Forums » General Roleplay » Two Sides of the Same Coin(Back)

Zaida frowned, looking at Takurasho, giving a curt nod. Her hand would briefly touch Tomoe's shoulder in reassurance before she was chased off, "هناك الكثير مما ينبغي مناقشتها بالفعل. أنا أعتبر أنك سوف تكون مريحة يتحدث في لغتي الأم؟" (Much to be discussed indeed. I take it you will be comfortable conversing in my native language?) She nodded softly to herself, "انهم لا يعرفون أنني أعرف لغة مشتركة. وأود أن تفضل الاحتفاظ بها بهذه الطريقة في الوقت الراهن." (They do not know that I know a common tongue. I would prefer to keep it that way for now.)

She stepped towards the gestured room, shuddering as she remembered what Gyosei had called her. Vile man.

((Woo! Aearion's going for the most loved character award!))
((Congratulations, Libertine! Good luck with the newest addition to your family ))

Aearion found the marble to be a strange one. He knew it had magic capabilities, but he had never expected the thing to contain something. With his transparent eyelids closed, he took a closer look at the thing, and found it to be eerie. His low light vision wasn't enough to penetrate through the blackness of this thing. It gave the Mer the chills. A child ran around with this!?

Aearion turned to the others that were in the room, but they were speaking a language he didn't understand."Kt'ai lot. S'ope lef' aaik te mach 'kal drath." He spoke, perhaps a bit loud. The language he spoke was Aquan, and half of the words sounded like they were unfinished, due to the fact Aearion didn't use his gills to help him speak. If anyone understood a little Aquan, they might have gathered he said "Oh, how nice. Speak a language I don't comprehend, why don't you?"

"Friends, if I can barge in?" He said as he walked a bit closer to the two, holding the marble in his palm."Takurasho, you're an expert on supernatural things, right? Do you recognize what this is? I can't for the life of me remember if I saw one of these before. But it looks sinister. Something is inside of this... marble."

{Aerion, it's on}
{Thank you everyone! Knowing her parents, Dungeoneer, I have a feeling she's going to be a bundle of chaos Her name is Willow, & she should be here sometime between now & the 20th. I'll be sure to let you guys know when I'm headed for the hospital, I may be absent a few days. Thanks for your forgiveness Miss, lol}

The powerful glare Tomoe cast his way was returned with a subtle sneer & an unintelligible insult, something to the effect of "sticky-fingered hairless ape youngling" potentially overheard by those standing closest. This guy was not fond of kids! Takurasho's attention was redirected as Zaida spoke, & although he did not meet her gaze, he tilted his head towards her as he listened intently. It was not a language he practiced often, but he could make out the words well enough. The memories of vetala were generally more clear & concise than that of a human. "فهم," {"Understood,"} he replied simply. This was excellent. If her captors suspected she could not speak common, they may have unknowingly leaked some vital information as to-

As the unfamiliar memory enveloped his mind, Takurasho would freeze. His expression went slack, eyes glazing over, impeccable posture disrupted by a loose slouch. When it passed, he'd sway on the spot & blink rapidly. He was clearly disoriented. Gaze swiveled blearily in Aearion's direction, brows raising as Aquan was spoken. The vetala was extremely unfamiliar with this language & only caught little quips: "...nice... speak a language I don't..."
What is happening?
The marble was appraised with a clueless look. He raised his "new" hand palm-up, gesturing for the Mer to pass the strange stone, speaking thickly as he mumbled "Gibbet 'ere...." His hand was trembling ever so slightly.

{You are so welcome~}

Crow’s form turns about, her left hand reaching out and grasping the dirtied, tri-cornered hat from the animated table’s edge, it having stayed there while the table went about its business. Crow’s hand places the hat back upon her wispy locks of white, her right hand drifting upwards to push down upon the hat, until it was secured.

Crow’s right hand points down, twice, her pale gaze upon the table, “Stay in this spot until I call for you.” The table ceases moving, except its steady, subtle breathing. Crow’s form turns slowly, her coarse shoes making scuffing sounds upon the flooring of the room, her pale gaze drifting to the locked door, then down at her belt, at the crystal that illuminated her form and the area around her. Her right hand reaches towards it, touching her thumb and pointer-finger along its smoothened surface, her eyes occupied by it. Then her gaze returns to the door, her form briskly moving closer to it, her hands unlocking the door and pushing it open.

Crow takes a step outside the room and turns about, closing the door with a gentle push, her expression a mix between un-interest and neutrality; even more so when she looks down the hallway that hosted the other room, and the figures staring at what looked like a black rock. Crow’s thin eyebrow lifted with a quirk. Then her form begins to turn to walk away from the Mer and the Puppet, and the other femme.

Things are finally slowing down here for the time being. I'm really, really sorry for having you all wait this long. Additionally, so everyone is aware. Clint's character will be removed from the story per his request, but we have been collaborating here and there on methods to remove him rather than leaving his story arc a void. Posts should be coming in tonight or in the morning. ))

{No worries man, good to hear things are easing up. Welcome back!}

{Does that mean there will be more cuddly Crow? I am glad you are back!}

Alright. Let's do this. Posting now. This will be edited to accommodate that post. It feels good to be back. ))

Gyosei's lips poised with a deep frown. She was acting rather suspicious and furthermore, why was she not with the rest of her group of Nobles? "Are you lost?" In such a stern tone, Tomoe froze at the door at both the sight of her Warlord and how he was speaking. Tomoe stepped out into the snow barefoot and with just her servants garb keeping her as warm as it possibly could. Off to Gyosei's left walked that peculiar individual with that straw jar shaped hat. Gyosei was torn between two options. Furthering interrogations with Aranel or chasing down that mysterious person who paid no heed to the events that transpired between Aranel and Gyosei. By the time Gyosei had chosen that person was of a higher priority he had already come to terms that whomever was beneath that hat was going to give him no information worth letting the female in front of him go. This was his chance to get an idea of whom he was going to meet. "Your group--" At the corner of his eye the image of the individual disappeared beyond the seam of the door, but there he noticed Tomoe although knew not her name and assumed she were paying respects to a Significant's orders. "Why have you all come to my fortress? One of my men say you are from foreign nations, but to what end? Do you seek alliance?" Each word was followed by a white smog from warm breath to chilled air.

Down the hall a ways that mystery person moved with such light steps there was no possibly way for it to be a male under that hat, stopping in front of Crow. Should Crow stop as well the person only lowered their head slightly and continued on to push forward and if need-be even shift around Crow if allowed to pass. "You most of all bewilders me to his decision-making capabilities." Low, raspy. Hard to tell if male or female with no given physical indication underneath the sagely garbs.

As Takurasho reached for that obsidian sphere there was a sense of magnetism almost, but with it came a haunting desire that was not his own. A voice? Yes. A voice rung in the back of Takurasho's head. "Give me the seed!! The seed of darkness and bewitching hatred!!" Oh that was surely not Takurasho's voice...


Underneath the Barracks in their holding cell [This is just to remove Clint from the plot. He's caught up in his own things and will be unable to proceed further.]

The Second command was not appeased by the lack of words spoken by their present captive."The silent type, eh? And judging from your body modifications you are no ordinary thief. Probably could have broken out whenever you wanted." Without wasting any more time trying to get information from a dying man he decided to put him out of his misery. "See if we can use you to get information from any of them." From off the wall which was hanging on a hook he grabbed a long edged blade. Taking to a running start and in one swift motion he brought the black clean from Clint's Adam's apple to the wooden cylinder he was bound to, even getting the blade wedged into the wood. The head rolled off the blade. There he left it. The glow of the dancing orange flames reflecting off the crimson that poured free. Up the stairs he went. "Someone clean up that mess down there and dispose of the body! Keep the head." Tossing one last glance down into the dungeon. "Poor bastard." The men occupying the barracks were quick to heed his order.

Seems like the group was probably going to get something other than tea.The First Head of the squadron was in his quarters, looking over the sheet of paper he still held in possession. "This letter is flawless, but I don't buy it. I refuse to bend knee to would-be imposters." Continuing to keep his gaze heavy upon each written letter in search of something to bode well to his suspicions.

Aranel stared up at the man. To be frank, she wasn't a very good speaker when put on the spot like this. And even more did she feel she knew too little to really engage the man. Absolutely intimidated by the thought of screwing everything up, the young woman's mind went blank in momentary panic.

"Y-yes I am! Though um... though to be honest, sir, I was merely having a look about. I've not yet been in a place with architecture like this." Which was true! "And I was on my way outside, just for a moment, so I could watch the snowfall. Isn't it pretty?"

In her panic, through all her attempts to converse and make herself find an excuse for being away from her group, she completely failed to realize he asked an even more important question. Her eyes couldn't quite meet his face, and on the rare occasion that they did, they wouldn't linger for more than half a second. She recognized his face well now, but that's all. She wouldn't stare. A tiny, almost shy smile kept trying to surface, though. And then it occured that one of the questions ended with "to what end?" She thought on this and picked a direction and pointed. "That end."

Cue internal facepalm. She instantly regretted that.

((Damn dice. Lmao.))

Crow’s form continued to walk the hallway, her coarse shoes now dry and scraping lightly against the flooring. Her face was uncovered, the mask having been left within her room, and her gaze was settled steadily forward. She did not glance at the figure headed towards her, and simply took a few steps forward, before her form stops, turning about to set her pale gaze upon the figure’s back. Crow’s lips pulled into a thoughtful frown, her faint eyebrows pinching together. “Hmm.”

Crow’s pale gaze lingered upon the figure’s retreating back, until she was out of sight. Crow’s tri-cornered hat holds firmly upon Crow’s head, as she turned back towards the hallway, walking out of the building and into the falling snow. Crow’s chest lifts up, subtly, a breath being inhaled through her nose, before her breath is released through her mouth in a white cloud. Then her eyebrows twitched inward, her right hand lifting as she observed its palm. A faint feeling, that grew fainter yet, pulsed within her palm. Crow’s pale gaze lingers upon the hand for a few moments, before looking up, towards the falling snow, “They killed him?” Crow’s settles next to her side, her lips slowly turning upwards into a quaint smile, and the most strangely airy and somewhat musical laugh starts to escape her mouth, before her left hand covers it, her head tilting downward, her wide-brimmed and dirtied hat shielding her facial features, her form subtly moving, until the fit ends.

Zaida watched Takurasho with interest, knowing she would have to rely on him for now. Without him she would have no real form of communication with the others until she was certain it was safe.

Her green eyes looked around the room, trying to decide what to do next. Irony filled her - silent and reliant on a man once more.

((In come the horrible paint edits!))

Aearion seemed rather worried about Takurasho. It wasn't all that noticable, but the trembling seemed to show he was sick. A fever of some sort. But then again, Aearion was not exactly a doctor. Usually when he gets a cold he feels like he's ready to drop dead at any second. Knowing Takurasho, he was going through something magical. Regardless, he gave the marble to him.

"Are you doing alright, friend?" He asked as he looked at him. In the room next to this one, Aearion could hear some sort of commotion. He had no idea what it was. Was Crow throwing a tantrum without Aearion being the cause of it? That seemed highly unlikely. It's not like the sound remained for long. Soon it was all quiet again.

His attention turned to Zaida now."I have seen that Umbra kraken take you away! How did you escape its grasp?" He asked, curiously.

{You mean *wonderful paint edits}

As his fingertips neared the marble & that terrible voice hissed in his mind {"Give me the seed! The seed of darkness and bewitching hatred!"}, Takurasho's demeanor would darken ominously. "I said give it to me," he spat, regardless of the fact that it was being handed over willingly, but he'd snatch it away as if Aearion were being difficult. Once it was in his grasp, the trembling of his hands & the swaying of his body would come to a stop. Even that shady expression would diminish. The man appeared confused, perhaps mildly alarmed even, looking between Zaida & Aearion with a befuddled frown. "I am... feeling unwell," he admitted, but was not entirely willing to share the strange "flashback" he'd experienced, nor the sinister disembodied voice that compelled him to act out with unnecessary spite. Takurasho hadn't experienced anything quite like this before, & it made him feel at a disadvantage. Vulnerable, even.

Although his gaze locked onto the marble intently, trying to gauge its mechanics, he repeated Aearion's question to Zaida in her native tongue. Should she give a reply, he would translate it back into common as she spoke for Aearion. He briefly glanced towards the Mer, his own voice- distant & echoed- suddenly sounding in the bard's head alone. "Do not be alarmed," it would say, "I am utilizing telepathy to project my voice into your mind... for the sake of secrecy, that is. Zaida's captors are unable to speak her language. She wishes to keep them under the impression that she cannot speak theirs, either. I believe she may have overheard some vital information, & may again if we keep Gyosei & his men under this impression." Pale eyes pierced the surface of the marble, producing a frown as he examined it.

LOL Oh man! Those images have me cracking up! ))

Gyosei was displeased with Aranel's lack of seriousness toward his question. They were not on friendly terms in the least and in a time of war scheming he was sure not going to take jokes with the same jest. His lips fell further in frown and disapproval. "Mn. So you take me for a fool then, girl?" His question imposed with verbal blades as to crucify her to the very statement she blundered further with. "I'm starting to further feel distrust toward the Integrity of --" Then came Crow. Gyosei's judging eyes homed to the woman's pale visage. "One of your's?" Gyosei's words statements seemed to go back to back without leaving room to be answered. Then the subtle cackle. "Do my ears deceive me?" What in the world could she be laughing at and out of nothing spontaneously visible for anyone but Crow to know. "Woman!" Projecting his voice in Crow's direction. "What has you in such fits of laughter!?" Both hands had their digits curled into tight fists with growing impatience. "In fact, both of you!" One hand placing upon the hilt of his blade. With so many occurrences of suspicion within such a short duration of time it was clear to him that something was going on under his nose and he felt the need to be prepared by keeping a ready hand on his equipped blade with a foot sliding back in a partial battle-ready stance.

Meanwhile, in the room came a knock upon the door. Three times. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* Then a pause. Followed by three more knocks *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*. No words came to follow the request for entry. Just.. silence. Should the door be opened to allow entry then the group would be met with the mysterious individual dressed in sagely wear and a straw hat stitched in the shape of a jar.

Takurasho's hand after a short delay will find itself desiring to close around the Marble, but whether it did or did not another fragment of memory will momentarily captivate his mind.

The room was dark. A casual lantern placed a few feet from the futon casting a dim light over him and another figure who's head rested upon his bare chest. Blankets covered him and her for the most part so no unmentionables were visible in the slightest. "Yantume.." The woman spoke. "Know that I will forever love you." It was The Lady's voice, although she did not look up at him. "Darkness is spreading from the eastern lands and you know this. I can tell you are drawn to it. You were standing in your chamber carving symbols across your wall with your nails... etching them into the walls. Some people think you to be mad.." Her tone so sweet, gentle and loving.

Another memory shard within the current [Inception!!!]

Takurasho through the eyes and senses of the man known as Yantume were knelt before a wall carved and drawn across from corner to corner with a peculiar sigil.[Oh yeah, going all the way back to Jonathan's Manor on Page 2] Hands were numbed with pain; to be felt after this experience in solely the right hand Takurasho wore after this experience. The room itself was torn apart with furnishings turned over and the blanket drawn over the windows to keep any probable outsiders from looking in. This experience ended when the door opened and a voice rung loud in his ear. "YANTUME!!!" ...It was The Lady's.

Returning to the initial memory shard entry

The Lantern's dim glow began to glow brighter. Takurasho at this point could notice that they were STILL in that room! Furnishings still turned over and strewn about. The carvings of said sigil etched in all different sizes and angles; there was a point that can be noted where only a handful of these engravings were raw markings in wood, but others were bloodied, blood stained or done in blood. When Takurasho came to notice this would then all of the circle points of each sigil open up as eyes which all stared down upon the two of them. "Yantume.. my dearest, Yantume."

((OMG YOU GUYS LOL))

Aranel jumped at the words. "N-no, not at all! I don't think you're anything close to foolish!" she tried to assure. When the laughter came, she blinked. When he bellowed after her, the young female twitched and sank in her spot, just a little. Her arm extended hesitantly to gently touch his. "Sir, please, ah--" and he addressed both of them, hand placed on his blade. She bit her lip and thought of ways to handle this.

"The woman is a very sad individual. She's always been prone to fits of laughter, but this is how she deals with her depression when it gets very bad. Please, leave her to herself. You'll be happy to know that she is getting better and hasn't done it for some time." Oh god Aranel, here's hoping that convinced him that at least Crow wasn't laughing at him or anything crazy like this.

She was close enough to make him out well enough, especially now that she touched him as gently as she had. Thus, she was staring at his hand on the blade. "We are no threat to you. Does it look like either of us could actually do harm? I'm not even armed. Please calm down, sir," she pleaded. Aranel wasn't sure what she could say to the man to help ease his mind, but this was the first thing that came out of her mouth. Even the lie surprised her.

Crow’s pale gaze had drifted to the general’s questioning stare, her facial expression pale and uninterested in him. She looked away, as she walked past him as well.

Crow’s breath escaped her mouth, within heated puffs, into the colder air. Her pale form righted itself, her arms crossing her chest to grasp at her own sides, rubbing her hands into her shoulders for warmth. Crow’s pale eyes blink, but not in surprise, her pale face turning to look over her shoulder, her facial features showing no amusement. Her mouth moves, but no sound comes out, and then she answers, “This place is infested with angered spirits. It is amusing, how you have survived here for so long. But, perhaps, they want to keep you safe. I do not know for certain.”

Crow’s pale gaze drifts towards the other femme, one of her thin eyebrows arching, so, so subtly. Crow’s pale gaze stares into Aranel’s gaze, before her eyes settle upon the male once more, her voice clear and sharp, “She is correct. I have no one left in this realm, nor, the next. My memories of better times come and go.”

Zaida carefully weighed her options in reply. She spoke with a calm, delicate manner and lightly touched Takurasho's arm, "أنا غير متأكد من هروبي. عندما استيقظت كان يقال لي لتغيير الملابس. شعرت بعدم الارتياح، ولكن أنا سعيد لرؤيتك. الوجوه الصديقة هي دائما نعمة." ((I am unsure of my escape. When I woke I was being told to change clothing. I felt uncomfortable, but I am glad to see you. Friendly faces are always a blessing.)). The uncomfortable feeling coming off of him was somewhat distracting.

She gingerly moved her hand from his arm to his upper back - that was something people did, right? when someone was not feeling well. You touched their back lightly. Her touch was so soft that if he was significantly distracted he would not feel it.

Zaida made no move towards the door. She was still acting the humble woman and would only answer if asked.

As the invasive memories barraged his mind once more, Takurasho's body would again freeze & his gaze glazed over. Once they subsided & his senses returned he'd flinch away from Zaida's touch, trembling violently, hissing "My hand!" as the mind-numbing pain shot through the "adopted" body part. He fell to a knee as he clutched the marble to his chest. After a moment of labored breathing, he switched the marble to his right hand, using his teeth to strip the glove from the injured appendage. It was revealed to be more tan than the rest of his body, the fingernails uneven, clashing with his known tendency to keep his appearance immaculate. Although healed by the brief Umbra powers the Butler had given them before the crash, stitches still encircled his wrist. The hand was clearly not his own.

Takurasho tilted back his head, looking from Aearion to Zaida with wide eyes & a perturbed frown. "We need to find that little girl," he murmured darkly, "& demand to know where she got this marble. Something-" he paused to rise, groaning softly as if it took a great deal of effort to steady himself. "-something is amiss. I believe both of our missions are related somehow... there is a darkness here that is all too similar to what we experienced at the Whitaker mansion, & I do not believe it is coincidental. The letter mentioned the Empress was a close friend of The Lady... we must speak to her immediately. Perhaps we could request an audience through Gyosei...." As if on queue, the general's heated words reached him, & {still trembling slightly from the aftershock of the flashbacks} Takurasho turned to at last acknowledge the discussion between Aranel & Gyosei at the end of the hallway. "استخدام غرفتي لباس نفسك," {"Use my room to dress yourself"} he'd mutter over his shoulder to Zaida, returning the glove to his left hand. "وسوف حراسة الباب إذا كنت ترغب." {"I will guard the door should you wish."} If she did decide to change her attire, he would ask that Aearion join Crow & Aranel, adding "I cannot hear what Gyosei is saying so angrily, but it seems as though they could use the aid of a silver tongue." With this Takurasho would lean against the wall besides the door to his & Aranel's quarters, still clutching the throbbing hand, which was again wrapped around the dark marble. He gritted his teeth against the pain as he pondered the source of these "memories". Was it this place? Or perhaps some residual magics within the dead mage's hand that was now a part of him?

((O man my sides are on fire. I am laughing way too hard! I wish I had photoshop as well, so things like this won't be so horribly bad.))

"Feeling unwell?" Aearion replied. He figured a Vetala as powerful as Takurasho wouldn't be struck with illness. More like something magical is happening, unless he actually can feel the sickness one if his puppets might be going through.

The sudden voice in his head did seem to alarm Aearion. But that soon ended as he recognized the voice. It was a clever ruse to keep up. The Mer nodded in approval and left the questions about Zaida for what they were. But soon he would attempt to help him as he seemed to stumble down. The Mer would hold him by shoulders, but much like Zaida's touch his would get shrugged off as well most likely. It didn't matter. He stuck close in case he would fall down.

His hand didn't went unnoticed, and Aearion could kind of string together why this hand seemed to disfigured compared to the rest of Takurasho's body. He never really did have an easy time realizing he was not talking to a man, but something entirely different.

After hearing Takurasho out, he threw in his two cents. In Aquan. You never knew who might be eavesdropping and how he or she would react when the word "Empress" would fall."Kin 'o sella Prosius' ta fen' ti Umbr'?" He didn't speak loud, but it could still be easily heard. This translate to 'Is it possible the Empress has been dabbling with the Umbra?'

Aearion stood right back up."Very well, I'll go see what the fuss is about. Perhaps find the child as well. Give the marble to me, friend. It doesn't seem to have the same effect on me as it does to you." It was obvious the marble was the scource of Takurasho's agony just now. Aearion didn't feel any pain from it when he held it. Whether he received the marble or not, he set out to aid Aranel. But then some knocks.

Aearion opened the door and saw the man with the straw hat. He instantly greeted the stranger."Oh, good day to you, friend. You have caught us at a bad time, I'm afraid. Can we be of service perhaps later?"