Elixir
dead/inactive
Sara Belsky
-----*she's special*-----
Posts: 117
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Post by Elixir on Jun 3, 2008 23:33:54 GMT -5
Sara followed her instructor sullenly over to where Haven was standing. The whole time she was lost in her own thoughts and not paying anywhere near sufficient attention to the strange world around her.
I suppose that she is right that I have to trust her, she fumed silently, but she might as well be asking me to fly through the air like Guardian or manipulate water like Heather. I used to have faith in things, but not now. The whole school felt like a military academy with the aura of strict authority and hierarchy, the closedness against the outside world, and the sense of mission. Sara had never been in a true military academy before, but she'd gotten a good idea of what one was like. Chabad billed itself as Hashem's (G-d's) Army and had a military style of discipline. It took seriously the old maxim, made famous in Orthodox circles, ironically, by an opponent of Chabad's, the Chofetz Chayim, a famed rabbi who taught "For the believers there are no questions for the unbelievers no answers."
Sara's outburts at the school were her lack of answers playing out in a childish way. She had spent her whole life being a believer. She had hardly ever questioned life. The world was governed by an unalterable set of divine laws and rabbinic decrees that governed everything from the first thing one said in the morning to the last prayer before sleeping at night. Indeed, there was even a religious directive about which shoe to put on first! When she was cast out of Chabad that whole command structure fell aside. She had tried to keep it up on her own but its relevance to a world outside of Chabad had seemed faded and each mitzvah reminded her of what she had lost. Moreover, without the unwavering obedience of those around her to bolster her own faith she had started to waiver. That waivering had left her without an identity. It left her terrified and ready to flee from everything. She was always so terribly insecure.
Somehow on the streets and in the shelter she had learned to survive. It was always mere survival. While she had boasted to Shadowkat that she had survived some pretty rough places, that survival was a miracle and it always came after enduring some awful abuses that she could have avoided had she any real street smarts. She probably could have avoided having to sell her virtue had she been smarter too. It was on the one hand something about which she felt embarassed and degraded and on the other the quintessential sign, to her, that she was tough, a survivor. This quality, that of surviving in the face of adversity, that had become sort of a new identity for her as her old one lay in tatters. This tough girl, I can survive anything so screw you, identity of course was in great contrast to her normal behavior which while to survive, was to do so screaming, kicking, and crying. Yet she maintained it in a twofold manner. She acted just as torn to pieces and traumatized by small events as at huge ones, so her constant state of pseudo-hysteria kept her from reaching a real breaking point in some weird prophalactic way. And secondly, it made her pitiable and that often helped her avoid additional abuse, as even some of the worst people had some shred of decency that could be played upon.
Stiffled under this dysfunctional identity and ball of nerves, was still the sweet, though no longer innocent, girl who delighted over lighting Shabbas candles with her family, would drive her mother insane by on the way home from the store giving some of the groceries away to each homeless person she passed, who loved spending hours playing with her nieces and nephews, and who all throughout school had always been the teacher's pet. A small glimpse of that girl had shown the other day at practice. But it was only a glimpse. Sara had been too busy most of the rest of the time trying to keep up her pseudo-tough image and run way from the questions in her mind.
Amos then became the only outlet for the sweet side of her disposition and it was for him that she told herself that she would try to behave herself. While she might be able to get back even without being polite and obedient to Shadowkat, as she had always been fascinated by Talmudic demonology and figured she knew plenty about Gehenna, which was obviously where they were no matter what goyische name the supposedly Jewish Shadowkat called it (Sara still held non-Orthodox Jews in disdain despite her own expulsion from Chabad and lack of most religious observance), she would need the teacher's good will for Amos's sake when they returned.
So breaking her sulleness, Sara tried to smile, but it looked obviously fake and eerily out of place.
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Haven
Acolytes
Niki Sanchez
Posts: 316
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Post by Haven on Jun 4, 2008 0:53:48 GMT -5
Turning to Shadowkat Haven said sarcastically "A start, no really? Do you think?" she wasn't fond of people glomming onto her coattails in any way shape or form and especially when it came to adults. The one thing that she did like about Shadowkat was the way she just put that brat in her place.
She'd heard some of what was said and then they had come over to join her on the ridge, Thinking they might stand out on the skyline as people standing on the top of a hill she crouched down slowly so as to not draw the eyes of the flying creature. She figured anything that flew must have pretty good eyes and she didn't want them looking her way any time soon.
As Elixir approached she heard her say something. Niki was not a person who cared to be preached to, especially not in a place that looked to be the closest thing to hell since Death Valley. "What the freak does that mean? 'Believers- no questions, unbelievers- no answers', that sounds like some dumb backward talking shit to me. What is up your ass anyway girl and you better talk forwards to me cause I will leave your ass if you want to be left. I don't have any problem with that, are you like trying to be some martyr or some shit?" Niki looked at Kitty not sure how she would react to the harshness of her words toward Sara.
"I don't think we'll have much to argue about if that thing up there sees us so maybe we should all get down slowly and not freak out," she said to the group. Then looking right into Sara's eyes she said "and so help me girl if you run I will crush you with my forcefield and that is a promise. I don't care about you, that is a fact but I care about me and you mess up here and we will all wind up dead so unfreak yourself right goddamn now bitch." Haven's eyes were wild, like she was ready to uncork a bottle of crazy and take a big gulp. Well, actually another big gulp.
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Diesel
Acolytes
Ian Larks
Posts: 492
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Post by Diesel on Jun 4, 2008 19:59:30 GMT -5
Climbing next to Haven, Ian scanned the horizon, keeping his eyes on that huge creature flying in the air. I thought the only time I'd have to deal with these things when I play video games. This is way more serious than a video game, he thought as he stayed close to Haven. "Chill Haven," he muttered to the her in a low voice. "I don't blame you for settin' that chick straight, but we don't know how well those things can hear. For all we know they have sensitive hearing in a place like this, and like you said we gotta keep a low profile."Ian looked around carefully, not just looking for any creatures, but for anyone from the lab or Wolverine and Nightcrawler. It seems too random for us four to be the only ones out here. None of us were near each other when that thing went off. Blondie and Pipsqueak might be here, Spitfire and Sean too. Shit I gotta find them. They're the best buds I got, other than Eric from home. They been through enough, he thought looking around again.
"Kitty Teach... we can't stay in this one spot. We gotta move carefully and quietly and see if we can find others. I don't think it's just us here, in the lab none of us were near each other really. It's too random for it to be just us. If there are others here, than we gotta find them. And we gotta see where Wolverine and Nightcrawler are. Not only do we gotta get back to school with them, but it couldn't hurt for all of us to be together," he said quietly and began to climb down slowly, keeping an eye on that creature.
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Post by Shadowkat on Jun 4, 2008 21:26:24 GMT -5
Shadowkat looked behind her to see that both Diesel and Elixir were behind her, though her charge was acting very sullen. Good, as long as she and the rest of them cooperate I think we'll be okay, she thought, and then looked out again at the flying thing. As Haven spoke sarcastically, she raised an eyebrow and then watched as she responded to Elixir, speaking colorfully and kept her eyebrow raised. "Enough, Haven," she said, and nodded at the suggestion of getting out of sight from whatever was flying across the horizon.
Leading them down the hill to where they all had landed, she looked around for a way to go and then turned to face them. "Okay guys, we're going to get moving. That castle we saw is our destination. I'm not sure what's there, but if anything, we might be able to use it as a base or something. And you're right Diesel, none of us were near each other when we were brought here, so there has to be more than just us. So, all of you keep your eyes peeled for any other one of us, and for Nightcrawler and Wolverine. Let's stick together, because I'm sure soon enough demons will see us and then come after us. Be on your guard, and let's go," she said, leading them along the side of the hill they had just come down from. If it's the long way we have to go, then we'll do it. I'm not having them go down into the valley where they're open for any sort of attack, and if they're not ready then it's all the worse. I hope we can go as long as we can without having to deal with the demons, though I know they just have to be lurking somewhere, she thought as she surveyed the area around them, looking around for any sign of movement and listening for any sound that didn't resemble her or her students.
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Elixir
dead/inactive
Sara Belsky
-----*she's special*-----
Posts: 117
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Post by Elixir on Jun 4, 2008 23:31:10 GMT -5
As Shadowkat spoke before Sara could answer Haven she delayed her reply a little. She hadn't expected the question either. She had not realized that she was mumbling under her breath, a habit she sometimes had when thinking to herself. Sort of shocked she said to the girl, "I said I'd do what is necessary to get out of here, so I'll work with you guys. I just didn't want to be fighting a full scale war or going on some crazy mission I never signed up for. You don't have to worry that I'll get you in trouble and you don't have to take that tone of voice with me! I'm not a slave and have as much right to an explanation as anybody else, although you are right it was a bad time to ask. For that I'm sorry."
The thing was, Sara, was not sorry. At that very moment she was thinking: Well now I know Shadokat's in league with Asmodai (King of Hell in Talmudic demonology) or a complete moron, Sara thought. Sure, let's just walk right up to the devil's stronghold, knock on the front door, and announce that we are here to commandeer the place for our base, she thought acidly. But she didn't say it. What would be the point? If Shadowkat really was alligned with Hasatan then saying something would not protect Sara and it was pretty clear that these two moron schoolmates of hers would believe anything that came out of the teacher's mouth despite the previous lies told by Ms. Frost. And if Shadowkat was not allied with hell then she was just a moron who would be unlikely to take any suggestion of Sara's to heart. And at that Sara winced. If she'd kept her damn mouth shut she might have some headway to get Shadowkat to listen now. Instead they were all dead. About the only chance now was to hope that instead of murdering them Asmodai would offer them some terms, a chance to defect to him. Of course, that would mean betraying G-d. There were no good options. Having reached that conclusion Sara decided she needed to speak anyway even if it was pointless.
"What if the castle is inhabited or guarded," she asked timidly, expecting Shadowkat to become furious instead of answering the question.
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Haven
Acolytes
Niki Sanchez
Posts: 316
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Post by Haven on Jun 5, 2008 1:22:38 GMT -5
Haven for once decided that Kitty was saying something worth listening to as far as getting out of sight and followed her lead to their point of entry into this world.
"Whatever you say Shadowkat. You know I'm always first in line to follow orders but I gotta say one more thing to this girl." Niki turned and asked Sara...
"What do you mean you don't want to be a part of a war? Like it or not that's where you are, in this world or our own. You forget you're a mutant? Like the rest of us you have to decide what side you want to fight for, but you are in a war and there is no way out of it." Niki said walking up close and looking into the girl's eyes trying to see the real her inside the phony bravado and past the weird cryptic rhetoric. "Go ahead and try to pretend you are something other than you are, hide it cause your power doesn't show on your face like some, try and be as stealthy as you can but you are what you are and there is no way you can ever be anything but. If you ask me, and yeah I already know you didn't so don't get smart little girl, I think you hate yourself for some reason and are afraid to admit it."
She walked over closer to Ian and let the girl take the time to mull it over in her head. She'd be there to debate it if Sara wanted to give that a go, but Niki had seen the war from a few distinct angles and she herself was still trying to decide what side of it she felt best supporting. "Hey." she said to Diesel as she started walking along next to him as Kitty lead the way to their destination. "Hot enough for ya?"
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Diesel
Acolytes
Ian Larks
Posts: 492
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Post by Diesel on Jun 5, 2008 20:06:39 GMT -5
Ian gave Haven a quick grin, a bit envious at the fact that she was shielded from the heat. He glanced down at his t-shirt and winter pants. Man I feel like a retard. I'm in hell wearing snowpants my mom bought me. My ma is gonna chew me out for ruinin' it the way I did, he thought. Ian climbed down slowly and crouched low, trying to keep a low profile. "To be honest the only time I expected to be anywhere near this hot is the day Spitfire actually did decide to roast me," he said in a low voice with a bit of a laugh.
He looked at the castle again and back at Elixir, shaking his head. "That girl is living in a dreamworld man, even more than this. Whatever, you gotta learn sometime," he said and jumped down to the edge of the large jagged rock, looking around carefully. Ian scanned the horizon and listened carefully. Whoa those aren't sounds you hear back on Earth. Are those creatures or demons or what? he thought while listening to the odd sounds coming from the distance. I hope they are as far away as they sound.
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Post by Shadowkat on Jun 6, 2008 23:43:22 GMT -5
Shadowkat listened as Elixir answered her fellow students and turned to her as she was asked a question. "What we'll do, Elixir, is fight. It could make for a good base for us to use and regroup at."
She kept her pace with the three students as they talked amongst themselves, Haven speaking rather respectably for once, and watched as she turned to talk to Diesel. All the while she heard the quiet conversation, she kept alert for anything that didn't sound like them and anything that might be creeping up on them. She listened carefully, tuning out the chatter for a second because she heard something she was expecting - faint noises, demonic, she remembered. So they know we're here. It's only a matter of time before they find us.
"Quiet down guys, I'm hearing things that aren't us. Okay, we need to move quickly, quietly, and as one group. My guess is they know we're here, and they're coming to give us a 'warm' welcome," she said to her students in a low voice, trying to keep some morale up with a little pun. I can only hope we reach the castle before we have no place to hide and have to fight nonstop. Some are easy to beat, but there's countless numbers of them. I have to make sure these three make it, as well as myself, she thought as she gently ushered them forward through the sandy and rocky terrain to their destination.
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Elixir
dead/inactive
Sara Belsky
-----*she's special*-----
Posts: 117
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Post by Elixir on Jun 7, 2008 1:55:43 GMT -5
"I like myself just fine," Sara retorted unconvincingly to Haven, especially as her facial expression of dazed fear only seemed to convey that the young turncoat had hit close to the mark. The fact was that Sara felt completely out of place. Not only was she away from the familiar world of Chabad and cast into the very strange world of goyim, but having left the shelter for the Xavier Academy only a few days before she was now for the first time in her life around other mutants. And all these other mutants seemed to be really strong. They had useful powers. They had frightening powers. Kate could summon demons and terrify Sara to death. Guardian could breath fire and had erupted in a rage and demolished the kitchen. Aqua could drown whoever tried to get in her way. While Sara. Sara could cry like a little baby.
Sara could try to protect herself and wind up creating a helpless creature who depended on her for everything who was all neglected and alone right now in the stable. A creature who might be starving to death while she was here capable of contributing nothing to this mission and terrified to admit it. She was terrified to admit that she didn't belong in this world of mutants and would not have survived the Brotherhood attack had she been there. Thus, she was stuck between wanting to flee the Academy and dissapear in the hopes that nobody would find her and worrying about what would happen to Amos if she did, not that she was convinced thes school would take care of him if she stayed.
Sooner or later, she thought, they are bound to figure out that I am absolutely useless to them for any war they are fighting. And now was that time. Now they were going to be attacking some fortress and Sara could contribute exactly nothing. She couldn't manipulate water or flame. She couldn't fly. She couldn't use a force field to crush people. She couldn't lift massive objects or crash through walls with brute strength. She couldn't phase in and out of anything. Heck, she was a small, overweight kid with no stamina. She couldn't do half the things a human of ordinary strength and ability could do. And now despite all her bravado everybody was going to see that and she was either going to die here abandoned or cause one of them to be hurt having to save her sorry ass. She couldn't have that on her conscience.
With that thought in mind she spoke up to Shadowkat, but instead of telling the truth she tried to keep up the bravado by whispering to Shadowkat so whatever might be approaching would not hear,
"Great, let's have four lone people try to attack a full fledged castle protected by thousands of demons. That sounds like good odds....if you like suicide...." but no sooner had she said it then her flooding emotions became too much for her and with her voice quivering and losing all its previous sarcasm she continued haltingly..."well, I guess you guys could do it...you all have incredible, scary powers but I'm no use. I'm a mutant, sure, but other than getting shunned by humans my powers are utterly useless. They only work if somebody's dead and actually they've only worked twice and both times by accident. And even then my tears brought my grandmother to life, but she died again in about a day. If something happens to one of you I might be able to raise you long enough to write a killer goodbye letter to your friends and family...heck, you'd be better off with your average human. At least they'd be strong and not a fat idiot like me."
"So leave me," she continued. "I'll find a hole or something to hide in. If I go with you, you'll just have to save my butt and its not worth the risk," she added sincerely. This was NO ploy for attention. She truly meant it. She wanted them to leave her. She felt she was going to die either way so why take them down with her.
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Haven
Acolytes
Niki Sanchez
Posts: 316
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Post by Haven on Jun 8, 2008 0:39:45 GMT -5
"Who's 'Spitfire'? You mean Aideen?" Haven was just starting to like this guy and then he had to go and make fun of her powers and her name. "You are a jerk you know, she bends fire to her will she doesn't spit it. Are you trying to be funny? Cause I know her a little and I don't think she would care for you having fun with her name. Don't get me wrong, she's cool enough but that'd be like me calling you 'Pipes' or some stupid shit like that cause you're all built like outta steel pipes or some shit." She looked him up and down seeing that he was built nice. Wanting to replace the images in her mind of the repeated rapes she had endured by Sabertooth with a guy she could tolerate and was at least slightly attractive, she let her mind wander. Until Elixir opened her big mouth and ruined her fantasy.
Niki tried to ignore the girl after a quick glance in her direction told her by the look on Elixir's face that she was totally lying about her self image. 'That fat bitch totally hates herself' she thought. "Yeah, I think we should leave her ass." Then the girl said something that made sense, not the thing about them having wicked awesome powers even though that was true, but the part about attacking a castle. "Hey Sarge" she said sarcastically said to Shadowkat "I think fat girl has a point, I don't think we outta go charging up and attacking a castle. Can't we just sneak in?"
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Diesel
Acolytes
Ian Larks
Posts: 492
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Post by Diesel on Jun 8, 2008 13:44:12 GMT -5
Ian shook his head as he looked around, still on alert for anything else that might be out there. "I don't call her that to make fun of her power or nothin', it's just my sorta pet name for her. In the first five minutes I met her, her spunk came out like right away. Aideen's pretty ballsy and and got a sharp ass tongue. That's why I call her Spitfire, its like everything she says burns as much as her power. The same way I call Frostbite Pipsqueak and Heather Blondie. They're just pet names is all," he said in a low voice.
He rolled his eyes again when Elixir held them up for what, the fourth time in the past half hour? Christ this chick just doesn't get it. Did she fall on her head too hard or is she naturally this bratty? Ian thought as he turned to the girl this time pissed off. "You deaf or something? Or did you ignore me the entire time I yelled at you back there? So that would make you a deaf and rude chick. This is the last freakin' time I'm telling you this: there is power in numbers," he said emphasizing those last words. "You go on your own and you will die here. Think about it, your in hell. There are creatures that live here that cold probably smell you out within a second. With us you got more of a chance to freaking survive, and who knows, maybe you will help out. The point is we gotta stick together," he said looking at the weird ass chick who before this whole thing he had a relatively good opinion of her.
Ian did however look suspiciously at the castle. "You know, Kitty Teach, it might not be a bad idea to walk the area around the castle first until we know what it's like in there. We're gonna have to be real quiet and keep a low profile. Which means we all gotta clam it and stop whining," he said glancing at Elixir. That chick is a pain in the ass, how does she not get it by now, he thought as he looked around at the area.
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Post by Shadowkat on Jun 9, 2008 21:58:42 GMT -5
Shadowkat kept leading them closer and closer to the castle they had seen across the way, and looked over at Elixir as she whispered to her, still speaking with an attitude until she heard it fade. When she heard her say to leave her, she couldn't help but heave a sigh. I don't have the time for this, none of us can afford to let each other down, she thought, speaking in a similar whisper. "Enough Elixir. We're not leaving you, and you're not leaving us. We are a team here, and you can do things too. Your tears bring life, now, no more of that nonsense and stay by my side," she said, placing a light hand on her shoulder for a second to give it a comforting squeeze.
Letting go of her charge's shoulder but making sure she stayed close, she listened to the ongoing conversation between the two students who kept their voices low, half listening to them, half keeping her ears open for sounds of demons who she knew were looking for them. When Diesel went at Elixir again when she had spoken, she looked to him with an almost pleading expression. I know he's on edge already, but we have to keep our heads here and losing our cool won't help to accomplish that. It's hard enough to deal with Elixir like this and just being in Limbo is enough to drive someone to madness, she thought, and then listened to her students' qualms with the worry about how to approach the castle.
"Yes, yes, all three of you are right," she answered in another whisper, letting one hand rub her temple to ease the slight oncoming headache she was getting. "What we'll do is sneak around the perimeter of the castle and see what we're up against. Not a sound should come from any of us. If we can work it, we'll weasel our way in, but you all must remember to be on your guard and be prepared to fight. I'll help you out as much as I can, but we're all sticking together no matter what. Okay?"
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Elixir
dead/inactive
Sara Belsky
-----*she's special*-----
Posts: 117
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Post by Elixir on Jun 9, 2008 23:56:18 GMT -5
Feeling Shadowkat's hand on her shoulder should have made Elixir more calm. But they were in hell and she was already on edge so it freaked her out even more so for a slight second she recoiled involuntarily before catching herself. Come on you fat idiot. You're just screwing everything up. Why can't you have an ounce of courage. You've gotten through hard things before. You can do this. Diesel is right...you need to stop whining and just shut up and do it, she thought to herself. Whispering, she quickly said to her teacher, "Sorry..." and nothing more.
As Shadowkat had said to be quiet she didn't say anything to either Diesel or Haven. However, she did not ignore them, as she did not want to be rude or make the situation even worse. She looked over at Diesel with sincere contrition in her eyes and mouthed a silent apology to him, hoping Haven could see it as well. She resolved to do better. She would make it up to them all by doing her best when they got to the castle, even though she doubted she would live and doubted more that somehow if she did anybody at the school would ever like her. Why should they? She couldn't find any reason to like herself.
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Haven
Acolytes
Niki Sanchez
Posts: 316
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Post by Haven on Jun 12, 2008 22:34:20 GMT -5
"Yeah?" Haven whispered to Diesel "I hope you don't tease about somebody's powers, that's uncool" said as she eyed him up and down trying to decide if she though him worthy to call a friend or if it was only because he was just good looking enough to not hate. She never based her feelings on appearances though because the nicest looking people were often the most back stabbing jerks you'd ever want to meet.
Hearing Shadowkat's words made her want to tell that old bag off, but she played it cool because she thought Diesel was sorta right and she didn't want to be loud. So instead she thought it 'Noooo DUH You A-hole! O-course we're right! Who attacks a castle!?! They're made so you CAN'T attack them!'
She rolled her eyes as they trudged through the sand and when Elixir said she was sorry Haven stopped in her tracks and looked at the girl for a half a second, dumbfounded. Whispering to Diesel "Did she just say 'sorry'? Holy poopy, there is a god."
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Diesel
Acolytes
Ian Larks
Posts: 492
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Post by Diesel on Jun 12, 2008 23:39:09 GMT -5
Ian looked away from Elixir and gave Haven a slight smile. "Na, that's not my thing. Any ability is useful. Might make fun of their names though, like Jumpdick who does nothing but run around like a fairy," he whispered with a bit of a malice as he thought of the little fairy boy. Little shit. Hope he ran into a wall since his head is so far up his ass, Ian said in his head with a scowl and a more grim look on his face. He was still very mad at the ignorant kid, and he never got mad. When he did it took him a lot to get over it. Sometimes he never quite forgave those things.
Ian tried to lay low as he looked around and shuddered a bit as he heard some noises coming from a distance. "This don't look good. We should get around the castle and keep a really low profile. We gotta be on alert. Hey Kitty Teach, you think if needed you can go through that wall and be sneaky enough to only check out what's over there?" he whispered quietly as the trudged through the sand. At least I got boots on, he thought as the sand slipped under him.
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