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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 10:19:12 GMT -5
She sat early morning, beneath a willow not far from the recruit hall, needing some time to ponder over things. The eve before was quite strange as it unraveled, but something was making her uneasy as she bathed within the stream not far from the cottage. Having redressed, letting her curved figure be adorned with the softness of the ebon silk slip dress, her fingers moved along the hem as it rested just an inch above her knee. It was almost like the raised hem brought comfort to her thoughts as the motion was repeated, in reflection.
A bit high strung, she seemed hyper before Lance and [Drat] had come into the recruit hall. Conversations seemed a bit strange, but with her that was nothing new. As her mind raced with random thoughts, it was not uncommon to hear her say something out of the ordinary. It shocked her though, hearing [Drat] speak in anything other than his native tongue. Things got a bit weirder as time progressed into the void of night, and it wasn't until she woke from a slight nap that she noticed everyone had vanished. But with everyone gone, so was the gem that held a part of her soul now, which is what bothered her. Then again, it was no ones fault but her own. She let her curious nature get the best of her, and watched as [Drat] took her bra and created a gem, that held a piece of her soul.
Inside was the misty aura that held a piece of her essence. But as everyone had seemingly vanished from the realms, it worried her that the gem was nowhere to be found.
" This cannot be a good thing "
spoken aloud so only the tree could hear her. This was something unknown to her, the ways of the soul and how much influence one could have over another if they held that piece in the gem. Not knowing [Drat], she had no idea if he would misuse or abuse it. She hoped, for her sake, he wouldn't. It's not like they weren't part of the same guild or anything. Lance was watching as well, periodically watching between their conversation, so she knew she had not dreamt it. But what happens at this point? She honestly had no idea what to expect. And with that thought, her legs were hugged into her petite frame while eyes fluttered in their icy tone, trying to focus on the whole concept.
It was then the black panther, Abyss, appropiately named, laid by her side as it neared her, following her scent from the springs by the cottage. His ears twitched as she looked to him, and began to prepare to start the day; mentally.
"Abyss? Perhaps things seem unanswered, but you will make sure nothing happens, am I right?"
and with that, she unfolded her figure, and smiled to him beckoning him to follow her to the recruit hall.
" I have to find that gem."
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 10:34:32 GMT -5
Lance was just leaving the recruit hall... he always stopped in before his morning regimen of exercises for a quick fruit and granola breakfast. He finished his mind-numbing series of push ups and crunches, and then took off along his usual trail... which happened to be the main trail that led to the recruit hall.
Sweating, shirtless, and grinning a bit sleepily, he hurtled along the trail. At this time of the day, it was usually free of travelers, and for some reason, animals instinctively kept away from the lad.
He too couldn't help but think of the prior evening. So much weirdness. Dragon skeletons and winged men and corpses with detachable animate eyeballs, and then the transformation of Azalia's bra into a shard of her soul, followed by a length explanation by Drat of some of the workings of the soul... It hadn't even occured to him that the drow necromancer was speaking common, after he'd refused to several times before, he was so intrigued and creeped out by the happenings.
It was then that he spotted a figure in the distance... squinting, and wiping the sweat from his eyes, he grinned a bit less sleepily. There was Azalia! He sprinted hard up to her, and then stopped, jogging in place to keep his heartrate up.
"Heya, good mornin'."
He noted the look on her face and stopped his jogging... blinking.
"What's wrong?"
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 10:55:00 GMT -5
" Nothing is wrong per say. But do you remember when my bra was turned into that gem? Well I gave it to Drat to see what happens when someone holds a piece of another's soul. I actually asked for a reason, but at any rate. He has the gem now I think. You had left as I was waking last eve, and he was gone. I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing honestly."
The arch in her back, allowed her to lean into the willow's bark as Abyss sat quietly watching the new person. Sensing Lance was friend, not foe, Abyss would lay upon the ground waiting for her command to stay or go. Icy hues of jaded emerald watched Lance, in thought for a moment as she tilted her head.
" What is your opinion on this? I mean, I don't exactly know what could happen or if he intends on keeping it. But it does leave me wondering about how to approach all this. Who would think, a bra of all things..."
Lower lip was nibbled softly, as she folded her arms beneath her breasts against the slip dress, waiting to see what he thought of all this. If nothing more, it was proving to her a lesson and teaching her other ways to do her job better within the realm. It wasn't actually until she saw Lance, that everything kind of erupted to put things into words, maybe he could shed some light on all this.
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 11:09:47 GMT -5
Eyes would go a bit wide as she replied... And then his pale lips formed a frown.
"Honestly, I'm not sure what to think of him. Drow are by nature mean and sneaky... so really, if he has it, I doubt that it's for any mundane reason. But... well, he did help me out once, and he is a member of the Empire... so I doubt he'll like... kill you or anything."
His tone still expressed that, regardless of Drat's intentions, the odds were that anything he might do would probably be... creepy, to say the least.
"Do you feel strange or anything? Fever? Sweats? Chills?"
Eyes were narrowed in concern... The drow had, in effect, said that someone with the proper knowledge (which Drat obviously had) could do just about anything with a piece of someone's soul. He forced himself not to look worried, for her sake.
"We have to find him. You're sure he has it, right? I sort of dozed off for a while, and I'm really not to sure what happened after that."
He folded his narrow arms over his chest, his morning routine completely abandoned. He'd be sorry for it tomorrow... but this was just a bit more urgent.
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 12:23:35 GMT -5
Her head shook in a negative fashion, as she began to again ponder over things, trying to tell if anything seemed different or not. A curious glance up towards Lance, would cause a slight tilt of her head. Her eyes would focus on him questioningly, then move to Abyss again before her gaze set back on Lance once more.
" No, I feel fine other than a bit confused. Something is going on lately aside from this I just cannot seem to place my finger upon it all. It all started this morning again, but that is for another time. So question is, now what? I suppose I should just wait until I find him again."
With that, she pushed from her leaned position against the tree, and stretched her body slightly, mind still reflecting on things, as she nodded then to herself as if in answer to her own thoughts.
" What is bothering me, is I have no idea what to expect. At least if I knew, I would be fine with it. I would like the gem, just because of what it is. I do not fear him doing something really."
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 12:40:02 GMT -5
He nodded slowly... though he disagreed, somewhat. She may not be scared... but he would be worried. He spent the better part of a year as a "retainer" for a drow crimelord... and the things he'd seen and done during that particular stint left him leery.
"I guess that's all we can do... is wait. Do you know where he lives or something? I really have no idea what might happen... I'm pretty much inept when it comes to magical stuff, ya know?"
He scratched at his forehead... sparing a glance over to the panther. He hadn't even noticed it before, he'd been so wrapped up in the case of the missing gem. It was odd that the animal remained so close... because they generally shyed away from him.
"I take it the cats with you?"
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 12:52:23 GMT -5
" This is Abyss, my umm, pet I guess. Kind of like a companion but it's rare I bring him around. I think he followed my scent."
Crouching down, she scritched around his collar and gazed back up to Lance. Realizing she knew nothing about that guy or what his intentions were. It still did not really phase her though, everything had a means if you had will to change it. For the most part anyhow.
" I do not know who he is aside from a member of the guild. I have only seen him once or twice before and both times he kinda kept to himself. Seems harmless enough. Then again, my actions last night prove I'm not too concerned with matters of the flesh. Whatever happens happens I think."
Trying to convince herself, or him? Hmm couldn't be too sure on that one. Icy hues showed apathy and no emotion either way towards the scenario. She was more curious than anything and her impish ways would have her thinking it was some sort of 'game', despite the fact the outcome could be dangerous. At any rate, she watched Lance now with a curious gaze
" Don't let me interrupt you if you have things to do. I have been in and out of the hall all morning, trying to get some new members. Though half wishing he would come back in so I can figure out what he is doing."
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 13:08:51 GMT -5
"You uh... do realize that he's a drow elf, right?"
He blinked at her slowly. Did she really not care that much about her own well-being? If it were a piece of his soul that had gone missing, he'd be tearing apart anything that got in his way until he found it... but he was fairly maniacal and possessive, so that was a given.
"I mean... this could be really serious, Zalia. If he tosses the gem into the ocean and waves his hand around, you could suddenly find yourself being crushed to death and drowning. You seem sort of... nonchalant. Like this happened to you all the time..."
He paused, lifting an eyebrow quizzically.
"This doesn't happen to you all the time, does it?"
Genuine frustration etched itself into those youthful features. If she wasn't going to worry about it, then that burden fell to him... and if there was anything he excelled at, it was exacerbating any general emotion to the point of frenzy.
"I don't have anything to do at all, except for help you find that gem."
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 14:30:45 GMT -5
" I guess so. But I do not understand what that means entirely. I mean, we are in the same guild...wait....Lance what do you mean about the ocean thing?"
At this point her eyes would widen their icy gaze a bit, thinking back on what he had said. This was something that she had no idea how to handle with Lance seeming so intent on making her aware of the possible danger. Hmmm, with these thoughts, she rose back to her feet, and lifted the slip dress she wore up just past her navel
" No, I am not flashing you, ignore my thong a moment and look at my navel. You kinda act like my brother so I trust you. When I was two, this mark was etched into my flesh. The tail ends where my thong covers. At any rate, The guy put this stone within the dragons eye. Not a piercing, but almost like, embedded it within my skin. In a small chain around his neck, he holds a gem, almost like what Drat did, only its bluish in hue and holds a part of my soul. He said it was so no matter what I do, he will always hold onto me. Is this kind of the same thing?"
Some time ago, she learned how to cover the mark, so she could expose her stomach. Sometimes she let people see it, after all, it looked much like a black outline rather than burn. But, she never knew what the dragon meant, or what it meant if someone had a piece of another's soul. That would be the reason behind asking Drat, as well as her curiosity of what could happen, and thinking she would be right there to retrieve it, she trusted him. Mistake?
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 14:38:17 GMT -5
He studied the mark for as long as budding embarassment would allow. He would let the remark that he was like a brother slip by... the idea of family was one almost totally foreign to him. He simply liked Azalia, and would probably be sad and angry if anything happened to her. Why did people have to attach titles and concepts to feelings like these? It only served to confuse him further, considering he had only just realized that other people might be worth more than the effort it took to destroy them.
"He told me that someone who has a part of another person's soul could do pretty much whatever they wanted, so long as they know how. Sort of like voodoo, he explained it. It's sympathetic magic, I guess. What happens to the soul piece happens to you..."
This was all murmured thoughtfully, but he trailed off as he realized something.
"Wait... you mean someone ELSE has a piece of your soul too?"
Blinking.
"That's probably significant, though I can't begin to imagine how. As far as Dratrokoth's motives..."
He shrugged those narrow shoulders.
"I don't know. He mentioned that he could make a clone... and he seemed to be interested in using your bones for something. Maybe he'll make a clone... kill it... and turn the bones into some sort of servant or something. I really am talking out of my ass here... I'm in way over my head as far as the metaphysics of this go."
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 14:54:44 GMT -5
It was not so much a label, just a way for her to tell him she trusted him. But lowering the dress again she pondered a moment and nodded her head, icy hues fluttering slightly as her hands found the curve of her waist.
" It has to do with my past, but I just figured it was kinda of relevant for you to know I was not being insane with my trust last night, I just needed to know for myself really. And now this....Lance? I do not honestly believe he would kill me at all. Maybe maim me a bit. But I think there are rules within the government about killing someone in your guild or something. I....need to try and remember that part."
Abyss would rise from laying down, moving away to trace about the recruit, as she moved her hands, rather antsy all of a sudden due to the nature of the conversation. Looking towards the hall, then back to Lance, she nibbled her lower lip slightly.
" Have you noticed something odd going on around us? Like something is lingering within the realms and trouble is brewing?"
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 14:59:37 GMT -5
All he could do was cock his head slightly and stare at her.
"I... I don't know. I'm not really attuned to that sort of thing. And I've been so wrapped up in my training that I probably wouldn't notice something like that. Besides... I just got here a few weeks ago. Has it changed since then?"
He was always just a little paranoid, and so the immediate thought was that it was somehow his fault... He knew that there was no way he could be responsible for something like that, consciously, but he still tended to leap to the conclusion that he was at fault almost immediately.
"Trouble is always brewing though... and if it isn't brewing, it's boiling. What do you mean though?"
He narrowed those slate blue eyes at her and moved to lean against a nearby tree as well... wary not to accidentally step on the panther's tail.
"Like... give me an example."
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 15:08:20 GMT -5
" Maybe things are just changing in general. Maybe I am paranoid. But something does not seem right and I do not understand what it is. Maybe it is me, maturing into what I am. There are a thousand different things."
She shrugged then, watching him as he leaned, and her eyes roamed to quickly locate Abyss as he sat outside the hall. A million miles of running, each thought taking it's own trek as her head lightly throbbed from the conflicting thoughts and emotions. It was then, something dawned on her.
" Is that why he said I have a nice bone structure? That is the FIRST time someone has ever said that line to me."
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Post by lance on Aug 25, 2006 15:18:49 GMT -5
He nodded slowly... he'd really just gone through a personal transformation himself, and for a few days, it had felt like the world was coming to an end.
"It could be that. The maturing thing you said. That kind of happened to me... and it can leave you feeling really unsure of everything and everyone around you. But..."
He paused, frowning. It wasn't exactly easy for him to talk like this.
"I'm sure it'll be okay. I mean... if I could deal with it... I'm sure you can."
He paused again.
"But you never know. There could be some validity to your idea that something is stirring up discontent. When we find the drow, we can ask him about that too."
He managed a thin smile to her... he really did believe what he said... that if he could do it, she could. They had a bit in common, and so it wasn't out of the question that she might be going through upheavals of her own. If it were the old Lance that had found her, he would have been telling awful jokes rather than attempting to help.
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Post by azalia on Aug 25, 2006 15:26:19 GMT -5
" Oh, yeah the gem. Hmmm Maybe he is harmless and just likes my soul. And bones, and fangs.....eh Im seeing a pattern here. Though the whole altar and body thing I would so let him do. Just to see if what he said was true"
Ok, She was always a bit careless with herself for some reason. Probably why Sebastian and a few others were so protective of her. She had no regard for her well being. But, such is her way of rebelling in a sense. A hand moved, fingernail tracing against her bottom lip in thought as she stretched slightly, and then refolded her arms.
" Maybe he will simply return the gem later. I hope it did not get lost. Hmmm this is making me uneasy now."
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