Role-playing page for pg. 137!

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Role-playing page for pg. 137!

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Mz.Hyde

Mz.Hyde

@disqus_NnFUI30kih a year ago

Hey Henry I have a great idea to make everyone pay attention to you again!

Why don't you.....

FAKE YOUR OWN DEATH?!

It's an ingenious way! You can just write it off as an accident and everyone will be all over you like this cat!

https://youtu.be/y648zJ1TNEA

ITS FOOLPROOF!

Cat sees owner "drowning" his reaction is unexpected

Cant get any cuter than this people

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Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

((The Fox Jekyll1886 Lewis is home! Yay! :D))

Fox:

Malemi listened intently, his demeanor shifting from inquisitive to intense worry.

Never in his right mind could he have imagined the sheer amount of sh*t Lewis had to go through, especially for some lodger who started all the trouble. Combine that with the fact that he had to deal with what he could only imagine as Ancients and greater...

A cold pit formed in his stomach just at the thought. How Weir kept his courage through all of it was beyond him.

Still, he was glad to have Lewis back. Malemi just wished he could've been of help in any way, though he doubted that would've been the case.

He lapped his tea quietly, ears tucked back in quiet thought.

86:

Lewis apologized for being so late in getting back, but explained he'd found himself in Germany without the right currency. He had sent a telegram as soon as he'd been able, though he didn't know whether it had gotten through. He'd slept in barns and railway stations, stowing away on trains until he reached a port and could get a ship back with his pounds sterling. He also apologized for the smell, and vowed to go get a shower.

Response:

"Weir, if you keep at this whole 'sorry' business, I'm going to throw a fork at your head. It's not as if you were trying to get stranded in another country." Hela chuckled, pretending to take aim with her silverware, "And the telegram got here, and while it raised quite a few questions, it was nice to know you'd probably be coming back at some point."

Relief and sympathy had softened her demeanor, affection shinning through her light teasing.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

Lewis had to laugh at that. He held off on saying "sorry" for apologizing so much.

"I'm a bit like a bad penny that way," he said with a smile.

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

" It would help if you didn't try your luck so much. "

A worried look crossed Malemi's face.

" There's little I...W-we can do if you get stuck between worlds or caught. "

His tail swung side to side, an obvious sign of the cat's unease.

( Jekyll1886 I think? Since I got skipped? )

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Jekyll1886  The Fox • a year ago

((Oh I'm sorry; brain is not working today. I stole your turn, so I think Helen Jekyll is next))

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago

Hela glanced to Malemi, then returned her gaze to Lewis, setting her fork back on the table.

“I hate to admit this, but the cat is right... You’ve gotta stay close, or at least drag me with you.”

((To get things back on track, The Fox could go, or we can continue with this and have Jekyll1886 go?))

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The Fox  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

( Jekyll1886 can go next! )

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"I erroneously assumed Charricthran was in London," said Lewis with a hapless shrug. "I shan't make that mistake again," he vowed with a look of chagrin.

Still, he was touched by their concern.

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"I should hope so. "

Malemi sniffed with a determined look.

" If not, I'd have to drag you home myself! "

A purr.

" You have no scruff so I'd have to manage with just your collar. "

( Helen Jekyll )

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago

Hela had to stifle a snicker at that mental image.

“I’d like to see you try and drag Lewis anywhere he doesn’t want to go—he’s not a helpless kitten.”

((Jekyll1886))

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

Lewis chuckled at everyone's words and the image they brought to mind. Still, he did appreciate their concern.

"I even have opposable thumbs," he remarked, wiggling his fingers as he rose from his chair. He made a show of picking up his plate with one set of fingers and thumb, then extended his other hand out to Hela and Malemi to take up their dinnerware.

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

" So do I. "

Malemi stuck his thumbs up with a joking smirk before handing his plate to Lewis purring. He finished up his tea with a soft gulp and licked his lips clean.

With a sniff, he looked to Hela.

" Are you still drinking your tea? "

( Helen Jekyll )

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago • edited

“Why?” asked Hela with a slight chuckle, dipping her finger into her cup and stirring what liquid remained, “Do you want it?”

((Jekyll1886))

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

Weir laughed at Malemi's comment.

"Very true."

He took the plate handed him by Malemi and set it atop his own before collecting Hela's.

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

" No, I was just going to take my cup to the sink. "

He looked in Weir's cup before taking it.

" Though I will finish it if you don't.

No use wasting tea and all. "

( Helen Jekyll )

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago

"Hm, sorry, beast," She said, lifting the cup to her lips, "This is all mine."

With that, she drained the rest of the tea, before turning it over in one hand.

"Lewis, how much does one of these cups cost? Or do you have to buy them in a set?"

((Jekyll1886))

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"That cup is part of a set," returned Lewis as he took the plates to the sink to wash them. If it gets broken, I'm down a cup.

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Malemi took his and Weir's cup to the sink, his tail snatching Hela's with a swift curl.

" do you have a tea set yourself? "

An ear turned to Hela.

( Helen Jekyll )

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago

A snarl rose to her throat when the cup was taken, though she swallowed it with merely an annoyed huff.

“I don’t, which is why I want to play with Weir’s.”

((Jekyll1886))

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"You could always use the spare set at the Society," Weir suggested as he began washing the plates.

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Malemi put the cups in the sink with a mischievous smile, a little proud that his trick worked.

The two began to chat so he kept quiet for the moment. With a leap, he took his normal seat on the window and settled down with a yawn.

( Helen Jekyll )

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago

“‘Tis not the same, unless I get someone watching to squirm a bit,” She sighed dramatically, stepping into the kitchen to watch Lewis, “Besides, even if I broke it, I could just give you the money to buy a new set... which, granted, ruins a bit of the fun if you know that.”

((Jekyll1886))

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

That drew a guffaw from Lewis as he set the first clean plate aside to dry.

"Well," he conjectured, "I suppose you could threaten to break the Society's in front of either co-founder and give him an expense-related heart attack."

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Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

" Better yet.

Why not steal for a time, then return it when they least expect? "

( Helen Jekyll )

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Helen Jekyll  The Fox • a year ago • edited

Hela snickered at both suggestions.

“Ah, while former would likely not help my relations with Lanyon, I’d so love to see that... The latter would give me the chance to play hero, which I’m not entirely certain I’d want.”

She fell silent a moment.

“Do you think it could help with the Lodger’s thoughts on me?”

((Jekyll1886))

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

Weir inclined his head to the side as he thought on that.

"Probably," he concluded with a nod as he washed the second plate.

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Jekyll1886  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

((The Fox ))

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The Fox  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

( Helen Jekyll can go next! Malemi is probably gonna keep quiet for the rest of the conversation and listen in. )

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Tairais • a year ago

(( chatterghosts Ballrooms, espionage, and dancing- Oh my!

Tairais:

In many ways, this ball was just the same as any other: The majority of what was said was gossip and half-truths, with a large amount of empty words and meaningless flattery woven into the ceaseless tapestry of conversation. It was a living thing, this tapestry, and it wove and wound its way through the silverlit room.

Strangely enough, though this Circle of Courts was centered in Venice, the majority of the ballroom's inhabitants spoke in English, accented or otherwise. It made the room full of whispering sound familiar, at least.

A small comfort, but a comfort no less.

For the most part, the Fae in attendance spoke of politics: Who had said what, who had what claims to what thrones and what this meant for business and trade and culture as they knew it.

There was, however, a small wealth of information to be found in those discussing the increasing frequency of the acqua alta- for Charricthran, at least.

The two fox-masked Fae hovered at the edges of the ballroom floor, leaning close together as if in whispered conference.

Their bright-colored companion was nowhere to be seen. ))

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

Elias gazed around to try and spot where Charricthran had disappeared among the crowds of Fae, drawing comfort in the protection of his mask and allowing himself to listen - to properly absorb the pull of the whispers around him. So caught up in drama, these—

His heart came to a stuttering halt as he glimpsed at two particular Fae who lingered at the floor, the beat soon picking back up in the pits of his lungs.

Three measured breaths, and then he faced the crowd, attempting to pull what visibly remained of his face into some semblance of detachment and composure. He tried his best to match the movements of the people around him as he strode across the floor. Don’t eat, don’t drink, don’t say something typical of yourself, don’t give your name. Don’t eat, don’t drink...

Calmly, to whoever was closest to him and seemed at least decently sociable, Elias said, “Now, I’m not one for formality myself, but this is quite the gathering.”

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

The woman Elias was closest to had hair the color of flames, radiating red to orange to gold-brown at the tips. It was held back with a number of braids done into a larger braid that fell midway down her back. Her outfit and mask were rather subdued in comparison to her contemporaries: she wore a simple white Columbina mask decorated with swooping, shining silver filigree, and her white suit was stylized with similar swooping silver lines that looked as if smoke rolled across the bleached expanse.

She also held a goblet of what could only be heady wine in her hand, and seemed intent on drinking herself into a stupor. The many silver piercings in her pointed ears caught the light like dewdrops on dark grass. Her ebony black skin shone like the darkness of a beautifully clear night as she laughed the sound of starlight.

"No one's really on formality here, dear: it's all a matter of pretending until people get what they want."

Violet eyes twinkled like amethysts under her mask.

"I can't say I've ever heard your voice at one of these before. Visiting dignitary, or brave mortal? Don't worry- I won't tell. Like I'd give gossip to one of those stuck-ups. You should've seen the fit half of them threw when I showed up in a suit; never you mind the fact half o' the buggers are wearin' dresses."

She chuckled again and shook her head.

"But you didn't come to hear me rant, did you? No one bothers with small talk unless they want something. What's your poison? I'm called Nocturna, if you were curious to know. If you haven't picked a name for the night, I suggest you think before you open your mouth. Autumn and Spring are on the prowl tonight."

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

Elias’ face, thankfully, didn't betray the internal hiss of several curses that streamed along his mind.

“I suppose I’m just chatting because that’s what everyone else is doing,” he said curtly, golden eyes glittering with an indescribable feeling. “I’m called Valentine. It’s a pleasure, Nocturna.”

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

"Oh I assure you, the pleasure is mine indeed, Valentine. You wouldn't be the first to resort to idle chatter in an attempt to fit in. Looking for any sort of chatter in particular? I'm bored out of my mind, so I'm feeling fair charitable. It'll be a gift, no strings attached, no catches."

Nocturna shrugged and knocked back the rest of her wine, wincing with distaste.

"Damn Spring idiots don't know a good wine if it up and bit them on the foot." She muttered.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

Though he didn’t voice it, Elias trusted Nocturna’s sentiment as far as he could throw the woman herself. He didn’t place his faith in her more than he had anyone else in this room - Fae, as he’d met them in his life thus far, were merely a shifty and nearly avaricious lot.

“I’d assume from the... colors,” he said with a vague wave of a hand, trying to indicate the many shades of Nocturna’s hair, “you’re of the Autumn Court?” Is there a particular reason you dislike the Spring Court so much? he thought but didn’t say. “It must be interesting, that.”

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

Nocturna cackled, though it was soft and muted from within the confines of the goblet.

"Gods no! Close enough, though- I'm of the Night Court, for all that's worth. Patrons of sex, alcohol, drugs, secrets, murder- all the stuff that's too bawdy, flashy, sensual and whatnot for the politeness o' Day. Or, as I like to call it, the patrons of not giving a f*ck about the other Courts."

She snickered again, thoroughly amused, then tilted her head.

"Technically I'm supposed to be the ambassador between Dawn and Night, but Dawn wants nothing to do with Night anymore, so." She waved a hand in mimicry of Elias with a smirk.

"Still interesting though, yes. Quite a bit more than the Autumn Court- sure, they like a party, but they've gotta do it with taste and class."

She said taste and class with the vehemence usually attributed to thoughts of taxes or paperwork.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

Thank God the mask hid the blooming flush on Elias’ cheeks. To be fair, though, Night sounds just about in my expertise.

“I apologize for misinterpreting your...” He seems to wave his fingers as if the words would come to him then, settling inarticulately for, “...you know.” Quickly clearing his throat, he adds, “Anyhow, right, well - I feel as if I’m prying, so I’ll ask no more. It was nice to meet you, Nocturna.”

Take her for the wrong Court and then run off like a coward. Very funny, Elias.

Shut it. You know as little about how to talk to her as I do.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

Nocturna chuckled merrily.

"A pleasure to meet you as well, Valentine. Try not to let them eat you up, yes?"

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

“I’ll try,” he said with a smile. He turned to stalk off further into the crowd.

Wh- where are you going? That woman was perfectly pleasant as is, talking to us as she was! She, most probably unlike the rest of these people, wasn’t hostile or—

Do you ever know how to stop talking? That little thing wasn’t going to get us anywhere. And- I can’t just— you know I have a— w-well, you know.

What do you mean, I know? I don’t kn—

Oh my God. Oliver started to cackle, a bright and uninhibited laugh cutting through his thoughts like a knife.

Elias scoffed to himself, trying to wipe the embarrassed scowl off his face as he went further into the ballroom.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

The ballroom was largely indifferent to Elias' embarrassment (though one or two gave him curious, perhaps even bemused glances).

The music swelled as if in time to Elias' departure, carrying a number of individuals to the dance floor proper. It was a jaunty sort of tune, leading many of the Fae in a dizzying sort of foxtrot-like dance, if the foxtrot were inclined to take lessons from flamenco dancing and Irish step dancing.

The ballroom floor became a whirlwind of color, the bright-costumed Fae that had followed their merry trio among them. It was an entrancing sort of whirlwind that called for all to join in, laughing and giggling and chasing the colors of springtime.

Those two foxes did not heed that call, merely watched the proceedings from the corner of the ballroom opposite Nocturna, opposite Elias and his fleeing steps.

The strains of some sort of chiming violin sang out a melody with the voice of a bubbling stream, bringing to mind reaching for great heights and smears of light and dark against a warm night sky.

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chatterghosts  Tairais • a year ago

Elias weaved his own path away from the dizzy song and dance that everyone save himself seemed to know. Much as he wished to pursue whatever information these people may have, he’d gotten a sense of defeat walking from Nocturna: his strange appearance here was transparent, and his mortality was all but certain, was it not? If nothing else, perhaps hiding in a corner would allow him to listen to the gossip, since the Fae surrounding the ballroom floor had thinned out when the music rose.

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Tairais  chatterghosts • a year ago

It was from the shadows of a nearby pillar that Charricthran pulled himself free from listening walls, a small grimace hidden behind his stark white bauta mask.

He now wore a set of shimmering black robes and a simple tricorn hat, the only other mark of color on his person the deep blue feather that almost bobbed in time to the music as he made his way to where Elias stood.

He took a glass of wine in hand and moved to stand by the kid, keeping his voice low but otherwise unaltered.

"How's it shakin'? Meet anyone interestin', find anythin' out?"

He'd rather not point Elias in the direction he'd found, but he could no longer go down that path- it'd need to be a neutral party.

Ah, politics. How I've missed ya.

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Helen Jekyll • a year ago

((Jekyll1886, here's the response for the Note!))

"It'd be for the best," agreed Hela on him staying put, squeezing his hand.

She exhaled quietly, the sound rich with warmth and affection.

"He's been great, he's all growing up now, can't really keep him in my palm anymore... The little guy has always been a stubborn fellow, but now I think he's really figuring things out on his own."

A chuckle.

"He acts as if he could do without me, and that it's an honor to serve him."

Another loving sigh.

"It really is, though. I wouldn't give him up for anything."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"I know the feeling," he said fondly, returning the squeeze. "He really is a darling little fellow. I admire his spirit."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

“Is that why you got him?” She wondered, stroking Leo with her free hand absentmindedly, “You picked him out, right?”

The cat purred and arched his back into the touch, making her smile.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

A stifled chuckle.

"Hela, love...I'm not speaking solely of the rabbit."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Confusion crinkled her brow, and though it couldn’t be seen with her back to him, it rang in her voice.

“What do you mean?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"I admire your spirit, Hela," he affirmed as he hugged her close. "You're dearer to me than Lepus to you."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“That... isn’t possible,” frowned Hela, reflecting on her own affections for the rabbit.

She cupped her hands before her as if holding the younger Lepus.

“He was so small... and he loved me, even though I’m this big mean ‘ol human...”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Well I certainly don't love you less," he said fondly.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela laughed slightly at that, as if he'd told her a turtle could fly if it believed hard enough, and tipped her head back to peer up at him.

"I still think you underestimate how much I care for Lepus--he's my furry partner in crime, I've got his back and he'll watch out for me, in his own way."

"He means the world to me, I'd give my life for him. He could find someone else to take care of him, but I couldn't go without the little guy."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"In that case..." he said, peering down at her with a loving smile, "I think you underestimate how much I care for you."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A snort.

“You can’t love me as much as a rabbit, I don’t even have the fluffy ears and tail.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

A little laugh.

"You don't need them."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

“You’re just saying that so I don’t go and try to get myself turned into one.”

She grinned.

“Admit it, you’d prefer me as a rabbit or fox or what have you, rather than me now.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Would you prefer me as a fox? Or a hound?" he asked with a chortle.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“I dunno, maybe. You’d be a great deal softer then, and—“ Her eyes twinkled with excitement as a thought occured— “I’d be taller than you by a lot.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He chuckled.

"If it makes you feel any better, do know I was rather runty as a lad--even into my early adolescence."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“Sweet of you to share, but I can’t exactly go back and terrorize the wee younger you,” She snickered quietly.

A beat.

“You never said if you’d want me as a beast or not.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Only if you wanted to be one," he replied.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A laugh. “What kinda answer is that? You can’t want it just because I do.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"I certainly can, if it would make you happy," he said with a mild smile, a twinkle with just a hint of slyness to it in his eye.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

“Ah, but that’s no fun! ...well, not unless you’re offering to help me give it a try.”

Hela gave him a light shove as she sat back up, stretching her arms out in front of her with a chuckle.

“I don’t even know if I would enjoy it, anyhow.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He was briefly startled by the shove, then fell into a little laughing jag.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

She glanced back to him, unable to help but laugh a bit as well.

“What? What is it?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"You, ah...remind me of myself."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A tip of her head, followed by a slight smirk. “Which one?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"'Edward' with John. When I was happy about something." A wistful smile. "I'm afraid I shoved him right off the sofa."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

She laughed once more, but the sound was quieter.

“I can’t picture it.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He quirked his head ever so slightly.

"Why not?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A half shrug. “Haven’t really seen... you happy like that, I guess. Or can’t remember it.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He nodded. Sighed through his nose.

"I..." A sigh. "I'm afraid I was...all business, in Glasgow."

He thought a moment.

"I was happy briefly on Halloween, but...I suppose by then the mere sight of me like that must've..." Another sigh, regret and sorrow patent though he tried to mute them. He blinked a few times, eyes moist and mouth not entirely firm, though he tried to hold a stiff upper lip.

A few breaths later, and he'd collected himself enough to avert his gaze and get out, "I know no apology can undo it, Hela. I know." He shook his head.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela was quiet for a long while, simply letting his words and emotion sink in.

“I can’t seem to forgive you, stupid as it is,” She began softly, “I don’t know if it’s because I don’t know how or a Hyde just isn’t able to or...” She trailed off, shutting her eyes.

“I thought if I forgot instead, it would help... But that’s what had been slowly killing the doctor...”

A shaky breath in... and out.

“Where can we go that I can fire a gun without having to worry about any messy business?”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He thought about that, his eyes darting back and forth as he ran through possible venues.

Glasgow?

Out. Bad experiences there for her.

Liverpool? Manchester?

No. 'Don't control the police.

The flat?

The noise. And Malemi won't be pleased.

Edinburgh.

No, no. Not secure.

Somewhere soundproof.

Ask Lucy?

No--don't know if they have the resources to even have such a room.

Griffin?

Last resort only--the less he knows, the better. 'Don't want to owe him in case he turns.

Roland?

Roland.

"I...know someone who has a place."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

She gave him a questioning look but seemed to try and shake it off a moment later.

He always has his ways, no need to get into it all.

"Well, I suppose you'll be needing to take the lead, then," said Hela as she stood up from the bed, "I'll just... grab some things."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He nodded and rose from the bed.

"I'm afraid I can't go out looking like this. Roland--er, my contact--wouldn't recognize me." The way he said the name, it sounded French, not English.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A sound between a chuckle and sigh.

“I know. Do what you have to—I’ll live, somehow.”

She shifted through a small pile of papers on her desk, taking one already creased rather heavily and folding it once more before tucking the square into her back pocket.

“The middle ground isn’t so bad... it’s only when it seems to start favoring one side over another for whatever reason that I start to get uneasy.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"I'll do my best to hew more toward this state, then, if I must skew one way or the other. Until we're in the soundproof room."

A pause as he met himself in the middle. He held out his hand to check it.

"There we are."

He regarded Hela.

"There is one little caveat--you may have to be blindfolded briefly, to and from the room, to ensure you won't know precisely where it is. Roland is a careful man."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"I... think I can tolerate that, so long as I know I'm still with you," She replied, leaning back to rest against the desk, "Keep talking, and I should be fine."

An exhale as she tried to dispel her nerves.

"That's everything, then, yeah?"

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He nodded.

"We'll have to drop by my flat for the gun," he thought aloud, "but, other than that, yes. I do believe so."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"Ah, right. Let's head out, grab that, and get this over and done with."

Preferably before I lose what little confidence I have, She added silently, though she was hesitant to voice the thought.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

They went to Weir's flat, where he collected and concealed the firearm, then walked east into Soho. On the north side of Soho Square, a restaurant by the name of Chez Pierre lay between the Velvet Orchid--a house of ill repute--and the French Protestant cathedral.

Lewis spoke with the maître d', who led Hela and Weir to a back hallway. Hela was instructed to wait there while Lewis spoke with Marguerite, better known as Madame L'Amoreaux.

After a relatively quick back-and-forth in French, Lewis and Marguerite emerged, the latter giving Hela a visual once-over.

With a very casual shrug, she gave her approval and said something more, to which he nodded. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and twirled it into a blindfold.

"Madame L'Amoreaux speaks for my contact," he told Hela, "and has approved the request. You will, as predicted, have to wear this, but she's given me permission to guide you to the room myself."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela followed instruction without protest, though the woman’s inspection was met with a clenching of her jaw.

“Must be nice, being trusted,” She grumbled once Lewis explained, “Ah, well... just don’t walk me into anything.”

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Never fear," he reassured, and tied the blindfold around her head.

Marguerite disappeared back into the office.

Lewis laced his left arm about Hela's shoulders in order to guide her, placing his right hand on her right upper arm for good measure.

"This way," he said, steering her gently as they walked along.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

She grit her teeth and tried to keep her stride natural, despite her inability to see.

"I hate this already, couldn't someone just count steps to find the way to the bloody room, even without looking?" hissed Hela under her breath, leaning her weight back against Weir in hopes of keeping better balance.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"That's a good point--best hope the madam didn't overhear you," said Lewis quietly, only half-joking.

"In truth," he revealed as he guided Hela around a corner, "I imagine it's simply protocol. She has to be able to tell her brother, Roland, she followed procedure, given she's never met you before."

They stopped, and Lewis let out a sigh at the prospect before them.

"I'm afraid we've come to some stairs. Do you want to feel your way down, or shall I carry you?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

Hela had to stifle a groan.

Of course there's stairs, why wouldn't there be? It's not like anything is ever so easy as walking a few steps down a hallway.

"That depends on how likely it is you'll drop me," She replied after a moment in a low voice heavy with resignation, "And if anyone else is around..."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"No one else is about," he answered, opening the door to the stairway.

"And, I assure you, I shan't drop you--though, if you're concerned, you could always cling to my back like a koala to a tree."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"None of my options sound appealing," as usual.

She sighed.

"...Alright, I'll let you carry me however's best, but I swear on the stars above and by hellfire below that if you even pretend to almost drop me, I will find a way to make you pay."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Duly noted. I believe the piggyback option would be the best bet, given the narrow nature of this stairwell. Allow me to stand in front of you and bend at the knees."

This he did.

"Whenever you're ready."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"God, this is worse than the time in the bathroom," She said in a soft whine, the loss of direct support causing her to wobble nervously.

Hela placed her hands on the back of his shirt to orient herself when he gave her the go ahead.

"This has to be the stupidest thing I have ever done."

With that, she attempted to clamber onto his back, clinging quite desperately to him once she'd done so.

Hateithateithateithateit--

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

What time in the--

Oh. He recalled their visit to the alien planet for Mz. Hyde's birthday party. A slug-like creature had made the floor a mess, and Hela'd been barefoot.

"At least there's no slime this time," opined Lewis, going down a step, turning and locking the door, and turning to face forward again. They got down the stairway without incident.

It opened out into a basement hallway.

"It's safe to slide off now," he informed her, "though I'm afraid the blindfold has to stay on. 'Won't be long, though."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela carefully got back to her feet, one hand still firmly grasping the fabric of his shirt.

"I am going to lose my bloody mind with this thing on-- hurry and get us there already, please."

Despite the somewhat snappish order (or, perhaps, her foul-mood was what gave it away), she was rather obviously shaken by her lack of sight.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"Will do."

Weir guided her down the hall, then stopped and unlocked a door. They stepped through; he closed and locked it afterward. There was the click of Lewis's lighter, followed by the sound of something burning.

"You may remove the blindfold."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"Thank the gods," She breathed, tearing off the handkerchief and blinking hard as her eyes adjusted to the light again.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

The only light in the room came from a brazier nearby. The room itself was plain and rather unremarkable...save for some manacles, leg irons, and chains attached to the walls. There was no furniture at all.

Lewis retrieved the gun and handed it to Hela.

"Here you are."

He removed his waistcoat, folded it, and set it on the floor.

"Do let me know where you want me to stand, and when you're ready to begin."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela fell silent once she held the weapon, its familiar weight bringing to mind the last time she had shot another.

...

How well that had ended for her.

"If... you're standing up, you'll fall," She reminded quietly after a moment, lifting her gaze at last from the gun to peer at him, "You'll hit your head on the ground."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"True. Let me get into position. I'll try to transition just before you pull the trigger, so once I've lain down, do please give me a countdown so I can time things properly."

He crossed the room and sat down on the floor.

"Fair warning," he addressed Hela. "Once the deed is done, look all you like at first, but do get across the room from me within...I'd say a half-hour's to two hours' time, depending on how extensive the damage is. You'll find my pocket-watch in my waistcoat."

He lay down.

"If there's nothing else, begin the countdown when you're ready."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"Is the last second change for my comfort, or my safety?"

Hela checked and double checked the gun, pausing ever so often to steady her trembling hands.

Cold was seeping into her veins, though she couldn't tell if it was numbness or fear.

"And... I'll stay back..."

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Comfort," he answered immediately. "I can time it differently if you wish. You'll be safe either way.

"The request to stay back before I come back is due to the tendency of instinct to return before higher thought. The distance will give us the time we need for conscious control to return."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A glance to Lewis.

"I would like to see who it is I'm shooting before I fire..."

"Besides," She continued with an abrupt chuckle, "If you shift so suddenly, you might spook me and throw off my aim."

I don't want to miss something vital and have to fire twice.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Fair enough," he agreed.

He exhaled, closed his eyes...and it was done.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela drew in a sharp breath.

A beat, and she forced herself to let it out slowly.

This is it.

Warily approaching where he lay on the ground, she dropped to one knee, aiming the barrel of the gun at the side of his head.

Her voice wavered. “Don’t take too long coming back.”

With that, she steadied her hand, and fired.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

Just do it alread--

His thoughts cut off abruptly as bits of bone, blood, and brain spattered the wall, the floor, and Hela.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

A violent shudder wracked her body and Hela staggered back to her feet, her gasps for breath loud as thunder in her ears.

NononoItakeitbackI'msorrymakeitstopplease--

Her back hit against the wall of the room, causing her to stop and go rigid.

Ididn'tmeanforthistohappenpleasemakeitgoaway!

Black spots flickered to life in her vision, and she squeezed her eyes shut to clear them--

...

It felt like she had only blinked before she found herself sitting up from the floor, the side of her head throbbing.

A gun lay before her where she'd left it in her instinct to distance herself from what she'd done, along with the corpse of her only constant in life, the only chance she had to be safe and free a body.

She took the revolver thoughtlessly and held it in her lap, tipping her head at the sight of her hands quivering almost to the point of uselessness.

I'M SORRY

A pause... then she began to slowly remove each of the rounds from the chamber, tucking them in her pocket.

One of three remaining managed to slip from her shaky grasp and she watched as it rolled into the bloody halo surrounding the corpse, her gaze wandering to what remained of its face.

HELP THEM. FIX THIS.

After scooping up the spare bullet and putting it away with the others (she didn't mind the gore), she shoved the gun into her waistband.

Then, with the handkerchief from before in hand, she crouched down and tried to clean what parts of the head remained intact, soon finding that the single square of fabric wouldn't be nearly enough.

Water, came the solution in her mind, and she rose to fetch some.

It took barely more than a minute to locate the key in Weir's waistcoat (and grab the pocket-watch that was inside as well), after which she entered the hallway and shut the door behind her.

"Lock the door. Don't want the monsters getting in."

She did as the thought suggested though wasn't she keeping a monster in this time?, though her hands still shook with a seeming chill and it took several attempts.

Turning about brought her face to face with a different door, one which wouldn't open when she tried the knob.

Another door to her (now) left across the hall, however, did open, revealing a supplies closet with an assortment of cleaning products.

She looked around a little while, then decided to take a mop and its bucket of not-too-dirty water, along with a few rags, before returning to the room.

Soon she had wiped the blood and bone from cadaver as best she could with a rag she soaked with the questionable water, and began trying to tend to the floors afterwards, mopping until the buckets contents turned a rather sickly red.

It was only then she noticed the chill of the room and how dim the light had grown.

The fire in the brazier seemed to be dying.

She felt a sudden, sharp pang of fear at the thought of being left alone, in the dark, with the man with his head blown open.

donotberudedonotstarekeepguestscompanyhappy

Her hands twitched on the wooden handle.

If I cannot see his face, I will not be able to stare.

She set the mop against the wall, picked the bucket up by its handle, and returned to the storage room.

There she set down the full bucket and picked up a replacement, along with a bit of leftover paint after a moments thought.

Shortly, she'd hidden the horrible wound by placing the bucket carefully over the man's head, even going to far as to decorate it with two dots of paint for eyes and a curved line for a smile.

Exhausted by her efforts and the light now gone altogether, she sagged against the wall opposite to the corpse, to wait, even if she couldn't recall what for.

...

She sincerely hoped he liked his new face.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

Time passed in the dark, the only mark of its passage the faithful tick, tick, ticking of Weir's pocket-watch and the thump, thump, thump of Hela's heart.

* * *

At last, there came a sudden gasp, followed by a clang, and a muffled cry that quickly transmuted itself to a string of curses only just decipherable as English. There was the sound of scrabbling at the bucket as this continued, then a loud CLONG! as the pail hit the wall off to Hela's right.

Finally, a deep breath in, let out as a half-growled HUFF!

A few panting breaths later, and a voice from somewhere above and in front of her asserted,

"Bloody sodding Hell, I'm glad that's over!"

A deep exhalation.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

The sound of metal hitting stone seemed to ripple through her in a shiver, followed by a second, then a third, until she trembled fiercely as one would with snow piled up to their neck.

A wordless whimper slipped from her mouth, softer than a whisper yet weighted with terror.

Despite the room being pitch black, she had still seen the flash of bloodied teeth and irises nearly the color of the darkness itself.

After all, the snarling voice belonged to none other than the great god-wolf himself, though not even his hot, metallic breath could ease the chill sunken into her bones as he loomed over her, hungry-eyed.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"'Tis dark as the Earl of Hell's waistcoat in here," he remarked. "What happened to the brazier? Where the bloody Hell did I put my lighter?"

There were sounds of him off to her left as he rifled through his waistcoat. As he bent down, there was a wet squelch.

"Aw, shit, I've cacked me keks." 'Bloody hate dyin'.

A sigh.

He took advantage of the darkness to doff his trousers and lower undergarments, using the latter to wipe himself relatively clean. He wadded the makeshift wipe into a ball to contain the mess, then donned his trousers again.

"That's better."

A moment of silence.

"Hela?" She's been awfully quiet.

Now that he was seeking it, her energy hit him like a wave.

"Christ, you're a mess! What happened? Why're you sittin' in the dark?"

There was more fumbling with the waistcoat, followed by a flick of the lighter and a fwash as he reignited the brazier.

"There we are."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Flinching from the sudden light, she drew back and sank lower on the wall, shivering violently from the bits of ice still floating sluggishly in her veins.

The flickering of the fire revealed that, while the rest of the room had been cleaned as well as she could manage, Hela remained coated in dried blood and bits of bone and flesh.

She didn’t respond to his questions, didn’t even seem to register them, merely stared up at him with a tormented gaze, the blue of her eyes somehow appearing darker and muddied.

staringiswrongrudestopstop

Another involuntary whimper escaped her.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Damn," escaped his mouth at the sight of her. "You are a right mess," he said softly, only just stifling the urge to give a low whistle as he shook his head.

A sigh, and he came to stand in front of her and offered his hand.

"Come on. Let's get you cleaned up."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela tried to move back at first, but was only met with the wall behind her.

There was a beat of hesitation as she found herself cornered... then she grasped the offered hand in her own trembling one, the response more habit than thought.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

She found herself hoisted to her feet, another arm behind her to support her if she wobbled.

The state she was in...

"First time you've killed someone you cared about?" he ventured. "Or is it the whole 'not stayin' properly dead' business?"

Or is it just...me?

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

She did indeed wobble and nearly toppled against him as her legs threatened mutiny.

Still, Hela merely quivered where she stood and said not a word, her gaze now locked on where his hand held hers.

It was as if he hadn't spoken at all.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

A sigh.

Right. She has no need of me like this, then.

Still supporting her, he morphed to the opposite end of the spectrum, aware of the necessity of it but not without a sense of chagrin.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

The sight jolted Hela slightly, genuine confusion plain in her expression as she first examined his hands before peering up to study his face.

Her blue-and-now-brownish eyes widened and she tried to take a step back, the beginnings of a startled cry crawling up into her throat.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"Shh, love, it's alright," he reassured softly, stroking her back gently, the hold tentative enough that she could get her space if she needed to step away. "I'm here for you. We can leave anytime you like. We can take a walk in the park or go back to the Society and feed Lepus some greens, or I can fetch you a blanket--whatever you like."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela settled somewhat at the sound of his voice, only giving a slight whimper, though she still seemed restless and disoriented.

As he continued speaking, her gaze sharpened somewhat and fixed on his with a flicker of recognition when her pet rabbit was mentioned, and she continued to stare at him almost expectantly.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"May I clean you up before we leave, love?" he suggested gently. "We don't want to attract attention. Then we can go see Lepus, alright?"

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

There was another glimmer of comprehension at the name, and she tipped her head to the side, waiting almost perfectly still.

Only the occasional full-body shudder and blink of her eyes showed her to be anything more than a human statue.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He undid the cuff of his right sleeve and wiped her off with the inside of it, mopping away the mess as best he could.

"There now. That's better," he declared with a fond smile.

He refastened the cuff.

"Just let me don my waistcoat, and we can go."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela shivered at the touch but did not pull away, closing her eyes wearily.

He spoke, and she looked to him once more, soothed by the gentle tone and smile.

The moment he appeared to begin pulling away, however, she grasped his wrist in a sudden motion, holding tight with a silent, desperately pleading look in her eyes that said 'Don't go, stay with me'.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"I'm here," he assured her, pulling her into a gentle embrace.

"Come with me. We'll get my waistcoat. Then we can go see Lepus."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

The hug caught her off guard, though she accepted it without complaint, soon relaxing a little as she had before. Her weight shifted to rest almost wholly on him.

Again, the rabbit was able to get her attention and she peered up at him, as if he'd somehow make her pet appear out of thin air.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"Come along," he said with a smile, walking her over with him to where the waistcoat lay.

He kept contact with her even as he leaned down, picked it up, and put it on.

"There now."

He felt in his pockets, but discovered a distinct lack of key and pocket-watch.

"All we need is the key, and we may leave this place."

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

She swayed quietly beside him, her gaze wandering the floor until it came to rest on the bucket she'd decorated before.

Hela made a slight movement towards it, then seemed to hesitate when she realized she'd have to leave her companion's side to reach the pail.

His words buzzed softly in her ears, little more than comforting background noise.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

At a loss for what else to do, he simply accompanied her to the bucket so she could examine it.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

She carefully took the bucket from the ground, a quiet jingling coming from her pocket's contents as she did so, and appeared to almost cradle it in her arms.

Hela wiped the painted face with the side of her sleeve gently to clean it, something akin to parental concern creasing her brow.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

We shall have to take this strange pail with us, he realized.

Wait... Is that a...face?

He stared at the bucket, perplexed.

Yes, indeed it was. A...smiling...face.

Dimly, he recalled waking up with something on his head and tossing it away without a thought.

Oh.

He really didn't know what to make of the way Hela fondled the pail, caressing it as if it were her child.

What the blue blazes happened to her? I wasn't out that long...

...

Perhaps it was the sight of me?

Or...thinking she'd truly lost me?

Whatever it was had obviously taken a toll neither he nor she had anticipated.

Poor thing...

He shook his head.

Best get her home. Perhaps familiar surroundings will ease her mind.

Slowly, so that Hela could see exactly what he was doing, he reached his hand into her jingling pocket, gauging her reaction. When she didn't balk, instead giving him a look as if she thought he might be a wee bit mad, he proceeded to remove its contents, pocketing them in his waistcoat.

"Come, love. You can take that with us if you like," he said quietly, indicating the bucket and then gesturing, open-palmed, to the door. All the while, he made sure not to let her go.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela followed his movements with a bemused expression, looking from him to the locked exit.

There was a pause, then she took a step towards the door, appearing quite uncertain as she hugged the pail closer to her chest.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He walked with her to the door, lending support and guidance. He produced the key from his pocket and led them through, then locked the door behind them.

Hela froze when they came to the stairs.

"What is it, darling?" he asked, tilting his head to the side ever so slightly.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago • edited

She leaned far back in his hold, making it quite clear that she was putting on the breaks then and there, like a stubborn mule who refused to budge another inch.

Helplessafraidtrappednochoiceonlydarknessandloss

The tremors that had died down under his gentle care began to creep back into her limbs.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

He took a step back with her.

"Alright, there-there," he soothed. "Shall I carry you?"

He bent at the knees and, with one arm around her shoulders, supporting her back, offered his other hand to her palm-up, intending to carry her bridal-style if need be.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

A harsh sound of distress left her in a hiss at the sight of him preparing to carry her, the bucket nearly falling from her grasp in her haste to get away from him at once.

Tremors became violent shudders in an instant, and she stared at him in a wide-eyed panic.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He released Hela, opting to give her her space; he didn't want to force anything.

Instead, he knelt down on the floor and looked up at her like a soulful puppy, at a loss for what to do.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela remained at a distance she viewed as safe for a time, swallowing back whimpers of fear and shifting restlessly, though she never ventured far from the wall, which she still leaned against as needed.

Gradually, that distance shrunk when he did little more than watch her movements, panic fading to a dull unease.

Ever so carefully, and with shivers still wracking her body, she approached and crouched beside him, reaching to take his hands after setting her pail aside.

When he didn't object, she moved them together and grasped them both in a single hand of her own, picking her bucket up again in the other and rising to stand on unsteady legs.

Satisfied when her companion still didn't make a fuss (and she managed to remain upright), she tugged him towards the stairs.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

He complied without complaint, following her lead and allowing himself to be guided along.

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Helen Jekyll  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Hela had him walk up the steps beside her, keeping a close eye and a steady grip on him at first.

At some point, though, she must've released him, for once at the top it was only his gentle support keeping her from simply collapsing back down the steps, the worsening convulsions in her legs making it difficult to stand.

She made a quiet, feeble sort of noise, and rested her chin on the bottom of the bucket while he tended to the locked door that blocked their way.

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Jekyll1886  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

"I'm afraid I have to change here," he told her as the bolt slid back, "but rest assured I'll continue to be with you." This he did, finding the middle ground between the two preceding states.

He pocketed the key and opened the door.

"Let's get you a blanket now, shall we?"

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Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

((Wizardblizzard, here's my response for the Experiments thread! :D))

Like Ashton, Isabella was busy trying to see patterns in unpromising places.

On a table in front of her was a shiny copper frying-pan and a jug of water. Next to them was an open notebook with the date and time neatly written at the top of the page, and a flower-patterned commonplace book, its cover faded with age.

Miss Walker herself was on her hands and knees on the floor, chalking a not-perfectly-circular circle around the table. At certain points she marked peculiar symbols. Other than the notebook, it did not look like anything most would have recognized as science.

When the circle was finished, she filled the pan to the brim with water, and turned back to the commonplace-book.

"Method to conjure visions of things far off..."

The book brought back memories of long -ago visits to her aunt's house, of cousins and Latin and long but rarely dull evenings... How long had it been since she'd last done this? Too long. She began to recite words from the book. It might have been Latin, if you didn't know Latin.

Isabella was a careful girl, so she had written out a "Do Not Disturb" note to put on the door before she began. She had then used it as a bookmark and forgotten all about it.

The reflection in the water shimmered, shifted. The back of Miss Walker's neck prickled. Something was about to happen.

Then it didn't. It was rather like almost but not quite sneezing. The pan of water returned to being a pan of water.

She wrote to this effect in her notebook, and began again, returning to the instructions. Concentrate on the place, thing or person you wish to see - She laughed. I forgot to actually choose a place! No wonder it didn't take!

Making a note to that effect next to the first entry, she started again.

Suppressing an impulse to spy on the Matron having her tea break, she chose the Houses of Parliament for a test; that should, she thought, be hard to miss. Although she remembered, at fifteen or so, becoming something or a family joke for so often getting the wrong place or person altogether.

With her finger she traced imaginary lines on the water, dividing it into quarters, and recited the words again.

One quarter of the reflection changed, began to expand, filling the bowl with a different picture entirely.

((It is presumably not even her room, since she hasn't got one. I don't know where she is. For that matter, you could turn up in this in TWO possible ways! Incidentally I haven't decided what she's trying to look at.))

Response:

Hela happened to be passing by when she heard...

"[May what I seek be for the best, may what I find be what I seek, may I understand what I see--]"

Was someone chanting in Latin?

"Hey, miss, I'm almost certain that demon summoning is very against Society policy-- cut it out, or I'm going to grab a manager," She ordered with a mix of amusement and the beginnings of annoyance, approaching the strange woman peering into a bowl.

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Wizardblizzard  Helen Jekyll • a year ago • edited

((Nah, she's got up off the floor by this point. :-) She was just drawing the circle. ))

She turned in her seat, blinking as if roused from sleep. It seemed to take her a moment to take in what the taller woman had said. "I am not summoning a demon." Reflected light skittered across the ceiling as, behind her, the reflection re-arranged itself.

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Helen Jekyll  Wizardblizzard • a year ago

She scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. “What are you doing, then? Turning water to wine?”

Hela tipped her head briefly to the bowl.

“I had thought Dr. Jekyll was the only alchemist here.”

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Wizardblizzard  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

"No... though maybe I should try that, nice little earner!... no, I'm experimenting with a scrying spell. You know, crystal ball kind of thing, only not with a crystal ball. Really - I have done it before."

She sounded anxious to justify herself to Hela. It was difficult studying something that sounded like a joke.

"If it goes right, an image of someone or something else will appear in the reflection. I'm attempting to do some tests of it, find out what circumstances make it most successful, and what, if anything, are the limits..."

She noticed that she was babbling. The desire for company got the better of her.

"You're very welcome to stay and watch if you like."

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Helen Jekyll  Wizardblizzard • a year ago

Listening with muted intrigue, she waited until the woman had finished before moving to lean against the table beside her.

“You can do magic, then?” asked Hela, seemingly taking Isabella up on her offer to stay.

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Wizardblizzard  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

What a nice question to be asked. "Yes, I can. Well, I'm not the greatest, mind you, but I'm learning. Watch."

The pan of water had now reverted to being an ordinary pan of water. Again, keeping her eyes on the water, she recited the words and drew her finger twice across the water.

Her finger left grooves in the surface of the water, dividing it into four quarters. As the last word left her mouth, a flicker appeared in one quarter. In a moment, like fire across paper, it spread across the surface of the water, until they were looking at a bright, clear reflection of somewhere else entirely.

Isabella said something under her breath that sounded like, "Oh, good dog!"

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Helen Jekyll  Wizardblizzard • a year ago

Her head quirked to one side as she peered at the image.

"Would you look at that..."

She leaned forward to get a better look, then glanced to Isabella.

"Can you do anything else? Any other magic?"

Though she took care to keep her tone disinterested, eagerness flickered in her eyes.

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Wizardblizzard  Helen Jekyll • a year ago

Isabella didn't want to waste the spell now she finally had it working. So her response was merely, "Jusaminit, need to concentrate..." Tiny ant-people milled about in the dish. "It's supposed to be possible to move it about, but how..." She wiggled her fingers. "Closer. Closer!" The view suddenly began to move.

((Have another gratuitous photo edit.))

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Tairais • a year ago • edited

(( Jekyll1886 There was snoozing and now there are nightmares. Woops.

Jekyll1886:

Lewis had just been pondering over what to tell Helen and Hela regarding Richard, and how exactly to phrase it, when Charricthran struggled in his sleep.

A nightmare, he realized.

"Charricthran," he said--softly at first, then with increasing volume. ))

Hands turned to scratching turned to drowning in mud-and-blood and this was his fault his fault and the corpses- gods, the corpses- these had been his friends, his comrades and now there were no better than stepping stones why was he alive, why was he still here: he was no better than any of them, why was he still here?

the muffled boom of the castle walls crashing over him had given him that split second the rest of them had lost. being trapped under rubble (under suffocatingdrowningbreathingfalling) had shielded him from the flooding, had given him a little pocket of air and preparedness that he hadn't wanted- it wasn't fair.

His name was called, chanted with accusation and loathing and someone's distant concern.

Concern grew louder: As more and more hands sought to drag him further under the mire, a single bright-shining pair reached out, drowning out the seething voices of those hundred corpses trapped underneath everything with him.

He reached out for them and they pulled

...

Charricthran stopped struggling when he woke. He did not gasp his way into consciousness, he didn't yawn and stretch; he simply froze.

He simply waited.

There was no thought save for the buzzing brightness of lingering fear and remembered pains, swiftly fading into the humming quiet of awareness.

There was no sound, save for that of silence.

And then, quiet and fearful, as if afraid he would be proven wrong,

"Lewis?"

(he still didn't open his eyes)

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Jekyll1886  Tairais • a year ago

"Oh, good--you're awake," said Weir with relief. "It looked as if you were having a nightmare."

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"Memories. Same thing."

He felt absolutely wretched. Small. Tiny.

Crushable.

He turned around in Lewis arms and tucked his head under the man's chin with hardly a second thought, as if trying to hide from those memories that clung like spiderwebs.

"Drownin'. Corpses. Nope. Don' wanna."

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Jekyll1886  Tairais • a year ago

Lewis hugged him close.

"You're here now," he said quietly. "That was long ago and cannae be changed--no matter how much we wish it."

He knew from personal experience that sometimes it was better to keep one's mind off such things.

"Be with me. Be in this room. Listen to my heart if need be. I'll talk about anything you like. Listen to anything you want to say."

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

"Cannae undrown a corpse. Usually."

There was bubbling quiet, still half-submerged in fever and dreams. He spoke without really understanding what he was saying, only knowing that it was what he wanted, never mind if it was what he should say.

"Tell me a story? If 'm still awake after, wanna tell ya a thing. Important-ish."

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Jekyll1886  Tairais • a year ago

"Very well," agreed Lewis readily.

"Once upon a time, Hermes heard tales of Apollo's magnificent kine..."

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Charricthran's smile flickered back onto his face like a dying lightbulb, too tired to be properly sustained.

He knew the story... from somewhere. It was like two mutual friends meeting, this story told by a familiar voice, this story told by a cherished voice. He nearly fell back into sleep by the time of its conclusion, the lingering buzzing presence of the sigil's magic something he would prefer to avoid with the new-re-found luxury of sleep.

Still, he had said he had something to tell, even if he hadn't quite promised to.

For several moments there was only the press of his smile as Charricthran slowly strung his words together like so many offered pearls.

"Story for a story, 'n. This one started up on the rooftops o' London, traveled ta.. strange lil' shop, traveled ta a handful o' places an' back upwards-like.

"'Tween the rooftops an' 'fore a Friday night in the right direction, two sorta souls had the same sorta conversation in the same sorta-body. Buncha questions asked, tryin' ta find lines, where the lines had blurred, that sorta thing.

"Questions turned ta realizations: The two sorta souls were each reflections an' shadows o' themselves, but the one who'd thought him what most folks call light was what most folks call shadow, an' vice-versa. Couldnae ever work proper-like cos they were scared, see? Didnae wanna lose each themselves, didnae wanna give without takin', didnae wanna hurt with the other: soon as either o' em'd realize they were gettin' close-like, they tugged away, see, an' 'twas like rippin' stitches."

Charricthran paused to catch his breath from behind where words tumbled out on their own, unwilling to shake and stutter his way through the next part of his half-story-half-truth.

"So's the two o' em decided ta work tagether proper-like, outta fear o' bein' separated from a future they saw in the works. Wouldn'tcha know, the catalyst for that change was right to suggest it all along, yeah? They got ta bein' as 'one' as they were gonna be, an' things didn't go near's sharp-like as they woulda else-like."

Charricthran chuckled. "A happiest endin'. Not quite a happy one, at the time."

His voice grew quieter with his thoughts, with dull buzzing turning once more to a soft humming.

"So after all o' that the two chatted again, jus' kinda tryin' ta tie the last loose end o' a buncha whys: Why'd they care, why'd they... bother. In the end, 'twas fair simple, but the two o' em'd had a long, messy path ta clamber o'er ta get there: Botherin'd make tha' catalyst happy, an'... makin' the catalyst happy'd make... the louder half happy, which made the opposite half happy."

Here he paused, eyelids inching ever closer to slumber, breathing slowing along with the fervent tide of his words. Here, he all but mumbled his words into Lewis, pressing the shape of them close.

"I... we jus' wan' all o' ya happy, Lewis. We've both decided ya... deserve it, with or without us... an' we're gonna... do our best on our end... cos you's should be warm-like. Lotoc... Itova."

Those whispering words spoke of the warm happiness being with family, with friends, with lovers, with so-much-more-than's and something-else's. Of being loved fully and darkly and brightly, of breaking and healing and, above all, of trying, of holding something precious.

They spoke of being happy and of being loved, always.

Charricthran's eyes drifted shut once more, but he clung to coherency long enough to form one more sentence, promised to hold on to consciousness long enough to hear or feel the reply.

"Don' matter so much... whatcha... are ta me an' I'm ta you, 's long as you're... happy."

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Jekyll1886  Tairais • a year ago

Charricthran's words touched Weir to his core.

"Thank you," replied Lewis, voice just over a whisper as he pulled Char into a heartfelt embrace.

"I feel the same."

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Tairais  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

Charricthran hummed softly, the sound reverberating in his chest.

"Good. 'S good." Those three words were more felt than anything, near-softer than a whisper.

It was there, suspended on warmth and closeness of feeling, that he fell asleep once more, one of many weights lifted from his chest and shoulders.

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Wizardblizzard • a year ago • edited

Mz.Hyde Spam alert. Postings by "nicole" and "LD" are flooding this thread and the "New Girl" thread. Zap if you can. I've reported them, too.

edit: and in the few minutes since I've posted this, they're now in "Catch-up RPs part 10", too, so you'll probably have to check all the open ones.

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Wizardblizzard  Wizardblizzard • a year ago • edited

Mz.Hyde Well caught. But now there's one called Brett making a mess. It's stamped 8 hours ago as I look at it now and I haven't noticed any more recent ones, so perhaps that's the lot, we can hope.

edit: no, tell a lie, I've just found one called "ddarkoxxx" (in "Blood is thicker than water") marked 4 hours ago.

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Wizardblizzard  Wizardblizzard • a year ago

Mz.Hyde I added a reply about another one but, for some reason - I'm not making this up - my post got flagged as spam!!

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Catt Hatter • a year ago

((That poor kitty is so worried! T^T ))

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London Sprite • a year ago

(So how exactly do I join in? Do I just...jump in at the action?)

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Jekyll1886  London Sprite • a year ago

((Which story/stories are you wanting to join?))

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London Sprite  Jekyll1886 • a year ago

(I ah, have no idea. I'm new to rping in disqus and I have no idea what the etiquette is)

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Helen Jekyll  London Sprite • a year ago

((Here, allow me to help!

So, as this forum has been going on for some time, there are several pre-planned stories going on, as a result of past events.

There are also several ones that began more spontaneously, with one writer making a prompt for others to follow, or two or more writers coming together with a simple wish to interact-- it's usually these later two that you'll be wanting to start off with.

All it'll take is, when someone posts a group rp discussion, you simply hop in with your character, or, should none of those be currently open, feel free to ask around for anyone who'd be interested in starting a story with you.

Usually just posting a "Hey, who would like to do an rp with [Character here]?" will do, or if you've someone specific in mind you'd like to write with, you can tag them and ask to start a story.

Generally, the etiquette is to ask to join any rp that wasn't said to be open to everyone (and when in doubt, it's good to ask anyways), but we're rather flexible past that. ^-^

If any of this doesn't make sense, or if you've any questions, feel free to ask me!))

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A Passerby • a year ago

((London Sprite))

((-this greeting had heretofore escaped Your notice. for that, You give Your most earnest apologies... perhaps an overdue response would be tolerated?-

-You must apologize once more for inciting fear in others. though there are many who seem not to believe it, You do not intend on disturbing those who are not tied to the end goal, and they will be left well enough alone.-

-most, if not all, will be revealed with time.-))

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London Sprite  A Passerby • a year ago

(The keeper accepts the apology and can only wonder what is up the Passerby's sleeve and if her charge will have any part in what's to come)

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Nyx Silverfang • a year ago

((Tairais))

It had been three months since Alicia vanished.

The trips to strange and interesting places with Charricthran and the meeting of new friends had helped dull the pain of her grief, and now, Nyx was doing okay.

Not perfect, not great, just okay.

And she was happy enough with that.

***

The moon was full and shimmering when Nyx climbed the stairs to the Society’s roof to watch the stars, inviting her to join it among the stars.

After peering down at the streets below to ensure she wouldn’t be seen, she decided to accept the offer, spreading her wings and taking off.

It wasn’t too long before she found herself a ways away from the city, coasting over small farms and fields with muscles burning in a comforting sort of way.

Tonight, perhaps, she’d be a little better than okay.

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Tairais  Nyx Silverfang • a year ago

As Nyx soared above, so too did somethinng soar below.

A streak of silver raced along the English countryside, panting and snuffing in turn, the cries of panicked livestock fleeing before the thudding of pawstep after heavy pawstep.

The bleat of a sheep was abruptly cut off by a sharp SNAP and a victorious, piercing howl that echoed off hill and tree and sky.

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