Young Writers Society

Name: Augustine (August for short )

Age: A while...: She appears to be around 16.

Gender: Female! Dun dun dunnn

Species: Dream creator

Appearance: http://www.rapturethesalon.com/images/red-hair-girl.jpg She, like William and Joshua, has red, fiery hair. She has solemn green eyes and a gentle air of grace around her. She walks with a slow, gentle gait. Her clothing choice is more of a jeans and t-shirt wardrobe but somedays she'll wear a nice sundress and her whole appearance changes in the eyes of some.

Personality: She is quiet and shy. Often stays to herself in solemness and is much more comfortable with her face buried in a book then she is creating dreams. Her heart is pure and unique, she just doesnt know it. She's an exceptional painter and is constantly playing her piano.

If human, history: She was bestfriends with Lilly and she's no human, if you're wondering.

Strengths/weaknesses: She is soulful when creating her dream worlds and puts much attention to detail in all of its surroundings due to her patient core. She is quiet though, and shy. She doesnt like talking to people but when there is someone she finds common interest with then she could talk for hours which is often seen as over the top.

Habits/Vices: Painting and playing her piano are her habits and she dislikes conversations with other females unless she knows them well. She is more comfortable around males and sometimes seen as a tomboy.

Other: Up for love

Vincent

She flung open the door, the silence receding at her presence. He sat in a chair, sunlight falling brightly in the room, a golden ribbon gently swirling around him. He would not look up at her, he couldn't manage to do so at this point in time.

"Vincent, we need to talk."

"Yes, Leslie my dear. Feel free to do so." He got out of his chair, black wings unfurling around him, and the bright golden ribben transforming into a large black serpant. The light faded from the room, the sunlight being hidden behind clouds. He strode towards the window, the pale white curtains being shifted by an invisible wind.

He felt her stare digging into his back, yet he did not hear her approach or one sound of movement. He awaited the sound of her voice, but none came. Her heartbeat was rapid, beating the sound of confusion, and he felt the longing to go to her, and take that foolish feeling away. She was not a foolish girl.

Turning to face her once more, he noticed that tears were falling silently down her face, her feet held at a shoulder length apart as if it was the only thing that was supporting her. Her hands were bunched into defiant fists at her sides.

"Why are you like this? Why?" He voice came out almost sounding cracked and broken. He imagined a dying flower, the petals slowly falling away and the leaves drying out, the life slowly slipping away. She was so emotional, so unpredictable, and yet he did not know why he still wished for her to be there.

"Why am I like what? I don't believe I have done nothing wrong other then watching you waste your time with that Ray fellow. Why don't you crawl back to him and feel this so called great emotion called love." Vincent hissed out the words, the black snake growing rigid and dying at his feet. Almost right away it faded into a pale white and cracked to many pieces.

"I am just confused because--" She wiped the tears from her face, a different emotion coming now, a different girl to deal with. Vincent cut her off before she could finish.

"Because you have been having weird dreams too." Vincent's black wings diappeared and he settled himself back into the chair. He did not bother to look at her to see her reacton to his words. He knew that was right, the beat of her heart quickening.

----------------------

Sorry, I am a bit rusty. xD
I just remember Leslie being incredibly moody. Lol.

~Incognito

*No problem, Neato. You write a thousand times better than I do anywho. *

Leslie~

My heart beat quickened at Vincent's words. Not only because they were correct but because the last word that ended his sentence.

Too.

Vincent has been having dreams (nightmares?) as well? My tears stopped flowing and I just stood there not sure what to say. My secret (and not so secret) infatuation mentioned so many things that I had no idea on what to judge as valid or invalid. It is known that Ray loves me. I can't believe I'm saying this but I may even love him back. But for sure, I am madly engrossed with feeling on the subject matter of the King, the man sitting in a chair before me. His ebony wings intriguied me and his overall personality was an amusing enigma to my brain. Yet, I couldn't forget the soft emotion that came with Ray's lips.

"You see Vincent, I've already "crawled" to Ray." I stopped to inhale deeply, "We kissed and I regret every moment of it. I was a silly girl--stupid even because my heart will always belong to you. I will love you forever and ever Vincent. I always have. I watched you and Lilly together and it broke my heart. I wished I was the one dancing with you, I wished I was the one who walked beside you in your gardens. I wanted to be your one." I said, pouring out my soul. Or atleast the soul I think I possess.

"I went to Ray because my whole being depends on the emotion of love. And he was the one that could give it to me. However, if you say you love me now, I will forget about Ray forever and you will be the only one of my mind. I promise."

That was a promise I probably couldn't keep. No. That was a promise I couldn't keep period.

~Larinda~

"You,” I pointed a finger in his face, "are searching for something, or perhaps, someone, as well. Say the word and I will assist you in finding what you desire, oh nameless one."

Silence. I am often met with this when I do something like this. My forwardness startles many sometimes. I can't help that, just hope that they are one of the few that do not follow stereotypes like a lost puppy in the rain. With a wink, I started to bound inside my house, then I turned.

"I think she's looking for you too, if you're as kind as you have been to me." I left him, looking for the brush that I'd managed to lose yet again. Of course, I could have conjured a new one, but there is no fun in that. Looking through piles and piles of things I don't actually need can be quite entertaining.

After finding it, though it took much longer than I supposed, I fixed my knarled hair and plunged into a dream. I made myself into a teenage girl with jeans, holes in the knees of course, brown hair that was longer in the front and sloped up to very short in the back with one blue streak. Someone that most would avoid.

“Hello.” I chirped, highly out of character..

“Hi.” The female said.

“You, dear one, are a very good Dream Creator.” I said, getting straight to the point, “And I just wanted to inform you that you just preformed a very noble deed.” I stuck out a cut and dirty hand, “I am Larinda.”

**Jc, that comment made me laugh! xD
I am so not a better writer then you~

Vincent

She did not understand what exactly those words did to him. She would never know. No one would ever know. He shifted out of his chair once more and stepped towards her, watching her eyes, watching her thoughts and aspirations flitter through her mind. His hands trembled and he felt like he himself wanted to cry.

"Love was an emotion that I thought I would never be able to comprehend, to never be able to be in its grasps once more. I had buried it away from myself for so long, left it buried deep so I would never have to feel its icy cold fingers encase my heart once more. Love is such a fickle thing." He reached out his hand and touched her cheek, fingers trembling as they felt her soft skin. He couldn't help see the slight glaze in her eyes as if she was seeing someone else. And he knew exactly who she was seeing. He was but merely a block in the path.

He inclined his head and kissed her gently on the lips, wings spreading once more, extending around them in an array of feathers. The black feathers fell from the wings and suddenly turned white, beautiful, elegant. Her lips were quivering on his, she wanted to push away yet she did not. He knew he would never be able to be with her, but this was the least he could do for her.

He stepped back and smiled lightly, eyes growing lifeless once more. He would once again hide his feelings like a mask, bury them away. He may have felt love for her at a time, yet that would never happen again. He would once again forget that pathetic emotion.

"To bad I don't love you." The room was encased in darkness then, so she would not see any faults in his last preformance. She would not see the pain or misery that might slip through. "You love him Leslie, you have let me go. You are free. Get out of this castle."

"I-I don't understand. Why would I--"

"You would leave this castle because you are not one of us anymore. You are no longer a Tainted. I have released you from your bounds. You can be happy once more."

"But I--"

Vincent never heard the rest in which she had to say because he had flushed her out of the castle. The doors of the room closed and he was encased once more in darkness and so returned the silence.

Only then did he once and for all cry.

-----------------------

JC, I went loose there. I believe I may have done something that I shouldn't have. If you still want her to be a tainted, then I could edit my post or we can figure out a loop-hole.

If you wonder what I mean about that, ask Dreamwalk. I am too lazy to explain.
~Incognito

*O_O. Wow. Well, um this works. Now, we can get out of the whole Leslie Ray circle atleast into something new. I don't mind Leslie not being tainted really.*

Leslie~

In only seconds, I found my face staring into shiny mahogany doors, my prying fingers longed to feel Vincent's body once more. But instead, underneath them was the smooth surface of the wood. A wall--an obstacle--between Vincent and I. Our lips were no longer together and his hands no longer stroked my cheek as graceful as a swan. Yet, there was no underlying passion lacing the affectionate gesture of the kiss.

It was empty and it had to do with the biggest change of all. I was no longer tainted. For once in my entire life, I felt somewhat decisive on what I wanted to do and for a good reason. Most of the time I had the former but the latter was never completed. Love, a healthy and sincere dose of it filled my now mended and full heart. I started to walk the castle hall with a confident stride and then looked behind me at Vincent's office. The doors were still closed and I knew deep down that all was not well with him. I still cared for my once infatuation but in an innocent simple friendly manner. The castle halls seemed brighter to me and I transported Moses to my arms. I hugged him profusely and smiled like I had never smiled before.

I was going to see Ray (again) and going to make my first dream. Maybe Ray could help.

**I dont know where Joshua was last so I'm just going to throw him into the storyline XD**

Joshua

Joshua didn't really understand how he got home, nor did he question why he was pacing his room once more. He felt his fingertips grasp at nothing before folding behind his back as he stared up at the white-washed ceiling, lips parted and eyes half-lidded in deep thought.

What is this damn feeling? What is this horrifying pain within my chest?

He grimaced before leaning back against the wall with a hard thump, his teeth nicking his lower lips as his brows furrowed. Whatever he was feeling was making him sick to his stomach.

I have to go see him...

Joshua pivoted towards the wall before landing his forehead against the wood with a large smack, room resonating as his body shook from the sudden impact. He breathed in slowly before standing up. Something was wrong with him and the only person who could help him out now was Vincent because the only person who would understand this was him. The only person who could possibly comprehend half the things that tainted Joshua.

And with that, Joshua disappeared from his room, leaving it empty and alone. His body disinegrated into the nothingness of unreality until he felt his feet once more against the concrete floors of the castle of night. It was the farthest he had ever travelled using trasportation but it did not surprise him much in the state he was in. His instincts were pulling him towards Vincent.

He turned down the corridor towards the direction of the great hall wear Vincent would sit with his black wings and that indifference across his bemused features as was always. The wonderful solidarity it was.

When he turned into the great hall he heard sobbing. Something that was not uncommon in the castle of night by far, but the sound made his heart tear. It was not the sobbing itself that hurt him so but the person in which the sobbing resonated from that had caught him off guard. King Vincent, in all of his shame, sat within his thrown with crystal tears spilling from his eyes, one giant black wing curled over in a mad attempt at blocking his tearstained face from the sightes of Joshua.

"Vincent?"

~~

What do you think, Incog?

Good Good Dreamwalk

Vincent

"Vincent?"

Joshua's voice, simple and there, a statue to help hold him up. Every time Vincent had need in someone, Joshua was always there, and now it seems that once again he returned at the perfect moment to take away the pain. But he would not let Joshua do that this time. This pain was his to feel, and his only. He would not lay that wieght onto someone elses shoulders.

Vincent lifted his wings, wiping the tears away briskly and hid his emotions like a mask as if he had never cried, as if none of it had ever happened. His fake plastered smile glinted across his face, and he looked down at Joshua as if there was nothing more.

"What do you want my friend?"

"There is something wrong." Joshua's voice resonated of the walls, determination and concern both intermingling.

"It is nothing. Begone with you."

"You were crying." The words hissed out of Joshua's mouth. "There is something wrong."

"We enjoy warmth because we have been cold, we appreciate light because we have been in darkness, and by the same token, we can experience joy because we have felt sadness. Everything will heal in time, there is nothing here to concern you." Vincent looked at the fiery haired male, eyes duplicating his own, staring up at him, confusion and doubt evident there.

"Leslie was here, where is she?" Joshua looked around fr any sign of the girl.

"She is but merely gone, forever away from this condemned castle, safe to be happy once more unlike people like myself, and eventually like you." Vincent's fake features lay plastered there when really he just wished to fall down from his throne and let Joshua console him, to let him tell everything was alright. Bu yet again he was Vincent, the King of Nightmares, he was supposed to deal with his own problems not burden them on other people.

--------------------------------------------------

~Incognito

**I will fight back with another awesome quote! LOlz.

Joshua

"Vincent, do you want me to tell you something really subversive?" The words lingered on his tongue like a lyric, gentle and whimiscal as he raised his hand to his lips, eyes staring off into nothingness as reality hit him square in the face. His own epiphany stung his very limbs. "Love is everything it's cracked up to be."

"Wha...?"

"Please, let me continue." Joshua smiled weakly. "That's why people are so cynical about it. It is really worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. The trouble is, though, that in risking nothing you risk even more..."

"You are so naive, young Joshua." Vincent's chuckles were heavy, dark. Not the lighthearted ones Joshua had been so used to hearing all throughout his childhood. "When you risk everything, you fear everything, and when you have lost everything, there is nothing left to risk. I will not cower and risk what little I have left."

"So you are fearful."

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"Not really," Joshua admitted. "But there is nothing more despicable then respect based on fear as you seem fit. There is no respect in fearing for the little you have. No adoration. Just a knowing of it."

"I dont wish for respect."

"I never said you did." Joshua strode forward, hands outstretched. "But everytime we accept safety we reinforce that fear. In that there is no more respect. No thought other then a weak man. You are not a weak man, Vincent. You are scared, and alone, but weak you are not."

~~

*I might as well. Gah, its early....its not going to be very intricate lol*

Leslie~

I transported myself to Ray's house immediatly with no interest staying in the Castle. He was sitting at his desk once again and looked at me queerly when he saw me coming. I ran to him and flung my arms around his neck.

"I love you too, Ray and I have a suprise." I said, smiling.

Vincent

"But weak you are not." Vincent's facade melted away showing the misery in his features, the dark shades under his eyes from lack of sleep, the hard grimace of his mouth. Joshua said he was not weak, but that was the only side he had actually seen of him, the side that he wanted everyone to see.

Vincent fell back into the chair, the cold stone touching his bare skin of his cheek. He could feel every carving of the story that was told. The story of the fall and coming of Somium, and yet once again it was falling again, the King of Nightmares was in pieces and the King of Dreams was yet to resurface. Vincent was scared of what was going to happen, and it seemed to prove that Joshua was wrong about weakness. He was the weakest out there, perfering to put away anything he did not want to deal with, to never see it again.

"This is the face of a fallen angel." Vincent said in barely a whisper. "An angel that doesn't even have the strength to stand or spread his wings. There is nothing left for this mere foolish being, absolutely nothing." He glanced over at Joshua, "This is the price the angel has to pay for his mistakes."

"But my only question is what mistakes did you make that you haven't righted? What mistakes do you yourself bear close and are paining over? Nothing. You have done nothing wrong."

"I keep the Tainted in my grasp but merely because I do not like the feeling of being alone in my misery. I twist their memories so they can't get over them, I cause them emotional pain because of selfishness. I let Leslie go today, I let her return so that she herself can be happy." Vincent looked at his pale white hand. Letting go of Leslie had meant more then pain for him and happiness for her. She was the one he had placed in position to feel the pain forever as soon as he left, as soon as his existence was too much to bare. He would leave and she would have taken his spot on this miserable throne.

Looking down on Joshua, Vincent realized this was the one he wanted on both this throne and the throne of Dreams, he wanted this man here who could feel compassion and spite at the same time to be the lord of Somium and he would do nothing to stop him, and do everything for it progress that way.

*Lilly*


I walked out to the gardens, feeling drained emotionally and physically. I knew I must have looked awful, but I didn't care too much.

The fountain was on, and the trickle of water filled my ears as I walked around, trying to empty my head. I also picked a few flowers so I could make some sucres. I needed something sweet to take my mind off of things.

I was among the lilacs when I saw the red hair. The wind started to pick up slightly and the aroma of the flowers was almost too much.

She looked so familiar. I couldn't place where I had seen her before, but I knew that I had. I turned around, prepared to walk away, but I heard a quiet voice say, "Lilly?"

I turned back around and looked at her. She was looking at me intensely. I was slightly uncomfortable with the way she looked at me. She spoke. "Lilly, is that really you?" she asked, stepping closer.

"Well, I am Lilly, but I don't know who you're talking about." I replied, stepping away.

"Oh, Lilly, why?" she asked me, shaking her head.

"Why what?" I asked. Who was this person who seemed so familiar.

"Why did you become Tainted? You had so much life in you. Was it Lewis?" she started asking me multiple questions, and I was becoming angry and confused at the same time. How did she know about him? How did she know me.

"Who are you and how do you know me?" I ended up shouting.

She blinked in surprise. "Lill, it's me, August. You know, your best friend?"

I was now thoroughly confused. "I don't have a best friend." I replied.

She looked stricken. "Your memories are gone." she sad, stepping away. "I can't talk right now, but I will fill you in on everything later, Lilly, I promise." With those last words, she ran away and disappeared.

I was torn. I was caught up in such emotional turmoil, I didn't know what was going on. It was like when Vincent kissed me back in my room, he put a curse on me. Was this how he felt every day? If I had to go through it anymore, I would go mad.

I dumped the flowers and ran to Vincent's throne room. I burst in, and saw him look at me in surprise. I walked over to his thrown and collapsed on my knees. Tears were in my eyes and rolling over onto my cheeks. I looked up ant him, pleading with my eyes. "Why can't I remember things, Vincent? Why am I like this?" I looked into his eyes. "What have you done to me?"


**************
Take it Incog ***********************

Joshua

The sudden arrival of Lilly sent a chill through his spine as she collapsed before Vincent, her eyes seeing only him and that was all. He bit his lip, eyes now staring down at the floor with the sudden regret of his opposed arrival. Vincent was so tired, so bent, so torn. Those pearly tears that fell from his eyes filled Joshua's heart and drowned it under it's wake. Such a burden, such heartache.

And the more he sank into himself, the more he realized just how torn apart he was. Just how empty and angry he felt inside as the tears bubbled up over his eyelids, body shaking abruptly.

"I'm alone."

The word's had hurt more then any before as he suddenly realized the severity in them. The cause of his grief, his paranoia, his hatred. There was no one in all the world nor somnium that could understand him, could hold him and tell him things were going to be alright. He was the only one of his kind and the pain swelled and pulsed within him.

And the pulsing grew... and grew... and grew...

Now the pain was becoming physical, the emotional strain burning like magma within his lungs, liquid fire circulating within his veins. His eyes widened, as the tears stained his shirt red, mouth agape as he screamed.

"Joshua!" Vincent's voice was betraying him.

"What the hell is happening to me?" he sobbed, the pain so unbearable he fell to his knees. His skin billowed and shrunk then stretched making him feel like an elastic band, eyes burning as if they were being squeezed through his head. He was somewhat surprised that they didnt just fall out of his head as he screamed another earpiecing wrench from help.

But no one came to his rescue.

He could hear Vincent's coo above him, a gentle song, but not of anything he could possibly understand. He did not releave Joshua of this pain, Vincent just let it enrapture him in it's thick vines, strangling him to his ultimate death... And then it stopped.

The pain disappeared like it had never happened, his body restored back to it's original self, strong and unharmed, but emotionally he was dead. The clash of happiness and sadness was maddeningly clear now, corrupting his thoughts and sending him through the worst feelings of hurt and joy. He grimanced, raising his hands to his head as he slouched over.

"I'm sorry, Joshua... I'm so sorry."

He looked up at Vincent who was crouched down on his knees, wings billowing out. Lilly was standing behind him, mouth agape as well as her wide eyes stared at the scene below. He looked at her confused when Vincent wordlessly raised his hands before him. Between his outstretched hands erupted a mirror of a clear substance that reflected Joshua's image back at himself.

But it was not the image Joshua knew. It was a him even he didn't know. A him in which was foreign, strange. His hair was streaked with black, skin pale and translucent under the lighting. His lips were redder, and his teeth sharp. One of his bright eyes was now green, the wings billowing out of his back a clear sign that he was no longer just a dream creator. One was black as ebony, and the other as white as snow...

~~

**Yes, that was very long, but again I threw in a twist and Lilly running in was kind of random..**

Becca

"Excuse me?" I asked. "Did you just say I did a noble deed...Larinda is it?" The girl laughed.

"Why yes I did, as a matter of fact," she said. "And you, dream creator, what is your name?"

"I'm sorry," I growled. "I have a low tolerance for one tainted ones." Larinda cocked an eyebrow.

"You think I'm tainted?" She asked. "Then why would I have said you did a noble deed. I'm just going to go off on a whim. You're Becca, correct?" I sighed.

"Learn that from your king?" I asked sarcastically. "Yes I am Becca. Pleased to meet you I suppose."

"Ah, yes, lovely manners Becca. It's wonderful to meet you as well," Larinda grinned. I couldn't help but smile back. I was begining to like her.

"Would you like to go out and have lunch with me? I'd love to have a moment to talk with you," she said suddenly. I bit my lip.

"Well...sure, but could I ask you something?" I replied. she nodded.

"I'm looking for someone. Joshua?" Larinda stiffened a little.

"Um, Joshua? Well, I believe the last time I saw him, he was with Vincent," she responded. I sighed and gave a little nod. So he had forgotten me. I didn't blame him but that still didn't stop the flare of hurt that filled me. I wanted to talk to him.

"Well, now, about that lunch," I grinned. "I may just have to take you up on that. You're treat of course," I joked. Larinda smiled broadly and we exited the dream.

Outside I stood right next to the cherry tree. I streched and saw my silver hair fall behind me. I smiled. I never liked changing the color. I always felt more comfortable in my own skin I suppose.

"You ready?" Larinda asked. I nodded and trotted after her, having no idea where we were going.

Ray

Leslie probably didn't know it, but Ray had been pretty sore about being blown off again. He'd tossed up going after her, but in the end, had not, and had actually been contemplating giving up while he sat at his desk. Then, as he was wont to do in such a position, he had slipped into another dream.

To his surprise, he was face to face with that mysterious teenage human.

"What're you thinking, Ray?" she asked, frowning at him, arms folded.

He held up a finger, "Hold on, before I ask what you're talking about, how did you do that? Get me here and everything?"

She gave him a smile, the smile of someone with a secret that they want to share, but refuse to nonetheless, "I'm not telling just yet. Why are you thinking of giving up on Leslie?"

He sighed, supposing that there was no secret he was yet able to hide from this girl. So instead, he sat down on the bench from her last dream. "You know why. I almost have her, then she's gone. She kisses me, then she runs off to Vincent. I've lost count of the years I've loved her for, I don't know, maybe I should just get over her."

The slap came as more of a surprise than anything else, "Don't even think of doing that." She folded her arms, "You're just feeling sorry for yourself, that's so pathetic."

I'm just feeling sorry for myself? Ray thought, before realising she was right. "Wow." He muttered, "You're right. That is pathetic."

With that realisation, he woke up, at his desk again, shaking himself. Whether or not he ever won Leslie's heart, he had to find out the mystery behind that human.

A footstep sounded on his floorboards, and he turned to see Leslie there. He gave her a somewhat suspicious look, What's she doing back here so soon?

She flung her arms around him, "I love you too, Ray, and I have a surprise."

He couldn't help but grin, and sat back in his chair, "What is it, Leslie? I can't imagine anything more surprising than that." He teased, although he truly was happy that she'd picked him. And she had, he knew. There was nothing in that embrace that was holding back from him, holding on to Vincent. There didn't even seem to be any darkness in her, any confusion.