Mind reeling, heart pounding, Flora could only stare into Necro's face as she tried to make sense of the situation. She couldn't understand what was happening. For his part, Necro was being aggravatingly vague, but she was starting to realize that he seemed to be being driven by some other force. There was something motivating these actions that he wasn't in total control of, and the more she began to consider the repercussions of what he might do in such a state, the more scared she became. She had to find a way to reason with him.
"Yeah, I heard you but-," she began saying to him, but she was cut off abruptly when he twisted his arm out of her grip and took off again, "Necro! " She called after him, her voice lowered slightly now, recognizing the potential danger in calling attention to the situation.
When Flora saw Necro begin to run towards the wall, she began to panic. She knew if she was going to stop him she had to act quickly. She sprinted after him, her lithe body, muscles toned from farm work, closing the distance with remarkable speed. It was with still some measure of disbelief that she realized he meant to climb the wall, brazenly and with seemingly no plan. She put on one final burst of speed, reaching him just as he was about to find his first foothold and throwing her arms around his chest. With one almighty tug she pulled him away from the wall with enough force to send them both sprawling to the ground.
"Necro, listen to me!" she exclaimed to him, pinning his arms down with her knees and acting her rear on his midriff just as her brothers had taught her, "You won't be of any use to anyone if you're dead, and that is exactly what will happen if you climb that wall. You may not fear death but you can't accomplish you goal as a spirit, am I right?" She has said he wouldn't be of use to anyone, and it was with a jolt she realized that not only had she probably just intuited what could have possibly motivated him to act so brashly (a person he cared about), but also that the thought of him dying had caused a level of alarm in her that confused her.
Creativity
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Posted: 10/1/2018 at 12:35 AM
Post #172
To say that Necro was surprised when sweet, tiny Flora easily grabbed him, tossed him to the ground, and pinned him under her would be quite the understatement. He was stunned, to the point of which he almost forgot about his mission, about Elvira's message, about the daughter who needed him. Almost.
He struggled underneath Flora, but she seemed to be quite adept at pinning people down, and she had him trapped. Her mention of his dying made him ever more aware of the mark of death on his neck, the ugly ice-cold, pitch-black symbol of the semi-necrosis that he had always suffered. The reminder that he had been stillborn, that some miracle was the only reason he was partially alive.
But Flora succeeded in calming him down somewhat. He went limp after a couple minutes, staring up into her face blankly. "She just lost her mother," he revealed with a sigh. "She's alone. She wouldn't be if I were not here."
In all honesty, he didn't know why he was telling her this. Obviously, she wouldn't understand. Even if he explained everything, she'd probably just call him an idiot, like people had a tendency to do whenever he tried to offer up his intentions. Perhaps he was an idiot. The tension left his body and he refused to meet Flora's gaze again.
"Daughters need their fathers," he muttered then, quietly enough that he wasn't sure Flora heard. He didn't quite want her to hear, either. He didn't need her judgment, or her opinion, or her pity, or anything else from her. "Will you let me up? I won't climb again," he finally met her eyes once more, one eyebrow raised. He felt that familiar numbness in his chest, his version of pain, but did his best to ignore it.
-
Brain still wasn't quite sure why exactly she had gotten the sling for Tox after what he'd said to her. After he'd beaten her to the curb and easily smashed any sense of self-worth she had built back up since her father's death. She should be angry at him. She should be poisoning his dinner (not enough to kill him, mind, but enough to make him suffer).
But instead, she just hurt. She had revealed, openly, to him what she hadn't even told her Uncle Lance. She was on autopilot in acquiring some stronger medicine for Wire after assessing the dark-skinned woman's situation, and then getting the sling for Tox's injured shoulder. She had then, before the pain could settle in again, focused at least an hour or two on cleaning and rearranging her room.
Now, though, she had run out of things to do. She could work on her notes, but she felt discouraged. She sat on her bed, head in her hands, trying not to feel the waves of anguish that came over her. In the container, she had seen a ghost of her past, embedded into her skin, that was now recurring in her mind.
It hurt too much. She needed control. She needed to ground herself, to be a steady anchor in the terrifying sea. Her emotions were all over the place, but she needed to get control again.
That night, she skipped dinner and instead stayed in her room with a sharp friend, reverting back to a terrible habit that she had recovered from years ago.
Edited By Creativity on 10/1/2018 at 1:48 AM.
Britters
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Posted: 10/3/2018 at 1:20 AM
Post #173
The look on Necro's face triggered something deep inside of Flora. She sat there a moment, her body still pinning his down on the ground, trying to decide how to react to this new information. Everyone here had lives they had been ripped from. For some the compound was better than what they'd had, and for some...well, they had been torn away from actual happiness. She had always tried not to ask people which category they fell into because it simply didn't matter while they were all stuck here in the same situation. Now, though, how desperately she wanted to override her core value against prying...
"Hm?" she said absently, realizing she had been lost in her own thoughts and not paying attention, "Oh, yes, of course." She hurriedly picked herself up off of him, taking a seat in the ground.
For some reason, it never even occurred to Flora not to trust that he wouldn't make another run at the wall. She supposed part of thatched to do with knowing she could easily grab him and pin him back down again, but mostly she found that she just...trusted him. She wasn't quite sure why but she didn't question it. Ever since arriving here she had felt connected to him, and had always just assumed it had to with the fact t that he wreaked of mischief, much as her brothers had back home. It had been her mission of sorts to keep an eye on him.
"You know, Necro," she said, wrinkling her nose thoughtfully as she chose her words carefully, "If she's anything like you, then she'll be strong enough to survive until you get to her." She looked at him with an expression that was not judgement or pity, but simply...caring.
Yes, Flora had heard what he'd said, and she would say no more about it if Necro didn't wish her to. He had a daughter, and she felt a surge of sympathy for him, but she recognized that that wasn't what he needed from her right now. She didn't know the circumstances, didn't understand what precisely had caused his sudden bout of hysterics (as much as Necro ever got hysterical), but it had to do with his daughter and his thinking she was in trouble. Unfortunately, there was much either of them could do about that.
"Why don't we go get some dinner?"
Creativity
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Posted: 10/3/2018 at 10:21 AM
Post #174
The urgency that had been inflicted by Elvira was beginning to die down, and Necro felt a sense of depression settle in at all of his failed tries to escape. It didn't matter that Elvira had taken Cordula from him two years ago; he needed to be out of this compound and back in Austria in case something like this ever happened. He had a life that he wasn't ready to leave.
Although he had never been an entirely empathetic person, a voice in his mind reminded him that other probably had lives they weren't ready to leave, either. The voice reminded him vaguely of his mother, and the numbness returned to his chest. He hadn't seen her in thirteen years.
Flora tried to encourage him - obviously she had heard his low comment, but he wasn't sure he was thrilled about her knowing it. However, for some reason, her encouragement seemed to him almost like an insult, he thought as he stood. However much he preserved and appreciated his meager half-life, he would hope that his daughter would not have the same condition.
Yes, when she was first born, that was the first thing that he and Elvira checked, but Cordula was as healthy as any other baby.
He knew that Flora didn't mean it as an insult - she didn't know - and he pushed it to the back of his mind. "I've already eaten today," he shrugged. "But I could always keep you company, Engelskuchen," he reverted back to his playful self, dusting off his pants and running a hand through his hair to smooth it out.
Britters
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Posted: 10/3/2018 at 10:26 PM
Post #175
There was a level of relief which Flora felt upon seeing that Necro was being sincere when he said he would not attempt to climb the wall again. She also knew there were other emotions churning about in her mind and body, feelings she couldn't quite put a name to, but she would leave those mysteries for another day. Right now, she wanted to be able to keep an eye on Necro for as long as she could, and so if her only option was going to be to accept his company for dinner than she would concede. Oddly enough, the idea did not give her the same pause it would have a week ago.
"Very well," she said with an air of mock exasperation, giving him a wry smile which was accompanied by a sparkle in her dark cocoa eyes, "I shall be grateful for your company, good sir." She stood up, giving her hands and absentminded dusting off, for dirt had never bothered her.
The fact that there were so many things Flora didn't know about Necro had no bearing on her trust of him, she reasoned as they walked toward the food stations. It was part of her nature to want to know about people, to learn their stories, and she enjoyed every minute of it. She wanted to know Necro's stories, but he had to be ready to tell them. Patience was something she had in abundance and she would simply wait until she could learn all there was to know. The thought made her smile ever so slightly as she sat down at a table with her dinner.
"So, I've been giving some thought to your question earlier about paint," she said to him conversationally, figuring that a subject change might be best for now, "We can achieve just about any color in a way that can get you a watercolor effect, but we can also do thinks like black and grey as a thicker paint by mixing ground of charcoal from the fires and ash with egg yolks and a little water."
Creativity
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Posted: 10/3/2018 at 11:47 PM
Post #176
Necro was more than pleased when Flora changed the subject back to his previous question. In his haste to take care of his daughter, he had forgotten all about the pressing images and feelings from the Nether. It was kind of her to remember the silly question that he honestly could live without knowing the answer to.
Sometimes, though, there were experiences that he needed to express. He was no artist, and every painting he had ever completed was his attempt to express the Nether in the living world, and often looked more like a chaotic mess than actual artwork. But it was important for him to be able to get it out, to try to bring it to the real world, because otherwise the knowledge that he was the only one who would get to experience it in life was depressing.
Having apparently been asleep for a bit, Grizabella now wove around his feet as he walked and tried to trip him. After a moment, he just scooped her starved frame up and held her against his shoulder.
"Yes, I do tend to use more grayscale colors, so that would be perfect," he nodded in response to Flora. He glanced at her, observing her calm demeanor. He wondered, sometimes, how she could relax so easily. Were there not pressing things in life that she needed to worry about? Were there not places she wanted to go, a particular life she wanted to live? Did she think she was merely a puppet, a vessel for someone else's use?
The last thought saddened him, and he felt the urge to show her more of what he saw. "Paint is the best form I've found to express what I see and feel when I go to the Nether. That's what I call it, anyway. It's amazing there, Engelskuchen," he grinned at her. "It's like nothing you've ever experienced before. It's dark and warm and enriching. There's power everywhere."
Britters
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Posted: 10/4/2018 at 6:27 PM
Post #177
Between bites of food, Flora continued to politely observe Necro. He seemed more at ease than he had during...the incident, but she knew that he was just doing something she we adept at as well. From an early age she had found various ways of storing her problems in the back of her mind, where they could not effect her responsibilities to her family. She had put a lot of stuff in her "safe", as she called it, over the years. Her fears, her troubles, even her pain. She had grown so used to locking stuff away that she had stopped considering any other way of being.
"I was never much of an artist," she said, chewing thougtfully, "We weren't really encouraged to have hobbies outside of the farm, but my oldest sister liked to draw. I was more of a singer. My siblings were always asking me to sing their favorite songs while we all did our chores." She smiled softly, her eyes going a bit misty with nostalgia.
The love that Flora felt for her family was deep and sincere. She didn't have any resentment towards them for burdening her with so much. She had been raised to think of the family above all things, including herself. There had never been a time that she had done anything different. She cared for her younger siblings, kept her older siblings from bickering, and when her mother had taken ill...well, most of that part of her life was in the safe, out of sight and out of mind, but she had taken on more duties and kept the family together and as happy as she could. She would always consider the needs of others we more important than her own.
"I'm sure that it is," she replied, giving Necro a placating smile over her plate, "But I think I'll always prefer the living world." Reaching out a hand, she scratched Pele's head, enjoying the happy chittering the armadillo uttered at the affectionate touch.
Creativity
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Posted: 10/5/2018 at 12:19 AM
Post #178
(Timeskip three weeks)
"How do you attract a guy's attention?"
The weeks had been rough on Brain since her fallout with Tox. She had been alone for nearly her whole life, but never had she felt so lonely as she did without him now. She had developed a nasty night routine and now wore long sleeves and jeans for it. Not once in her life would she imagine she'd be where she was now, situated awkwardly in front of Jelly, asking the question that she just asked. "Holo, to be specific," she added.
Quickly, she averted her eyes to the ground as Jelly, who had wanted for years to "help" her, gaped in amazement. Brain had a small plan in mind, just something to take the pain of her feelings toward Tox away. Maybe she could force herself to develop feelings for someone else. The only problem was, she didn't have guys hanging at her ankles. But Holo was an easy guy who was single at the moment, and he was her best chance at entering a relationship.
"Oh, sweetheart," Jelly breathed, standing up with her hand quivering between solid and liquid state in excitement. "I have waited so long for this... Please. Please tell me that this means you'll let me give you a makeover. Get rid of those frames and... And put up your hair. Maybe some makeup to hide that awful dappling."
Swallowing hard, Brain gave her one nod, looking her in the eyes and trying not to present herself as terrified as she actually was. "That is exactly what I mean."
Britters
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Posted: 10/5/2018 at 2:44 AM
Post #179
Chaos was the enemy. That was the first rule Kicker had taught to Tox. He hadn't understood at first, but later he realized that without order everyone's chances of survival in this place dwindled down to almost zero. They needed rules and structure or else they would all be at each others throats constantly. His hotheaded nature hadn't wanted to conform, but the logic was sound and the results were hard to argue with. There would never be total peace and harmony, not with this many people of different backgrounds and cultures under these circumstances, but they got along comfortably enough.
When the mantle of leadership fallen upon his shoulders, Tox had taken what he'd learned from Kicker very seriously. He still kept his distance from all the others and maintained his perpetual air of anger, but he did his best to keep things orderly and smooth. The problem now was it had been weeks since he and Brain had been trapped in that shipping container. Crypt had moved on, turning her infatuation to some other poor sap, and Brain had been keeping herself even more isolated than usual. He desperately wanted to do the same, but he didn't have that luxury.
Unfortunately for everyone else...Tox's attitude had taken a turn for the worst. Fights had become more commonplace which meant the infirmary was busier than it almost ever had been. Meals had taken to coming later and later, and things in general had turned into a mess because no one cared about the chore list. All of this was because instead of trying to keep the peace and order of the compound, he had become the main source of the chaos. He was shouting all the time, getting furious at people for no good reason, and not taking the time to care when things didn't get done.
"Quit your sniveling and get back to work!" he snarled at a meek looking boy who had been carrying a load of firewood and had dropped the lot on his foot, "And you, I thought I told you we needed to try and stop this rain!" The poor young woman he was shouting at tried to explain to him that she couldn't control the weather and he realized he had made a mistake about her ability, but instead of apologizing he simply berated her until she began weeping. He stomped off, leaving her behind without so much as a glance.
Coiled around his arm as usual, Fang hissed furiously at Tox, but he ignored his familiar as he had been doing these last three weeks. He didn't want the serpent's advice or guidance. He was in pain, a heartbreaking, soul crushing amount of pain. He wanted Brain, he needed her with every fiber of his being, but she was like the forbidden fruit in his personal garden of Eden, and if he reached for her he would be letting evil things happen. He was the evil, the serpent, and he had to forget about her if he was to keep her safe from his poison. Of course, the more he tried to feel nothing for her, the more intense his feelings became and the more angry with the world he got.
"Why did I have to be such a fool?" he whispered to himself, running both hands through his vibrant hair, "Why did I have to let her in?" He growled in frustration, causing people who were nearby to find other places to be lest he turn his wrath upon them.
The truth was, as much as he wished to think otherwise, he had had no choice in the manner. By the time he realized what was happening it had been too late, his feelings for Brain already existed. If only he could turn back time...but even if he could would he really choose to have never experienced their first kiss? Their intimate conversation in the shipping container? Her telling him her middle name and the things she had endured? Did he really want to forget all of that? The answer was simple...
"No," he breathed into the wind, feeling suddenly weary and longing only to return to his bed.
Creativity
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Posts: 5,902
Posted: 10/5/2018 at 8:37 AM
Post #180
Brain ground her teeth in pain when Jelly unknowingly grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her to the latter's room. If anything, she reflected as she was sat down and Jelly began fussing, the state of her skin was a good enough marker of how awful these past few weeks had been for her.
Jelly wanted to start with clothes, but Brain vetoed anything with sleeves shorter than the last knuckle of her thumb. She reasoned it was because she had freckles on her shoulders and arms that she didn't want to show Holo because they were embarrassing and "ugly".
As Jelly began applying concealer with a practiced hand, Brain thought back to the past few weeks. It was true that she hadn't felt this fragile since she was falsely imprisoned for a crime she didn't fully commit. Every moment, it felt as if she was inches from falling apart, both physically, mentally, and emotionally. All of her old problems had settled in quite comfortably. She was constantly haunted by her regrets from that day, the next morning.
She wished she didn't feel this way. She wanted to be as indifferent towards Tox that she had been before the newest batch of arrivals, but even then, she realized, she had liked him. She just hadn't known it, and that position was certainly less agonizing than this feeling of knowing she liked him, but having basically been told that she was worthless to him.
Even at night, she was averaging three to four hours of sleep. Nightmares were keeping her up, and she kept reliving that moment, but ten times worse as per the routine of nightmares. She had dreamed that he had burned his own throat. That he had burned hers. That he had kicked her to the ground. That he had transformed into an actual snake and bit her.
This wasn't him, she knew. She had a good enough grasp on reality to know that none of this happened, nor would it happen. That just wasn't who he was. But they still made her wake up in a cold sweat, shivering and convulsing with fear.
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