Darkness is Dangerous..right?

[Tiff'blz]

"Tick tock, tick tock.." She muttered, looking down at her watch. "Why is it that time passes by so quickly when you aren't paying attention, but when you do..it creeps by as slowly as possible?" She sighed, dropping her hand and glancing up at the broken down school. She hadnt stayed there long. After the things she had to go through..I think not. She yawned and walked up the steps, taking them slowly. Her hand ran up the railing slowly, remembering the horrible times she had coming to that school.. she fell in love, got her heart broken, and left as quickly as possible. What else would she do when being tortured and taunted by everyone who knew?

Arrisa gazed up at the broken and blackened windows, her eyes flickering over them. She hadnt even stayed long enough to acquire a dorm. How sad was that? Maybe that was why there was no nostalgia when she looked at the battered and beaten school. Was it that she did not care? Yes.. maybe.

She looked over her shoulder, watching the sun settle over the horizon, darkness taking place of what hazy light the sun had deemed it necessary to give the world earlier today. " Ryuzaki.. I do not know who I have become.. I do not like it at all.. Soft and weak.. weak minded and weak hearted.. what is wrong with me?" She asked into the empty air. Ryu had been her best friend..but what had he become? .. And he no longer even cared for her.. that much he had made clear.

Darkness spread over the school and the girl standing at the steps to the school like a blanket. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Why was she here? After her confrontation with Ryu she just had to get away that much she knew.. But what had made her come here of all places?

[Mousiemus Prime]

A young woman sang softly, her voice sweet and wonderous as it traveled the air. She walked about looking through the windows, lowering the parasol in her left hand as the sun began to slip away. A smile graced her peach colored lips.

"Father once spoke of an angel . . .I used to dream he'd
appear . . . Now as I sing, I can sense him . . . And I know he's here . . . Here in this room he calls me softly . . . somewhere inside . . . hiding . . . Somehow I know he's always with me . . . he - the unseen genius . . . "

The young voice sang on, carring musically through the empty and destroyed halls. The sound of her small heeled shoes meeting the cracked tiling softly mixed in the air as the girl, in her black lolita style dress, walked softly. Her long blond hair had been swept into two high-set pigtails on either side of her head.(Like the picture)

" Gabrielle, please." Sighed a young man comming from seemingly nowhere, his hands held behind his back as he walked. His jeans were loose fitting, as was the dark gray tee shirt he wore beneth a white button (undone) up shirt and his black leather coat. " We don't want to frighten anyone." Warned the young man as that thick romania accent danced in his words.

Gabrielle turned her saphire eyes locking onto her older brothers icy blue eyes. Her soft smile parted, laughing softly at what he had said. Why would a human be out at night, she wondered. " Dear brother, if their is a human out at night I personally feel the need to greet them. Not because I hunger, but because they are out during the hours when we rule the night." She spoke, her own accent match his thick one.

One of the lace covered hands of Gabrielle wormed it's way between Rayner's arm and his body to rest on his forarm gingerly. That was the right hand, as the left held the hilt of the now closed black parasol. " You shouldn't be hungry, we drank before we left the house as per usual." The young man said with a soft laugh as his hand whose arm was not clasped gently settled over his dear sister's pale and cold one.

The two came to the main door, Rayner's hand slipping from his sister as he pulled it open. Taken aback, however, by the fact someone was there he uttered a 'huh' while eying Arissa. Gabrielle was doing the same, however, not as suprised as her brother for she never faultered when she was suddenly revealed before them. " Brother, stop being so cautious. I'm sure she means us no harm. Just as we mean her none." Gabrielle said, the hand on his arm tapping the coat gently.

Rayners blue eyes shifted to his sister's calm expression before her turned to Arissa, and lowered his head a little. " Good evening." He greeted, a rather false smile curving his lips. Gabrielle add the same greeting, lowering her head a bit as well. However, her smile was genuine as she merely stood beside her brother as if he were her escort somewhere fancy.

[Deon]

The rough, smashed stones of what was once the beautiful Cassis school swam underneath his fingertips, as if trying to evade the reality of his touch. Ellis' mind was hazy, the picture of his hands unclear, blurring and slipping away in the lethargy that he had fallen into after returning from Africa. The feeling was so similar... destruction was the same no matter what country, what continent, what cause. It was all a horrible evil. He could hear the trapped voices in his mind, the screams that he tried to repress. But he didn't cry for it anymore. He had pushed it to the back of his memory long ago.

But some of the voices were real. He had been running into people lately in places where he came to reminisce. Some for the same reason, others with a purpose that he dared not question about. He didn't ask many questions anymore. Curiosity is stifled after finding out things one didn't want to hear so many times.

His clear blue eyes floated up to the sky as if on a breeze, useless to him. It was as though they were merely a decoration to his face, for only aesthetics. He could barely even remember what he looked like. He barely ever had the energy, or at least tried to exert it, to use his normal radar that compensated for his disability. He had never been the exuberant extrovert, but had receded into himself more since all the events that had happened, all the death that seemed to follow him wherever he went no matter how much he tried to stop it...

He murmured something under his breath that was supposed to be a greeting, but it was lost in his hearing as the world was to his eyes. He started up again, louder this time, coming up with a stronger hello. He held one hand up by his head disarmingly, his other one still resting on the sliced stone of a destroyed wall.

[Tiff'blz]

Arrisa's head shot up as the door opened right as her hand reached for the handle. "Oh.. I ... I uh... " She stuttered, her head looking around, trying to find some excuse. " Im here to.. Umm.." Her hand shot up to the back of her neck as she looked at the two in the doorway. "You dont live here do you?" She asked as it seemed they looked quite content to be where they were. She looked behind them for some reason and again out in the feilds around the school, but this time because she heard yet another voice. Wow.. I come here for some peace and I meet not only one..not two..but three people who have showed up at the same time?... I always knew I had luck.. but why did it always have to be bad? Arrisa sighed and followed his example saying hi not only to him but to the two standing in front of her. She looked back at the boy, he seemed out of it.. a lot.. like he was extremely high or doped up. Lucky.. She thought to herself as she leaned against the railing of the steps. "Why are all of you out here? I know I could be asked the same question so why dont I answer now huh? I am here because I needed peace and quiet and I figured, "Hey, The school grounds late at night! No one there! Especially that late!" Well apparently I was wrong, but now I am just filled with curiousity.. " She said, her eyes drifting from tall dark and handsome who had little miss America attached to his arm, to the other tall dark and handsome who had some kind of drug swimming through his blood stream. What a weird bunch right? Why wouldnt she be curious?

[Mousiemus Prime]

" My brother and I take a walk every night. It's in our nature." Gabrielle spoke, her accent in full tilt. It never left her words or sentances not once, and never would it every give up it's hold. It made her voice more of a soft pur than anything. Gentle, comforting. Just the same as Rayner's. Gabrielle looked left and right casually then to Ellis. Lips parted once more, allowing a look at her fangs as she spoke. " Good evening." She said, fleshy lips closing.

" Yes." Laughed Rayner softly, nodding his head at the comment of it being in their nature to walk at night. Half his nature at the very least. " You're right, sister. It is in our nature...isn't it?" He shook his head as he looked to the young man who did indeed seem quite out of it. " And good evening to you as well." The proper greeting insued, the slight boy of the shaggy black hair as the blue eyes shifted to Ellis for a moment.

Gabrielle released her brother from her grip and casually walked down the steps, the hand that once held her brothers arm now holding up her dress a little so as she didin't step on it. She approached Ellis, cautious incase he was drunk and in a rage of some sort. " Are you alright? You look a bit upset." She said, her intentions pure and innocent.

" Gabrielle." Sighed Rayner. Shaking his head as he stuffed hands in pockets. " You must forgive my younger sibling. She's too caring for her own good somethimes." Rayner called to Ellis. " She means you no harm." He added with a soft nod. " Neither of us do." He added softly.

[Deon]

"Hmmm... it's the middle of the night...?" Ellis remarked, only putting in half of the thought he normally did into speech. It was almost an automatic reaction, as if someone had asked him his name. "I couldn't tell." His voice was so painfully, disarmingly honest that it was almost pitiful. Otherwise the sentence could have easily been mistaken for cynical sarcasm. He nodded blankly towards the sound of the voices that later recognized his existence, though he wasn't much in the social mood. He never had been. He was always more of a watcher, of a listener...

Ellis couldn't help but hear a twinge of uneasiness in the voices of everyone who addressed him. It puzzled him, struck a strange chord with him. No one had ever spoken to him like that, as if he could turn on them and attack them at any instant. The only time anyone ever felt uncomfortable in ihs presence was when they first learned of his disability. It was a strange feeling, and it almost hurt him a little inside that he would be regarded so suspiciously. He would never hurt anyone. His brow furrowed slightly as he responded.

"I am upset," he replied honestly. "But for reasons that are of no matter to anyone but myself. I came here simply to get away... to think a little. ...and I didn't ever think that any of you would try to hurt me," he added, to the curious detail of Rayner's hasty interjection that they meant no harm. That was more suspicious than their own persons.

[Tiff'blz]

Arrisa frowned at Ellis. Something was seriously up with him. He didnt know it was nighttime?.. The realization hit her like a bag of bricks between the eyes. That is why he just walked up like he did.. That is why he seemed to weirded out! He couldnt see could he? Arrisa blushed furiously. How rude it must have seemed.. She should have suspected something. "Well I like to take walks at night as well.. I didnt mean to interfere with anything that you all were doing.. I just wanted to think a little bit.. I didnt even attend this school for long.. so no sentimental value.. And I am sorry man, I really am. " She said, apologizing to Ellis. "I am truly sorry for my previous actions and my horrible manners. I ask that you forgive me." She said it as she watched the blond girl walk up to Ellis. Arrisa was not slow and didnt miss that flash of fangs that she did while greeting them. But for some reason Arrisa didnt feel tense or have any sense of danger when near them. She didnt fear for the boy like she thought she should. But Arrisa had always been one to follow her heart instead of her head. " I am Arrisa Lex. May I ask who you all are?" Damn.. Just what I was talking about.. soft! Weak!.. feel like I have to apologize for everything! That is just not me! Maybe the old me died? .. Maybe thats a good thing.. Arrisa kept her thoughts behind a mask, her face blank as she waited for an answer.

[Mousiemus Prime]

" If you say so, sir. I will not pry, that's merely rude." Gabrielle said smiling softly whiel taking in his features. She spun, with grace, and walked towards a tree with curious eyes as she looked over the dying giant before her. It looked like it was sad to her, probably because most trees she saw were full of life. But not many in the Physsel Forest were gree anymore.

" I am Rayner Valerious. That is my sister, Gabrielle. Pleasure to meet you Arrisa" He said, once more lowering his head. Gabrielle looked to Rayner and Arissa with a soft smile. She again looked to the tree before turning and humming her previous song. " Well, I generally say we mean no harm because humans tend to fear a vampire and her half-breed older brother. But, it seems that neither of you do. Which, is a releaf. Most usually scream and ask us not to bite them."

" Which neither of us would do as we have never bitten anyone. Donated blood is what we prefer." Gabrielle said as a side note, leaning against the carcass of the tree that had died many years ago. She went back to her humming, occasionally softly singing a word here or there. She seemed more fascinated by the moon then she was when hearing the pulse of both Arissa and Ellis.

Rayner nodded his head casually resting his lean shoulder on the frame of the great doors. He looked ahead, somewhat vacantly as he listened to Arisssa. " Neither of us hail from this country. We're from Romania, and have never attend this academy. We also were not here for much of the war as we had to go in hiding. Hunters and all, you know." Rayner explained.

" By the time we came back, all our parents could do was help rebuild. We ourselves aren't exactly 'gifted'. However, gifted humans are outcasts just like us vampires." Gabrielle continued for her brother, ending the soft humming.

[Deon]

Ellis shrugged silently, his hand slipping down the rough surface of the wall. He could feel the sharp rocks snagging in his skin, making neat tears on his palm from which small drops of blood seeped. He frowned slightly at the pain, but it was minute compared to so many others... there was so much pain in the world. He would gladly take on the suffering of thousands of them so they could have peace; maybe the world would be better that way if one man bore all the pain of the world. Atlas.

He sighed at Arissa's stuttering apologies. "Please don't do that," he told her frankly, without reserves. "I doubt you would be as polite with me if you didn't realize that there was something wrong. But there's no need to forgive you, since you've nothing to be sorry for anyway. Your pity should be saved for someone else in more dire need of it."

He hadn't even realized the vicinity of Gabrielle to him until now, when she started to walk away. Her footsteps registered easily in Ellis' brain, and the vibrations, the waves of energy, slowly spread across the ground from her points of contact to be picked up by Ellis' keen ability. He could see her walking in his hazy inner vision, not so clear as before, not so concentrated... the apathy was starting to get to him. He hated himself for it.

He ran his bloodied hand through his dark hair, forgetting about the small wounds. A few longer strands had fallen into his face, and he pushed it back. His hair was windblown from the occasional strong gusts of air that whistled through the ruins and bathed his skin in an unexpected coolness.

He felt of course that he should participate in the introductions. He complied easily, vacantly. "My name is Ellis Ayle," he told the empty air, after Rayner and Gabrielle had finished their introductions. "Your parents helped rebuild?" he asked, showing a slight interest in their actions. "I helped organize a lot of the restoration projects... I work a lot... repairing ruined buildings... ruined lives. That's what I did as a missionary... in Africa. I live at the church now," he went on with the inane details, not really noticing what he was saying. He was too preoccupied with the sounds of crickets in his ears.

[Tiff'blz]

Arrisa looked sadly at Ellis. " There is a difference in being sorry, and expressing pity. I hope one day you will be able to tell the difference between the two. If you were a little boy, who scraped his knee because he couldnt see and tripped, then I would feel pity.. But you have made it this far in life, hardly scarred for your lack of sight and I cannot pity one as strong as you. " She said slowly. She looked back at Gabrielle and Rayner. " I am glad to meet you I suppose. I try not to judge people.. prejudice is wrong in so many ways, and I have been subjected to it. " Her eyes wandered back to Ellis as she spoke. " I have experienced dire need of pity and recieved none. I have hoped and prayed for someone to ask forgiveness for being rude, or hurting me and yet I recieved none. Forgive me for trying to not be one of those people. I ask forgiveness just as I ask and thank those who help me. Second nature for wrong-doing."

Arrisa stood up from her relaxed position. " I made it here too late after the war, and didnt even hear about Dotado until only a few weeks ago.. I have been no help to anyone.." She said softly, her eyes never moving from the sad state of the school and surrounding buildings. " Pathetic excuse for a friend I have become. I ran.. I ran from prejudice.. I ran from hate.. I ran like a little child would run from the dark. Scared of something that should mean nothing.. And I came back to nothing.. My friend is gone.. the one I loved wants nothing to do with me. " She muttered it, not even expecting an answer from any of them. "Congrats man.. All of you can say that you have made something of yourselves.. Or your parents have made you proud.. Or whatever you please. " She shook her head and let her arms fall to her sides. She was quickly chilled, but didnt move to gain that position back. Too defensive it seemed to have arms crossed in front of you like you were trying to ward something off.

[Mousiemus Prime]

" You have done only one came to you naturally. We flee as well when our lives are in serious danger. It is something many creatures of this world have in common. Arissa, do not let the fact you weren't here to help drag you too far down. For there are still many things you can do now. Things that you can be proud of." Rayner said kindly, moving as well and taking his black coat off. He held it out, revealing tha he wore a long sleeve white button up over his dark gray tee. " You look cold." He added with a pleasent smile and motion with his hand for her to take the jacket.


Gabrielle moved only to stand between Ellis and the tree, the smell of blood ripping through her mind. However, her fangs did not grow larger, her eyes didn't turn to those of a feline. They remained the same as her body was happy with what she had had earlier. Her fill for the day had been met. Though she looked to Ellis. " You have cut your hand. When you get home, I suggest bandaging it. It could get infected." Was all she said concerning the blood that had trickled from his hands and the blood was ran through his hair. " I also suggest you take a shower. You're hair is also now covered in blood." She added softly.

" Yes, Ellis.Our parents made several large donations to help rebuild many buildings destroyed by the war. The old mansion on top of that far hill is where we reside. Though it is in shambles and looks to be coming down, it is sturdy and safe. You prehaps received donations from Ramos Davian. He is my father's friend, who handles our business when we cannot." Rayner said, turning icy blue eyes to the young man who now smelt of fresh blood. Like his sister it burned his nose but didn't drive him to crave the blood.

" We were here ourselves awhile, trying to help. Though vampires are no good during the day, we helped as much as possible at night. Rayner is the only one of our family who is half-blood. He helped the young miss the runs Russu Inn with some heaving lifting." Gabrielle said with a happy note, remembering the friendly Lorna from many years ago. It had been a long time since Gabrielle had seen Lorna. She wondered how the young girl was doing with her inn.

Though their accents were heavy, dancing with their words, The Valerious siblings spoke with nothing but pure english. They were well manored and well behaved for what many would call monsters. These two and their family were in fact very far from monsters. They were honorable people of society.

[Deon]

"I know how it feels to lose someone you love, Arissa," Ellis whispered, as if he were sharing his most intimate secret to console her. The way he spoke made it seem as though he had known her for years, as if she was his truest, best, and only friend. He had a strange way of making people feel as though they were important, the way he spoke to them... And he was always good with names. At the same time, as of late it seemed he had inspired some uneasiness, uncomfortable feelings that bubbled up in people's minds for some reason at his outward queer calmness. "Even though I've tried to do so many things, spread myself as thin as I possibly could, trying to drive back some of the evils of this world, it's never enough... like an unconquerable disease. But someday..." his words trailed off as his eyes stared into blank space, unseeing, though in his mind he was able to envision a brighter future.... brighter hearts... brighter humanity.

His imagination was cut off by Gabrielle's voice. He had noticed, of course, the small scratches on his hand, but had not done anything about it. It wasn't anything major, and he had gone through much, much worse. Being shot brings real pain into perspective. Besides, he usually cared about others more than he cared about himself. That wasn't the most healthy of his selfless habits. Still, her advice was appreciated, and he nodded meekly. "Of course. If nothing else, I'll wash it. Thank you for your concern."

The male sibling spoke now. The name he mentioned easily registered in his mind. "Yes, Ramos Davian is quite a contributor for the cause. Many projects would have been nearly impossible without his funding," Ellis remarked. The man was a generous philanthropist, and his money was definitely a cornerstone of the Restoration Committee. The committee had also used it to fund many of the necessities for the shelter in town, helping the poor souls who could not afford to support themselves. Ellis was active in that as well.

More crickets in his ears. Crickets and cicadas. The high-pitched screech of a bat from far-off, echoing its way through the night. Ellis related to how it felt, depending on its radar to see. What did darkness look like? Darkness...

"Does anyone have the time?" The question was sudden and almost entirely unprecedented, but he had an early day tomorrow, and it would probably be best for him to be getting back sometime soon.

[Tiff'blz]

"Running from what I did is hardly the honorable thing to do.. And to help now.. Where would I start?" She asked, looking from Rayner to the jacket and back again before accepting the jacket. She draped it over her shoulders and lowered her eyes. "Thank you." She whispered softly. "You are kind." She looked up, "Losing someone you love.. it is a fate worse than death. Of that I am sure..but to have your love turn from you.. That is a feeling that I would rather not try to describe.." She said slowly, her eyes carressing the darkened horizon as she spoke from the depth of her heart.

"I guess my actions did not deserve such kindness.." She shook her head. "No..of that I am sure..but enough about me!" She said trying to change the subject before she couldnt repress the memories or the tears. " Oh.. I would say that it is hitting the 11 oclock mark dont you think?" She asked, turning to Gabriella and Rayner. "I cant say for sure, I cannot see my watch face anymore..Its too dark." Arrisa shrugged and wrapped the jacket around her tighter, unaware until he had pointed it out that the night air had aquired a chill. She couldnt help but catch the scent. The jacket smelled of soap and a male's cologne, but it was so subtle that at first she had not caught it. Unconsciously she brought the jacket closer to her face.

[Mousiemus Prime]

" You're welcome. I try to be as kind as possible." Rayner said with that smile fading, as he hadn't the energy to smile much longer. He looked at her wrist, eyes accustomed to the darkness of night and nodded his head. " Yes, it's about 11." He confirmed as he looked back to the sky full of shimmering stars. His sister had drifted away and was singing her song once more, looking to the sky from the top of the tree.

The bats that had flown above were circling her and she smiled, ending her song to join them in a dance among the stairs. In one strang movement she bacame a bat, large and eligant as it soared through the air with the others. Her call was more musical than the others, and wasn't exactly needed persay. However, she was having fun flying with her fellow bats.

" And there she goes." Sighed Rayner as he watched the large bat streak across the moon. He shook his head, knowing that if he wanted he could fallow. However, things seemed more interesting where he stood now. Again, he leaned himself on the door frame, looking to Arissa. Then to Ellis " Mr. Davain's money was actually our money. He, later that is, decided to use his own money as he began to feel he wasn't helping a lot. Strange man, but a good friend to our family." Rayner said with a slow nod of his head.

[Deon]

((Ah... weird AM/PMers... >> XD))

"I wouldn't know what it feels like to die," Ellis remarked, still not really thinking about his words. They just came from his mouth, from the shell of the body of which the mind has left to think about other things. There was no human behind it. He shrugged and smiled slightly, spreading his hands. "Who am I to know?"

Ellis murmured a thanks when Rayner confirmed the time, though his soft voice was all but lost by the singing of the half-vampire's sister and the screeches of the bats that were becoming more frequent. His sensitive ears were ringing from the repeated high-pitched sounds. It was beginning to make his head swim. He shivered slightly from the cold and wondered vaguely why he hadn't brought a jacket. The thought was dismissed as quickly as it was brought up.

But it was nearly midnight. Midnight. He should probably be getting back soon. Howevermuch he was the embodiment of chastity, the priest would undoubtedly be suspicious about the late-night carousing of a man his age. It was definitely not the first time that he was out much past a reasonable hour, and it would easily take him another three quarters of an hour to get back to the church at the rate that he would go. He wasn't even exactly sure of his surroundings, and his radar... He was just so exhausted. He hadn't the energy. He wasn't really paying attention to what Rayner said next, another offhand comment about Davian. It didn't warrant much of a response. Nonetheless, he nodded appropriately, though he would have probably responded the same way if he had been asked a question that didn't have a yes or no answer. He cringed at the sound of another bat's squeal adding to the existing din, but didn't say anything. The sound made his blood run cold. Like the scraping of pieces of machinery together. Ellis shuddered, this time not from the temperature.

He didn't know what to do. He had nothing else to say. Well, of course there were always things. He wanted to go, but he didn't know what to say to excuse himself, or where he would even head. He was all turned around. This was all a bad idea. But while he was here... he should try to console the girl, try to... try to... try to help someone... But his lips didn't move, and neither did his body. He stood, leaning a portion of his weight on the ruined wall, feeling the rough rocks bite into his skin through the cotton of his shirt, silently.

((So bad... I've made Ellis WAY too depressed. XD Trying to alleviate his mood a little. He's not Ellis-y enough. And I don't know what to POOOOST.... >> << >>

Oh, and Mousie, I'd love to do an RP with Ellis and Beatrix, if you're up for it sometime.))