RPG Gray [PG - S,L]

[Muad'Dib]

[CENTER][COLOR=DimGray]For a full backstory and character info., view Recruitment thread. Sign-ups are now closed unless given permission to sign-up.
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The train once again screamed to a brief stop, barely able to pull it's weight to move again. Jon, Anna and two other children - Michael and Ben - hopped off as soon as it slowed. A large '13' was painted in scratched, fading letters on the gray walls of the station. Again, it was completely abandoned except for the four children.

They didn't give the bleak station a second glance, already familiar with it's colorless layout. Jon was the first to set off, taking a quick pace towards the wide arch into the street. Anna Michael and Ben followed immediately after, each taking their own pace.

After several long minutes of walking the barely red-tinted brick roads, the group stopped in front of a mid-sized building, not in any way unique from it's surroundings. It was obviously familiar to them.

As they stepped inside the rusty, tattered door, the four children were greeted by a warm smile and Jellah's enthusiastic hug. "Ah, you're back!" the woman's voice had a slight French-sounding accent. "About time too... all of you need your rest."

Jon almost protested, pausing to think about what to say before blurting out a complaint. "Jhel, can't we go back to..."

"Jon, please, you've already been to the water's edge twice in teh past three days." Jhellah cut him off, taking an exasperated tone for emphasis. Jon gave an awkward frown. "Ok."[/COLOR][/CENTER]

[Epsilon]

[COLOR=SlateGray][SIZE=1]Standing, the chalk fell out of her hand. Bouncing off and then rolling across the hall. Stepping forwards she paused, turning back she looked to the wall. Lei hadn't finished yet, it'd be wrong for her to leave without finishing wouldn't it. Lei turned again, sitting back down she leaned against the wall. The chalk smearing off in her hair.

Rocking back and forth for a few moments it sounded like some of the other children had returned. Then foot steps were coming. The second board always squeaked. Jumping up from her place, she ran grabbing her piece of chalk. Lei paused as the others stared up at her, Jhellah smiled sweetly. Her eyes dodged back and forth then rested back on Jhellah. Smiling to her in return, Lei turned running back to her corner.

Coming up, as they passed they stopped for a few seconds.

"Hello, Jhellah, John, Anna, Michael, Ben."

Anna waved, "Hi, Lei."

Lei waved in reply, the other's gave her a nod of acknowledgement, as she turned slightly drawing a thin line across the wall. "I hope you all enjoyed your time out."

"Sure did." John had a sad linger within his last words, "You should try going out."

Lei didn't answer glancing at Jhellah she went back to writing.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Revelation]

[size=1][color=#696969]Watching Lei draw with her chalk, she became distracted by Jon's reply. He knew how Lei felt about the outside and how she was. She frowned and he knew could feel her looking at him. She sighed and smiled at Lei and kneeled beside her, stroking her hair in a sisterly way. She was always worried about Lei and how she was holding up, knowing that she was the...worst of the children.

Standing, Anna walked ahead of the other children who stood while Jhellah ushered them to move along, leaving Lei alone. She entered the bedroom in which she and Lei accompanied. She took her hand-made sketchbook and pencils and began to draw what she had seen that day, the drunk man, the train station, everything. She did this everyday after her adventures with Jon. Oh, how wondrous the outside was in Anna's eyes. Her pictures lit up the whole room, filling it with vibrant colors and vivid images.

A knock came at the door. In the doorway was Jon, who stood with his hands in pockets, looking at Anna. She smiled and he sat at the edge of the old mattress bed that was in that room. He was still saddened by the fact that they could not go down to the water's edge. It was an amazing place, filled with glittering treasures, glistening sands, and the roaring water that waved at the children as they walked beside it...but those were only images in Anna's mind. It was how she remembered the water's edge. She then remembered what Jon had said to Lei.

[B]"That wasn't nice, Jon."[/B]

Jon looked up, baffled and confused, not knowing what in the world Anna was talking about. He fiddled with a piece of string that was coming off of the mattress fabric, while Anna still frowned at him. He looked to her with great confusion in his face.

[B]"What wasn't nice?"[/B]

[B]"What you said to Lei. You know how she feels about a lot of things. She can't just go out like we do. She doesn't feel safe."[/B]

[B]"So...she should at least go out, though. Try to get used to it so that she's not scared anymore."[/B]

[B]"But..."[/B]

Her words were interrupted by Jhellah appearing in the doorway and clearing her throat. She looked to the two children and Jon stood, exiting the door. Jhellah knew what the two were talking about, they always argued over Lei. Jhellah merely smiled and walked down the hallway, urging the boys to clean up. Anna went back to drawing, this time she drew a picture of a beach with Lei, Jon, Jhellah, the others, and herself, standing with their backs against the spraying ocean, with the sun setting behind and the breeze blowing against them, making their hair sway.

With a deep breath, Anna stood and walked out to Lei, folding it as she went. She always gave Lei pictures so that she could see the beauty of the outside and not the darkness. She tapped her on the shoulder. Lei jumped and looked to Anna, who picked up the chalk that Lei had dropped. She smiled and then handed her the picture. Patting her head, she left and went to clean up.[/size][/color]

[Muad'Dib]

[COLOR=SlateGray]Jon walked slightly grudgingly to the small set of buckets near the rear of the building. He scrubbed his hands free of dust and grime, using a little of the water to wipe off his face. He wasn't sure why he bothered. The dust and dirt would return the next day, probably in twice the amount.

He turned to see Anna coming down the same way. The otehr two boys had already left and most of the otehr children were probably busy with their own business. He gave her a slight defiant expression, but he knew he really didn't want to. Inside he felt... odd. As if even when they disagreed with each other, he didn't want to be angry with her.

Jon walked away before she could say anything, not really feeling like having a conversation. He walked past a small table where a few of the children were standing around or sitting on the floor, talking amongst themselves. He grabbed a small piece of bread from teh table, glancing around the room at the others.

Seeing no one of particular interest, he stalked off again, heading toward the stuffy second floor. The floor was just a long hallway of old rooms used when the building had sstill been an Inn. He chose his usual room and sat on the stiff bed, munching on the bread in his hand.

While eating, he thought yet again about his conversation with Anna and Lei's paranoid behaviour. He knew that Lei couldn't help the way she was, but still wished he could get her to try and come with them. Now he found himself wishing he could talk to Anna again- to correct the mistakes he had made in that short conversation. He always felt like this when they had a disagreement. It was similar to the feeling of not wanting to be angry.

He threw himself back onto the bed, wrapping dirty sheets around himself. Try as he might, sleep didn't come easy.[/COLOR]

[Whisper]

[COLOR=SlateGray]Kally plunged the shirt into the bucket of water, submerging her arms in sudsy water up to her elbows. She scrubbed the shirt vigorously against the side of the bucket and then took it out. Kally frowned. The stain was still there. 'Why do I even bother?' Kally asked herself. 'It'll only get dirty tomorrow.' Kally sighed and plunged the shirt back into the bucket of water. Work was what kept her going even if the efforts were futile. Besides it reminded her of the orphanage she had used to stay at. Kally smiled to herself. All those bright, round faces gathering around her...

[I]"Kally, Kally, tell us another story! Kally! Kally..."[/I]

[B]"KALLY!"[/B]

Kally jerked herself out of the memory and turned around. Anna was leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. "How many times do I have to yell your name to get your attention?"

Kally smiled weakly. There was a hint of sadness in it. "Sorry, my mind was...elsewhere."

"It's okay..." Anna sighed and slumped onto the floor against the wall across from Kally. Anna kept her arms crossed though and furrowed her brow.

Kally paused in washing the shirt and cocked her head. "A penny for your thoughts?" But before Anna could answer Kally responded to her own question. "You've been fighting with Jon again, haven't you?"

Anna started, "How'd you know?"

Kally thoughtfully tugged a lock of her hair. White soap suds clung to it. "You always look miserable after you argue with Jon."

Anna snorted, "It's just...that...that...he shouldn't have said that to Lei! He knows how she feels about the outside world!"

Kally took the shirt out of the bucket again only to see the stain still on it. Exasperated, she wrung the shirt and laid it on the floor. Kally stood up wiping off her hands on the over-sized apron tied around her waist. "Instead of bickering about it with Jon, how about you ask Lei how she feels about the issue? I'm going to my room." Kally walked out of the room leaving Anna to her thoughts.

Kally shook her head to herself while walking up the stairs to the second floor. Her quiet footsteps hardly made any noise on the rotted floorboards. Kally walked into the room she used as her bedroom and plopped down on the mattress. She leaned over and pulled out a dusty black violin case from under her bed. Kally placed it onto the bed, undid the locks and lifted up the lid to reveal a violin. Kally brushed her fingers over the slightly polished wood. Kally was lucky. The last time one of the violin strings broke she was able to obtain a new one. She wondered if she would be as lucky next time. Kally lifted the violin out of the case carefully as if an abrupt move would break it. Kally tuned it and drew the bow across the strings. The violin seemed to weep as long, sad notes floated off the strings and echoed in the bare room. A soft, gentle voice joined in to the violin and its song danced with the violin's notes across the dusty floor.

[I]Dancing bears, painted wings...
Things I almost remember...[/I][/COLOR]

[Attimus331]

Marshal sat alone in his small room alongside his bed. His back was facing the door of the ugly room; his bony legs laid open on the cold floor. In-between his legs was his old, gray backpack laying unzipped, Marshal was going through all of his belongings, as he often does to make sure nobody has taken anything while he wasn?t looking, or while he was sleeping. Marshal found the inn only a couple of months ago, and still didn?t trust any of the other kids.

Marshal?s small hands started to go through his backpack for the second time when the faint patter of tiny feet could be heard through the thin walls of his room. He quickly zipped up his backpack and went deafly quiet, the footsteps grew louder, and louder until finally he could hear a door open, it was only his neighbor, Kally. The two have never actually spoke to each other before, but the thin walls of the old inn kept no secrets between the two, that one couldn?t hear. Marshal was slightly relieved, but didn?t quickly go back to his previous activity until he heard Kally pull out her old violin. He?s heard her play her violin on many occasions before and has developed a strong liking of the sad, yet beautiful music Kally so gracefully created on the old instrument. Marshal would often sing along with Kally in his head, it was his only escape from the unattractive and dirty world he lived in. After listening to Kally?s melody for a couple of minutes, Marshal for the first time realized that he longed to meet the musician behind the elegant songs he?s grown so accustomed to. Unfortunately, Marshal still didn?t feel secure enough with his self to do anything about his feelings.

Marshal then opened up a side pouch on his backpack, and pulled out a small piece of stale bread. He greedily gobbled it up in a matter of seconds, easily wiping out his entire supply of food. He decided to wait till later to replenish his supply, maybe sometime later that night, like he usually does to get food. He then got up and placed his backpack in the small closet beside the door that led out of his room, and climbed up onto his cold bed. He laid there thinking with his hands crossed under his head.

[Muad'Dib]

[COLOR=SlateGray]Jon tossed around in his bed for a good length of tiem before giving up. He tossed the sheets off of him and sat up, holding his head with one hand. No matter how sleepy he was, he couldn't leave this unfinished. His own thoughts seemed to elude him as he hopped down from the stiff mattress and walked for the door. But he knew what he was doing, somewhere inside, he knew.

The hallway was nearly silent as usual, but the faint sound of music echoed from one of the doors. Jon ignored it for now and stumbled to the stairs, somewhat bleary from his brief attempt at slumber. Once successfully down the stairs, he looked around for Anna, his heart thumping a little more vividly in his head at the thought of setting things straight with her.

He found her eventually, standing in an empty room as if she was about to leave. Words failed Jon for a moment, but he found his voice quickly, "Anna!" He blurted out, utterly aware of how pitiful he sounded.

He walked up next to her, averting his eyesto one side or the other. "Um, listen, Anna..."

She shot him a rather accusing look, but he didn't see it. "Yes?"

He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, eyes still focused on anything but her face. "I... about earlier... I'm... I'm really sorry... I didn't mean..." he paused a moment, thinking over his next few words, "I didn't mean to treat Lei like that... I promise." He glanced up at Anna's face hopefully, giving a weak smile.[/COLOR]

[Orcus]

[COLOR=Orange]Rev looked at the train, smiling. [I]Time to go back....[/I] He walked towards the train, but the next thing he knew he was surrounded by thugs. He moaned to himself and looked at the thugs, "So what do you want? I need to be leaving. See", he pointed at the train, ?that is my train. And I need to be getting on it, so excuse me..." He walked forwards but the thugs moved in front of him. He sighed, ?Fine." He grabbed his pole and swung it at them, purposely missing. They all dodged it and he ran onto the train. The train doors closed behind him and he stuck out his tongue at the thugs, "Hah, hah, suckers!" They jumped up and started yelling at the train which was gradually making its way away from them.

The ride wasn't nearly as long as he'd though it would be. He grinned as he jumped off the train. He waved to the conductor, ?Thanks for the ride, James!" The train conductor chuckled to himself then winked, "No problem, Rev". Rev turned around, put his hands in his pocket and walked off towards Jhellah and the others. After a short amount of walking he was there. He smiled at the familiar building than walked up and knocked on the door. Jhellah opened the door and smiled broadly. ?Rev, come on in.?

He looked around and smiled,"Aaaahhh.....Home..." Jhellah smiled,"You look exhausted. You should go get some rest." Rev looked back at her,'You don't have to tell me twice. As he went to his room he saw what appeared to be Jon apologizing to Anna. He yelled over to them,"Hey you two! Good to see you again!" They both looked over and smiled and Rev went on his way. When he got into his room he layed down on the bed and sighed in relief. [I]Home at last......[/I] With that he fell asleep.[/COLOR]

[Whisper]

[COLOR=SlateGray]Kally laid her violin onto her lap. She turned the violin onto its back and traced the letters carved onto the back with an index finger. "Kally," she whispered to herself. Kally's eyes grew distant, but shook her head and placed the violin back into its worn case and slid it under the bed. Until she had put her violin away, Kally didn't realize how tired she was. Kally laid back onto the bed, with her legs dangling over the side. She gazed up at the ceiling and traced the cracks in the plaster with her eyes. Kally's eyes fluttered and slowly closed.

[I]Kally was running down a street, her feet slapping hard against the pavement. The world around her seemed fuzzy and dim but gradually came into focus. Gray buildings with boarded up windows crowded the narrow street around her. The street was strangely familiar and Kally wondered where she had seen it before. A building larger than the others loomed in the distance. As Kally got closer she saw the silouette of a steeple cast against the sky. Kally realized it was the church she had lived in for so many years. Kally ran faster and ran up the stone steps, and pushed with all her might against the heavy oak doors. The doors creaked open. "Hey, Sister Margarat, Father Joseph, I'm back!" But the place was deserted. The pews were over turned, and the stain glass windows were smashed. Kally looked up and gasped. There was a baby wrapped up in a cloth crying in front of the altar. Kally began to run down the aisle, but the more she ran the longer the aisle became and the baby was growing farther and farther away. Fear gripped Kally as darkness surrounded her. Kally began sobbing, but then she felt strong warm arms wrap around her...[/I]

Kally sat abruptly up in her bed, breathing hard as if she had just run a marathon. Kally shivered and hugged herself. She sat silent for a few minutes, but then regained her strength and walked over to the windows. Kally threw open the shutters. The sky was gray with predawn, but Kally knew that probably it was going to be the brightest the day would become. Kally stepped out of her room and walked downstairs. It was rlatively early in the morning so many of the other children weren't awake yet. Kally went into the kitchen. There was a basket of carrots on the table. Kally sat at the table, took a carrot, and hungrily bit off the end. Kally chewed thoughtfully and gazed at the room around her. This was the only home she had left. She wondered what would have happened if Jhella had never found her. Kally heard footsteps, and looked up to see someone enter the room. [/COLOR]