Requiem for the Lost Ones

[spartan004]

~It has been ten years to the day since the war ended. A needles war, not started out of hunger, racism, or political gain, but started out of fear. It is often said that people fear what they can't understand. The war made that come to acuality. That year was a dark time not only for the Gifteds, but for all of humanity.~

~Dotada, the new town for the Gifteds, was floursishing. The people there lived in peace. A few days before the anniversary fliers were posted around town announcing a assembly of some kind at the memorial site.~

{ 10th Anniversary Memorial Service. All residents are invited.
"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it tomorrow"
Guest Speaker this year: Cho Hakkai. }

((I will post the rest later after some other people join the thread))

[Mousiemus Prime]

A hand clutched one of those very fliers, red and hot pink eyes reading over it slowly, the person's head bent towards the paper. Slowly, the eyes rolled upwards and looked at the Memorial Site from beneath blond bangs. The hands that held the flyer folded it neatly and stuffed it into the back pocket of the jeans Carmela Ikaris wore. The white Tee she wore had a picture of Grumpy from the 7 dwarfs on the front and beneath him it said " Tough ♥ Love" in red letters with a pink heart.

" It's now or never." Sighed the girl as she stepped towards the Memorial Site and pulled the heavy doors open. It would probably be the first time since the War that she saw all the remaining ex-students of the once great school. Inside, she disapppear amongst the people and stood near the back, leaning on the wall. Her red and pink eyes would shift from face to face trying to find someone she might know. Then, there he was. Standing tall and talking with several girls about something, was Dorian Lambert her long time friend. However, moving now to talk to him wasn't exactly the answer it seemed.

His hair was still that burnt orange-red color with a messy sort of spike effect to it, his handsome features still very eyecatching and that damn scare was still across the left half of his face. In his loose black pants and random tee he looked like every other shmoe in the building. Though some of the shmoes were not surrounded by 3-4 girls such as Dorian was. His gruffy and raspy voice, though asking the girls to excuse him, only seemed to draw them in more. He gave up and gave his eyes a roll. Whatever he did they seemed to want to stay even more.

Two girls somewhere near the middle of the room hadn't taken notice of Dorian or Carmela, they were once more engaged in an arguement about god knows what. Erysa looked simply annoyed and was attempting to ignore her sister and kept her red-brown eyes diverted elsewhere. Hydi however was insistant on getting an answer to her question and would push her sister to get the attention she so desired.

" Ery, what the hell did you mean by that?" Hydi would say, eyes narrowed on her sisters placid and calm looking face. Erysa's attitude was annoying Hydi to the point she was about to explode if she didn't get an answer. Again, she would ask that same question give or take a few words. In turn Erysa would just ignore her sister and wait for the guest speaker to start his blabbering.

Meanwhile a short white-haired girl in a dark gray and red dress was wandering about with curious eyes darting every which way. Hugged to her chest was a old and scruffy looking stuffed cat with banadges about it's head and one of it's paws. Her tiny voice was calling for her brotherly figure, thought hardly audible by anyone but the people around her. Peering around tall people's legs to see if Alastor was behind them, looking under chairs that were scatter here and there Mira had taken to searching.

Something that felt like a small, cold hand grasped at Dorian's knees and caught his attention, eyes turning to see the top of Mira's head as she searched around behind him for her lost person. " Is everything alright little one?" He asked, seeing the small child's face turn to him. She nodded shyly, cheeks a soft pink from embarassment and she turned about in a circle slowly, looking for Alastor.

" I looking for Alastor." She said, looking to the tall man that towered over her. " I find him soon." With a firm nod of her head, Mira scuffled away with a wave to Dorian. The tall young man shook his head with a soft laugh to find the girls about him merely swooning more over the fact he was slightly concerned for the childs well being. Great, I'll never loose them now. His mind growled fiercely.

Carmela was watching the scene unfold, silence keeping her more of an unsociable person than anything. She converse when needed but so far not a soul had wondered to her and greeted her. Then, there was pushing on her legs, as if someone was trying to look behind her and there was a soft 'Excuse me.' Turning she found herself with Mira searching for Alastor behind Carmela's legs.

" Sorry." Whispered the small child before disappearing into the crowd again. Carmela had opened her mouth to ask who or what she was looking for and gave up upon seeing the small figure dart in between people franticly looking for someone. Thought was odd. Thoughts such as that ran through her mind as she continued to wait for the whole thing to get on it's way.

A window closest to the people was open for a reason. A small green figure sat just beneath it, long green hair flowing about her slender body as she pressed her back to the building and listened patiently. Neasa, thought not exactly a resident, was there to hear the little speech and to see if these people would even be remotely thankful for her efforts to bring back the forest. So, there she sat in her off-white dress and listened to the whole events that were unfolding inside. She need not look inside, for she'd probably either not be seen or would be asked inside. Inside wasn't her cup of tea exactly so she refrained from entering most buildings.

Green bare feet were carressed by the grass that had sprouted around her. vines had graced her skin and taken to framing the outside of the window. Something she really couldn't control as it had nothing to do with her powers as it did her prescence. A small chipmonk sat in her lap chewing at an acorn. Green and gold eyes twinkled with delight as a jade finger softly ran across the top of the small furry body. 'Cute' she wanted to say, however the strange feeling that she didn't want attention kept her in silence.

Meanwhile a girl stood with several elders, talking vividly. Their voices, though distinct, were drowned out by the rest of the people who spoke. The ones that called for the speaker to hurry up and the such. Lorna stood in the middle, her brown hair and blue eyes all that could be seen really as she would turn and discuss more about the inn she had opened some years back. A few were travelers, hoping to seek refuge for the night and upon seeing the flyer had decided to see what the hubbub was about.

They were all gifteds, don't get me wrong, but some of them had been traveling so long they had forgotten about stopping and listening to the news. Those that had heard of the war showed it by bringing prehaps flowers or trinkets for the familys of the deceased. Or what have you. A great deal of the older folks that talked with Lorna were old friends of Old Man Russu. And so she was the one getting the gifts and flowers. The young woman would beg them to stop giving her things but the more that came the more loaded down she was.

Halfway across the room was Beatrix Tristan, standing in all her glory. Her long blonde hair pulled high up in a ponytail with large braids and beaded strands. She wore her usual outfit as her honey eyes fell on pictures of familiar people. The mass seemed to be stationed in her general area, leaving her invisible practically. Well, other than the majority had pale skin where hers was chocolate colored.

Who cared, certainly not Beatrix because she stood with pride. Crowded, and hating it the young woman freed herself of the mass and settled somewhere near Cassie. She looked to see Dorian now trying to brush off the mass once again and shook her head with a laugh. She too, like anyone else who would probably see him, felt a little bad for him. They were all underage, this Beatrix knew, for they ran errands for their mothers to her stall all the time.

[Marr-bles™]

10th Anniversary Memorial Service. All residents are invited.
"Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it tomorrow"
Guest Speaker this year: Cho Hakkai.

A small little boy being held by a young woman with long brown hair listened as the boy read aloud what it said. His voice paused a few words until he got them right and looked to his mother for guidence on reading it. " 10th anni- ver-sy?"

"Anniver-sar-y..." His mother corrected him and he smiled and kept on reading.

"Mem...or.. ri...al service... all resi...dents..." He paused for a moment. "Mommy what's residents?." He asked and tilted his head to the side. She touched his nose and looked at the flyer for a moment.

"It's just people who live in a certain area. Like us. WE are residents that live here!" SHe spoke politely and smiled to her son as he finished reading the flyer aloud to her. While thoughts ran through her mind. Alot of the people of cassis she didn't get to meet. She was more of a loner at the school, but not long after she got there the war started, then she had disappeared for a few years. Coming to dotado, was really chance. Meeting her husband, but tragically loosing him so suddenly really made it hard on her, but looking at her son, it was worth it to keep going.

"Mommy... what are we doing here? Is there a party or something?" SHe shook her head slightly as she saw a guy being surrounded bya few girls and a few other people that was already there.

"It's kinda like aparty, but it's not a happy party. We're here to remind ourselves of the people who died when the war happened." Rete looked sad suddenly.

"Like when Daddy died?" He asked out of pure childish curosity. Ria only nodded to him and walked passed Dorian, smiling at his situation. He seems like he's having fun. She kept her hand under the childs bottom as he leaned his head on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around his mother. Ria smiled and kissed him on the head and walked around, not really talking to anyone, but merely just watching and looking at the people that arrived.

Across the room, a woman with an amazing color of violet came in with something held in her hands. From what could be scene a little kitten, seemed nesteled in her hand and wasn't moving much. Asleep. That's what was what the kitten was doing. Michella moved her finger across the little kittens back as the tail moved slowly as a reaction. The sleeping form was just the tranformation of a little girl, her daughter Erin as a matter of fact. The day had taken alot out of her at the park, playing is alot of work when transforming was the playing part of it.

Michella held her hand near her body, listening to the purrs that escaped her daughter's sleeping cat form and smiled seeing all the people there. "Wonder where Jason and Eric are?" She asked herself, keeping her voice low to not wake the white kitten. She walked slowly, her eye's scanning the area for the two people she came in search of.

~~~
Primerose was written on a shirt that passed by a few people, the wearer not bothering to excuse herself, mananged her way through the crowd. She didn't care to say anything, but wanted to come to this meeting just for people to remember her brother. The first in the goverments kidnapping scam but he wasn't the last. Many were kidnapped and many were killed in everything the damn goverment had done, but to her, he was a hero. Ripping apart families... friends.... even just aquaintences. Since then, she never made alot of friends. 'STick to youself and you'll never get hurt. Never make friends and then you won't be hurt when they leave you.' That was her motto and she seemed to stick by it. Lexi was a new person. Dark eye's wondered around the room at all the people. Just keep on people... just don't forget to remember my brother. He really is a hero.. saved mylife... probably saved another life somewhere along the line...

[Tiff'blz]

"What?.. " A deep sigh passed her lips as she looked up, wondering what the inside of the memorial building looked like. Blue hair shifted with each step as she made her way to the large doors of the memorial building. So much effort was put into this building, more so it seemed than in the rest of Dotado itself. Love would do that..honor and respect.. It brings out the best in people. Icy eyes scanned the large group of people. Again the question of who all had survived the attacks ran through her mind. A crumpled up piece of paper that had been a flier was crushed in her left hand. Her eyes narrowed against the shallow light inside the building. So many people. All here to pay their respects? Doubtful.. She thought shaking her head. Gone for so long, to come back to this? ... Interesting to say the least. Tiffany Croffin.. "Well..I have a grave. Would be surprised if I had a memorial as well.. I was captured before the war began." She muttered. She shrugged and decided to look for her name anyway, if only to see an MIA stamped below her name. And of course she waited for some familiar faces.

A man in a red hoodie yawned dramatically. "How long do we have to wait exactly?" He asked loudly, and just a bit rudely. He didn't have all day now did he? He let his eyes wander around wondering if Maya..and especially that cute little Darcy were here. He liked that little girl.. He shook his head. Damned if he had a soft spot.. Clint scowled and waited for a little silver haired girl with bright blue eyes running up to him yelling, "Big man!" But as of yet he hadn't seen either of the two.. So he waited, watching a gray haired girl seemingly loathe the world. That was always a sight to behold.

Cassie sat over in a corner, frowning deeply. A hand was placed on her face, a finger on each side of the bridge of her nose, rubbing her tired eyes. "Where could he be?" She muttered. She didn't know what had convinced her to open that casket..but she had. Unbelievably she hadn't resisted that compelling urge to see. But the box that held the body to her beloved snake Inu was empty.

Tiffany huffed and crossed her arms. Tiffany Croffin, loved dearly and missed?... Who in Cassis cared? She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, cold chills had created millions of little bumps. She shook her head and uncrumpled the flier. And who was Cho?

"Come on little one!"

A tiger padded slowly up the steps, trying to let a little boy catch up with him. He had promised to meet Michella and Erin there, since the two had gone to the park earlier that day. The boy huffed and puffed his way up there, keeping his head down as everyone greeted his father with a warm smile and a pat on his large haunched shoulder. His dad was almost never in tiger form at home, and Eric didn't understand why his dad changed when he knew all of these people. He shook his head. That was his dad's whole deal, and who was Eric to question it? "I'm coming!" He shouted, just a little bit irritated. He had been trudging behind his dad all the way from the house and he was tired.

Jason nodded his head in a small bow of gratitude when someone graciously held the door open for him and walked right into the crowd. He chuffed when some girls huddled around a red headed stranger cried out softly and crowed even closer to the beleaguered man. He shook his head, managing an amused look to the poor guy. He had the problem once, but not anymore. The thought made him want to smile, but the form he was in didn't allow it and all he managed was to show his sharp, jagged teeth, which didn't help the girls' dispositions.

Arrisa stood in the shadows. She had been the first to show up for the 'event' and had made herself as hardly noticeable as possible. Her grey-green eyes scanned the crowd continuously, not trusting anyone. She also had three other duplicates, each standing in every corner, doing the same. The years had made her paranoid. She heard someone yell how much longer it would be and slowly and minusculy nodded her head as well. She was eager to hear the story behind what had once been her home, and how it was destroyed.

[spartan004]

~Alastor spent some time looking for Mira, this had been the first time she had been in a large crowd, and the first time for Himself in many years. He found her soon enough, she had just finished talking to a tall, young man.He then took her hand.~ "There you are Mira, I am so glad I found you this early on." ~He gave her one of his rare warm smiles.~ "So how you handeling such a large crowd?" ~He then looked around to see if he could see any familiar faces in the crowd. He saw a few, but ofcourse they were all older now, while he remained the same. He then lead Mira to the seating area to await the speaker.~

~It had been two weeks since his run in with his brother. His body still hadn't fully recovered yet, both of his hands were heavily bandaged and he had bandaides on his forehead. Ryuzaki leaned against a wall looking at the faces of the people who gathered in the Memorial Site for the service. He had come to last eight, there wasn't one in the year following the war, everyone thought it had been to soon. He saw a few familiar faces in the crowd; the boy Alastor he rescued from the govt. facility that night. He was still the same after all these years. There was also Carmela, Beatrix, Arrisa, watching the place from every corner, and then.....~ "Tiffany?" ~He said under his voice. She was alive. He then started to limp his way over to her.~

[Delerium]

Arkady couldn't help but marvel at how hollow his footsteps sounded to him as the sharp sound echoed from beneath him. Hollow and forlorn, despite the multitude of people he could see gathering before him.
Unable to resist, his fingers acting all on their own, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting the stupid thing before it even reached his lips.
If Sophie found out she'd ring his neck; officially, he'd quit. Unofficially, Arkady's inner pocket was never void of a cancer stick or two for those really stressful moments in life.
His nerves steadied somewhat as he reached the midway point and he put it out with a brave finger before sticking it back in his secret pocket.

Ten years... It had been ten years and still Arkady felt the hopeless pain and frustration as fresh as it had been all those years ago. The Russian found he couldn't meet anyone's gaze as he approached the front door to the memorial, flyer in hand and leather overcoat flapping in the breeze.
He thought he recognized a few faces, but Arkady wasn't in the mood for nostalgic conversation. He half-hoped that no one would recognize him; at least not yet.
He thought he recognised Carmela, and felt a fleeting warmth as he remembered indulging her chinchilla -Monty, wasn't it?- with frequent pats whenever he laid eyes on the spoiled rodent. A part of him hoped the little bugger was still alive and he was quasi-tempted to approach Carmela and ask.

But for now, Arkady merely sighed and leaned against a wall. He would wait for Sophie before officially joining what would no doubt become a big reunion for everyone who had experienced the tragedy at Cassis. He'd left a message with her, and hopefull she'd be by soon.
Speaking of which...
Slipping his hand into a more obvious pocket, Arkady produced a pack of spearmint gum and popped a couple of pieces in his mouth. Hopefully it would be enough to cover up any traces of tobacco on his breath; he REALLY didn't wan Sophie to know he'd been smoking...

[Mousiemus Prime]

" Found you!" Mira had called happily when Alastor took her hand. She had turned and pointed at his nose, bringing the pale inches before it. And as she was lead to the sitting Area, Mira look more like a little kitten as she fallowed with such a happy smile on her face. She passed Rete and Maria and waved her free hand happily at the two before disappearing into the crowd with Alastor again.

Carmela still sat undistrubed and was perfectly happy with that, eyes looking about. Once more she caught a glimpse of the small white-haired girl. This time, the small child was with someone Carmela had met once. Alastor. A smile formed across her lips but the woman didn't move from her spot. There was no need to. If they wanted to find her, they would find her. It was that simple.

Beatrix looked to Arkady, figuring he would probably be swarmed as well. Whether he was or not remained unseen as Beatrix finally caught sight of the Cassie who seemed depressed and not up for being there. Tilting her head to the side, the woman stood, long hair falling once more to her waist, and walking to sit beside the young woman. " What's the matter? You like you've seen a ghost." Beatrix said kindly, her voice warm.

Both Lorna and Neasa remained where they were. Both continued what they were doing. Lorna was talking with the elderly who had swarmed about her and the wary travellers while Neasa stroked the geantly creature on her lap's soft fur. Neasa would probably go un notived the entire night, as per what she wanted. Lorna would probably remain swarmed by these old people and travellers asking how she was or if they could stay at her inn. Such a hassle.

Dorian had managed freedom from his fans, somehow, and knew them to be searching for them. Finding a safe spot he somewhat pressed himself into a wall to avoid the annoying girls. " God, let me stay hidden a little longer." He breathed softly, reflective eyes closed as he tried to catch his breath from the brief escape he had to perform. Maria was to his left, the Carlson siblings infront. He had slunk a little on the wall, hiding behind people.

[Deon]

There was a brief pause of uncertainty between each of her steps.

The building loomed over her. There was a sense of undeniable foreboding she couldn't ignore that washed over her with every step she took. From where the emotion came was hard to pinpoint... somewhere down deep in the memories that the building stood for, where the town had been summoned so that they wouldn't forget, to honor the people involved. A soft sigh escaped Sophie's lips as she glanced to the street number to make sure she had the right place, though the look was unnecessary. The fliers were tacked clearly to the door, advertising that this was the place the memorial service would be given. Such an innocuous building could house so many tortured memories. It was... strange.

Sophie opened the doors, her eyes glancing around the room to look for the head of blond hair she knew so well. She absorbed every face that she saw, impatient with the speed of her memory, making sure she remembered the look of every occupant. It was something she had gotten used to, the uneasiness around people. Though these individuals would not do her any harm, the paranoia had pervaded through her years and even in situations such as these. She was surrounded by semi-familiar faces from her past, like figures drifting through a the haze of her memory, only half-strangers. Her eyes drifted over Dorian, who was attempting to hide from view, to the duplicates that were staring at the crowd with an urgency she recognized. She felt no need to avert her gaze from the sea of faces of which she only had a glimmer of recognition, a sparkle she could see in the corner of her eye that disappeared whenever she tried to look at it head-on. She continued staring, unable to grasp any understanding of what she was seeing as she looked for him, her concentration intensely focused.

A sharp pair of blue eyes. A shock of golden hair. Arkady's characteristics stood out for her in her vision, as if they were keyed in to anything that could lead her to him. She finally recognized his face, and she again was struck by his beauty. Even though they had been together for years, she didn't know if she would ever get used to seeing him. She headed towards him through the small crowd that was gathering, brushing her fingertips across the top of his hand as she approached before clasping it in hers. She gave him a light kiss on the cheek, smiling softly, with a tinge of sadness that was not her own pain, but rather that which she could see in his eyes. It was buried deeply, but Sophie had learned to dig out even the slightest emotion that he tried to hide from her. Most of the time.

"Hello, love," she greeted him with a whisper in his ear. She leaned her head against his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck. "I'm sorry I missed you at home. There was a bit of a crisis at work today. I had to work something out with the administration about a certain student who decided to jump out the window of my classroom while I gave my introductory speech for the class. You know, the one that I make at the beginning of every semester about expectations and the likes." She smiled lightly, rubbing the top of his hand gently with her thumb. She was paradoxically the most hated, loved, and feared professor at the nearby university. Her philosophy course was one of the most challenging and different classes in the school, and her own personality was a bit unnerving combined with her... innovative teaching style. "My classroom is on the first floor, but still... If I inspire suicidal tendencies in students, then there probably is something that needs to be addressed. I personally think she just felt a little threatened, but that's just me." She stretched her neck to kiss Arkady's own. There was tension in his muscles that she could feel easily beneath her lips. Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Arkasha, are you feeling okay? There's no need to make yourself..." her voice trailed off, and she began again. "You know that if it hurts to..." She sighed, squeezing his hand, unable to get out any words of encouragement. It was hard when one felt the same way. "I'm here for you, if there is ever anything you need to talk about. Really and truly, love."

[Delerium]

Arkady's expression lit up considerably as Sophie approached him and made her little show of affection. He even let out a small giggle as her hair tickled his throat. A wistful sigh escaped his rosy lips and he leaned into her, his eyes half-closing with delight. She was his sun, his stars, and the moon. Without Sophie, his world would be devoid of light.
Meeting her kissed with a few of his own (and fervently hoping the spearmint had done its job), Arkady replied to her small talk; "Obviously someone was very set in their ideas and couldn't stand to have their little world of lies come crashing down around them." He didn't mean to sound so pessimistic. "Ahh, but then again, who knows? Kids are wierd these days... Maybe phony suicidal tendencies are the new in thing; just the other day I saw some dumb shit of a teenager threatening to jump off a bridge. When he was asked why the hell he wanted to end his young life so soon, he simply said that he didn't and that he'd staged the whole thing just to see what it was like."

He couldn't help but feel his heartbeat quicken at the feel of her lips on the tender skin of throat. Gods, it had been so many years and he could still never get enough of her. It was amazing how she could get him going with such a simple action.
Doing his best not to mentally undress her, Arkady angled his gaze downward, the guilt and sadness in his icy glare unmistakeable. "I know you are, Sophishka, and if not for you, I'd probably..." He didn't finish the thought and shook his head. "I just feel... like I should've done more, you know? I feel like if I'd taken a few more risks, dug into a few more desks, or dropped in on a few more strategy meetings that there wouldn't be so many names on that wall... It's stupid, I know, but I can't help it."
As he brushed a lock of her hair away from her face, Arkady couldn't resist letting the back of his hand slide down her cheek, revelling in the softness of her skin. "What about you? I know you hurt too, my love... But we'll do this. Together." A mischievous smile graced his features and a bit of his old spark appeared in his eyes. "Conversation and information are a two way street, you know... You shouldn't bottle things up inside you - but of course you know that; I've only been telling you that for how many years now? Heh heh heh..."
Suddenly very conscious of the wad of spearmint he was rolling around in his mouth, Arkady pulled the pack out of his pocket and innocently said, "Uh, want some gum?"

[Marr-bles™]

Maria put a hand on her son's back as she put him down to walk around, her arm going numb. She smiled to him and tossed her head a little to the side to get him to follow. "Lets see what there is to do here... I guess we're goingto wait for the ceremony to start. Mommy would like to see if she remembers anyone." She told Rete' as he followed her, putting his little hand in her hand. They walked over to Dorian seeing that he was hiding. "So, hiding from anyone imparticular?" She asked, a hint of humor in her tone. Looking around she noticed the siblings and smiled. Sometimes she wished she had a sibling, but was unfortuanate enough not to.

Michella moved around the room, the kitten still sleeping in her hand, it moved slightly in it's slumber and rolled over stretching, then quickly going back to sleep. She looked around the room for Jason and any sign of her son Eric. "Lets see... Humm... Where would they be?" She asked herself passing by a few people. She noticed a girl walking around, she seemed to be doing nothing imparticular, but she didn't have the manners of a lady, pushing her way through the crowd. At least some of us were brought up better than that! She smiled to herself and passing a few more obstacles, she finally saw the back of Jason's head. "There he is!" She said as she quickly went over to his direction and placed a hand on his shoulder, kissing his cheek. "Well, bout time I found you!"

[Tiff'blz]

Cassie lifted her head slowly. "No..no ghost, though sadly and strangely enough I wish it had been one. I seem to be plagued with more difficult problems it seems.." She said softly, casting a worried glance at the empty casket.

Jason felt something touch his shoulder and looked up curiously. "Ahhh there you are!" He said happily as Michella kissed his cheek. He glanced at the kitten asleep in her arms. "So cute.. Did she get worn out at the park?" He asked, chuckling while he nuzzled the kitten, trying to get her to wake up. Eric merely wandered through the crowed, almost getting plowed over by the girl he had met at the lake as she found the boy she was obviously looking for. He just smiled and walked over to the wall remembering all of the people that fought in the war. He put a hand to his chin as he thought about what all they had done for the town and he had to say he was amazed by it all.

Tiffany sighed, leaning back against the wall as she closed her eyes. These past couple of years had been hard to say the least.. she let the peice of paper drop from her hands, and it joined the others on the floor. No one had bothered to pick them up and Tiffany felt a twinge of regret even though she hadnt done all of it. She hurriedly picked her peice of paper up and took it over to the trash can. She wouldnt want to be the person to have to clean this place up when it was all over. She looked up when she could almost swear that someone said her name. Sure enough..there was Ryu, making his painstaking way over to her. He looked to have recently been in a fight. "Ryuzaki?" She whispered as she hurried to his side. "What happened to you?" She asked, unaware of the fact that he had thought she was dead as well. Arrisa watched the interaction with a look of anger, but kept her mouth shut. Ryu had made it clear that the feelings were not mutual between them. She turned her head, spying to lovers next to the wall that her opposite duplicate was at. "Eh.." She said softly, absorbing her duplicates and moving away from the wall and away from the sight. She almost ran into the red head that had been plagued by girls. "Oh..sorry.." She muttered to him as she hurriedly walked away.

*thats all I got for now eheh and Delerium there was a posting order sweetie and I think you skipped over two people..just wanted to let you know k?**

[Mousiemus Prime]

" Yes. I am hiding if you must know. There are a bunch of girls around her somewhere that just seem obsessed and wouldn't leave me alone. Don't tell them I'm here. If they ask if you have seen me, they'll ask using my name -which is Dorian for future refrence-, please...I beg you...say you haven't seen me." He asked kindly, eyes begging the young woman to deny the underaged girls a chance to attacke Dorian once more. And upon practically being ran into by Tiffany he said it was okay and allowed her to disappear into the teaming masses.

" Well, what happened? I've got no one to talk to and you look like you need company. " Spoke the kind Beatrix as she smiled warmly at Cassie. " And everyone here tends to have a problem of some kind. So, you're not the only one with difficult things to handle. Alright? So, cheer up a little. Kay?" She smiled a little more warmly, trying to convince the young woman to smile if only for a little bit.

(( Since I didn't exactly have time to read all the posts, people urging someone and anyone to post, I have no clue if any of my other characters have had any interaction. And for that I am sorry if I do not have a reply to your character.))

[spartan004]

~She was walking away from him. One of the people he wanted to see most these last ten years. Tiffany was walking away, but it looked like something had spooked her. What was it? Ryuzaki look around and surveyed the crowed then he saw the reason. Arrisa. She had doppelgangers too, but he wasn't fooled by them. He learned a long time ago how to weed out the fakes from the fleash and blood. He limped his way over to her.~ "Arrisa! What did you do?"

~It was at that time he walked out. Cho Hakkai, strategist for the Gifted Resistance durring the war. He hadn't change much since the war. He was still tall, and thin, and even wore his sleak balck hair in the ame bowl like cut. He wore a plain white suit, the same as he did during the war. He wore a smug yet confident smile like always. He was a man that rarely lost his cool. As he came onto the stage, people started to quiet down, but it wasn't until he tapped the microphone a few times that everyone was aware that he was there ans quieted down. He straightened his glasses and started to speak.~

"Greetings my friends......no my brothers and sisters. Even though we are not all related by blood, we are family. Not because of the Gifted Gene we all share, but by something so much deeper than that. For most of you it has been ten years since we last meet, others I see you reguarly around Dotado, as you know I am the Librarian at the Dotado Library, but enough about me. We are here today like we have been the last nine years to honor the fallen heros from past. People Like Damian Miller who's Gift was soul attachment. He took over enemy's bodies and turned them into allies. Damian bought precious time for others to escape. He died that night. The school's consoler, Gariel Anzien, who served as a double agent for use. Sadly he was found out and executed five months before the war ended. Or Wyatt Mason, one of the ones captured before the war, and one of the many who never returned. ~He paused for a moment and looked around.~ Let use not forget their sacrafices. We must not let there sacrafices be in vain, so that us, the ones they died for; live to see the sunrise of another day. Lest we repeat it again tommorow. Thank you for your time." ~He bowed to the crowd.~

[Deon]

“Arkasha… you’re only human,” Sophie murmured softly as he ran his hand down her face. Her eyes were slightly misted over, as if she were looking at another time. The feeling of his simple touch brought her back into focus. She pressed her hand against his own before it left her cheek, entwining her fingers into his. “I know you did all you could. So many others were not anywhere as unselfish as you were.” People like me.. But she didn’t say that, howevermuch he would have liked to hear what she was thinking. Even though “conversation and information are a two-way street,” as he put it, there were some things that she kept to herself. And she wasn’t naïve enough to think that he didn’t do the same. Sometimes certain subjects were just too hard to bring to the surface… to hard to give a name to, to describe with petty words that didn’t do justice to the raw meaning of the emotion and its impact… details too intimate to relay to another person, no matter how much she loved him and trusted him. There were some aspects of the soul that she felt would never be unlocked to be let loose in the outside world.

Together.

She pulled Arkady’s hand behind her neck so that she could feel sheltered as she leaned her head back on his shoulders, staring out into the crowd emptily. Even though she wasn’t looking at him, the only thing she could see was Arkady. He never left her mind’s eye.

“Of course I hurt, dearest. When I was… captured... when you were kidnapped… all I could think about was that you were dead. And it’s hard to let go of the pain that I felt. Most of the time it’s easier to bear, especially when you’re next to me like this, and I can feel you, can hear you…” There were tingles still down her spine fro m where his hand rested, and she shivered involuntarily with pleasure. His touch never ceased to arouse her. “But… seeing all those name on the wall just reminds me of how close I got to losing you. You really are all I have that keeps me going. You know as well as I do that I’m not exaggerating.” Her voice was so solemn that there was no need for her to mention the last sentence, though Arkady most definitely recognized his role in her life by now. Still, she couldn’t help but crack a small smile in the serious moment as Arkady so easily and innocently changed the subject away from the more sombre matters. She was about to respond, and had already gotten the mock surprise on her face as if she had been insulted by his offer for any kind of breath-freshening material, when Cho stepped up to the mic to make his speech.

It only reminded her how lucky she was to have Arkady. As soon as he was finished, Sophie reached up to Arkady’s face and angled him down to her level and began kissing him fervently, almost as if making sure that he was still here, still real. Her lips moved against his in the warm, familiar motion she was used to, as she gently urged his mouth open. She suddenly stopped, her eyes pressing shut tighter in concern that she routed into something trivial.

Shouldn’t bottle things up.

“And I think you, you hypocrite,” she smiled slightly as she jokingly insulted him, “have been telling me not to keep things in for nearly ten years now, yes?” Though her tone was teasing, the slant of her furrowed brow gave away. “Please tell me you haven’t started up again, have you?” The tobacco in his mouth was faint and masked moderately well by the minty flavor of the gum, but it was impossible to completely cover up the taste when one smoked so recently and was only chewing gum for so long. “I thought I got rid of it all while you were sleeping.” This time the way she was exploring his body with her hands was not sensual, though most would have been fooled. She was clandestinely frisking him. “Where are you hiding it, Arkasha…? What place did I miss?” It surprised her that she was actually annoyed, even angered that he had been able to have this slip under her radar. She wasn’t happy about him having a hiding place that beat her. She had already gone through all his clothes and drawers, so the place that took her nearly an hour to find must have been a decoy—she didn’t think he could come up with anything better than his secret place in a box of corn flakes. It was so perfect—she absolutely hated the stuff. She’d only found it because she had forgotten to go to the store one day and didn’t have anything else for a quick breakfast. She poured in the cereal and, like a special surprise inside, out comes a pack of cigarettes on top. Yum, yum. But he must have had some other place. She held out her hand expectantly.

“Come on, Hypocrady. I don’t have to be your wife to be a nagging bitch. It’s for your own good.”


((My dog is a sneaky butt… She positions the toy so that she gets both ends in her mouth before bringing it back to me just to make it hard for me to get.))

[Delerium]

(OOC: HOMG, 'Hypocrady'... I nearly wet myself laughing - at work XDD And yeah. my dog pulls cheeky little stunts like that too)

“Arkasha… you’re only human.”
Arkady sighed in resignation, a roguishly lop-sided smile adorning his features. "Yeah, I know. You've been telling me that for how many years now...? Huh." But that was one of the many reasons he loved her so deeply; she never gave up on him. No matter what.

As she touched the surface of her pain in her reply, Arkady merely nodded and smiled in understanding, his hand giving hers an affectionate, reassuring squeeze. He'd heard it many times from her, and always attempted to cut her off, knowing the pain and grief the thoughts brought her. Arkady thanked his lucky stars, too; if not for Scion he highly doubted he would've gotten them out of that hellish place alive...
He didn't know if Sophie knew of his furry alter ego, and indeed he felt bad about keeping something so important from her, but... Scion was his alone to deal with. The sunny-hued wolf who's form his body adopted in times of great stress was a secret trump card he refused to introduce to anyone.
The only ones who had known besides him were the researchers who had claimed him - and Arkady had killed all three of them in the mass rush for freedom.
Ah well...
Luck was on his side. Sophie was with him and right now, in his life, that was all that truly mattered. Sure, they kept a few secrets from each other, but Arkady was confident that one day in the not-too-distant future they would bare their souls to each other; and on that day, he would ask her to be his wife.

Arkady clapped just as enthusiastically as everyone else when Cho finished his speech, and -what was this?- seemed to wipe something away from his eye; "Just an eyelash..." he grumbled.

He didn't contemplate long on the speech and his fallen brothers and sisters, though.
Advancing on him again, Arkady could only comply with Sophie, his mouth opening to hers without a second thought. It was so automatic, so natural that his body instinctively fell into the rhythm they shared and -
Oh shit.
Remember why you're chewing on half a pack of Dentyne, Arkasha?

“And I think you, you hypocrite, have been telling me not to keep things in for nearly ten years now, yes? Please tell me you haven’t started up again, have you?”

Feeling his cheeks warm considerably, Arkady tried to take a step back, sputtering some lame-ass excuse when he was quickly reminded that his back was against the wall. "N-no, I just... Hey! S-Sophie! You're... tickling me... Ack! Fine! Here! Take them!" He reached into the secret pocket and dropped the half-full pack of DuMaurier Light's into her open palm, feeling like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Having heightened senses sure did suck sometime. Yeah, the sight, smell and hearing aspects were definitely a plus, but the sensitivity of his touch and taste? If Sophie didn't tickle him to death she just might seal his fate the next time she accidentally handed him a glass of koolaid...

“Come on, Hypocrady. I don’t have to be your wife to be a nagging bitch. It’s for your own good.”

Arkady couldn't hold back a chuckle and another lop-sided smile. "Yeah, yeah, I know... And someone's gotta look out for me, right?" He pulled her close to him and rested his head on top of hers; his favourite spot - well, second favourite. But judging by the annoyance and frustration he sensed just beneath the surface, it would probably take him a few days to get out of the dog house...