+- Court of the Fallen (https://cotf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: Out of Character (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=26)
+--- Forum: Important (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=27)
+---- Forum: Archives (https://cotf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: In the Blink of an Eye (/showthread.php?tid=1741)
Pages:
1
2
In the Blink of an Eye - Samuel - 09-02-2019
With the blame of the Blight squarely on his shoulders, Sam felt that it was simply a matter of time before the mob would be breaking down his door. Soon, he knew, they would be coming to drag him by the ankles to a pyre to pay for what he had done, and he would deserve it.
But...there was an unknowable and painfully tense amount of time to go between the now and the point where his comeuppance came, and he didn't know what to do other than return to normalcy. So, for the first day in a while, he had opened his shop.
It was a mess. Dusty, books piled up awkwardly from his last day in the store before his trip to the Greatwood, where he had tried to create places for himself to hide. The fire place was stone cold, old ash scattered over it and only one log left for fuel. He placed it inside and lit the fire, rubbing his hands together as he looked about the place. At least clearing up could help him clear his mind in turn.
Putting his things (bag, knives - which he was still anxious to touch, drink) on the counter, he pottered about placing books, sweeping, batting away cobwebs; slowly making the shop more presentable. Perhaps it was strange to clean in the face of his near demise, but it felt good to be doing something.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Roana - 09-02-2019
Sam was not quite so alone in his bookstore as he thought. He'd been target specifically, word of his calm and quiet demeanor making him the perfect person to act upon. But Roana did not enter loud and brash. No. Death was rarely so bumbling. It was silent. Tricky. Graceful. It needn't be loud and brash and put on a face to be feared. The former captain forwent her usual garb, even her blade Krosis replaced with a scythe strapped to her back, its handle carefully reinforced in case a fight did break out. Her garb was all black, matching leather armor protecting her from the cold as well as obscuring the most obvious giveaways of her female frame. A hood draped around her face, pinned in place underneath, and a full white mask disguised her face - what skin that was visible beneath was blackened as well.
She did this not for herself - but for her children.
The captain had carefully followed Samuel back to his shop. She waited patiently, watching through a window as he moved about and headed to the back. That was when she entered, silent, slipping in so as not to sound a bell. Her eyes found a small back of assorted items. Quickly she looked through for any weapons - not wishing to chance that this bookmaker could fight - and snatched up three daggers, depositing them onto a pouch on her hip.
Then she ducked back into the shadows, waiting for him to walk back into the front so she could corner him, ring at the ready to slow his movements to a pace she could match if needed. He returned, pottering about before dusting some cobwebs - and then she made her move. Using the length of the scythe to her advantage, she stepped forward, thrusting the blade end forward over Sam's shoulder, twisting it and pulling back so the blade rested against his collarbone if he did not reach quickly enough.
[say]"Samuel."[/say] she said, deepening the sound of her voice, muddling her accent even to sound as different from herself as possible. [say]"Don't move. I come with a warning."[/say]
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Samuel - 09-03-2019
Sam hummed to himself as he worked, slowly relaxing into the job and beginning to think that maybe he was overreacting; that things would not be so bad as he had imagined. That thought was immediately blown away as he was grabbed, yelling and freezing in absolute panic.
He didn't move, not wanting to upset his assailant and cause her to hurt him (though he felt certain in the moment this was how he would die) but carefully he tried to slowly take out Remi's stone from his pocket and press it, hoping to at least send a message to his friend that his body could be found here, and that the culprit, should she found near by, was responsible.
[say]"A w-warning for what?"[/say] He asked, his voice quiet and broken with anxious breath.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Remi - 09-03-2019
The feeling of vibration against his leg sent a shiver of alarm through Remi's entire being. Feathers and tawny tuffs of leonine hair covered his body in strange patterns as he dropped what he'd been working on (more notes of the blight), and raced for the door. He wasn't human at all by the time he'd reached it, and though his body urged him towards his more predatory shape, he opted for something smaller that would draw less attention.
Had he teeth as a hawk he would have grit them together. Though he knew Sam was in trouble, he didn't know where. Checking his shop first made sense as it was the closest, but after that? Other than his home, the alchemist would have to rely on intuition to find his friend and simply pray it wasn't too late.
[say]"SAM—"[/say] The alchemist shouted, slamming the front door to the shop open. Breathing in with a nose suddenly more leonine than human, he could smell his friend's presence. And someone else's too. With teeth long and jagged, hands punctuated by long claws, and a body strangely morphed by muscles that didn't properly belong to a human body, Remi followed the scent towards the back where Roana had the ascended at blade point. The snarl that left the alchemist's lips would have put any of the blighted to shame as Remi stared daggers into Roana's back.
[say]"Do not."[/say] He warned in a voice that was only just above a growl.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Roana - 09-03-2019
Roana kept her gaze firmly on Sam, ready for him to spin and attack if he suddenly found the bravery within him. But instead he stuttered and stumbled over his questions. [say]”The Voice is playing games again and using her Ascended as pawns. If you and your brethren do not wish to pay the price of her crimes, you will beg her to make peace with the Old Gods. Death will see balanced restored, one way or another.”[/say] she said, her tone still low and accent garbled and twisted.
But of course, it would be all too easy for this to go smoothly.
The door was near busted off its hinges as the alchemist barged in, shouting Sam’s name. She didn’t jump or startle, remaining at ease as she slowly turned to look at Remi, her masked face hiding all emotion, her visage a near cross between Ludo-esque and Grim Reaper. [say]”Be still, Alchemist. No one dies today.”[/say] she said calmly, still guising her voice and speech pattern with purpose. She glanced over at Sam again from the corner of her eye, blade still near his throat, if only to keep the standoff as it was. [say]”Do you understand your task, Samuel?”[/say]
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Samuel - 09-03-2019
Sam struggled to even comprehend the words that came from Roana's mouth, his panic ringing loud in his ears. Not that she knew, but her request was near to impossible anyway. The Voice was very much her own Goddess, and was very unlikely to listen to Sam telling her to make good with the Old Gods; besides, this event would only inspire Sam to tell her to move further away. The Old Gods had never shown them a hint of charity and he doubted they would ever be kind.
Before he could stammer out a confused response, the door was flung open by Remi. Waves of relief flooded over Sam, though he was still being held. [say]"Remi!"[/say] He exclaimed, so glad to see his saviour.
The question he was asked drew an immediate mental answer of no but he wanted so badly to be let go he nodded, wide eyes closing as he wished he was anywhere else. [say]"Mhmm. Please..p-please."[/say]
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Remi - 09-03-2019
No one dies today, the woman says, as if that decision is solely hers alone. She might know who he is, but she doesn't know what he's done. Only Ronin, a dead man, and a baby do. But it has changed him. Just as Ronin's leaving has changed him.
With magic and speed far greater than any in the room posses, the alchemist acts. Transmutation magic blitzes forward, its intention to turn the scythe into harmless paper-thin stone. Simultaneously, thick vines appear and snake forward, meaning to wrap around Roana's wrists to sharply bind them together. [say]"This conversation is over."[/say] Remi snarled through white teeth, trying to position himself between the intruder and the ascended.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Roana - 09-03-2019
She wasn’t particularly attached to the scythe – and in an agricultural community it wasn’t like she couldn’t get another. So as soon as she felt the handles shifting beneath her fingers she dropped it. Of course, Remi was far too used to the cutthroat nature of this place to stop there, as thick vines began to wrap around her wrists. Welp. So much for an easy day. She had accomplished what she needed to though, so really, there was no reason to stick around any longer.
[say]”Indeed it is. For now.”[/say] she said calmly, still masking her voice. But she turned quickly, taking a lunging step before jumping at a window. With her shoulder lined up with the frame, it slammed open at the hinges and landed on the ground on the same shoulder, tucking and rolling as she did so back up to her feet. In a flash she was sprinting down the alley way, headed towards the ruins where she could hopefully lose any pursuers amongst the rubble.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Samuel - 09-03-2019
As Sam felt the tension go out of the sycthe against his skin he almost cried in sheer relief. The moment Roana let him go he sank down to his knees, not watching her leave - as long as she was gone, he didn't care. His hands came up to rake into his hair and he curled forward, shaking and trying not to let himself slip into the dark well of panic that was threatening to consume him.
[say]"It's starting, it's starting..."[/say] He mumbled over and over to himself, knowing that this was the beginning of the end for his people. There would be more. He would be hurt, and they would rejoice in it.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Remi - 09-03-2019
Caught between wanting to follow the mystery assailant and not wanting to leave Sam, his loyalty to his friend won out, leaving Remi merely to glare as Roana retreated.
Dropping down immediately, wings spread from the alchemist's back to softly encircle the collapsed ascended. Remi's hands smoothed over Sam's shoulders and back as he tried to pull the smaller man to him, to hold him and still his shaking frame. [say]"No it hasn't. You are alright Sam. You are fine."[/say] The alchemist whispered as if soothing a wounded animal or small child. His hands traced comforting circles again the bookmaker had he remained within Remi's grasp, all the while humming softly under his breath.
Once Sam had calmed Remi would have questions, but for now, it was enough to simply make sure his friend knew he was safe and not alone.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Samuel - 09-04-2019
Wings encircling him was some of the best comfort Sam could hope for, but it was not enough to quell the screaming voices in his head, which mocked him with it was only a matter of time before they hated you and he thinks it too, he's just too nice to act on it.
Slowly he raised his head to look at Remi. Shock still made it difficult for him to ground himself in this reality, but he tried his best to speak. [say]"Thank you..for..for coming so quickly. I..I was just tidying and..."[/say]He shook his head, not really sure what had even happened.
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Remi - 09-04-2019
[say]"Hey..."[/say] Remi hummed softly as Sam looked up. Softly his fingers moved to cup the sides of Sam's face as if he meant to kiss him. Really, he just wanted to hold the bookmaker's attention as best but gently as he could. [say]"None of this is your fault. "[/say] He coaxed, wings flexing slightly around them both like a large feathered blanket.
[say]"Do you know who that was? What did she say to you?"[/say]
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Samuel - 09-04-2019
Sam stared into Remi's eyes as his face was cupped, not even thinking of the similarities to a kiss in the moment. Remi was more an anchor than a man to him in the absolute panic he had become wrapped up in; he reached up to grab Remi's hand with his own. [say]"I don't...think that matters anymore."[/say] He replied cryptically, quietly, his face hopeless.
The question were at least something to think of other than his own crushing ineptitude. [say]"I don't know who it was. I thought I recognised the voice for a moment but.."[/say] He sighed. [say]"I don't think I actually did. She said something about..me asking the Voice to make peace with the Old Gods. But I can't do that, Remi. She'd never listen to me anyway."[/say]
RE: In the Blink of an Eye - Remi - 09-06-2019
One of Remi's thumbs softly stroked Sam's face as the alchemist shook his own. The anger he felt was giving way, the adrenaline receding, leaving Remi feeling weary and broken on the bookmaker's behalf.
Sam's explanation made little sense. [say]"The Voice to make peace? You..you always said they were the ones who imprisoned her? It seems if anyone should make peace, it is them."[/say] Remi's brows furrowed and though he wanted to argue more, he knew Sam was in no position. Besides, that likely was all the information he had.
[say]"You are alright now."[/say] The alchemist whispered, pulling the smaller man against him and leaning his cheek against the top of Sam's head. [say]"You know...Ronin...well. The guildhall is more than large enough if you would like to come stay. Mia too, and your roommate? Only if you want, but I promise no one will harm you there."[/say]