"Swift and Painless" John, New Hampshire, Taken aback by the little girls' dog, John falls backwards onto his ass. The dog barks threateningly, putting John into a state of panic as he slowly backs away, staining his raggedy clothing with ash. A little girl yells threats at him, hiding behind a self-constructed alias and peashooter. John frowns as his eyes trace around the girls' small pistol, she carried it with what little strength she had left. It was too big for her, John had analyzed that she lacked in any gun training. She kept to her unwavering, firm persona and with beady eyes, stared at John, waiting for him to make any sudden moves.
Raising his hands up, John surrenders. He knew that it wasn't worth fighting; not much fight was still in him. He gave pity to this malnourished child who lived off scraps of irradiated food.
-"I have food." John speaks weakly, his throat sore.
The girl doesn't respond verbally, only nodding downward at his pack of food. Following her motion, John reaches into his pack and rummages through it, removing two small bags of chips. He tosses the bags up to her, she catches one, the other slips from her reach. She hungrily breaks into the bags, the rattling of one echoing throughout the solitary.
-"What's your name, little girl?" John asks as he looks at the feasting child.
The child stops mid-feast, swallowing what little crumbs she mustered from the bottom of the bag.
-"My names Valeria." She says behind a soft-silky voice.
Johns' eyes look to her innocent face as she opens the other bag.
-"How old are you?" John questions again, curious of this child.
((Sure.)) "Highway to the South" John, New Hampshire, A grimness had settled swiftly over the war-torn landscape of the once vast and mountainous state of New Hampshire. Prosperous cities were devastated by the atomic power just ten years ago. It seemed like a distant memory to John, he'd spent years pouring over the ruins and only stopped to ponder before going into an always uneasy sleep. He'd think over the war, but primarily his family, John always thought back to his family, his wife's smile, his daughters sweet laughter. Raising from a daydream, John's eyes flash forward as he trudges along an ash covered road. Scorched cars littered the road, making it a maze that was uneasily navigated by any passerby.
A mild breeze eased over John as he weaved around the cars, occasionally looking into one, scanning for anything useful, only to be shot down by the charred remains of personal items and unlucky people. Sighing, John stops his walk and slides down the side of a car to the ash covered ground, resting his head between his knees as he cries to himself. John has become somewhat neurotic since the bombs dropped. It was an emotional thing, played in part due to him being mentally torn.
Crying over the loss of his family, the way everything turned out; it was overwhelming. Quickly wiping his tears away, John pulls himself together as he drags himself to his feet. The weight he bore on his right shoulder pained his arthritis, sending volts of pain primarily to his right arm. Brushing it off and continuing onward, John had become callus to the consistent pain. It wasn't just a physical pain, his cancer was physical, yes, but it bore an insurmountable pain of impending death. And though John was ready to embrace it, he was still scared of what it'd bring, be it a life after death, or eternal darkness. As with the pain he adopted, new beliefs shaped his outlook on life. He'd grown to be an atheist, believing that no sentient being would purposefully plunge a beautiful world into war, tearing the Earth apart into a land of death and ash.
"The Figure Beyond the Door" Knights of the Grey, Jacob and Axel, A momentary glare brushes off the tip of Jacob's sword as he inches into the room. Similar to the other rooms, this one was scarce in decorations but yet it embodied a presence foreign to the room itself. Smelling the air, residue of cinnamon and pumpkin swelled into his nostrils. The smell was that of a freshly, half-eaten, autumns pie. Squinting, Jacob makes out the outline of a figure standing by the window.
-"I know you're there." Jacob announces, tightening his grip on the handle of sword.
There was no reply, just momentary silence.
-"Very clever of you to use an invisibility spell, however, thanks to our senses, we can tell who hides in the shadows." Jacob says as he slowly inches towards the window.
-"You'd be smart to back-off while you can." The figure says with trembling breaths.
-"YOU'd be smart to come with us." Axel counters.
As footprints mark the start of the figures run, Jacob grabs her cloak, thrusting her back and pulling harshly on her neck. The figure stumbles backwards and falls to the ground. Quickly thinking, Axel undo's the figures invisibility spell, exposing a woman draped in a hooded cloak. Her skin resembled that of Elven descent and her ears looked the part.
-"So, word has it that you're the one who started some sort of fire in the lower districts..." Jacob interrogates.
-"N-No, I wasn't involved, I just got here." The woman says.
-"Really, so why cast an invisibility spell over you? One would think you wouldn't need to unless you were expecting visitors..." Jacob counters.
-"I-I felt like I was being followed." She says.
-"By who?" Axel inquires.
The woman looks up at Axel with beady eyes as she clears her throat.
-"Assassins." She says, unsettled.
-"And why would these assassins be after you?" Jacob asks.
-"I-I-I'm in debt, forgot to pay some men." She says.
-"Enough of the bullsh*t!" Axel yells, thrusting the blade towards her, stopping at the neck as she screamed in fear.
With raised arms, she starts mumbling quickly, explaining things, talking of the fire.
-"So you hired mercenaries to help do your dirty work, then framed someone else." Jacob sums up.
The woman nods, tears streaming from her eyes.
-"Why?" Axel asks.
-"I-I thought it'd be fun." She says.
A look of disgust treads over Jacob's face as he looks down at her.
-"You're sick." Jacob hisses at her.
After finishing a lengthy conversation, the topic ends on one last note.
-"What's your name?" Jacob asks as he thrusts her upwards, binding her hands together.
-"A-Anna." She stutters as tears drift from her eyes.
-"Come on, you're coming with us." Jacob says, keeping a steady hand on her as he directs her out of her room.
-"To where?" She asks.
-"The guards."
Axel looks over her room as Jacob pulls her out, his eyes land on the right bed stand. A small, crinkly paper rested, unrolled, words scrawled across the page.
T, As you commanded, I've started a fire in the lower districts of Evergrove, I expect that it should spread pretty far up the hill. I don't know what you hope to accomplish from this, but the pay was good so I trust your plans are justified.
-A
Pocketing the letter, Axel turns and heads out of the room and down the stairs, pondering over the purpose of the letter.
((Sarg, your third person is good, it's descriptive and quick to the point. Charge, you are imaginative, and have a good starting third person perspective, but it lacks in description and depth, making it hard to understand what's going on.))
((Warning, contains mild sexual themes)) "Moving In?" John, With an unprecedented winning of the card game, John laughs as he drinks his second bottle of beer. Chris and Greg jokingly argue amoungst each other, talking smack about their card playing abilities. The night had finished with a simple round of Uker, John and Kate coming out on top, Chris and Greg left in the dust. Kate high fives John as she laughs, leaning back and smiling amoungst the table. Chris laughs as he stands from his chair, grabbing the bag of chips he was eating, Greg chases him as Chris throws chips at his head. The two laugh and mess around, acting childish. John watches, turned towards them, laughing as they prepare to rough house. Feeling something brush him, John turns his attention to Kate's hand which rests on his lap. Smiling to her, Kate motions for him to follow her. The two proceed to the second floor, slipping from Chris and Greg's view as they laugh. Drawing John to his room, Kate pampers him to a night of long needed passion.
Awaking at her side, John looks onto Kate's naked body. The room was darkly lit, the breeze from a ceiling fan drifts a nice breeze over the room. Rubbing his eyes, John lifts himself up, stretching his back a little before looking back to Kate. She sleeps soundly before accidentally being awoken to John stepping out of bed.
-"Hey." She says sleepily. -"Hey." John responds awkwardly as he pulls his underwear over his lower body. -"How'd you sleep?" Kate asks, rubbing her eyes, exposing her breasts. -"Great, you?" -"I slept fantastically." Kate responds, smiling at John as he runs his hands through his hair.
John approaches the side of the bed Kate laid on, she looks up to him with a smile as he plants a long kiss on her lips.
-"I love you." John says, holding her face between his hands. -"I love you too." Kate responds, blushing.
Climbing into bed with her, John pulls Kate closer to him into a spooning position. He kisses her neck as he places his hand on her stomach.
-"I've been thinking, John...I wanna move in with you." Kate says.
John raises his head a little to look onto Kate who turns her head to him.
-"You do?" John asks, raising an eyebrow. -"Yes, we've been dating for awhile now and I want to take it to the next step, would you be okay with that?"
There's a momentary pause as John thinks over Kate's words. He didn't think the relationship would last this long, and it was true, he loved her, but part of him was scared of a more serious, committed relationship. Maybe this was a way of growing up, maturing into an adult. Running his hand up her arm, John kisses her.
-"Of course." John says.
He watches as Kate smiles, turning her body towards him, her chest pressed against his.
((Sorry, I didn't know if I could take over your character temporarily or not.)) Judah's Tavern, Knights of the Grey, Jacob, Axel, Derek, Adriana, and Drelken, A subtle and faint uneasiness settled over the tavern as the door was thrusted open, exposing the afternoon breeze into the fire-warmed tavern. The patrons go quiet as the door is slammed behind a shady figure, covered in a cloak. Without a word spoken, the figure advances up the side stairs, presumably to a rented room. Jacobs eyes follow her as he returns his attention to Axel.
-"I think we've found our person." Jacob says as he motions for Axel to follow him.
The two follow the figure's lead up the wooden stairs, the creak of aged wood marks each advancing step. Upon reaching the first landing, the two peer up the last section of stairs. It led to a dimly lit corridor littered with rooms.
-"You check the first two, I'll get the rest." Jacob commands as he slowly makes his way up the stairs.
Axel nods and follows Jacob as they reach the final steps. The corridor was sparse in room and the only light was that from a distant, red candle. Jacobs eyes peer downwards towards the last three doors. With almost quick succession, Jacob pick-locks one of the doors, Axel follows his lead as he begins his pick-locking. Within ten seconds, Jacob unlocks the first door and slowly eases it open, mindful of even the slightest creak. Looking in, Jacob's eyes scan the room. It was candle-lit and varied in decoration, having a goat-skin bed and dresser. The curtains were drawn, blocking view of the outside, though light still shown in. Empty with life, Jacob turns back to the last two doors. With precision, Jacob easily opens the next door only to find a man and prostitute having intercourse. Promptly apologizing at the cursing lovers, Jacob closes the door and look upon the last one. Axel emerges from the first room and shakes his head at Jacob before turning his attention to the other door.
With stealthy hands, Jacob turns the lock on the door, listening to the soft yet audible click of the locking mechanism being released. The door is carefully opened, light shines through the growing crack as Jacob's steady hand slowly pulls the door forward.
0
0
John,
New Hampshire,
Taken aback by the little girls' dog, John falls backwards onto his ass. The dog barks threateningly, putting John into a state of panic as he slowly backs away, staining his raggedy clothing with ash. A little girl yells threats at him, hiding behind a self-constructed alias and peashooter. John frowns as his eyes trace around the girls' small pistol, she carried it with what little strength she had left. It was too big for her, John had analyzed that she lacked in any gun training. She kept to her unwavering, firm persona and with beady eyes, stared at John, waiting for him to make any sudden moves.
Raising his hands up, John surrenders. He knew that it wasn't worth fighting; not much fight was still in him. He gave pity to this malnourished child who lived off scraps of irradiated food.
-"I have food." John speaks weakly, his throat sore.
The girl doesn't respond verbally, only nodding downward at his pack of food. Following her motion, John reaches into his pack and rummages through it, removing two small bags of chips. He tosses the bags up to her, she catches one, the other slips from her reach. She hungrily breaks into the bags, the rattling of one echoing throughout the solitary.
-"What's your name, little girl?" John asks as he looks at the feasting child.
The child stops mid-feast, swallowing what little crumbs she mustered from the bottom of the bag.
-"My names Valeria." She says behind a soft-silky voice.
Johns' eyes look to her innocent face as she opens the other bag.
-"How old are you?" John questions again, curious of this child.
0
0
0
0
0
"Highway to the South"
John,
New Hampshire,
A grimness had settled swiftly over the war-torn landscape of the once vast and mountainous state of New Hampshire. Prosperous cities were devastated by the atomic power just ten years ago. It seemed like a distant memory to John, he'd spent years pouring over the ruins and only stopped to ponder before going into an always uneasy sleep. He'd think over the war, but primarily his family, John always thought back to his family, his wife's smile, his daughters sweet laughter. Raising from a daydream, John's eyes flash forward as he trudges along an ash covered road. Scorched cars littered the road, making it a maze that was uneasily navigated by any passerby.
A mild breeze eased over John as he weaved around the cars, occasionally looking into one, scanning for anything useful, only to be shot down by the charred remains of personal items and unlucky people. Sighing, John stops his walk and slides down the side of a car to the ash covered ground, resting his head between his knees as he cries to himself. John has become somewhat neurotic since the bombs dropped. It was an emotional thing, played in part due to him being mentally torn.
Crying over the loss of his family, the way everything turned out; it was overwhelming. Quickly wiping his tears away, John pulls himself together as he drags himself to his feet. The weight he bore on his right shoulder pained his arthritis, sending volts of pain primarily to his right arm. Brushing it off and continuing onward, John had become callus to the consistent pain. It wasn't just a physical pain, his cancer was physical, yes, but it bore an insurmountable pain of impending death. And though John was ready to embrace it, he was still scared of what it'd bring, be it a life after death, or eternal darkness. As with the pain he adopted, new beliefs shaped his outlook on life. He'd grown to be an atheist, believing that no sentient being would purposefully plunge a beautiful world into war, tearing the Earth apart into a land of death and ash.
0
Knights of the Grey,
Jacob and Axel,
A momentary glare brushes off the tip of Jacob's sword as he inches into the room. Similar to the other rooms, this one was scarce in decorations but yet it embodied a presence foreign to the room itself. Smelling the air, residue of cinnamon and pumpkin swelled into his nostrils. The smell was that of a freshly, half-eaten, autumns pie. Squinting, Jacob makes out the outline of a figure standing by the window.
-"I know you're there." Jacob announces, tightening his grip on the handle of sword.
There was no reply, just momentary silence.
-"Very clever of you to use an invisibility spell, however, thanks to our senses, we can tell who hides in the shadows." Jacob says as he slowly inches towards the window.
-"You'd be smart to back-off while you can." The figure says with trembling breaths.
-"YOU'd be smart to come with us." Axel counters.
As footprints mark the start of the figures run, Jacob grabs her cloak, thrusting her back and pulling harshly on her neck. The figure stumbles backwards and falls to the ground. Quickly thinking, Axel undo's the figures invisibility spell, exposing a woman draped in a hooded cloak. Her skin resembled that of Elven descent and her ears looked the part.
-"So, word has it that you're the one who started some sort of fire in the lower districts..." Jacob interrogates.
-"N-No, I wasn't involved, I just got here." The woman says.
-"Really, so why cast an invisibility spell over you? One would think you wouldn't need to unless you were expecting visitors..." Jacob counters.
-"I-I felt like I was being followed." She says.
-"By who?" Axel inquires.
The woman looks up at Axel with beady eyes as she clears her throat.
-"Assassins." She says, unsettled.
-"And why would these assassins be after you?" Jacob asks.
-"I-I-I'm in debt, forgot to pay some men." She says.
-"Enough of the bullsh*t!" Axel yells, thrusting the blade towards her, stopping at the neck as she screamed in fear.
With raised arms, she starts mumbling quickly, explaining things, talking of the fire.
-"So you hired mercenaries to help do your dirty work, then framed someone else." Jacob sums up.
The woman nods, tears streaming from her eyes.
-"Why?" Axel asks.
-"I-I thought it'd be fun." She says.
A look of disgust treads over Jacob's face as he looks down at her.
-"You're sick." Jacob hisses at her.
After finishing a lengthy conversation, the topic ends on one last note.
-"What's your name?" Jacob asks as he thrusts her upwards, binding her hands together.
-"A-Anna." She stutters as tears drift from her eyes.
-"Come on, you're coming with us." Jacob says, keeping a steady hand on her as he directs her out of her room.
-"To where?" She asks.
-"The guards."
Axel looks over her room as Jacob pulls her out, his eyes land on the right bed stand. A small, crinkly paper rested, unrolled, words scrawled across the page.
T,
As you commanded, I've started a fire in the lower districts of Evergrove, I expect that it should spread pretty far up the hill. I don't know what you hope to accomplish from this, but the pay was good so I trust your plans are justified.
Pocketing the letter, Axel turns and heads out of the room and down the stairs, pondering over the purpose of the letter.
0
0
0
"Moving In?"
John,
With an unprecedented winning of the card game, John laughs as he drinks his second bottle of beer. Chris and Greg jokingly argue amoungst each other, talking smack about their card playing abilities. The night had finished with a simple round of Uker, John and Kate coming out on top, Chris and Greg left in the dust. Kate high fives John as she laughs, leaning back and smiling amoungst the table. Chris laughs as he stands from his chair, grabbing the bag of chips he was eating, Greg chases him as Chris throws chips at his head. The two laugh and mess around, acting childish. John watches, turned towards them, laughing as they prepare to rough house. Feeling something brush him, John turns his attention to Kate's hand which rests on his lap. Smiling to her, Kate motions for him to follow her. The two proceed to the second floor, slipping from Chris and Greg's view as they laugh. Drawing John to his room, Kate pampers him to a night of long needed passion.
Awaking at her side, John looks onto Kate's naked body. The room was darkly lit, the breeze from a ceiling fan drifts a nice breeze over the room. Rubbing his eyes, John lifts himself up, stretching his back a little before looking back to Kate. She sleeps soundly before accidentally being awoken to John stepping out of bed.
-"Hey." She says sleepily.
-"Hey." John responds awkwardly as he pulls his underwear over his lower body.
-"How'd you sleep?" Kate asks, rubbing her eyes, exposing her breasts.
-"Great, you?"
-"I slept fantastically." Kate responds, smiling at John as he runs his hands through his hair.
John approaches the side of the bed Kate laid on, she looks up to him with a smile as he plants a long kiss on her lips.
-"I love you." John says, holding her face between his hands.
-"I love you too." Kate responds, blushing.
Climbing into bed with her, John pulls Kate closer to him into a spooning position. He kisses her neck as he places his hand on her stomach.
-"I've been thinking, John...I wanna move in with you." Kate says.
John raises his head a little to look onto Kate who turns her head to him.
-"You do?" John asks, raising an eyebrow.
-"Yes, we've been dating for awhile now and I want to take it to the next step, would you be okay with that?"
There's a momentary pause as John thinks over Kate's words. He didn't think the relationship would last this long, and it was true, he loved her, but part of him was scared of a more serious, committed relationship. Maybe this was a way of growing up, maturing into an adult. Running his hand up her arm, John kisses her.
-"Of course." John says.
He watches as Kate smiles, turning her body towards him, her chest pressed against his.
0
0
0
Judah's Tavern,
Knights of the Grey,
Jacob, Axel, Derek, Adriana, and Drelken,
A subtle and faint uneasiness settled over the tavern as the door was thrusted open, exposing the afternoon breeze into the fire-warmed tavern. The patrons go quiet as the door is slammed behind a shady figure, covered in a cloak. Without a word spoken, the figure advances up the side stairs, presumably to a rented room. Jacobs eyes follow her as he returns his attention to Axel.
-"I think we've found our person." Jacob says as he motions for Axel to follow him.
The two follow the figure's lead up the wooden stairs, the creak of aged wood marks each advancing step. Upon reaching the first landing, the two peer up the last section of stairs. It led to a dimly lit corridor littered with rooms.
-"You check the first two, I'll get the rest." Jacob commands as he slowly makes his way up the stairs.
Axel nods and follows Jacob as they reach the final steps. The corridor was sparse in room and the only light was that from a distant, red candle. Jacobs eyes peer downwards towards the last three doors. With almost quick succession, Jacob pick-locks one of the doors, Axel follows his lead as he begins his pick-locking. Within ten seconds, Jacob unlocks the first door and slowly eases it open, mindful of even the slightest creak. Looking in, Jacob's eyes scan the room. It was candle-lit and varied in decoration, having a goat-skin bed and dresser. The curtains were drawn, blocking view of the outside, though light still shown in. Empty with life, Jacob turns back to the last two doors. With precision, Jacob easily opens the next door only to find a man and prostitute having intercourse. Promptly apologizing at the cursing lovers, Jacob closes the door and look upon the last one. Axel emerges from the first room and shakes his head at Jacob before turning his attention to the other door.
With stealthy hands, Jacob turns the lock on the door, listening to the soft yet audible click of the locking mechanism being released. The door is carefully opened, light shines through the growing crack as Jacob's steady hand slowly pulls the door forward.
0