Sakume's Friends of Mental Instabilities

Characters listed here in order are: Selene, Arlen and Kate.

*Selene*

Name: Selene Vlaxen

Age: Appears to be 25 in human years.

Race: Angel

Sex: Female

Hair: A wheat color, it falls normally in waves and frames her face extremely well. It falls to the middle of her spine in length, starting out long and growing shorter in a “V” shape as it travels upwards.

Eyes: A deep blue, like an ocean.

Weight: 185 lbs.

Height: 5'8

Weapons:

Her Large Wings They can change their sensitivity and such at her decision. She can therefore, use them as a shield or a pillow.

Simple and Clean *She does not call them this, it just seemed like a good name* Twin short swords that reach from her head to her waist, approximately two feet each. They are a pure metal alloy of titanium and iron, completely unbreakable and forged for her specifically to use. They are also small, and hard to use in defense. The hilts are black with gold patterns engraved on them and the metal shimmers when clean like white gold. There are two sheathes she keeps them in that strap onto her hips or back much like either a gun holster or backpack, also black with gold patterns.

Armor: Nothing but the clothes on her back, but her wings can be used at times for differing purposes since they are so tough and resilient at her choice.

Strengths: Selene is a slightly talented fighter when it comes to using her weapons in battle. She can hold her own against one or possibly two men using only her swords. She is proficient using what little magic she knows and can hold off attackers using her fire skills she has within her blood. She is very beautiful, though she tends not to use this as her advantage knowingly. She can also fly, being an angel. She has skill when it comes to speed and agility, especially while in the air. She is blessed with above average intelligence in being analytical about problem-solving. She has no qualms about adapting to different situations. She has become a bit tough mentally; making previous insults which may have hurt her now glance off without damage.

Weakness: Selene is somewhat naïve. She can be easy to trick. Her physical strength is lacking, partially because she's a woman and partially because she had angel blood in her and therefore feels empathy towards people. Dark magic or even darkness itself will make her fear easily. She has trouble telling people no if they are in need.

Skills/Magic:

Tears of Love Her tears are able to heal almost any wound, but are not able to be summoned at any time.

Heaven's Light Selene can form at any time a fire that is pure, literal white hot flames which does not bother her skin. Its size and heat increases in power as her feelings and passion do. It takes a lot of energy over time, but once she has a spark, she can manipulate it and make it grow or shrink to suit her needs. It cannot be extinguished unless Selene sees fit or it hits a target. It will only damage/burn its contact if she wills, since it is pieces of her will more than a general magic anyone could learn.

Personality: Since Zorlo’s untimely death, Selene has become much quieter and less bubbly, but no less kind and gentle. She still cares for others greatly but seems more determined to make her opinion known. She is less prone to sacrifice for those she does not feel deserve it. She is slightly shy when meeting new people, but warms up to them fast. She has a soft heart for those questing towards something to do with love. Anything to do with romance, especially towards her, generally eases her into a state of relaxation and calmness. She has learned recently love means more than just saying or doing actions. She values highly a person who will listen and considers it a skill. She also very highly values trust. If a person were to break her trust or make her feel as if they did not trust her, she feels deeply hurt.

Selene is very sensitive towards emotions and desires around her, and if someone else is sad, then she will tend absorb that and become depressed herself. Generally the angel is soft-spoken and innocent, although she lost much of her naivety when her husband died. She is also very touchy about this subject, especially with people she does not know well. As far as romance is concerned, Selene has been greatly injured and is confused about many matters.

Selene may come off at first as slightly dizty. Despite this appearance, she has great wisdom about her decisions, taking time to analyze the possible consequences before doing something. She fights for the good of what she believes, having a rather Christian onlook to life, despite having no specific religion herself. Her hobbies include painting, gardening, dancing and sewing/knitting. She is a very creative individual and does not mind being indoors but also loves the outdoors. She enjoys trying new things. Her favorite foods include strawberries, waffles, and home-cooked meals, although she also enjoys going out to eat every so often. Selene has no troubles financially and has no need to work thanks to Zorlo’s savings which all went straight to her after his death.

Appearance:http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3..._angels004.jpg
http://animevisions.net/Pictures/girls/Angels004.jpg
((Pics may not be visible, copy and paste the site to see for sure.))


Manual Apperance: Lower back length wheat hair, a bit wavy. Her eyes are like pools of the ocean, an aqua-colored hue. She normally has on white gloves with a golden trim that match her dress and boots. Her skin is a paler white than most people's, but she's not a sickly color. Her lips are a deep red, and her cheeks tend to flush a pink whenever she's happy. She will normally wear a dress unless it is extremely cold. She is getting used to ditching her old white dress for more bright colors and human clothing including pants which she has seldom worn when with Zorlo.

History: Selene was a princess of angels, destined from birth to become queen one day to rule over their kingdom. However, when she came of age to have her wings like all angels did, instead of pure white wings, hers were a blood red color. (During this time, she found young love in an angel named Will). Things began to become heated in the relationship as they grew older, and they began to sleep bare with one another (Literal sleeping, not any form of sexual act), until one night Selene's father found them in the act. This doomed Will's family (as his father was the captain of the heavenly army), and shunned Selene.

Using this as an excuse, and the chance of her mistaken for a demon, her father banished her without real reason at a young age, leaving her to wander the earth without rest. She could not return to the heaven that she knew with just her power, and was depressed, thinking it was her fault. Her mother, the queen, never wanted to banish her, and the king spread word that Selene had disappeared. In time, she was forgotten.

Years passed, and she grew into a beautiful young woman, hiding her wings because of shame. She was supposed to be a pretty, abandoned performer with a particular talent for dancing...unknown to the human viewers; her grace was because of her angel blood. She liked to dance for people in bars and see their smiling faces, especially men's. She didn't know it was wrong. She saw it as something good since she made them smile and enjoyed it herself. Unfortunately, soon after she began her career as a dancer, her wings were found out. She was now viewed as something unknown, and man naturally feared her. Driven from all humanity, she became desperate for any company.

Then she met Xiaver, a vampire who claimed he had feelings for her and knew how she felt, as he was driven from socitey as well... After a few months of spending time together, they became engaged. A few days after, he asked her to meet the rest of his family. To her unblievable surprise, when she obediently came, he had betrayed her to the vampire race. They believed that an angel's blood can, when correctly mixed, make them invincible to anything, and allow them to live forever. Selene was almost killed, but managed to escape using one of their swords, the smug face of Xiaver burning in her mind.

She reached a forest in her journey to find him and make him pay. She appointed herself guardian of it, trying to feel useful and seclude herself from the world. She learned numerous secrets of the forest's treasures as she aged, and she soon was caught up in fate's grasp, meeting a party searching for the very treasure she guarded. One member of the party, a fencer named Zorlo, caught her eye, and then her heart. She helped him and the party through the woods to find the portal and treasure, but the true love was cut short. Xiaver found her, and after a desperate fight to regain his sword, killed her. She was brought back to life by an act of chance and decided to settle down with Zorlo. The two of them began to slowly grow apart without realizing it but the break was halted by Zorlo proposing.

Selene decided shortly after, with many messages of fear from Will, now a messenger angel; and horrible nightmares plaguing her sleep, they would have no peace until her father’s corruptive rule was stopped. Shortly after marrying Zorlo they returned to heaven with a small army of friends and stormed the gates. The battle was long, but was won at a terrible cost- Zorlo’s death. Her father killed and the poison in her mother’s system finishing its deed, Selene had no one left. Through her grieving, Selene refused to take the crown and instead broke the way of ruling, allowing the people to be free forever. She returned to her small cabin, only to find her pet also dying. Although she tried desperately, she could not save him and now found herself entirely alone. She spends most of her days trying to find a new purpose in life and sort out her feelings.

*---------------------*


Awards:

Best Post- Knockin' on Heaven's Door, first Post - Summer '08
Best Couple- Zorlo and Selene- Winter -06, I believe.
Most Attractive Character- Tie with Cadenza Madigral- Summer '08

Battles:
The Forest of Whispers (Completed)
The Lies of Many (Dropped)
Of Angels and Demons (Completed)
RP Dominion vs Alliance of Tasogare. (Dropped)
The Fate of a Princess (Dropped)
Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Completed)


Crossroads:
Reunion: Lover, Masters and Gods (Completed)
Gladiators of the Galaxies (Dropped)
The Great Hickleback Hunt (Dropped)
Love Waits for No One... But Zorlo. (Completed)
Revisiting a Friend (Dropped)
The Grass Is Always Greener (In Progress)

History Threads/ Fics:
Heaven's Light (Dropped)
The WishMaster (Completed)

Start Arlen

Name: Arlen Drago Asterling

Age: Twenty-five

Race: Half elf, half dragon prince of the west. His mother’s original husband had died in the army, strong and proud, never truly appreciating his wife as their marriage began to fade into a mere agreement instead of true love. As he left, she found another man she loved, and had relations with him a month or two afterwards, never knowing he was truly a dragon king who had become mortal form, and who died shortly afterwards, killing her real husband in the battle. The Dragon Kings are believed to consist of four separate dragons, each ruling over one of the four seas of the north, east, south, and west. Arlen’s father, Ao Run, was the dragon king of the west.

Theme Song: “Bleeding Love” – Leona Lewis

Sex: Male

Hair: Long, thin and a silvery, bright tint. It reaches to his middle back at its longest, his neck at shortest, varying length. It’s very wispy, and tends to be naturally wavy. Arlen has made a vow to never cut his hair, as he tends to like the way it looks when its long, reminding him that he is part elf, since he’s never really met many elves with shorter styles.

Eyes: They tend to be a somewhat teal color, a mix of forest greens and turquoise blue. Whereas Arlen’s body language is normally somewhat masked, his eyes tell all- they are his main form of communicating his feelings.

Weight: Arlen weighs approximately 180 lbs. His natural elfish stature of sleek, skinny body shape definitely wins out. He does have an amount of muscle, mostly located in the arms and legs regions, but no one would be able to tell.

Height: Arlen is somewhere between 5’9 and 6’2, depending on the position he stands.

Weapon:

Bow: Arlen specializes in archery, and for a good reason. Years of training and practice has left him with a steady arm and exceptional aim. He has a limited supply of arrows, handmade by his own work. Besides normal arrows, Arlen uses poisonous ones and is in the process of discovering more methods. His bow is made of a very strong metal alloy, though he isn’t sure himself of what. It’s black, so he guesses it is onyx. A pattern of leaves from an elfish herbal medicinal plant is inscribed into the handle, the string fine and taut wire.

Normal- Arlen’s arrows are each specially made to suit his needs, the tips split into three edges for more aerodynamic purposes, and the wood generally carved from oak to be very sturdy, yet light. He carries a full quiver, or about forty-five to fifty as often as possible.

Poison- Developed using some of an African frog’s venom, Arlen laces the tips of his arrows with it. If it impacts the skin, whether cut or non, it stealthily absorbs into the bloodstream, eventually leading anywhere from a simple disorientation to a complete paralysis shutdown of the body, mostly depending on the victim’s experiences with poison and whether they are strong of mind and physically fit. He tends to carry enough poison with him in order to lace about ten or so arrows.

Armor: He wears a chest plate of chain-link armor beneath his leather covering. It is magical, and cannot be pierced unless it is done by someone who cares for him as a deep friend or more. As an added punishment, he cannot remove it himself. It must be done by someone else, someone that he cares for as a deep friend or, perhaps, more. It becomes quite annoying. It covers his back as well as chest, all the way up to his shoulders. It will never rust. (More information in Bio)

Strengths: Arlen, being part elf, is naturally lithe and agile, extremely flexible and speed-oriented when it comes to battle. He knows his environment well and often takes note of it to use it to his advantage. Obviously, being able to breathe underwater can act as a plus in battle if they are near water.

The protection of his chest means none of his real vital organs can be skewered easily, apart from his brain, really, which he tends to protect generally well. He can appear good-looking to most women, which means he can make them get comfortable around him easily, if it weren’t for his attitude. He’s also very good with animals, whether taming or speaking their languages. Also, for a reason he does not know, Arlen is very durable and does not take wounds easily.

Weakness: Arlen is extremely weak in the mind by the plague of inadequacy. He feels he is inadequate at everything he does and everything he is, affecting his entire outlook on life, including his own. He is sensitive to emotions, therefore, somewhat easy to anger by insults. He is extremely loyal, and will give up his life for a friend without a second glance. He is very trusting once he gets to know a person, which makes it easy to stab him in the back.

Being very agile, he is not very strong in the physical department, although he can hold his own in a swordfight. He cannot handle a war hammer or any type of weapon larger than himself. He also feels pity for animals and tends to shy away from attacking or fighting near them. His armor also makes it difficult for him to maneuver in sand or mud, or water, weighing him down a bit.

Skills/Magic:

Breathing Underwater: Just as the skill states, Arlen has the ability to breathe underwater.

Animal Tongue: Arlen can speak to any animal just as easy as if they were human, and understand them in return.

Bottomless Pack: Arlen has a magical pack he carries, which can provide any item he wishes at his least thought, though there are limits. The items cannot be alive, and they cannot be huge. He cannot, for instance, pull out a bed, but he could pull out a sleeping bag.

Enhanced Hearing: His ears can sense greater sound than the average elf for some reason, and he can pinpoint sounds from a greater distance than a normal elf could.

Elf Knowledge: A great knowledge of herbs and plants comes along with being an elf, along with a wisdom about stars and nature in general. It can come in handy when he is wounded or needs to take shelter outdoors.
Soul Penetration: Not really a direct mind reading, but Arlen can discover things about people by simple observation, such as how rich they are, if they have family, and where they come from quicker than other people could. He has learned to read people, unless they have protected themselves.

Appearance: http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g154/Sakume88/Elf.jpg

For those unable to see the picture (don’t know what the website links to in the pic), Arlen wears three layers of clothing. First is his chest armor, then a soft layer of clothing, and finally, his leather strapping. It covers half of his body, the left half, as he is left-handed and needs the extra stability for his bow.

The sleeve on his right half of body is silky and smooth, easily penetrated, whereas the left is covered by an olive green armor from shoulder to elbow and leather from shoulder to abdomen, straps holding it in place across the chest. It may, at first appearance, look as if he is wearing a dress, since the undershirt reaches to his ankles, but it is slit on both sides up to his waist to allow freedom and is custom for him.

His wrists to near elbow are covered in very pale green/white clothing in strips. It helps him grip his bow better and prevents sweat. His left ear has two silver hoops in it, his right none. His hair is normally free and loose, his eyes nigh-always looking at something in particular.

Actually, Arlen is considered ugly for an elf, at least from his society. His pack is normally on his back beside his bow, unless the bow is inside his pack. He also almost always has Chimeree with him. (One of his friends, described in further detail below)

Personality:

Arlen is surprisingly not like most elves are on the outside, suave and gentle. He has grown to be slightly hard, rugged and downright rude when angered. He likes those whom accept sarcasm and spit it back, to a point. He’s extremely loyal and tends to be very secretive, especially about his feelings.

He can be very funny at times, when he lets his real personality out, and he really loves innocence. He can feel pity and tends to be soft towards those whom deserve it. He really longs for someone to be close to him, but is almost afraid to do so, because of his past. He is a loner when needed, and prefers to be alone, although he is not ill-bred and knows how to be gentlemanly around company. If he could choose, Arlen prefers female company to male company, since he is slightly feminine himself. He tends to relate better to them and will open up easier when around them than if he were with men.

Arlen likes eating from the earth, so vegetables and fruits are at the top of his list, though he also likes meat, mostly deer. He hunts his own food. He appreciates good wine and will even settle for a beer now and then if he has to do so.

He dislikes animal cruelty, rudeness, and pompous people. He also finds stereotyping one of his top pet peeves. He believes that every man has good in him, but doesn’t tend to bother to find it most times. He does not believe in any particular religion, although his own elves have influenced him that their gods and goddesses are the real ones, and he tends to lean on them in his prayers.

Animal Friends:

Chimeree: His second-closest and most often around friend, named for the sound he makes when he chirps. The bird is a bit smaller than a hawk, and beautifully plumed. His tail feathers are about as long as he is, though skinny. His head is black, and his body ranges from blue to green to blue again, each a smooth, calm shade. He has an English accent as Arlen hears it, and is very fond of the elf, though he can be cheeky and unfriendly to new people.

Seaclam: An otter friend of his, the closest, yet one he sees the least. He is larger than a river otter, but he lives near the river, and has a mixture of Scottish and Irish for an accent. He cares deeply for Arlen and will protect him at any costs, since he’s known the boy since he was a “pup”. He is friendly to others after a bit of caution.

Treetiller: A beaver, gruff with no accent, and unfriendly to others. He has known Arlen for only a year or two, and likes to see the boy, though he would never let Arlen know. Arlen knows the beaver has a soft spot for him, and teases him a lot.

Nutty: A childish squirrel caught between adolescence and childhood, he found Arlen trying to steal his nut hoard in the middle of the wood, to which the elf agreed to help the squirrel hide them better. They became fast friends, and the squirrel favors Arlen greatly, almost as a best friend, though the elf finds the animal a bit too chattery and tries to avoid the beast at all costs, if it can be helped. The squirrel talks in a gangster slang accent.

(Arlen has many other animals he knows, but usually not as good as these four.)

Biography:

I can’t remember as far back as I would like to.

Maybe if I could have known the things I wish I did, none of this would be the way it is now.

I know people that learn of my past tell me not to regret. Everything happens for a purpose, they say.

I regret.

I was born in a relatively large elf environment, the town of Lorderon. So my mother told me. I know as I grew up, I had a sister. My first memory is her teasing me, holding my favorite cup out of reach. Her name is Kirathina. But for short, we call her Kira. Or I did. Most of my young memories are fond ones, as fond as normal children remember their childhood, full of games and merriment. She was always older than me, so she got to do a lot more than I did.

I was told at a young age our father died serving in the army while I was still in my mother’s womb, which was partial truth. So it was only my sister and I, and my mother. I know I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary until I reached the first of many opportunities for recognition.

In elf society, ours, at least, there are three distinct ceremonies held for males in the town. The first is held at the age of twelve, a small feast signifying his transition from boyhood into manhood. It usually included some type of dancing, reciting from the ancient scrolls, blessings from the goddess Escata, and then a deep sleep after their first taste of the rosalin, very sweet dew saved only for the most distinguished in our society.

The second ceremony is held at the year of fifteen, when a man gains his opportunity to make his trade known to town, mostly just a meeting and announcement, really all pomp and circumstance. Unlike the first ceremony, though, the entire town is gathered.

Finally, the most important, is the seventeen year old ceremony, though most don’t reach the celebrations till eighteen. This is when you make your first kill on your own. You become the man of your household, deemed responsible and part of the society forever. It’s held with the most esteemed celebrations, the colors of the costumes more radiant than I could possibly describe in words. The dancing and joyfulness that goes on has never been rivaled.

I reached the first of the ceremonies, and had a rather small party. I didn’t
dance. But I did enjoy the festivities. Rosalin was the best part… and I don’t mean the dew.

Rosalin was a young woman in our town. I appreciated her dancing, watched it and let it sink in, step by step, movement by movement, each touch of her bare feet against the grass welding itself into my mind. She was delicate, like the flower, named specifically after the impeccable sweetness that came from it. The simple dress she wore weaved smoothly with her body, pink to match the color of her cheeks. Her skin glowed in the night, her serene smile giving off enough light to power our whole town, in my child’s eyes.

I swore she would be my future wife, even if it were only a young boy’s fascination with that which he cannot truly understand. The night was young, like most of my guests; out under the willow trees we danced with the nymphs and sang praises to the spirits of the wood, swirling in the peace of the untouched paradise that was Lorderon.

That night was when it all started, the pull of my destiny tying the strings to her puppet. She asked me to dance with her the Luna Sin, a very difficult dance very few adults knew, much less a boy my age. Like the fool I was, I accepted. She led, of course, awkward enough. I said nothing the whole time; I always had been a shy boy, cast off by others as angry and bitter, where really I just never had reason to speak. Well, for once I had a reason. But I was unable to speak just the same. I was entirely terrible following her smooth synchrony of steps. I failed the dance miserably, yet she didn’t seem to notice at all.

“You danced wonderfully,” she said, her emerald eyes sparkling merrily. I had to resist the urge to correct her big, fat lie.

All I could manage was a slight blush and a small, “Thanks.” I don’t know why it had to end then. I don’t know why I never noticed before then. But someone else sure did.

“Look at his ears!”

I instantly felt something was wrong by the gasps from both parents and children alike. I turned to my mother, who instantly took me inside, commenting that I must have been sick. I remember later looking in the mirror. My ears were pointed, but… feathered. They had small slits in them, like someone had cut some skin, webbed in a way. I… was different. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing to me.

Although… Rosalin’s parents never wanted her near me again. Elves are prejudgemental, frightened creatures. We flee from what we cannot understand. Her parents were only doing what came natural. I did see her from time to time in school and during recess, but most of the bullies made sure I never got close enough to say anything special.

It went that way for three years, though my sister stuck with me. She defended me, made sure I made it home safe, told me all her secrets as I told her mine. Kirathina never joined them in their torturous insults, making every day fearful for me. Being so secluded gave me more reason to talk to the animals. Oh, I didn’t mention that, did I? That happened around the same time of the first growth. I could talk to them as I pleased and understand broken words from them in return, though I never really said a whole lot in fear of being shunned even more.

When the second ceremony came, I had decided on my track I would take in life. I would earn my peer’s respect. I would join the elves whom protected our town. I would become an archer in the army. So with a kiss on my sister’s cheek and a wave to my Mom, I set off with the blessings of the goddesses still ringing in my head.

It was hard, I won’t lie. Sometimes, at the end of the training, bleeding and sweaty, we would disappear over the walls to shoot a squirrel or rabbit. We were hungry. They fed us nothing but oatmeal mush and sometimes, if we were lucky, some bread. They said it toughened us for the lives we would lead. Well, at least they were right about that.

Night… was always lonely. I’d sit there on my bunk sometimes, thinking of my family and how idiotic it was to be separated from them when there was no real reason for it. Often, I’d think of Rosalin and her family, too. Would they be impressed with everything I’d done? … would she be? During my time of service, namely, two years, I grew stronger, wiser, and harder, though my emotions were sensitive. I’d never let anyone know. I kept quiet, for a good reason.

I was becoming less and less occupied in my training, defending myself instead. The ears were noticeable, my figure too feminine, they said. I was always talking to animals. Elves normally have connections with nature, but not many can literally speak to them, especially without proper training.

Again, I was shunned. This time no female dared talk to me or come near me, even on outings. The others flirted, found girls to suit their needs. Myself… I flirted with the mirror, or from time to time, my pillow.

I should have known it would end. No one ever made me feel happy… and I grew harder.

Finally, I left, intending to make my first kill, the age of seventeen. I had no doubts I would do it, after all the training. I went to the place I knew I would be safe with, the place only my sister and I knew of, our secret clearing. It wasn’t exactly secret, seeing as it was a clearing, but it meant a lot to us. Only we knew the location. Sure enough, there was the deer. I can still remember clearly the sound my arrow made, whizzing through the air. Music to my ears. The next noise… not so much.

Crunching. The deer got away. My moment. My prize. Escaped. But due to what? I turned around and I remember the surprise that jolted me, made me express my surprise even after so much stone-face training.

“What are you all doing…?”

Every male my age from the village was there, at least twenty. They didn’t look happy. “What’s… going on?” I asked, though an empty, hollow feeling began to threaten my heart’s wholeness, swallowing it piece by piece. I couldn’t take them all on at once. The fight didn’t last long. They forced me down, tying my wrists behind my back, despite my struggling. Little did I know I was being watched. “Hey! How did you find this place?!” The awful truth began to dawn even before I heard the voice.

“Sorry, Arlen.”

“I… wh-why?” I managed to whisper, tears gathering in the back of my eyes.
Kira, my older sister… my idol… my friend… she betrayed me. “Why? Think about it… you’re not an elf, brother. We can all tell. And with you hanging around tainting our name, I have no chance with ever marrying. With you out of the picture, I can get exactly what I want before Mom had to do whatever it was she did. All I know is you’re not my brother.” She brought from within her robes a small dagger. “With your blood, Escata will understand all and your sacrifice will purify the race once again.”

I was too overcome to understand it all, what she said in our native tongue. All I remember is someone coming out of nowhere, and pushing me. A scream came from someone. I fell into the river, still tied. It was too fast, and my head hit a rock in the rapids.

I blacked out.

“Helloooo? Lad, wakeup! I think he’s comin’ round… give him some air now….”

I blinked a few times. The voice had a distinct accent. I couldn’t pinpoint it, but from my studies it sounded foreign. I sat up and blinked, inches from a whiskered otter staring at me, standing up on two hind feet. I shook my head. I must be imagining. I hadn’t talked to animals in a while… but I’d never been able to understand them like people… just words here and there. “Did you… oh… my head…”

“Whoa, laddie.” Paws steadied me. “Chimeree, you feathered pest, get down here and stoop being such a corward!”

“Oi can’t ‘elp it if ‘e scares me a bih't. Came out o’ nowhere, ‘e did!” The twittering of a bird reached my ears as I looked to the beautiful feathered animal on my shoulder. “Looks te’ me as if ‘e’s from that elf place.”

“Couldn’t be. That’s miles from here. And you recooll he was breathing underwooter when I foond him. Couldn’t be an elf.”

“Pardon?” I asked, blinking once. “What… did you say?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, lad. I forgot to introduce mehself. I’m Seaclam. Pleased ter meet you and all that formality, eh? This cheeky fellow is Chimeree. We pulled you out of the water, and-“

“No, I mean…” Getting myself past the fact I could talk with them clear as day, I continued, “about breathing underwater.”

“You didn’t know you could do tha’?” the bird chirped, almost in laughter. “Boy, we’ve got a good one ‘ere.”

“Why, you’ve been underwater for almost a night afore I got up the courage ter see what you were,” the otter replied. “Tain’t ever been a human that could see us like that, for so long.”

“I see…” As I stood up and stared back in the direction they pointed the town in, I felt an emptiness in my soul I’d never felt before, one that I still hope now no one feels in their life. It’s a dejected feeling, being alone. The animals must have noticed, since they were quiet for a few moments.

“…Lad?”

I looked down for a moment to see the otter touching a paw to my calf, perhaps sensing how much I needed him.

“You can’t go home… can you?”

I simply stared back in the direction they had indicted the town. Rosalin… I felt the tears threaten. That was the first time I forced them back. I refused. I would not cry… I wasn’t welcome… I wasn’t an elf. I wasn’t like them. I swore to myself, silently, I would never, ever persecute another for what they were. Never.

“Chimeree. We’re gonna keep an eye on this pup.”

From that moment on, my two best friends were Chimeree and Seaclam, like a brother and father to me, respectively. A year or two went by, and on my nineteenth year, I found I was running out of odd jobs and trinkets to make and sell. I needed help. I applied for several jobs, but no one hired me.

The last… I didn’t know the meaning of then. I accepted eagerly. It was only that night I truly learned what being a mercenary meant. I had the knack, they said. My… heart was hard. I began to grow numb. I did what I had to do. Until the twenty-first year. I had a special assignment, for a great reward.

That night, the air was cooler. Chimeree scouted. We found the sorceress after hunting as we normally did. She was in her cabin, as I was told she would be. I was told she was evil, not like a good witch. Completely deranged, and ugly. It was only after I knocked down her door, an arrow set to pierce between her eyes, I noticed how wrong they were. For a moment, we just stared at one another. Time slowed down, and my arrow lowered from my bow. I said nothing. How could I?

“Arlen… you’re alive.”

“… Yeah.”

“… Aren’t you going to shoot me?”

“… No.” Each pause seemed to extend the already painful silence.

“Why?” She looked into my eyes. I looked away, and began to leave. I had no choice. She extended a hand and began to head for the stove in the corner. “Please! Arlen… stay? Eat?... please?”

Against my better judgment, I sat at the table, talked only when necessary. It was my training, my years of hardening. How I wanted to talk. “Good dinner.” That was all I could say.

“Arlen…” She reached out, tried to touch my hand. I took it away, made her flinch. Seeing her hurt expression was more than I could bear. I replaced my hand for hers to rest on, and she did so, but seemed to be tracing my palm, as if reading it.

“Why, Rosalin?” I asked finally, staring at my hand, hers touching it, sending shockwaves of attachment and other now-uncomfortable feelings through my brain.

“I’m just reading your palm…” she whispered, tracing a few lines.

Even now, she just had to be difficult, didn’t she? “No, Rosalin. I mean… why are you…”

“A sorceress?... Not a very good one, I’m afraid…” She looked up at me a little, though I kept my gaze down. “I thought… I thought if I learned magic… maybe I could wish you back. That was a long time ago, though… and if you came to kill me… you might as well do it… I’m not going home… not now. They would try something else.”

I swallowed in my anger. They had… done things to her, too? “Rosalin…”

“Arlen… I heard… what happened. It was everywhere.”

“…Is… my mother…”

“She is safe… she misses you. She has given me something… she thought if anyone would meet you… I would… but… Arlen… did… your sister…”

“I have no sister.”

“Arlen, look at me…” Her grip increased, but I didn’t look. “Look at me!” I slowly lifted my head, before her hand grabbed my chin, forcing me up. “Did… your sister hurt you? I felt it… I feel it even now, Arlen. Your bitterness has hardened you. You’re not who you should be. You’ve… let go of what you want…”

“Why is it so important to you to patronize me?”

I saw the hurt reflected behind those emerald orbs, the way she felt as if I had just run her through, like any of my targets in my line of work. “Because…”

“Do you want do smother whatever’s left of my heart? Is that why?”

“Because I love you!” she burst, tears glistening in her angered state, her hands pounded on the table.

“… I can’t love.” I hated myself. I loathed everything I must have seemed to her… I wanted to love her. I wanted to tell her I loved her more than anything, that living without her all these years was like not be able to breathe. I just… couldn’t.

“Arlen… she hurt you. Deeply. They all did. Your heart is so delicate…” She pursed her lips a little. “I… know… you need time. More time. It will take a while… won’t it? But I know… we’re meant to be one… so I must do something to ease this burden. To show you what you are becoming, before it’s too late…” She prodded her chin with her finger. “I know.” She leaned forward, and before I could stop her, she ripped open my shirt and placed a hand on my chest, whispering.

It was elvish language, but dark magic. Not evil, persay, but more of a forbidden magic, something for only desperate souls. I inhaled quickly at a lurch of pain shocking my system, just for a moment. I saw her remove her hand, but I never felt it. “What…” I placed a hand where hers had been, looking down at my chest. It was covered in a silver chain-like mail, cool to my touch, in fact, almost icy. “What… did you do to me?” I was surprised at the anger in my voice.

She looked at me and bowed her head slightly. “Arlen… this is a symbol of your hardness. From this point on, you shall carry that mail on your heart. It will hide it away from anyone, behind the same bitterness I feel from you now, and protect it from being hurt anymore as you wish for so deeply.”

“What…”

“No one but those whom you love will be able to pierce the armor, and you will not be able to remove it yourself. Only one that loves you may remove it from your body. This is my gift to you, my curse to you.”

“You…” I felt the anger build.

“Here, Arlen.” She spread her arms slightly, standing up. “Do you want to shoot me? Go ahead. Prove to me that there’s no hope left for you.”

My arrow, so fast, nearly flew. Something held me back. How… could I shoot her? Still wearing my stoic expression, I began to walk to the exit. “Goodbye, Rosalin.”

And so I have traveled for years, waiting, hoping that I can remove the armor somehow, but nothing has happened. Nothing has changed. The armor still hides my heart, even from me. I once loved Rosalin. But now I cannot feel love… what will become of me? Where do I go from here? I wander, taking on mercenary jobs when needed and staying at peace, the only friends of mine the animals. I need more. I know there is more to life. But how can I get it?

…I regret.

Battles: -None-

Crossroads:

Water and Oil Mix (Altamira) In Progress
Kate Begin

Name: Katherine Anne Aleski (Though she’s normally called Kate for short).

Age: Six (And a half, she claims, though in reality just barely six).

Race: Human

Sex: Female

Hair: Short, just below her neck, it’s a light, almost auburn color. It’s soft and smooth after it’s washed, but gets to be dirty easily with all her playing outside.

Eyes: A pretty blue color, they almost appear dark purple at times.

Weight: 37 pounds (She’s a little underweight.)

Height: 3’4. (She’s also slightly short.)

Weapon: A small dagger, about nine inches long including the hilt. The blade is six inches. She keeps it either in her pocket, sheathed, or on a belt around her, only because she’s forced to just in case she needs to protect herself. In case of emergency, she uses anything to defend herself.

Armor: None.

Strengths: It goes without saying that one of her strengths is simply looking too defenseless for anyone to attack her, since she’s only a little girl. Being as small and light as she is, she can easily hide from attackers in tight spaces or inconspicuous places. Because she belongs to something of a demi-god, she is protected by his might, which gives her a certain measure of strength. She’s good at figuring out ways to make people feel better emotionally. Due to this, she can easily make allies/friends with those who like her, giving her more protection of a second-degree. She’s relatively smart for her age, despite not going to school. Although this is also balanced out with a tendency to act more like a younger child.

Weakness: She’s only a human little girl, after all. She’s extremely frail when it comes to the damage she can take. A simple scratch could cause her to cry. She’s also quickly distracted by simple things, and equally easily fooled by lies. She can’t reason past a certain state of mind, and she can’t do many physical labors. She hates loud noises and scary things in general, including fire, darkness, and shouting. Her frail body is also easily smacked around by the elements, including the weather. Despite retaining her innocence, she has slight mental scars from seeing so much death and pain in her life. This is why she doesn’t like fighting at all.

Skills/Magic:

Gypsy Charm – If she is seperated from Cadenza or Louis at any point, this bracelet upon her arm given to her by her Mother will activate, forming a barrier nothing intending her harm can penetrate. It will only deactivate if she is in the arms of her Mother or Father. It cannot be removed unless Kate, Cadenza, or Louis does so purposely.

Animal Friends – Katherine normally attracts animals of any sort, possibly because of her pure heart and innocent intentions. She finds friends even with wild creatures, normally with little trouble. It could be used to her advantage at times, although she does not have the unrealistic powers to immediately tame lions or other less social beasts. Her befriendment is limited and not always effective.

Appearance:


Katherine at Age Five (Notice her bunny. *Explained in detail under the pictures in this section*)

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1...ume88/girl.jpg


Katherine at Age Six (Her befriending of animals can be seen here, with the presence of the cat trying to comfort her.)

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../1dceff7er.jpg

Manual Appearance: *For those unable to look at the pictures for any reason* Kate has almost auburn-colored hair that reaches to just past her neck, thick, but not wavy. Her skin is a peach color, sometimes a bit paler. She likes to wear things in her hair, usually barrettes or ribbons. Her shoes normally have buckles or velcro to make it easy to take them off and on because she doesn't know how to tie shoelaces yet. She loves wearing dresses of any kind, especially ones with lots of ruffles or poofy ones.

Her face is entirely innocent and pure when she smiles, capable of melting most cold hearts. In reverse, she does things wrong as any child does such as arguing, disobeying, and lying and it is incredibly easy to tell she is doing so by the facial expressions and body language she gives off.

Another thing about Katherine that must be duly noted is her Bunny. *Seen in picture one* Bunny, as Katherine calls him, is her most precious item in the world. When she was four years old and going to a restaurant with her family, they discovered they had to wait for a table. While waiting, Katherine dragged her father over to the small arcade room. Her eyes skipped past the various machines and mechanical animals to ride until they settled on a claw machine.

There, leaning against the glass almost longingly was her Bunny. She begged her father to get him out, because the poor stuffed rabbit looked so lonely, and after so much pleading, her father finally conceded. It turned out it took her father around ten dollar’s worth of tries to get the treasure for her, but eventually, he did. From that day on, Katherine has always kept her Bunny next to her, no matter where she is. It is little-known that he has a zipper built into the back of him where Katherine can store a few small items or one big one. He is very soft, and Katherine refuses to let anyone else touch him unless she gives consent. Sometimes she also speaks to him, pretending he talks back.

Personality: Sweet and heart-warming, naïve and innocent. She has an amazingly huge heart towards people that she deems need her help. Though she tends to be needy and stubborn when she’s cranky, she will never fail to do what she’s asked by those she loves. She would never hurt any living being beyond self-defense, and even then she would feel terrible. She hates violence and fighting with a passion. Katherine is, however, extremely shy. One of the things she’s most adamant about is not talking to strangers, since she’s scared of them. This is mostly due to her unfortunate past. This fear is easily overlooked, though, if someone shows her kindness and gentleness. She’s naturally more inclined to make friends with a nice person than a scary one, or if someone is her age, she’s more likely to bond.

Bonding with her is actually simpler than it sounds. For Katherine, something as simple as joining her in a tea party makes her loyal to that person until they show her a reason not to be. Once she opens to someone, it’s difficult to get her to be quiet around them. Past that barrier, Katherine is good at being social, but she is also very good at being by herself, imaginative. She doesn’t get lonely easily, but she sometimes gets too involved in her made-up world, making it difficult for her to accept reality in some situations.

She is very easy to please, and likes pretty things most little girls would, such as dresses, jewelry, and of course, toys. Bugs are also high on her list of enjoyment, though only cute ones like caterpillars and butterflies. Sweets (candy, for those of you who don’t know) are also enjoyed by her. She enjoys being with those she cares about, and snuggling. She’s a very physically-oriented little girl, so unless she is being touched when with someone she trusts, she normally feels uncared for and insecure. This does not always apply when in a group of people she knows, but it certainly applies when she’s around people she does not know. She enjoys being carried, her back being rubbed, and general affection. Though she does not have much, Katherine is satisfied, not knowing anything but what she has exists.

As far as dislikes go with Katherine, she is prone to hate violence more than anything else. Also high on her list, nearly equal with violence, are her fears of strangers, the dark and loud noises such as thunderstorms. She is generally scared of ugly bugs and things she doesn’t understand. She gets easily irritated if she's treated too much like a child or left out of things like conversations between adults. She doesn’t like boys, considering them to be yucky and carriers of cooties, but this belief fades after they reach the age of eighteen. She isn’t old enough to understand the concept of a God of any sort. Despite not going to school, she does, however, know a good deal of information about the world around her. She’s also very polite and generally obedient, thanks to her upbringing.

Room in the Dome: Pink, pink, and more pink. Pink explosion. Pink Pride! Pink- well, you get the picture. Everyhing has some shade of pink to it. It's rather large for a child's room. When a person goes in, they'll be overcome by the amount of stuffed animals covering the floor like an ocean, instead of in the toybox where they belong. A canvass with paints and crayons scattered beside it is close to the opposite corner of the room, the other corner covered by her canopy bed. A bookshelf lined with children's picture books covers the wall just beyond the bed, although Kate cannot read well, she is learning and can sound out words.

Glow-in-the-dark stars line her ceiling so she's never feeling apart from Louis's ever-shining stars in the next room. She has a bathroom of her own right next to her bedroom, but she doesn't use it very often besides brushing her teeth or using the bathroom. She hates baths and will avoid them like the plague. It also has a pink, flowery theme, many bath toys sitting in a bin next to the tub. Kate is always getting new toys and board games, but her toy box always seems to find room for them.

Biography:

“Begin interview. Subject’s name: Kate. Time, Six P.M. You can go ahead and begin.” The man set the tape recorder upon the table.

She paused and placed a finger on her lips, looking upwards. “I ‘member it like it was yesterday… isn’t that how grown-ups always say it? Well that’s silly, I know it wasn’t yesterday, ‘cause yesterday was a Monday and I know when it happened, it was on my birthday, when everyone was happy. I ‘member ‘cause I got to go and get all these presents during the festival. So it was on Saturday, I think.”

“Go on.”

“Well, I know he didn’t mean to. I was just so little, and there were so many big people. And he had all those boxes he was carryin’ with all that good stuff inside. And he went to get me that pretty, sparkly hair ribbon, the one with the diamonds all over it that I had been wanting for forever . And I was lookin’ at something else in another window, I think, and then I felt that scary man’s hand over my mouth, and it hurt me and he was really ugly and smelled like mud. And I started to yell and scream, because he was taking me far away, inside the alley. But Daddy couldn’t hear me, because the man had put that huge napkin over my mouth and tied it so tight I couldn’t talk anymore.”

“What happened then?” From outside the small room in the police station, normal hustle and bustle went about.

“Mm… I know he put me in a scary place, really, really, dark. I think it was a closet, because I could smell shoes, and they were really yucky.”

“He put her in a closet? Sounds like a routine kidnapping…” whispered the dark-haired man in the suit to the other. “Continue please, Kate.”

“He was really mean. He told me to be quiet or he was goin’ to make me, so I got really quiet because I like talking.”

“Yes? Then what?” asked the other man, the one with black hair.

“I know he was talking about getting a lot of dough from somewhere, but the only time I heard dough was when Mommy makes cookies, and I don’t know why he wanted cookies so bad.”

“Probably ransom,” whispered the first.

“I can hear you, you know! Just ‘cause you whisper doesn’t mean I can’t!” she chimed in, with an angry tone. She had no idea why they were whispering, but she hated being left out.

“Okay, sorry, Kate. Keep going. We’ll listen.”

“Okay, so where was I? Oh, yeah. Okay, so I heard him talkin’ about dough, and then the door of his house really quickly opens. I saw it through the crack where the key goes. So the man with the red hair told the man that grabbed me that he was going to give me up. And they started fighting and yelling, so I was really quiet, and then…” she stopped.

“What then, Kate?” the second man prodded, leaning in with his pen and paper.

“Then…” her voice shrunk so low, both men wondered if the recording tape could catch it. “He… killed ‘em.”

“Killed?” Both men passed each other a stare. “What do you mean killed? Who killed who, Kate?”

She looked so solemn it would make a funeral appear to be a party; her head bowed. Tears gathered in her eyes. It was clear she didn’t want to speak of it. Small tremors ran through her body every few moments.

“Who killed who, Kate?”

“Master killed the man that put me in the dark place.”

Immediately, the two started talking. Obviously, this “master” was not suited to take care of a little girl, and besides that, this might be the man they were looking for, the one responsible for all those deaths. “Kate,” began the black-haired man, “how would you like to live somewhere new, with another Mommy and Daddy?” Her head shot up, a shocked expression on her face. She squeezed her rabbit tightly, and the men began to smile. “We’ll arrange it right away, Kate. Don’t worry about a thing.” Both began to speak with each other, and one headed for the door.

“Mm-mm.”

“Huh?” The one nearest the door did a double-take and watched her shake her head slowly. “What’s wrong, Kate?”

“No. I don’t want a new Mommy and Daddy. I want my old Daddy.”

“Kate… how long has it been since your father and you were separated?”

“I dunno… a long time.”

“When someone’s taken like you were, Kate, they usually don’t see their parents anymore. But it’s alright. Your new Mommy and Daddy will be just fine.”

“No!” she stubbornly cried, this time tears gathering in her eyes. “Daddy said he’d always be there for me and I know he’ll come!”

“Kate… it’s not safe for you right now. If your Daddy comes to claim you before your foster parents and legal actions are taken care of, then if he’s seen to be fit to take care of you, you can go with him. For now, we need to take you somewhere else.” They stood up from their seats, approaching her in the tiny room.

“I don’t want a new Mommy and Daddy! My Daddy is coming for me! He is! I know he is!” The men both suddenly snatched her arms, one hand on each, firm, but not harmful. She was obviously not mentally stable and needed to be forced to calm down if necessary.

“Kate! Relax! We’re not going to hu- Agh!” The hands flew from her shoulders as the men gripped them tightly. Their hands were singed with burns so that a small smell of burning flesh wafted into the air. Kate huddled in a corner of the room opposite the men, burying her head into her knees and sobbing.

A thunderclap of explosion suddenly sounded from what sounded like the front of the station, followed by several gunshots and cries of death. The door swung open and closed as one of the two interviewers exited the room to help his fellow lawmen. The rapid gunfire went on for a period of about three minutes before it calmed completely. With a slam, the door fell from its hinges and collapsed on the floor, leaving in the wake a tall, red-haired man, a large sneer on his face. “Where is she?”

“You… you killed them!” he gasped out while staring at the remains of his fellow officers. “You can’t just take her like this! What kind of sick, twisted bastard would do this to a little girl?” the remaining man rasped from his dry throat, blocking the way to the girl, his heart thudding in his chest.

He extended his palm. In a flash of superheated flame, the man was gone. “Me.” He turned to look at the child, stepping purposely on the ash left in the man’s place before bending down to threateningly stare into the core of her eyes. “Kate. Let’s go.”

For the next few months, the girl wandered, constantly plagued by hellhounds sent to retrieve her when she was needed. She then came upon a small town where she made friends with a little girl named Melody. Throughout a series of fortunate events, she was found and loved by Louis, a man who needed the little girl as much as she needed him. As Pyralis returned to take claim of the girl, Melody went to get help from Cadenza, who showed up just in time to help destroy Pyralis.

Once Pyralis was gone, his master showed up to the party. Marcus, after noticing how much Louis wanted to keep Kate, decided to let him, provided he obey a few rules and Kate speak with him alone. Kate, frightened of being with Marcus alone to discuss this, called Louis her Daddy and soon afterwards, Cadenza her Mommy, begging not to be left alone. Marcus agreed to letting Cadenza and Louis adopt Kate, drawing up a contract. When signed, Kate was left with a new Mommy and Daddy. She now goes through the days with them, her heart full to overflowing with love, but keeping in mind the presence of Marcus's new guardian, Ruin.

Threads:

Battles: -None-

Crossroads: Send Me a Friend - Completed
A Spell Gone Awry - Completed
A Place In My Heart -In Progress
Who's Your Daddy? -In Progress