Post by T'kalla on Feb 12, 2008 1:35:47 GMT -5
((Originally posted by Tess and KD))
Deep within the earth beneath Roland's Cavern and into the area beyond it is a maze of corridors and tombs that wind deeper and deeper, reaching some areas so ancient thier civilization had been dead centuries before many others were a thought.
The catacombs of Roland's Cavern.
One section is always well lit, the floors swept as clean as they can be, some kind of strange power drifts through them, making them a safe haven where the inhabitants of those particular halls and rooms can rest easy. In the Nexus, the word 'freak' is in the eye of the beholder, but for some of this clan it's the only word that fits. Yet they offer no harm that isn't given to them first. They only wish to dwell in peace and safety, away from the eyes of those that would judge them, looking out for peaceful visitors passing through, and each other. Not just a clan, not just a group. A family.
The torchlight that glowed through the network of tunnels and rooms that made up the freaks' home cast a warm light on everything. Or nearly everything.
It flickered warmly over the tangle of black and argent limbs stretched out on the small sleeping platform in Mime and Veronique's room as the two laid entwined there.
It cast a warm glow over Ranger as he sat against a wall and watched Thistle sleep, smiling a bit.
It lit up the larger room of shelves and tables they'd turned into a library, where the grotesque forms of Ferdinand and Matthias sat arguing with Char over something they'd found in a book, and flickered faintly over the still, dead features of Oracle, whose tomb was set off to the side of the main library. It lit up the scales of Fuiki and the cold, wet essence that was Sahfet where they were curled up in the corner.
It danced merrily over the stream of water that twirled up in a pattern between Leap's hands as she showed her new trick to Quin, her laughter ringing off the stone.
But in one place in the catacombs, it didn't seem warm at all. As Aari stumbled down the corridor, bent over, clutching his chest, there was a coldness in him that seemed echoed in the walls around him. Everything looked harsh and cold and condemning as the memories of his sister's scornful words and the contempt in her eyes as she looked at him. He moved forward to escape it, not hearing someone calling his name behind him, careening off the walls until he finally stumbled and slid down one. His slender form started to tremble as sobs tore from him. He'd never been seperated from his twin. He didn't know how to cope. He felt like someone had ripped away one of his arms, or something vital within him, leaving him bleeding and incomplete. Not only had Maari rejected him, she'd called him a burden to her, a weight she didn't want to carry anymore. It hurt so much, the memory of the look in her eyes stabbing him over and over. He curled up in a ball on the floor, crying softly, unawre of Sprite until she was right beside him.
Sprite's heart broke for her friend.. it was all her fault that Aari's sister had rejected him. It was because of her mistrust of the Lady Veroniques son that had led to this. It was all her fault..
Her guilt was only surpressed by her need to help Aari. She knelt next to him breathing hard from her efforts to keep up with the boy. He had darted through unknown passages of the catacombs and more than once Sprite had nearly lost her way, but finally he had stopped. And she was at a loss for words.. what could she say to him? He'd just lost the person closest to him.
"Aari?" She asked softly, his sobs bringing tears to her eyes. "Oh gods Aari.. I'm so sorry. It's my fault this happened. I'm sure she didn't mean.." Sprite stopped and wished she could take the words back. Maari had meant it. Sprite didn't know why, or what had happened, but Maari's face had said it all. There had to be some mistake, but it would be wrong to give Aari false hope.
Aari lifted his head and looked at her through black eyes filled with tears. His skin, pale under any circumstances, was blanched white and his curly black hair fell over his eyes, obscuring the circle tattooed around his left eye. When he saw Sprite, he blanched a bit, pulling himself up as a faint blush of embarassment touched his cheeks. Sprite. She'd seen everything, hadn't she? Bad enough Maari had decided she didn't want anything to do with him, had chosen that nasty Veil over her brother, but to have Sprite witness it too, and see him fall apart like this, made real humiliation bloom up through him. He looked down, unable to meet her eyes. Maari was right, he thought miserably. He must be useless, and now Sprite knew it too.
Sprite saw the mortification cover her friends face before he looked away and seemed to withdraw into himself. She bit her lower lip, sure that he would never speak to her again, but she wasn't just going to let him go. If she left him now than she knew that she may never see him again, but she had no right to his friendship anymore.
Still.. she sidled up to him and tentively took his hand. Her face flushed and she felt more ashamed then ever, but she needed to comfort him, and she didn't want to make him feel less manly by holding him. "Aari.." There was a small plead in her voice as she spoke. "Please.. please don't hate me and shut me out. I don’t deserve you as a friend after all the trouble I've caused you.." She couldn't even bring herself to look at him. "But.. but I'll just.. I don’t know what I'll do if you leave me."
Gods she felt like an idiot.. here her friend was in more pain than she could imagine and alls she can think about it herself. Sprite pulled her knees into her chest and buried her face in them, but refused to let go of his hand. "If you run away.. I.. I'm going too." She mumbled inaudibly into her knees, tears starting to fall down her own cheeks. Strange irony to see a water sprite cry.. but unlike humans, she could cry forever without end. She'd known nothing but tears before she had come home.. to the catacombs.
With her face hidden, she didn't see his head come up, an expression of almost comical surprise on his face. "Hate you...what?" His unhappiness and embarassment gave away to sheer distress when he saw tears on her cheeks. "Sprite, don't cry!" He tugged his hand free but only so he could scramble up so he was facing her, his small, three fingered hands framing her face and lifting it so she was looking at him. His dark eyes were wide. "Please don't cry, I don't hate you. I could never hate you!" He brushed his thumbs over her cheeks lightly, wiping her tears away as they fell. "Everything is my fault, don't you see, none of it's yours..." He hesitantly put an arm around her, almost pulling her close but still a bit too shy to do it.
Ranger stalked down the halls to investigate the noise he'd heard earlier. He'd slipped out, careful not to wake Thistle. Not because he was worried they were in any danger, but the fact he'd heard raised voices wasn't something he just kind of let go without checking out.
The first one he came across was Maari. Alone.
That stopped him in his tracks because of the sheer newness of it. The twins were NEVER apart, Maari jealously keeping her brother at her side at all hours. He looked around for Aari but couldn't find him.
When Veil stepped out behind the lone twin and she looked back at him, adoration naked on her face, things kind of clicked together, turning his surprise into suspicion. It didn't help that Veronique stepped out of a doorway off to his side a moment later, her brow furrowing in confusion as she looked from Maari to Veil and then to Ranger. "What's happened?"
Veil turned his head to regard his mother. "The twins had a bit of a tiff and Aari stormed off, that's all."
Yea right, a bit of a tiff you were right in the center of. Ranger thought. Despite his thoughts, his eyes were not on Veil, but on Veronique. Their fair lady looked troubled as she looked at her son, then at Maari. She knew the twins, she knew even if they fought, which none of them had ever seen them do, Aari wouldn't have willingly left his sister's side. Maari had made sure of that. Surely she saw it, he pleaded silently. Surely she could see and wouldn't be able to find an excuse to pardon Veil this time, she could see what a manipulator he was even if there was no way they could prove it. Please, none of them wanted to hurt her to make her see.
But no, Ranger could see it even now, the blind spot in her eyes that always kept her from seeing Veil the way the rest of them did.
Sprite sniffled and wiped at her eyes.. she was such a child at times, but she couldn't help it. It was she who closed the gap between them and clung close to Aari. Relieved to hear his words and in yet knowing that it was a lie. Even if Aari believed that it wasn't her fault it was.. she would never forgive herself for what she had done to him.
"It's not your fault.. it's not. You didn't do anything.. you would have stayed away just like she had ordered you to had I not interfered. I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry. I didn't think.. I didn't know.." Sprite tried her hardest to stop crying, knowing that it was making Aari VERY uncomfortable, but she just couldn't.
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Thistle heard Ranger leave and peeked her head out the doorway, but was too timid to follow him. So she remained where she was and waited for him to return.
Mime stepped out behind Veronique and placed a loving hand on her shoulder before hearing Veil's explanation. Much like Ranger.. he was quick to suspect that there was something amiss. "That's not like Aari.. he barely leaves Maari and risks her wrath to see Leap and Sprite. Are you sure that's the way of it?" He turned to Maari.. "Maari.. what happened? Do you know where Aari might have gone?" And more importantly Mime thought.. is the lad alright?
Mime could see the concern on Ranger's face.. and more so that the man didn't believe the load of crap Veil was trying to feed them.
Aari was startled but brought his arms up hesitantly around her, holding her close and beginning to lean against her in return after a few moments. He let his head rest against hers, starting to cry again silently, holding onto her both for comfort and to give comfort, his free hand stroking her arm.
Veil's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, focusing on Mime's hand on his mother's shoulder. He'd tried to come between them before, tried to insinuate doubt in it, and for a while he'd thought it was working but Mime, understandably, wasn't willing to give up his mother, and Veronique was too blind to see how much better she could do.
It frustrated Veil, though he didn't show it. He was certain, absolutely, that if he could just get his mother away from all this he could make her see what greatness she could accomplish. They were so much better than any of this, and she deserved to be more than just some....den mother to this group. And she would be. It would take time but he was sure he could break through all of this and get her away. For her own good.
Ranger met Mime's gaze silently as Maari turned, addressing Veronique rather than Mime. He knew Mime didn't trust Veil's intentions anymore than he did. Of all of them, Mime was the only one who could match their lady in sheer strength and stubbornness, and he had real influence over her none of them did. If there was any hope, it was with him.
"I just told him it was time to not spend so much time together. I want to develop my powers without him leaching off me," Maari was saying, flicking her tail. The psionic carried herself with an unconcious arrogance Ranger hadn't noticed before. Maari had ALWAYS been a brat and selfish but she'd never been so overtly arrogant before.
"Maari, you just told him like that? Where did Aari go?" Veronique said, worry making her brows furrow.
"He ran off, I've been telling him over the past few days, if he didn't know what I needed, he should have been paying more attention." Maari said dismissively. She flounced off before anyone else could say anything.
Veronique hurried forward, moving down the corridor and following Aari's scent.
Mime missed very little when Veil did show some type of emotion, in fact he watched for it. He didn’t trust Veil.. the youth had been nothing but trouble since Veronique had brought him home with her. Had it not been for Mime’s own brother it might have been Leap instead of Maari, not that he was happy to see that Veil had Maari in his grasp, but Leap was dearer to his heart.
Mime growled at the fact that Maari treated the situation as nothing when she had spent her whole life controlling the one thing she knew she could, her little brother. Aari was a fragile soul knowing more unkindness than caring, and here the one person who he counted on, who made herself his everything, and she discarded him for something else.. Mime eyed Veil, and wondered at the price.
“I swear Veil.. if I find out you’re behind these things, and that your intentions are not honorable.” Mime threatened when Veronique was well out of ear shot. “These are the people your mother loves and you may not like it, but this is the way things are. You’re too old to have a mommy complex.”
With that he patted Rangers shoulder and trotted off after Veronique. He knew that she didn’t need his help, but he didn’t dare loose track of the most precious thing in his life.
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Sprite couldn’t help but cry along with Aari so there they sat in the blackness of the catacombs crying together, for themselves and each other. It was then Sprite felt something different inside herself, as though that bitter part of herself was beginning to melt into the child she pretended to be.
Sprite had a multiple personality of sorts.. one in which she was a mere innocent child, and another, more wise and knowing self that she kept locked away due to it’s more violent and bitter nature. Years of abuse and hurt had caused Sprite to create these different halves of herself, but here in the catacombs she had begun to heal, and it felt as though Aari’s comfort, even though he had his own pains, was fueling the process.
Closing her eyes, her tears began to subside, and she leaned fully into Aari.
Ranger shot Veil a threatening look as well. Veil kept his features neutral as if he didn't have a clue what they were talking about. He'd keep his mask on until the bitter end, most likely. Only when Ranger had gone did he smirk and follow after Maari.
As opposed to his shyness earlier, Aari was holding on tightly to her now, almost clinging to her. His world had been thrown into chaos, he needed something to cling to and Sprite...not only was she something to hold onto, he got the feeling she was holding onto him just as much and that...it felt nice. He wanted to be very careful not to hurt her. He only looked up when he heard the clicking of hooves and Veronique appeared behind them. He looked over his shoulder as the Lady knelt and slipped her arms around both of them, her silver eyes widening when she saw both of them crying. "Oh, little ones.."
Mime didn’t know what was going to have to be done about Veil.. Veronique had it in her head that he was an abused creature just like the majority of the catacombs inhabitants, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Veil was power hungry, and thingyy.. and Veronique’s son. All the more reason Mime’s hands were tied on this, and the little bastard knew it.
Only did Mime’s attention shift when he came upon Veronique and the younglings. His brow lifted a bit though at what he saw.. was it possible that all the young ones were beginning to grow and find their own feet? There was something in those tear filled eyes that said that they were grown. Mime didn’t know what they would all do.. Leap had found love and everyday appeared more and more like the woman she really was, and Mime didn’t think that these two would be that far behind, specially with Aari off and under Maari’s rule. Perhaps this wasn’t all bad.
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Sprite sniffed and wiped at her eyes, embarrassed to be found not only crying, but clinging to Aari. It didn’t stop her however from clinging to Veronique for a moment before insisting that she was fine and it was Aari that needed comforting, not her.
Aari leaned against Veronique. "Lady..." He whispered it, glancing at Sprite and remembering she'd heard anyway so it didn't matter. "Maari said...she said I was damaged, that I was no good to anyone and I'll always be a weight...am I?"
"Of course not!" Veronique said, holding onto them both still. "Maari...I think she's confused, sweetling." That was a nice way of putting it.
"Mime."
Ranger came up beside the other creature quietly, his voice low. "I don't like this. He's got Veronique's intelligence and none of her compassion, which makes him a very dangerous individual. You have more influence over her than anyone, do you think there's anything you can do to make her see..?"
“She’s lying!” Sprite couldn’t help but pipe up. “She’s.. she’s..” Sprite wanted desperately to say something, but the despair on Aari’s face halted her words. “Confused.. yeah, you’re right Lady Veronique.” All parties present would disagree with her anyways had she said what she really felt. Aari out of love for his sister and Veronique out of compassion for her blood son.
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Mime turned and walked with Ranger back towards the more populated halls. Mime sighed nodding and pressing his finger tips to his forehead. “I don’t know that I can do much my friend. She’s determined that he belongs here, and he seems set on making her see that neither he or she do.”
Mime thought for a moment.. “I would need proof, and even with proof I don’t guarantee that she wont insist on seeing it with her own eyes.” He shot a hopeless look at Ranger. “I cant loose her Ranger. She’s everything to me.. I’m lost without her.”
Veronique reached over and kissed Sprite lightly on the forehead, whispering. "I know it isn't true but give him some time and he'll see otherwise."
"I know, Mime." Ranger sighed, softening a bit, a smile curving his lips. "Yea, I know how that is...." He glanced over toward the hall that would take him to his room and Thistle within it
Sprite made a pouting face and recoiled a little from Veron’s kiss, for some odd reason it seem a little childish to her. Strange that it never had before, perhaps she really was growing up. To make up for pulling away though she gave Veron a fierce hug.
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Mime smirked and elbowed his friend lightly, knowing where the man was looking off to. “Let’s do some snooping.. I’ll let you return to her soon enough.” With that Mime began the hunt for Veil. It was always exciting to give over to his natural instincts, but he made sure never to give in fully. He could really become a beast if he ever lost control.
Aari looked between them in confusion and Veronique simply smiled and hugged her back.
Ranger made him come to the library first and get Char. His brother followed them very willingly, he didn't like or trust Veil anymore than he did. Ranger paused and looked around before he looked at Mime. "Do you want to stop and bring Quin in on this?"
_________________
Mime thought about it for a moment.. they were just going for a look, it’s not like he needed his brother to be there. Course as if summoned out of the stone masonry Quin appeared. “Well I guess since he’s here we’ll bring him along too.”
“Bring me where?” Quin asked, confused. “Am I in trouble?”
Mime laughed heartily. “No brother.. you’re not in trouble, yet. We’re just going on a little recon mission and wanted to know if you’re interested in tagging along.”
“Veil?” Quin asked immediately and Mime nodded. “I’m in.”
"Quin's got something he definitely wants Veil to stay away from now, don't you?" Char said. He was little more than a burned corpse, his mouth frozen in a perpetual grin, but the humor in his voice took the edge off the horror. Ranger glanced back at Quin but said nothing. Despite the lightness of Char's tone, the brothers, who adored Leap, were having a liiiiiiiiiittle bit of a problem dealing with the fact she was in a relationship now. Ah well, Char thought. She had to grow up, it's long past time for it to happen. He felt a mixture of sadness and happiness at the same time. His brother was healed, Thistle had done that, and their little Leap was starting to heal as well, and from the sound of it Aari and Sprite would be as well, perhaps soon. He hadn't been a saint when he'd been really alive but the fact he had little to offer..well...ANYONE beyond his personality and humor weighed on him at times like this.
Quin nodded and then turned his face away, his cheeks burning a little too red. These men or creatures that had once been men, were as close to Leap as fathers would be. Quin was very aware that he was treading on thin ice as it was, but found it comforting that Char was at least making an effort to accept the relationship that Quin shared with Leap. And it wasn’t as though he was the one moving fast.. Leap was the one who kept bringing him the karma sutra book. It was very hard to persuade Leap that they should wait a little longer before trying the things in that book. To be honest.. he was very nervous about being caught alone with her as is, let alone in some sexual position that would have him hung by his own brother.
His recent development of relationships with Thistle made Ranger a bit more lenient toward Quin. If there was anyone who was perfect for Leap, Ranger judged Quin was it. Leap would always be child like at heart, even though she was a young woman, and her experience with intamicy such as it was was very skewed. He knew she'd been looking at that...er...book....but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Leap didn't really understand the impact of what it meant. Another man might have taken advantage of that mixture of hunger and innocence, but Ranger knew Quin would not.
Quin felt very uncomfortable among Leap's would be fathers, but for oncce was feeling a little more accepted in general, something he really hadn't felt too much of since he had come to the cavern catacombs.
Mime stopped the group and signaled that they were close, he didn't want to spook Veil. Mime knew that Veil's senses were highened and began to wonder if he shouldn't have come alone, but it was too late for that now, and he needed more than just his word against Veil's.
Ranger nodded, moving up beside him. He heard faint voices and frowned, because he heard more than two, he was sure of it. "Argalii?"
"I haven't seen Argalii lately." Char said, his voice a whisper. "Not since that weird ghoul came and attacked Veroni..."
Ranger's hiss of warning came an instant too late and both of them flinched. That was a little tidbit they'd intended to not let Mime know about.
Mime’s eyes went red for a moment, and he was half tempted to back the two brothers against the wall and make them tell him everything, but now was not the place nor the time. “You and I are going to have a little chat later.” He hissed under his breath before turning back to the task as hand and began creeping closer so that the voices of Veil, Maari, and Argalii rang true in his ears.
He signaled everyone to stop, not quite familiar with this section of the catacombs, and not sure if turned another corner would reveal them all or not. But he could hear the voices of the three clearly, and was sure that the others could as well, specially since Ranger had been able to tell that Argalii had been with them quite a few feet back.
Ranger wasn't as good at tracking as Mime, but he could move a bit more stealthly. It wasn't because of talent, he simply didn't have a tail or claws. He crept around the corner, glancing around it swiftly, then pulling back.
His first thought was they'd made a mistake, his gaze had found Veil and Maari in the background but there were two others and neither one of them was Argalii. He saw no sign of the ghoul, which shocked him because the two seemed like two peas in a pod. But then again....as he'd said it had been a long time since he'd seen hide or hair of Argalii.
No, the two women standing there with Veil, Ranger whispered the discovery to his friends, were human.
Mime looked at Ranger with surprise and asked if he was sure that the women were human. It was easy to believe that Veil would be talking to humans, well some what believable, but when it came to Maari.. something just wasn’t right about all this. They had to get closer, so he had Ranger lead them as far as it was safe to go. Mime wanted a look at these humans as well.
Deep within the earth beneath Roland's Cavern and into the area beyond it is a maze of corridors and tombs that wind deeper and deeper, reaching some areas so ancient thier civilization had been dead centuries before many others were a thought.
The catacombs of Roland's Cavern.
One section is always well lit, the floors swept as clean as they can be, some kind of strange power drifts through them, making them a safe haven where the inhabitants of those particular halls and rooms can rest easy. In the Nexus, the word 'freak' is in the eye of the beholder, but for some of this clan it's the only word that fits. Yet they offer no harm that isn't given to them first. They only wish to dwell in peace and safety, away from the eyes of those that would judge them, looking out for peaceful visitors passing through, and each other. Not just a clan, not just a group. A family.
The torchlight that glowed through the network of tunnels and rooms that made up the freaks' home cast a warm light on everything. Or nearly everything.
It flickered warmly over the tangle of black and argent limbs stretched out on the small sleeping platform in Mime and Veronique's room as the two laid entwined there.
It cast a warm glow over Ranger as he sat against a wall and watched Thistle sleep, smiling a bit.
It lit up the larger room of shelves and tables they'd turned into a library, where the grotesque forms of Ferdinand and Matthias sat arguing with Char over something they'd found in a book, and flickered faintly over the still, dead features of Oracle, whose tomb was set off to the side of the main library. It lit up the scales of Fuiki and the cold, wet essence that was Sahfet where they were curled up in the corner.
It danced merrily over the stream of water that twirled up in a pattern between Leap's hands as she showed her new trick to Quin, her laughter ringing off the stone.
But in one place in the catacombs, it didn't seem warm at all. As Aari stumbled down the corridor, bent over, clutching his chest, there was a coldness in him that seemed echoed in the walls around him. Everything looked harsh and cold and condemning as the memories of his sister's scornful words and the contempt in her eyes as she looked at him. He moved forward to escape it, not hearing someone calling his name behind him, careening off the walls until he finally stumbled and slid down one. His slender form started to tremble as sobs tore from him. He'd never been seperated from his twin. He didn't know how to cope. He felt like someone had ripped away one of his arms, or something vital within him, leaving him bleeding and incomplete. Not only had Maari rejected him, she'd called him a burden to her, a weight she didn't want to carry anymore. It hurt so much, the memory of the look in her eyes stabbing him over and over. He curled up in a ball on the floor, crying softly, unawre of Sprite until she was right beside him.
Sprite's heart broke for her friend.. it was all her fault that Aari's sister had rejected him. It was because of her mistrust of the Lady Veroniques son that had led to this. It was all her fault..
Her guilt was only surpressed by her need to help Aari. She knelt next to him breathing hard from her efforts to keep up with the boy. He had darted through unknown passages of the catacombs and more than once Sprite had nearly lost her way, but finally he had stopped. And she was at a loss for words.. what could she say to him? He'd just lost the person closest to him.
"Aari?" She asked softly, his sobs bringing tears to her eyes. "Oh gods Aari.. I'm so sorry. It's my fault this happened. I'm sure she didn't mean.." Sprite stopped and wished she could take the words back. Maari had meant it. Sprite didn't know why, or what had happened, but Maari's face had said it all. There had to be some mistake, but it would be wrong to give Aari false hope.
Aari lifted his head and looked at her through black eyes filled with tears. His skin, pale under any circumstances, was blanched white and his curly black hair fell over his eyes, obscuring the circle tattooed around his left eye. When he saw Sprite, he blanched a bit, pulling himself up as a faint blush of embarassment touched his cheeks. Sprite. She'd seen everything, hadn't she? Bad enough Maari had decided she didn't want anything to do with him, had chosen that nasty Veil over her brother, but to have Sprite witness it too, and see him fall apart like this, made real humiliation bloom up through him. He looked down, unable to meet her eyes. Maari was right, he thought miserably. He must be useless, and now Sprite knew it too.
Sprite saw the mortification cover her friends face before he looked away and seemed to withdraw into himself. She bit her lower lip, sure that he would never speak to her again, but she wasn't just going to let him go. If she left him now than she knew that she may never see him again, but she had no right to his friendship anymore.
Still.. she sidled up to him and tentively took his hand. Her face flushed and she felt more ashamed then ever, but she needed to comfort him, and she didn't want to make him feel less manly by holding him. "Aari.." There was a small plead in her voice as she spoke. "Please.. please don't hate me and shut me out. I don’t deserve you as a friend after all the trouble I've caused you.." She couldn't even bring herself to look at him. "But.. but I'll just.. I don’t know what I'll do if you leave me."
Gods she felt like an idiot.. here her friend was in more pain than she could imagine and alls she can think about it herself. Sprite pulled her knees into her chest and buried her face in them, but refused to let go of his hand. "If you run away.. I.. I'm going too." She mumbled inaudibly into her knees, tears starting to fall down her own cheeks. Strange irony to see a water sprite cry.. but unlike humans, she could cry forever without end. She'd known nothing but tears before she had come home.. to the catacombs.
With her face hidden, she didn't see his head come up, an expression of almost comical surprise on his face. "Hate you...what?" His unhappiness and embarassment gave away to sheer distress when he saw tears on her cheeks. "Sprite, don't cry!" He tugged his hand free but only so he could scramble up so he was facing her, his small, three fingered hands framing her face and lifting it so she was looking at him. His dark eyes were wide. "Please don't cry, I don't hate you. I could never hate you!" He brushed his thumbs over her cheeks lightly, wiping her tears away as they fell. "Everything is my fault, don't you see, none of it's yours..." He hesitantly put an arm around her, almost pulling her close but still a bit too shy to do it.
Ranger stalked down the halls to investigate the noise he'd heard earlier. He'd slipped out, careful not to wake Thistle. Not because he was worried they were in any danger, but the fact he'd heard raised voices wasn't something he just kind of let go without checking out.
The first one he came across was Maari. Alone.
That stopped him in his tracks because of the sheer newness of it. The twins were NEVER apart, Maari jealously keeping her brother at her side at all hours. He looked around for Aari but couldn't find him.
When Veil stepped out behind the lone twin and she looked back at him, adoration naked on her face, things kind of clicked together, turning his surprise into suspicion. It didn't help that Veronique stepped out of a doorway off to his side a moment later, her brow furrowing in confusion as she looked from Maari to Veil and then to Ranger. "What's happened?"
Veil turned his head to regard his mother. "The twins had a bit of a tiff and Aari stormed off, that's all."
Yea right, a bit of a tiff you were right in the center of. Ranger thought. Despite his thoughts, his eyes were not on Veil, but on Veronique. Their fair lady looked troubled as she looked at her son, then at Maari. She knew the twins, she knew even if they fought, which none of them had ever seen them do, Aari wouldn't have willingly left his sister's side. Maari had made sure of that. Surely she saw it, he pleaded silently. Surely she could see and wouldn't be able to find an excuse to pardon Veil this time, she could see what a manipulator he was even if there was no way they could prove it. Please, none of them wanted to hurt her to make her see.
But no, Ranger could see it even now, the blind spot in her eyes that always kept her from seeing Veil the way the rest of them did.
Sprite sniffled and wiped at her eyes.. she was such a child at times, but she couldn't help it. It was she who closed the gap between them and clung close to Aari. Relieved to hear his words and in yet knowing that it was a lie. Even if Aari believed that it wasn't her fault it was.. she would never forgive herself for what she had done to him.
"It's not your fault.. it's not. You didn't do anything.. you would have stayed away just like she had ordered you to had I not interfered. I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry. I didn't think.. I didn't know.." Sprite tried her hardest to stop crying, knowing that it was making Aari VERY uncomfortable, but she just couldn't.
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Thistle heard Ranger leave and peeked her head out the doorway, but was too timid to follow him. So she remained where she was and waited for him to return.
Mime stepped out behind Veronique and placed a loving hand on her shoulder before hearing Veil's explanation. Much like Ranger.. he was quick to suspect that there was something amiss. "That's not like Aari.. he barely leaves Maari and risks her wrath to see Leap and Sprite. Are you sure that's the way of it?" He turned to Maari.. "Maari.. what happened? Do you know where Aari might have gone?" And more importantly Mime thought.. is the lad alright?
Mime could see the concern on Ranger's face.. and more so that the man didn't believe the load of crap Veil was trying to feed them.
Aari was startled but brought his arms up hesitantly around her, holding her close and beginning to lean against her in return after a few moments. He let his head rest against hers, starting to cry again silently, holding onto her both for comfort and to give comfort, his free hand stroking her arm.
Veil's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, focusing on Mime's hand on his mother's shoulder. He'd tried to come between them before, tried to insinuate doubt in it, and for a while he'd thought it was working but Mime, understandably, wasn't willing to give up his mother, and Veronique was too blind to see how much better she could do.
It frustrated Veil, though he didn't show it. He was certain, absolutely, that if he could just get his mother away from all this he could make her see what greatness she could accomplish. They were so much better than any of this, and she deserved to be more than just some....den mother to this group. And she would be. It would take time but he was sure he could break through all of this and get her away. For her own good.
Ranger met Mime's gaze silently as Maari turned, addressing Veronique rather than Mime. He knew Mime didn't trust Veil's intentions anymore than he did. Of all of them, Mime was the only one who could match their lady in sheer strength and stubbornness, and he had real influence over her none of them did. If there was any hope, it was with him.
"I just told him it was time to not spend so much time together. I want to develop my powers without him leaching off me," Maari was saying, flicking her tail. The psionic carried herself with an unconcious arrogance Ranger hadn't noticed before. Maari had ALWAYS been a brat and selfish but she'd never been so overtly arrogant before.
"Maari, you just told him like that? Where did Aari go?" Veronique said, worry making her brows furrow.
"He ran off, I've been telling him over the past few days, if he didn't know what I needed, he should have been paying more attention." Maari said dismissively. She flounced off before anyone else could say anything.
Veronique hurried forward, moving down the corridor and following Aari's scent.
Mime missed very little when Veil did show some type of emotion, in fact he watched for it. He didn’t trust Veil.. the youth had been nothing but trouble since Veronique had brought him home with her. Had it not been for Mime’s own brother it might have been Leap instead of Maari, not that he was happy to see that Veil had Maari in his grasp, but Leap was dearer to his heart.
Mime growled at the fact that Maari treated the situation as nothing when she had spent her whole life controlling the one thing she knew she could, her little brother. Aari was a fragile soul knowing more unkindness than caring, and here the one person who he counted on, who made herself his everything, and she discarded him for something else.. Mime eyed Veil, and wondered at the price.
“I swear Veil.. if I find out you’re behind these things, and that your intentions are not honorable.” Mime threatened when Veronique was well out of ear shot. “These are the people your mother loves and you may not like it, but this is the way things are. You’re too old to have a mommy complex.”
With that he patted Rangers shoulder and trotted off after Veronique. He knew that she didn’t need his help, but he didn’t dare loose track of the most precious thing in his life.
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Sprite couldn’t help but cry along with Aari so there they sat in the blackness of the catacombs crying together, for themselves and each other. It was then Sprite felt something different inside herself, as though that bitter part of herself was beginning to melt into the child she pretended to be.
Sprite had a multiple personality of sorts.. one in which she was a mere innocent child, and another, more wise and knowing self that she kept locked away due to it’s more violent and bitter nature. Years of abuse and hurt had caused Sprite to create these different halves of herself, but here in the catacombs she had begun to heal, and it felt as though Aari’s comfort, even though he had his own pains, was fueling the process.
Closing her eyes, her tears began to subside, and she leaned fully into Aari.
Ranger shot Veil a threatening look as well. Veil kept his features neutral as if he didn't have a clue what they were talking about. He'd keep his mask on until the bitter end, most likely. Only when Ranger had gone did he smirk and follow after Maari.
As opposed to his shyness earlier, Aari was holding on tightly to her now, almost clinging to her. His world had been thrown into chaos, he needed something to cling to and Sprite...not only was she something to hold onto, he got the feeling she was holding onto him just as much and that...it felt nice. He wanted to be very careful not to hurt her. He only looked up when he heard the clicking of hooves and Veronique appeared behind them. He looked over his shoulder as the Lady knelt and slipped her arms around both of them, her silver eyes widening when she saw both of them crying. "Oh, little ones.."
Mime didn’t know what was going to have to be done about Veil.. Veronique had it in her head that he was an abused creature just like the majority of the catacombs inhabitants, but it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Veil was power hungry, and thingyy.. and Veronique’s son. All the more reason Mime’s hands were tied on this, and the little bastard knew it.
Only did Mime’s attention shift when he came upon Veronique and the younglings. His brow lifted a bit though at what he saw.. was it possible that all the young ones were beginning to grow and find their own feet? There was something in those tear filled eyes that said that they were grown. Mime didn’t know what they would all do.. Leap had found love and everyday appeared more and more like the woman she really was, and Mime didn’t think that these two would be that far behind, specially with Aari off and under Maari’s rule. Perhaps this wasn’t all bad.
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Sprite sniffed and wiped at her eyes, embarrassed to be found not only crying, but clinging to Aari. It didn’t stop her however from clinging to Veronique for a moment before insisting that she was fine and it was Aari that needed comforting, not her.
Aari leaned against Veronique. "Lady..." He whispered it, glancing at Sprite and remembering she'd heard anyway so it didn't matter. "Maari said...she said I was damaged, that I was no good to anyone and I'll always be a weight...am I?"
"Of course not!" Veronique said, holding onto them both still. "Maari...I think she's confused, sweetling." That was a nice way of putting it.
"Mime."
Ranger came up beside the other creature quietly, his voice low. "I don't like this. He's got Veronique's intelligence and none of her compassion, which makes him a very dangerous individual. You have more influence over her than anyone, do you think there's anything you can do to make her see..?"
“She’s lying!” Sprite couldn’t help but pipe up. “She’s.. she’s..” Sprite wanted desperately to say something, but the despair on Aari’s face halted her words. “Confused.. yeah, you’re right Lady Veronique.” All parties present would disagree with her anyways had she said what she really felt. Aari out of love for his sister and Veronique out of compassion for her blood son.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mime turned and walked with Ranger back towards the more populated halls. Mime sighed nodding and pressing his finger tips to his forehead. “I don’t know that I can do much my friend. She’s determined that he belongs here, and he seems set on making her see that neither he or she do.”
Mime thought for a moment.. “I would need proof, and even with proof I don’t guarantee that she wont insist on seeing it with her own eyes.” He shot a hopeless look at Ranger. “I cant loose her Ranger. She’s everything to me.. I’m lost without her.”
Veronique reached over and kissed Sprite lightly on the forehead, whispering. "I know it isn't true but give him some time and he'll see otherwise."
"I know, Mime." Ranger sighed, softening a bit, a smile curving his lips. "Yea, I know how that is...." He glanced over toward the hall that would take him to his room and Thistle within it
Sprite made a pouting face and recoiled a little from Veron’s kiss, for some odd reason it seem a little childish to her. Strange that it never had before, perhaps she really was growing up. To make up for pulling away though she gave Veron a fierce hug.
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Mime smirked and elbowed his friend lightly, knowing where the man was looking off to. “Let’s do some snooping.. I’ll let you return to her soon enough.” With that Mime began the hunt for Veil. It was always exciting to give over to his natural instincts, but he made sure never to give in fully. He could really become a beast if he ever lost control.
Aari looked between them in confusion and Veronique simply smiled and hugged her back.
Ranger made him come to the library first and get Char. His brother followed them very willingly, he didn't like or trust Veil anymore than he did. Ranger paused and looked around before he looked at Mime. "Do you want to stop and bring Quin in on this?"
_________________
Mime thought about it for a moment.. they were just going for a look, it’s not like he needed his brother to be there. Course as if summoned out of the stone masonry Quin appeared. “Well I guess since he’s here we’ll bring him along too.”
“Bring me where?” Quin asked, confused. “Am I in trouble?”
Mime laughed heartily. “No brother.. you’re not in trouble, yet. We’re just going on a little recon mission and wanted to know if you’re interested in tagging along.”
“Veil?” Quin asked immediately and Mime nodded. “I’m in.”
"Quin's got something he definitely wants Veil to stay away from now, don't you?" Char said. He was little more than a burned corpse, his mouth frozen in a perpetual grin, but the humor in his voice took the edge off the horror. Ranger glanced back at Quin but said nothing. Despite the lightness of Char's tone, the brothers, who adored Leap, were having a liiiiiiiiiittle bit of a problem dealing with the fact she was in a relationship now. Ah well, Char thought. She had to grow up, it's long past time for it to happen. He felt a mixture of sadness and happiness at the same time. His brother was healed, Thistle had done that, and their little Leap was starting to heal as well, and from the sound of it Aari and Sprite would be as well, perhaps soon. He hadn't been a saint when he'd been really alive but the fact he had little to offer..well...ANYONE beyond his personality and humor weighed on him at times like this.
Quin nodded and then turned his face away, his cheeks burning a little too red. These men or creatures that had once been men, were as close to Leap as fathers would be. Quin was very aware that he was treading on thin ice as it was, but found it comforting that Char was at least making an effort to accept the relationship that Quin shared with Leap. And it wasn’t as though he was the one moving fast.. Leap was the one who kept bringing him the karma sutra book. It was very hard to persuade Leap that they should wait a little longer before trying the things in that book. To be honest.. he was very nervous about being caught alone with her as is, let alone in some sexual position that would have him hung by his own brother.
His recent development of relationships with Thistle made Ranger a bit more lenient toward Quin. If there was anyone who was perfect for Leap, Ranger judged Quin was it. Leap would always be child like at heart, even though she was a young woman, and her experience with intamicy such as it was was very skewed. He knew she'd been looking at that...er...book....but it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out Leap didn't really understand the impact of what it meant. Another man might have taken advantage of that mixture of hunger and innocence, but Ranger knew Quin would not.
Quin felt very uncomfortable among Leap's would be fathers, but for oncce was feeling a little more accepted in general, something he really hadn't felt too much of since he had come to the cavern catacombs.
Mime stopped the group and signaled that they were close, he didn't want to spook Veil. Mime knew that Veil's senses were highened and began to wonder if he shouldn't have come alone, but it was too late for that now, and he needed more than just his word against Veil's.
Ranger nodded, moving up beside him. He heard faint voices and frowned, because he heard more than two, he was sure of it. "Argalii?"
"I haven't seen Argalii lately." Char said, his voice a whisper. "Not since that weird ghoul came and attacked Veroni..."
Ranger's hiss of warning came an instant too late and both of them flinched. That was a little tidbit they'd intended to not let Mime know about.
Mime’s eyes went red for a moment, and he was half tempted to back the two brothers against the wall and make them tell him everything, but now was not the place nor the time. “You and I are going to have a little chat later.” He hissed under his breath before turning back to the task as hand and began creeping closer so that the voices of Veil, Maari, and Argalii rang true in his ears.
He signaled everyone to stop, not quite familiar with this section of the catacombs, and not sure if turned another corner would reveal them all or not. But he could hear the voices of the three clearly, and was sure that the others could as well, specially since Ranger had been able to tell that Argalii had been with them quite a few feet back.
Ranger wasn't as good at tracking as Mime, but he could move a bit more stealthly. It wasn't because of talent, he simply didn't have a tail or claws. He crept around the corner, glancing around it swiftly, then pulling back.
His first thought was they'd made a mistake, his gaze had found Veil and Maari in the background but there were two others and neither one of them was Argalii. He saw no sign of the ghoul, which shocked him because the two seemed like two peas in a pod. But then again....as he'd said it had been a long time since he'd seen hide or hair of Argalii.
No, the two women standing there with Veil, Ranger whispered the discovery to his friends, were human.
Mime looked at Ranger with surprise and asked if he was sure that the women were human. It was easy to believe that Veil would be talking to humans, well some what believable, but when it came to Maari.. something just wasn’t right about all this. They had to get closer, so he had Ranger lead them as far as it was safe to go. Mime wanted a look at these humans as well.