Having been well, that would have made me sick
WHO: Nozomu Itoshiki {despairiminit}, Grell Sutcliff {chainsaw_juliet}
WHAT: Death saves the life of Despair
WHERE: The Housing District, the Sutcliff-Itoshiki Townhouse
WHEN: Day 161
Nozomu had been readying for work when he heard a swarm of rushing wings and hissing from the other side of the curtains. The teacher grimaced; did he even want to know? But his curiosity got the best of him, and he peeled back the drapes to see the sky filled with avian serpents. He snapped the curtains shut.
Well. This was Rivelata, after all. Returning to his journal, a quick flip through at the entries was reason enough to go bolt the windows. Thankfully, Fuura was already safely at the bakery; Nozomu knew that Penelo would be the first to batten down the hatches and protect her patrons and friends.
Making his way down to the kitchen, he heard a faint hissing, and his insides all did a somersault.
There was William; Grell's beloved little black kitten, pawing at a snake a bit bigger than a garter snake, with wings about the size of a pigeon's. Something so small shouldn't have frightened Nozomu, but this was Nozomu, and anything frightened him.
He stood frozen, watching the kitten swat at the tail of the flying creature; it snapped and struck, missing the fuzzy little neck by mere millimeters. Nozomu had seen Grell cuddle William and speak to the animal as if he were the stoic head of the London Soul Reaper Division. William the kitten seemed annoyed with this flying intruder, and started using both paws to discipline the snake.
Weren't those snakes poisonous? Nozomu remembered the tragedy of the little winged girl who had died recently of the snake venom. Death of those he loved affected Grell so much; even just a little kitten would break his beloved's heart.
"Get away from there!" Nozomu used his best authoritative, seizing the snake by the tail.
The snake reared on him, snapping at his face. Nozomu shrieked, backing into the kitchen counter as it bucked in his hand, smacking the teacher's glasses with flailing wings. His hand grasped desperately behind him, groping for any kind of weapon to use against the bizarre fiend.
Taking only a moment to glance behind him for some form of defense, the serpent lashed out and sank its teeth into his upper arm, tearing the silk of his kimono. Nozomu screamed as hot venom shot into his system. His fingers closed around one of Grell's cooking knives. By instinct, he struck the serpent, lobbing his head clean off, body dropping to the ground with a thud. He stabbed mercilessly at the snake, as if to ensure it were really dead.
Prying off the head, fangs left embedded in his skin, Nozomu gripped his nearby journal, panting. William idly chewed the fallen body at his feet, treating it like a snack. He contacted Grell just as the neurotoxins began to course through his bloodstream. They got to his legs first. Soon his stance was wobbly, and finally numb altogether.
Barely having time to grasp the countertop, Nozomu slid to the floor with a crash, pulling his journal with him. And all was dark. All was quiet, except the resonating hiss outside the little townhouse.
WHAT: Death saves the life of Despair
WHERE: The Housing District, the Sutcliff-Itoshiki Townhouse
WHEN: Day 161
Nozomu had been readying for work when he heard a swarm of rushing wings and hissing from the other side of the curtains. The teacher grimaced; did he even want to know? But his curiosity got the best of him, and he peeled back the drapes to see the sky filled with avian serpents. He snapped the curtains shut.
Well. This was Rivelata, after all. Returning to his journal, a quick flip through at the entries was reason enough to go bolt the windows. Thankfully, Fuura was already safely at the bakery; Nozomu knew that Penelo would be the first to batten down the hatches and protect her patrons and friends.
Making his way down to the kitchen, he heard a faint hissing, and his insides all did a somersault.
There was William; Grell's beloved little black kitten, pawing at a snake a bit bigger than a garter snake, with wings about the size of a pigeon's. Something so small shouldn't have frightened Nozomu, but this was Nozomu, and anything frightened him.
He stood frozen, watching the kitten swat at the tail of the flying creature; it snapped and struck, missing the fuzzy little neck by mere millimeters. Nozomu had seen Grell cuddle William and speak to the animal as if he were the stoic head of the London Soul Reaper Division. William the kitten seemed annoyed with this flying intruder, and started using both paws to discipline the snake.
Weren't those snakes poisonous? Nozomu remembered the tragedy of the little winged girl who had died recently of the snake venom. Death of those he loved affected Grell so much; even just a little kitten would break his beloved's heart.
"Get away from there!" Nozomu used his best authoritative, seizing the snake by the tail.
The snake reared on him, snapping at his face. Nozomu shrieked, backing into the kitchen counter as it bucked in his hand, smacking the teacher's glasses with flailing wings. His hand grasped desperately behind him, groping for any kind of weapon to use against the bizarre fiend.
Taking only a moment to glance behind him for some form of defense, the serpent lashed out and sank its teeth into his upper arm, tearing the silk of his kimono. Nozomu screamed as hot venom shot into his system. His fingers closed around one of Grell's cooking knives. By instinct, he struck the serpent, lobbing his head clean off, body dropping to the ground with a thud. He stabbed mercilessly at the snake, as if to ensure it were really dead.
Prying off the head, fangs left embedded in his skin, Nozomu gripped his nearby journal, panting. William idly chewed the fallen body at his feet, treating it like a snack. He contacted Grell just as the neurotoxins began to course through his bloodstream. They got to his legs first. Soon his stance was wobbly, and finally numb altogether.
Barely having time to grasp the countertop, Nozomu slid to the floor with a crash, pulling his journal with him. And all was dark. All was quiet, except the resonating hiss outside the little townhouse.