of Father...[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i] Charlotte Adriette Cathay leaned against the corner of the wall, caught in the curve, illuminated by the oil lamps, and smirked at passersby. She was a drug runner after all. Smuggling opium inside her own body for her employers was frankly run of the mill for her. And like her employers, she held a callous personality firmly between her overly pale fingers. Just barely out of girlhood, 17 and undernourished, Charlotte waited for the streets to fill with an uncanny patience. Her skirts and corset covered her form, but still, she wore no coat against the evening’s chill. Many men had glanced in her direction this evening, and many others, but she was never for sale. She had already been bought and paid for. Her flat in Soho. Her place in society’s underworld. It was better than selling herself for a few coins. There was no dignity in it to be sure, but there were in fact worse fates. She just wasn’t sure what they were. When one of her more handsome handlers appeared, he quickly crushed her against him for what passersby would assume was a rough kiss and a grope, but really an exchange of goods. Charlotte knew him, and wasn’t afraid of him, but then again. These days, not much really scared her. He released her very slowly, as if he wasn’t sure he’d obtained everything she had on her person. She smirked up at him with a sweet flash of a smile.[/i] “Got everything you need, no?” “This time Lotty. But next time it might not go so easily. One of our couriers was taken down with all his goods. And one of our customers was offed last night. God knows how that’s gonna affect business.” “Nobody’s ever suspected me. Not unless you gave ‘em reason to.” [i]He dropped a handful of coin’s and a little fold of parchment down her corset front, the metal cool against her bare flesh, glinting in the murky light. She put a hand against her breasts to keep them from slipping down into her skirts and looked up at him through her eyelashes.[/i] “I’ll keep that in mind. Tomorrow night then.” [i]With a flirtatious wink and a quick smack across her buttocks, her handler disappeared into the evening’s crowd. She turned and began the walk to the place where her goods usually appeared. She still had her shoulders bare against the night cold. In some a sign of madness, but in others a sign of simple lack of concern. And Charlotte didn’t care what happened to her own self. Dregs of society, that’s what she was. Nobody cared if she lived or died, they only cared if she delivered what she promised. And it was all well and good for them. Charlotte turned a corner at the docks, and trailed herself surreptitiously through a group of drunken sailors, most of them too wasted to notice her slipping through the shadows. Mentally, she reviewed what she knew about the murder. Not much. But she did know that the apartment standing next to hers was no longer empty. As far as the tenant went, she had yet to see him. Ah well, she'd mind her own business if he minded his after all. Eventually, she came to the right tavern, a mess of ale barrels, smoking fires, and poorly dipped candles. The people knew her, or at least recognized her to let her in the back doors. Down in the basement, where the dealer was cutting his products, whores lounged on cushions and benches. Men came back and forth in a steady stream, and ale flowed freely and sloppily across bosoms, floors, walls, and mattresses. Charlotte weaved through the heaving mass of flesh and sidled up to the distributor. He looked up as she slid silver into his pocket from behind and reached a hand around to grab at her chest and pull her on to his lap.[/i] “On time as always you little minx.” “I try to be.” [i]She reached down her chest, now soaking with sweat. The heat of the surrounding press of people nearly smothering her. Carefully, she extracted the note that had been placed there and placed it in his hand.[/i] “Here’s the next order.” [i]The note was simple enough she supposed, but Charlotte had never bothered with her letters. Edmond, her dealer laughed and slid one of his knives across the upside down ale barrel that served him for a desk. A long dark sliver of opium smeared up against the flat of the blade. She flicked out one of her fingers and tasted the goods she so carefully carried for her masters. With a sour glance, she spat to one side, then smiled slightly. The taste was near perfect, some of the best she'd ever tasted.[/i] “Good stuff. Must have cost you something awful.” “You bet your ass. But it’s what your lord and master pays me to procure, and so I do.” “And I’m sure he appreciates it ever so much. I would if I had so pretty a courier to fondle each and every night.” [i]With a playful smirk, Edmond began filling one of the carefully made leather bags with paper wrapped opium. He folded each bar carefully, and she watched, counting with a light flicking of her finger against her thigh. Satisfied at last, he handed them to her and she stood, making them disappear into a fold of her skirt. Later, in relative privacy, she’d hide the goods more sufficiently and not even a strip search would reveal them to a soul. Charlotte Cathay was quite simply one of the best smugglers in all of London’s Underground after all. God bless the Queen.[/i] [center]~~~~~~~~~~[/center] [b]The Vices of Charlotte Adriette Cathay:[/b] Lotty dearly loves risky behavior in all its forms. Flirting with it, dancing with it, and in general exposing herself to it. She could've just been a prostitute and had a boring repetitive life of meaningless shallow sex, but instead she became a smuggler specifically so she could get closer to that elusive temptress, Danger.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[i][COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I watched the people filter into my mother's oversized dinning room. Quietly, I drifted there myself, and Gavin found me sitting quietly in a corner. He sat down next to me and took my hand gently, squeezing it reassuringly, while I gazed blankly upon the people. Vicky and Andrew were holding hands under the table, both talking casually with Neil across the table, while William and Connor held a quiet conference in another corner. My father and mother were bringing dishes to the table, and some of the other parents were seated, conversing in hushed tones. It was like being at a wake, only we didn?t have any pictures, not so much as a small memory for a keepsake. I clenched my husband?s hand tightly and worked hard to keep my emotions under control. I would not start crying. I would not be the weak grieving mother. Only I could hardly be calling myself a mother with my children taken from me. Now could I? I suppose not. I turned my emotions inward, as I so often had, and then my parents sat. My mother gave the signal, and everyone began to eat. I picked at my food like the proverbial bird, while the women at the table urged me to eat more. Connor?s mom gave me a reassuring touch from one of her hands, and I felt her magic flow against my stomach, then come up against the psychic block on me. I shrugged it away gently, and gave her a thanks, but no thanks look. Leila stuck out her lower lip in mock petulance and I felt like a heel. [/i] ?You need to eat more sweetling. You look so pale and drawn these days. It can?t be good for your body.? ?Appreciate it and all Leila, I?m just not hungry. I can?t make myself eat.? ?Try anyway darling. It?ll do you good. I promise you.? [i]Her kind smile brought out a lancing pain of guilt, stabbing my stomach as bad as a birthing pain. I tried to force down a few more bites of my mom?s perfectly good rice and then put my fork down as a bad job. Turning back, I watched the people around me eat. They appeared to be keeping any semblance of good cheer off their faces for my sake. Perhaps for my sake. I reached out with my thoughts to feel the moods of the people around me. William looked up at me casually, and hardened his mind against my probing with a gentle nudge. I raised an eyebrow at him and turned towards the Saiya-Jins. My husband was feeling the same guilt as me, only he?d never stop himself from eating. My parents were feeling sad for my sake, but focused on their present tasks. Neil felt like his usual raging self, probably because his father was present at the table. Andrew and Vicky?s thoughts were closely twined around each other so much that I could barely pick out the individual sensations. As I was reaching finally for Connor, he stood up abruptly, as if he?d known it was coming and struck the side of his glass gently one of his spoons.[/i] ?Everyone? I believe now?s a good time for us to talk about the tasks before us.? ?Not now! Dinner?s not half done!? ?What about desert?? [i]Indignant cries from the Saiya-Jins around the table nearly brought a smile to my face. I turned to Gavin, who hadn?t said anything yet, but I?m sure had just kicked his father from across the table for voicing such an opinion. He clasped my smaller hand in his, enveloping it completely, and I leaned against him just a little. My mother gave a frosty nod to Connor, and he turned on the computer terminal above the far wall. Instantly, small red dots began to appear against an image of what we figured was the space closest to us. Shivering with a flicker of interest, I focused my mind to the point where I could listen to Connor without my sadness and fear nagging at me.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[RIGHT][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetavatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/beatrist-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][/RIGHT] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]Macey sat down in one of the nicer seats, and patted the one next to her for Gadget. He sat down awkwardly, unsure of himself in such luxurious surroundings, and clasped his hands in his lap carefully. The airship carefully rose above the chaos of the city, and with a roar of engines, hurtled towards the relative safety of Rosengard and the warmth and quiet of her rooms. Gadget gripped the sides of his chair in fear, and Macey was about to make some lighthearted comment to make light of it when she realized that he'd most likely never even been inside an Airship, much less one traveling at high speeds. She patted his hands gently and gave him a reassuring look.[/i] "Don't worry, Bastian is the best pilot in the family. He'll get us there safely." "If you say so..." [i]The ship landed in a haze of smoke and steam, and the landing gear engaged safely, everyone alive and in one piece. On shaking legs, Gadget stood, fearful that something else might happen, but Macey took his arm in hers carefully and led him down the steps to the landing bay. He clung to her with what was probably an unreasonable amount of trepidation, but at the same time, Macey could hardly fault him for his feelings. Everything here was nothing he'd ever experienced. As Macey staggered towards the warmth and light of the family estate, Beatriste came running down the wide staircase towards them, arms outstretched. Macey threw her arms around her sister, near tears but keeping a stiff upper lip.[/i] "Oh it's simply [b]awful[/b] Macey! The explosion! Is Father still living?" "I'm not sure right now, but I felt it was best to get myself and my assistant to safety before anything else happened." [i]Beatriste turned with some surprise, noticing Gadget perhaps for the first time. She gave him a friendly nod and he simply looked uncomfortable, but returning the nod with a bob of his own. Macey let Beatriste lead them both to one of the smaller rooms, adjacent to Macey's suites. Sinking into a chair with a sigh of satisfaction, Macey closed her eyes for a moment and rubbed her temples. Gadget remained standing, unsure of his position. Macey turned to him with a serious look, while Beatriste was out talking to one of the servants.[/i] "Listen carefully Gadget. While we're here, I'll need you to be very careful. It's my responsibility to keep you safe, and thus, you must always act as my assistant. I'll tell you more when I can, but right now, just please follow my lead. Don't talk to anyone if you don't have to, and please keep a very low profile." "Why are you doing this for me though?" "Many reasons. But right now, I feel responsible for everything that's happened to you. I owe you that much."[/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]So I decided that letting this story fade mercilessly into the twilight largely due to the busyness of everyone involved would be bad. And thus, strung out on mostly bad apple cider and a keg of sugar, I give you Homeworld Hell. Done Right. [center]~~~~~~~~~~[/center] [i]While Raiha's body might have cooled down from a temperature so high it had to be counted in Kelvins, the fire in her heart raged and roared and would not be tamed. Her eyes had almost returned to a normal shape and color, that is to say, opaque, but that was where her semblance of sanity ended. Her fingers were flexing and curling automatically, as if they still remembered being claws, and Vicky was standing near with a balled fist, ready to knock her across the floor if she snapped again. Given the current state of her body, it was a marvel she was still standing. Regardless of what you might have heard about Saiya-jin births, they were hardly a cakewalk, even for the more seasoned among their kind. For a half Siyanan, a race that regularly had women perish in childbirth due to a multitude of complications... ...it was a freaking miracle. When she spoke to the assembled, her voice was barely over a whisper, but for some reason nobody had any difficulty hearing the words slipping over her tongue.[/i] "...I'll kill anyone who stands against me." "And I will be there to fight with you." [i]Vicky clasped her hand briefly, steadying it from its constant twitching. Raiha's eyes flickered once more and returned to normal. But even as she spoke, only Neil and Will noticed that her mouth was full of fangs, not the normal teeth she usually showed when she talked. A feral mixture of fangs, incisors, and wickedly pointed molars, it was surprising she managed to speak coherently in the first place. Nobody contested the women. It was about as intelligent as making a rape joke in front of Neil's mother. Or stealing a Saiya-jin warrior's children. Oh yeah, someone was going to burn. For an eternity. On and on with new pain. Always.[/i] [b]Six Weeks Later[/b] [i]I watched as my mother began to cook dinner. I was perched on the stool in her kitchen, for the moment glad to be sitting. No matter what people had said about Saiya-jin births, they'd forgot to mention the Siyannan postpartum depression. My father assured me it would dissipate in time, but these days I'd was so wracked with sheer psychic suffering that managing a smile was nearly beyond me. But life goes on, even when it seems like it's standing still. And there was my husband, pacing in the living room. Tonight there's going to be a meeting between all of us. Everyone who was there that day. Why the delay? Why wait for the trail to go cold? Well there was no trail. Nothing. Zip. Nadda. And everyone had kept themselves busy repairing their starships for interstellar travel again. It'd been so long since they'd been necessary that everyone had quite simply neglected them. Vicky and Andrew spent most of their time in the shop with Neil and William in another. Connor had been spending a lot of time between worlds, using the dimensional shifting that only he could use, trawling for information. Tonight he was scheduled to come back. Maybe tonight he would have news. But everything seemed so heavy. My body had healed itself, but for some reason I felt irrational sadness blossoming inside me at every little thing. A wrong look, a mistake, a slip of the tongue, everything seemed to be conspiring against me. And it felt like nothing would ever be right again. That fire I'd felt, burning inside me, had gone out.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]In a rare moment of girlsh punk pop alternative gore, I find myself listening to Paramore's new album 'RIOT!' It's remarkably fun and it's a rare album that I can listen to from start to finish without repeatedly skipping certain songs. An example of an album song skipper is Korn's latest 'Untitled' album. I skip virtually everything after 'Hold On" until the last song, "Hushabye." No way to experience Korn, but that's what happens when you get so rich you don't have any real problems left to write songs about. Favorites of the moment by Paramore include "That's What You Get" and "Born For This." [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Well it seemed like a good idea at the time..... .......but now I realize I do it because watching pseudo debates in the Lounge is funny. Being an immortal sorceress RPGs is hilarious. And making fanboys eat from the palm of my hand is a riot. Of course on the other hand I like writing, and every now and then when given a good prompt, I produce something I can read without wincing. That and looking back, my writing's improved since I joined in what? 2001? Yeah. That's it. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Oh dear lord. The first amendment is so nice. So sweet. And all of the demented honking about how censorship is EVIL and a paving stone on the road to FASCISM is hilarious. See, I like my porn. I like to watch it without wondering if what I'm doing is illegal. Of course the laws that make pornography legal are stupid, but 'freedom of pleasure' was unfortunately not included in the Bill of Rights. But seriously. What's to stop governments from censoring the public? The second amendment. It's the reset button on the Constitution.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[quote name='SunfallE'][COLOR="RoyalBlue"][FONT="Lucida Sans Unicode"]Anyway, that being said... I'm back on track and shouldn't vanish for so long anytime soon. XP At least I hope not.[/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]You're forgiven dearie. But as to my personal problems here. I'm going to go home this Friday until December 27th, so my posting may be somewhat sporadic. But then again, this rpgs update schedule has been sporadic as hell. Whatever![/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]Di Ahn smiled sweetly at her newest guest and laughed delicately at his polite nothings while she deftly flicked her chopsticks back and forth across her rice bowl. She watched him with a playful expression on her face and shook her head to clear it in a clatter and patter of gold and silver beads. They framed her face, slithered down her cheeks and spilled down across her shoulders. Connor O'Griffy watched her every move surreptitiously. A less experienced courtier wouldn't have noticed, but nothing slipped past her. She poured him tea with a delicate dip of her wrist, her left hand holding up her sleeve carefully to avoid spilling. As she poured, the amber liquid splashing almost in slow motion, she spoke softly. So softly he had to strain to catch her words. [/i] "I notice also, that you don't recall your mother's side either." "Is that so?" "It is, but you have nothing to fear from me." [i]His height permitted him to look down at her carefully, with his featured arranged in a mask of calm. She looked up at him becomingly through her lashes, and smiled at him almost reassuringly. He would've had an easier time believing her if she hadn't also had a smirk of a wicked grin playing about her lips. The other guests nearby were still eating, chatting, making small talk. She noticed Dolan in an animated conversation with her Uncle, both gesturing wildly with teacups and chopsticks. Then her attention refocused on her mildly uncomfortable guest, and her smile slowly morphed into a simple purse of her lips.[/i] "After all, you're my guest regardless of who your parents were." "Should that reassure me, my lady?" "Always." [i]Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the food winding down. The fruit had already been passed around, and the wine as well. Some of the guests were standing and drifting towards the well lit courtyard. And the musicians were bringing out erhus, lutes, and flutes. The drummers had already been set up hours ago. She turned to her guest, who for some reason reminded her of another noble Irish family, and flashed him a girlish grin.[/i] "Dance with me." [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]I'm going home for the holidays as you might imagine, but unlike Shy, I have a laptop. Which I shall lug with all due dilligence etc etc with me to Northern California. Where I'll spend most of my time working and being miserable. Go me. On the plus side, I'll still be able to post and stuff, just don't expect Proust.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[RIGHT][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gadgetavatar.jpg[/IMG][/RIGHT] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]The explosion was so great, that it had separated Macey from her entourage as well as her father, and she came to reasonably quickly. In time, she realized that her experiment may very well die without her collecting him before evacuating. Struck by a pang of guilt, she rushed down the debris filled hall. She hiked up her skirts more than was decent, revealing work boots instead of the typical feminine shoes of the day. "Oh my poor treasure, please be alive!" With that prayer in mind, she yanked open the door once more and swooped down on her beloved experiment. Hovering somewhere between genuine human concern and scientific pride, she began to unlace his bindings.[/i] "My treasure, are you alright?" [i]Her creation looked confused, his eyes not focusing, until the last of the bindings fell away. Specimen 071 stood up unsteadily, and nearly fell over on legs that were somewhat atrophied. He looked up at her with eyes that focused very slowly and his words were slow and careful. Macey felt like shaking him to get him to speak faster, but restrained herself.[/i] "I feel a little funny. ....my legs aren't working right." "They'll come back to you. But right now we have to run." [i]He was about to ask her another question, when she quickly extended her cloak around him, drawing him close to her skirts until he was nearly obscured by them. She stepped into the hallway cautiously, and found the path to her office open. Half carrying, half dragging Specimen 071 behind her, she headed for her doors, where she knew there was a tunnel exit as well as some of her effects. Carefully, she unlocked the door, pulled it open, and found her office empty. Callisto hadn't broken in even though she'd certainly had half a chance. All of her current research lay bound up in one of her many journals, and she snatched it up before pulling aside a book shelf with surprising strength to reveal a smaller door with a staircase leading down. She turned to her treasure.[/i] "We're going to have to go further underground to escape. The main exists have been blocked by an explosion. Are you going to be able to keep up with me?" "....I think so." "Then hurry!" [i]Macey nearly shoved him down the stairs, and watched him slowly make it down with the aid of a railing, while she turned back, rearranged her office and locked the door from the inside. Then she hurtled herself down through after him, pulling the door shut behind her and locking it yet again. As she made her way down into the myriad of tunnels under the labs, she couldn't help but wonder if her father had made it out safely. Callisto could choke for all she cared.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Pisces: Secretive and vague Gift: The power to bring the recently dead back to life; perfect regeneration. Curse: Every time she heals, takes the wounds of her patients back upon her. [i]I shouldn’t have taken the shortcut with her, but Bless talked me into it anyway. I didn’t check to see if she was wearing her seatbelt. As we swerved around the corner, the semi met us head on. I remember the flare of bright lights. The unbearable brightness in my eyes, overloading my senses, and then the crushing pain as the airbags deployed. White light everywhere, covering me, staining me, piercing me through and through, again and again until the pain became just another sensation for me to block out. When I came back, I saw Bless. She’d been thrown from the car more than twenty feet. Her body was crushed, torn, virtually unrecognizable. She wasn’t moving. I couldn’t even hear myself screaming, but I know I was. I nearly collapsed on top of her. My hands couldn’t stop shaking even as I reached out to touch her skin. I grabbed her and tried to feel her pulse. I put my hand over her heart. I clung to her desperately, covered in her blood. As I held her, I felt my body numb, my left eye flicker with pain. That same white light from before came back and nearly crushed me once more. And then she was back. Bless opened her eyes and stared up at me. I held her and sobbed like a baby, covered in pain. My left eye wasn’t working, and my chest ached like fire where hers had met concrete. Whatever I had done, it hurt more than anything ever had before. In my mind's eye, the only place where my vision was perfect, I could see her body stretched out before me. With my thoughts, I'd reached for her and saved her. I'd done it by myself. Nobody else had helped me. No God. No Angel of Mercy. They'd sat this one out. I turned back and looked down at my only friend.[/i] “You brought me back from hell Eiyaga.” “Maybe I did.” [i]I considered her with my right eye only. My head burned with a thousand promises of pain to come. My heart pounded dully against aching ribs, and I sighed aloud. Bess looked over at the semi, the sound of the engine loud in our ears.[/i] “What about the trucker?” “...I’m going to let him die. For putting us through this.” [i]The police came. The ambulances. The fire trucks. The questions began, endless and ridiculous, but we stuck to our story. We lied. I lied for Bless and Bless lied for me. And my fatal wounds, the wounds of my friend healed themselves, but my left eye’s never come back. I've used my abilities countless times since then. Every time I find new pain. But every time, someone keeps on living. My name is Eiyaga Meya, and I hate you all.[/FONT][/COLOR][/i]

[COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Name: Lace McGoldrick Age: 25 Gender: Female Appearance: See attachment Role: Assassination; stealth killings. Where you came from: Ellie's Orphanage for Criminally Disturbed Children; Wyoming, U.S.A. Why are you here? Well nobody told ever told me it was wrong. What is your purpose? Vengeance; to find my once comrades that betrayed me and my partner. But before that, I was simply doing what I did best. I tried the whole 'real job' thing for awhile, but I failed miserably at it. Probably because I was so hot, all of my past bosses tried to force themselves on me to such a degree that it was classified assault. But who cares? I don't do that anymore. I just kill now. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[RIGHT][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/leonhartavatar.jpg[/IMG][/RIGHT] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]I woke up after the party, feeling moderately refreshed, if mildly sore from the unnatural position I'd slept in. For some reason I had woken up under a pile of pillows that weren't there before, and there was a twinge in my lower back. Maybe it was because after my dance with Vincent, a line of single young males from New Czenoble, sensing potential glamour and a chance to touch the famous me all clamored for dances of their own. Oh what's the point anyway. I stood and lumbered down the hall in a daze of mild headache and general ache when I stopped for a moment and stared at the mirror. A dull haze of flush spread across my cheeks and I slowly began to remember what was coming. Father. Labs. Specimen 071. Drat. Moving quickly now, I shed my nightgown and headed for the bathroom, my servant drawing a bath while I picked out an appropriate dress and a clean lab coat. Settling on a cream colored dress and a dove colored underdress, I bathed myself quickly, scrubbing away the scents from last night, replacing them all with the smells of roses and lavender. As I stepped out, Gennie, my virtual nurse, held out a thick white towel to wrap me in.[/i] "Was the party a pleasant experience for you?" "Oh don't pretend like you haven't heard it all from the others Gennie. It had its moments of both good and bad as you well know." [i]She smiled at me with a flash of wickedness while she helped dress me, her fingers flying as quickly as mine. I pounded down an apple by way of breakfast as Gennie twisted my hair up in an elaborate knot, fastening it carefully with the usual pins. I stepped across my own threshold, towards the general life of the family, dressed like the usual scientist, perhaps with just a slightly better hairstyle. My father waited for me at the bottom of the stairs, but fortunately I wasn't as late as I was fearing. Leonhart held out his arm to me after we'd slowly made our way to the docks where the family airship was berthed. I let him lead me up the stairs, as he maintained a stream of steady, bright conversation.[/i] "You did well at the party last night Macey dear." "And everyone thought you were wonderful. Was there much hero worship" "No more than the usual amount I should think." [i]I giggled behind an upraised hand. My father was so modest, at least when around me. I'm sure he had to play pompous businessman in front of others, but that didn't matter so much.[/i] "Today I have a bit of a marvel to show you Father." "Marvelous? Are you sure you're not exaggerating?" "I'm positive. I hope you really do like it though. I've worked on it now for months." "And you look as tired as Daedalus at the end of one of his massive projects." [i]A wry grin was the best I could manage there. I didn't think I was overworked. Not that I hadn't thrown myself into this project to escape unhappiness, but at the same time, I love my work. I always have. Perhaps I loved it more than I loved Vincent. As the airship took the skies, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. I hated flying.[/i][/FONT][/COLOR]

[RIGHT][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/daedalusavatar.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/vincentavatar.jpg[/IMG][/RIGHT] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"][i]Macey giggled like a schoolgirl and swept by Mr. Deacon as the dance drew to its close. He quickly and quietly slipped a hand under her sleeve to draw a finger across her lower back and then was gone, the movement missed by virtually everyone. Her spine contracted slightly, and then she relaxed when she realized that nobody had noticed. With a toss of her head, she returned her attention to her Uncle Daedalus and smiled prettily.[/i] "That wasn't so bad now, was it?" "Hardly dear niece. It's always good to see you having a good time." "Do I look like I am? I was under the impression everyone thought I was two steps away from suicide." "Perhaps earlier, but not now." [i]She shrugged her shoulders carelessly and turned and curtsied in the same movement as the waltz ended. Standing next to her Uncle, she clapped with the rest of the crowd, then turned and nearly tripped over Vincent's feet. He caught her hand and steadied her in an instant, giving her a reassuring smile. Heart racing, Macey smoothed down her skirt and breathed a sigh of relief.[/i] "I'm dreadfully sorry. I didn't see you there." "No harm done." [i]He gestured to her for one more dance, while she looked over her shoulder at Uncle Daedalus. The somewhat imposing man gazed at Vincent impartially, his expression closed and unreadable, then he gave Macey Ellen a brief smile and disappeared into the crowd with surprising ease. She turned and smiled at Vincent carefully, aware once more of everyone's attention drifting towards the pair of them. Deliberately, slowly, she let him take her hand and lead her into the position for the next dance. He placed his left hand just above her waist and she placed hers at his shoulder. Once the music began, she found it easier to ignore their audience. Vincent spoke, keeping his voice low enough to carry only to her.[/i] "I was thinking your Uncle might refuse to let you dance with me." "Doubtful, he's a big softie underneath it all." "If you say so Macey." "I do in fact." [i]He turned her carefully around him, as she lifted the hem of her skirt so it fluttered properly at the next phrase of music. Her sister was there as well, dancing with a somewhat more relaxed looking Alexander. Halfway through Eva waved to Macey enthusiastically and her twin smirked back. Attention back on Vincent, she allowed him to lead her through the steps flawlessly.[/i] "I take it you and Beatrice have been keeping up with your practices." "Every day we can. It's a pleasant distraction." [i]Vincent dipped her lightly back and then swung her back around to stand quite close to him, so close that she could feel the heat of his body against hers. With a nearly imperceptible shake of her head, she banished the sensation that came from that and paid attention to him once more. As the dance wound down to its close, she turned and the pair ended it perfectly. As he bowed her a good evening, she curtsied back and he smiled at her with a hint of amusement.[/i] "I do hope we can do this again some time." "It would be my pleasure."[/FONT][/COLOR]

[spoiler][COLOR="black"][FONT="Tahoma"]At the end of Kite when Sawa's love interest is shot. She stays at home with their cats crawling over her, begging for food. But she tells them to be patient, even though her boyfriend was just shot dead on the street, while on his errand to bring cat food home. She waits and waits, but he never comes.[/FONT][/COLOR][/spoiler]

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Sounds fun, it's a shame the only thing I'm worse at that ballroom dancing is actually writing it. Heh. :animeswea[/SIZE][/QUOTE] [COLOR="DarkOrchid"][FONT="Times New Roman"]Oh tush. Just be sure to note that your character is quite clumsy and turn it into a little lesson with Macey as the teacher. Or something.[/FONT][/COLOR]