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
Perhaps there was some merrit in waiting for the ander doctor. If she was feeling as bad as she looked, perhaps there was something one of them could do for her, but what did Levi mean by replenishing her. If an Ander was capable of replenishing a persons's blood supply, he had never heard of it. Such a thing would make someone like that a rare comodity, which might be a reason to keep in secret. Anders with such popularity rarely lasted long in the spotlight.
"Very well, I'll let your...healer take a look at it. It's not like he can make things worse." Could he? Skye looked around at the room for the first time sinc having entered. It wasn't much, and it certainly wasn't the cleanest place he'd ever been, but it was larger than he had expected. He certainly wouldn't be sitting on the furniture, but it was impressive that the boy had been able to acumulate so much stuff, and hold on to it.
"As soon as you're ready I'll have a carriage standing by on the outskirts. If I have to I'll carry you back to your fathers," he could already imagine the argument that was going to ensue when he carried the injured woman back home. Her father didn't like him as it was, what was he going to say this time. Well, if he wanted an argument, Skye would dish it right back too him. Enough was enough.
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Jul 14, 2014 21:44:55 GMT
Danny skipped across the rooftops as he hunted for Antoine. It'd be interesting for sure... The man held no love for humans in the slightest. Danny found the man's home and tentatively approached the door. He knocked timidly and waited. Inside the house there came a loud yell from a female voice. "Piss off! We don't want nothing you've got!" Danny knocked again and quickly stepped back as the door slammed open and a large mallet swung right behind it. Standing bathed in light in the doorway was a woman, mayber mid twenties, with fiery red hair, a green shirt, and brown canvas pants that ended in the middle of her calves. Danny quickly held his hands up and stammered as fast as he could.
"Hello Bridget, I need Antoine's help! A friend'a mine's pretty bad 'urt an' I dunno if they're gonna make it to nig'time." The woman kept her mallet raised and ready as she called into the house. "Grandpapa, you've got a customer!" She leered at Danny maliciously as an old man appeared. He walked with a hobble and a hunched back and it was easy to see a place where wings used to be. Instead of the glorious plumage associated with winged anders there were a pair of roughly butchered and scarred stubs. The old man's face was pock marked with scars and both of his eyes were milky white. He spoke in a strong and powerful voice that belied his crippled frame.
"What would you have of me?" Antoine asked loudly into the night. "I needjer 'elp. One'a my friends got attacked an' we ain' sure she's gonna make it... we don' even know wha' went after 'er." The bald head of the ancient ander zeroed in on Danny's position and stared imperiously as he replied. "You know well, young Daniel, that my services are not cheap. Is this person really so important that you would accept my fees?" Danny started to nod but stopped at a sharp tsk from the woman. Instead, he replied, "She been good ta me. I'll pay ya anythin' ya wan' fer it... jus' come an' 'elp 'er."
Antoine's expression was pensive as he thought before he spoke over his shoulder back into the house. "You may lower your rifle, Richard. We have a customer who will provide for our needs for the next month. I will need you and Bridget to escort me to young Daniel's home. Bring your pistols." The man stepped outside as a younger gentleman of maybe thirty appeared from where he was hiding and went further into the house. He reappeared with an incredibly worn cloak that was obviously not from Lodan and draped it over the crippled elder's frame. He looked at Daniel and smiled. It wasn't a pleasant one. Danny shuddered as he turned and began the slow pilgrimage back to his home.
Upon arrival Danny opened the door and lead the way in. "Everyone stan' up, step back, an' put yer 'ands where they're easily seen." Danny did as he instructed everyone else to do as Richard and Antoine entered the building. Richard's twin pistols were leveled and had all the occupants in the room within an easy line of shot. Antoine moved forward and stopped next to Caitlin at Richards direction. He slowly and painfully lowered himself down to Caitlin's side and spoke.
"Child, will you allow me to soothe your body and mind?" The blind cripple waited for the woman's reply while Richard began scouting out the things of value he would be taking from Danny as payment.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 15, 2014 5:22:40 GMT
The funniest thought crossed her mind, of Commander Skye in full military dress, carrying around the Baroness of Cockfoster like a medieval damsel in distress. She looked over at the chair Levi had moved to, expecting some kind of mirth on his face, but she found none, and for some reason that chilled her to the bone. Her eyes roamed back to the commander, and she realized he was completely serious too. How badly was she hurt?
Danny burst back in without warning and ordered them all to stand like it was some kind of bank heist. Caitlin tried to but she only just leaned forward enough to get her weight over her knees before she felt dizzy and slipped back into her seat again. There were men with guns in the room, were they actually being robbed? At gunpiont? In the hovel? What was there to take?? How did they manage to get the drop on Danny?
An elderly fellow plunged forward from the strangers and lowered himself next to Cait. When he asked if she'd let him soothe her she somewhat understood. Caity nodded her head and leaned back on the couch, relief catching up to her that she was almost in the clear.
Almost. First though, before they did anything to her she whispered meekly. "Please don't rob my friends." It would be a pity to have to rob them back.
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
What Skye said next did not calm Levi's nerves, however, they pinched and pulled them but Levi kept his mouth closed. "You know-" He says before the door is opened and two barrels are pointed at the men. Levi pulls back with an accusatory look and regretfully pulls his hands from the arms of the couch, holding them up for the maniac to see. As the old man comes towards Caitlin, Levi feels much better, because he's not human. Especially because it's not commander-mc-killanders-face. All and all, Levi remains quiet in his spot, attempting to make himself small.
The hardest thing for Skye was to refrain from drawing on the men as they walked in brandishing firearms. For a brief instant he thought the kid had screwed them all. Had Cait been a lure to get everyone in one place? What now, hold them all for ransom? It was only after the old man came in and asked if he could soothe Cait that he relaxed and crossed his arms acrossed his chest. Very well, he'd told the boy that he'd let his friend attend to Caitlin and he was a man of his word.
He also noticed that Luvi was still glaring at him. It appeared the cat still had his hackles up over something. Had he been around during the war? Surely he didn't look old enough. Did Anders age at a different rate than humans? Or was he just being protective. Was she really consorting with Anders in that way, and if she was, what were his chances with her? He tried not to jump to conclusions. Perhaps it was something else. She'd had to go somewhere when she'd ran away from home the last time, perhaps these were just friends she'd made while on the run. That had to be it...though something else was scratching at the back of his brain. Something a girl with blue hair had said...what was it?
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Jul 15, 2014 19:39:16 GMT
Danny drifted off to the side of his doorway with his hands over his head and waited for the healer to do his business. Antoine spoke to Caitlin quietly. "I am not hear to rob anyone. Young Daniel has graciously agreed to pay my fee so that you may be healed." The man clicked his tongue and Bridget walked into the room and looked to Richard. The gunman spoke up, "Bridge, take those back there. Check the cupboards for food and drink. After that, loot the chest in that corner over there. When you've got that done, I'll tell you where else to look." Richard kept his eyes and his guns pointed at both Skye and Levi. A contemptuous sneer curled itself across his face as he looked over the military man. "Huh, 'ey Pops, they've got a military man in here. I think we should hike up that fee, considering what you've been through because of them folks."
Antoine lifted his head as he listened to Richard. "I think I agree with you. Young Daniel, I'm increasing the cost by two hundred percent. Will you still pay?" Danny nodded his head vigorously as he chirped out a quiet, "Yessir." Antoine smiled as he went back to Caitlin. "That's a good lad..." The man roughly touched and probed all over the injured Baroness as he searched for maladies before he found where the puckered burn tissue was hidden. He jabbed it once or twice to determine the size before he nodded his head. He clasped her hands and held them for a moment before nodding. "Military man, you are her donor. Remove your shirt and coat, and hold out your arms." Bridget continued her casual ransacking of Danny's home as the boy watched and the gunman let out a quiet laugh.
Levi's face watches with curiosity as Danny's house his raided. A little surprised that the young man is letting them take these items for payment, and when the price goes up Levi's mouth drops a little. He can't believe that youngin' is just handed stuff out, but what makes him really lose his mind his when Skye is asked to donate. Levi drops for fingers, so he only has one pointing up as if he's to make a statement, but stays rather quiet and still. If she doesn't say something, I will. He sighs and drops his hands down the arms of the couch as he watches the old man. Creepy old blind man just wants too imagine the bare torso of young men around him. Bleh, nasty. Levi bites his tongue to keep himself from lashing out at the party infront of him. Today won't be a good day.
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 15, 2014 20:38:22 GMT
Caitlin's eyes sprung open and she brushed off the doctors hand. "Oh no, that wont be necessary. I feel better already," She lied. There was no way she was having this kook put human blood in her. Some magical genius he was, couldn't even tell the baroness wasn't human? If he didn't know the difference between a general ander and a Lodan native she didn't want him casting spells on her.
Clearly distressed, she scooted away from the doctor and the commander, as if the distance of one couch cushion farther apart would stop a magical transfer of blood. She was now sitting in Levi's previous seat and her face was turning a shade of green like she was nauseated. "And you can forget charging Danny double for services I am not willing to accept. If there is a fee for your trip I do apologize for.. for the .. the inconv.." the room was spinning and she wasn't breathing enough to get all these sentences out. Her eyes fell on Skye and she shook her head no. "I've changed my mind, I don't like this idea anymore,"
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
Was he really going to let some Ander put hands on him and take his blood? Did he have a choice? His world, today, was being turned upside down by all of this, or maybe it was just his view of the world. Black and white was bluring to shades of grey. Danny was willing to give up what little he already had in order to have this blind old Ander heal her. Levi seemed ready to protect Caitlin even with all the guns in the room. A part of his brain screemed that there was no way he'd let an Ander lay hands on him and take his blood. What if the man knew who he was, what if he was after vengence for whoever had cut off those wings of his.
His past coupled with his prejudice was trying to hold him back, even Cait's adamant refusal of the doctor's service made him want to just stand in the corner, but in the end it came down to how he felt about Caitlin. She was fading, dispite the wound having been treated. When Danny had cornered him in the lobby, he knew he'd do anything to help her, and it was for that reason he shrugged off his uniform top and approached the 'doctor.' Underneath he was wearing a black sleavless shirt that hugged his muscular frame. He made no move to take it off.
"If it's all the same, you can get to my arms just fine without me getting shirtless." he stated, crouching down, knowing this wasn't going to be pleasent. "Let's get this over with."
Last Edit: Jul 15, 2014 20:46:18 GMT by Faolan Skye
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Jul 15, 2014 20:55:06 GMT
The old man shrugged his shoulders and smiled at the Commander. "I was thinking to spare your clothing." He reached out a probing hand to grasp the soldier's arm and found the veins in the man's wrist. With a swift and sure movement, he slashed across the man's wrist and split the veins so blood quickly began pouring from the wound. "It is now your choice girl. Will you be responsible for both this man's death and your own, or will you accept the treatment for which the payment has already been made." He cleared his throat. "Are you truly going to let your fear of me ruin the lives of those you care about? Of this soldier who willingly offers his body to an Ander so he may save you? Of young Daniel, who has agreed to part with nearly the entirety of his worldly possessions to save you? Are you truly going to allow this to happen?" The man's hand was like a vice on Skye's arm as he spoke.
Bridget was nearly finished with her sweep of the home when she came across a worn jewelry case hidden in the very back of the home. The only things inside the case were a pair of simple silver earrings with an amethyst stud in each one. She snatched those up and immediately put them on before returning to the main part of the house. "We're good to go." Richard grinned when he saw the earrings Bridget was wearing. "They look good on you."
At his spot against the wall, Danny turned away from the siblings Bridget and Richard.
As Skye's blood is splashed across his own arm, dripping off his rounded arm in a torrent of crimson, Levi's eyes narrow at each droplet, his world coming to a stop in his mind as the red blood tear pops on the ground, creating a small look. Levi covers his face with his hand, his cheeks flushed of color. He looks at Caitlin, and back to Skye. Everyone but the old man and he's kids seemed like they're body is so tight, that they're on the verge of heart attacks. "You can't." Levi mutters under his breath before repeating it louder for the old man to hear. "You can't give her the commander's blood. Well, no. Not for that price." Levi's body pushes into a standing position on it's own, bracing his leg against the couch. "You'll kill her." Levi assumes it'll end in death, and there's no point to that. Levi looks over at the gun-wielding psycho, watching him before turning back to the old man. "Wrap the commanders arm and have the boy escort him out of the house. Use me instead." He says, his eyes dropping to the ground, but why? He's doing what's right...right?
Post by Caitlin Cockfoster on Jul 15, 2014 21:31:06 GMT
Caitlin felt a tightness in her chest. Everything was happening too fast. Her eyes settled on the old man, and despite lacking strength, she focused on him with a burning determinism. He would regret this game he was playing. God help him if she lived past tonight because she would destroy him. She'd been to war and back, she'd been to the best and worst of high and low society and she was an empress in her own right. He would regret this game.
She blinked and the heated gaze was gone, hidden behind her exhaustion. Levi spoke before she could answer the old mans taunts. She glanced at him, no more sure of his blood than the commanders. Didn't Felines blood also run red? Cait was the worst sort of Ander. She was a black blood. But would not it be safer to mix hers with Levi's than with a humans? She didn't know. She wished that she did.
"How could I refuse the love of my friends?" Caitlin ground out through her teeth. She ripped off some of the too-tight shirt she was wearing, and scooted forward. None too gently she pushed off the doctors hands and wrapped the Commanders arm with her cloth. she narrowed her gaze on the old Ander as she did so. "But it seems you would refuse me what I wanted, and that was not to go through with any of this. Since my word doesn't matter, what about his?" She nodded her head to Levi. "Or his?" She nodded to Danny in the corner as well, hoping that perhaps Skye didn't know that they were all anders in the room and would assume Cait was safer taking blood from the third friend just as soon as himself.
She turned to look at the commander while the doctor came up with an answer. She pressed close to the commander as she wrapped his bloody arm and whispered "It's a trick, he's an old man with old prejudices, he'll kill you before he'll help me no matter what the price. Let Levi take your place, or Danny." She hoped theyd agree easily with her. She didn't have the energy to fight it.
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
Post by Danny Ravensdale on Jul 17, 2014 14:16:59 GMT
Antoine merely smiled to the woman. "I was payed to save a life. Not take one. It's poor business practice to kill when you're hired as a healer." Antoine waved one of his hands in a shooing motion at the Commander. "We are done with you." His sightless gaze seemed strong enough to bore a hole in steel as he faced Caitlin again. "Then who will you place upon the altar? Not young Daniel, I assume. He is a feline, after all. Which leaves the third one here. Boy! What are you?"
The two siblings weren't doing much aside from watching the play unfold from the front door...
Skye's first reaction when the man cut into his skin was to draw his gun and shoot the old bastard, but everything happened so fast after that. Cait spoke and pressed part of her torn outfit against the open wound, soaking the thing in his blood and turning it red.
It was the oddest thing, being surrounded by Anders and bleeding. If this were still the war he would have said his prayers and waited to greet whatever awaited beyond this plain of beeing. Why had he come here? Why was Cait refusing his blood? Why did she want the blood of an Ander flowing through her veins. Did he want an answer to that question?
"If being a Feline makes him inelligable, then the other one can't help her either," he said, before Levi could answer. He placed his hand over Caitlin's as she held his blood soaked makeshift bandage. "Just let the witch doctor do his thing. If he kills me...well I won't say it wasn't deserved. Just make sure you kill him back for me." He smiled at that last bit.
Even as he was speaking the girl with the blue hair kept talking in the back of his mind.
Levi's back straightens up as the old man speaks, and his eyes flicker to meet the milky-scoured pupils looking at him. Levi frowns slightly. "I'm feline as well, but I'm still an ander. Wouldn't that be better then attempting to force human blood? It would make it easier, wouldn't it? I mean, it's already, eh...magical?" The boy closes his mouth, and puts on a slight frown as he waits for the reply from the doctor, on a side note if Skye dies, Levi can dice up these street rats for him. The time between his statement and the man's answer seems to last forever, each second of time etching itself into the middle of Levi's mind, feeling as if time as stopped almost completely as the old man thought it over.