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Post by Moss on Feb 16, 2009 22:50:51 GMT -5
**Victoria bites her lips as Mystery's various limps crack. She wishes she could help him but, well, her remedies only work on humans. And he said he wasn't one... she looks away, to pet Charlotte once or twice. Not seeing his face makes her nervous. At his reply though, she nods slowly. Yes, this was a special place. Another world, where there were no witch-hunting maniacs, and you never died. Never died... Her aunt would have laughed. She still remembers her old life fairly well. Ahmy, That was what she called her great-aunt, Is there really a way to live forever? America had chuckled, and patted her grand-niece's head, Ah, Victoria-Carol, people are always raving about finding the fountain of youth. with another chuckle, she shook her head reproachfully. I personally don't understand. Then, with twinkling eyes, she'd looked at her ward and added. If you find the fountain of happiness though, let me know. Yes, the fountain of happiness. Maybe she had found it. Biting her lip harder, she looks back at the hooded figure.** Yes. Thank-you. **Her guard comes up though. did he really mean it? Or was it a trap. to lure her away... to bring himself in so he could steal this world's wonders...** **Meanwhile, Salem has wandered off, board by whatever is going on. Tail high, she sits next to the water, gazing at her scruffy reflection, and lapping at the starry waves. Orion still seams upset about something and is apparently pouting. His tail wrapped around his huge frame, he casts one or two glares in Mystery's direction, waiting for the individual to do something bad so he can scratch him up good.**
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Post by Mystery on Feb 19, 2009 21:46:10 GMT -5
Mystery smiled in her direction, his gaze then leaves her and wanders back to the lake. He ached, and the cool water seemed like the best thing in the world right now. He sighed, and looked back at Victoria Carol.
"I hate to break our conversation, but I'm really ...." He paused, trailing off for a second. "Sore. Yes sore. The water helps, which is why it's special for me. To put things short, I need it every now and then." He shuffled his feet and stood up, his joints seeming to protest with every move. He winced then shook his head a little bit. He made sure that the lady had enough space between him to not freak her out.
"If you wish, we can talk in a little while... but you came here to get water too, did you not?" He asked, raising a brow. Her cats obviously did.
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Post by Moss on Feb 21, 2009 21:47:10 GMT -5
**Victoria raises her eyes as he stands.** Sore? Oh... **She nods slowly to herself, thinking about what he said. That's odd. I need the water too. But just for... water. She'd tried to drink other things, to see if she'd get older. But no, it seems that after having lived off it enough she doesn't need it to support her anymore. Her eyes follow the hooded figure. His clothes are so... different. It's like he has one suit over his whole body. No shoes, no stockings, no hat. Realizing that she's staring, Victoria looks away.**
If you wish, we can talk in a little while... but you came here to get water too, did you not?
**She looks at him for a moment again, then nods.** Yes, if you like... **Her voice is quieter though. No one's ever asked if she wanted to talk so openly. Maybe he was suspicious of something... attempting to push away her paranoia, she adds, slightly loader.** This is the best water in the cave. **With that, her mottled eyes find her jug. In another whoosh of petticoats, she stands. Padding towards the pottery in soft leather shoes, she picks it up.** **The cats that have been around her move in unison to follow her. Except for Hemlock, who watches them go. He obviously believes himself to important to walk about after his mistress.** **Victoria, who had been well taught to not bend over when possible (I was considered... rude back then), lowers herself to grab the pot. She comes back up with it dangling in one hand, and Charlotte in the other arm. Completing the walks back to the water, she drops the cat on some dry rocks, and kneels once again. With a slight splash, the pot is in the glowing pool, scooping up water.** **Mistoffelees has, somehow, reappeared. He glances back at Hemlock, and then walks towards Mystery. He is small and seems to stay aloof, almost like Hemlock, not very humble, but not nearly as leader-ly, or ghostly either... Sitting on a glowing rock somewhere between Victoria and the stranger (but more towards the girl, of course), he curls his tail around his paws, letting the white tip swish back and forth. Hemlock watches the other tom a bit longer, then, with sleek grace, stands to walk towards Victoria.**
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Post by Mystery on Feb 22, 2009 0:20:40 GMT -5
Mystery nods. He'd be here for a while, he knew that. He always seemed so peaceful here, at ease and so he stayed very often. But he figured that this lady only needed the water to live; like you cna't go 3 days without water type of thing. Mystery needed it at a more drmatic level. He figured that this water is what kept him alive; what is keeping him alive. With his disease constantly picking away at him, taking everything away, the water was buidling it all back.
He watched her stand and walk to her pot, before walking silently over to the edge of the lake. His head hurt and joints thobbed. Oddly enough, the water repulsed him. It was almost frightening that it wanted him to come closer. his body was attrackting it like a magnet. Mystery wished he would just die and be at the end of his misery, but no. He had to go along and live. Bummer. He rolled his eyes at the thought, shook off the feeling and waded into the water a little ways.
The cold was surpring, as it always is. It always caught him off guard, almost making him want to leap away. He sighed, louder then expected. Gosh Mystery hated being loud. He preferred to stay invisible to everyone else. About half half way up his shins, he stopped moving and looked around. Already he felt himself getting stronger and more relaxed. The pain was ebbing away to nothing. Tired he crouched into the chilly waters, and not to long afterwards, was sitting down all the way. He inhaled, exhaled, closing his eyes. It felt so good.
Suddently, Mystery jolted upright into a standing position as quietly as he possibly could. He no longer felt the hard gaze of Helmock the cat, which gave him an uneasey feeling, as if the cat knew what he was really going through; but Mystery found himself looking over his shoulder at a new pair of eyes. Mistoffelees. He blinked in curiousity. This one wasn't as close to Victoria, but about half way inbetween. It made him curious. Very carefully and slowly, he walked back to the shore and stretched a hand out to the black and white cat. Being careful, he hoped he wouldn't startle the creature and scare it off, as he walked closer. 'I really hoped this works.' Most cats ran off before he could get a chance to pet them, hopefully Mistoffelees would think differently.
"Good kitty..." He said quietly.
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Post by Moss on Feb 23, 2009 23:39:21 GMT -5
**Victoria looks deep into the starry waters and moves the pot back at for a few time. A small smile grazes her lips as she watches the patters change. They seem to dance from glowing nebula-like spirals to graceful arches and ripples, which run out on to the center of the lake, only to be stopped halfway along their journey by the stars resting in the black depths. The miniature waves make only the slightest lapping sounds, but even these whispers are amplified by the cave walls. Unlike the strange boy next to her, Victoria doesn't mind the noise. Instead, she makes herself more quiet, to listen to what reminds her of her old home. Before the burnings and the fear. Of the tired storm clouds that dragged themselves across a chalk-white sky. Of sitting on a bench next to the smithy to listen the blacksmith work, and of watching as iron turned from black to red to yellow, and then to black again as it met dirty cold water with a war-like hiss. Subconsciously, she lets out another sigh. She'd loved that place. But not anymore. Not after what its people had done to her. No. This was her home now, and it was as dear to her as her homeland had ever been. From it's rolling plains to the mountains in the distance, it was such a marvelous place. She's never traveled around it, truly. But, she doesn't care. Where she is is where she'll live, and this place is the best. Little does she know that now, in her old hometown, people are busily rushing back and forth, to and fro, and her story is told to little bunches of tourists. Third and fourth graders are taught about what her life was like, and, while her name stays forgotten, she is thought of every time the 'victims of the Salem Which Trials' are mentioned.** **Mistoffelees tilts his little white head to gaze at Mystery with bright blue eyes. With a more decisive flick of his tail, the small tom continues to stare at this stranger. Hemlock turns back to lock the two with a half-glare. He doesn't really care what Mistoffelees does, having decided that Mystery is an okay person. He does, however, remain the leader. It's his job to watch over the other cats, not to mention Victoria. His gaze is toned down though. It's no longer a harsh, searching glow but a waiting, watching kind of haze, so that, if you didn't turn to see him, you might just forget he was watching.**
Good kitty....
**Victoria doesn't seem to hear Mystery speak. She's wandering in world of memories and long-gone sights. Besides, she has full trust in Hemlock. He's kept her from being harmed more then once and he is smart enough to scence when something was wrong. To her, Hemlock isn't a demonic shadow of a cat. He's a counterpart, a faithful friend who will always be there to help her.** **Mistoffelees however, decides to respond to the call. With dainty steps on his white-socked paws, her advances. His manner is vague and aloof, so he seems the shy-est of all. Through his careful ways though, there's just a glint of pride, maybe at his 'disappearing abilities'. Making sure to stay on the rocks, as to not get his feet wet, he makes his way to Mystery, all the time staring down the stranger with deep eyes.**
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Post by Mystery on Mar 1, 2009 20:40:08 GMT -5
Mystery, much to his surprise, felt almost relieved or excited to see Mistoffelees aproach him. He had never talked or met any creature in a long, long time with an exception of the glances of mice in the warehouse where he lives and Thorn. The little lizard like dragon was his first and only friend. Usually, however, he is always in the cave waiting for him to come. But today he wasn't. 'He must be off snoozing, catching dragonflies, or explroing somewhere far off. This cave is huge...' Yes it was...
Mystery hadn't even been half way threw the whole entire cave, but he knew it kept going and going and going. There never seemed to be an end to the huge colums and pointy rocks that darted over the floor and pools of the cave. Who knows how long and wide it is? Mystery onl knew that the cave pool at the very middle lead and came from somewhere from the current it had astarting aroudn the middle. It probably got stronger the more you swim away from the shoreline.
Mistofelees brought Mystery back to where he was with a little mental smack. It made his head pound slightly. The water was taking its effects, and already the pain and soreness from his mangled limbs and bone structure was easing off very quickly. He tried to keep the cat's stare, but trying to make it friendly and almost welcoming. This was very new. Crouching down, he sits on his heels and stretches his soft bandaged hand out to the blue eyed cat.
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Post by Moss on Mar 29, 2009 18:34:12 GMT -5
*Mistoffelees looks at Mystery, and does a perfect demostation of what is known as the 'cat flop'. His eyes on the blue hand, he begins to walk slowly towards it, aparently flaunting the perfect little tux markings he was born with. Then, carefully putting one paw in front of the other, he begins to stretch out, and walk slower, untill, finally, he falls over on his side, flat under Mystery's extended hand. A high-pitched purr rises from him, and he gives the boy a glance. Well? He seems to ask. What are you going to do now?** **Victoria, finally breaking out of her trance-like stage, looks behind her, and takes in the scene precatiously: Salem 'sunning' herself on rock with old regality, Orion, pouting in a corner, and shooting murderous glares at Hemlock and the boy in turn, Hemlock, perfetcly aware of Orion's stares, watching the who cave with gowing eyes. And, finally the boy. The boy, and, to her surprise, Mistofflees. So the little sneak has re-apeared... She thinks, off handedly, feeling prickle of discomfort. If that stranger hurts one wisker on her cat's head...** **Victoria is broken out of her suspicious thoughts by Charotte. The little queen has realised that, while she is safely with her mistress, the is also being held over a lake, with only one arm. With squeal of terror and a wriggle, she beggins attempting to free herself. Her squirming, however, only results in Victoria loosing her grip in an attempt to balance the scarred cat and the pot. With a second, subdude squeal, she goes perfectly still.** **Victoria looks down as she hears Charlotte squeal. With a sigh, she feels the cat's fear beginng to waft towards her in waves. The first time this had happened, she had let the fear become hers and had almost run away screaming. With the passage of time though, she has realised that she can feel her cats' emotions, Charlotte's in particular, fairly well. It just goes with my gift for taming the... She thinks yet once again with a tiny smile, and begins to pet Charlotte, crooning soothing words to the cat.** **The small blob of black and white fur slowly relaxes and, much to her pleasure, feels herself being brought back to shore. Finally to the 'beach' she leaps out of Victoria's arm and lands without a sound.** **Her mistress lets the cat go, and puts down her now-full pot. With rustle of soggy petticoats, she moves onto a dry rock, ad sits, watching the scene. He cats trust this... thing, but does she? He's awfully human-like, and rather secretive. On the other hand, she is too, and she's never doubted her firends' judgements, Hemlock's in particular. Glancing to the leader, she takes in his vigilant, but relaxed stance. This person must be okay. Still, she stays where she is, and waits for him to make the first move towards her.**
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Post by Mystery on Mar 29, 2009 19:30:24 GMT -5
Mystery pulled back sharply as Mistoffelees flops down onto his side, a trick Thorn and himself, as a cat of course, actually used. The ninja looked down at the little creature so close by as those blue eyes looked up at him. What now? Mystery half smiled in amusement. Tricky little fella.
His eyes darted up to Victoria and one of her many other cats, Charlotte, as the creature gives a little squeak. He watches the girl come back and sit on a rock after letting Charlotte down on the rocky beach. The greatest thing about hoods and having his face covered up, was not only keeping his face safe from the harsh burning rays of the sun and saving people from the his terrible half eaten face; but it allowed him to look around and see everything while looking occupied or in a completely different direction. While his face and head was angled down at Mistoffelles, his eyes were watching the girl very closely.
She was watching him, and her cats a few times; which to Mystery, is exactly what he'd be doing in her situation. But that was a normal thing for him. He was used to being very observant and creeping the heck out of people. It was his job you could say. He half smiled, greatful for Victoria and her many cats. It was nice to actually have the chance to talk to someone. Normally the left him alone, or vis-versa, him leaving them alone. That's the thing Mystery knew how to do very well and ended up doing it often. Alone.
Mystery looked back down at Mistoffelees and his blue gaze. Oddly, he smiled down at the little creature and relaxed his stiffened muscles. He advanced a little bit and sat down next to Mistoffelees criss cross, perfectly at ease to show that he was no threat to the others. A bandaged hand stretched out to Mistoffelees and gently rested on the top of the cat's head, softly rubbing behind his ears.
"You're really lucky Mistoffelees." He said to the creature. "You and everyone else here are safe with an easy life." His head still looked at the cat, while his eyes darted to look up at Victoria for a reaction, then back to Mistoffelees.
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Post by Moss on Apr 3, 2009 19:50:14 GMT -5
**The little black and white cat scrunches his whiskers in displeasure. He may not see this strangers' eyes, but any cat knows when they aren't receving full attention. His tappered tail begins beating the floor in annoyance at being so heartlessly deprived of what he has asked for. Finally, though, the person gets closer, and he feels a wrapped hand touch his ears. With a pur, Mistoffelees leans into the fingers as he has always done to get petted more, and closes his eyes. With his whiskers spread and his tail still, you could almost imagine he's smiling...** **Victoria-Carol, however, is not. Her mind is racing with what the new person has just said. "You and everyone else here are safe with an easy life." It almost sounded like he was asking about her past...or maybe probing into her life at the moment. Paranoia imparing her reasoning, she doesn't say anything. Instead, her unveiled eyes look around the cave, taking in rock formations yet again. Maybe if she looks around while trying to think of what to say it won't seem to rude. Every thought that comes up if muddled with fear though, and she remains silent.** **After a few long seconds, there is finally movent from the three remaining cats. Hemlock blinks slowly, and, with graceful movements, he stands. His back arches into what could be called the "Halloween Cat Stretch", with all his hairs pointing out, and his ears pinned back. Relaxing after a mere moment, her makes his way to the girl, his steps slow and measured, almost keeping a beat. At her heals he pauses, to leap with feline ease onto her lap.** **Victoria-Carol looks down at her friend, absent-mindely stroking his back. Without a sound grey meets glowing yellow and thier eyes lock. Fear of what the stranger might do slowly blows away under the comfindence of the cat's gaze. She has lived through that horror once, and there are such few chances of it happening again... Besides, the comment was hardly harmful: it was meer thought, really.... and, now that excruciatingly long moments have passed, she chokes out.** Thank-you. **Her vioce is soft and hesitant, and the words hold thick styrands of regret in them. It would express gratefulnes, but the tone says 'It wasn't always this way...'.** Do you reside near-by? **She adds, finally getting her tone under control, into a carefuly nuetral state.**
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Post by Mystery on Apr 5, 2009 13:29:14 GMT -5
Mystery continued to pet the black and white cat while glancing up at Victoria. Curious how she seemed always so uneasy around others but with Hemlock going over to her she seemed to calm completely. She trusted these cats as if they were her family. Mystery frowned. 'She probably doesn't get out much... even less then I do. But I get out to walk from my place to here, which is quite the walk yet enough to keep me outside and in the air.' His eyes narrowed slightly in thought. 'How long has she been in here? I know the water to have special ... abilities, that probably is actually keeping me alive. No one can doubt the 'good' feeling it has once you drink it... The clothing she wears is very .... unique... like a museum doll... and reside?'
He shrugged his shoulders. "I live a little ways away, yet I come to the cave and the water here almost everyday. As much as I can." He cocked a head to one side. "You seem a little tence... if you want I can leave..." He made a small movement to get up. "I don't mean to frighten you or anything..."
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Post by Moss on Jun 8, 2009 13:12:13 GMT -5
**Mystery's metaphor of Victoria as a museum doll is sadly close to the truth. Well, apart from that she's breathing and living. Fear has cut off her contacts with the rest of the 'world', and while her life in the cave is 'safe and easy' as the boy described it, her life inside her head isn't quite the same. Ask anyone who's been through something scary, and they'll tell you that some people scare easier, and scar easier. Victoria is one of those people. It's been three-hundred years. She's had three hundred years to get over the fact that her village, her friends, and everyone she knew had tried to kill her. And, for Victoria, that simply wasn't enough. Her emotions and fear still under control though, she nods. Out of the cave? Is it possible? That.. that.. that... her mind can't even form the rest of the thought: that he's one of them? Another deep breath, and then another, and finally she is able to make way for lucidity. No. It's been three hundred years. You know that. things change. Fast. they'll have changed too At his move to get up, she's almost relieved. Maybe being alone will be good, with just her cats. like when she'd run away.** **Hemlock, has other plans. He's so close to her, it isn't hard for him to see that things haven't gotten better. Maybe being alone did help, originally, but not anymore. Plus, this odd new person doesn't seem bad, but he could use some help too, by the looks of it. Maybe if they could learn to trust someone who was like them... He lets out a plaintive meow, and tips his head to the side. Still graceful and sinister, but also like he's asking a favor.** ** Mistoffelees scrunches his whiskers back again as Mystery moves. Being the little attention-lover her is, he isn't about to let the second best source of it he's known in three-hundred year walk off. the little tom stretches out as long as he can, and then curls up again, closer to Mystery. He looks up with bright blue eyes, and waits.** **Victoria looks down into Hemlocks eyes, and pets him on the head. Almost smiling, she looks at the blue-hooded figure in front of her.** No... you can stay. I... I.... don't... mind talking.... **She trails off and looks down at the black cat in her lap, who pricks his ears in encouragement.** Um... Have you.... explored the cave a lot? **An easy subject: after all, what more obvious thing do they have in common?**
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Post by Mystery on Jun 15, 2009 20:03:16 GMT -5
Mystery shifted his position slightly. He settled back down into his cross-cross seated position. He looked down at Mistoffelees, and smiled for once in his life. Such creatures were amazing. It was obvious that Mistofelees wanted attention, and so Mystery gave it to him. Gently reaching forwards, he stroked the cat softly.
He looked up at Victoria. She seemed so ... far away, almost trying to back away yet still interact with others. Surprisingly enough, Mystery felt as if they had quite a lot in common. Mystery couldn't leave the protection of the cave's waters or his home. Mystery always had bottles of hte water close at hand, yet it was never actually the same from drinking it here. He frowned, glancing at the lake form the corner of his eyes. He wanted to talk to others sometimes, but most of the time he was a loner, keeping to himself and away.
Mystery was concentrating on petting Mistofelees, and at Victoria's question, he looked up at her. His head cocked to one side gently, a slight, swift movement.
"Sort of. I haven't been here a lot, plus I live quite a distance away. It gets pretty dark and I don't think I've ever really been beyond this lake..." He said, looking around at the roof before back at Victoria. "It's a nice place, and it would be nice to see the whole place..." He glanced down at the cat, before back up at the woman.
"What about you?"
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Post by Moss on Aug 16, 2009 22:16:20 GMT -5
**Victoria nods, carefully rocking herself back and forth. A new feeling is coming over the deathly paranoid girl. The feeling of companionship. The feeling of a new person to identify with, one who isn't her cats, one who, oddly seems to be as lost as herself. She's never felt such a thing before. She knows the feeling of more-then-friendship she holds with he cats, the feeling of family she shared with America, and the fading feeling of love she and her father held for each other before he disappeared. But this... this feeling of not being alone, of finding another being somewhat like her- this is new. But is this new good? She hasn't felt new feelings for the past 300 years. Her life has been loneliness, love of her cats, and terror, a monotonous routine. So, judging by the way her stomach is getting warm, and her breath is regulating itself, she decides that yes. It is good, and finds herself able to make a full sentence.** Not all of, but a little. It's quite large, really.
**Hemlock, curled in her lap, purrs happily. his little girl is growing up... or maybe just opening up. whichever, he know he's done his job.** ** Mistoffelees, feeling Mystery's concentration turn to petting him, and Hemlock's mood loosen, stretches himself out as long as possible, begging to be pet some more.**
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Post by Mystery on Aug 16, 2009 22:26:30 GMT -5
Mystery notices that Victoria is beginning to 'relax', or something like it, a little. Even the mysterious cat, Hemlock, seems to be pleased. Mystery glances around him at the cave, curious momentarily, before looking back at Victoria. She must have been, obviously, had been alone for a very long time, and now Mystery felt soemthing different that he hadn't felt in a long time. He felt as if he were proud of himself to bring company to such a lost girl. Somewhat pelased and satisfied with himself, he sat back and seated himself more comfortably, criss cross 'applesause' style.
Gently reaching forward with wrapped hands, he carefully pickes up Mistoffelees and placed him in his lap. Smilling down at the black and white cat, he gently petted and scratched him behidn the ears. Amazing on how cats can be so manipulative, getting what they want. He smiled. Lucky things.
"It's really pretty." Mystery nods towards Victoria. "The cave is so huge, with so many different things I have never noticed before..." He petted the cat in his lap gently, looking around at the cave before looking back at his hand. It was beginning to pound painfully. Rubbing it and wincing, his fidgeted uncomfortably, hesitates, then goes back to petting Mistoffelees.
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Post by Moss on Aug 16, 2009 22:42:39 GMT -5
**Mistoffelees does little short of melt in Mystery's arms. Rubbing his head against the boys arm and curling in the crook of his knees, he purrs louder then ever.** **Victoria tenses again, like an actress caught practicing in a mirror. Talking had been okay, but the sudden realization that she had been confiding in someone who could answer back- not okay. biting her lip and pulling hemlock closer to her, she forces another breath out, trying to dig out that feeling again. That warm, friendly feeling. a little spark of it lights, cautiously, and she nods stiffly.** Yes..... yes... its... so big.... **And with a little start, she finds that talking, even with a purpose may not be that bad. the little spark of companionship builds, and she breathes evenly again.** **The black shape on her lap, however, realizing that she's teetering between falling back where she once was and moving on to a more social life, gives her an encouraging purr, tapping his tail rhythmically against her hand.**
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