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May 26, 2017 21:16:59 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 26, 2017 21:16:59 GMT -5
The festivals were happy, perky, perhaps too much so. While the idea was to honor those who'd fallen, there were too many people running around with barely a tear. Drakka herself refused to belong to the groups of those who cried all festival or laughed all festival, she took up the small minority who drifted around with no real purpose. Currently, she leaned on the back of one stall, half-heartedly chewing on a chunk of what she decided was steak. Her movements were lethargic, and she was reasonably upset. She had hoped for some kind of real tribute, stupid as her ideas were, and was sorely disappointed...now the only thing that she could acknowledge right now is that her chest hurt like hell. She listened to the voices and sounds of the festival, unconsciously cycling in and out of them, trying to find a recognizable sound. Maybe that'd distract her from this, really odd exhaustion... raynauld
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May 26, 2017 21:43:50 GMT -5
Post by raynauld on May 26, 2017 21:43:50 GMT -5
Eastern culture rolled far differently than Western culture. Raynauld knew this, of course, but this area's immersure in the Eastern ways was something else. Festivals like this were nominally reserved for pagans and more Eastern traditionalist ways.[break] Maybe that was why Raynauld looked out of place, still in his cerulean armor. Outside of the occasional NPC tourist and non-Asian Player, Raynauld was functionally easy to pick out of the crowd. But, naturally, so was someone else that he knew far too well, and when he passed the stall it was almost impossible for him to miss her-[break] "Ah! Ho there, Drakka." He waved to her as he passed; her ears and made her stand out about as much as he did, "I suppose I should be unsurprised to find you here. ... Hm?" Raynauld caught onto her expression quick - he wasn't Rex's level of perceptive, but he held better than Akeno, at least. "What's with you? The revelry not to your liking?"[break] drakka
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May 27, 2017 9:11:03 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 27, 2017 9:11:03 GMT -5
To her credit, Drakka didn't actually look upset to see her interruption was one of her guildmates, she even perked up somewhat before her mood fell back down, " Hey Ray, you here too?" She murmured, leaning furthermore on the stall until she heard a creak. At his question, her eyes narrowed slightly, and her jaws clenched, " I-well...it's very perky, you know." Almost as if on cue, laughter erupted from a stall as a player won a revered Otohime doll, and a frown started to cross Drakka's face, " I like a good time as much as everyone else, but right now, I don't exactly want to celebrate the damned fight that killed those guys." She cast a glance into the tower, staying in there had proven to be useless too, there was too little to pat your respects to. raynauld
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May 27, 2017 19:08:39 GMT -5
Post by raynauld on May 27, 2017 19:08:39 GMT -5
It was less than difficult to read Drakka's expression - had she lost someone she knew in that fight? Raynauld found it hard to believe that she knew anyone outside the Devils, given her attitude and penchant for wanting to work alone. But, maybe that made sense - she was only human, after all, even if she was a human that spent more time than expected turned into some were-beast.[break] "Well." Still, how did one respond to that? Wasn't like Raynauld lost anyone he knew. "... Okay, so, if you don't want the revelry, then what do you want?"[break] A simple question, hopefully not one that would cause her to lash out (though with his luck it would). If she wanted to sulk all day, she could do that elsewhere; there had to be SOMETHING that someone like Drakka would want to do, for better or worse...[break] Or maybe she wanted to sulk here like a pouting child, for all Raynauld knew. He was the one intruding, technically.[break] drakka
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May 27, 2017 20:46:58 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 27, 2017 20:46:58 GMT -5
...And set off Samantha it did. " Stop acting like I'm throwing a fit!" She spat out the words like poison, her nose and mouth crinkling back like she was in her wolfish form, and she started rubbing at her head as if the simulation would somehow grant her words beyond her venomous tone, " It's just...I wanted!...Fuck it! I can't even do this-" She stopped her words, covering her eyes as her face reddened slightly at her word failure. After a few seconds, she'd calm back down and rubbed her face before resuming the conversation like her halt had never happened, " I wanted a better way to pay respects." She tilted her head and grumbled as if this desire was somehow shameful, " I went to the tower...all it did was make me feel bad." She knew when people died you tended to be buried, only people who really deserved it just dissappeared, people in here didn't deserve it...usually..." ...This is gonna sound really fucking sick, but I wish there were bodies, and not for any weird reason!" She quickly corrected, making absolutely sure Raynauld was following the halting train of thought that was her mind, " To, you know, bury them. I never seen it, but mom and dad told me that's how people usually die, people don't just dissappear like that." Her voice dropped again, " If I'm going to be gigantic, the least I could have done was bury them." She clicked her tongue at her memories of the event, it was like Otohime deliberately went for those not under her, it was like a bad joke. " Never mind, I'm just feeling tired.raynauld
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May 27, 2017 22:38:42 GMT -5
Post by raynauld on May 27, 2017 22:38:42 GMT -5
He stepped back when she rose up in her fury, though that was merely a lark for her true feelings. But then, how did you even respond to something like this?[break] When she spoke of bodies remaining, Raynauld imagined that world for a moment. He imagined lavish funerals, Christian or otherwise, held for the dead; he imagined looters and grave robbers desecrating tombs held to the fallen. Was that why they disappeared upon death? It could only be speculation, without seeing those curs called game developers face-to-face.[break] But, it wasn't like he could just leave it at that, could he...[break] "I used to do volunteer work for my church," Oh no, where was this going...? "So I've... sat through a few sermons where the pastor led the flock in prayer for their departed loved ones. I think I could ape it fairly well... if you want to do that...?"[break] This was all he could come up with.[break] drakka
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May 28, 2017 11:43:43 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 28, 2017 11:43:43 GMT -5
Drakka didn't look at Raynauld as he talked, but her ears perked straight up as he got to his offer, before flattening as she considered it. She kicked at the stall restlessly, grumbling to herself intelligibly before more coherent words tumbled out of her mouth, " It's not a problem, right?" She pulled her Crimson Cloak closer around her shoulders, bundling it up until it nearly covered her mouth, " I mean...I could like it, but...ok." She nodded resolutely, face neutral and surprisingly calm, " Fine...ok...I'd, um, I think I'd like that." She mumbled, looking nearly completely down and only speaking loud enough for Raynauld to hear, " It sounds more right, beyond this festival obviously!" She crossed her arms and practically glared at Raynauld...she didn't seem made, but she clearly had high expectations on this, " So...Do I gotta do anything or what?" raynauld
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May 28, 2017 22:29:56 GMT -5
Post by raynauld on May 28, 2017 22:29:56 GMT -5
She... actually wanted to try it? Basically everyone in this game had roundly mocked his faith - his actual one, not his fictional one. To have someone roundly say it seemed like a good idea... well, it was near unthinkable. Still, if she wanted to do it, then they would do it.[break] "Well, I'm going mostly off memory, but I'll need a few things. Firstly - the names of those you want eulogised. Secondly, anything you know about them, so I can tailor this to what we know of them - the more, the better, though we can always improvise if need be. Thirdly... Maybe a place less crowded than this."[break] That made enough sense - not much point in a solemn where people were trapesing around, hoping to earn trinkets to take home to their families. Worse, someone could interrupt the sermon with their inanity.[break] "We can walk and talk," Raynauld said, already starting to move, "So, tell me - who's the one, or ones, you want immortalised in tonight's sermon?"[break] drakka
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May 29, 2017 11:42:48 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 29, 2017 11:42:48 GMT -5
Upon hearing the instructions, Drakka trotted besides Raynauld, changing speeds on a whim as she mulled it over. Immortalizing others? Damn...that was a lot of pressure! She was quickly finding that she was really, really was not liking the responsibility. She rotated between baring her teeth and frowning as she struggled to remember pretty much anyone. " I knew something archer called...Zodiac...kinda irritating, but he was a good shot." She started falling behind as her mind refused to cooperate. She knew nobody! Absolutely nothing! Suddenly, she started flicking through her menu, landing on the final message from Dollie. Drakka pointed frantically at the message, specifically at the end, " Dollie! No, no, wait! Her name's Catherine! Yeah, I think that's right!" After the initial panic, she settled back down, sharp-toothed smile crossing her face, " I don't even like her that much, and the feelings mutual, that was for fucking sure...but I didn't hate her enough to die, so she better be happy I remembered her now." She shrugged afterwards, " I didn't know anyone else there, sorry...we can go into the Tower, almost nobody goes in there." raynauld
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May 29, 2017 18:38:23 GMT -5
Post by raynauld on May 29, 2017 18:38:23 GMT -5
About halfway in, it occurred to Raynauld that he shouldn't have expected actual names in this virtual world. He still ended up pleasantly surprised that she had one of the player's actual names, even if she had to go digging for it... and didn't seem to care for her at all... but then again, her words and actions always seemed to contradict one-another.[break] One day you'll learn to be true to your real feelings, He thought of her, And I'll be truly happy to see that day.[break] If Drakka felt pressure just recalling their names, Raynauld was sweating having to be the one to eulogise those he had zero connections to. Did the pastors ever feel like this? They entered the tower, and once the doors shut it was as if they lived in their own private world, the only currency silence. Raynauld stepped to the center of the room, turning to face Drakka. He thought he had everything he needed.[break] Once she was seated, he would begin.[break]
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May 30, 2017 6:19:14 GMT -5
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May 29, 2017 21:03:37 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 29, 2017 21:03:37 GMT -5
The bad feeling had vanished for a while as the triumph coursed through her body...and then the feeling was back, and she felt all terrible again. At least she could put these feelings to good use as she spotted some other players about to enter the Tower with them. Her ears flattened until they were nearly invisible, and she snapped viciously at them, " Get out of here! What? Of course I'm talking to you bastard! We got something to do! You can come in later!" Thankfully, a fight didn't start, and she stalked in after Raynauld. She walked around the Tower's interior, patrolling it like there could be someone or something within, better safe than sorry she imagined. As soon as she felt safe enough to be still, she hopped onto one of the benches and seated herself, drawing her knees up and seemingly making a pretty valiant attempt to make herself small, " Ok...We're here now, let's do it." raynauld
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May 29, 2017 23:06:38 GMT -5
DOLLIE likes this
Post by raynauld on May 29, 2017 23:06:38 GMT -5
Raynauld stood tall in the center of the room, overlooking a flock of one person to deliver a eulogy for two people, neither of whom he knew, to the aforementioned flock of person, inside a tower meant for eastern-based rituals despite this being a staunchly western tradition inside a virtual video game that took the lives of those who fell within its confines.[break] Well, this was his life now.[break] "... We are gathered here today, for a most inglorious occasion. The Devil came in the form of a draconic beast reviled by man and saw fit to run riot among His people, using his Reaper's claw and fang to take from us two of our finest allies within this purgatory. May the Lord see in His everlasting vigil to take them to His kingdom, that we may see them again when our time comes for us, long after our egress from these lands.[break] "The first of our great men and women that were taken from us was Zodiac - a bowman, the envy of his peers, blessed by the celestial centaur of antiquity themselves. He matched the great legends of those tricksters of the bow in more ways than one: His wit, glib, and his arrows, without peer in our world.[break] "And then there was Catherine, the maiden we all called "Dollie" for her stunning resemblance to the matchmaker of olden fame, contemporary to our very own Drakka of the Lobisomem. Now, many would have described Catherine through terms less than flattering; one could not deny, however, that the heart of a saint beat within her chest, long enough to spread her last will and testament, insurance of the memory of what once was.[break] "We have now lost these two great men and women, a mere smattering of those who fell to the tainted dragon of this land of Gargantua. The Lord take their souls to rest now, in His great kingdom, and provide them a solace that only He and His people may provide them, regardless of such things as religion, background, race, and other parts irrespective of the bond between us and them.[break] And when it comes time for us to be released from our bondage within this land, let us look back and remember Zodiac, and Catherine, for their deeds and words, for the memories given ad honorem, so that their ultimate sacrifice, through happenstance or otherwise, may never be forgotten by neither us nor those they fought so valiantly to see once more outside these lands.[break] "May we behold them in our kingdom if - when - we behold the Lamb of God. May we behold them in our dreams, our aspirations. May we behold them for who they were and what they stood for.[break] "... Amen." Raynauld felt something run down his cheek; he didn't even know them. He was almost scared to look at Drakka, having made that on the spot - he did not know Zodiac, nor Dollie. Was it correct? Would it even help?[break] History could be the judge.[break] drakka , gonna tag ZODIAC and DOLLIE in the vain hopes they see this
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May 30, 2017 9:20:01 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 30, 2017 9:20:01 GMT -5
Drakka had never sat in one of these. She had never seen someone close to her die until entering this game. Hell, she'd never seen someone actually die in front of her until this game! Yet there was no doubt she thought she'd be fine throughout this unorthodox eulogy. She wasn't. Instead of her expectations, as Raynauld went on, the bad feeling got worse and worse as he started mentioning the players by name. Something more was also tickling at the back of her mind, pushing for something she forgot, something she could never forget, and she coughed briefly as her throat closed up. She knew absolutely nothing about afterlives, or a kind of religion, nor had she ever had time to complement this on her own. Still, she was paradoxically happy that Raynauld had done this, it felt final, proper...that was the way this had to be...and finally the bad feelings overflowed, quite literally she might add. Drakka looked down, and startled as her eyes fell on hands wet, more moisture added every few seconds as her vision blurred. " Tch...that-that's not supposed to happen." She grumbled, bringing up a hand to hide her face as she found any attempt to straighten out her face was failing, holding her breath as it stumbled whenever she took in a breath. " Heh, that was...well, it was something." raynauld
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May 30, 2017 18:30:46 GMT -5
Post by raynauld on May 30, 2017 18:30:46 GMT -5
"Yeah..."[break] So, Drakka actually found some solace and closure in all of that? That was better than nothing, especially given that the majority of it had been created literally as he was speaking. Not that he could totally tell from looking at Drakka; she kept hiding her face from him, as if its expression were shameful. Well, given that they hung out with Rex, whose forte was verbal abuse... Maybe not a huge surprise.[break] "We should go," He said, opening the door and leading the way back out. Along the path, two other players - the same ones Drakka snapped at earlier, in fact - were nearly bowled over when Raynauld barreled the door open, and then gave them the exact same glare Drakka gave them. ...Well, once a Devil, always a Devil. Sucked to be those players, though.[break] But, now that their eulogy for Zodiac and Dollie had been completely and put down (more or less, at least...) "So... Now what?"[break] ... Seriously, what did they do now?[break] drakka
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May 30, 2017 19:12:52 GMT -5
Post by drakka on May 30, 2017 19:12:52 GMT -5
Drakka didn't react at first, before suddenly jumping from her seat and before she even touched the ground, she was transformed. The fur down her snout and cheeks were still wet and smelled of salt, but Drakka preferred this method of hiding herself rather than face any players outside. Naturally, Raynauld's help was greatly appreciated, and she nodded dimly as she padded out. The players outside got no solace from her either, judging by the way they scrambled backwards under the combined might of Drakka's terrible scarlet eyes and Raynauld's very human, yet still terrifying, glares. Still, she didn't say anything, outright not trusting her voice to stay steady under the assault her mind insisted on putting upon her...Drakka would have to do a lot of forgetting tomorrow... " I don't know...maybe I'll go see what this thing has to offer." Her gaze swept over the stalls, particularly on the food, where she lingered longest. She blinked as the crowds cleared a bit, mostly by her appearance, where her red eyes were indistinguishable from the red eyes of possible crying. Suddenly she'd tap Raynauld on the leg, clearing her throat, " Umm, back there? That was nice, it was nice to me, and I'm the one and only bitch. You're lucky Akeno's just crazy, or you'd have more than Rex and I to deal with![/color]" A little cough of laughter escaped her lips before she fell back into her quieter tone, " I'm not sure what is with me, but I'm...normal, for now, and it's better than nothing. Thanks." She'd turn her head briefly to give Raynauld a more friendly bump, fangs exposed in a gortesque, " See ya, I gotta eat now." Even without Shadow Walk, she vanished completely into the shadows, blending perfectly into the crowd before becoming one of their humanoid forms, hands in her pockets and head bowed, frowning deeply before pulling her cloak up and raising a hand to bid goodbye to Raynauld. She wanted to scream, to snarl, to howl at the fucking moon, but for now she'd settle for this overflow...it was doing well enough. raynauld
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