Does.it.make.you.happy.you're.so.strange

[Aria Indira]

Aria. Gabriel. Indira

Reverent steps were taken into one of the last pure areas of Divinous. Upon entering the boundaries of Cardol Lake she took off her slippers. The grass here still grew green and lush, the ground was softer, more welcoming to delicate feet. There was such a stark difference between even the best of the city and this patch of beauty. There were no people dying in the streets, no muggers around every corner. The flora was still a natural colour, not dulled by seasons growing in filth. It was hard to believe the city outside was so ruined when such a place still existed.

What has become of us?

Aria slowly made her way towards the pristine water. There were few people here at this awkward morning hour. It was too late to watch a sun rise, and too early to bask in mid day sun. The light was pale and brought a comfortable heat, just enough to warm her skin. She did not question the pleasant change from dull light to what graced her now. She had long ago stopped looking at the sky for she could not stand to look at the shroud now covering Divinous. Her curiosity wasn’t worth her sanity. Shuddering slightly in remembrance of the murky barrier in the sky, Aria cleared her mind. The constantly obscured sky made her feel trapped, and she simply couldn’t stand that reality.

What have we done to ourselves?

It wasn’t hard to find a secluded spot along the lakes edge. The water was shallow for the first few feet where she stood. Pale sand was motionless beneath clear water, the glimmer of a small fish flickered in and out of view. The lake was so pure, and the gentle lap of small waves against the shore was calming. How had the rest of the city fallen so far? Aria sighed, wistfully and glanced around. No one was close, and she could enjoy the rare opportunity to free her wings. Unhooking the silver clasp at her throat Aria slipped the dark grey cloak from her shoulders. Pale slate wings stretched their full span before settling into a comfortable state of partial closure. Her reflection in the water felt so wrong. Her beauty was not quite as perfect, nor her grace quiet as natural as that of a true angel. She was missing something. There was no unearthly glow about her, she did not radiate mystic power anymore than a usual human. It’s like living a lie.

Turning away from her reflection Aria spread her cloak out on the ground and sat on it. She stared out across the lake this time and let the water’s movement entrance her. She’d heard this lake had healing properties. A last gift from the angels, it was said to heal even fatal wounds. Eyeing the few cuts on her arms she shook her head. They weren’t worth it. Lesser demons had ambushed her while she’d made her way through the lower district, it hadn’t been much of a struggle and the wounds wouldn’t kill her. Aria wouldn’t use such a precious gift on such simple injuries. There were far more needy people out there, and she saw them often. A memory was triggered and it flickered through her mind refusing to fade away. It was when she’d first heard of this lake.

Laying back on her cloak Aria surrendered to the memory. She starred up at nothing. The sky and everything in her peripheral vision dimmed to a very slight awareness and the past came in fast and clear. Humming softly she focused in on an angel of her past, and wondered if she’d ever see one in this city again.

[Elioenai]

((I'll give this ago, if you're still open for replies.))

Do not tell me my fears have left me. Do not tell me I am not alone. I am alone.

And yet, he knew he was not alone. He never was. But somehow he had this feeling of separation, of longing, unable to reach out to something on the horizon, unable to grasp the thing in front of his very face. The feeling was ever present.

The lake came into view. I am amazed this place still exists. It had been years. Hundreds of years since he had last been here. Or at least, that was how he remembered it. How long. How long. Too long. Even as old as he was, with an age that surpassed that age which was counted, just one hundred years was too long for him. As time went on, he always recalled the realization that there was always something new to see, to experience, and to learn. True, he was . . . higher than most, but that did not give him everything the world had to offer. Not on a silver platter, at least.

Please understand.

The crystal clear water shimmered with the morning light, what little there was of it. Beautiful. Simply a wondrous thing. But he felt repulsed, as if the water let off a stench he could hardly bear. Why had he come here? To remind himself of what was lost to him? To torture his mind? What is wrong with me? Nothing . . . and everything. He had never been able to give himself a true answer. Only someone else could, and he had always known that, no matter how many times he had posed the question to himself.

I do not go by my own will.

The man stepped closer to the water’s edge but stopped short. Wind picked up his black hair, a flurry of wispy strands. Clad in shin high boots and a black cloak that swallowed his body like a shadow, it would be easy to mistake him for someone of rather daring intentions. He brought a hand up to cover his right eye. It throbbed painfully, a dull, pounding pain he had come to expect. Even these great waters could do nothing for that wound. Cursed as it was. He was not sure he would get rid of it even if he could. He often hoped to destroy himself, that some creature here would see him as a traitor. But his body, and his soul, would not let him.

Someone is pushing me. Pulling me. Taking me away.

The scene around him suddenly vanished, replaced by a field of wild flowers. A child. A girl. He remembered her. She was running and laughing, a single red rose gripped tightly in the little pale hands. He remembered what happened, but he thought this memory had been repressed. Then it was raining, and she lied in his arms with blood running down the side of her face. Her red hair was matted with the vile red liquid, and her blue eyes were forever lost to the darkness behind closed lids.

Then he was back, and he stumbled, mouth open in a silent scream as his eye closed tightly, mind in pain. It was small, this memory. So much smaller, but so powerful to him. It hurt. Part of him touched the water, and he quickly threw himself away from it, a warm, pleasurable sensation drifting through his limbs in the few seconds he was in contact with him. It only made the pain less bearable, and he wanted to cry.

But his face was masked. He wondered if he could cry, if he wanted to. He could not even show his sadness. Could not express it. Even the silent scream was characterized by a blankness, so that one might not even be able to tell he was in pain by its expression. It was just a blank expression, an open mouth in a blank face.

Make the pain go away. It would not. Could not. Never would. It would not happen. Never.

[Elle Blanc]

((I hope you don't mind my joining.))

"Shh. No need to rush, Ralph. We're nearly there, don't you see?" Elle spoke in a soft manner that it could barely be heard, but since she was talking to a wolf, who are known to have an acute sense of hearing, she was pretty sure that her inaudible whipser was heard. And since the wolf was her familiar no less, she knew that all she had to think about it and he would probably hear it. Just probably as they have no mental connection. But she knew he heard. And she also knew that he wasn't listening to her. Not that she minded, she never ordered her familiar, even though Ralph existed to serve her every command. It was more of a suggestion anyway.

A small smile played on her plump red lips; he was only rushing for her sake and not his. He was not the one who was wounded, no matter how light it was, not that it was that light. He was only rushing because of his loyalty and love for his master that he did not listen to his aforementioned master, or rather mistress, and so he did not slow his sprint across the holy field.

She ran the thin pale fingers of her left hand, her good hand since her other hand was bleeding heavily, through the messy black mat of fur on his head to reassure him further. "Can't you sense it, Ralph? The lake is so near, you could taste it already, can't you?" She spoke in the same soft whisper that only her beloved familiar could hear. She was referring to the fact that his tongue was sticking out as he was panting very hard. That was expected, of course, having to run from the Heart Petal to the lake, with his mistress sitting daintily on his back. Not that his mistress was heavy, but he did come from the lower district and he was running just after fighting a dozen demons. Also, he exerted extra effort to make sure his mistress would get better as soon as possible.

Sensing others in the vicinity, he ran towards the side of the lake wherein no one could bother his mistress. Elle sighed, she could hear Ralph's thoughts as he was broadcasting his thoughts so loudly that anyone could hear them a mile away, at the very least. She continued to reassure her familar by running her fingers to his fur, a usually comforting gesture for the wolf. But it didn't provide him with any comfort as he could smell the tang of her blood freely flowing from the upper part of her limp right arm all the way down to the ground, leaving a trail of blood that could be easily followed. Not that there was anyone who would bother following it anymore, since they were all taken care of.

She grimaced, remembering just a few moments ago, some demons were causing trouble just outside her restaurant and were intending to bring it in. As the owner and defender of Heart Petal, along with Ralph, they tried to end the trouble outside of the restaurant. With a few well-aimed shots and a bite and swipe from Ralph, the dozen demons died with no hassle at all in just a few moments. Except for one who managed to slash Elle's right arm before he died from a headshot by Elle and a bite on the throat by Ralph. Seeing that his mistress was wounded, he immediately took her up by the collar, without warning, and threw her on his back, knowing that his mistress wouldn't get hurt if he did that. With little warning to the staff, Ralph took off towards Cardol Lake. She was thankful that the staff was used to her leaving often on such short notice.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when Ralph stopped and bent his front legs, much like a bow. She jumped off the giant wolf with ease. The moment she did, the wolf shrank back to its normal size, that of a normal wolf, and lay down on the cool grass, with his tongue sticking out and panting. She smiled as she sat down by him, on his right side so that her left hand would keep running through his fur as she touched the water's edge with the fingers of her right hand.

[Aria Indira]

Ooc// Of course, and I don't mind at all =) //

The streets of lower district were quiet for once. All but a very few humans had hidden away inside. They were contemplating the end of their world, as they knew it. They knew the time of peace was ending. Demons were becoming more common, and their holy opposition less. Most of the angels had taken their leave, and were high above now as they belonged. Most, anyways. A dirty blond with wings of pure white was one of the few exceptions.

“You will never be far from us.” It was the best he could do in terms of reassurance. Kyris knew she mourned quietly for her angel, and was trying his best. He’d never been good with people, but had known Aria from his friendship with her lover. “There’s a lake we’re leaving for you humans. It’s a reminder of our past here. I know it’s not the same, but I’m sure you’ll be fine either way.” He was looking at her with those sea green eyes. She tried hard to remind herself it wasn’t that he didn’t care, it was just that he wasn’t going to lie. “I guess it will have to do,” Aria sighed looking longingly up at the sky. “It’s all I have left.”

The lower district started to fade from her vision, but not before a cry reached her ears. That doesn’t fit. She was perplexed, and took a glance around the fading scene. She hadn’t missed something had she? There was no one but her and Kyris in the street, and it was not his voice. Again, there was a plea, so quiet she wasn’t sure it was real. But there’s nothing here. Concerned, and a bit fearful Aria closed her mind sight and let her senses roam the real world.

Her eyes widened for a moment. Oh wait. No, she was wrong. There was a dark outline by the water not far off. She could have sworn she’d seen the familiar glow of an angel, but now she wasn’t sure if it was even a person. The lighting was all wrong for her eyes, and the cloak was so dark. It looked like a living shadow. It must have just been remnants from her memory. Angels didn’t exist here any more. “Hello?” She was more curious now than afraid. Surely something evil couldn’t stand to be in a place such as this? Standing up quickly she forgot her cloak and wandered closer.

Something was disrupting her concentration as she wandered slowly closer to the darkly clothed stranger. Someone close had their mind open. It wasn’t this man though. Something about a need to get to the lake. Their mission wasn’t just to visit, but to take advantage of the water’s healing powers. The thoughts had a strange feel to them. She’d never heard anything quite like it. It got louder quickly and she caught a split second glimpse of a woman on a wolf. And then the wolf was too small for that to have been possible. Wow, my sight is really off today. Shaking her head Aria finally drew within conversing distance of the man. One eye was kept on the space where she’d seen the figures curious to see if she wasn’t indeed crazy.

Halting a few feet away she dipped her head in greeting. His face was impossible to read, mouth open in some unnameable expression. A bit awkward around people upon first meeting she paused, not sure what to say.

[Elioenai]

The pain seemed to last a lifetime, and perhaps it could have. It would make little difference to him. Divinous had become his home, and at the same time, his dying ground. The people cried out and no one listened. No one lifted a hand to help the masses. Their cries plagued him in the night, and the dead cried with louder voices. His ears felt as though they would bleed, and the image of the little girl, the knowledge of her innocence of the world, kept throwing itself at him, pounding like a mad man at his doorstep.

His mouth closed slowly, teeth clenching behind sealed lips. The wind had stopped, but his skin felt cold, and his veins like they were freezing. Lying on the shore now, his body felt numb. He could not tell up from down, left from right. But he was not looking, was not trying. Can’t get rid of it.

Then he heard someone approach, and in shock and surprise, maybe even fear – he had not figured out what it was he actually did fear – his legs pushed him away, slamming him forcefully into the trunk of a tree. It nearly rattled with his hit, and at any normal time he would be worried about the loud noise bringing attention to him. His hair was back covering his right eye, though sparsely, and his left eye remained closed. One hand was planted on the ground beside him for balance. The other crossed his stomach as if trying to relieve it of an aching.

Who . . . ?

It took him a few moments to finally force his eye open, and one thing fed his gaze: anguish. His eye looked as though it was on the verge of tears, but the salty liquid never fell. He glanced at the girl, and suddenly the feeling left his eye, replaced by that emptiness he knew all too well. She was – he had a feeling he would have slammed back into the tree had his limbs not been rendered useless in his additional shock.

He could sense the angelic presence, and yet, it did not seem full. It confused him, and put him in a state of caution. It was not normal, not for someone like her to be here. Not normal for me either, he reminded himself. But, whether from continued shock or from curiosity, he still looked at her, dark eye staying on her face, mind wondering.

[Elle Blanc]

The moment she touched the lake's surface, she could barely contain her reaction to the magic. It was like a chill running up and down her spine, but instead of fear or shiver, it was ecstasy. Euphoria. The magic was in her, about her, around her. It was everywhere and it made her feel good. No, better than good; there were no words able to describe the feeling the magic made her feel. The magic weaved her torn muscles and skin, much like a surgery, only that she wasn't sedated. But she didn't want to be sedated, since instead of pain, she felt...magic. It was indescribable, to say the least.

Instead of moaning in ecstasy, she let a soft sigh of pleasure as she closed her eyes the moment her fingers touched the water's edge. All it took was a few moments, barely even a minute. But it felt longer than that, as if the lake didn't care much for time and space. The blood that was flowing freely and heavily stopped, the moment it was about to reach the surface of the lake. As if the lake didn't allow anything to dirty its purity. It didn't allow anything to desecrate its sacredness. Not that Elle minded of course, because that meant that she stopped losing blood, not that she lost a lot. But blood was an important weapon to her.

A small whimper to her left caught her attention as the lake's magic was done. She glanced down at the source: Ralph, who was still lying on his side, looking up at her with a pitiful expression: the puppy dog look. He was still concerned about his mistress's welfare, as a good familiar should. She gave him a small grin, showing her elongated canine as she continued ot run her fingers through his fur, from the top of his head all the way down to his lower back. She reapeated this affectionate gesture, and this time, it calmed the distressed wolf.

When she noticed that Ralph was purring, or at least the canine variation of it, she took the time to glance at her right arm, which she took out of the water's surface when she felt that it has done its magic. It was if it was never wounded. There was not cut on it, nor was there blood or any sign of it. Th only way one would know that she was injured previously was the cut on her sleeve, the same place where the demon cut her. She frowned as she remembered her carelessness, but that quickly turned upside down as she tested her arm. As good as new. She grinned even wider.

A dull thud caught both of their attention, making them stop on what they were doing. Both of them looked for the source of the noise. Her eyes, and so did Ralph's, fell on a dark being, much like a shadow near the trees. Standing in front of him was a lady. Elle felt a shiver run down her spine, not because of the magic or a chill. Something told her that those two beings were not what they seemed to be. They had an unusual aura. Something bright and holy. Much like the lake.

Are they... She shook her head at the foolishness she was thinking. Angels have abandoned Divinous, even though there are those who fought for them. She shrugged. It didn't matter to her much. She was just a caretaker, a nurse, a babysitter to those fighting in the foolish war. She simply cared for those injured, feed those hungry, attend to those needy.

Curious, she got up with Ralph at her heels. They moved towards the two at a sedate pace. "Um, excuse me, but are you all right?" She spoke in her typically soft voice, once she was a few meters from them. She may be curious, but she wasn't stupid to let herself get too close in case she needed to fight back against them. That was the reason she was brought to Cardol lake in the first place.

[Aria Indira]

Aria cringed as the man jerked away from her. The tree branches jittered with the impact and she lowered to a crouch. That sounded like it might have hurt. She watched him closely, hoping he hadn’t injured himself. “Are you okay?” she asked quietly, her eyes wide, fearful. She watched his face, and could see the hint of a large scar under ebon locks. She wasn’t sure what to think of him. Something felt vaguely familiar, and the mark below her shoulder was starting to hurt. Aria reached over her right shoulder past her katana’s hilt and tried to soothe the light pain. She’d never been able to pinpoint what cause her marking to react like this. As she brought her hand back to rest on the ground beside her she realized what was missing. Her cloak.

Opps. I really should have put it back on. She sighed. Should have known. Glancing back at her previous spot a few feet away she decided it wasn’t worth grabbing. He’d seen her already. The best she could do was tuck her wings in, and that she did. His muscles still looked tense, as if he was ready to dart away again if he hadn’t already been cornered. Aria was trying to sort out some form of emotion the eye watching her. She thought she’d glimpsed a sort of pained sadness, but it was gone as fast as it had come. “I’m…”

"Um, excuse me, but are you all right?"
She froze hearing the soft feminine voice, and turned just a degree. It was the girl and wolf she’d seen earlier, though farther along the lake. But… that wolf’s definitely not big enough to ride. She was sure now that what she’d seen earlier hadn’t been real. Now that he was closer though she pinpointed the strange feeling thoughts to be his. Interesting. “I might have startled him.. not purposefully of course,” Aria put her hands up in defense. She really did feel bad. And a bit depressed that he’d reacted so violently to her presence.

[Elioenai]

He stared at her, surprise and uncertainty hiding sheepishly behind the emptiness clouding his eye. Elioenai did not fully understand how he would reply to this girl’s question, and to tell the truth, he had not thought about it. Before she had crouched down, everything seemed to have been going in slow motion, the sounds muffled and the movements blurred. For a moment, he thought he had hit his head too hard, but he soon realized that that was not the case at all. He believed he may be seeing this girl for what she was now. What. Now. What was going on?

Okay? If he was hurt, he could not feel the pain. His limbs were stiff, and he did not know why. It was as if someone had used his sudden shock as shackles to bind him, and breaking them almost seemed impossible then. No matter how much he struggled inside, he could not find the weak link in the invisible chains holding him down.

The girl’s movement caught his attention, and all of a sudden he was concerned. Was she hurt? Had he done something to upset her? Not that he would care anymore, or should. Habitual human emotions did not go away as easily as he would have liked, but they were there. Maybe it was just reaction. He had never liked seeing his charges in pain. Everyone else, though, well, he usually just ignored. But . . . right, it was all gone. All done, now. It was no longer his duty to worry about someone else’s wellbeing.

She glanced away for an instant, and his head spun with . . . something. . . . He was getting a headache. . . . Just a headache. That was all it was. Was she thinking? She looked thoughtful, to him. Her new words were cut short as another voice sounded. He did not have to turn to know a wolf was present, having seen and heard too many over the centuries not to know.

Then she acted . . . defensive? Startle him? Something inside of him screamed to jump up and leave. Just leave. Startle him! Had she? It would not be the first time, just one of few times. He supposed he really was having some problems these days.

Feeling returned to his arms and hands, but when he started to move them, they were shaky. Regretfully, he allowed them to remain where they were beside him. They were still trembling slightly, and he, again, did not know what to do, at a loss. A sharp pain hit him at the back of his head, and he reached up hesitantly to touch the spot. When he brought his hand in front of him, fresh blood coated the tips of his fingers. So, he had decided that trees were not his friends in such a state as he was in.

[Elle Blanc]

Elle faced the girl who was speaking with her arms in defensive position. She gave the other girl a small smile as she cocked her head to the side, evidently curious to the girl's explanation. "Why are you explaining yourself to me? I'm not here to judge you or anything. So you don't have to defend yourself." Elle spoke in a soft voice, as she always does, this time, her voiced laced with calmness, hoping that it would influence the other girl. Elle knew better than to approach someone defensive, since they can easily become offensive in a split second. She has seen that happen so many times to count. And she has to wounds to prove it. If they're still there that is.

A small whine beside her caught Elle's attention, so she turned her head to see the source of the sound. Ralph, who was making the small whining sounds, faced Elle's grey eyes before turning his head to point at the one who just fell. A slightly metallic scent caught her attention. Blood. That was what Ralph was saying and she understood him. She patted his head in sign of approval.

Years spent with her was rubbing off on the wolf. Before, when they just met, he wouldn't care for the well-being of anyone except for himself and his mistress. Now, he was also concerned for others, just like Elle. Or is it because he knows that I care that's why he tried to catch my attention. That would make sense too, since it's unnatural for a wolf to care for those outside his pack. And Ralph's pack consists only of his mistress, Elle, and himself. And he loves pleasing his mistress, so maybe that's why he "cares". Maybe.

Elle shook her head slightly, to clear it of unneccesary thoughts. The man in front of her proved what she already knew. He was bleeding, and apparantly it's a the back of his head. I hope it's not that deep. Head wounds are always bloodier than normal wounds, even though they are just tiny wounds. She also noticed that the man was slightly shaking, probably due to the impact. Please let it be that simple. Elle didn't like complications, especially when it concerns injuries and illnesses. They made life more difficult.

She looked at Ralph, who looked at her back. Then she glanced at the ground, just near Ralph. He understood immediately and sat down to where she looked at. She couldn't help but smile at him and his obedience. It was quite amazing what they could accomplish without words or telepathy. Even though telepathy would make our talks so much simpler. They had to develop their own signs, to be able to speak without words so that others won't know what it meant. She wanted him to stay so that he wouldn't startle the man. Though she knew he won't, it doesn't mean that the man would be startled any less. She didn't want to aggravate him any further.

She slowly approached the wounded man, hoping not to startle him again, lest it would cause another injury. "I'm a healer of sorts. If you don't mind, I can tend to your wound." She spoke softly, not wishing to add to his headache. Head wounds usually have headaches; and loud noises don't help the headaches get any better. Her voice was also laced with concern, Elle was clearly in her motherly mode, wherein she has to tend to others because she can't simply leave them wounded and uncared for.