Prepare for the #LodanRespawn2024 Existing characters may choose to be displace from/have memories of different timelines, thereby allowing returning members the option to retcon their whole character. These changes are the result of the "Unnatural Fog" plot device that is running between now and the Respawn. The plot is simple: no matter where your character is, that place is shrouded in a thick fog that suspends time, but not thoughts or memories, so even if they're repeating the same day over and over again, they continue to remember, so each time feels like a new day. For those retconning OCs; this is where new versions of themselves have the opportunity to replace the old versions. Official lore and tree updates will be announced asap
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jun 30, 2014 20:34:19 GMT
He was laying it on thick, but maybe she was too. Anything to steer clear of the gloomy histories they both were entertaining moments ago. She chose to overlook the sappiness of his comment and focused on the adventure in the end statement. "There is always something, I assure you." The way he rubbed the center of her palms with his thumb caused a rope to squeeze around her hear and her stomach to lose its sense of gravity for a moment. She pulled away, though slowly, not to alert him to her inner misgivings.
"Fireworks would have been a nice touch," she mused in retrospect, pointedly ignoring the fluttering of her stomach. The waiter came around again, this time passing off the check to Levi and collecting the plate he'd pushed away. Cait bit the side of her lip, just now realizing dinner was over. Where would they go? When she first came here she hadn't planned on spending any more time in Levi's company than was necessary to attend the meal. Now she found herself enjoying his company and wanting to linger in it a bit longer.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
"Of course, bright lights and fire! Who doesn't love them!" He offers back before the waiter comes around. Levi pulls the paper to himself and holds it up. It's not a high end restaurant and he was happy about that one. He looks over at Caitlin with a smirk before shaking his head and placing the check down with a few coins dug from his pocket. It was a little over, but hey, keep the tip! Levi smiles at Caitlin for real this time. "So, do you plan on bailing from this arrogant scum, or do you wanna stick around?" He jokes with a wide grin. "We can hold hands, if you'd like."
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jun 30, 2014 20:58:46 GMT
"Well when you put it that way... no." She gave a mock stern look, waited a beat then smiled. "No I do not plan on bailing, and no I do not want to hold hands." Yes she did, but she stomped down on that impulse. No she couldn't, and she wouldn't. End of story.
"We can go back to the docks, maybe try some fishing, or, Oh! I know a place, follow me." She got up from the table and dusted her skirts off. In her chest her heart went into overtime. This was wrong, so wrong.... but it would be fun, wouldn't it? She remembered a time back when she was a nobody on the guilds list of pirates, and her and Sarah had seduced a gent to the river with the promise of a little swim in their nickers. Of course that never actually happened, besides the fact that they were only teasing, (mostly, they were young and curious) a pair of clockwork dolls went buzzerk in the streets and Sarah jumped into the fray, getting herself maimed and Cait had to get her out of there.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Levi grins like a fool. Caitlin was a real catch. Funny, smart...dangerous. Who knows what could happen? But he enjoys it. He's a hunter, and she may just be the hunt that'll bite him, and he wants it. He stays put for only a moment to watch Caitlin stand. She definitely was a well-taught girl, not usually the type for him to get excited about but she really does it. He stands up and follows in suit, "As long as you don't play too rough when we get there." By now he's a pace behind Caitlin, whipping his hat to fufil it before placing it atop of his head, letting it sit care-free.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 1, 2014 2:51:50 GMT
"Don't get too comfortable with me," Cait warned as they walked back out into the midday shine. She set off at a brisk pace toward the edge of the city. They could either go up and over the hills behind the Railroad station, or, (so long as they didn't get caught) they could cut through the train tunnel and go under the hills (saving time). The river that marked the boundary's of Lodan territory was on the other side. There was a gorgeous bridge that the train followed right over the river and out toward other city states. What she didn't know was that every time she cut through the trains tunnel to get to the river, she was passing right by the MI's headquarters. Not that she needed to find that anyway. Not that it had ever crossed her mind, and going up and over the hill was just added leg work that nobody needed to tack on to the trek.
Cait led Levi to the train station but not in it. She cut around the fence line and back behind the do-not-enter signs blocking off the actual iron rails. "This way," she whispered to him and pressed her back against the inner wall of the tunnel entrance. As soon as they were swallowed by the darkness inside she breathed a sign of relief and slowed her pace.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Levi laughs whole-heartedly. When we she ever learn? Just because you tell him to do something, doesn't mean he will. That's practically how he got by in life! No wait, it is..spot on.
Levi lets himself get pulled into the light of day once again, looking around and taking in all the sights and smells, and the feeling only Lodan gives as he trots after Caitlin.
Coming to the train station wasn't something that crossed his mine, not at a time like this, so when Caitlin disappeared around the fence and behind the signs it all became much clearer. No body likes trains. He follows along watching the nicely colored skirt infront of him lead the way into a dark, devouring abyss, until Caitlin breaths a rather audible sigh which doesn't ever breaks his mindset. What does though, is accidentally bumping in to Caitlin. He puts a hand on her shoulder to make sure she doesn't tumble and to partly catch himself. "Sorry, my bad..." he whispers into the shadows.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 1, 2014 3:42:12 GMT
Levi caught Cait by the shoulders after bumping into her and tipping her sideways. He managed to balance them both before apologizing. She couldn't see his face, but she could hear the soft whisper of his voice, leading her to believe it had been just an accident. Her rapid heart started to slow down again and thud heavier in her chest. She could have sworn it was an audible sound, heavy like a drum in her ears. It was too much. The darkness, the closeness, the whisper of his voice and the feel of his hands. Strange and exciting, and too soon after the last time she saw Will. She had allowed herself to hope again, but it had been a pipe dream. What chance did she have with a mechanic who was in love with the lie and not the real her?
Caitlin raised her hands up, felt along his arms from elbow to wrists and gently removed his hands from her body. "No need to apologize," was her delayed response.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Levi smiles in the dark when her hands run along his arms, stopping at his wrist. Too bad it's dark enough Ander's struggle to see. "Where are you taking me? It's quite dark in here, and it's getting hard to follow your behind. I MEAN behind you.." The sound of feet shuffling in dirt is the only sound to penetrate the air, besides their breathing.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 1, 2014 4:18:46 GMT
Caitlin tried to reach back and swat him but all her hand caught was empty air. "The tunnels not that deep, we'll come out on the other side and either you can jump like an Ander, or we can climb down the bridge like humans. Either way we'll reach the river faster than if we'd gone over the hill instead of through it." In fact, she could already see the pin light ahead that would expand into the exit the closer they came. It wasn't long at all and as promised, they emerged onto a terrace crossing the river.
Unfortunately, as soon as they stepped onto the terrace, the telltale sound of a horn blast echo'd through the tunnel, letting them know it was right on their heels and about to cross the river itself. The conductor had no way of knowing there were people on the bridge, but he blast the horn all the same because it was standard to do so when coming out of a tunnel. Caitlin's eyes went round as saucers.
"Never a dull moment, didn't I tell you?" She shouted over the sound. The whirlwind of air being sucked in from the momentum of the train coming out sent her hair flying around her in a tumble. "I suggest we JUMP!" She tried to scream over the sound. She had both hands up around her face, trying to hold the streaks of blonde tresses out of her eyes. They glittered with danger and excitement. She wasn't jumping. Not yet. She was waiting. She wanted to see the train before she sprung from the bridge and dropped to the river below.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Shrugs in the dark. "Doesn't bother me which way we take..." he says as the flashlight at the end of the tunnel bloomed into a doorway, then into a large opening. Stepping out onto the bridge was something different. If there's one thing to say, the bridges here are a lot more stable and that was a good thing because Levi's whole body tensed as he spun to face the opening then at Caitlin. "I suggest you jump!" he pointlessly calls out into the wall of sand.
They say cheetahs can run fast, but as soon as that hulking mass of iron came flying out of the tunnel, you've never seen Levi so fast. You're pretty sure he got hit and was sent flying, because the last thing you saw of the poor chap was him going over.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 1, 2014 4:37:14 GMT
Cait was already teetering on her heels, hanging on by a thread as she waited for the first glint of the locomotive. She felt it more than saw it, the rattling of the bridge beneath her feet changed, the way sound changes when you come away from an enclosed space and lose the echo. The vibrations were stronger, but the clattering that accompanied them was lesser. She didn't have time to digest that information, all she knew was she had to let go, now!
Cait let herself sink backwards, her feet leaving the terrace just as the bullet of steel drove right over where her feet had stood. The train and all its cars whizzed past milliseconds before she splashed into the water. The first thing she felt was weak, as her back ached with the pain of her landing and her lungs burned from the air knocked out of her. Then she noticed that the river was cold. Kicking her feet, she fought against the tangle of her skirts wrapped around her legs. Cait twisted in the water and reached down, trying to pull the material up, but using her hands to do that meant she kept on sinking. Her lungs burned, and the icy water pricked at her skin as she fought to buckle the pink fabric into her garter belt clips. Finally she fastened them, and gave a good desperate kick with her heavy boots and swam with all the strength left in her arms. black spots danced before her eyes but she was a good swimmer, she could do this.
Cait began slowing down despite fighting it, and although she could see the surface she could not reach it with this much oxygen deprivation. If they'd had time on the bridge she would have clipped her skirt first, and tossed down her boots, but there hadn't been any time. There just hadn't...
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Levi came down hard onto the side of the bride, catching himself with his feet but still having enough momentum that he thought he was gonna fall, especially since his hands gripped onto the aquaducting of the bride, the brass pipe that lined the side of it, and boy was it cold and slippery.
But none of that matter, not after the sound of what seemed to be a god-damned piece of steel hitting the water. Levi really thought about it. Maybe she did the same thing, and just kicked her boots off, trying to get him to drop. The time he didn't have was ticking away and fast, so as quick as a swallow he snatches his hat off of his head, tucking it under his arm as he crosses his limbs across his chest and keeps his legs together as he drops from the bridge. It isn't his first radio, he's been with a lot of girls who have angry older brothers.
The water was cold, so cold Levi could only explain it in a mass of profanities as his bopped up. He took a deep breath as he shot water from his nose. drat, it was salty too. He looks around before swimming with one arm and legs as his absent limb secured his hat in the sleeve of his jacket.
The blur of colors wasn't here. Hmpf. He looked up and didn't see her either. By gods, that means only two things can happen and he is not swimming in the red sea! The boy uses his power to search for Caity, barely spotting the blonde threads of her hair as she nears the surface..
And that was all he saw of her, which gave him a spot to aim for. He can't let Capin' die, can he?
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 1, 2014 5:14:59 GMT
She was slipping... slipping slipping... then her arm jerked and she was caught by something. It jarred her back awake from the growing darkness that invaded her mind. It receded and she saw Levi in front of her, tugging on her arm and pushing toward the surface. Caitlin kicked. It was a feeble effort but it was something. They broke the surface and she gasped painfully for air. Her lungs labored to take it in, and as much as she hungered for it, it hurt. It hurt like a thousand needles in her chest. She squeezed her eyes against the pain, her hair buoyed around her in golden waves as she breathed life back into her body. At last she popped her eyes open again and looked at the soaked feline ander in front of her. A nervous giggle worked its way up her throat as they waded water and she dipped her head back, pulling her hands over her face and down her wet hair till it was all smooth and out of the way. She righted herself again.
"Boy that was refreshing! Good thing its a warm day, this water is freezing!" she complained light heartedly. Its not that she wasn't aware of how close she came to drowning, its just that she didn't want to admit it to anyone else, not even Levi, who had helped her out of it. The guy was soaked. They both were, and in all of their clothes too. That was not her original plan. "C'mon," she motion and swam toward the shore. When it was shallow enough to stand wasit deep, she reached down and tugged off her shoes. One by one she threw them on the bank. Next she reached back and began unfastening the little satin buttons on her purple shrug. She couldn't reach all the way up where they secured at the nape of her neck.
"Could you do me a favor," she asked, glancing back over her shoulder at him. "I want to take this off."
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
Levi grasped his slender digits around her wrist, tugging her to the surface, begging god, any god, that someone did not just die on his watch. He pulled with all his might until she broke the waters surface with ripples and waves sent this way and that. The breath she took wasn't only for her, as Levi was filled relief.
Maybe it takes a near-death situation, but boy, she did look rather breath-taking in the water. Maybe it was how the water glistened in her hair, or how her eyes matched the water around her. Whatever it was, it was perfect for this situation and Levi loved it.
As Caitlin makes her small comment, you can tell the look on Levi's face is not one of happiness, and he's audible breathing heavy. Maybe it's all the swimming, the situation, or saving a life, but it was a fierce thing and he couldn't hide it. He swam side by side with her to the shore, standing up a second later ready to get the water soaked clothe off of him.
Sadly, it didn't have to wait for the sheets. As Caitlin turned to ask him the question, his upper half is already bare, the wet cloth on the grassy bank and Levi has one leg in the air as he cranes on the other to take off his last shoe and sock. He looks up at Caity as she mouths the words, his chest heaving still, the scars moving and bending over the flesh they're seared into. His expression doesn't change as he wades through the ankle high water over to Caitlyn, brushing away the hair on her neck with his hands to find the studs of the metal clippings.
"Play something like that again and I'll let you sink longer." he almost..growls under his breath.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 1, 2014 5:52:27 GMT
What she saw when she looked back at him made her pause, not that she was going anywhere anyway.
His shirt was off, followed by his shoes and socks. He waded over to her in just his breeches and she had to avert her eyes or else get caught starring. He wasn't lying about the scars, and truth be told she wanted to get a better look, but first she let him do as she asked. The feel of his fingers brushing her hair aside gave her goosebumps. She tried not to shiver as he undid each latch and she peeled the purple fabric away from her throat and off each arm. Now she stood with her shoulders bare, wearing only her corset and skirt (which was hitched up and pinned around her hips by her garter belt, exposing the watermelon-striped nickers trimmed with lace.)
He made an idle threat and growled at her. Yes, growled. Catlin gave a short laugh and turned to face him. "Not that I'm exchanging this preview of your scars for anything - untoward - " she murmured, lowering her lashes and taking in the nearest sear mark. "But you have to admit, bringing you to the river for a swim did get me my end of the bargain didn't it?" She grinned at him slyly.
She sat her glass down next to the decanter and leaned back. This was nice... like falling into a vat of marshmallow fluff. Calm, muffled, the rest of the world blocked out by the closed door to his cabin, and here they were safe inside. Safe from reality, safe from their own complicated lives. Safe from duty. Safe from context. Just. Safe. --Caitlin
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