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Post by Bakery on Sept 15, 2014 22:29:52 GMT -8
Oh gods.
So many years...So many years.
Agony.
Guilt.
Her parents- their death...Her fault.
Her thoughts jumbled as she made her way to the forest, stumbling through her tears and agony. Gods, she was so hopeless. So useless...
Her bones wailed with her sobs, her body weeping in sync with her own screaming. She needed to just disappear- for good. All for the best...She shouldn't have lived in the first point- like her parents, she should have been dead a long time ago. A long, long time ago.
Falling to her knees and sobbing, Elidi held her head in her hands, her body trembling all over. Was she moving? Or was that an earthquake? She couldn't tell the difference- and it didn't matter either way...
Her fingers spread so her glowing red eyes could peer down at the satchel she dropped only minutes before. With a shaky, uncertain hand she reached forward to it, unclasping the clasp and flipping the lid open to retrieve the knife she had prepared for this occasion.
Black. Night steel- an ebony blade. The indent of the carvings shone in the dim light, glistening in the night. the symbols meant nothing to her now- but she could have sworn one read mercy. Surely it must be a mistake-
Just like her...
"A mistake..." she repeated softly, numbly, unable to even breath without the roll of sobs erupting from her lips. "All I am." she whimpered and brought the knife to eye level, running her fingers over the cool blade.
It would all end here. All of it. They years of guilt and hopelessness- the crushing hopelessness that was too much for her to bear now..
Swallowing thickly, tears ran down her dark face, glistening over the white freckles of her skin as she slowly brought the knife under her chin. If she cut deep enough she would die quickly.
All she had to do was press the blade to her skin...
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Post by clouds just clouds on Sept 15, 2014 22:44:54 GMT -8
It had been the hopelessness that attracted him. The amount of it and pulled him like a fat kid smelling chocolate. Letha had been full of plenty thieving opportunities and he had just ran a big heist which would help a lot of homeless which he had seen on the streets. He had been taking a stroll, slightly on the hopes of finding prey, but mostly just to clear.
Though, when he sensed her, his throat tightened so much that it felt like hadn't drank a single drop of blood in years. Quietly, he followed the trail till he reached her. She had a knife to her neck, she was going to-
His body launched forward and he dropped beside her. With fluid ease that came with seven hundred years of living, he pushed the knife away and dipped his fangs into her flesh. [If he COULD] It occurred to him right then that her skin wasn't a usual skin color. Not, in fact, it was a skin color he had never seen before.
Though, her blood tasted perfect. The hopelessness within it drew into his mouth and down his throat. Jem made sure not to draw too much blood. He wanted her safe, not dizzy and disoriented in the woods. After retracting his fangs, he swept his tongue over the wound, so that it would not continue bleeding.
"Not everything is quite as hopeless as you think," Jem spoke quietly and pulled away from her, to look at her. Though, he was ready for her to start screaming.
Many were not too happy after he had sucked their blood. Usually, though, he erased their memories so they wouldn't have to remember the whole ordeal, but he didn't think he would with her. No, she was in need of some help. And if he could offer it, it was just one more life that wasn't suffering. Even if she wasn't a ketsuki. It hadn't mattered. On the streets, race didn't tend to matter. All that mattered was keeping warm, or getting food. Lucky for him, he didn't have to pay for his food.
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Post by Bakery on Sept 16, 2014 8:32:03 GMT -8
She was only aware of the knife being pushed out of her grasp, the hilt slipping from her fingertips and the knife clattering away from her reach- at first. With that distraction out of the way her senses opened up and a flash of danger shot through her as a sharp feeling sunk into her flesh.
She couldn't move...Whatever this was- an animal, perhaps- was keeping her still and free of moving- or was that her fear?
Elidi supposed this was most likely a better way to die, however. It would look more natural. A girl out in the woods with a knife trying to defend herself-
That's when it hit. The fleeting hopelessness that was spilling over from her insides beginning to deplete- as if it was being lifted from her body entirely..
What the...?
She shifted as much as she could in the grasp of whatever it was holding her in its grasp- to get even the tiniest glimpse of exactly what it was- or in this case, who.
Definitely not an animal. What did this person want?! She couldn't speak. She couldn't move much, either. This was a strange feeling indeed..
Was..Were they sucking her blood? Was that what this feeling was? The piercing feeling and now the fleeting- Of course, it was. What else would it be?
When he had licked the wound, she shivered and wriggled away from his grasp, turning to see him as her hand reached blindly behind her for the ebony blade somewhere among the leaves. She didn't look to see where- no way in hell was she taking her eyes off of this predator.
'Not everything is as hopeless as you think.'
Her face drew in to a scowl, her red eyes flashing with anger. The never of this guy- the audacity! First he attacks her to suck her blood and now he goes and says that? OF course nothing was as-
Oh.
On the fringe of her eyes the anger became less intense- but she was still defensive.
"...While my instinct tells me to kill you where you stand," she growled, her lips curling over her teeth as she spoke, "I'm no fool. I am amble to recognize that you had just done me a service. Consider me sparring you as your thanks." she hissed and stood, her hand tightening around the ebony blade. She didn't lash it out at him- although she wasn't keen on dropping her weapon. “What are you and how did you do that?” she asked sharply- hopefully before he fled.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Sept 16, 2014 9:38:04 GMT -8
When she moved so quickly, he stood and stepped a few paces back. It wasn't as if he didn't know how to fight, it was just that he preferred not to cause him. If she attacked, he would be gone, like the way how a fox would just disappear immediately after it is seen. Despite her obvious vehemence towards him, a smile picked at his lips, and his ivory eyes glinted like starlight in the darkness. "I am a ketsuki. While I suppose I did you a service, it was also a bit of service of my own. Ketsuki drink blood--it's what we live off of. But we also feed on emotions, and I am attracted by hopelessness. The feeling will return though..."
His smile dropped away like glass pieces held together by wet glue that were slowly giving away. "What are you? I know something to make you feel hopelessness so much is probably incredibly personal, but I want to help you. There are many hardships in life, and you can trust me to tell you that. I've had many hardships myself, and I know the feeling of hopelessness very well."
Pausing, Jem smiled and held out a hand. "I suppose you shouldn't talk to a complete stranger. My name is James. James Davenport, that is, but the family name is long lost by now and I'm the only one left to hold it up."
Now that he got a second chance to look at her, despite the color of her skin, she was beautiful. No, that wasn't it. She was beautiful, and her skin was...
Well, gorgeous. Every bit of her fit together like ingredients to the most delectable treat--not that he had eaten anything he could taste in over seven centuries. With more appreciation as he looked at her, Jem said, "Are there others like you?"
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Post by Bakery on Sept 16, 2014 10:25:21 GMT -8
It was not his words or his smile that stunted her but his eyes that neutralized most of her hostility- but she didn't let her guard down. The ivory colour was one she admired greatly- to see them be the colour of someones eyes was a trait she quiet enjoyed- and it wasn't as if James had been unattractive..Just typically if someone were to bite you in the middle of the woods you wouldn't trust them.
Or, as a Nocvi, you wouldn't trust anyone who wasn't a member of your race at all. The other races hated her kind- they beat and slaughtered her own blood, after all. What made this Ketsuki any different?
"Hmph..And that is all? If I find out there is more to what you did, you'll be sorry. For now, however, I shall take your word." If only it got her off the subject of just being bitten... "Only for what it is worth, that is."
Which was really nothing. A strange man bites her in the woods preventing her from offing herself.
Well.
Maybe worth a little.
She eyed him sharply, glancing over him slowly, checking if he had any weapons concealed- and checking the area around him discreetly to see if he had truly come here alone.
He seemed to actually be alone out here...Just like her..Hm.
"What am I?" she repeated, her eyes scanning him cautiously. Did he really not know? Guessing by the small populous it would only make sense that he didn't... "Elidi Arabella, Nocvi, if you even know my race by that name." she scuffed.
Many years she had been called many things- it wouldn't surprise her if he didn't know her race by its true name.
"Help me? You already have, in a way that is backwards and unconventional, I might add, but you have helped nonetheless...What is it you're looking for, exactly?" she sighed and glanced down at his hand with a minor glare, the hints of anger returning in her red eyes, "Payment?"
She flicked her eyes up to his face- and his smile dispelled the brunt of her anger. Damn him...What was he after?
Still on guard she took his hand lightly, shaking it, and sheathed the ebony dagger- but kept her other hand near it.
"Ah. Information, then. I see. The short answer would be yes. The longer answer is not as many as there were before- many other races slaughter my race while hiding behind delusions of threats." she sighed, but cast her gaze to meet his fiercely.
Why did he want to know?
What was he after..? He'd already done himself a service and fed...So why bother speaking to her?
Not that she wasn't interested in what this man had to say- and looking at him wasn't bad either..But she wasn't worried about such things. Appearance meant nothing- and this was still a stranger, knowing the name he gave meant next to nothing. Liars still existed and he could be fooling her as they spoke. Yet, for payment for his service she stayed. If he wanted information, he would get it.
A fair trade for saving her life.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Sept 16, 2014 10:56:58 GMT -8
"Payment?" The idea amused him. Jem started to step back so he could lean against a tree, but paused when he saw her analyzing him. "Oh, if you're wondering if I have weapons, then yes I do. I'm not threatening you, though. It would be stupid to travel through the woods, especially in Letha, without some sort of weapon on my person." He opened his jacket so she could see the small bit of weapons he had on them. "I'm not going to hurt you, though, that's a promise. Well, hurt you more than I have."
Jem then backed up after their hand shake and leaned against a tree, crossing his arms with a smile on his lips, though it chipped away again when he heard of what she said. "Well, ketsuki aren't well liked either by other races, as you know. You're hostile to me, for reasons of your own, but also because I bit you."
A thoughtful look passed his face and he turned his head to the side, remembering all the times he had searched for help, and even the child in his arms who he had held long after he had died. And his sister.
Swallowing, Jem slid his eyes over to this woman--Elidi. "Elidi Arabelle is a beautiful name, truly. I've never heard anything like it. And I've lived for quite some time." A chuckle ran through him and he ran his fingers through his hair. "Well, if you want to see information as payment, you can. I honestly... I do want to help you. I've never heard of a nocvi before, and that could be because I'm not from here. I'm from Era. I am visiting..."
Slowly, Jem sat down and rested his arms on his knees. "I would offer you somewhere nicer to talk, but I think you don't trust me in the least. Which is smart. Miss Arabelle, would you mind confiding to me why you are trying to end your life?"
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Post by Bakery on Sept 16, 2014 11:33:24 GMT -8
"Promises are nothing." she scuffed and took a step back herself, putting distance between the two of them.
She wasn't sure what it was- but some part of her tried to calm the cautious parts down- trying to persuade her into seeing he wasn't a danger- but she knew better than that- had been raised with this cautiousness. Every Nocvi was.
She said nothing in remark to his comment on Ketsuki- what was there to say? She hadn't cared much what race he was- but she could relate to some of the troubles. Some. She doubted their race had to file permits to have children- and were slaughtered if you had one illegally.
Beautiful name? Never heard anything like it? Attempting to neutralize her hostility with flattery was going to bear no fruit for his goal- and instead her eyes locked on him suspiciously. he was up to something- and all this repeating of his lie was getting tiresome. Wanting to help her?
"Era? You're far from home." she commented and raised an eyebrow. "Letha is not a place many would choose to visit...We Nocvi are few in numbers, I'm not surprised you haven't heard of us. We are labeled many other hurtful names and stereotyped with criminal pasts because of the skills we naturally have. We are considered a threat so we are oppressed and contained- cruelly so, I might add." she spat.
Information is what he wanted, information is what he got. Nothing more than the populous of people knew, of course, but he didn't need to know that what he was being told was common information.
"You're right- I don't trust a word out of your mouth." she agreed and crossed her arms, looking down defiantly at him as he sat. "Why do you want to know? I personally don't see how its any of your business."
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Post by clouds just clouds on Sept 16, 2014 12:01:15 GMT -8
A smirk curled Jem's lips, one that would become famous in the McCarther bloodlines--though they were really the Davenport lines, but no one knew of that. Not even Jem knew. "Yes, I am far from home." He spoke, looking thoughtful once again. "Well, there's been some trouble back at home, but I doubt you want to listen to an old ketsuki's tale." Trouble, as in the phantom thief had to hit somewhere else so that cops would get off his tail. "You'll think I'm lying, but I haven't said a single lie to you this entire time."
He continued to stay where he was, and allowed her to look down on him. Jem wasn't the type to try and intimidate people, and he certainly didn't want to try and intimidate her. His ivory eyes flickered up to her red ones in thought. "I want to know so I can help you, so I don't have to come back in a week and drain you of your hopelessness again to make sure you do not try to kill yourself."
His brows came together and he held his head in his hands. "If you're not going to tell me, I suppose I will guess. From what I heard of your race, I'm guessing on one of these occasions to... oppress, you lost someone. And now you feel hopeless because you feel as if nothing can be done?"
Jem watched her for a few moments and then pursed his lips. He nodded his head and looked down. "I'll tell you a tale of an old ketsuki anyways. I was on the streets in my early years. I met a couple of others, one of them being a pregnant young lass. Though, she was weak, and birthing isn't easy. I lost her, but I gained her son. I named him Reubon, because that's what she wanted." A sad smile lifted Jem's lips as the sorrow filled his face--he couldn't control his emotions, it was never a skill that he gained.
"In the dead of winter, he got very sick. I went door to door, asking for help, looking for doctors, healers, anyone. But no one would help." A sigh left Jem and he shook his head, resting his head in his hand. "He died in my arms."
Swallowing, Jem looked up at Elidi. "Miss Erabelle, you think I might have given up after that. But here I am. I found a way to get myself off the streets, and now I even try to help others. I even started a factory for women to work. I make sure that the working conditions are well, and that the pay is as good as I can make it. I like helping people, Miss Erabelle. I barely know you, but life is a precious thing. You never should give it away so easily."
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Post by Bakery on Sept 16, 2014 13:55:18 GMT -8
“I am not of your concern, James Davenport.” Elidi said harshly, glowering down at him. Why did he even care?! “I am a stranger- someone you happened to run into by pure luck. These stories you spew from your mouth fall so carelessly at your feet- pieces to your life story upon one first meeting a complete stranger. You make no sense. None.” she sighed, irritation flooding through her words. “You should not care about my life- about what happens to me- it isn't-” she stopped.
She was going to say normal- but what did she know about normality? Her entire life had been abnormal.
“...It confuses me, Mr. Davenport.” she sighed at last, crossing her arms as she took a step forward, beginning to pace. “I do not understand.”
She glanced at him sideways, her face hard. “You couldn't be farther from the truth.” yet, she listened to his story, stopping her pacing long enough to hear him.
They were alike. More so than she imagined.
“Arabella. Not Erabelle.” she corrected quietly, thinking over his words. “Sometimes, Mr. James Davenport, life can be too heavy for one person to carry on their own. I'd like to imagine you understand what I mean when I say that there is only so much one can take before it breaks you down. Over years and years of nonstop..Well..Let me just say that it was not an easy decision for me to make, rather a great escape of sorts, because life had broken me..” she said quietly, her eyes glued to the ground.
Until you came and stopped me.
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Post by clouds just clouds on Sept 16, 2014 14:12:44 GMT -8
Her use of his name caused a smile to brighten his lips, despite her harshness. All the sings she said was true, so he neither denied or accepted them. He watched her walk back and forth, wondering himself why he put so much effort into one person. This Elidi Arabelle, as corrected, could be a murderer, or even later in life do something terribly drastic. Jem's eyes glittered like the very stars in the sky.
"I apologize, Miss Arabelle, I must have Era on the mind." A chuckle fell from his lips. Though, her last words caused his smile to chip away again. "I know..." Jem looked sad once again, running his fingers through his hair, which was tied back in a small ponytail. The ends of his hair curled out at the end of the ponytail, defying the restraint. "When I look at you now, Miss Arabelle, you don't seem broken to me."
Jem watched her, his brows pressing together. "I suppose I care so much because I've felt as hopeless as you, perhaps even more, and I know the feeling. But, I'm glad now that I haven't. This is a mistake you can't take back, Miss Arabelle."
A soft, easy smile had lifted his lips once again. "I can't imagine anything breaking you, Miss Arabelle. I think you're temporarily disposed of, and you simply have to realize that there are things in life you can not control, and that mistakes will happen. Life is incredibly harsh, and unforgiving. I have extremely bad luck in life, but I still haven't given up."
Jem watched her for a few moments and he smiled. "You're strong enough that I have no doubt that you can change things, Miss Arabelle."
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