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Post by Sprow on Jan 24, 2013 2:24:09 GMT -5
Damien watched as everyone filtered out of the room. Some much slower than others, seeming to fear leaving Damien by himself with Orion. At this point, if Orion did decide to attack him or kill him, Damien might not even care. He didn't think his life had any meaning anymore. He had thought he was a hero. Ivan had taken that all away from him. Everything he believed was nothing. The things he thought he knew were all wrong. Now, the orphanage was damaged, Romi was in tears and some of the kids were dead because of the fire. Damien wondered how he was managing to stay sane at this point.
As he stood there, he didn't expect Orion to get back to his feet. Without warning, Orion was now right in Damien's face. His breath really stunk to the high heavens. Damien was almost tempted to stick a tic tac in his mouth it was that bad. He couldn't conceal his nose scrunching up with distaste at the smell. What Orion was shouting at him, it sounded like he had blamed everything on Damien. Of course, this sparked Damien's anger too.
"NO ONE ASKED YOU TO GO AND STAB YOUR SOLDIER!" Damien thundered. Okay, Damien's patience was long gone at this point. He shoved Orion's finger off his chest for added measure. Of course, at this point, Damien didn't realize he was arguing with a drunk and looking foolish for it. Oh well, he was too mentally screwed right now anyway. Anyone in his position would be searching for a means to get everything off their chest. They would even search for scapegoats. Orion, temporarily, seemed to be that scapegoat.
It took every fiber of Damien's being not to strangle Orion for the "daddy's boy" comment and him not knowing how to lead. On top of it, Orion was starting to laugh. What he said next was what had thrown Damien off the deep end. Shooting out a hand to grab Orion's shirt collar, he pulled him in close. Glaring into the drunk's eyes, he spoke.
"I'm nothing like them! As for them, you may be right but I am nothing like them!" Damien growled. He released Orion and started walking away. It took every fiber of his being not to turn around and punch Orion in the face. He also partially didn't want to right now because he was in enough pain as it already was. He didn't need to earn himself more pain by getting into a fist fight with someone who was drunk out of their mind. If Orion persisted, he might just toss him into a portal like he did with that Ivan kid and watch him fall through an endless loop for a few minutes.
"...I could never be like that...I'd never harm my own son whether if I adopted him or not. I'd never strike him and would pay him attention. I would praise him for the things he did and love him regardless of what he did. I wouldn't beat him...I wouldn't break him emotionally either..." Of course, Damien knew Orion probably wouldn't understand anything of what he was saying. Still, he felt like he had to say it if only to help relieve himself of his own turmoil right now. Whether Orion cared or not mattered not to Damien. He just had to get it off his chest. What better way to do it with someone that wouldn't even remember it anyway?
"...I wouldn't take away things that he loved...like that orphanage..." With that, Damien turned and headed out of the room.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2013 22:53:49 GMT -5
Man everyone just seemed to be harassing Orion today. Getting thrown out of the bar, the people at the gate, and now Damien too! Orion heard the words Damien said, but he didn't believe him. They were all the same here. Orion watched the man go and leave Orion on his own.
"Always alone." Orion said to himself. Tears threatened to form form his eyes. He suddenly felt very alone. "I've failed my mission. No way they will trust me now." Orion was sobering up slowly now. Already his head was starting to hurt, a sign that his body was not that happy with his alcohol assumption.
"It seems you need some help." A voice came from behind Orion. Turning around, Orion had to blink a couple of times. The two elfs from back in Twilight Town suddenly appeared. Where had they come from?
Orion had a lot of alcohol in his system, but he would have seen them enter. It didn't occur to him that there might be a back door to this place. Or that someone could have possibly traveled into this room via a corridor of darkness. "What do you mean?"
The elf with the short cut blond hair stepped forward to speak, the elf with the long long black hair and two kantanas at his side stepped forward too but still stood behind the other elf with his hands on his kantans. "You wish to expose this organization do you not? And from what it seems to me you are no longer in a position to do that."
Well that was true. Even if Orion wasn't drunk he'd have agreed that he really wasn't in a position to do much harm to the organization. Not when no one was trusting him. "And who are you to help me? If you haven't noticed I've already failed once. Currently I don't see how I can do much of anything." Orion really was starting to get a headache. His stomach was also beginning to churn as well. "I need another drink!" He thought.
"Ah! Well you see I am a person with resources. I can make these resources available to you. With them you will be able to achieve your goal. Surely you'll even be welcomed back as a Prince."
To have everything back... Orion would do anything right now to fulfill this. Something in the back of Orion's mind told him that this was a terrible person to deal with, but the alcohol still in his system made it easy to ignore. "Alright give them to me."
"Not so fast young prince. Nothing in this universe is free. I am a busy man, and my resources are thin. It will cost you."
That voice in the back of his head was screaming to not make any sort of deal, but again Orion ignored it. "I ran out of money..." Orion had spent it all on the alcohol.
"Oh not to worry prince. What you will owe me will not be money. You shall owe me a life of my choice." The elf told him.
Orion didn't get it. What did he mean? Seeing the confusion the elf clarified. "Well perhaps its better to put it that you will owe me the death of a person of my choice."
Kill someone... Orion had never killed anyone in cold blood before. Even the knights they had fought in Twilight Town he had merely knocked out. But sometimes a Prince had to do things for the good of the kingdom. "Alright. I'll do it!" The elf grinned in response and held out his hand for Orion to shake.
Stepping forward Orion grabbed the hand. When he did he felt the elf's grip tighten and some kind of energy pulse into his arm. Orion pulled his arm back in surprise as he watched black lines travel up the inside of his hands like veins. They vanished as they passed, traveling behind his shirt. Orion felt like he was tricked! "What was that?!" Orion exclaimed!
The elf lowered his hand. "Just an insurance young prince. No need to worry. Just remember our bargain and you will have nothing to worry about." The elf turned suddenly away from Orion as did the other elf with him. It seemed like they were going to leave!
"Wait! What about the resources?"
Without turning around, the blond elf said, "They will find you young prince. Goodbye Prince." Orion watched the elf raise a hand in farewell and then he was gone.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 25, 2013 8:23:27 GMT -5
Damien knew nothing of the events that took place in the training room when he had left it. As he had exited the room, he looked one more time around the facility. Due to their symbol having been emblazoned upon that rooftop, Damien wouldn't blame Romi and her husband if they hadn't anything more to do with him. He would visit them one last time tomorrow before taking it upon himself to no longer bother them after the orphanage had been burned down.
He wouldn't forget this night. It was the most horrible night he had in his life. If he had the power, he would take on Ivan by himself. However, he had to wait and bid his time. Once the perfect opportunity arose, he would get revenge. Damien hated the man for what he had done to him. Who could say such a thing to someone anyway? How could anyone raise someone to be nothing but a killing machine and basically, their errand boy to boot? Damien despised the man. The man he had once thought of as his father and held a deep respect for.
As he had left the training room, he saw some of the members of the Order still standing outside. They looked at him, almost unbelievingly as he walked by as if they were surprised he was unharmed. Damien just gave them a bit of an annoyed look. "None of you better harass him about that orphanage, do you hear me?" he told them. Those there merely nodded. Whether or not they'd obey him remained yet to be seen. However, if he caught them at it, he would show them enough was enough. He really didn't believe someone like Orion could have possibly made that symbol in the fire. It took someone with skilled magic whose mind wasn't distorted by alcohol.
Walking down the halls, Damien tore open a portal. As he did so, he came out to the room he had been taking up residence in for a time. No one was there and it was here where Damien could rest. Considering the crap he went through, he felt that he sorely needed it. That didn't mean the night would slip by though depending on the night's events that were to come. Still, some sleep would be appreciated at this point. Heading over to the bed, Damien laid himself on it and shut his eyes. He knew he had a guard outside his room but he was always careful to sleep in a half asleep state where at a moment's notice, he could wake up if anything suspicious took place. For added measure, he even set up a portal about himself that where others couldn't see if they tried slitting his throat at night. They would only end up phasing through the portal and end up somewhere else instead.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2013 21:09:04 GMT -5
Orion stepped out of the building. He had a headache, was tired, and slightly nauseous. He just wanted to make it back to his room and sleep the rest of this alcohol away. Tomorrow he'd find these resources he was promised.
He barely noticed the people outside. The majority had been told to go back to their rooms, but the head recruiters were all still awake. They were speaking and dealing with trying to figure out who was behind the orphanage. They eyed Orion suspiciously as he passed, but by their eyes left him when he disappeared into the barracks.
Going down the hall he found his door and went inside. Orion didn't even bother to change or take his shoes off. He fell onto his bed and let sleep take him.
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It was late into the night and still he could not get the letter out of his mind. Prince Julian lay in his bed, starring at the sealing while trying to forget the letter that sat on his desk. Shutting his eyes, Julian wished to just go to sleep.
"I have to read it again." Julian forced himself up reluctantly. He turned on the light switch by his bed to dimly light his room.
At the Wilder Dojo they were all given pretty much the same sort of room. There was his bed, his desk, an ice box, a sink, a dresser, and a bookshelf. The floor was carpeted and the walls decorated with different pictures and awards. He'd been here for three years.
Prince Julian had joined the Wilder Dojo over the other schools because it was the most famous. "And now I will have to leave it all. This was my last year. I was to graduate."
Julian reached his desk and picked up the white parchment. The first thing he looked at was his father's signature. The rest of the letter was written in another person's hand writing, but there was no denying his father's signature. He read the letter again still struggling with disbelief.
"Prince Orion Lotus has forsaken his duty, and has thrown away his title of Prince. He has gone to join the Order of the Destroyer. Son you are needed at home. There must be a Prince of the Kingdom. Julian you must come at once and take Orion's place."
Julian didn't know what was worse. The fact that his older brother had gone renegade or that he had to become the heir. "You never wanted me before father. You only want me because of my title." Julian had never been like his older brother. Orion was a born natural leader. Their father pushed him hard, but that was only to prepare Orion.
Julian was nothing like him. He was quieter and shyer. He would have much preferred spending his time studying about history then about being a prince and running a kingdom.
Placing the note back down on the desk, footsteps outside his room made him turn towards the door. A moment later Mara entered. She was dressed in a black sleeveless shirt and pink pajama pants with a poka-dot pattern on them. Her long purple dyed hair flowed straight down to her middle back. Brown eyes and a pale face looked at him up and down.
Julian was in pajamas of his own, a long robe around his shoulders, black light pants, and a white under shirt. His black hair took after his mother's but his eyes matched his father's brown in tone and shape. He and Orion shared the same nose though. "I'm surprised to see you awake Julian." She said with a little grin.
Gosh but was she pretty. Easily the prettiest girl in the entire class. And somehow she was his. Julian didn't question why she liked him, but she did. "I could say the same to you, Mara." Julian teased. She strolled over to the room and Julian slipped his arms around her. An aroma of smoke though suddenly filled him from her hair.
"Why does your hair smell like smoke?" He asked.
Mara stood only at five feet and five inches, five shorter then Julian. "Well fine if my hair bothers you so much I'll just leave."
Julian didn't want her to leave, not yet anyway. "It doesn't bother me." He said with a smile.
"Then kiss me my sweet Prince." Julian obliged.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 26, 2013 8:09:56 GMT -5
The next morning, Damien had lingered a little on base. He intended to see how Romi and the remaining kids were doing since the orphanage's burning. Honestly, he blamed himself for what had happened to the place. If he didn't make as frequent visits as he had in the past few days, it would've never happened. At least, that had been his mindset. Damien hated what had happened. On top of it, someone from the Order had done it but who? Who would hurt innocent children? Whoever they were, they were sick minded.
Sure, Damien had killed in the past but not innocents like that. He never voluntarily killed children. His beliefs lead him to do terrible things but not that far. Damien still had some code of honor to himself even if it didn't look like it to others. 'Yeah...my beliefs,' Damien thought sarcastically as he walked through the barracks in silence. He made no conversation even though some people of the Order looked like they wanted to strike up some sort of conversation with him.
His cuts on his face had since stopped bleeding but were still prominent on his face. The bruising would have yet to go away as well. He had heard some people try to murmur to him to head to the hospital wing of their base but Damien refused to go there. There was no need for it over something small like this. Someone else who needed it more should go, not him. Of course, he wouldn't tell anyone this.
Eventually, he came to a stop at the training section of the barracks. There, he stood and watched over everyone there. Soldiers new and old were training rigorously. So far, there were no reports on who had made that fire. He knew some people probably believed Orion was responsible for it but Damien believed he couldn't have. Logic would tell someone a drunk man couldn't make a symbol that clear when that drunk. There would have been some sort of screw up on the symbol. On top of it, it looked like it took some skill to make. No, Orion could not have done it being so drunk. Speaking of Orion, where was he?
Damien didn't intend on bothering him but knowing where he was would be good. Just so he could make sure no one harassed him over the orphanage. Damien only defended him because Damien knew he wasn't responsible for it. No, someone else had to have done it. On top of it, Orion's scent was mostly alcohol that night. It would've been full of smoke if he truly had anything to do with it.
"Maybe I should head into town..." Damien murmured to himself. Even if someone realized who he was, Damien still had portals that enabled him to slip out of enemy hands. That's what made it so difficult to capture him all this time. Truthfully, Damien loved being able to rip open a portal and easily get from point A to point B. It made him a bit cocky when it came to that.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 13:57:55 GMT -5
Orion was never going to drink again. At least that's what he told himself as he clutched the side of a building and threw up a green yellow fluid. He had lost count of the many times he had puked his guts out after waking a couple of hours ago. The entire last night was a haze with Orion remembering bits and parts of what had happened.
He barley remembered leaving the bar and seeing the orphanage. He was pretty sure he had gotten into a fight with Damien, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a terrible decision. "Ya you wasted the only money you had on alcohol."
Still Orion had the strangest feeling that he had talked to an elf yesterday. Though that didn't make any sense. Orion did not know any elves, and as far as he knew there were none even in this world. Picking himself back up, Orion continued onward.
He had thought that getting some fresh air would help him but that was clearly not doing any good. Then he figured if he headed for a walk into town for a while, the movement would stop the stomach ache. That was not clearly working either.
Whipping the spit from his mouth, Orion continued on. He knew eventually he'd have to get back to the barracks, but he wasn't looking forward to it.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 26, 2013 16:20:38 GMT -5
Damien lingered in the barracks for a little longer before finally tearing open a portal. Entering it, he found himself at that dojo he kept seeing. There, he found a familiar and very unwelcome face. 'It's that damned kid again!' he thought with annoyance. Ivan, the "great" thief, was peering up at the gates alone. It almost looked as if he were either going through some kind of past memory or somewhat sorrowful about something. Whatever it was, Damien didn't want to find out. Ivan annoyed the hell out of him.
Quietly, Damien tried to slip past the kid but he wasn't lucky. Ivan turned around at that moment and reacted. "Well, well well! If it isn't you again!" Damien gave an exasperated sigh. Why was that kid so focused on him? Why couldn't he just leave Damien alone? Damien had considered the whole theft thing done and over with. He got his munny back from the kid, there was no need for further confrontation. The kid, no doubt, still held a grudge against him for that portal thing and for the kid remarks he made the last time.
Keeping as much control of himself as he could, Damien turned to face Ivan. "What do you want?" he asked him, his voice sounding annoyed. Ivan seemed to have taken a step back from him when he noticed his appearance.
"Whoa! What happened to you?" Ivan remarked. Damien furrowed his brows at him in irritation. Wasn't it obvious? Ironically, Damien got beaten by someone named Ivan as well. Could there be some sort of connection here? Probably not but the irony was...well ironic.
"None of your business. Now what is it?" he growled. Ivan rose a brow at him, silent for a moment as he looked back at Damien's unhappy face.
"Well, alright grumpy! I was just wondering how you were doing is all!" Ivan said. This, of course, set Damien back for a second. Why would the kid be wondering such a thing? They never got along since meeting each other. Then, the answer came. "You were that guy that's been visiting the orphanage, right? Well, it's my home and you took care of the kids and Romi, so thanks!" Ivan told him. This had, of course, surprised Damien. He hadn't ever seen Ivan there at the orphanage.
"If it's your home...then why weren't you there when I was?" Damien questioned him. Ivan lowered his gaze, rubbing the back of his head nervously then. What was he hiding?
"Well erm...I uh...sort of ran from...home and...Romi has been taking care of me...yeah." It was Damien's turn to raise an eyebrow at the kid.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 17:47:06 GMT -5
While Damien ran into an unwelcome stranger, Orion was about to have the same sort of luck. He had made it to the market district again. The smells of fresh food in the air made his stomach rumble. For once it wasn't a bad thing. "Maybe I can convince that girl from the bakery to give me some free scraps." He thought to himself.
The sounds of the market gave him a slight headache so the faster he got through it the better. It was a good thing Orion had gone to the baker before the pub because he'd probably not remember it if he had. The bakery was located near the entrance to the distance so he didn't have to go very far. However as he went to open the door, it opened from the inside.
Standing in front of him was the one and only girl who still refused to tell him her name. She was dressed in casual khakis, a sleeveless white shirt, and her signature black cap with pink stars on the rim. Holding a brown paper bag in one hand, she looked him up and down in a very accusing sort of way. "Um.. excuse me I'd like to go inside." He told her. He did not want to deal with her or anyone in the order right now.
Instead of just letting him be though she had other ideas. She grabbed Orion by the hand and pulled him with her back towards the market district. Orion was so surprised by the gesture that he just went with her for about a few steps. Then he took his hand back and looked at her with accusing eyes. "What the hell are you doing?!"
The girl rolled her eyes and took out a loaf of bread from the bag. She held it out towards Orion. "Come on. You can have some of my bread." Now Orion eyed her suspiciously. What reason would she ever want to be nice to him? Ever since she had met him, the girl had done nothing but cause him misfortune. First the battle, then the knights, then being pushed forward when Max showed up.
"I don't want anything from someone who won't even give me their name." Orion snapped in a snotty tone.
"It's Chloe. Now are you going to come or not?"
Wow, she actually gave him her name. Very suspicious!!!" He thought. Still... Orion had no money, and she was offering him free food.
Reluctantly Orion took the loaf and started to walk beside her. "Where are we going then Chloe?" Orion tried the name out. She didn't seem like a Chloe to him. Maybe she was lying?
"I wanted to go to the orphanage. I wanted to see it for myself."
"And then she's going to accuse me too!"[/i] They all had yesterday! Orion suddenly remembered. Well if she was going to do that, Orion hoped that she was ready for him to storm off. He had no plans on listening to more accusations.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 26, 2013 18:30:18 GMT -5
Ivan finally gave a sigh at the look Damien was giving him. "C'mon, I am telling you the truth! I didn't like where I was before so...I ran away. There's nothing more to it." There was a silence before Damien glanced up at the gates Ivan had been looking at earlier. Could this have been his former home? How else would it explain his looking at the dojo like he was doing? Bringing his gaze back down toward Ivan, Damien wondered how to approach him about it.
"Was this your home?" Damien asked him. Ivan took a step back, as if surprised by the revelation. Damien just gave him a bit of a firm and flat look. "It was obvious by the way you were looking at it earlier..." he trailed off. Ivan slouched a little in response, looking somewhat off to the side as he stood there before Damien.
"I uh...yeah...I used to live there..." Ivan trailed off. Damien figured as much. He could be reckless sometimes but he wasn't an idiot. It didn't take a genius to figure this one out. "I just...I was tired of the way I was being treated is all. Romi's much better than this place!" Ivan told him. Ironically, Damien could sympathize with Ivan here. He had, after all, felt very much the same. The Order didn't feel like home anymore. The people below his father were good to him, of course, but the four heads, especially Ivan whom he believed was his father, were terrible. That woman head, all she wanted was for Damien to become her attack dog. Those two were all he needed to know about the four heads, he felt. Now, Damien was teetering on what to do with himself. It was because of him that Romi's orphanage got burned down.
"Hey uh...sir? Mister? Dude with the cape? Yohoo, earth to dude with the cape!" Damien must've looked like he was off in outer space just then since his eyes had gone glazed and distant. Hearing Ivan's voice had brought him back to the present. Looking over at Ivan, slightly annoyed, Damien just shook his head. Ivan was sort of like him in that sense except Ivan was a step ahead of Damien.
"I can't say I know what your home before was like...but I can see why you would...let's just leave it at that, Ivan." With that, Damien turned away from Ivan. Ivan, not wanting to relinquish contact with his company, started to follow him again.
"W-Wait! I want to come with you!" Ivan called after him. Damien turned to look at the kid again with his brows furrowed. Why couldn't he shake this damn kid off? "I er...won't bother you." Damien folded his arms then. "Um...please?" Damien was silent then. "Pretty please with sugar on top?" Ivan added. Damien rolled his eyes, shaking his head before walking onward.
"Fine, you can come along but I'm only going to see Romi." Ivan seemed to perk up a little at that.
"Romi!? I know where she is! Her and the other little ones are at the nearby inn. Now and then, she goes with her husband to work on the orphanage in hopes to rebuild it." Damien looked over at Ivan thoughtfully for a moment. It was a bit surprising that this kid actually proved a little useful for this moment.
"Alright then...thanks, Ivan."
"Uh...actually...I might've lied a teensy weensy about my name! It's actually Aiden..."
Damien just shook his head at that. "Look...Aiden...I don't care. Let's just get to where Romi is, alright?" with that, he started off for the inn that Aiden spoke of.
"Hey, I'm speaking the truth uh...what was your name?" Aiden asked him. Damien sighed to himself as he walked onward, the kid still trailing behind him.
"It's Damien!" he finally answered him.
"Huh, Damien?! That's a cool name! Sounds like demon almost!" Damien rolled his eyes at the kid's attempt at small talk as they went.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 20:14:02 GMT -5
Whoever had set fire to the orphanage had done it in such a way that by the time it was put out the floor boards still showed the symbol of the order in a black scorch mark. Walking along side Chloe, Orion had not said much to her. She hadn't really tried to have a conversation either. The bread on the other hand was doing wonders for Orion. It actually helped his aching stomach, and for once he didn't feel like throwing up.
"When they announced what had happened I really thought it had been you at first." Chloe said randomly. They had been standing outside for a while now. They weren't too close to the orphanage because a woman and another man Orion did not know were standing in front of it as well. The man had his arm around the back of the woman, almost as if he was supporting her. Orion had no clue to who they were.
The whole thing had burned down to just the floor boards. There was a bit of wall here and there, but the wood was so black that Orion could probably poke it with a finger and it would topple.
Turning to Chloe though, Orion had been ready for this. He knew she was going to accuse him. "I didn't do it. If your going to blame me, I'll be leaving then." Orion had practice those words and they didn't come out with as much confidence as he wanted to portray.
The girl next to him crossed her arms and gazed up at Orion. She was about five and a half feet tall so she had to look up slightly when talking right next to him. "I said at first nimrod! But I paid attention to what Master Damien said. You were to drunk to have done it."
Orion glanced back at the orphanage. "Why do you think someone did it? I mean I thought we were supposed to be all secretive and everything."
When Chloe responded her face was focused on what was left of the orphanage. "I don't know their reason. To them it probably seemed the right thing to do. The question that is more important I think is why an orphanage? The Order gains nothing out of burning the orphanage, but angry citizens. If they were trying to remain secretive they've just earned a watchful eye of the police of this world. It makes me think that this was done by an enemy inside the order. Someone who wants to force the order into the open."
That made Orion freeze for a moment. What Chloe said made sense! "Perhaps that is what I should be doing! Finding a way that forces the people here to see and discover the order!"[/i] Orion wasn't stupid enough to go harm innocents though. Burning an orphanage was a terrible crime! But there had to be some way to do what he thought. He would just have to spend some more time thinking about it.
"Why did you join the order Chloe?" Orion attempted at small talk. Looking at Chloe he thought for a moment he saw her stiffen for just a moment. But perhaps it had just been imagination.
"I have my reasons Prince. Just as you have yours."
Well he guessed that was true. Though it wasn't like he could just tell her he wanted to destroy the organization. That was like painting a target on your back. "I'm not a prince anymore." Before when Orion had said that it had been a lie. Now he surprised himself in meaning the words. "I wish I knew what they were saying about me back home?"[/i] He wondered.
"Why are you suddenly being nice to me?" Orion finally said it! The question had been on his mind since she suddenly gave him the bread.
Shocking to Orion it didn't take long for her to respond. "Maybe a little bird told me too." At first Orion thought she was serious but from the sarcastic tone in her voice Orion could clearly see the joke. Well if she didn't want to tell him that was alright with him. At least for once she wasn't bringing him misfortune.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 26, 2013 20:58:41 GMT -5
The whole way, Aiden spoke to Damien. Damien, all the while, partially ignored the kid. However, unlike his usual fits with others, Damien didn't explode on him. Oddly enough, Damien seemed to tolerate those younger than himself much better. As they made their way to the inn, Damien looked up at it. It wasn't very large nor was it very small. It could easily accommodate Romi and the children. As he peered up at it, Aiden approached the building with confidence.
"Come on! She should be here in the first floor!" Aiden beckoned him forth. Damien watched the teenager slip into the building before taking a deep breath. Once he readied himself for what was to come, Damien stepped inside as well. The inn wasn't the best of places to be but it wasn't dirty. It's just the sort of crowd that came here now and then wasn't your choice of company all the time. Romi must've been wary being here. No doubt, she would be building the orphanage back to what it was or have Bradley do it.
Aiden spoke to the inn keeper whom shook his head at something. As Damien approached them, Aiden turned to Damien and shook his head. "They're not here right now. The kids are in class and those who are too young are being babysat by some of Bradley's close pals. They must have gone out to the orphanage."
Damien merely nodded his head and turned and left the building, Aiden struggling to keep up with him as they went. There was a reason why Damien chose to walk on foot. His portal ability wasn't common out this way. If he used it, he would surely alarm people and spark suspicion. That was why he always walked on foot. As he went, Aiden resumed idle chatter again.
"So um...how did you meet Romi, Damien?"
Damien didn't look at him. "When I was a child. My fa...the man who took me in had left me at the orphanage when I was little to be taken care of while he attended meetings at his...job. Romi's mother was always watching over us and I met Romi there. She treated me like I was her brother."
"Oooh, so you're like...old flames?" Aiden asked him. Damien, at that moment, did turn around to face Aiden. The expression on his face wasn't of amusement. He looked all bothered. "Whoa! Cool down! I was only joking!" Aiden quickly covered himself up with that one. Damien slowly turned but not after giving Aiden one last grumpy look before moving onward.
"No, we're nothing of that sort. If anything, we are kindred spirits, brother and sister, not soul mates. Her and Bradley are." Aiden nodded at this but Damien wouldn't see him doing so. For a moment, they traveled in blissful silence. Well, for Damien anyway since Aiden was driving him insane. Never before had he met someone that could talk so much. Damien appreciated the momentary silence but it didn't last for long.
"So...what do you do in your spare time, Damien?" Aiden had asked him. Damien took in a deep breath of exasperation. This kid wasn't going to let him rest, was he?
"Train, train and train." That's all he said to the kid. Aiden blinked over at him in disbelief.
"That's all you do?! Man, is your life boring!" Aiden retorted but Damien ignored him. "Dude, being all work and no play is no way to live!" Aiden's words went unheard by Damien who had resolved to just focus on his search for Romi or Bradley. Aiden seemed to sense this and drifted into silence as he continued to scurry after Damien, apparently having nothing else better to do.
By the time they reached where the orphanage was, Damien stopped dead in his tracks. The once cozy looking building he had come accustomed to seeing was now in ruin. Only the floor was what seemed to be left of it. There, nearby, was Romi. She was in tears again and Bradley was consoling her. He didn't yet take notice of anyone else nearby as he simply looked on a bit sadly. Aiden, whom had been trailing behind Damien the whole time, had collided with his back.
"Ow! Hey! Can't warn a guy before you stop so suddenly?" Aiden protested. After a bit, Romi gained enough self control to look over at the sound of Aiden's voice.
"Aiden? Is that you?" she questioned as Bradley looked up too. Aiden turned to her, looking shameful before nodding. Looking up from Aiden, she then spotted Damien. Something told Damien that he should probably turn and leave but he couldn't. Did Romi and her husband blame him for this mess? Damien certainly felt like he was to blame here. If he hadn't been visiting them like he did, the orphanage wouldn't have been burned or the children. "Damien?" she said slowly.
Damien wasn't sure how to respond as he merely nodded as well. "Romi...Bradley...I'm-" he cut himself short. This was so awkward and he felt so terrible. Before he could continue, Bradley spoke.
"Did you find out who had done this?" Damien looked up at him and then shook his head. He felt so shameful.
"No..I did not...we're still looking for the one responsible. I'm...sorry."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 21:27:12 GMT -5
"Damien's here." Chloe told Orion.
His response was to swear under his breath and turn towards the man. He slightly remembered getting into a fight with Damien. "I don't remember all that I said though."[/i] Looking at him, Orion saw him speaking with the other two that were near the city. There also seemed to be some boy near him as well.
That was odd. Why would a boy be with Damien? Orion would never have taken Damien for someone who tolerated children. Heck Orion sometimes acted childish and Damien seemed to loathe him. "Let's just get out of here before he sees us." Orion suggested.
Chloe gave him an arching eyebrow. What? So he didn't like Damien. It's not like it was a huge surprise to anyone in the order. "I don't want to deal with him again after what happened yesterday." It was partially true.
"You can't avoid him Prince. He's our superior. We have to do what he says."
"I said to stop calling me that." Orion referred to the Prince title. That wasn't his anymore. The quicker it was forgotten the better for everyone.
Chloe sighed and crossed her arms. "You will always be a prince, Orion. You have royal blood in you and that will always be part of who you are. You've given up your duties, but you still are considered a prince. If you want I'll call you Black Prince then."
The girl was pretty smart for a regular street rat. School wasn't really a mandatory thing around the kingdoms for those of her social class. "You seem to know a lot about princes."
Chloe shook her head. "Nah. I just know a lot about different types of people. Were going over there Black Prince." She started forward and Orion just watched her go for a moment. She always seemed to have some sort of witty response to say to him. "Let's go."
Orion sighed and headed forward. They walked up to Romi, Orion, Aiden, and her husband. It wasn't clear if they saw them as they headed over. But when Chloe spoke up it looked like it was about too. "I'm sorry for your loss." She said to Romi and her husband. To Damien though she said, "Sir. Anything on the perpetrator?" Orion just sort of hung in the background, closer to Aiden actually. He actually kicked at a pebble on the ground by his feet. Really he just didn't want to look at Damien.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 26, 2013 21:50:25 GMT -5
As Damien apologized to Bradley but especially Romi, he wondered if this would be the end of their meetings. Would they still accept him? Or would they now shun him because of the Order? Still, why would the Order do such a thing if it was a planned attack? The only possibility he could come up with was Ivan. Ivan had been the reason why Damien was banged up and cut. He was also the reason why Damien wasn't his usual self. Damien had become a man with everything torn from under his feet. He wasn't sure what to think anymore.
Romi just closed the distance between them, placing a finger on Damien's lips like a mother would their child. She did this a lot when they were kids. Most of the time, it was to quiet Damien if he talked to much or annoyed her and she didn't want her mother to find out what trouble they got into that day.
"Don't apologize for something you were not responsible for." Damien blinked back at her with surprise. Before he could protest, she shook her head. Romi knew him enough to know he'd do so. "No, Damien. It was nice to have you visiting us every day. We hadn't seen you in a while. Even if the orphanage burned down and...well, it's not your fault."
Damien looked down then, not sure what to say to that. Before they could continue, he noticed someone approaching them. Gradually, Damien lifted his gaze from the ground to where the girl from that time in Twilight Town now stood and Orion. Orion was looking away, remaining in the background while the girl had approached them, apologizing to Bradley and Romi. Romi, who was beginning to tear up again, wiped one away as she nodded to Chloe.
"Thank you."
When Damien was asked about the perpetrator, he shook his head. "No, no new findings since last night. All I can think about is the fact one of us had done it but unsure as to who. I can think of one person but before I point fingers and act on it, I need to have solid proof. None of which I can find other than the fact they must be good with their magic to have made the symbol of our order in the flames and to even leave the mark on the floor like that...now that I look at it."
While they were talking, Aiden had taken notice of Orion. Orion was quiet and off to the side near him. Aiden, being nosy, looked at him for a moment with furrowed brows. "Say...don't I know you?" Aiden questioned him all of a sudden. Poor Orion, it seemed he too would suffer Aiden's presence like Damien had. The kid was like a leech somehow. Once he followed someone or latched onto someone, he was difficult to get rid of.
"Yeah! I know you! You're that guy I accidentally bumped into at the pub!" Aiden exclaimed loud enough for the others to have heard him. "That drunk guy!" Well, that wasn't very nice but that's how Aiden had recognized him. Romi and Damien rounded on Aiden.
"Aiden, that's not very nice!" Romi scolded him. Damien just gave the kid a grumpy look. He was always making annoying outbursts. His gaze shifted to Orion who seemed intent on not wanting to be there. After what happened last time, Damien could understand that. He, too, felt awkward with Orion there only because Orion had been drunk out of his mind that night. Things had been said, a lot of them truthful while others were hurtful though he wouldn't ever admit it.
"Now, apologize to that young man."
Aiden gave a sigh before looking over at Orion curiously for a moment. He sure looked different compared to that time he last saw him. "Uh...sorry. Didn't mean to be rude like that."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2013 22:32:49 GMT -5
Orion pretty much stood in the background. That was until the little brat spoke out! He had not remembered Aiden at first. It wasn't until Aiden's recall that Orion really remembered being bumped into. "Man liquor is not good to me."[/i] The fact that he couldn't remember wasn't a good sign either. He had really drank way too much last night.
Before Orion could respond, Romi spoke out. She commanded that the boy given Orion an apology. "It's um... fine." He hoped attention would turn away from him then. He really just wanted to leave, but he could feel Chloe and Damien's eyes on him. Didn't they have better things to do then stare at him?
Chloe seemed to because she spoke up. "I was just telling the Black Prince that to me it really doesn't make much sense that someone form our group here would do this. At least not someone who actually stands with the order. This smells more like the work of someone whose trying to expose the order to the world. That's just my opinion though."
Orion cringed at the name. Great, now she'd gone and announced him as the Black Prince. How many times did he have to tell her to stop calling him that. She wasn't making it easy for him to blend in with the organization. Though was that really what he needed? Whoever had hit this orphanage, had accomplished bringing attention to the order. But was that even the proper task to take for Orion?
"Father charged me with bringing down the order. He didn't care how it was done."[/i] The easiest way was to cut off the head. But Orion had no clue as to how to do that. He didn't even know how many heads there were. Orion knew that Damien's father was one of them. Could Orion really stand against someone like that? "I have to try. I have to try and kill him."[/i]
If he failed it could mean his own death... Orion felt like he was in one juicy of a pickle. "I have to try. What do I have to loose anymore?"[/i] In reality Orion had nothing. He made a decision then. He would track Damien from now on until his father showed up. Then he would strike.
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Post by Sprow on Jan 26, 2013 23:17:06 GMT -5
After Aiden had apologized, they heard Orion state that it was fine. Things would have probably dwindled by then but not by a long shot. Orion couldn't escape their attention despite his attempts. As the girl spoke, Damien looked between her and Orion, listening. The girl and Orion, probably, believed it had been the work from someone that wished to expose the Order. Given the fact that it had appeared to be like that in Twilight Town, this was no surprise. However, Damien was a bit uneasy knowing it had already followed them here.
"Hm...it was like that in Twilight Town too..." Damien trailed off in thought. Aiden, who hadn't heard any of this, came over looking between them all confusedly.
"It happened in Twilight Town? What happened in Twilight Town?" Aiden asked them.
"Never you mind that." Damien then glanced back over at Orion thoughtfully. Black Prince? So they gave him a new title or something? Well, after seeing what he had done to Max, it was no wonder. Still, Damien couldn't help but think of him as "Prince Pansy" because of the flower his men wore like some kind of crest or insignia.
Bringing his mind back to the task at hand, Damien thought hard. "Whoever they are, they sure are skilled with magic. I've not seen any man...save for the four heads, do such a thing before...Not only that but whoever they are, they must have followed me. Why else would this orphanage be attacked and targeted? I had been traveling here in the past few days. Someone must've known about me otherwise this wouldn't have happened."
He thought hard for a moment. He hadn't seen anyone other than Orion from the Order. Orion couldn't have done it that night because he had been drunk. "...We'll have to conduct an investigative search...and a secret one at that." Now that he thought about it, it was ironic that he was once again with this girl and Orion. How did he seem to keep running into them like this? Events had a strange way of playing out lately, it seemed.
"A secret mission?! Whoa! Can I help? I want to be a spy too!" Aiden begged them. Damien gave a sigh of exasperation again.
"Romi wouldn't want you getting yourself into danger, Aiden. It's best you stay out of this." Aiden gave a huff in response to that.
"You can't make me! I'll do it anyway!" With that, he took off, Romi calling out after him but he didn't look back.
"...That kid!" Damien growled under his breath, shaking his head.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 0:25:06 GMT -5
Mara headed towards the orphanage to look at her handiwork, while holding the note she had in her hand. It had been put in her room at some point during the night. Mara preferred to believe that she had been either out doing her job or with her Prince. The thought that her employer had visited her while she was asleep did not sit well with her. Mara had only met with the woman once before, and the only reason she knew that she was a woman was because of her voice.
When they had met, the woman had been draped in shadows. It was the oddest thing she had ever seen. A voice and a pair of eyes in the shadows. Every time she had tried to focus on the woman's actual body, her eyesight seemed to fall off of it. Mara wanted that woman! She was an interesting specimen that would fit her connection perfectly.
Currently her newest pet was her Prince. He was an adorable thing, and real royalty at that. It was originally his blood that made her want to add him to her collection. But for some reason she had yet to bond him to her. Mara was a powerful fire user. Her fire was special. It was she who had caused the fire to the orphanage last night. Those were her previous orders, and now she had new ones.
But first she wanted to gaze at her handy work. To incinerate the orphanage in the symbol she had been given wasn't too difficult. It was doing it at a time where she would not be noticed that was difficult. Seeing it go had been with mix feelings. For one she had grown up there until she was adopted. But the life under those people had changed her after that.
Mara's life would have been much different if they hadn't allowed those people to adopt her. Now she was a collector, just like they had been until she had killed them. However they had taught her how to bind people to her will with her special black fire. Soon her Prince would be added to her collection. She just needed a drop of his blood first. But for now it was back to her job. She had to pay to be a part of the dojo, and if that meant dealing with the shadow woman then so be it.
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Orion kept along with the conversation, but didn't put much thought into replying. It really wasn't much of his business on who had burnt the orphanage. While he did feel sorry for Romi, her husband, and the children who died, there wasn't much he could do about it. If he had been a Prince he could have given her some money to fix it. He'd have sent soldiers out to try and find any information on any witnesses to the fire. But he wasn't a prince anymore.
As the conversation continued and Aiden suddenly ran off, Orion watched him go. Chloe must have been thinking cause she only spoke now. "I think Twilight Town was a set up too, and from someone who was in the Order at that. Raymund spoke about elfs. Are there any elfs in the order?"
Orion looked up at that. Elfs... Why was he suddenly remembering elfs? Orion's thoughts went back to the two elves they had met back in Twilight Town. "I've only seen elves once. Back in Twilight Town when Chloe was injured after the battle."
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Post by Sprow on Jan 27, 2013 1:56:50 GMT -5
Damien stood there for a moment as no one spoke. Once Aiden had left their company, the girl spoke. Damien folded his arms and let her speak, considering what she was saying. It had been true that he had thought Twilight Town had been a set up. How else would one explain the massacre when their Order didn't kill their own? It just didn't add up and like this situation, although on a much more broader scale than this one, it had exposed the Order to the public eye. It had blown their cover.
"I had thought so too...not to mention the odd fashion that Raymund had also died..." he said, trailing off. Could it have been magic responsible for Raymund's death that none of them knew about? Had he been cursed or something? Then there was the mention of elves again. Damien glanced from the girl to Orion as he spoke. Yes, they had definitely seen two elves back in Twilight Town and Raymund had mentioned an elf. The elf had given him an order to assassinate the Senator. He had also discovered that the girl's name was supposedly Chloe. Whoever she was, she didn't seem intent on giving a name until now...if that even was her name.
"Yes and Raymund claimed an elf had given that order..." Damien trailed off in thought again. His eyes narrowed a bit. "Elves do have a magic much greater than our own. If one were behind that fire, I wouldn't be surprised but this seems smaller scale as opposed to the massacre in Twilight Town." He turned to Orion and Chloe then, his arms still folded.
"My fa...I mean, Lord Ivan and the lady we saw on the tower, the two heads I reported to, are currently still looking into the investigation. I know not if the others are elves but Ivan and the girl are not. I've not seen any recruits either or any soldiers that are elves. All of us are humans as far as I know."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2013 22:12:02 GMT -5
Orion listened to the conversation. He really just wanted to leave, but it seemed like everyone was content on speaking right in front of anyone. Hearing Damien mention Raymund, Orion couldn't help but glance at Chloe. Orion still remembered Raymund being behind him one moment, then the next he was falling off the roof. Chloe had been the closest to him then. She had claimed that she had no clue what had happened. If Damien's bringing up Raymund bothered Chloe, she didn't show it.
"So far it seems like a smaller scale. Whoever started this fire is still out there. This could just be the beginning." Chloe voiced her opinion.
What she said could be true. At least now that Orion started to think about it. If he was in the position that the "foe" was, he would not stop here. If his goal was to expose the organization then he would continue to target different places in the village.
"Personally I don't think we really should be doing anything about this. I mean Chloe and I anyway. No offense Damien but this is really something the higher ups should be doing. We don't have the resources to look within the organization. If they are even in the organization."
That was Orion's opinion. Part of it was influenced by the fact that he just wanted to leave. Another influence was Orion's determination to undermine the organization. Finally a third influence was that he wanted to try and take down one of their leaders. Cut off one of the heads so to speak.
Chloe narrowed her eyes when she looked at Orion. "That sounds like you just want to give up..."
Orion shrugged. "What hope do we really have at finding this person. Were three people. If we send everyone out to search, that would surely expose us wouldn't it?"
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Post by Sprow on Jan 28, 2013 4:19:19 GMT -5
Damien didn't doubt it for a second if this would be just the beginning. As he side glanced at the burned down orphanage, Damien couldn't help but feel it had been directed at him for some reason. He had been the only one going to the orphanage that was of the Order. No one else bothered with it recently. It was a smaller scale attack and it certainly could get much worse from here on out. Damien wouldn't be surprised if anything else were to happen soon. What would be their next target? Damien could only guess.
"It certainly could," he agreed with Chloe.
When Orion spoke, Damien looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. He didn't have to say a word about the giving up part since Chloe had called Orion out on it already. Not only that but Orion obviously wasn't seeing the point here.
"Who said you had to do it openly? Do you not know how to use stealth? I'm fairly certain you do. All you've gotta do is act normal and keep your eyes peeled and ears open. As for those higher up, that's where I come in. Unlike you, I've access to more things than you would think..." Damien trailed off to look at the orphanage again. Could the exposure only be because they wanted to expose the Order or were they after him too? Could he also be their target? Well, if he was, he wouldn't be surprised. Damien was one of those just a step below the four heads. Not many reached that skill level.
"...I know it won't be so simple but giving up is not an option. Those children did not deserve that. Isn't it ironic though how I seem to be running into you two again when this happens?" Damien looked over at Chloe and Orion then. There was a slight light of amusement in his eyes but only slightly. He didn't let either of them know of the fact he believed it had partially been a direct attack aimed at him nor the fact that he believed Ivan could be responsible for it. They were, after all, part of the Order. If Ivan was, Damien wasn't sure how he'd kill him for it but he knew that he would. Ivan was someone he now hated deeply. Ironic that the one person he idolized all this time had proved to be so terrible of a person and not even be his blood relative like he had though he was. Damien didn't show it but he wasn't himself. What happened with Ivan and the incident with the orphanage had bothered him greatly.
"We can start as soon as possible. If either of you do hear or see anything, I want to know about it."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2013 22:35:03 GMT -5
Orion really didn't see the point in this. "Trying to find them ourselves is a waste of time! It would take an army to find a single person. And! It's not like we can just run to the place after we hear about it and catch the person. Heck the person would probably be gone." This was what Orion thought, but he would not voice this out loud. There was no way they'd listen top him anyway.
Chloe on the other hand seemed to be right on with Damien. "I'm ready right away sir!" She said, even giving Damien a solute. The action just made Orion roll his eyes. Truth be told he did not respect Damien. Though at the moment Orion was probably as low as he was. Heck! He was lower!
"I've lost everything..." He lost his title, his family, his money. Orion knew that his brother was somewhere in this world, but he couldn't face him. Not like this anyway. "And it's my own fault." It really was despite how much he wished it wasn't.
"So are we just supposed to wander around town or something?" Orion asked. He didn't really know how they were going to do this yet.
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