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HellsingerAngel
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Posts: 835
(2/4/06 11:13 pm)
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Re: Re: Road to Joy
"What kind of stupid question is that!?" Alex blurts out as only Alex can. "Of course I do. She's like a sister to me. We've been through so much, I really can't even imagine not knowing her anymore. Why so inquisitive all of a sudden? Is something wrong!?"

He seemed anxious after making his last statement. The once cool and collected boy now looked into Genevieve's eyes with fear floating about. The two really were attached to the hip as one might say. Even in the bar, as Alex had to specifically give her intructions to stay, it was evident they were hardly apart. Alex then quickly got his composure back, trying not to seem too worried after his outburst of emotion.

"I mean, I just wouldn't want to see her hurt." he said in futility to his outpour.

Most people think time is like a river that flows swift and sure in one direction. But I have seen the face of time, and I can tell you, they are wrong. Time is an ocean in a storm. You may wonder who I really am, and why I say this. Come, and I will tell you a tale like none you have ever heard. -The King of Persia
quicksilver
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Posts: 471
(2/6/06 6:55 pm)
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Re: Re: Road to Joy
So that's what he's afraid of ...

Genevieve meets Alex's fearful gaze; her own gives little away, of course, and is opaque. But sweet; wide. Despite her apparent detachment, Genevieve is far from emotionless; only controlled, only poised, only used to keeping her secrets. After a beat, she glances away, and twines her fingers together. "I can't be inquisitive?" quiet voice

Her fingers untwine; she pulls out her cellphone. Tarot cards clack, clack; they sound like bones. She pulls her glove off by one finger with her mouth and then presses a few buttons with her gloveless hand. Then she puts the glove into her jacket pocket and holds the cellphone out for Alex to look at.

The screen has a picture of a man. He's got brown hair, grayed at the temples; drips in ragged, draggled spikes around his face, although it's all pulled back into a loose ponytail. He's unshaved. There's a rough scar on his neck. The shot was taken from below; his focus is elsewhere. It's not a great picture. But, still.

His name is Graham Waters. His profession is spirit hunter. He was last seen about thirty minutes ago at the Shattered Blessing.

"Do you know this man?"

Edited by: quicksilver at: 2/6/06 6:58 pm
HellsingerAngel
Distinguished Student
Posts: 842
(2/6/06 9:56 pm)
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Re: Re: Road to Joy
Alex's eyes quickly scanned the picture for anything that was striking to him. Nothing. The man was just another man to him, though he had never been good with faces. Seeing half a million of them a day gave you the profiling abilities of an ammnesia patient. So, he simply shrugged and shook his head.

"Not a clue. Why do you need to know and what does this have to do with Kagomi? I'd like some answers right now. One way or another you're going to tell me, cause when you screw with Kagomi, you screw with me, and I'm not as forgiving as she is."

Alex's look was now intense. If looks could kill, he could have slain an army with the stare he was giving Genevieve. Matters of protecting his spirit ally were serious to him. Dead serious. He never wanted to see her hurt, even in the afterlife. As he said before, they were like family. Alex protected his family and he would protect Kagomi, no matter the cost.

Most people think time is like a river that flows swift and sure in one direction. But I have seen the face of time, and I can tell you, they are wrong. Time is an ocean in a storm. You may wonder who I really am, and why I say this. Come, and I will tell you a tale like none you have ever heard. -The King of Persia
quicksilver
Student
Posts: 474
(2/7/06 2:25 am)
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Road to Joy
The night air is cool and tastes of snow. The backalley is frigid; shadows pool underneath frost etched cardboard boxes which sag from the weight. Graffitti stains even the dumpster. No animals; it's quiet.

This happens without sound, a black and white scene. Genevieve and Graham stand outside the alley; they've talked, and must have struck some bargain, because Graham, laughing (but - this scene has no sound) points outside the alley, down the street. Then he gestures for Genevieve to pull her jacket sleeve up.

She does not do so immediately; but, after a moment, follows his instruction; reveals to the dark the creamy pale skin of her wrist. He licks his thumb and, saliva wet and sticky, proceeds to draw on it; Genevieve's expression transitions from curiosity, to disgust, to curiosity again. This is when the sound comes back, in time for Graham to say: "When you want to get in, this will be your invitation."

"But don't think you're getting in, just because you have an invitation. She doesn't let anybody in she doesn't want to see. This might help, a little. You go to that little red door; the locals say it's bricked up, but it's not. Knock on it, even if they say you're crazy. Got that, honey?"

"Even if they say I'm crazy," V repeats, in her cool, thoughtful voice. "Yes."

"Good. Knock three times. THREE times. No more. Not even if you're waiting for a long time. Then, open the door." While Graham talks, he takes out of his pocket a long red ribbon; unrolls it, and tears it in half with his teeth. There are some ragged threads. He eyes the length of the ribbon for measurement, proper.

V regards Graham. "Why would I wait, if I can just open the door?"

Graham: "Just do it. Don't ask any more questions. I'll have to charge you even more. Wrap this around your wrist."

And, V takes the red ribbon (and it's the only colour, understand, in this scene - the rest is still black and white, film noir); lets it unravell and drop next to her face. Then begins to twist it around one of her wrists, holding the top between her thumb and index finger. When she's done, it tightens, compulsively; glows, like a dying coal that's been blown on, and will give off one last spark. Then melts, apparently, into her skin.
quicksilver
Student
Posts: 475
(2/7/06 2:38 am)
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Re: Re: Road to Joy
One way or another you're going to tell me ...

Genevieve--whose gaze has remained distant, while she held the cellphone angled so Alex could study the picture of the man--tilts her head up and rests the back of it against the wall. Her eyes glide back, to meet Alex's intense stare; silence for another measure of time.

...'cause when you screw with Kagomi, you screw with me ...

He's reflected in her pupils; two intense-eyed Alex's.

...and I'm not as forgiving as she is.

Then V plays with the little pink-winged-kitty pin on the lapel of her black jacket, and it's an incongruous splash of average teenage girl girliness. She snaps her cellphone closed, and slips it away, and back into her pocket.

"He knows of you and Kagomi, and, as a spirit hunter, wishes her harm. I thought it would be only fair to let you know he was out there."

Edited by: quicksilver at: 2/7/06 2:40 am
HellsingerAngel
Distinguished Student
Posts: 845
(2/7/06 7:15 am)
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Re: Re: Road to Joy
"What the-Here, now? How did he-and-?" Alex stammered, not being able to find the right words.

He knew of spirit hunters, how they tracked down shaman like him and destroyed their spirits, sometimes the shaman themselves. They were almost as bad as the wraiths that plagued the spirits day and night. The only difference between a spirit hunter was that they were human. They used various techniques and gadgets to hunt down their prey and then stripped the spirit from them, usually using ancient artifacts or advanced technology. It was very shocking to realise one had stumbled onto his front door while he wasn't paying attention. Alex then quickly blew past Genevieve as he made his way into the Shattered Blessing.

"I gotta go check on her." he said as he went past, his pace quick and light.

He swung open the door and scanned the bar quickly. It went slient for the seconds he stood there. He then spotted Kagomi who was waving at him to come join them once more. He sighed, relief overwhelming his senses. Thank god she was alright! He quickly jogged down towards the crowd he had excused himself from and sat down, swivling a couple times on the stool before stopping himself by leaning against the bar.

"Sorry about that. Business call." he apologised to the group, then smirked at his own joke as he took another sip of his beer.

Most people think time is like a river that flows swift and sure in one direction. But I have seen the face of time, and I can tell you, they are wrong. Time is an ocean in a storm. You may wonder who I really am, and why I say this. Come, and I will tell you a tale like none you have ever heard. -The King of Persia
quicksilver
Student
Posts: 476
(2/7/06 11:28 am)
Reply

Re: Re: Road to Joy
I gotta go check on her.

V nodded once, in understanding. And when Alex had disappeared inside The Shattered Blessing, she remains against the wall for a moment, or two, thoughtful. And then she straightens, brushes herself off, puts her glove back on ...

... And goes away, away, back to MHS.

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