The Ink Puppeteers {closed/started}

crossroads · 2013-03-02T17:40:15Z

Behold. This Storybook is brought to you by a couple of members of The Ink Puppeteers Club - we have thought it through and we hope you will join and enjoy it. Please don't, though, if you don't think you'll be able to keep it on till the end. ~ The idea: Several writers end up all together in the world of their creations. ~ The Backstory You are a writer. A child or an adult or an old person, living in the world we know as our own - in any time period you choose - and writing is what you do, wether as your job or a hobby. One night, you fall asleep, with your notebook and your pen/quill in your hands, your mind full of ideas for the next chapter. You open your eyes, and though it's dawning, you are not home. The world around you is as real as any, scarily alien yet heartwarmingly familiar. It's the world of your mind, more or less, as you've now arrived to the very time and place of the last chapter you wrote. Furthermore, you found yourself very close to one of your characters - antagonist or protagonist, or a side character - and unable to leave no matter what you try. You can't destroy the notebook you happen to have with you either - you're the only one who can read it, yet if you destroy it, with it you will destroy the part of the world you're standing in, along with yourself in it. ~*~ You are a person. A magician, a member of royal family, a peasant or a slave, priest or wanderer, artist or grave robber or whatever crosses mind. You live your life, liking it or not, you connect with others, you explore your world. One night, you fall asleep - and as you wake up, everything is different. You are still in your world, and nothing around you has changed, yet you meet a person you feel strange connection to. It doesn't pass long, and you hear from that person the words you know you will never be able to forget. You find you are no more than a product of that person's mind, a character from a novel or story, or play or poem, made up by that strange foreign writer who somehow managed to enter your world. You are angry, or excited, or relieved or desperate - yet you have no choice. This person can control you, in a way, and you can't escape your very creator - you can't kill them either, for that will kill you as well. You are a Puppet, and the strange newcomer is the Puppeteer. ~*~ There are things that need to be done. Stories that need to be told. And with writers trapped in the world of their creations, nothing is sure to happen the way it was imagined to. And threats are not even those described in their writings, as if the evil and the antagonists are bad enough - for there are darker, powerful shadows of past lurking and waiting for the perfect moment to return. And the moment has never been closer. ~ The World The Project - This is the country where the SB takes place. The entire country is enclosed by a large wall, one that consumes anything and everything in its path. There is no known way to get rid of it, or even halt it. The wall is constantly shrinking and as a result, so is The Project. Small Towns: These towns are the life of the Land. They provide most of the resources to the cities. They are small, only about a fourth of the size of the large city, or a third of the size of the medium cities. 1. Ferusia- Futuristic City - This is the largest of the four small towns with a bustling population of about 10,000. Being neighbored by the extremely large mountain chain, the Cadavras Mountains, Ferusia’s specializes in mining minerals and ores. Geographically speaking, Ferusia is the smallest out of all the small towns. However, what it lacks in area, it makes up for with its buildings. Being able to mine precious metals, they were able to create advance techniques in housings, allowing them to make building above normal heights. Some of their tallest buildings are over 2km, called sky watchers. The tallest sky watcher stands at 2.5km tall. Other uses of their metals include strong weapons, armor, and furniture, as well as luxuries such as jewelry. 2. Marknam- Medieval City - The smallest of all the towns, the population of Markham is about 1500 people, many of which are military personnel. Specializing in farming and agriculture, they are the main source of food and medicinal herbs to the rest of the counties in The Project. They are surrounded on all sides by vast plains, all used for farming. A third of the citizens are spread out among these plains, while the rest of the population lives in the central town. In this part of the town, there is a large military presence, both for security of the town and the citizens themselves. While Markham is a small town, it has the training and resources to fuel a powerful fighting force. 3. Velso- Modern City - Velso is a pretty average sized town, holding around 6000 people. Many of the mechanical instruments found in other towns were created in Velso. While other towns grow or find resources, Velso is able to manufacture everything into new technology. They don’t find any resources themselves, so they rely on the bordering counties to provide for them. They thrive on the ideas of their manufacturers to make products that other countries will buy, like toilets. 4. Candira- Renaissance City - Candira is another average sized town, with just about a thousand less people than Velso. That being said it’s quite a bit larger. The average resident has much more living space that that of any other town. Being located near both a large ocean and a large oil reservoir, they are major exporters of water, paints, and gases. They are a very cultured bunch, a very artistically centered society. Being a painter, artist, musician, or actor can make you very big around these parts. They are not very big on war, so their army is very lackluster. They have a small, almost non-existent militia that acts as a makeshift police force for the small amount crimes that do occur. Medium Cities: These Cities are special, along with the Large City. These are cut, almost in half, by some unknown power, each side a different era. No one really knows how this happens, but over the ages, the ways of one side of the city seems to be different than the other. 1. Neveerem- Futuristic/Medieval – This city was quite a shock to most people in its early days. On the left half we find skyscraping sky watchers, while on the right we find castles and cottages prevalent. With a population of about 50,000, it is the larger of the two medium-sized cities. In the middle of this city is a tall spire, closely resembling that of a sky watcher, but made out of stone. No one knows what it does, or even what it holds, but it is there; perhaps it’s a symbol of the unity between the two people. Each side maintains their respective city type’s personality. 2. Miriam- Modern/Renaissance – Miriam is the smaller of the two medium cities. Once again, the city is cut in half, by powers unknown, left side being modern and the right being renaissance period. This city has about 40,000 citizens. There is another spire-like structure in the middle of the city, this one made out wood. It is surrounded by paintings and intricate glasswork that could only be made by the renaissance people. Once again, its purpose is unknown, but it’s still thought to act as symbol of unity. Each side maintains their respective cities personalities. Large Cities: 1. Celestalzia- Futuristic/Medieval/Modern/Renaissance – This is the pinnacle of the Land at this moment. Encompassing all four eras in its vast city, it holds an enormous 1 million within its borders. At the area where the four eras meet, a spire struts out and into the sky, high above even the tallest sky watcher, at over 5 km. Once again, no one knows what is inside there. Once again, all four eras retain their specific traits and qualities. The Air City Celest- Magical - This city is a city that not many people know of. This is the city that every creation in the Land (Project ) goes to that has an inch of magic, even if they don't know it yet. It rises above the entire land, and not one person who doesn't have magic knows about this city. The spires that rise above the land are gateways that people with magical capabilities are lured to it, and through the spires, they are transported to the Air City, Celest. It is a city that spirals throughout all of the Projects, and it can see all of the Wild. Maybe it will reveal the secrets of the Wild. The Wild: This is something that no one really knows about. It is a dark and frightening place that covers most of the Project. All four eras that are present in The Project have special traits with their respective Wilds. This is all of the information gathered on the areas and what is dangerous there. Futuristic: Through years of genetic experimentation, things have gotten a bit crazy here. It is the most mindboggling part of the Wild, with multi-colored spinnerets blurring your eyesight further in. These spiders are the most dominant insects in the forest, and it would be surprising to find massive colonies of them in one area. There are also some monsters that have ventured out of the futuristic era. There are twenty legged spider-looking freaks, though rare, that are dyed a sleek silver color. They’re armed with missile-looking spears tipped with poison that kill anything they come in contact with. There have been many buildings that have gone down because of these wicked beasts. There are also a giraffe-looking creature that are coal colored with fifteen different heads, each with one teeth, that will dislodge itself on the first thing that it comes into contact with, and after the tooth gets dislodged, the head dies. These are only two of the many that have ventured out of the Wild. We have only been able to learn a lot about those two. Other, less lethal animals include forty foot snakes, three-thousand pound apes, and birds that are bigger than houses (both carnivorous and not). Modern: This is the part of the Wild that we have been able to explore the most of. It is counted as the most docile part of the Wild, and it will only kill you within a few hours. From what we can see, it is like the Project used to be, but shrouded in mist, with all forms of vegetation dead. From as far as the eye can see, nothing lives there. The thick mist makes it almost impossible to see past more than a few feet, so any creatures that are more used to the conditions may easily just be avoiding contact with humans. There have been no known casualties with animals in the forest, and the mist has accounted for all the deaths, through madness, loss of direction, or the like. Renaissance: This is perhaps the most dangerous part of the Wild, not in terms of animals. The animals there are normal squirrels and raccoons and such, but the air is extremely toxic. The animals have developed and immunity to the toxicity, but humans have yet to figure out a cure. Seeing as science isn’t a major part of renaissance society, it is doubtful that there will be any solution to the problem anytime soon. However, if a cure is made, it’s widely agreed that this will be the most habitable wild out of any other. Medieval: This is the most active part of the Wild. It looks like a neon bulb went off on the land. The atmosphere of the forest in this part of the wild carries an odd air that heightens all senses once you breathe it in. Once you step out of the forest, these senses are lost, but as of right now, there are no known side effects. There are many monsters that venture out of here every day, though not as deadly as the futuristic era monsters. One example is a giant of a beast with two heads, one a bird and one an alligator. It usually carries a spear, which carries venom that can kill humans in about three minutes if not cared for. Another, less common beast is what is known as a bird man. They look much like humans, except they have the legs of goats, wings on their backs, tiny horns, and small beaks. They are considered one of the most civilized species of the forests, living much like humans. It’s believed they have their own language and society, but there has been little contact made with them, seeing as the medieval people are a very small and isolated group. Other animals are your typical wild creatures with just relatively large sizes. ~*~ Note that this world is actually a product of the Puppeteers' ideas. They are the writers, who happened to write about the same world, using different characters. They will, more or less, know in general about the world they get into, but not the details, they will need to find out about them. They will also not know of many other characters, places and events that took place in the parts of the world and time that they didn't describe in their stories. As for the language, it's not English, but we will, naturally, write in it. The Puppeteers, as we know, come from different places and times. In the World, therefore, the language spoken is invented by the Puppeteers, and so everyone there knows how to speak it. ~ The Magic The Puppeteers, except for being the controllers of some of the Puppets, don't have any kind of magic. They're not magicians in this world, nor they can read out their creations or something in this world. When they do come to the World, they can learn a thing or two, but can't get powerful mages all of the sudden - all they can do is to control, to an extent, the life of one of their Puppets. They can, say, make the Puppet sick or strong or angry or afraid, but they can't make the Puppet win in a duel, as they can't control the other person. In the world itself, though, as it is a fantasy world after all, there is magic. The magic can be done in two ways - using one's mind and using one's emotions. Both have further subcategories, such as being used with or without words/movement/potions, being material or illusions, and so on. Not everyone can have magic, the magicians are born randomly, and they choose at young age which type they prefer (is usually goes with the personality). No one can be using both types, for that will destroy anyone who attempts. ~ Characters There are two groups of characters - the Puppeteers, those who control; and the Puppets, those controlled. The Puppeteers are coming from our world, all of them being writers. Their writings could be novels, stories or any other type that has characters in it. The Puppeteers come from different times and places in our world's history/future, and the Puppets in the same world, the creation of the Puppeteers. The Puppets may or may not have interacted previously - the Puppeteers know only as much of their characters' history as they have written down, therefore the Puppets are as much people as we are. The don't know that they're living imagined lives in an imagined world until the Puppeteers arrive and tell them. They, however, know more about the World and its people than the Puppeteers do. We each have two characters - a Puppeteer and a Puppet Our Puppeteer controls two characters - a Villain Puppet and a good guy Puppet. Once our Puppeteer gets to the world of the Puppets, he/she only controls one of his/her characters - the villain or the other one, and it is not the Puppeteer's choice. The Puppet we choose as our POV character doesn't need to be controlled nor connected with our Puppeteer POV character - we can even control each other, but with a lot of talking and zero Godmoding. Once the Puppeteers get into the World, they are not able to control the Puppets' thoughts and speech anymore. You can make your Puppet character act as a slave to the Puppeteer, if so you wish, but by default, the Puppets will act on their own. All of the Puppets have the appearance and the personalities their Puppeteers imagined, but also have their own thoughts and more filled life than the Puppeteers imagined. ~The Control The Puppeteers can control their Puppet, once they get into the World, with strings visible only to them, coming from the Puppeteers' fingers. This, however, is no rule - you a free to think of your own ways if you wish. The Puppeteers can control the Puppets to an extent. They can make them ill or cure them, they can make them forget something or feel lucky or sure of themselves - but they can't give them powers, nor can they write the future and make it happen, for they can not control the way any other character will act. The extent of the Puppeteers' "powers" depends on their connection to the character, and therefore can get stronger or weaker as the story moves on. ~ The Character Templates: Every person MUST have a Puppet and a Puppeteer character. Their Puppet character, however, doesn’t need to be the one controlled by any of the Puppeteers. Apart from those two, they can have another Puppet/Puppeteer, or a random character from the World that isn't a Puppet, but will play a part. No one can play people in this world, for nothing in the Storybook will be happening here. Template for the Puppeteers: - Name (and gender if it's not obvious): - Age (12 to whatever, but normal human age): - Appearance (pics welcomed, but written required.. Keep on the real people pics, though): - Personality (make it a couple of paragraphs): - History (what time (and place) are you coming from, what got you into writing, about family, so on) - About your writing (well, obviously fantasy-ish at least, but give us some details.. Do you like happy endings, do you care for your characters, do you see them as people, do you like it complicated or simple, is there love and so on): - The way you described the World (the world of the Puppets, that is, where we will all end up, give us a part of the description, of the place where your story is happening or such): -Their Puppets (if controlling the other writer's Puppet character, only fill this when you're sure they're ok with it): - Other: Template for the Puppets: -Name:(Again, specify gender if it’s not obvious) - Age (7-infinity): - Appearance:(Words necessary...) - Personality: - History: - Magic or no, and what type: - What their Puppeteer doesn't know about them: - Controlled by: (Leave blank for now if you're not controlled by your own character/have a deal with another SBer): - Other: Template for the others: - Name (and gender, again): - Age: - Appearance: - Personality: - History: - Magic or no, and type: - How much and for how long do you know (about the Puppeteers/Puppets/the true history of the world): - Relationship with other characters (if applicable - do you know anyone, serve under someone, rule over someone, so on - agree on it with the writer of the character you're mentioning): - Other: ~ The Rules: apart from the normal YWS rules, that is. Have at least those two characters, Use proper grammar (or at least close enough, or at least separating sentences properly) Have posts of some fair length and always to talk to other writers when working on posts. All of the profiles should be sent for approval to me before they're posted in the Storybook. That's so we can be sure that all the necessary changes will be made and nothing will be missed. Godmoding is strictly off limit. We will not have arguements about it, nor will there be negotiations about it. No is enough. ~ Character Slots Puppeteers 1. AriaAdams - Lilith 2. Shadowlight - Walter 3. VeerenVKS - Veeren 4. kayfortnight - Demeter 5. AriaAdams - Dorian 6. wordsandwishes - Melody 7. Alvarin - Anna 8. Omniyus 9. VampireSenshi512 - Kazran 10. Leahweird 11. LoyalHeart - Andrea 12. Starleene Puppets 1. AriaAdams - Penelope 2. ReisePiecey - Acosta 3. Shadowlight - Evangeline 4. Omniyus 5. kayfortnight - Lienei 6. kayfortnight - Aenon 7. wordsandwishes - Mishiqua 8. Alvarin - Dusty 9. Alvarin - Leo 10. VeerenVKS - Jack 11. VeerenVKS - Chris 12. ReisePiecey 13. FermentingFruit - Alayna 14. VampireSenshi512 - Ander 15. Leahweird 16. ~closed Others 1. Omniyus 2. 3. 4. 5. + ALL the OOC posts must go in the DT , reservations included. If you have any questions, PM me and I will gladly answer.. And don't forget to send the profiles before posting them.

crossroads

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Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:10 pm

crossroads says... · Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:10 pm

Spoiler

The rest coming up tomorrow, I happen to be a bit busy today :/

~Lilith

I opened my eyes to soft greenish light. The sheets around me were soft, pillows luring me to let go and lose myself in the oblivion of dreams again, and silent music almost sounded as a lullaby.

"You're awake!"

I moaned. The girl's voice was way too loud for me to handle - I didn't even know my head hurt so much. What happened? I blinked a few times and met the scared glare of the other girl. She was a writer as well, and didn't belong to this world, that much I could tell. I tried recalling her name, but her words cut my thoughts.

"I thought you won't wake up. I thought you've died."

"I haven't," I muttered. Doing my best to sit up, I cried in pain around my ribs. With the sensation came all the memories, and I glanced around looking for Corin.
Oh, wow, I couldn't not think. The tower from the inside was much more beautiful than I imagined it. I never really bothered describing it much, so even if I'd known I'd end up in it, I would never expect to see that; the walls were thick and as if made of dark glass, with something almost moving inside of them, reminding me of the lake itself, and a spiral snake of shelves filled with bottles and papers climbed all the way to the ceiling. I slowly got up, still feeling the other writer glaring at me.

"My name is Anna," she said, and I nodded. "You don't talk much, do you?"
I turned my back to the wall I began to observe, and frowned a little. Talking? I barely ever had anyone to just talk to, unless it was about lying or talking my way out of something.
Back home, there was no one I could have called my friend - and so far, from the examples I've seen, here was neither.

"What are you even doing here?" I finally asked, "weren't you supposed to go with the demon and company?"

"His name is Dusty." She sounded defensive now, even though the guy almost killed us both. I almost smiled - despite of everything, if anyone even tried offending Corin or either of my characters, he would have ended up in scars. "He healed you with some of his blood - it has such powers - but also tied us all together, so, um.. You die if he dies. And he dies if I die."

"And Corin dies if I die," I muttered. Well, now at least it made sense that she was still alive in my villain's tower. "Smart demon you made there."

"Your murderous prince isn't all that better," she replied, and I smiled a little.

With every new word, I liked this girl more - partly, I was sure it was the instinct the streets have given me.
Despite of being younger than her, I felt protective, like I always did towards people who acted scared yet friendly. And she was another writer, and, judging from the way of talking and her appearance, not far from the time period I came from myself.

"Corin isn't a prince," I said. "I'm Lilith, by the way. But I guess you could just call me Cy."

"Great," she answered quickly. "And didn't you say something about his princess before?"

I winced a little. If I hadn't mentioned Kyra, I was pretty sure he would've killed us both. Unless his revenge to the Celetals was more important to him than his revenge to his suddenly mortal and available creator.

"He was in love with a princess," I said. "They, uh, they made her think he died and practically took his magic away from him."

She said nothing, so I turned my back to her, staring at some papers on a shelf. They were dusty and yellow, and it took me a few minutes to realize what I was staring at.
Letters.
I carefully took one out, grimacing to the pain I felt as I lifted my hand, and Anna walked over to look over my shoulder. For a moment, I had to resist the idea to lean my head on her shoulder and just let someone else be the strong one for once.
Then I unfolded the letter and ended up speachless.

Building the bridges it read, doesn't make the river stop flowing. I did everything they told me to, I tried everything you asked me to do, but I can't - I won't - just let go of it. They have no right to order us that, and you know it very well. You said once you don't see me they way they do, you said I'm not your way to power packed in gorgeous dresses and mannered words, so why did you just adhere like that? The gardens are dying without you. The roses won't grow white to anyone else. My father had recovered from Mother's death, and I'm afraid.
What if they send me away?

I took another letter, this one written in darker ink and somewhat sharper handwriting. As I unfolded that one, a dried white rose almost fell out of it.

I can't tell if it will cost me my life, nor if anyone but you will ever read this, but I'm not intending on letting you go. Meet me at the Garden tonight, and bring all the letters you still keep. It's over, my love. Not a thousand-

The flower burst to flames in my hand, and I let both it and the letter fall on the ground, turning around.

Corin was standing in the doorway, his arms crossed on his chest, and there was something in his eyes that reminded me very well of the pain I've felt before.
I hugged myself, wanting to lie down again, and Anna took a step back and hid behind me. Great, thanks, I couldn't not think, but I couldn't blame her either - even with knowing of Corin's abilities, I was scared out of my mind.
Yet I couldn't have kept silent, not seeing the way he glanced at the letters. What the hell have I done?

"You still love her," I whispered. "Don't you?"

He gave me a freezing look for my efforts.
"You have parts of your body that can yet be broken," he muttered. "So watch your tongue."

I shook my head. It was wrong, that wasn't what I wrote, was it? Love wasn't supposed to be driving him. Not any emotion was. Just how many things happened behind my back in my own story?

He slowly walked over to me, picked up the letter and the flower from the ground - they weren't burnt at all, and a moment later I figured he must had just made it an illusion to make me stop reading.

I offered him to take the first letter, Kyra's one, my hand slightly shaking. He looked me in the eyes, and then waved to the wall; it became darker, turning into a mirroring surface, and I could see my reflection in it. I was pale, but not as much as Corin, and both Anna and I looked even more scared and lost than I thought we did. Based on the look on her face, she came to the same conclusion.

"That," Corin whispered, standing behind me and with his hands on my waist - just gentle enough not to hurt, but we both knew he could cause me pain again by just moving a little. "That what you feel right now, that is all you'll have of feelings when it comes to me, little Creator. Don't you fool yourself into believing there's anything more, and don't." He tensed his fingers on my ribs. "Ever." I whined as I felt the pain again, his hands not letting my injuries heal. "Touch anything in the tower again." I felt tears in my eyes again, as strange pain spread through my body as if he replaced my blood with it. If he hadn't been holding me, I was sure I would've fallen.

"Stop it," Anna interrupted, stepping in in the same way I did before with Dusty - she caught Corin's hand, and though he didn't let me go, the pain disappeared. Gasping for air and trying to calm my heart, I shook my head as his eyes locked on Anna's.

"No," I muttered. "Don't hurt her. She had nothing to do with it."

He seemed to be fighting with himself, backing off at the end. Not letting me go, he looked away from Anna.
"One floor under, you will find food," he said to her. "Go get it before I change my mind and lock you in here to starve."

Anna left, giving me a worried look. I tried to smile and show her I'll be alright, but she didn't seem convinced - even I wasn't convinced myself. I had no idea what would happen. He could've brought me as close to death as one can be, hurt me so much to make me beg and cry and do whatever he says, and I was pretty sure we both knew it.

"I'm sorry," I said silently. "I-I won't do it again. Please, just let me go."

He didn't let me go - but he didn't hurt me either. Instead, he turned almost gentle.
"I take it you do know how much you resemble her," he muttered, and I closed my eyes.

Kyra. His beautiful, yet witty and strong princess. She had all the virtues and flaws as myself, and a few more I wished I had. If it ever occurred to me that I might once meet either of them, I would've reconsidered putting all the good things I knew of in one person - Corin could as well use some of the heart Kyra had.

"I wrote her after myself," I confessed. He let me go, and walked away, the wall turning to its usual self again. I couldn't tell what he was thinking of, until je stopped and our eyes met.

Oh no. Please don't ask.

"I want to know," he said, ignoring my untold plead. "Did you write us seeing each other again?"

Biting my lip, I glared back at him. Yes, I did write them seeing each other again - in an ambush on a bridge, where she puts herself in front of him and gets killed, and he then turns Celest to ashes. No matter how much his revenge still meant to him now, however, I was sure he would be happy with the truth.

"You do see each other again," I practically whispered. I was sure he would've said something more, if there wasn't for the demon appearing in between us out of thin air.
***

• previously ChildOfNowhere
- they/them -
literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour

kayfortnight

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Tue Mar 19, 2013 11:49 pm

kayfortnight says... · Tue Mar 19, 2013 11:49 pm

Demi

Melody shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Well..."She glanced up at Mishiqua."I, um, sort of wrote a story about you."

The stunned silence that filled the room was deafening.

I glanced at Lienei and noticed she was paler than ever. Of course. Hearing another person with the same story I told her, for another... Tentatively, I said, "Wrote a story?"

She ducked her head. "I know it sounds strange, but it's the truth."

I took a deep breath. Melody Bluevale. The name wasn't a coincidence. "Where are you from, Melody?" Before she could answer, I added, "More importantly, when are you from? I'm a writer, too, from Kentucky, but I'm not sure if that means anything to you. Maybe it'd make more sense to say I'm from Earth, in the year 2013?"

She raised her head back up and met my eyes. "Lienei's your story, isn't she?"

Lienei snapped, "I'm not anyone's story!" but I ignored her.

"Yes. Lienei and Aenon. Lucius and the kids, too." I grabbed Lienei's hand, and murmered, "Please forgive me for everything I've done to you. I didn't know you were a real person somewhere."

~*~

Lienei

A cold feeling crept over me as I stared at the dark hand in mine. I couldn't deny her claim anymore, if only because this other girl apparently wrote this coven. And there were also the legends...

I had to make sure. "So you're the reason my parents abandoned me, the reason I'm forced to kill for the Darai family?" I pointed at the other girl, who looked startled. "And you! Your stories may never have affected me, but I'm guessing that every trouble these people" I indicated the sirens with a wave of my hand, "was your fault."

Demi was in a daze. "I didn't think you'd take it this way. It's not like we're sadists. I gave you good along with the bad..."

"In my mind, that's exactly what you are. You're a sadistic brat, Demeter, and I honestly don't care what happens to you." I turned to walk away.

"Come back here and apologize."

A force against my will pulled me to a stop. Like invisible strings not letting me walk any farther. I turned on the spot and stiffly walked back towards Demi, wondering if my terror showed on my face. "I'm sorry."

The tension suddenly released and I dropped in a chair, exhausted. I noticed Mishiqua leaning over me with a strange expression on her face and said, "I'm thinking we don't want to get on their bad sides."

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Alvarin

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Wed Mar 20, 2013 1:23 am

Alvarin says... · Wed Mar 20, 2013 1:23 am

Anna Urushibara
I didn't want to leave her alone. Her character, Corin, was just as cruel as Dusty. Though Dusty had actually asked me for help, hadn't he? He wanted me to make sure nothing happened to Lilith. Well, what he actually asked me was to make sure nothing happened to Oliver, but I took it as a sign of compassion anyway. Sadly I hadn't done a very good job so far. Corin had hurt Lilith again, and I was sure that Dusty already knew. It wouldn't surprise me if he showed up. I wasn't sure I actually wanted him to show up. Maybe he would bring both Lilith and me with him to his castle. That way at least I knew that Lilith wouldn't be hurt again, but me on the other hand.. He could do whatever he wanted to me as long as he didn't kill me. I shivered at the thought. When I had been safely in my home Oliver and Dusty had been harmless, but now I almost regretted that I had made them both so cruel. Though, at the same time, I was proud of my creations. They were exactly as I had imagined them, but even better.. Or maybe 'badder' was a more fitting word.

I was so lost in thoughts that I almost forgot where I was, until I stepped into what seemed to be a kitchen. It was hauntingly beautiful, just like everything else here. I was almost jealous that Lilith had created something like this. Dusty's castle seemed incredibly boring and gray in comparison. I shook my head. Why was I even thinking about that now? What did it matter how the place looked? I had been sucked into my own unfinished novel, and now I had somehow wandered over to another novel that I knew nothing about. My friend, if I could call her that, was probably being tortured and soon my own character would show up and probably torture me as well.

On one of the kitchen counters I spotted a tray of food. At least he wasn't going to let us starve, that was a slight comfort. I tried to pick the tray up, but my hands were trembling too much. I took a breath and tried again. No, this wouldn't work. I needed to calm down. A plan. Yes, that was what I needed. A way to make sure neither Lilith or me died. Corin had seemed unwilling.. No, that probably wasn't it, but he hadn't hurt me when I tried to stop him from hurting Lilith, so maybe I could use that to my advantage. I could try, at least.

Another deep breath, then I picked the tray up and slowly walked back towards the room Lilith was in. I was being extra careful so that I wouldn't drop anything. This might be the only food he'd give us in quite a while. At least Dusty wouldn't feed his prisoners more than so that they stayed alive, and I was pretty sure that Corin was the same.

When I was almost there I heard a familiar voice. Dusty. Cold and emotionless as always, but I knew he would be furious that Oliver was hurt. I had made him that way. There was only one person in the world he cared about, and that was Oliver.

"You're upsetting my.." The sudden roar made me drop the tray, but I didn't even care any more. I ran into the room just to see Griz half turned into his real hellhound form.

Dusty
Oliver was on the floor, grunting in pain and clutching his abdomen. Griz was anxiously bumping him with his nose. I should've known. I should've known that that bastard wouldn't be able to keep himself in check. "Oliver." I carefully lifted him up in my arms and carried him to his room. "I'm going to go back to that man and make him stop. I'll leave Griz here to guard you."

His hand shot up and grabbed my shirt. "Take me with you," he said through clenched teeth.

"It's too dangerous, you'll just get in the way. You can't even stand."

"Yes, I can." I watched as he forced himself to sit up on the bed. "It's stopping now." He looked relieved, so I assumed he was telling me the truth. "Please, take me with you." That desperation in his eyes again. Like he thought I was going to leave him and not come back. There was no way I could do that, not anymore.

"Stay behind me at all times and don't talk," I muttered. My powers should be enough to protect him, and even if they weren't I still had Griz. "Lets go, now." I took Oliver's hand in my right and and put my left on Griz's head. I focused all my thoughts on the man who now made my thoughts burn with anger, and suddenly he was standing in front of me. His creator was there too, and she didn't look too happy. My own creator didn't seem to be anywhere in the fancy room. Could he have put her in the dungeon? The thought made me slightly annoyed, even though it shouldn't have.

"I thought I told you to take good care of them?" I said, shoving Oliver being me and ordering Gritz to guard him. Corin looked as if he was about to answer, but a swat of my hand made him fly into a wall. "You disobeyed me, and I don't take very kindly to that." My voice and face showed no sign of the anger that was burning underneath.

Suddenly the room was covered in flames. Another swat of my hand, unintentional this time, made Corin slam into the opposite wall. I tried to will the flames to go out, but it wasn't working, which was when I realized that there were no flames. This was an illusion. I twirled around, but it was to late. The flames were gone now, but Corin was holding Oliver by his throat, nearly lifting him from the ground.

"Let him go," I warned, but the man just smiled.

"I can't kill you, and I can't kill the girls, so I guess I'll just have to make due with this one." His grip tightened and I knew that Oliver couldn't get any air. For a moment I almost dropped my facade, but a look at Griz calmed me down.

"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," I said calmly.

Corin snickered. "And why is that?"

"You're upsetting my.." A roar loud enough to shake the tower cut me of. Griz had nearly doubled in size and smoke and ash was coming from his mouth. It wouldn't be long until he would show his true form.

"Please stop!" I turned to see my creator by the door. She looked as if she was going to burst into tears. "Please, Corin, let go of Oliver." She turned towards me. "Order Griz to calm down."

"Oh, don't worry," I said with a fake smile. "He's not going to kill Oliver. Doing that would be like committing suicide," I said with a gesture towards Lilith whose face was starting to turn slightly blueish. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."

He suddenly let go of Oliver, who fell to the ground. He gasped for breath for a while before finally getting up and staggering over to me again. This time I wrapped my arms around him protectively. That way Corin wouldn't be able to use the same trick again.

“Are you looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis”
― Thomas Harris

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Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:24 am

crossroads says... · Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:24 am

Spoiler

OOC; this won't be happening much, but it might tell you a bit more (and it's pretty fun), before I get back home and post for everyone else.

~Kyra

I led Leone through the hallways, forcing my face to stay calm. Why was I even feeling like that? Still? Years have passed since we were separated, more years than from my mother's death. It was still hurting Dad, I could tell - I even used that against him. So why wasn't I allowed to be hurt?

"Troubles on your mind, princess?" He asked as we entered the garden. For a moment, I could almost see the familiar figure standing by a bush of roses. Then I blinked and turned to Leone.

"It comes with being a princess," I said. Your lover gets killed for daring to treat you the way you like being treated.

My Prince observed me.
"You don't really want to marry me, do you?"

I shook my head.
"Not at all."

For a moment, he gave me a comforting smile, and I almost let down my guard and cried.
Then his eyes turned sharper, he clutched my face between his fingers and forced me to look back at him.

"Well too bad you don't get the choice. See, King of Cekest, and with the addition of a beautiful princess such as yourself, well.. I can't say no to that deal." His finger moved over my lip. "I suggest you to change that mood of yours, love. If you don't start acting happy, I will make you - and if you want to keep your loving memory, I wouldn't suggest you that."
***

~Corin

My, my. The hellhound turned to the size of one of the spiders outside, but that wasn't the most intriguing. The look in the demon's eyes, just for a moment, told me all I wanted to know. I smiled one of my dark smiles - I had practiced a whole arsenal of those over the years - knowing that my little Creator would step in to protect me from the attack; and Dusty wouldn't risk having her hurt and hurting Oliver along.

Not letting my eyes leave the demon for a second, I spoke again, my voice as calm as Dusty's.
"You four," I said, gesturing to two writers and the demon's protege, "out." I turned back to Dusty. "I need a word," I said, not even trying to make it sound like an order - though I knew it did anyway.

The demon observed me somewhat skeptically, yet slowly nodded to the others. All three humans pouted a little, with both girls giving scared glances to both of us, but they obeyed and left. Still with a grin, and my arms crossed over my chest, I locked my eyes on Dusty's.

He was doing a marvelous job hiding his emotions - just as I did a marvelous job acting like I had any proper ones - yet to a natural Emotion Mage, one glance was enough to read a person's emotions like an opened book. Harder with demons, yes, especially seeing that I was no longer really an Emotion Mage, but I could still tell.

"You love him."

He moved, as if to toss me to a wall again, but this time I made him unable to move. When he looked at me again, though still with his calm mask, I was sure he was burning on the inside.

"Let go of me."

"Admit it," I said calmly. "If it comforts you, he loves you too. So why don't you just take his young soul and live your happy demon life?"

Go ahead. Tell me you need me. Tell me what you want so I can tell you that I know how to get it.

"We die as our creators die," he said finally, not really answering my question - but I knew I was right anyway, or as close to right as I could be.

"There are ways to make one immortal," I noticed, and he gave me a strange look.

"You don't act like Emotion Mage," he said. I almost told him my story. Almost.

"That is because I'm not one."

"You do know something about it, though."

"I know a lot about it." I didn't like being questioned. "But I'm not one."
I was a bit surprised, as much as I could be anything, that he didn't notice traces of my demonic side - or if he did, I wondered why didn't he say anything even when there was no one around.

"Immortality, then," he said. "I know how it's got. Can you do it?"

I cocked my head to one side. Killing a powerful demon and drinking up whatever he had in place of blood. One could say I did some practicing back in the days.

"I want something in return," I said.

"I don't make deals."

"Why, because you're not strong enough to fulfill your part?"

"You will not hurt any of them again," he said in cold voice, waving his hand in direction the others left.

"It's your fault that your young friend is getting hurt. I'd say I'm sorry, but I couldn't care less. And I have more than good reasons to make this world hell for my little Creator. Call it repaying a debt."
***

• previously ChildOfNowhere
- they/them -
literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour

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Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:18 pm

Omni says... · Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:18 pm

Michael Scott

Dorian. Dorian. Nope, didn't ring a bell. "How about you join me for a cup of tea?"

I smiled, and we walked down the street. The first thing I noticed about this city was that it looked to be stuck in the medieval ages.

The other thing that I noticed was that it didn't stop Dorian from flirting with almost every breathing woman that occupied any area within ten feet of us. He was a writer, I'm sure, and I'm not stupid. He acted like he had been here before, like he had made this place. Maybe he was telling the truth.

I watched as he winked at a group of ladies and they started giggling furiously. So far I teleported to an unknown land and ran into a guy who claims to have created this entire place. What else could happen? We stopped at a tavern called 'Nams Inn. "Well, let's hope that this place has some tea."

"Or some good rum." I muttered.

He smiled. "I like the way you think, good sir. I wouldn't mind a lady to spend some spare time with." He strode in, opening both doors in a grandoise fashion, and made sure to attract attention as he plopped down on a bar stool. "Got any good tea?" The redhead woman attending to the bar and chuckled at his request. She took out a jug and poured a dark drink.

"Strongest we've got. There you go." She said softly with a wink. That wink was familiar. In fact, almost everything about him was familiar...

I gasped, all air forced out of my like someone just jabbed me in my stomach. I backed out of the the front doors, trying to get air. I knew her. I created her. Mariah Gardner.

︵‿︵‿୨ ♡ OwO ♡ ୧‿︵‿︵

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Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:22 pm

Alvarin says... · Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:22 pm

Dusty
"You four," he made a gesture towards our creators, Oliver and Griz, "out. I need a word." I would've frowned, but didn't. I didn't like humans, or whatever he was, ordering me around. Eventually I gave Oliver a small nod and let him go with the others.

Corin stared at me until I got uncomfortable. The knowing look in his eyes.. I didn't like it at all. "You love him."

The statement caught me by surprise. He said it as if he was pointing out a weakness. Besides, I didn't love him. I was a demon, a weak one, but still a demon. We didn't love anyone but ourselves.. Or at least that was what I would like to think, but.. No, I wouldn't let him affect me like this. I made a move to toss him into the wall again, but found myself frozen in place. He was using his magic again. "Let go of me." At times like this I was especially happy that I knew how to keep myself seemingly emotionless, or I would probably have growled.

"Admit it. If it comforts you, he loves you too. So why don't you just take his young soul and live your happy demon life?"

I chose to ignore him, 'cause I didn't know how to answer his question. Oliver had offered me his soul, but I couldn't accept it. "We die as our creators die," I said. I had been thinking about it for some time now.

"There are ways to make one immortal." I almost smiled. Was he reading my mind as well?

"You don't act like Emotion Mage."

"That is because I'm not one." He might say that, but I had seen him doing magic that only an Emotion Mage should be able to perform.

"You do know something about it, though."

"I know a lot about it. But I'm not one."

"Immortality, then," I continued. "I know how it's got. Can you do it?"

He cocked his head to the side. At least he was listening. In the past I would've been able to do this myself, but now.. No, even trying would get myself killed. "I want something in return."

"I don't make deals," I said shortly. I had never made deals, unlike most demons. I preferred just taking what I wanted.

"Why, because you're not strong enough to fulfill your part?"

That wasn't the problem. For once. Though it might be. "You will not hurt any of them again," I said with a gesture towards the door. A quick look through Griz's eyes told me that they weren't exactly getting along.

"It's your fault that your young friend is getting hurt. I'd say I'm sorry, but I couldn't care less. And I have more than good reasons to make this world hell for my little Creator. Call it repaying a debt."

"You're not the only one who has reasons to hate your creator." Now I was thinking of Oliver instead of myself. Sure, I had lost my power, but other than that she hadn't tormented me that much. Oliver, on the other hand. A frown crept onto my face, but as soon as I realized I immediately returned to my usual expression. "What was it you wanted?"

He smiled again. I had the feeling his smiles were just as fake as my lack of them. "A way to get into Celest, or just level it to the ground."

"I can't get in there. My powers aren't the same thing as magic, and leveling it to the ground.." I really didn't want to say it, but I needed both Anna and Oliver to become immortal. "I'm not strong enough to do that, not anymore." For a second, just a second, I saw that facade of his crumbling and show a very desperate man underneath. I snickered, loudly, and he got his act together. "I do know about someone who could. It's just a legend, but I doubt you have anything else to go on."

"Then tell me."

"Immortality first, legend later. I don't want you running of." He was about to say something, but I continued. "Besides, a demon can't break a signed contract." I looked towards the desk and the papers there. "A normal written one should do. Signed by us both, in blood."

"Of course," he remarked dryly.

"Why change something that works?" Honestly, I barely even knew how to make a deal. I had heard about written contracts before, so it would probably work. Though I doubted he would even notice if it didn't.

Not long after we had a contract that we both agreed to. He used a fancy letter opener to make a cut in his hand and wrote his name with equally fancy letters. I used my teeth to bit through the skin of my thumb and then pressed it against the paper. The feeling it gave me made me hiss, even though I tried not to.

"What?" he said with the usual cold smile.

"It worked." It felt like he had placed an invincible leash on me, and I didn't like it at all. No wonder I had never done this before. I took a breath and backed away from the contract, as if distancing myself from it would make it go away. "We should travel tomorrow, when it's light. The demon I'm thinking about is most likely hiding in a shrine in the wild. He likes to pretend that he's some mighty forest god."

For a moment he looked amused. "How exactly do you know him?"

"We did some experiments together, about 2000 years ago." Corin raised an eyebrow, so I decided to go on. I even felt compelled to do so. No doubt the contract's fault. "About what type of souls that tastes the best. Turns out they all taste the same," I said with a shrug. I didn't look to see his expression, but walked towards the door. "I assume you have vacant rooms?"

"Take whichever you want."

When I stepped outside I noticed that Lilith and Oliver had exactly the same bruise on their jaws, as well as the same bruises around their necks. One way or another I were going to make Corin pay for that. "Follow me," I told Oliver and Griz, and they did as I said.

Oliver
We were told to leave Dusty and Corin alone, and I did so reluctantly. I looked up at Dusty, but he didn't even seem to notice me, as usual. His eyes were fixated on Corin, and it annoyed me, even scared me. As the door closed behind me I leaned towards one of the walls, and Griz sat down in front of me, protectively. I stayed like that for what seemed like a long time, staring at the wall, but eventually the eyes on me became too annoying to ignore.

"What?" I said without looking at them. No doubt they wanted something from me, just like all other humans.

"I just wanted to.." I turned to glare at the girl who claimed to be both mine and Dusty's creator. Her voice trailed of and she took a step back.

"Apologize?" I laughed loudly, which made Griz twitch nervously. He probably heard how awful it sounded. "Isn't this how you wanted us to be? Aren't we exactly as you imagined?"

She looked down on her hands. I had a hard time believing that she could come up with anything. "I wasn't going to apologize. It's just.. He loves you. Though he can't admit it, 'cause that's how I made him."

I stepped away from the wall and walked towards her, and the idiot looked almost hopeful. Lilith, on the other hand, knew better. Just as I raised my hand she stepped in between us, but it was too late. I felt the burning pain on my own jaw.

"Why are you hitting yourself?" she asked with an unpleasant smile. Griz growled loudly and flashed his teeth. "Yeah, let him attack me, I'm sure that'll be fun for both of us."

I backed of. There was no point. Why had I even talked to them in the first place? What she had told me about Dusty.. No, it was probably just a lie. It had to be. Dusty didn't see me as anything more than a pet. I'd just have to get used to that. The only reason he had waited so long to tell me was just because he was trying to be nice. He pitied me, I knew it. "Just leave me alone," I muttered and leaned against the wall again.

"I really am sorry." Was she an idiot? Did she want me to shut her up? "I didn't think I was actually harming someone when I wrote."

"Go to hell, both of you." I felt nothing but hate for these humans, just as the rest of them

No one said much after that. The girls exchanged a few words, but I didn't bother listening. Eventually Dusty came out, but he didn't look like himself. For once I could actually tell that he looked stressed. He looked at me for a moment, before saying: "Follow me."

Griz and I did as we were told, and followed him into an empty bedroom. "What happened?" I asked as soon as the door closed. It wasn't like him to show anything but a blank expression, not to anyone but me and Griz.

He sat down on the bed with a sigh. "We made a deal. A deal with an actual contract."

I frowned. "I didn't know you could do that."

"Neither did I." The tired expression suddenly disappeared to be replaced by a blank one. "What would you say if I offered you immortality?"

Oddly enough, I already had an answer for that. "I would say yes, if I could spend my whole life with you." He nodded, but didn't say anything more, so I sat down next to him. "Is this about your decision?"

"Yes." Still, no expressions.

"So you are considering it?" My heart was starting to beat faster. Maybe there was still hope.

"I told you I would, but no matter what I decide I'm not going to watch you grow old and die. Age is a despicable thing for those who are affected by it."

"Ah," I simply said and leaned my head towards his shoulder. He put an arm around me and took a deep breath with his face against my hair, something that made me feel like I would melt. Unfortunately it only lasted for a second or two before Griz growled and someone knocked on the door. Dusty pulled away and went to open it.

“Are you looking for sympathy? You'll find it in the dictionary between shit and syphilis”
― Thomas Harris

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Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:21 pm

crossroads says... · Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:21 pm

Spoiler

Took me long enough. Post, people

~Penelope

As my sister and her prince left, I left the Great Hall and took my time wandering around. I wondered where Evie was. Was she still in the garden with the strange man? I stood still by one of the big windows in the east wing. What if he hurts her? I didn't feel like he would, from what I saw, but one could never know inside the castle walls. That was something I was
taught as a very small child, and something I witnessed enough times.
I bumped into my sister as I turned around. Kyra looked down and smiled at me, but she seemed to be lost in thoughts. I could tell something was troubling her, for she shielded her emotions from me. As an Emotion Mage, I could tell how people felt most of the time - my sister, though, was stronger than me, and she knew how to make her emotions unreadable even for the family members.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Where is the prince?"

She turned serious again.
"I escourted him to his chambers. Where is Evie?"

I shrugged.
"Doing something," I said, not sure why I didn't want to tell her about the strange man. If Kyra was herself, though, I was pretty sure she would have noticed something. We walked in silence for a while, holding hands. "I planted a tree yesterday!"

Her eyebrow arched.
"Did you? Where?"

"In the garden," I said with a smile, pulling her hand to follow me. "Come, I will show you! It's.. It's very little, though. It doesn't look like a tree."

"It will grow, Nelly," Kyra said with a smile. "It takes time and care, but it will."

She turned quiet as we entered the garden. I expected it to be empty, and I was surprised to see Furia there. She was the member of the High Council, and she dealt with things no one told me about. But she seemed strange and powerful, and I could never read her emotions - I was somewhat afraid of her, so I stayed half hidden by my sister's dress.

Furia bowed.
"Mistresses."

Kyra let go of my hand, but stayed by my side as I grabbed hold of her dress, and she looked down. Through the barrier, the Wild was visible - this was the only part of the castle where one could see it so well - the trees dark as night seemed to be piercing the sky above, rare constructions reminded me of the City of the Dead I heard stories about, and I could see no light passing through the dark green leaves and branches. I wondered if the sun ever touched
the Wild and the creatures living in it. And beyond the Wild, behind all the forest and all the darkness, I could so the Wall - a line of mist, silver and black, seeming still yet slowly moving towards us.
What if it once comes so close we can touch it? What if we wake up one day, surrounded by woods or by darkness, what would life be then? Would it even be life?
I clutched Kyra's dress harder, and she looked at Furia.

"Is there something worrying you?" My sister asked. I could tell, by the way she looked at her, that she couldn't read Furia's emotions either.

The other woman didnt answer. Instead, she took a step back and grasped her head, with a strange expression on her face, and a few little flowers around her feet died before my eyes.
***

~Dorian

Michael looked around with curiosity, observing the world around us, but I didn't pay too much attention to him. As he was busy observing the buildings and the street, I observed people; I described Alayna, and a few others, and I mentioned a thing or two about the overall looks of the townsmen and women, and I couldn't stop grinning. It was all exactly how I imagined it, and I kept repeating that to myself. Everything. Everything. Even the smells, the way the wind felt, the sounds, every single detail - and yet it evolved on its own, gave birth to people I've never thought of, breathed on it's own.

A few girls passing by smiled at me as I looked at them. They all had the same kind of spark in their eyes, and I turned after them as they left towards the city center. Exactly like I imagined them. I wondered if they'd agree to do whatever I want if I'd tell them who I was - that I made them. Perhaps they'd have to do as I say. I glanced at Michael. On the other hand, I wasn't the only writer there. From the look on his face, I was rather sure he was a tiny
bit familiar with the place as well, though maybe not as much as myself. If there was something, anything, that he made in the town, I had to be careful not to try to control it. What kind of god would I be when I'd fail to prove my powers because of a mistake like that?

'Nams Inn, I read from the sign. Good enough, I suppose. I couldn't quite recall writing about that place - but I needed a drink, and my companion looked like he needed one too.

"Well, let's hope that this place has some tea."

"Or some good rum," Michael said and I smiled.

"I like the way you think, good sir," I said. "I wouldn't mind a lady to spend some spare time with." Opening the door and entering before him, I decided to act the way I felt - like I belonged there. It was my place. No one could have said I wasn't right to act like it. I sat on the bar stool, smiling at the bartender. "Got any good tea?"

"Strongest we've got," she said giving me the cup. I didn't take my eyes of her, and she winked as she noticed it. "There you go."

I sipped my tea, leaning at the bar, looking around as I pretended not to notice her. She moved a couple of glasses around, and in the end stood across the bar from me, playing with a string of her hair.

"You're not from here, are you?" She asked, and I turned back to her with another smile.

"Dorian Drai," I said, kissing her hand as she put it in mine. "Just Dorian will do."

"Mariah," she said, sounding somewhat surprised. "What happened with your friend?"

I glanced at the door, figuring Michael practically ran out a moment ago. I sighed and got up.
"He has troubles adapting to new places," I said. "Do pour him a glass of rum and another cup of the lovely tea for me, please. We'll be back in no time."

She nodded, though eyeing me somewhat suspiciously, and I left the inn. This time not paying attention to the ladies, I spotted Michael and rushed to him.

"What's the matter?" I asked, at the same time realizing I had no money with me - especially not the currency probably needed. Shit. "Michael, if I may call you so. Are you alright?"

He gave me a strange look, pointing at the inn.
"She," he said, "the waitress, the.."

"Her name is Mariah," I said, and he gave me a short why the hell do you know it? look.

"I know her name," he said then. "I know everything about her!"

He seemed terribly upset about it, and I didn't understand that. Wasn't he happy, thrilled to find that out? We were creators, we were gods. Why did he act like he was about to
hyperventilate?

"Then come back inside and tell her," I said. If she kicks you out like Alayne kicked me, maybe she feels the need for comfort and suddenly forgets we should have payed for the drinks. I did my best not to grin, wondering when had I became like that. "Shall we?"
***

~Lilith

Seeing that demon, Dusty, leaving Corin's room and taking Oliver with him, I wished to know how to get back home. I was there for a few hours, not even a day, and already I've been hurt more than in all my days in the streets. The enemies here were powerful, way more so than at home, and I couldn't deal with that. I couldn't deal with magic, with someone brining me to
tears without a word, with someone playing with me like with a helpless doll. I was the writer. I made him. Anna, the girl Oliver actually tried to hit, she made them. We were to be the creators, we were to be the bosses, not a demon and a.. Whatever Corin was.
For the first time ever, I wanted to just curl up somewhere and cry. I wasn't up to that. No one from my world was, and I didn't want to be the protector - I couldn't stand it.

Turning to Anna, I found her staring after Dusty and Oliver with a strange look on her face. I could tell what she was thinking about; they were all our characters, and we couldn't not be proud on what we've created. Yet at the same time, we ended up as prisoners to a group of psychopathic men, two of which being at least partly demonic and one of them having a freaking hellhound.

"You should find yourself a room and get some sleep," I said, and she shook her head.

"Why did you step in? That's the second time you let yourself get hurt instead of me."

I looked away. I didn't like feeling like that, I wasn't used to get recognition for doing that. It was an instinct, nothing more, and I didn't like being seen as a saviour or a friend. That's not who I was - i didn't love her or care for her, I was just there.
"You stopped Corin. We're even."

I moved to pass her, but she grabbed my hand.

"What did you do with him?" She asked. "Why does he hate you so much?"

"I already told you," I said carefully. "I made him almost lose his powers and the girl he loved. From what I saw, you're not much better yourself." I sighed as she looked down, almost looking like she's about to cry. "Look, neither of us knew this would happen. There isn't much we can change now, so let's just try to sleep a bit, alright?"

She nodded again and let me go, and I practically ran away. I needed my time alone, or at least far from her and Corin - she reminded me too much of the life I left behind, and he was just..well, he was just who he was.

I heard voices as I approached one of the doors. As far as I knew, from what I wrote, Corin's fortress's walls were as thick as he needed them to be - I wondered if he too could hear every word spoken in the rooms.

"We made a deal," the demon's voice said. "A deal with an actual contract."

"I didn't know you could do that," Oliver replied. I frowned. Corin making contracts? To do what?

"Neither did I. What would you say if I offered you immortality?"

I gasped. Immortality? Well, of course, it made sense - Dusty was a demon, made to live far longer than any human. And if he really did love this young man, as Anna implied, I figured he wouldn't let him die before him. And Anna? And me? If we die, our creations die with us..I never before thought of it that way, but that would mean that our lifespan determines theirs, and I knew neither Dusty nor Corin would be happy with it. But immortality? I didn't even know what one had to do to gain it.

"I would say yes," Oliver said, "if I could spend my whole life with you."

They did love each other, I could hear it in their voices. That sentence, that was as much of lovers talking as Corin and Kyra's letters were. Both of these guys need someone to smack them. I sighed as the demon said something else, and carefully knocked. At least, I could have tried to talk to them. Maybe make a deal of my own, maybe make sure Anna won't get hurt.

Dusty opened the door, his dark eyes locking on mine. I did my best not to look away. He just stood there in silence, observing me.

"Can I come in?" I finally asked, surprised to hear my voice sounding far more cynical than scared. He couldn't hurt me, could he? Not without hurting his protege, as far as I knew. He moved a little, and Oliver gave me a murderous look as I stepped in.

"What do you want?"

Biting my lip, I turned back to Dusty.
"To talk to you." He said nothing. "Thank you for saving my life."

"I didn't do it to save your life," he said coldly, and I slowly nodded.

"I know. But you did anyway." I sat on the bed - Oliver got up and walked over to Dusty momentarily - and looked up to catch his glance again. The more I looked at those strange eyes of his, I figured, the easier it got. "What did you agree on with Corin?"

"That's between me and him."

"Well we're all in this," I replied, my voice turning harsher. I didn't like being toyed with like that - I preferred getting my answers. "We all obviously depend on each other, and looks like so far only your pet over here can get killed without immediate consequences, since all of us would die if one of us dies, so-"

"Oh there'd be consequences-"

"-you should just stop acting all cold and distant and start paying a bit of respect to us as the creators of this world. Anna, at least."

He looked like nothing would have made him happier than breaking me in half - but his protege was right there, and I knew he didn't want to hurt him.

"Both of you will pay, one way or another," he said then. "We will not be tied forever. You want to know what we agreed on? He will kill a demon for me."

I knew I turned pale. Corin has killed a demon before, yes, but I couldn't really tell how. I didn't even know if he was capable of doing it again. I wondered if he even was, or was it all a bluff to get Dusty do-- do what?

"And your part?" I asked. "What did you promise to do for him?"

"Why don't you go and ask him?"

I looked away this time, sure he already knew the answer. Corin was my creation, yes, but he didn't care if Oliver was getting hurt alongside with me. He didn't care if we were all as close to death as a person can be, he didn't care about anything for as long as it did something good for him. I wondered if either of them actually felt like achieving something, or just liked torturing defenseless people.

"I'm asking you," I said finally. "I..I think I have the right to know."

He didn't exactly smile - but he seemed a tiny bit amused. Which probably meant he would laugh out loud if he was a normal person.
"Celest," he said shortly. "He asked for Celest."

I felt dizzy. Asked for Celest? One doesn't need a demon unless something dark and powerful is involved. I did plan on having Corin destroy Celest, yes, but that was before I knew it all really existed. Before I could think of other ways, before when I didn't really care if Kyra lived or died. Now that he heard from me that he'll see Kyra again, was he still planning on doing the same? Was the story still to play out the same way?

The thought of seeing Corin die made me nauseous. It would be like losing a child - or a lover. Or a part of myself.

With no idea to where the courage came from, I got up and clutched the front of Dusty's shirt, just then realizing how hard my hands are shaking.

"Don't let him go there," I said. "He can't go to Celest." They all die in Celest. "Please. Make a new deal, with me. I'll give you whatever-"

His shirt burst to flames, and I backed away, wincing at the pain in my hand. Not until I looked up did I figure why the fire was there for just a second.

Dusty held Oliver's hand in his, his face changing in a short moment as he noticed me looking at him. For a second, I had to admire his ability to put up the cold mask - I wanted to know how to do that.

"I'm sorry," Dusty muttered, his protege giving him strange look. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Forgive me."

Oliver slowly nodded, as I felt my hand getting better. Looking down at it, I saw the burn disappearing - I was fairly sure he used his blood again to heal Oliver and it just transferred to me. Another connection I didn't particularly like. Dusty turned to me, and I was suddenly afraid again. He could still hurt me, even though he didn't want to hurt Oliver. He was as powerful as
Corin, even, judging from sudden ability to conjure flames - I couldn't recall even giving my demons that kind of ability. What did Anna do?

"Tell me how the contracts work," he ordered, and I frowned. What, he doesn't know? What kind of demon is he? He stepped forward, and I automatically stepped back. "Tell me."

"I can only tell what I wrote. When..when Corin made his first, I only know it worked both ways - both sides gain something. The demon must be loyal and hones to his contractor, and answer any questions they might have. In what I wrote, the demon making a deal with a Mage would get pieces of the Mage's ability, but that didn't happen to Corin before, so I don't-"

"Enough. I get it." He was quiet for a minute. "Besides making fire that isn't fire and fire that is fire, what can he do?"

I opened my mouth and closed them again. Really, what could he do? I wrote him as a Mage, I gave him abilities, I gave him the knowledge of using them, but I never really described them. More so, I used what I needed in certain scenes, always with a hint to tell that he could really do much more. But how much more? I couldn't tell.

Strange expression crossed Dusty's face again, simoultaneous with Oliver frowning. The demon looked at him, and then glanced at me again, before rushing out of the room.

I turned to Oliver.

"What was that?" He didn't answer me, staring at the spot the doors closed after Dusty. I bit my lip. "My name is Lilith," I said. "We started wrong." He glanced at me, frowned a little again and petted the hellhound. Sighing, I tried again. "I don't understand. You're not a demon. Why do you hate humans so much?"
***

• previously ChildOfNowhere
- they/them -
literary fantasy with a fairytale flavour

wordsandwishes

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Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:24 pm

wordsandwishes says... · Sat Mar 30, 2013 4:24 pm

The tension suddenly released and I dropped in a chair, exhausted. I noticed Mishiqua leaning over me with a strange expression on her face and said, "I'm thinking we don't want to get on their bad sides."

Melody

"I didn't mean to," Melody protested."I didn't even know any of you existed."

Mother Tal's benevolent gaze rested upon her. "So you say, but how are we to know that you are not lying?" The siren then turned her gaze to the woman who had set herself ablaze earlier. "We can take no chances, kill the mortal." The woman nods and advances forwards. Melody looks helplessly at Mishiqua who stands by Lienei. She does nothing.

Melody tries to flee, but is cornered by the other sirens. She turns to face the blazing woman, and as the flames reach her she screams.

Another scream then fills the room; It is Mishiqua's.

Mishiqua

The pain is almost unbearable, and she crumbles to the floor. Mother Tal calls off Anara and rushes towards her."Dear child, I am so sorry." She glances at her wounds."We must get you to the healer."

Mishiqua can only nod before she is carried off by her sisters. But before she is out of earshot she hears Mother Tal's voice. "I will be back shortly, I must confer with the seeress."

Seeress? Mishiqua struggles through the unnatural haze in her thoughts. However, her memory is blank. Mishiqua had never heard of the seeress, which meant Mother Tal had not told her. Which meant she was keeping secrets from the coven. And or the very first time, Mishiqua found herself questioning her loyalty.

***************************************************************************************************

When Mishiqua awoke, the healer was standing over her. She was not a siren like the others, but an herbwitch, and a very successful one at that. She aged more than the sirens did, but far less than a mortal. She had kind watery blue eyes, rich dark hair laced with grey, and a few faint wrinkles around her eyes. She appeared to be about 50, but she was over 2000 years old.

Mishiqua's mouth was dry, and her skin was sore, but the burns and the pain were gone. Mishiqua's voice was horse when she spoke,"Marian, do you have any water?"

Marian smiled and took a cup of the bedside table and lifted it to her lips. Mishiqua spoke again, her voice as clear as a bell,"Is everyone else alright?"

"Yes, even your mortal creator."

"How long have I been sleeping?"

"About a week or so."

At this, Mishiqua lurched upright."A whole week?" Healing scarcely took more than a day.

Marian met her gaze. "Yes, just as long as the mortal girl."

Mishiqua sank back into her bed and closed her eyes. How cold this be? She thought. How could this be?

Spoiler

Sorry I took so long, I got caught up in school stuff

kayfortnight

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Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:42 pm

kayfortnight says... · Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:42 pm

Demi

They had let us stay for this whole week, partially because Lienei insisted on seeing Mishiqua recover, now regarding Melody as suspiciously as she did me, and partially, I believe they just didn't know what to do with us.

I found Lienei now, sitting in her borrowed room staring at the wall. Without looking at me, she said in a distant tone of voice, "I have to go."

I felt a stab of sudden panic. I could always stop her, but I made this woman, and whatever reason she has, I know it will be convincing. "Why?"

"Aenon wants me again, to use as a professional killer. You know his ways; after all, you created him. I can't deny that anymore."

Indeed, I knew Aenon's ways. He took after his father in that he was quite willing to threaten the children Lienei cared for. "Isn't there anything I can do? I know you'd rather stay here or go back home and spend time with the children."

She looked to me, the slightest ray of hope lighting up her face, and I suddenly realized she'd given up on leaving. I shouldn't have been surprised. I mean, I made this woman. But it seemed she had depths I never found in my writing. "Could you control him?" she asked. "The way you did to me at the beginning of the week?"

"Maybe. I made him, like I did you. Probably. I promise I'll try."

One of the sirens, a girl I had only begun to get to know, stepped into the room and said calmly, but with a soft smile on her face, "They are awake."

I looked to Lienei one last time. "Can't Aenon wait?"

"He's already issued the threats. Go on and visit Melody. Tell Mishiqua I'll come later, after Aenon's dropped his threats. Come help me when you're done?" I nodded, then followed the siren down the hall.

~*~

Lienei

I knocked on the door of Aenon's home, a mansion of towering architecture and huge glass windows. The Darais always had more money than they knew what to do with.

The door swung open slowly, and an expressionless butler motioned me inside. I sunk onto a maple armchair as he left to speak to Aenon.

The servant returned after a few moments, and gestured for me to follow. "The master will see you."

When the door to Aenon's study swung shut behind me, I braced myself for the angry tirade he was sure to throw at me. Instead, he stalked quietly across the room. "Where have you been?" Aenon hissed. "It's been a week."

I calmly retorted, not feeling the least bit calm, "With the mages. They're sirens, by the way. A friend was injured, and I wanted to watch over her. Now, who do you want dead? Another lover whom you rejected and is now going to destroy your finances?"

"I changed my mind. Kill Demeter." He smirked, a single eyebrow raised. "Should be easy, considering she insists on tagging after you."

I paled in shock, memories of the recovery of Mishiqua and Melody coursing through my mind. "I can't do that."

He shook his head. "Then the guard force is reminded that you never were executed for the death of that shopkeeper. Those kids probably can only take care of themselves for a few months. Less, if the older ones leave to look for you. Anyway, I have money. Mercenaries will do anything, even kill children. You follow my thinking?"

I clenched my hands, struggling again to hold back the magic, reminding myself that I needed him, that he was the only reason the guard s didn't arrest me on sight. "You wouldn't."

"I'm my father's son, Lienei."

Any way I chose, I'd be signing my own death warrant, and that of the children. He was right in that they could only take care of themselves for so long. If I managed to kill Demi, though, assuming I could do it before I dropped into unconsciousness, I'd still be dead. Chose the way you'll die, Lienei. It wasn't like I could tell Aenon I'd die, as I secretly suspected he'd been giving me missions likely to kill me because he wanted me gone.

I'd have to hope Demi could control Aenon and make him rescind his declaration. For now, to buy some time, I said, "I'll do it." Then I ran to find the girl who had suddenly become vital to saving the kids.

Spoiler

I feel so sorry for how Lienei will feel when she realizes Demi can't help her because she can't control Aenon...

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wordsandwishes

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Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:29 pm

wordsandwishes says... · Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:29 pm

Melody

Melody awakes to a small cramped room. She opens her eyes slightly, and hears a voice to her left. "... but I guess none of that matters now."

Melody shifts and groans. Then she sits up; squinting at the figure sitting in a chair beside her. She yawns and pulls the hair out of her face as she waits for her head to stop spinning.

It's Demi. She looks up abruptly as if she's startled, but she quickly puts on a bright smile. "Oh good, you're awake."

Melody returns a small smile as if trying to remember how to do so. Then she frowns, remembering the words she heard earlier. "Wha-"

Lienei bursts through the door. Her eyes are bright with both fear, desperation and hope."Demeter, I need to speak with you." She throws a quick glance at Melody. "Now."

Mishiqua

"I need to speak with the mortal child."

"I'm not sure that's possible Mishiqua, as she still in a deep slumber."

Mishiqua paces through the room, fuming. Then she stops and turns to face Marian. "But I thought you said she was healed."

"She is."

"Then why isn't she awake?"

Marian sighs. "Her mortal body will need rest. The child is most likely unaccustomed to my treatments."

"Then how are we to know what she has done with me? Or how to break our link?"

"We'll simply have to wait and see."

"Ughhhh!" Mishiqua throws open the door and storms out."You are no help!"

Marian tsks while she attends to her potions. "So temperamental." She tosses more wood into the fire, and stirs her cauldron."Always so temperamental."

* * *

When Mishiqua finally reaches the room there are raised voices coming from the other side of the door. Mishiqua quickens her pace. Good, she thinks.The girl must be awake.

Mishiqua reaches the door and pushes it open. Lienei and Demi are heatedly arguing, and Melody is huddled at the corner of her bed. Mishiqua pays no mind to the others and makes her way towards Melody. She jerks in surprise when Mishiqua grabs her arm, but she does not protest as Mishiqua drags her out of the room.

She asks only one question,"Where are we going?"

"To the herbwitch that healed you."

"Oh."

The walk is continued in silence and they reach the witch's hut in a matter of minutes. Mishiqua opens the door without bothering to knock. Marian turns around with her hands on her hips."You need to learn to get that temper in check Mish, or someday it's going to get you killed."

Mishiqua glanced down shamefully, immediately sobered. "I'm sorry Marian, but" She gestures to Melody. "can't you just... fix this?"

Marian frowns. "Hm... perhaps there is something I could do."

Mishiqua looks up hopefully.

"But I require the tears of an immortal soul. And that, my child, is very hard to come by."

kayfortnight

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Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:28 pm

kayfortnight says... · Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:28 pm

Demi

I couldn't believe what Lienei wanted me to do. "You've told me how I feel about me influencing you, and now you want me to influence Aenon?"

The icicle glare leveled at me was unnerving, to say the least. "It's for a good reason."

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. I'd think that Lienei would be more reasonable, at two and a half times my own age. I reminded myself I made her this way, and it was my own fault she was so hard to deal with. "I wish you'd tell me your reason."

"It's Aenon. Isn't that enough of a reason for you?"

I almost blurted out what I was really thinking. If I made Aenon promise not to command Lienei anymore and to take away his previous commands without getting revenge...what would I have to write about when I left this strange made-up world? Such a cold assessment of the situation was sure to annoy my volatile creation, however.

She sighed, unconsciously mimicking my gesture from before and running her fingers through her pale blond hair. My eyes widened slightly. I put more of myself in my creation that I thought.

"Look, just come with me and ask him to repeat his demand of me. When he refuses, command him to tell you, and then you'll understand."

~*~

Lienei

I didn't realize my own stupidity until that last word left my lips, and then winced, anticipating what was to come.

Demeter's eyes narrowed. "Or I could just command you to tell me his demand."

I thought fast, knowing that if she heard and still refused to command Aenon, or if the unthinkable happened and it didn't work, then he'd know I disobeyed orders and Demi didn't just ask him out of a friendship with me. "But wouldn't you rather hear it from him?" Ouch. It sounded less shaky in my head.

"I don't think so. Tell me."

"Fine." Let's see the clever smile leave that face. "The man you probably made to fit your ideal boyfriend or something ordered me to kill you. Not that I actually like you, but I saw what happened to Mishiqua."

She stared at me, her face pale. "What?"

"I just said what."

"Bring me to Aenon. Now."

~*~

I had to suppress a smile at the look on Aenon's face when I brought Demi to him intact. After all, I had never failed him before.

Demeter clenched her fists and asked, "Why do you want to kill me?"

Aenon just shrugged, a smile playing across his face, but a nervous smile all the same. "You're crazy, you're in my way, and you stole my assassin. Take your pick."

"I'm not crazy. I command you to release Lienei from her orders."

I tensed, hoping it would work. If it didn't...I thought of the children in my tower. No, it had to work.

"No."

Demi stamped her foot on the floor. "Do it."

"I said no. Lienei, you were warned."

I caught my breath. No.

"Let's see if you can get back home before I get another of my agents to the children."

And then I ran, not heeding Demi, who was saying something about getting help. Because I knew Aenon even better than she, and I knew he'd have people near my tower. No chance of killing him, either; he took precautions. So all I had were fragments of hope that somehow my children, outcasts one and all, would hold out against the coming attack. Never thinking of the impossibility of it.

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Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:14 am

Omni says... · Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:14 am

Furia M'Dora

Spoiler

SURPRISE!!! *Throws confetti*

I grabbed for anything, anything to help me keep upright. I could feel something, someone trying to get into my head. No, it can't be...

Come to us, Furia. We have need of you once again.[/b] I screamed, and the floor below me became more obsolete.

I looked at Kyra, and she pulled Penelope behind her and stepped back.

I looked at the ground below them. The flowers were dying, wilting around me.

That could only mean one thing: The First Puppeteers are back.

My head felt like it exploded and I saw blood trickling down. [i]They won. They all won.

I raised my hand and pushed them back, using magic that I had not used in a long time. Be well.

The ground below me shattered, and wilted plants and me alike fell to the land below.

Spoiler

This is short, but it is only meant to spur some interest in this SB once again. I will be posting my other character soon. Enjoy!

︵‿︵‿୨ ♡ OwO ♡ ୧‿︵‿︵

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