Sere Tuscumbia

Cheating schools . . . tradition. Hmph. Dad says I sing flat, but considering that Mrs. Cowan asked me last year when we had to sing for finals if I had ever considered a voice teacher, I don't think I'm [I]that[/I] bad. However, even though I love to sing, I'm quitting choir. One girl in the choir already has a demo track out, and it's gone to her head. Can't stand the fact that because she sucks up to the teacher, she's the "golden child", when other people *cough* [I]me[/I] *cough* work our butts off to be the best. I hate singing in front of other people. Always want me to go on, when I'm already sick and tired of singing . . . :grumble: Sing best (and loudest) when I'm alone.

[I]Elysian gently slid onto a bar stool with the grace of a cat, and traced patterns on the rough wood.[/I] "Pretty little maids all in a row," [I]each place she touched, a small replica of several different young women rose up, and stood perfectly still.[/I] "Tip one over, and they all fall like Dominoes . . ." [I]She tapped one with her index finger, and each small figurine fell over, eventually lying prostrate on the counter.[/I] "Night night." [I]She blew, and they all dissipated into dust. The bartender came out of the back, wiping his hands on a towel. He was one of those short, pudgy men who everyone liked. Also, there was the small fact that he was vampiric . . .[/I] "Same as last century, Sian?" [I]Elysian licked her fingers, and grinned at the bartender.[/I] "Let's play with a different card today, shall we? I took a walk tonight, and the moon started whispering dreadful things in my ear . . ." "Really eh?" "Pss, pss, pss . . . you can't tell. Seven will die tonight, and no one will know . . . pss, pss, pss . . ." [I]She giggled insanely.[/I] "The moon loves whispering blasphemies in my ear . . . only for me. Shhhhh." [I]With that said, she picked herself up from the bar stool, and on her way out, kicked the local drunkard of the tavern in the head with her high heels for reaching where he wasn't supposed to.[/I] "No tea for Mr. Samuel tonight . . ." [I]She left him bleeding profusely. Once out on the street, she looked around, her pupils adjusting to the moonlight. Arcane symbols drawn in the air, and then Elysion sighed happily. A tallish, sober man walked past Elysion, and he smiled, linking eyes with her. Elysion giggled, and motioned with a manicured finger for him to follow her. Hypnotism was great somedays . . . The man slumped down the wall, his mouth hanging open, and his eyes wide in the raptured ecstasy of pain. She left him behind in the dinky hotel room. She'd had her moment of fun, it was all she needed. Ms. Edith would be left with the spoils . . . a few more arcane symbols, and Elysion headed out to find a few vampire playmates.[/I]

Huh? "i just can revieve them i can sent just can get them" -->English please? I get the main gist of what you're talking about, but, huh?

Ow . . . ow . . . can't breathe . . . that's wonderful. I love it. My favorites are the potato (no, it's potato[I]e[/I]), the pen, the Krispies, and the hamster. God that's funny. When I get a roommate (IF I get a roommate), I am SO trying one of those out . . . ^_~ ~!*Sere*!~

Erm. CSI: Vegas, or CSI: Miami? Because I love Vegas, and absolutely can't STAND Miami . . . the main reason I love Vegas, is you can't figure out what really happened until the very end. And then there are the ones where you think you know who did it and why, and then they turn it around in one little piece of evidence . . . Yeah, CSI is the best . . . but too bad Grissom's losing his hearing . . . I'm horrible at reading lips, so any conversations that go on (like that one episode . . . dangit, can't remember what it was about!) between deaf people I can't understand what they're saying . . . :grumble: ~!*Sere & Co.*!~ *edit* small grammar error. It's Crime Scene Investigat[I]ions[/I] instead of Crime Scene Investigat[I]ors[/I]. :bluesweat

Singing. Love it. Hate the kids and my choir teacher, but I love to sing. Except we're a dinky little Tulsan choir, so we never go anywhere . . . >>;; 1st Soprano here . . . and in case you don't know, 1st Soprano is the highest part. I proud myself on being able to belt out those High A's . . . solos? Nope. Obviously I'm not the "golden child" of the choir, so solos pass me by. Last year the best thing was a duet, and I was harmony. Joy to the world. Well, ok, I [I]did[/I] get to sing the part solo for the contest, and won an award for it but still . . . And musical? Uh uh, no way. Get me up on a stage, or in front of a camera, and I stand like a deer caught in headlights. Not fun. Still working on that though . . . ^^;; And of course, there's always the wailing to Michelle Branch and other artists (right now, it's the New Wave music . . . don't ask.) ~!*Sere & Co.*!~

OOC: Ummies . . . Alpha-chan? What curse? Alpha doesn't need a curse . . . I know I forgot to mention it to you though . . . PM me if you need the details. And another error (boo-boo on my part again, I know) Alpha knew about the "operation" and had been there at least the first few minutes . . . remind me to inform ya?ll whenever I get bored and think up this stuff . . . *~*~~`` [I]Well, that was just lovely. A Colosseum. How appropriate. Once again, the hybrid was in front of her, and Saethi was . . . well [/I]somewhere[I]. Somewhere close, because Summer could hear his loud outbursts of frustration. She lifted the sword, the same as before, and pointed it in the hybrid Saethi's direction. He lifted his hands, a heartless smile on his lips, and a malicious twinkle in his eye. A mace and a large shield.[/I] "Sh*t. I hate you, you know that?" "I know." [I]Summer lept into action, one hand on the hilt of her sword, and the other resting on the back end. The hybrid fell for her guise, and swung the mace in the direction of her head. Summer countered, thrusting the sword into the ground, and smiling grimly when the shock ran up her arm and made her teeth rattle. Next the shield came flying at her. Ooo, spikes, not cool. Summer flipped up, and tapped the shield with one of her feet before flipping off again. Landing, she slipped the dagger from her boot, and thrust it into Saethi?s back. He stumbled, and went down on one knee. He rested his hand on the ground . . . . . . and went through it.[/I] "Dammit!" [I]Summer yelled when the lights flickered again. Summer looked around wildly in the blackness for the hybrid, and didn't notice when the large club collided with her head. She was falling, she knew that. How long did it take for her to fall? Yeah, she'd had books, chairs, desks, and even the head of an angel statue give her a little love tap, but [/I]nothing[I] hurt like this did . . . She woke up with the hybrid Saethi gripping onto the front of her shirt.[/I] "Didn't make it eh, Slayer? Too bad for you, eh?" [I]Summer looked around blearily for a moment, and then smiled in Saethi's direction. Tipping an imaginary hat, she yelled the three most dangerous words anyone could ever say in their lifetime . . . And it happened. She was dying . . . what a funny word: dying . . . the numbness of the situation wore off, and then Summer screamed. It hurt. A lot. Oh God in heaven it hurt . . .[/I] Blackness. Not angry, but calm, gentle. She was floating there, resting peacefully. That's what being dead was like . . . she didn't mind it that much. She'd been a good Slayer, maybe there'd be a Slayer heaven, where she, Summer Elizabeth St.Claire would be a normal girl, living a normal, slay-free life, and have normal friends . . . "You're pathetic. You're not even [I]supposed[/I] to be dead! What are you [I]doing[/I] here?! People [I]need[/I] you, you know." Summer's eyes snapped open at the cranky voice's appearance. Being dead wasn't all it was cracked up to be after all . . . "Who are you?" "One of your little birdie's friends sent to kick your bony butt back where it came from." "Fun." *~*~~`` And my postie comes before Liam's BTW.

I'm all alone . . . there's only about 3 originals . . . T-T;; However, all but one or two (Erm, I'll have to go back and see who exactly [I]posted[/I]) people are still in the RPGing business that were in the original . . . >>;; And why not get it started and see if people notice it then?

Yay, finally there's a RPG where my character [I]is[/I] a vampire, instead where my character is [I]killing[/I] vampires. Name: Elysian Hayao Age: 240 Appearance: Pale, with raven hair of uneven lengths, some curled, some straight, and metallic blue streaks running down. Emerald eyes, and a maroon top with a black skirt that has slits up to her hips, and shorts underneath. Personality: A watcher, Elysian doesn't talk unless she knows one is to be trusted. The rumour's that she's insane are most likely true, but her insanity gives way to premonitions, and other various supernatural gifts. Dark Gifts: Frenzy- drives recipient insane, and they kill any being in sight. Shift- combination of teleporation, and shape-shifting. Weapons: A blessed (cursed) sword from Ireland, and a quiver full of arrows w/ a longbow. She is on Sarafan's side. (somewhat unwillingly)

I play the piano. Say I don't, because I have some really stupid friends who can't even play two hands together, and I'm sick and tired of dealing with them, but yeah, I play the piano. Bordering on five years now. Great way of annoying my sister when she tries to sleep . . .

Jus' to show some support for a friend. ^_~ Name: Katanga Selwyn Race: Techno mage Age: older than she can count on her fingers and toes Weapons: (main)staff, a dagger, and matching sword Spells: Soul's Terror, Heart's Blood, Soul's Frenzy, Heart?s Ache Description:

OOC: The fact that Mum is asleep, and Dad's hidden the pictures has driven me to boredom, I'm posting. And dammit Liam, you're gettin' good! Whee, on w/ the story then. *~*~~`` [I]That was [/I]it[I]. She had [/I]already[I] had a bad enough time. She glanced over at Saethi, who was standing and staring in somewhat of a shock. Summer wasn't surprised. The hybrid Saethi laughed, a noise that grated against Summer's nerves. [/I]"So you really think that 'cha'll beat me?"[I] Summer bounced on her heels, and smiled, the perfect image of icy calm. [/I]"You know what? I'm having a bad day. A bad [I]week[/I] for that matter. I don't think that [I]anything[/I] will make me feel more better than kicking your ***. 'Cause you may walk the walk, and talk the talk, but you're [I]not[/I] Saethi, and that'll make me feel even better."[I] She ran her tongue over her lips and smiled again. The hybrid Saethi smiled in response, revealing incisors that were all too vampiric.[/I] "I remember you said that ta blood of a Slayer was addictive. Care to test that ta theory?" "Let's do this." [I]And before anyone could say a word, Summer took off, a chilly look in her eyes, and the same look reflected in her smile. True, the hybrid was fast, but Summer was faster. Using his shoulder as leverage, Summer grabbed the hybrid, and flipped, landing to kick up at the back of his neck. The attack went smoothly, until an image of Juniper's dead body tumbling to the ground after an attack similiar to that one flashed in Summer's head. She tried to move, but the bloody images just kept coming, fresher with each scene.[/I] "So," [I]she growled, her legs wavering as she took a step,[/I] "you find that I [I]can[/I] kick your ***, and you don't like it, so you play mind games with me. Fine then. You wanna play rough, I'll play rough." [I]And so she took a step, and one step more, until she was in a full run at the demon in front of her. She lept . . . . . . and the scenery changed. A junkyard, filled with piles upon piles of cars. How lovely. Summer ran up the boot of the car, despite Saethi's enraged protests, and dove to the ground, rolling to pop up on her feet, a battle stance ready. The hybrid was at attention also. Swing, feint, parry, feint, feint, swing, miss, swing, hit! The hybrid hit the ground, only to sweep Summer's legs out from under her. [/I]Some days this job sucks, [I]she thought, as her back (and the rest of her) thudded into the ground, knocking the breath out of her, and forcing black spots to dance across her eyes. She rolled, as a vicious looking sword came whistling past her head by a few inches. She responded in full, rolling onto her feet and pulling the sword from its sheath on her back. As she looked around for Saethi [/I](A/N: both of them I might add)[I]the lights flickered, dimmed . . . Well, that was just lovely. *~*~~ Not all of it. Editing will come later.

Father . . . Catholic school? Wow. Fun. Since I just consider meself a plain Christian, then, yeah, I can see where doodling might come in. (Pre-AP) History is my doodling hour . . . Silencing the class? Geez.

It's . . . interesting. -->Don't worry, standard reply. I would use fascinating on you, but I just don't feel like it yet. Do you really get [I]that[/I] bored? . . . take that as a compliment. ~!*Sere & Co.*!~

Aahh, our poor obsessed Ginny-chan. They're all good, and you shouldn't be talkin' about lame girl, those are REALLY good! :rolleyes: Who you gonna be obsessin' 'bout next, Ginny? ~!*Sere & Co.*!~

OOC: Heck yeah it's well done! I've had, what? A month or so to work on it? Can you [I]imagine[/I] how many revisions I've made? *singsong* Sunday?s my birthday! *~*~~`` [I]Summer walked out of the room she was given, weary and shell-shocked. The questions had come, from Ms. Havershire. From Lonergan. From Alpha. From Tasya. From Michela. Summer had told them all she could remember of those five years in her cell, and ignored the stares when she revealed the circumstances of Juniper's death. The worst was the young Slayer, Allenii's, outburst of rage and despair as she fled the room when Summer described how Juniper died. A voice came crackling loudly through the headset that Alpha had fitted for her after the conference, interrupting her thoughts.[/I] "Yo, Summer!" [I]Summer winced and cranked the volume down.[/I] "What?" "Girl, you'd better get yo' azz down to Saethi's room right this minute!" [I]Summer took off, her shoes pounding against the white, squeaky-clean tiles below her.[/I] "What's wrong?! And what's with the volume cranked all the way up? Are you aiming for a deaf Slayer or something?!" "Sorry," [I]Michela's voice came crackling sheepishly through,[/I] "the person who owned the headset before you liked to listen to rock with the volume all the way up when he wasn't workin'. Forgot about that." "[I]Owned[/I]? Do I really wanna know?" [I]Summer skidded around a corner, and wrenched the stair doors open. 1 flight. 2 flights. 3 flights. 4 flights.[/I] "He was lost to Saethi in the last squad. We had thought we had him, but that damn Rhea woman--sorry Summer--pulled the slip on us right when we had reached him. It was a massacre. The man who owned the headset was the last to go . . . good man 'e was." [I]5 flights. God, how tall was this building?! 6 flights . . . first floor! Summer pushed the door open and slid around another corner.[/I] "Hey, sorry Michela. Didn't mean to bring back bad memories." "Yo! No need for headsets now, girl!" [I]As Summer slid around the last corner, Michela waved her arms frantically.[/I] "You made it in under five minutes! New record!" "Slid down the banisters. Learned it from a friend in high school. Real useful." "Girl, you made it jus' in time! We need some of that Slayer strength you got there." "What?" [I]Michela pointed to the large window that lead to Saethi's room.[/I] "Yo' boyfriend there is havin' a little [I]problem[/I]." [I]Summer felt herself flush in anger, but managed to hiss through her teeth,[/I] "He's [I]not[/I] my boyfriend!" [I]before turning to face the window. She drew in a sharp breath.[/I] "Is he . . ?" "Dead? No," [I]Alpha said as she walked up behind Michela and Summer.[/I] "But it [I]does[/I] look like . . ." "He's dreaming." [I]Summer gasped.[/I] "Not entirely," [I]Tasya countered, joining the group in front of the window.[/I] "It seems that he's actually [I]retreated[/I] into his subconscious. That means--" "That he'll die unless he comes back within a certain amount of time." [I]Michela grimaced.[/I] "Your body still goes on, but you have no soul. That was one of the favorites of Anyanka's." [I]Summer noticed a small twitch developing in Saethi's right hand.[/I] "Isn't there any way we can help him?" "Well," [I]Tasya noticed the tremor, and moved to a drawer situated near the center of the data banks,[/I] "there [I]is[/I] one thing that we can do, but it's extremely tricky. We'd have to make sure just what's going on in his head first. We wouldn't want to stumble into one of the mind's booby-traps." [I]Summer turned her attention away from Tasya to focus back on Saethi. A grimace of pain briefly crossed his face, but then everything was calm again. Well, everything except that damned tremor . . . which was getting bigger . . .[/I] "Tasya? Tasya?!" "Damn! That's the bloody third one in a bloody hour! Quick,"[I] she threw a gas mask in Summer's direction,[/I] "put this on, and follow me!" [I]Summer caught the mask with ease, and quickly strapped it around her head. Once on, she was aware of her own breathing, quickened by adreniline rushing into her system. She slipped through the door after Tasya, and immediately wrapped her arms around Saethi's shoulders, not letting go until the convulsions subsided.[/I] "I think it's time you find out what's goin' on in this guy's head, Tasya." [I]Tasya pulled off her gas mask, and motioned for Summer to do the same.[/I] "I've secured a small pocket of air around each of us so we can talk freely. Communication is the key when you're doing a spell." "What about it Tasya? Ready to get down to the bottom of this?" [I]Tasya nodded.[/I] "You might want to stand behind me for this. It's a complicated spell, and I don't know if it'll work or not." [I]Tasya closed her eyes, raised her hands, and recited a strange, anicent language that Summer didn't recognize. She opened her eyes, and smiled at Summer, and something caught in Summer's mind: that look, that smile was very familiar . . . and then Tasya's eyes went wide, blank. She swayed for a moment, her arms falling to her side, and then Summer caught her as she fell to her knees.[/I] "Well,"[I]she gasped, as she leaned on Summer for support as she was getting up,[/I] "his situation was more dire than I thought. We might have to go through with our Plan B after all." "Plan B?" [I]Summer inquired as she lead Tasya out of the room.[/I] "I assume you mean the tricky thing you were talking about earlier?" [I]Tasya nodded, and, once outside the door, stooped over to regain her breath.[/I] "But it will require your help, Summer. Someone close to him can only do this, and you're as close as we're going to get." [I]Summer nodded, and looked back to where Saethi was laying.[/I] "First, can we get him someplace more comfortable . . . and clean? [I]I[/I] sure wouldn't want to wake up in [I]that[/I] hellhole." *** [I]Summer tentively knocked on the door that lead to the room Saethi was in. The doorhandle slowly squeaked downward, and Michela, smiling broadly, escorted her inside.[/I] "Good to have ya, Slayer. Ready?" "When you are." "Ok. All you need to do is link hands with Saethi, and make sure you're ready before you signal to us, ok?" "Kay." "Go get 'em, girl." [I]Summer walked through the door, and over to where Saethi was resting. On an impulse, she hovered a hand over Saethi's head, and said a long known, but severely underused, prayer for him. Then she leaned down, and gently kissed him.[/I] "Don't let me lose you again," [I]she whispered, then linked her fingers with his, and sat down on the bed next to him.[/I] "Work that voodoo that you do, Tasya." [I]A small smile from behind the glass, and when Summer closed her eyes and leaned back against the wall . . .[/I] Blackness. A swirling, shrieking torrent of blackness. Much like the river of her dream, but only angry, boiling over. Summer-at-sixteen pushes her stray bangs from her face, and then looks around. The frothing, seething mass around her moves, but she doesn't move with it. She is anchored again, and she feels a pushing, instead of a tugging. A spotlight is shone from somewhere, and from the light someone appears, someone who Summer recognizes immediately. Her voice was lost to the shrieking, but she runs toward him . . . . . . and right through him. [I]"Saethi? Saethi?"[/I] He looks up at her, and a strange mix of emotions run across his face. [I]"How'd you . . ? Why're you . . ?" "No time! Obviously, from what Tasya's told me, you're willing me here. You pretty much control this! Now, we've got to solve your problem, or we're [/I]both[I] going to die!" "[/I]That's[I] my problem."[/I] He points over Summer's shoulder, and she swivels around. Two more lights are shone, but they almost seem like tears in the fabric of space. The two evils emerge, and start heading in their direction. [I]"Not cool."[/I] *~*~~``

You want quotes? Heheheheheh . . . I have quotes. I have a book [I]full[/I] of quotes . . . but I'll be nice and just get some of my favorites! ^_^ "I'd get mad at the bucket, and then it would fly up in the air. When it landed, I would walk over to it. And pop, there it would go again. The process went on and on until I lost the bucket. I told myself if I didn't get mad, I wouldn't lose the bucket. I lost a lot of buckets." ~one of my characters in a story of mine. "It's a big rock. I can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big." ~Spike "[I]Fun[/I]?! Are you missin' part o' your [I]brain[/I]?!" ~Our wonderful Tom Felton in The Borrowers. *~*~~`` Jus' a sample of my extreme weirdness. ~!*Sere*!~

OOC: [I]Miss[/I] Tuscumbia?! What [I]crack[/I] have [I]you[/I] been smokin'?! Wait, I dun wanna know . . . *~*~~`` [SIZE=1]In her dream there are two of her. Summer-at-sixteen seems to float in a current of darkness that rustles her hair and clothes, pushes against her. She can feel it dragging against her from behind as well, particularly at the base of her skull, as though some unseen hook has violated her flesh at the peak of her spine. It tugs on her, but the flesh and bone are uncomfortably numb. Amid the darkness that sweeps by her there is a bright core, a deep purple vein that surges with electricity and menace. Now that she has noticed it, she can see that it disappears into the distance ahead of her and behind, weaving in serpentine fashion and yet following the same path as this river of darkness that pulls at her. A chilly certainty shudders through her and Summer traces the purple vein with her gaze, following it until she realizes that it runs right up to her chest. Suddenly it is warm there, where the energy enters her, and she feels stronger, more aware. She suspects that this bruise-colored cable runs through, entering her chest and exiting at the top of her spine. [I]This. This is what's pulling me,[/I] she thinks. Yet something holds her in place, floating there. Something has anchored her here. Summer-at-sixteen glances downward. A kind of spotlight is shone in this dark place, and she sees Spartan living quarters, a hard bed, a rough blanket. Upon the bed, Summer-at-twenty-two rests uneasily, dreaming, twisting beneath the blanket. Her features are beautiful, but hard-edged like diamonds, a perfect war-goddess only for one strong enough to take her. [I]Me,[/I] she thinks. [I]That's me. Or it will be. No. No, it [/I]is[I] me, it shouldn't be, but it is.[/I] Summer-at-sixteen blinks, and then truly sees. The purple vein snakes back from her, back through the darkness, where it attaches to Summer-at-twenty-two, like some monstrous umbilical cord. And she knows what it is. [I]This is the power,[/I] she thinks. [I]From the First Slayer to the last, this is the power of the Chosen One.[/I] And on the heels of that thought, another. [I]Why is it so dark? . . . Summer's eyes snapped open, and she kicked the covers away, the sun shining through the window, casting a distorted square of warmth and light across her legs. It was too warm, and she pulled her legs up in front of her, curling into an almost fetal position. The sun felt wrong; too good; too healthy; too rich with heat and light. It was though the sun was unnatural; a hesitation between stretches of night. A gasp of brightness before the dark came again. Tasya had filled her in on recent events, but had carefully avoided several subjects. For instance, no information on what had really happened to Rhea, purposely changing the subject at least twice when Summer brought it up. Something had managed to shove Summer's sixteen year old body six years into the future, so she now existed in her twenty-two year old body. Twin spirits, one younger, one older thrived within her. Although she thought this was only temporary, she had learned to grow accustomed to it, just in case she never got back. . . . Which made her mind wander to the subject of Saethi. How he got to the future, and what he was here for. Summer shook her head, and pushed those thoughts to a secluded place in her mind. All she needed now was to cure him, and fast. All of these thoughts weighed heavily on Summer's mind as she rose from her bed. The small room they had given her had a full bathroom, and even though she had showered before going to bed, she showered again. The grime of five long years in captivity and her recent battles didn't wash off easily, and Summer assumed that it would take a many long showers to wash it all off. In the closet, she found some clothes that must have been brought in while she was sleeping. Upon first glance, nothing fit, but that wasn't unusual. It wasn't like they had much time to prepare for her arrival. She finally found some clothes that fit. True, the jeans were a little big, and the shirt a little small, but she found a navy hooded sweatshirt to top it all off. In the stale and sterile-smelling room, Summer bounced on her toes and spent a few minutes stretching. With a leap, she balanced on the metal frame of the bed, crouched with her arms out. Then she went into a perfect backwards somersault, and swept through a series of shadow-boxing jabs and kicks that shook her blood flowing. Summer took one last glance around the small room they had given her. It was a significant improvement to the larger cell she had lived in for the past five years. The window, with light shining all the way through, made most of the difference. More than that though, was the simple fact that she could open the door and walk out. Curious and almost trembling with the desire to take action, Summer went out into the corridor. Whatever this installation was where the Council had set up its task force -- if that was what they were -- was cold and featureless, almost military. Summer shivered, and started walking. On impulse, she started off to the left. She passed an open door and saw a thirtyish guy doing pull-ups on a bar inside the room. When he spotted her walking past, he lost his focus and let go of the bar. Several others passed her as she wandered, all of them stopping and staring, like they had never seen a woman before in their life. For some of them, it might have been true. On another impulse, she turned right, and started down, the hood up, hands tucked into her pockets, trying to look as inconspicuous at possible. She walked past a small door on her left, and it opened the moment she stepped past it. The woman they called Michela exited, and turned to walk the same direction as Summer. She was wearing droopy denim jeans, and a green cotton V-necked shirt that hung loosely from her figure. She walked past Summer, but then stopped, sniffed the air, and turned to look at Summer sharply. Her features softened when she saw her.[/I] "Summer! Hey!" [I]Summer managed a small smile.[/I] "Hey." [I]For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence between the half a dozen feet that stretched from Summer to Michela, but then Michela's face brightened.[/I] "Hey, need the ten-cent tour? I, your lovely tour guide Michela, will escort you throughout the building, pointing out several important places, and labeling everyone's rooms along the way. By the way, there's a debriefing conference twenty minutes from now. Your tour guide will escort you there when the tour is over." [I]Summer knew Michela dropped that too casually for it to be accidental. She tapped Summer's arm, and for twenty minutes they walked the halls, Michela pointing out several rooms like "library" and "training area". Summer enjoyed Michela's company, and they chattered about several things, how Summer had met Michela, how the Institute worked, so on and so forth. Summer didn?t have a clock, she never carried one because they always got broken one way or another, but she could guess when twenty minutes were up. Michela was getting jittery, but seemed to slow her steps at the same time. It was like watching an ADHD child go to the dentist?s office. They stopped at a discreet door. It wasn?t very noticeable at first; just another door in a long hallway of doors. But when someone started to look at it, it was much different than the rest. Mainly was the fact that it had a medium-sized carving on the door. Summer couldn?t describe it, and Michela didn?t even notice it. She pushed open the door, and Summer couldn?t imagine how many people managed to fit inside such a teeny room. Perhaps by the usage of magic, but Summer didn't bother to think about that. She already had enough things on her mind, and[/I] this[I] made her head hurt. Though the room had clearly been intended for smaller numbers, there were at least twenty people standing around a long wooden table. Nine others were seated around the table, at the far end of which there was one vacant seat. Summer glanced back at Michela, who just nodded for her to proceed. Obviously she wasn't going to be sitting. Summer looked around nervously for a moment, her twenty-two year old self remembering the "good 'ole days" when school still existed in her town, standing in a new cafeteria among whispers of people she didn't know. She had always hated school. With a vengence, and this wasn't any different. Well, ok, it[/I] was[I] different, but Summer shrugged the memories off. Burning down the school library and surviving death for five years was something she didn't need to muse about at the present moment. Slowly, she turned her attention to the people sitting 'round the table. At the head of the farthest end of the table was someone Summer knew well, and her breath caught in her throat. Alpha sat, her hands clasped in front of her, a small smile playing on her lips, and that same smile, only brighter, echoing in her eyes. A business suit nicely complemented her crisp, clean-cut look, and made her look several years older. Then again, she didn't really[/I] need[I] to be any older . . . Summer looked over to Alpha's left: empty chair. Hers, she supposed. Slowly, she looked to Alpha's right. Tasya sat there, and nodded at the chair right across from her. Summer ignored her. Next to Tasya was a sixtyish woman with her hair in a tight bun at the back of her neck and her hands folded primly on the table in front of her. Next to this woman was a large man in paramilitary garb whose nose had clearly been broken several times. It was flattened and skewed to one side. He had the look of an old-time boxer, but what surprised Summer were this man's hands, which were resting flat on the table in front of him. They were large, cruel. She couldn't remember seeing anyone with such hands. The biggest surprise however, was the girl sitting across from the man with the pugilistic features and one seat down. A small Asian girl with blue tinted hair pulled back in barrettes. No more than fifteen. The girl met Summer's gaze, and some sort of primal recognition passed between them.[/I] The Slayer, [I]Summer thought.[/I] The one replacing Juniper . . . "Well, Miss St.Claire, might you have a seat so we can start, or rather, conclude this meeting?" [I]The serene look on the prim woman's face frustrated the hell out of Summer.[/I] "Miss St.Claire, my name is Helen Havershire, and I am the director of the Council operations in the area of London. To my left is Christopher Lonergan," [I]she motioned to the man with the broken nose,[/I] "operative from America and my chief of staff and tactician. To your left, the current Slayer, Allenii Kuvi." [I]Summer's brow furrowed deeply as she frowned.[/I] "Oh, my apologies," [I]Ms. Havershire said, almost amused with her slip.[/I] "I meant other than you, of course." [I]Summer wanted to punch the lady, head of operations she was or not.[/I] "I'm sure you are familiar with most of the other occupants. We have a great many questions for you, so if--" "You do, huh?" [I]Summer asked, a bit incredulous.[/I] "Summer--" [I]Alpha warned.[/I] "'Cause, gotta say, I have a batch of questions right outta the oven for you too." [I]She walked over to the table, looked at the chair, ignored it, and sat down on the edge of the table.[/I] "I've been in a vampire-surrounded cell for five years. Not that I appreciate the assist, but before you debrief me, I think at least you owe me answers to some of my questions." [I]Ms. Havershire's face took on a sour expression. Then, to Summer's surprise, she fidgeted, and glanced over at Alpha, as if asking permission.[/I] "What about it Alpha?" [I]Summer prodded.[/I] [I]Alpha nodded, but wasn't smiling.[/I] "Whatever makes you the most comfortable." "Fine then. Why didn't you guys tell me straight out that Rhea died?" "How did you know?" [I]Tasya asked, the witch's face softening for one moment.[/I] "Call it a woman's intuition." [I]As Ms. Havershire opened her mouth, Summer continued,[/I] "I want details. Why, how, when." [I]She looked pointedly in Havershire's direction.[/I] "You know that Rhea was captured by the vampires. They struck a deal with the Watcher's Council: Slayer's blood for the Watcher's life. We complied for at least a ye--" "You sick b*stards!" [I]Summer slammed her hand on the table and stood up, furious.[/I] "You . . . you [I]wankers[/I]! Killing off [I]innocent[/I] girls when you could have just gone in and [I]rescued[/I] Rhea?! You disgust me!" [I]Havershire's sour expression deepened, but she continued.[/I] "We secured a worthy Watcher, and when the time came, our conference with the vampires was excuted. We no longer needed Rhea, and told the vampires that. They were furious, and drained Rhea. It was unknown at the time if she was turned or not." "Later,"[I]Alpha spoke up,[/I] "through the use of a vampiric spy, we were able to confirm . . ." "That Rhea was a vampire," [I]Summer concluded for Alpha.[/I] "Right then. What about Saethi?" "Which one?" [I]Michela spoke up, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice.[/I] "Present's." "After Rhea gained power, she fully sired Saethi, destroying whatever humanity he had left, and driving him criminally insane. He is only calm around Rhea, and a powerful asset to her." [I]Michela moved up closer to the table after she was done.[/I] "Ok. How's the Saethi in containment doing?" [I]Summer sat down on the table, her temper calmed for the moment.[/I] "Well," [I]Alpha spoke,[/I] "he's unable to do any damage. We have a sedation drug being pumped into the room. With Tasya's help, we were able to give it a little boost, and he's been resting peacefully. Seems that even the genetic mutations within him can't resist the drug." "Perfect. I wanna try again." [I]Tasya stood, her mouth hanging open, but she closed it quickly.[/I] "W . . . [I]what[/I]?! Have five years in containment rotted your [I]brain[/I]?! After what happened [I]last[/I] time, there's no telling what he'll do now!" [I]Summer slid off the table, and turned to face Tasya.[/I] "You said that he was sedated, no? And no signs of mutation, yes? [I]That means there's still human in him.[/I] We can get him back. [I]I[/I] can get him back. If we wake him up, there's a slim chance that the human side will still be dominant." "And why do you think this is going to work?" [I]Tasya inquired, raising one eyebrow.[/I] "Let's just say a little birdie who smokes told me. Kicking his *ss doesn't work, so I'm going to take my little blue birdie's advice and show him what humanity means. If I have to talk, I'll talk. I'm not going to lose another innocent soul to this . . . " [I]She gestured to the world around her.[/I] "This . . . monstrosity." "Miss St.Claire, I would advise you not go through with this--" "But you know I'm not gonna listen to you," [I]Summer finished for Ms. Havershire.[/I] "Right. Now, if you are done, then will you and Ms. O'Shannagian please sit down. I, as would the others, would like to ask you some questions. Please." [I]Summer sat in the chair provided for her, and laid her hands on the table. Looking around, she said,[/I] "Sure. Bring 'em on."[/SIZE] *~*~~`` And finally it's done. ^^;; Long too.

1. To the whole world in general: What in the [I]hell[/I] am I doing here?! 2. To my friends: Why do you put up with me day by day? 3. Another world in general: Does anyone even [I]like[/I] me?! I have more, deeper ones, but you [I]so[/I] do [I]not[/I] wanna know what goes on in my head. But one (two) more: What's with guys and sex, and do they like girls for the appearances or the brains? ~!*Sere & Co.*!~

1. What is honor? Well, ok. Honor-n. 1. good name or public esteem. 2. an evidence or symbol of distinction. 3. a gesture of deference. 4. chastity, purity. So on and so forth. Honor's a lot of things. 2. How strongly do you beleive in honor? Can't say. Haven't done very many good things in my life . . . if that is what honor is. 3. Would you rather die in honor, or live with out it? Die in honor. Pull a leaf from Bonzo's book and don't let anyone give you crap. You gonna fight, you gonna fight alone, and you gonna fight fair. Honor's the best way to go.

Three words: I. Hate. You. And after some happy little editing, I'm actually [I]changing[/I] my character's description and adding a piccie. So sue me, I'm bored. Yep, boredom comes in handy . . .

"Best artist"? Ppfh. You disgust me. There are no "best artists" on OtakuArtist. People draw differently, and like different things. We are all equal in our position as an artist. 'nuff said. ~!*Sere*!~

*sniffle, sniff* You always were a great writer Cera . . . you really ought to do it more often! Keep up the good work! *saves it to her computer, and bounces out* ~!*Sere-chan*!~

Well, his hair, being black an' all, seems to meld with the background, and yeah, having the same Veggy picture takes out some of the oomph, but all-in-all, it ain't bad! Oomph it up and we'll have something! ~!*Sere-chan*!~

I can't say that I really talked to you, but I was there. You reminded everyone that you were from Otakuboards several times . . . and yeah, you knew Kittana . . . *rolls her eyes* ~!*Sere-chan*!~