Jaiden Price
xxxBut I'd take it all back, take it all back, take it all back
xxxI'd take it all back just to have you
xxxAnd I'd take it all back, take it all back, take it all back
xxxI'd take it all back just to have you
Jaiden and Markus had slowly made their way to the town hall, seeing the building slowly getting bigger the closer they got to it. Jaiden could feel a small pit forming in her stomach as thoughts raced through her mind. Lost in her own little world that she found herself getting lost in as of late. Everything just felt, wrong? Being out of the house didn't sit well with her, and she knew that Markus wasn't going to let her go back home and become a recluse once more. Even though she wished she could. But a small part of her told her that she needed to be out and at the town hall. A small voice, almost reminiscent to the voice that she heard before the attack happened. A small feeling of something not being completely okay, and she ignored it the firt time. She wasn't going to ignore it again, not this time. She wanted to tell Markus, tell him that she had a feeling that something wasn't right, that something just wasn't right. But she was scared he wouldn't believe her, and say that she was just overreacting and paranoid. So she kept that feeling to herself as the two approached the building. The two stopped for a moment and silently looked at each other. Giving Markus a small feign smile as she looked up at him.
Jaiden almost felt her heart drop when some unknown figure pressed their arm against her back, ushering her forward. Her initial reaction was to turn around and possibly attack, not like it would do much considering her current state. But she stopped as a somewhat familiar voice came from behind them. It was a deep, raspy and guttural tone. Obvious for anyone to recognize a Slovic accent when they hear it. She was going to speak until he pushed both her and Markus along as he spoke. If it was any darker outside except for the few lighting fixtures around the town in street lights and storefront lights still on, she would have sworn she would have known Markus' expression without the need for light. Jaiden was gently ushered into the building by Elijah, shortly after entering the building she grabbed Markus' hand and pulled him to the side. "Thank you, Elijah." she said quickly as she decided to sit in the back. Bring less attention to yourself and stay out of eyesight for the most part. She was only really there because Markus dragged her along anyway. The two sat in complete silence as they wanted for the meeting to start, seeing all familiar faces fill the room caused a small smile to appear on her face, but only for a short moment. Phoenix and Alex were sitting on the opposite side of the room, but from the angle she sat she could see them, Zada was in another part of the room more towards the front, as well as Kaylessa, and then Violet...She didn't see her for a moment until she gave a complete scan over the room. Violet was standing against the wall, arms crossed and attention fully given towards the stage. Sure, those two weren't ever truly close, but since the attack and since Violet chose to practically be her baby sitter, she had no real choice but to become closer with her over the past few weeks. Before Violet was so energetic and happy and no pun intended but was rather full of life. But after the attack, whatever she did to save Alex, left her as she was now. And she wasn't sure what it was, possibly the slightly paler skin, the dark rings around her eyes and the almost soulless expression in her eyes...Jaiden wasn't sure. Whatever happened, it wasn't the same Violet that she knew before and that bit worried her.
Her attention was taken back to reality when the meeting started. Jaiden sat there in silence as Rosie spoke, as well as Kaner spoke. After they both gave their piece, she applauded with the others. Her thoughts swirled in her mind for a moment but was brought back to reality when the same voice from earlier boomed throughout the room. Elijah was giving his speech, something she wasn't entirely expecting. She listened with a clenched jaw and sweaty palms as her heart raced in her chest. She could feel herself growing more anxious as he continued to speak. It didn't sit well with her, and while he had several points, some just felt wrong. It would only raise paranoia and anxiety throughout the town if everyone started carrying around weapons. But maybe it wasn't such a bad idea for those that couldn't defend themselves naturally.
Jaiden found herself rolling her eyes a bit when Travis began to speak, giving his peace on this. For someone she hadn't already liked very much, she had to admit he had a point. People were drifting farther apart than coming together as a community like they should have, and it was only causing further rifts between them all. She eyed him silently as he showed off his wound on his arm, as if that made a difference. They all were attacked, that much was clear as day. But the fact that it was a group of Hunters mixed with a few rogue ones didn't sit well with anyone, especially Jaiden. Jaiden bit her lip as she went back into her own little world, only way she knew how to cope. That was until a loud sound echoed throughout the room and Alex went running, with Phoenix shortly behind him. She rolled her eyes as she sighed, looking up at Markus as her eyes darted between the door and him, "When we can, can we please go? I...I don't want to stay longer than we have to." she asked, her voice was obviously shaken and it was evident she didn't like being there anymore. All that was keeping her in remote calm was the fact she was still holding Coco, gently petting behind the dog's ears and chin.
Markus Valegood
xxxWake me up
xxxWon't you wake me up
xxxI'm caught in a bad dream
xxxCaught in a bad dream
Their walk to the meeting hall had been entirely silent. Markus had wanted to say something, anything to Jaiden to make sure she knew she wasn't entirely alone in this. But he knew anything he said would only make things worse, as he wasn't entirely the best with words and that hurt him more than not doing anything because he didn't care. If he said the attack didn't change how he viewed things, especially how he cared for people, he'd be lying. Attacks never made him feel like this before. Maybe because Greythorne had become his home and the people in it became his family, he wasn't sure. But one thing was a constant, he'd do whatever he could to make sure the people in it were safe. He stopped cold in his tracks when some unknown figure touched his back, pushing him forwards. He grabbed on to the arm for a moment, until he picked up that familiar scent and eased up a bit. He was so in his thoughts he hadn't picked up Elijah's scent until he was brought back to reality. And thankfully it was only Elijah. He found himself releasing Elijah's arm as he moved away from the vampire's hand and walked on his own accord, "We were just making our way in. But thank you." he said somewhat gruffly as the doors opened, and he was pulled to the side as Jaiden took his arm. He gave Elijah one last side-eye look and then gave his full attention to Jaiden, who simply pulled him into one of the back rows. He knew he should have been closer to the front since he was there mainly for Rosie, but he decided to accommodate Jaiden's wishes up remaining in the back.
The meeting began as uneventful as he would have pictured. But aside from the slight intrusion of both Elijah's and Travis' speeches, which had only been slightly ruined by Alex and Phoenix running out of the room midway, were rather plain. Things were said how he expected, that there would be more open spots for patrols as it had become public knowledge by now. But who was in the patrols wasn't, mainly for safety. He silently eyed Travis as he gave his speech if one could call it that. He was human, and while yes he had been attacked too, something still didn't sit right with Markus about him. Something just felt...Off? Once he was sure everyone was done with what they had to say, he took a step forward. Deciding to speak which he normally wouldn't have done but what would be the harm in it now? He just carefully thought things through before he spoke. He didn't want to raise any more unnecessary anxiety and panic among the others, "Hello. Some of you know me, many don't. My name's Markus, and I'm a part of the patrols going around the town. Uh, me and the delightful Neden have been working together for the past few weeks, and thought we'd like to update you all?" he said with a small smile as he gestured to the angel who was standing propped against the wall.
"Thankfully nothing has been out of the ordinary. We've been keeping tabs on most of the locals, especially at night. As Travis said, while they haven't been stalking...We have had some of our very own nymphs and dryads keeping watch. It's easier and safer that way. If anyone has any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask either of us or any of us who are in the patrols. We'd also like to have you join us if you so wish. Thank you." he said with a small nod of his head, giving Rosie a certain look she'd understand all too well. It essentially was his way of asking for help, and to help bring the attention off of him.
Violet Marsden
xxxSorry to my unknown lover
xxxSorry I could be so blind
xxxDidn't mean to leave you
xxxAnd all of the things that we had behind
The walk to the town hall was eerily quiet, not completely silent neither. The drolling, numbing whispers and voices were a constant since she came back. It was almost as if a thousand disembodied voices all spoke out at once in a hushed voice. Nothing was discernible or coherent, always just out of the realm of being able to fully grasp even a single word. It didn't matter where she went or what she did, even if she listened to music she could always hear those damned voices that never seemed to leave her side. She took note of the cold night air that softly wisped past her face, which caused a small shudder. Quickening her pace to the townhall and finally saw the building come into view. She smiled as she saw everyone begin to gather and enter the building. A large smile spread across her face when she saw Kaylessa handing out her small trinkets and usual wares that she made in her free time and gave out to others. As Violet reached out for one of the normal ones made or orchids, she was stopped by Kaylessa who said she made one specifically for her. "You did not!" she teased, a small chuckle creased her lips as she watched the half-elf dig through her cart of trinkets. Violet's eyes widened as she saw that Kaylessa had indeed made her something, "Thank you so much, Kay. I really do appreciate it. I'll catch up with you later, alright?" she said with a small smile as she took the flower crown and placed it on her head. Violet gave Kay one more smile and small wink before she turned and entered the building, placing the box of food she brought on the back table, she'd be sure to make it up to Markus and everyone else for being late.
Violet decided to remain towards the back and by herself as she leaned against the wall. Having since coming back preferred to be by herself, especially with the weird looks she had gotten since she came back to Greythorne. She didn't know what it was about her now that made others give her such odd looks and snide comments, but others had taken it up upon themselves lately to treat her differently than before. She knew she wasn't a normal ghost anymore, but that shouldn't have changed anything, but it did, and for whatever reason, it didn't sit well with her. Violet simply found herself sighing and crossing her arms as the meeting finally started, but found her mind quickly going to other places and thoughts as the other talked, essentially drowning them out with her own pointless thoughts. She couldn't even remember the last part she caught of what anyone said, or even what she was thinking when she heard a loud clatter in front of her and to the side. Violet found herself craning her neck to the side as a handful of the others did as well at the direction that the interruption came from. Dumbass. Probably fell asleep again and almost fell out of his chair, she thought to herself. But after looking at Alex for a few short moments, the panic and fear, the uncertainty in his eyes and expression. Something wasn't right, that much was obvious. And it had nothing to do with the fact that it was Alex, nothing was ever right with him. But there was something in that moment, a primal fear that she hadn't seen since...The two of them were, wherever they were before. Whatever that otherworldly place was. That exact look was on his face that night, and here it was again.
She watched silently as he ran out of the room, shortly chased after Phoenix who called after him. She simply rolled her eyes, and tried to focus on what the others were saying now, especially now that Markus began to speak. Something she never would have guessed. But there was something there, in the back of her head. A small itch. Almost like something was telling her to leave. Leave and go outside. Now. Violet sighed and begrudgingly moved from her place against the wall and ditched out from the backdoor, slowly following where the boys had ran off to. Or at least where she assumed they ran off to. And sure enough, yelling could be heard from outside. She couldn't tell what was said until she opened the door and stepped out, and what she heard...She never expected. Especially from those two.
"We’re all monsters, Phoenix! But you’re a fucking coward!"
That was the only part of the argument she properly heard by the time she had gotten outside. And that was all she needed. Violet immediately looked on as Alex stormed off and started to disappear into the dark of night. She turned her head to Phoenix who stood on the steps, gently placing a hand on his shoulder as she spoke, "Go back inside and cool your head. I'll take care of talking to Alex. And I don't want any more arguments." her voice was somewhat cold, but not entirely heartless. There was an odd sense of warmth to her words, as her eyes displayed a feeling of sorrow and remorse as she made the briefest of eye contact with Phoenix. She turned and with quick steps began to follow after Alex, the sound of her footsteps gently echoing after him as her silhouette disappeared into the darkness of night.
After a few minutes of trying to catch up to him, she finally saw his form come into view. Violet remained silent for a few moments as her shoes patted softly across the pavement under her feet. After a few short moments of thought, she decided to finally call out to him, "Alex!" she called out. After quickening her pace a bit she called out once more, "Alex! You asshole." she said loud enough for him to hear her as she gently grabbed onto his forearm, and pulled him back in an attempt to stop him from walking, but quickly released him arm as she knew it would more than likely trigger a sight or flight response in him. "Look, I know I'm the last person you want to talk to right now, but you are going to shut the fuck up and listen to me for once in your god damn life, do you understand?" she said with a rather rhetorical tone. Taking one more moment of calming herself down she spoke but with a cooler and calmer tone this time around, "Look, you both fucked up, alright? But we are all scared, Alex. All of us. It's not just you in this, okay? They attacked all of us. And I somehow...managed to save your dumbass. But look where that got us, Alex. Yelling at our friends because we're scared?" she questioned, clear pain and a tinge of anger were clear in her tone if it wasn't displayed in her eyes.
Alex ignored her until she grabbed his arm, which was more than a little annoying, but didn’t have time to voice his disapproval before Violet started talking. He wasn’t interested in hearing her out, and it was obvious on his face. Still, he stood and listened, though he did contemplate turning and walking away mid-monologue. When she finally finished, he sighed, ”You’re right. I don’t want to talk to you.” He shrugged, gave Violet half a wave, and turned on his heel to leave. He didn’t have the energy for this.
Violet simply stared at him, somewhat dumbfounded as he spoke. She knew he didn’t care what she had to say, he never did. But the least he could do was at least pretended he cared. Violet found herself grabbing his arm again, this time harder as she forced him to turn around fully. “You are such an asshole, you know that?” she questioned. “Even when people are trying to fucking help you, you never let anyone in. Ever. For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always been a bit of an ass. But what you pulled back there was even low for you, Alex.” Violet stated rather coldly. She gave him a look over one more time before speaking, “I don’t know how to help someone if they don’t even try to let me help them.” her voice was somewhat pained and trailed off a bit as she took a step back from him as she looked around. “That night of the attack, when we were...Wherever the fuck we were, that was the first real conversation we ever had. As well as the first time I ever felt like you never hated me.” she said as she looked back up at him, her eyes displaying more emotion than she would have liked.
Alex’s face flashed with emotion---maybe pain, maybe regret---but he blinked it away quickly enough, set his jaw, and tried to look as disinterested as he could. When Violet brought up their conversation, though, he sighed, ”People say a lot of things when they’ve died. It was really disorienting.” He shrugged, almost nonchalantly, as if Violet had asked him what he thought of the weather, ”And did you ever consider that I don’t want your help. I never asked for it. If I’m such an asshole, and such a bother, you should have just let me die.” He didn’t want to admit that he meant it, but he did. ”Probably would have been better off, anyway, huh?”
Violet simply scoffed as he tried to look as disinterested as he could. She would have bought it if she didn’t know him as well as she did. “You are pathetic.” she muttered softly under her breath. She found herself snapping her head up to look at him once more after shaking her head, “I know you didn’t. And I never expected you to. But for christ’s sake, Alex!” she exclaimed, turning on her heel for a moment. She needed to compose herself, otherwise, things could end up being far worse than how it went down between him and Phoenix. She chuckled once more, “Trust me, I thought about it. I really did. But letting someone die when I had the chance to help them, isn’t something I wasn’t going to give up on.” her voice was somewhat sympathetic and even sad in a way. As much as she hated to admit it, and while she’d never say it out loud, she did care for Alex, for whatever reason. Her brow twitched at the comment of it maybe having been better to just let him die in the end, and how it would have been easier. A loud smack filled the otherwise empty and silent night air as Violet found herself slapping him for the second time in just a few weeks. “It’s not that fucking simple, Alex! If you have the chance to live, then just fucking take it and accept it. Not everyone is that damn lucky to have a second chance.” she found herself feeling that all too familiar burning sensation behind her eyes before she turned her face to the side to wipe away a few tears, “I’m sorry...I didn’t...I didn’t mean to hit you like that. I’m sorry, Alex..” she said between taking a few deep breaths.
He face stung, and his heart dropped all at once. Being hit didn’t hurt as much as the apology, and suddenly he found himself not knowing what to say. ”No, it’s…” He sighed, ”I deserved that one.” He paused for a long moment, torn between wanting to comfort Violet and wanting to run away before he finally said, ”I feel so… Guilty. There were other people that deserved it more. Much more. I’m just an asshole and some sort of failed oracle.” He shook his head, ”It felt like going home, almost. Being there. I know you don’t understand it, but it just felt like stepping into one of my dreams.” He wasn’t sure why he was telling her all of this, but he didn’t stop. ”It was almost upsetting to lose it. I know I couldn’t stay there, but…” He didn’t finish his thought, opting instead to look up at the sky, ”A lot of people are going to die, soon. I feel it. I know I’m normally wrong, but we know they’ll be back. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop it.” He felt his heart beating violently in his chest, tears welling in the corners of his eyes, ”I knew something terrible was going to happen before and I didn’t do anything.”
Violet had expected Alex to react one way, but how he handled it this time wasn’t what she expected. She just looked at him as he slowly turned into the old Alex, the one she saw with Phoenix and Jaiden and the others. The one while yes an asshole, but he still cared. And she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. The fact that it came to him being yelled at to finally cool his head and thoughts, and just speak his mind. She knew he was stubborn and so was she, but this was something else. All she was able to do was stand there in silence as he spoke. Explaining how he just felt guilty, and that it was his fault. That he had the feelings of something bad, and didn’t do anything. She sighed as he continued, how others deserved to have lived while he shouldn’t have been saved. Survivor’s guilt, that’s all that it was. Violet found herself gently placing her hand on his shoulder for a moment before she finally looked up at him to see tears filling his eyes. “I’m sorry, Alex...If I could have done things differently, I would have. I think we all would have. But...It’s no one to blame. Especially not you.” she tried giving him a smile, but even Alex would know that it was false.
Violet sighed as she looked up at the night sky. Closing her eyes for a moment as she touched the mark along her wrist for just a brief moment before opening her eyes once more, “People are going to die...But I’ll do whatever I can to help. You just have to let us know from now on...okay? Even if it’s just me. I’ll be there.” she said with a small smile, this time it was a genuine smile, however small it may have been. Even the smallest bit of reassurance would have helped, or at least she hoped.
Alex nodded, and suddenly he looked like his mind was worlds away; thoughts spiriting him off to somewhere no one could follow. But he said a simple, ”Yeah, I know.” Then, as if to demonstrate that he’d been listening, he added, ”I’ll let you know.”
Neden Isimir
xxxI've been chasin windmills for as long as I have been
xxxFound my Dolcinea but I don't remember when
xxxStill I can be your hero when that love comes to an end
xxxSomehow you lost your wonder in your quest to feel alive
The meeting had essentially become an absolute mess, just as anyone would have guessed. People gave their speeches, while gave small opinions or retorts. As well as a few townsfolk getting up and leaving. Neden rolled their eyes as they remained silent, watching as the man named Travis came back to his place by the wall that was close enough to them. They took note of him eyeing their pocket earlier, and no emotion were portrayed on their face. Which, was an odd thing. Their whole disposition since first coming to the town hall had been, odd for those that knew them. They were normally an obnoxiously loud and mouthy presence, and this time they just stood in silence, observing. After the public disruption that was Phoenix and Alex running out of the room, which was soon followed by Violet, another figure soon stepped in through the back doors. The metal latch of the door clattered behind them. if one focused on them long enough, they'd see that the figure soon separated into three separate beings. The one on the left was a tall, lanky/twiggy being who's form appeared to be a dark brown color with a rough exterior, with dark green patches covering their body. Long, gnarled and twisted fingers extended far beyond the normal human's length. And instead of skin, it appeared to be tree bark, which was split and cracked in certain areas, atop the head of the creature were sprigs of flowers and moss that trailed off in the form of hair, that sat nicely above two golden orbs that made up their eyes. The other on the right matched this being in species, but unlike the other, it was a lighter color with dark orange patches of moss and foliage, as well as having blue eyes, unlike the golden eyes the other had. For anyone that knew Greythorne and its surroundings creatures, they would know what these beings were, at least two of them. Spriggans. Simple shapeshifters that were often seen as pranksters and pests. Or at least, that's what two of them were. As the one in the middle was, human. Or, at least appeared human.
Platinum blonde hair tied neatly in a ponytail, pale skin with dark green eyes, while cloaked in black. The being walked slowly down the middle walkway of the meeting room as they outstretched their arms. Stopping midway to look around, "Sorry that I am oh so terribly late, everyone. I had some last-minute things to catch up on." the figure said with a large toothy grin as they turned to everyone. Giving Rosie a small smile and wink as they turned to her as she stood on the stage. "As for you-" they began, pointing to the figure that stood against the wall. -What did I tell you about looking like me, Percy? It's not funny." the figure said to the being in the corner, who after a few moments shifted back from their previous form, to looking like one of the others that were with the being who was speaking now. The lumbering tree-giant humanoid figuring slowly made its way over to the figure in black, gently patting them on the head. "But this is also why you're my favorite." the other two Spriggans grumbled annoyingly at the comment. The figure ushered them off with their hand, seeing the tree spirits slowly move away from the middle of the room and off to the side, making sure to keep their eyes scanning over the room.
"Again, I apologize for being late. But from what I gathered, anyone is welcome to join the patrols. All you have to do is answer some quick questions and just fill out some things and we'll go on from there. Everything appears to be in perfect order. Which I am happy to report." they said with a small smile, turning to look at the Siren up on the stage. "So you have no need to worry a single hair on your pretty little head, Miss Thompson. This town is well looked after, trust me." they said with a small smile and wink. Turning to the others in the room after scanning the room one more time over they gave a small bow and took a seat that was close enough to them and sat down.