⌈ how to survive in the nightlife ⌋

[erythrosi]

characters: The Grey General, open.
location: Solace streets and alleys, not too far from the parked airship.
time: Late evening?
rating: W. For wtf.
open/closed: Very much open, feel free to hop in with prose or action.
summary: Those odd shadows seem to be converging at one place and taking a form of their own.

Comments

/SCREAMS

[uncomprehend]

Something broke through the whispers that night, something specific, something she had been searching for ever since the sound ( the voice ) disappeared. When she heard it River shot up, eyes wildly looking around the dark room that they were staying in, she looked over at Kevin ( asleep, she could hear his breathing from here ) before the nearby window.

It wasn't difficult to sneak out, nor to move around the city in the pure darkness, without shoes or seemingly a clue where she was going.

But River knew where she was walking, even though her path seemed chaotic and without purpose. She didn't need her eyes to see; she could close them and still know where she was going; the voice she could hear in her head whispered where to go. The voice, the voice of someone she knew, someone she missed. Someone she had been talking too for days. Picking the pace up, River skipped around one corner and cutting through a street to the other, rationally disappearing with a wave of anxiety and panic.

Soon enough she found it and by this time she was running, down the street before skidding to a halt tripping over her own feet and falling flat on the ground. Looking up she found herself frozen, unable to summon the energy to get back onto her feet. She was confused, unable if she should believe her eyes; delusions were normal with her, she has seen things that weren't really there before and this... this could just be a figment of her mind.

Still she reached out, hand shaking. "Not... real... just- just a illusion, c-can't be real."

note that I never said he wouldn't be back.

[erythrosi]

As luck would have it, the next street he'd come to had been completely empty. Isen could breathe a sigh of relief as he stepped out from the alley, glancing around at what the Avaticans had done to his city. He didn't recognize a single building, the architecture was different and the shops themselves replaced entirely by shops he'd never heard of before. He was certain the only bakery in the city was on this block, and he could just keep his temper in check at the thought of what they must have done to his Estate.

He could vanish in an instant if he needed to, which was why he strode out to the middle of the street now, admittingly a bit eager to see any enemy soldier jump out of their boots upon seeing him. None had yet, but it wasn't long before he heard footsteps, and he had just enough time to duck back into the nearest alley and peer around the corner at who was headed this way.

Just who it was had him stopping in his tracks a second after bolting out from the alley once more. He had to stop, partially to check whether anyone else was following her (or chasing, and they would be dead men if that were the case), but also because he had absolutely no idea what to say to her. That wasn't the only promise he'd broken that day.

But the poor girl ended up sprawled on the ground and reaching for him, and to Hell with any other soldiers who would hear. The General hurried from the alley to her side, crouching down to offer her a hand up. Hopefully she wouldn't mind the sight of him, bloodstained the way he was. But it wasn't as if he had a chance to clean up yet.

"Careful, kitten. The ground's awful dirty."

YEAH WELL...................................................... ♥ ;A;

[uncomprehend]

He looked real.

She took the opportunity to take his hand quickly, throwing caution to the wind, only to flinch immediately on contact eyes going from his face to the hand. His hand felt real. Hesitantly she took a hold of it, shock obvious on her face, her mind couldn't comprehend it. She didn't understand. How was he here? He had died she had felt it, the dead can't come back right? There were too many questions running through her mind, but she didn't care. She didn't understand how this happened but she didn't care. Gracelessly she pulled herself to her feet, wobbling a little before her free hand ( the one that didn't have his hand in a near death grip ) reached out to touch his face.

"Real..."

She saw the blood but it didn't exactly process that well, River was too overcome with the joy and sadness and relief and even a spot of irritation. He had broken his promise by dying. But fulfilled it by returning. That was all that mattered to her now. Letting go of his hand she wrapped her arms around his neck, caring little if her dressed got stained any further, it was already torn, bloody and dirty. She just wanted to stay close to him, scared that this was all in her mind and that if she strayed too far it was all disappear.

"You lied." She began finally, only now realizing she had been crying to entire time, "But you came back. I-I don't... you came back. You came back. I could hear and I ran... and you're here... Don't don't go away again." Perhaps later, when she calmed down a little, she would hit his arm sharply, for never answering her when she spoke to him all those times.

It's rude to ignore people.

.w. ♥♥♥

[erythrosi]

He was expecting a flinch or several, as much as each second glance of hers tugged at his heartstrings. He hadn't exactly made himself presentable before arriving, nor did he give any warning beforehand. And he certainly did look like a fright. But there was relief when she did take his hand, helping the poor girl to her feet and dusting a bit of the ground's dirt from her shoulder before there was that gentle touch against his cheek.

And there it was. All the guilt that he'd experienced before leaving had returned, and it all festered in the pit of his stomach the moment she touched him. He should never make promises, really. Even though technically he did come back, but it was far later than he had meant for and he had to leave in the first place in order for all this to have happened at all, and he'd never wanted that. He'd upset her.

Which was why his expression became more confused when she threw her arms around him and held him. He didn't know what to do at that moment, mostly because he was expecting a decent swat upside the head. Plus, the poor girl's dress would be stained worse. His hands hovered above her waist, worried about upsetting her further, worried he might hold her too tight, worried about leaving bloody handprints on her dress, worried about a lot of things. But the poor girl was crying.

"... I won't, kitten," his response came in barely a whisper, but he meant it. He meant this promise, he had time now. Enough time. "I didn't mean to lie to you." He didn't lower his hands just yet, because as apprehensive as he was, he did so badly want to hold her and reassure her tears away. He would just have to wait for his heartbeat to resemble something normal first.

[uncomprehend]

"I know I know..."

She didn't let go, she wouldn't let go not yet. While he felt real, smelt real and sounded real she didn't want to take the chance that he wasn't, she didn't want to let go and watch his vanish from her view. A few sniffles and the tears stopped, she took comfort in this, in his presence, more than she would ever admit out loud. Isen was a constant, an unmovable object in the sea of chaos that was her reality, her mind, her every day. Simon used to be there, Simon was still there but so was Isen. He was special to her, very special; so when she felt his life, his thoughts, his feelings vanish like they did the chaos returned. It tore and ripped at her and she was lost. So very lost.

But it was all calm now, or at least calmer than before.

"S-She hears and she feels... all these t-things shes not supposed too, I know you didn't mean too... you couldn't... the chaos came but now... it's not so bad."

She didn't let go when she pulled back slightly, eyes finally settling on the bandages around his neck. She frowned, moving one hand to touch them lightly. "They're dirty." Was all River said, but she did not try to remove them, even though she knew the wound should no long be there. If it was he would not be alive like he is. And she was sure he was alive. The frown deepened, a flicker of doubt dancing across her eyes before she pressed two fingers against the skin under the corner of his jaw. For his pulse.

She had to make sure.

"Real." River repeated one more time before removing her fingers and looking up at him, a small broken smile appearing on her lips.

KEVIN IS NOT HAPPY >:(

[southernreaper]

He'd heard her leave. Kevin had gotten used to sleeping light, or not sleeping at all. Things were still too dangerous for them, and there went Miss River racing off into the damned dark. He kept the curses behind his teeth. They wouldn't do no good. Not for her and not for him.

Kevin had seen her sprawl, and had been about to run to her when the man had stepped out. Kevin stiffened, watching Miss River cling to the man. Whatever she might be saying, he couldn't hear. His heart pounded in his chest, and he tried to still the gut-gnawing terror that something was going to happen to her. If it did....

Well, as crazy as it sounded, Miss River helped him ignore the Hunger that still clawed at the back of his mind, but could find no satisfaction, since his damned powers weren't working. Right now, he didn't know what he'd do if she were hurt.

His hands clenched against the brick wall that he was hiding against. Kevin wanted to race out there, to pull her away from the bastard - whoever he was. Instead, he just faded back into the shadows to wait.

/shrieks and runs away

[erythrosi]

... yes, those were dirty bandages. Isen hadn't himself checked to see whether the wound that had once been fatal was still there, but if it was then he definitely wouldn't have been walking on his own two feet. He could feel it, though, where the blade had sliced his skin. A scar would be there, at the very least, and he certainly didn't want his kitten having to see that. Perhaps he'll have to take up wearing scarves. Or elaborate jewelry.

He supposed it was a good thing she'd decided to check for his pulse. He hadn't checked that, either. It wasn't as if he didn't feel his heart pounding from adrenalin while terrorizing Avatican soldiers with the shadows, but this was a much better reminder. He was really back. And his poor kitten was glad to see him again, that little smile of hers both warming and breaking his heart.

Before her hand dropped entirely, Isen reached out to take it in his own, putting aside the thoughts of his dirtied gloves staining her pretty hand as he brought it to his chest, just over his heart. There was that distinct feeling of being watched, but to Hell with it. He had more than enough strength to protect her now.

"I apologize for upsetting you, dear kitten," he said softly, gently stroking his thumb over the back of her hand. "I didn't think it'd take me this long to return. But I can at least promise now that it'll be a long time before anything tears me away from you again, and I will keep that promise."

Because this time, he knows for sure.

[ ooc; posting order, River, Kevin, Isen? :D ]

/PROTECTS >O

[uncomprehend]

Blood did no bother her, wounds were never shocking, she had seem many things in her life. Things she did not wish to seem, things she was not meant to see. She had witnessed war, saw people fall to the ground blood pouring from their wounds coating the street with a deep crimson, she had witnessed many peoples moments of death. And she adjusted. River herself would never admit to seeing worse atrocities, she never spoke of them, of the dark ones, of the Reapers. She would never tell them the terrors out in space, the creatures that were once men but how rip and tear and rape people they would have once called brothers. These people couldn't comprehend it as they are now.

She blinked as he hand was taken, fingers twitching only a little, watching it as it was guided to his chest. It almost looked like amazement in her eyes as she stared at her hand, counting the beats of his heart softly underneath her breath. She was convinced, now, thoroughly convinced that she could let go without him disappearing into the dark. "You better," She said finally looking up at him for a moment before moving her hand aside so she could press her ear against his heart. This way she could better hear the beats. "You can't leave again, you were rude. Never said anything back even though I talked to you for hours..."

Her voice trailed off as she stood straight, eyes moving around their surroundings until finally settling in the general direction of Kevin. She heard something, briefly, but the whisper disappeared as quickly as it came so she couldn't tell who it was. It wasn't a soldier, she knew this much, their thoughts were constant and loud often the source of many headaches, but this one... this one she only heard for a second before it disappeared. Suppressed? Blocked?

"Hide and go seek..." She stared off into the dark as if waiting for something, "There is a rat scurrying about you must be careful. They bite."

( ooc; sounds good to me~ )

He's just doing it because he loves Miss River

[southernreaper]

Kevin couldn't hear anything they said. He was too far away. But he didn't need to hear, to see the gestures that the man was making. Kevin's scowl grew deeper. Whoever this man was, it was obvious Miss River knew him, and possibly cared for him.

He didn't like it. He didn't like it at all.

When she turned to look in his direction, Kevin didn't move. If she knew he was here, she'd either tell him to come in, or she'd ignore him. Probably the latter.

Instead, he just waited, watching. Staying out here in the street was a damned fool idea. S'dangerous out here. Bring 'im back to the house. He let the stray thought slip around the shields he normally kept so carefully constructed around his mind - he hoped it helped her to have someone whose mind she couldn't read. He'd know in a few moments if she caught it.