Introduction
Come what may, this will be my final RP of this story as I feel I'm almost ready to start writing what will be the final version of this tale before looking to get it published once complete. Before I can, there's something missing still. I don't know what it is yet. But I'm certain I'll find it if I give this one last try. I don't know how long this RP will last given my hectic work life. Nor do I know how my work will affect my drive or ability to write as time progresses. But I felt it appropriate that the last RP I make of this story before finally putting it to the page be done here where it truly picked up steam and cemented itself in my heart as the story I want to tell.
First, a little history...
It all started on Myspace, of all places, in 2009. My sister made a pirate RP called "New Blood" and invited me to be part of it. I'd never done anything like this before, but I was excited and asked what kind of character I could make if not a pirate (since I absolutely suck at pirate banter). She suggested thieves, assassins, and bounty hunters as but a few ideas, so, in my infinite creativity, I chose an ex-assassin turned bounty hunter. Born with red eyes due to a birth defect, and sporting raven black hair, the original version of this story's protagonist was born.
The original tale was, at its core, a love story between the two central protagonists (both featured in the image below). And while love remains a central theme of the tale, it's no longer the focal point. Instead, this is a tale of rebirth and renewal centered around the Red-Eyed Demon. A story of how he came to lose his humanity, lose his sanity, and lose himself to the darkness of the human heart and consciousness... And how he clawed his way back one desperate breath at a time.
I sincerely hope to enjoy this RP with other people. So if anyone who reads wish to join then I'll be happy to welcome you. If you need details on what's going on, I'll be happy to provide them!
To any and all who so much as give this page a single glance, much less read through this entire introduction or the RP/story itself as I write it... I sincerely thank you. Just a visit means more to me than you'll ever know or understand.
Thank you,
First, a little history...
It all started on Myspace, of all places, in 2009. My sister made a pirate RP called "New Blood" and invited me to be part of it. I'd never done anything like this before, but I was excited and asked what kind of character I could make if not a pirate (since I absolutely suck at pirate banter). She suggested thieves, assassins, and bounty hunters as but a few ideas, so, in my infinite creativity, I chose an ex-assassin turned bounty hunter. Born with red eyes due to a birth defect, and sporting raven black hair, the original version of this story's protagonist was born.
The original tale was, at its core, a love story between the two central protagonists (both featured in the image below). And while love remains a central theme of the tale, it's no longer the focal point. Instead, this is a tale of rebirth and renewal centered around the Red-Eyed Demon. A story of how he came to lose his humanity, lose his sanity, and lose himself to the darkness of the human heart and consciousness... And how he clawed his way back one desperate breath at a time.
I sincerely hope to enjoy this RP with other people. So if anyone who reads wish to join then I'll be happy to welcome you. If you need details on what's going on, I'll be happy to provide them!
To any and all who so much as give this page a single glance, much less read through this entire introduction or the RP/story itself as I write it... I sincerely thank you. Just a visit means more to me than you'll ever know or understand.
Thank you,
- 5 posts here • Page 1 of 1
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 1 authors
Capital City of Valkyom, Cre' Est
Beneath a wash of deep violet, the stars flickering like dying candle flames, the sound of a female shriek split the peaceful silence of the twilight before sunrise.
Several oil lamps were lit inside the windows of homes in the local area, along with heads poking out curiously, lamps in hand, hoping for a glimpse of the source of the horrible sound. Some were met only by their own most familiar sights. The wall across the way. That one window their neighbor neglected to repair after it was shattered by children throwing stones. Or that one crate at the opening of an alley which nobody ever moved or disposed of.
Others caught a glimpse of a female figure sprinting through the streets with two male pursuers in tow before they all disappeared round the next corner. One observer leaned out his second story window for a clearer look and heard a series of increasingly loud thuds in the opposite direction to the action. Diverting his gaze towards the sound, he beheld, for lack of a more appropriate term, a dark and vaguely human-shaped blur racing towards him.
"Baah!!"
He leaned back just as the blur raced past his head, but lost his balance and dropped his oil lamp at the precise moment he stumbled and leaned too far out the window and began his graceless descent to the cobblestone streets below with a sickening crack echoing through the streets.
Each breath escaped as puffs of thick steam rivaling those one would see of a well-enjoyed cigar as she raced through the streets, nearly stumbling on the uneven cobblestone beneath her feet, and turning into an alleyway. Darting left, then right, then left again followed by another left she weaved and wound her way through the twists and turns before reaching another opening leading to arterial road known as Market Street. With the city's central market to her left, and more rural living to her right, she shifted her weight and dashed for the market. Behind her she echoed the sounds of grunting and arguing which only spurred her to go faster. At last she slid to the ground and ducked beneath the covering of a nearby fruit vendor's stand and sliding the rear panel down to hide from view.
Silence... Save for the sound of her heart in her ears and her lungs screaming for air.
"She turned that way! C'mon!"
Her right hand slid up from under her and covered her mouth.
Their footsteps grew louder, and the thunderous drumming of her heart seemed to grow louder with them. Mentally she cursed her heart and prayed to Peur'Tia they wouldn't hear it.
"You just had to go the wrong way on that one turn, didn't you?"
"Hey! Fuck you! You were the first to turn the one before that, and you leaned that way so I figured that's the way we should'a gone!"
"I leaned that way because I needed room to make the turn, dumb fuck!"
"Just shut up and look! She's gotta be around here somewhere!"
Their footsteps split from each other. One of them walked right by her, his shadow just visible in the gaps between the bottom of the panel and the curvature of the cobblestone. As he passed her fingernails dug into flesh as she clenched her jaw. A tiny trickle of blood seeped from between her fingers, and it was only then she realized she was biting the inside of her cheek on the right side. Loosening her jaw she felt the sting of the crunched flesh unfurling from between her molars and choked back the urge to whimper as the pain began to finally set in.
CRASH!
She flinched hard and bumped the side of the stand. Her eyes went wide and she froze in place.
... Silence, but not for long.
Footsteps drew closer from both angles and her heart rate spiked. The stand was partially lifted and pushed over with the faintest glimmers of sunlight peeking over the horizon illuminating her as she felt a powerful hand grasp her right bicep and yank her to her feet.
"Told ya she was here."
"Scuse me? I'm the one who said she was around here somewhere!"
She flexed her right hand, brandishing her nails, and raked her arm in an arc across the face of the one holding her. But her wrist was stopped short and squeezed in a powerful grip by his companion.
"Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. Uh-uh sweetheart. No scratching... Not yet." He said with a lick of his lips.
"You gave us quite the runaround, ya know. Congratulations. I don't think we've ever struggled to catch up to a woman out in the open like that before, have we?"
"Nope."
"Please! Let me go!" She begged while struggling to pull her arms free.
"And why would we do that? You're here. We're here. You're wearing... That, he said, gesturing with a nod of his head and a glance of his eyes to the tattered rag of an oversized shirt she wore with legs bare save for the old, worn out remnants of what were once shoes around her feet. "We should all be getting to know each other, don't you think?"
Her struggling increased in urgency as she tried kicking him where it hurt, only for him to pinch his legs together and turn his hips so she kicked his thigh instead.
"Oooh... That hurt a little."
"Careful. She probably bites too... Not that I mind, much."
"I hope so. Not too hard though. Gotta give it a little wiggle room, ya know."
Nearby, a young man with raven black hair and a pair of unnaturally glowing red eyes knelt on a rooftop ledge observing the goings on below. His head tilted slightly as the first one to grab her pulled her in and began forcefully kissing her as the other helped pin her arms close to her body so she couldn't make good use of them.
Mom and dad used to do that, he thought.
The one kissing started feeling her body.
... They didn't do that, though... So is this...
The one pinning her arms pulled them behind her back so he could hold her wrists with one hand as his free hand reached around and grabbed her neck.
His glowing red eyes narrowed and his pupils dilated to nearly disappearing as he leaped down from the ledge and landed rather softly on the ground with a roll to help push him forward and into a sprint. The one kissing ceased his activity and glanced over his shoulder.
"What the fuck?!"
Neither man had time to react as a translucent green dagger with a black liquid-like core was drawn high and brought down in a rapid, powerful arc across the torso of the man who'd been kissing the woman. The dagger dug into flesh at the base of the neck where the trapezius met the deltoid, dragged through his collar bone and became lodged in the upper-middle region of his sternum, having torn through all ribs in the way. The dagger was then ripped free spraying blood across the face of the woman and the second man as they both stumbled backwards and fell partially entangled to the ground. The dagger was then stabbed repeatedly into the man's stomach before being raked across his throat as he was shoved to the ground as he began drowning in his own blood.
The glowing red eyes snapped to the one entangled with the woman on the ground who scrambled to his feet and tried to flee. But he didn't get more than three steps before feeling a sharp pain in the lower right region of his lumbar which rapidly shifted into a searing pain spreading throughout the entirety of his lower torso. Looking down he saw the tip of the dagger starting back at him from just beside his naval with blood dripping from its tip and quickly spreading through his clothing. The weapon was pulled free while a grip like a bear trap slammed shut around the muscles of his trapezius on the left side. He could feel the assailant's fingertips nearly touching almost as if prepared to tear his trapezius completely off. But that never happened. Instead, he felt the dagger plunge into his back between his ribs which proceeded to then cleave his heart and open his left lung.
The dagger was pulled free and the man slumped to the ground gasping and gripping at his chest. The young man watched with an icy glare as the man slowly stopped moving after almost fifteen agonizing seconds, and only sheathed his weapon when he saw the final puff of steam from his breath escape into the air and fade to nothing.
He glanced back to the woman who was frozen to the ground and trembling like a leaf in a hurricane.
What are they called? "Homeless"? No, she used a different word for them. But what wa-
The woman had managed to shake her fear enough to stand and began sprinting away with tears in her eyes. The young man's mouth opened partially, but closed just as swiftly.
Huh. Why'd she run?... Women are strange.
The young man turned and strode slowly over to a nearby alley with a rain gutter on the side of the building. Gripping it, he clambered up to the rooftops and knelt down to survey the area.
A pair of guards appeared from the opposing side of the Market and jogged over to the bodies and began examining them.
Dammit... Should've just snapped their necks. Now she'll be mad at me.
The young man slipped away into the night as the one of the guards began running for backup and to fetch an investigative team to look into the incident.
Come morning, the bodies were sectioned off and a team of guards and a local detective had gathered to analyze the scene.
"Thank you, gentlemen." The detective said after receiving what little information the guards had to offer of their findings from the night before.
He approached the bodies and took note of a rather buxom young woman with a long brown ponytail sweeping the ground around her rump and feet while sitting on her knees next to the one who'd been stabbed multiple times and had his neck and part of his torso torn open.
"Is it too early to ask for your analysis, Doctor?" He asked with a half-smirk.
The young woman stood up and turned to face him with a calm and polite smile and a gentle shake of her head.
"Well, please don't keep me in suspense."
She gave a subtle nod of her head and walked up to him while extending her right index finger out and softly placing it on the juncture of his trapezius and deltoid.
"A single stroke." She slowly moved her finger down at an angle towards the center of his chest. "It severed the top of the trapezius muscles, the scalenes muscles, and the base of the sternocleidomastoids. It then cut clean through the collar bone, sliced clear the first two ribs at their juncture to the sternum before being embedded in the sternum. Not to mention it severed the brachial artery, subclavian artery, the base of the carotid artery and jugular, and it even managed to reach the abdominal aorta which is why nearly all the victim's blood is now on the ground." She said as her finger stopped right where the blade did on the victim's body.
The detective arched an eyebrow.
"Well, um..."
Her finger trailed down his chest and stomach to the point of the stabbings, and gently poked him a total of eight times before coming to rest just beside his naval.
"Eight stabs to the stomach all but turned the intestines to mush, potentially nicking or fully puncturing the kidney on this side, before being brought up to sever the victim's carotid and jugular arteries, their airways, and their esophagus in a single stroke." She said while caressing his throat along the line of the slice.
The detective cleared his throat.
"And that one?" He asked, pointing to the other body.
"Two stab wounds. One to the right lumbar which certainly split the kidney and opened up both sets of intestines, followed by a stab between the ribs to open the heart and lung, as well as any unfortunate arteries caught in the area. He bled out in seconds."
He raised both eyebrows and swallowed, followed by another quiet clearing of his throat.
"Thank you for the information, Doctor." He said while jotting it down in a notebook.
"I couldn't help but notice the sarcasm when you called me by my title earlier. Was that really necessary?" She asked as her smile faded into a darker and more stern stare.
"Ahem... Apologies. I've just never seen a Doctor so young before. I thought-"
"Age is a number, sir. And the passage of time sees different results for different people. If I may be so bold as to say, I feel you've disrespected both myself and my profession with that sarcastic tone you gave me. And I'd like to request a more formal apology."
Her stare, while calm, seemed to slice through him about as easily as whatever weapon sliced through the victims.
"O-Of course, Doctor. You have my sincerest apologies for underestimating your knowledge and analytical prowess." He said with a bow at the waist.
She took a breath and offered a smile.
"Apology accepted, detective."
"My thanks, Doctor. So, may I ask if you can imagine what brought this on?"
"I'm afraid not."
"The tipped over market stand there, and a few other hints that things have been moved and tampered with, would suggest that there was perhaps a search going on. Do you imagine they'd be hiding from whoever did this?"
"Hm... I doubt it."
"I noticed a few small drops of blood over here under where the tipped over stand was. Do you see it?" He asked, pointing to the area.
The Doctor walked over and knelt down to examine the cobblestone and found the tiny specks of blood he was talking about.
"Ah, yes. Unfortunately there's no way to know if this blood belongs to them. But given that there's so little of it I'm inclined to say it's not theirs given that there's no other visible injuries than what we've already observed."
"I'm of the same opinion. So there was probably someone else here at one point. But if there was another person they seem to have vanished without a trace. And nobody seems to have seen anything either which is unfortunate."
"I see. Is there anything else you need from me?"
"No, Doctor. Thank you. You've been most helpful with the examination of the injuries."
She smiled with a nod.
"If I may make one last observation before you're on your way?"
"Of course."
"In my experience the standard murders with bladed weapons we usually see are more often than not quite messy due to it being quite a frantic experience for both victim and perpetrator. But in this case, it feels quite one-sided and intentional."
She glanced away and looked at an empty spot on the ground out of the corner of her eye.
"Why's that?"
"Well, look at the bodies. They're not terribly far away from each other, but one's on his back and one's on his stomach. The small smears of blood over there in between them would indicate that they were in close proximity at the time the one missing half his clavicle was being attacked. Notice that there's a spraying of blood there that stops quite abruptly and then restarts just there. Something, or someone, was in the way of it. This proximity would suggest to me that it was a surprise attack since otherwise they would likely have either had a chance to flee or better position and defend themselves. That one without the clavicle was killed first, and the other probably tried to flee. But obviously he was chased down before making any significant headway. So, as I said it feels quite one-sided and intentional. Someone didn't want these two to live and made sure of it by the end of the encounter. Would you agree?"
"I would say so. The evidence supporting your speculation is quite strong."
"Indeed. Thank you, Doctor." He said while noting something down. "That will be all. I'm going to continue my investigation. Pray, have a blessed day, Doctor."
"May Peur'Tia bless your investigation, detective."
Following a few more conversations with the guards, the Doctor took her leave. As she walked through the street she received many a warm smile and greeting from passers by.
"Good morning Doctor Almna!"
"Hello, Doctor Almna! May Peur'Tia bless your day!"
She smiled, waved, and thanked everyone for their well wishes and greetings before arriving at her clinic and walking inside with a small sigh of relief. The main lobby was rather empty today save one or two people who saw and greeted her as well. And after returning the greetings she retreated to the sanctity of her office and sat down in her chair behind her desk, setting her elbows on top of it and covering her face with both hands.
". . . . . What got into you?" She muttered.
A knock came at her door, and her head popped up followed by a clearing of her throat.
"Come in!"
The door opened, and a redheaded woman in her mid-30's entered with a smile.
"Good morning Lorraine... So, how was it?"
"Not good, but not as bad as some."
"Will they ever stop asking you to be the one to examine bodies and just let their own investigation teams do the dirty work?"
Lorraine chuckled. "I doubt it."
"I swear, if your father hadn't been one of the Royal Guards they wouldn't constantly be turning to you or your mother to take care of their job for them."
"Maybe. But if he hadn't been one then I wouldn't have been able to open the clinic."
"Ah. True... Still, they need to do their own jobs."
Lorraine couldn't help but laugh.
"It's fine, Jessica. I don't mind."
"Just don't burn yourself out, okay? You put in a lot more hours than normal these days, I've noticed."
"I won't. Don't worry."
Jessica left the room, and Lorraine sighed softly.
"I'm fine, Jessica. I promise..." She whispered to herself as she looked out the window.
Crunch... Scrape... Crunch... Scrape...
"Lorraine?"
Crunch... Scrape... Scrape... Scrape...
Her elbow was suddenly gripped and jerked.
"Lorraine? Are you all right?" Jessica asked.
"What? Oh. Yes, I'm all right."
"You've been grinding those roots for almost twenty minutes. They're... Well, they're more than prepared now."
"Oh!"
Lorraine looked down and saw the mortal and pestle smeared with the overly ground remains of the roots she'd been working on.
"Oh, wow. Well, it should be fine still."
"You sure?"
"Mhmm. The total volume of the necessary ingredient hasn't changed. I just over-ground it a bit. But that shouldn't matter."
"If you say so. But seriously, are you all right? You've been kind of out of it all day."
"I'm fine, Jessica. Really. I've just got a lot on my mind today. That's all."
"Okay. Is there anything I can help with?"
"No. It's nothing. Just some outside events kind of, you know, um..." She snapped her fingers a few times. "Uh..."
"Affecting you?"
"No. Not affecting me, specifically."
"Ahh. Say no more. I know how you are."
"Thanks, Jessica."
"But hey. If there's anything I can do to lighten the load, let me know. I can grind a few roots any time if it gives you some breathing room to sort this stuff out."
Lorraine chuckled. "Thanks. You're the best."
The two women shared a hug and Jessica departed the Apothecary Prep Room as Lorraine used a wooden scraper to move the ground up roots into a beaker which she then poured a half-cup of water into, added a few drops of honey, squeezed the fluids from a flower stem, and added a touch of Colda Mint extract before stirring it all together until it changed into a thick and creamy texture.
"That should do."
Pouring the beaker's contents into a small bottle and capping it, she used a bit of charcoal to label the top with the initials "CP" and placed it into her personal travel bag which she took with her on mobile visits to patients and/or on business trips. With the new bottle stored she took a moment to look out the window. The beautiful wash of oranges, yellows, reds, and faint hints of purple indicated that it was now in the fading twilight hours of the late afternoon.
"Goodness. Where'd the day go?"
Grabbing her travel bag and hoisting it over her shoulder, she made her way out into the lobby of the Clinic and waved goodbye to the girl at the front desk and the customers seated throughout. Making her way outside she walked down the main road North. The sun dipped below the horizon on her journey darkening the roads and shadows of the alleys along her route.
The area was eerily quiet. Even the wind seemed to have lost its voice. The shadows of the alleys seemed to darken on both sides of the street, and Lorraine's heart skipped a beat when she heard a dog bark in the distance.
Calm down, Lorraine. She thought.
A small crash from an alley to her left halted her mid-stride, nearly causing her to stumble. Turning towards the alley in question she noted that something was moving in the darkness. Stepping back a few paces, she swallowed a lump in her throat as her right hand unconsciously found its way to clutching her shirt over her left breast.
Slowly, she stepped towards the alley. And as she took her first steps into the shadows her eyes adjusted to the darkness which revealed the humanoid shape to be nothing more than an old coat left hanging on a half broken plank of wood leaning against the wall of the building.
Lorraine took in a massive breath as she let go of her shirt and backed out of the alley and into the streets.
"Just go home, Lorraine." She whispered.
Turning towards the street she again jumped as, in her peripheral vision, she caught sight of what looked like a person rushing at her. But it was simply a towel which had fallen off a laundry line hanging from a second story balcony. After catching her breath she picked up the towel, folded it, and set it on the doorstep of the door at ground level just beneath the balcony. Taking her first step back up the road her peripherals again caught sight of another shadow moving on the second story of a home up ahead. But as she looked up the only thing casting a shadow was a pair of exterior curtains over a window... A rather odd thing to have. But to each their own.
Continuing on she saw the silhouette of her home up ahead. It was a simple residence with one story, a kitchen/dining room, living room, bathroom, master bedroom, guest room, and three closets for storing clothing or any other items of need. With the familiar sight of "home" now just a short distance ahead she felt her heart rate stabilizing as her breath returned to normal.
Almost there.
Five houses down...
Four houses down...
Three houses down...
Lorraine froze. A chill rand down her spine as a small cold breeze swept through the street. The long flowing locks of hair trailing down her back gently tickled and tantalized her thighs before settling just behind her rump as the breeze breathed its last. Glancing over her shoulder she saw nothing in the street behind her. Looking ahead, nothing. Just her home and an empty street. Nothing to the left or right. Nothing in the alleyways.
She hastened her steps until she reached her front door, fumbled her keys from her pocket to the ground, picked them up, and unlocked the door to step inside. A quick turn of the lock and after hearing the "click," she released a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding as she set her bag down on the floor and dragged her feet over to her dining room table. Taking a seat and placing her arms flat and resting her head on her forearms, she felt her eyelids getting heavy already.
"... Mmmh..." She mumbled, shifting her weight and moving her head more into the crook of her elbow.
"Hate? Or was it rage?"
"Neither."
Lorraine's hands slipped on the table slamming her lower jaw into its surface as her chair was pushed out from underneath her by her own flailing legs which failed to find stability or grip on her tiled dining room floor as she attempted to leap to her feet. Further slipping and falling to the floor she held onto her chin and glanced up to meet a pair of glowing red eyes belonging to a rather handsome young man who was now in the process of kneeling down and offering a hand to help her stand. She closed her eyes, rubbed her chin, opened her eyes again, and took his hand.
"Why then?"
"She was being grabbed by two guys."
Lorraine's head snapped up.
"She?"
"The woman."
"Wha-Oh... So, they were attacking her?"
"No. Just grabbing and kissing a lot. But I remem-"
"That's an attack. They may not have been hitting her. But that was an attack all the same."
"How is that-"
"An unwanted physical action taken against one human being by another is called an attack. It doesn't have to physically harm them like a punch or a stab from a knife."
"Hm. Well, I remembered you saying something about that before. Something about women needing to give... What was the word?"
"Consent. And it means permission."
"Right. Consent. I didn't see or hear her give consent. So when they started doing that I went to help."
"... By killing them?"
"Is there another way?"
"Ano-..."
Lorraine covered her mouth with one hand, turned away, and began pacing.
"When you were hurt you said that any man trying to put a woman in danger deserved to be punished, right?"
""Punished and killed are two very different things!!"
"Hm."
"What do you mean "hm?" I told you before that killing people should only ever be a last resort to save your life or theirs if there's truly no other option! Do you not remember that?!"
"I do."
"Then why did you kill them?!"
"Wouldn't they do it again?"
"After encountering you?! Of course not! Getting beaten up by you would force anyone to rethink their life choices and make changes so as never to see you again!"
"Like Rosche?"
"I-"
...
"I beat Rosche already. But he's still trying to revive Te'i Sai. And he hasn't given up on you either."
"And..." She swallowed a lump in her throat. "How do you know that?"
"Sneaking in is easy now."
"You sure they're not letting you in?"
"Why would they?"
"I'm not a strategist. So I don't know. But there's probably a bunch of reasons they'd let you get close again. Maybe they want to find a way to drag you back in or let you think you're better than you are so you drop your guard."
"So, should I stop?"
"Yes! Stay as far away from them as you can!"
"Even if getting close for scouting information is easy?"
"Didn't they ever teach you not to underestimate your enemies?"
"What does that mean?"
". . . . . That's means "no," they didn't teach you."
"So, what does it mean?"
"It means you should always treat your opponent as if they're your equal, and respect the fact that they always have a chance to defeat you either with intellect, brawn, skill, cheating, or any combination of those things."
"I guess that makes sense. It's weird though."
"Do you know if the Grandmaster taught you everything he knew?"
"Not sure."
"Then no, he didn't. And the chances he kept all of his knowledge to himself is basically zero. Someone in Te'i Sai, maybe even Rosche himself, knows things you don't and can use them to beat you."
"Hm. Fine. I'll stay away then. But I won't be able to keep track of their plans if I do."
"They're an organization of hundreds of people. They can send out a lot of their operatives to a lot of different places at once. You can't be everywhere at once. So what hope would you have of stopping their plans even if you knew them?"
"Hmm..."
"You wouldn't."
The young man fell silent, but continued to maintain eye contact as Lorraine sighed softly.
"Look. Why would you suddenly make things so easy? Because the Grandmaster's dead?"
"Yeah."
"He was just one man. And yes, he led them. But he wasn't magic. He didn't just make everyone stronger or smarter by being there. And his death didn't make them any weaker or dumber either. Do you understand?"
"I think so... So, you're saying that Te'i Sai is still as strong as it was before I killed him?"
"Everyone in that organization is still as dangerous as they were before his death, yes. They might be struggling to organize themselves since they have to restore their chain of command. But that process isn't likely to take long."
"So, what should I do?"
"I-" She took a deep breath and let it out on a long sigh. "I don't know."
He blinked and tilted his head, and she came forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know everything, big guy. I'm just a doctor. I heal people and make them feel better when they're sick or feeling bad."
"Right."
"You know more about Te'i Sai than I do. So you tell me. What should you do now that Rosche is trying to get Te'i Sai back on track?"
"I should kill him."
Lorraine closed her eyes and sighed through her nose.
"No."
"Why not? He's the one who's in charge now. Killing him would fix this, right?"
"No. Someone else would take his place. And if you killed that person, someone would take their place. You'd never make any progress. What else can you do?"
"Hm... If I don't do something about Rosche then he's going to make Te'i Sai go back to killing people again. But maybe I can do something about the fortress instead."
"What do you mean?"
"It's their home. So if I find a way to destroy it then maybe they'll all go away."
"How many of them are in there?"
"Most of them. Unless they're on a mission they're always training, resting, or just wandering around."
"Then you might be killing a lot of people."
"I don't think they're going to stop if I don't."
Lorraine removed her hand and took a deep breath.
"Can you find a way to destroy it without them being inside?"
"Hm....... I can probably do something like what we did before to draw them out."
"... Do what you can."
"Mm." He grunted with a nod.
"Before you go... How'd you get in here?"
"Upstairs window."
"I locked them."
"Yeah."
"... Please don't do that again."
"Why?"
"If you want to talk to me, just perch on the balcony upstairs and knock on the wooden part of the window. I'll hear you, and I can open it for you."
"Mm."
"Thanks. Be sure nobody sees you on your way out, okay?"
He nodded before going upstairs and leaving through the window he'd used to enter, which Lorraine promptly closed and locked behind him. Turning around, she walked over to the bed and face planted with her face buried in the pillow.
"That went well." She mumbled into the pillow.
"Lorraine?"
Crunch... Scrape... Scrape... Scrape...
Her elbow was suddenly gripped and jerked.
"Lorraine? Are you all right?" Jessica asked.
"What? Oh. Yes, I'm all right."
"You've been grinding those roots for almost twenty minutes. They're... Well, they're more than prepared now."
"Oh!"
Lorraine looked down and saw the mortal and pestle smeared with the overly ground remains of the roots she'd been working on.
"Oh, wow. Well, it should be fine still."
"You sure?"
"Mhmm. The total volume of the necessary ingredient hasn't changed. I just over-ground it a bit. But that shouldn't matter."
"If you say so. But seriously, are you all right? You've been kind of out of it all day."
"I'm fine, Jessica. Really. I've just got a lot on my mind today. That's all."
"Okay. Is there anything I can help with?"
"No. It's nothing. Just some outside events kind of, you know, um..." She snapped her fingers a few times. "Uh..."
"Affecting you?"
"No. Not affecting me, specifically."
"Ahh. Say no more. I know how you are."
"Thanks, Jessica."
"But hey. If there's anything I can do to lighten the load, let me know. I can grind a few roots any time if it gives you some breathing room to sort this stuff out."
Lorraine chuckled. "Thanks. You're the best."
The two women shared a hug and Jessica departed the Apothecary Prep Room as Lorraine used a wooden scraper to move the ground up roots into a beaker which she then poured a half-cup of water into, added a few drops of honey, squeezed the fluids from a flower stem, and added a touch of Colda Mint extract before stirring it all together until it changed into a thick and creamy texture.
"That should do."
Pouring the beaker's contents into a small bottle and capping it, she used a bit of charcoal to label the top with the initials "CP" and placed it into her personal travel bag which she took with her on mobile visits to patients and/or on business trips. With the new bottle stored she took a moment to look out the window. The beautiful wash of oranges, yellows, reds, and faint hints of purple indicated that it was now in the fading twilight hours of the late afternoon.
"Goodness. Where'd the day go?"
Grabbing her travel bag and hoisting it over her shoulder, she made her way out into the lobby of the Clinic and waved goodbye to the girl at the front desk and the customers seated throughout. Making her way outside she walked down the main road North. The sun dipped below the horizon on her journey darkening the roads and shadows of the alleys along her route.
The area was eerily quiet. Even the wind seemed to have lost its voice. The shadows of the alleys seemed to darken on both sides of the street, and Lorraine's heart skipped a beat when she heard a dog bark in the distance.
Calm down, Lorraine. She thought.
A small crash from an alley to her left halted her mid-stride, nearly causing her to stumble. Turning towards the alley in question she noted that something was moving in the darkness. Stepping back a few paces, she swallowed a lump in her throat as her right hand unconsciously found its way to clutching her shirt over her left breast.
Slowly, she stepped towards the alley. And as she took her first steps into the shadows her eyes adjusted to the darkness which revealed the humanoid shape to be nothing more than an old coat left hanging on a half broken plank of wood leaning against the wall of the building.
Lorraine took in a massive breath as she let go of her shirt and backed out of the alley and into the streets.
"Just go home, Lorraine." She whispered.
Turning towards the street she again jumped as, in her peripheral vision, she caught sight of what looked like a person rushing at her. But it was simply a towel which had fallen off a laundry line hanging from a second story balcony. After catching her breath she picked up the towel, folded it, and set it on the doorstep of the door at ground level just beneath the balcony. Taking her first step back up the road her peripherals again caught sight of another shadow moving on the second story of a home up ahead. But as she looked up the only thing casting a shadow was a pair of exterior curtains over a window... A rather odd thing to have. But to each their own.
Continuing on she saw the silhouette of her home up ahead. It was a simple residence with one story, a kitchen/dining room, living room, bathroom, master bedroom, guest room, and three closets for storing clothing or any other items of need. With the familiar sight of "home" now just a short distance ahead she felt her heart rate stabilizing as her breath returned to normal.
Almost there.
Five houses down...
Four houses down...
Three houses down...
Lorraine froze. A chill rand down her spine as a small cold breeze swept through the street. The long flowing locks of hair trailing down her back gently tickled and tantalized her thighs before settling just behind her rump as the breeze breathed its last. Glancing over her shoulder she saw nothing in the street behind her. Looking ahead, nothing. Just her home and an empty street. Nothing to the left or right. Nothing in the alleyways.
She hastened her steps until she reached her front door, fumbled her keys from her pocket to the ground, picked them up, and unlocked the door to step inside. A quick turn of the lock and after hearing the "click," she released a breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding as she set her bag down on the floor and dragged her feet over to her dining room table. Taking a seat and placing her arms flat and resting her head on her forearms, she felt her eyelids getting heavy already.
"... Mmmh..." She mumbled, shifting her weight and moving her head more into the crook of her elbow.
"Hate? Or was it rage?"
"Neither."
Lorraine's hands slipped on the table slamming her lower jaw into its surface as her chair was pushed out from underneath her by her own flailing legs which failed to find stability or grip on her tiled dining room floor as she attempted to leap to her feet. Further slipping and falling to the floor she held onto her chin and glanced up to meet a pair of glowing red eyes belonging to a rather handsome young man who was now in the process of kneeling down and offering a hand to help her stand. She closed her eyes, rubbed her chin, opened her eyes again, and took his hand.
"Why then?"
"She was being grabbed by two guys."
Lorraine's head snapped up.
"She?"
"The woman."
"Wha-Oh... So, they were attacking her?"
"No. Just grabbing and kissing a lot. But I remem-"
"That's an attack. They may not have been hitting her. But that was an attack all the same."
"How is that-"
"An unwanted physical action taken against one human being by another is called an attack. It doesn't have to physically harm them like a punch or a stab from a knife."
"Hm. Well, I remembered you saying something about that before. Something about women needing to give... What was the word?"
"Consent. And it means permission."
"Right. Consent. I didn't see or hear her give consent. So when they started doing that I went to help."
"... By killing them?"
"Is there another way?"
"Ano-..."
Lorraine covered her mouth with one hand, turned away, and began pacing.
"When you were hurt you said that any man trying to put a woman in danger deserved to be punished, right?"
""Punished and killed are two very different things!!"
"Hm."
"What do you mean "hm?" I told you before that killing people should only ever be a last resort to save your life or theirs if there's truly no other option! Do you not remember that?!"
"I do."
"Then why did you kill them?!"
"Wouldn't they do it again?"
"After encountering you?! Of course not! Getting beaten up by you would force anyone to rethink their life choices and make changes so as never to see you again!"
"Like Rosche?"
"I-"
...
"I beat Rosche already. But he's still trying to revive Te'i Sai. And he hasn't given up on you either."
"And..." She swallowed a lump in her throat. "How do you know that?"
"Sneaking in is easy now."
"You sure they're not letting you in?"
"Why would they?"
"I'm not a strategist. So I don't know. But there's probably a bunch of reasons they'd let you get close again. Maybe they want to find a way to drag you back in or let you think you're better than you are so you drop your guard."
"So, should I stop?"
"Yes! Stay as far away from them as you can!"
"Even if getting close for scouting information is easy?"
"Didn't they ever teach you not to underestimate your enemies?"
"What does that mean?"
". . . . . That's means "no," they didn't teach you."
"So, what does it mean?"
"It means you should always treat your opponent as if they're your equal, and respect the fact that they always have a chance to defeat you either with intellect, brawn, skill, cheating, or any combination of those things."
"I guess that makes sense. It's weird though."
"Do you know if the Grandmaster taught you everything he knew?"
"Not sure."
"Then no, he didn't. And the chances he kept all of his knowledge to himself is basically zero. Someone in Te'i Sai, maybe even Rosche himself, knows things you don't and can use them to beat you."
"Hm. Fine. I'll stay away then. But I won't be able to keep track of their plans if I do."
"They're an organization of hundreds of people. They can send out a lot of their operatives to a lot of different places at once. You can't be everywhere at once. So what hope would you have of stopping their plans even if you knew them?"
"Hmm..."
"You wouldn't."
The young man fell silent, but continued to maintain eye contact as Lorraine sighed softly.
"Look. Why would you suddenly make things so easy? Because the Grandmaster's dead?"
"Yeah."
"He was just one man. And yes, he led them. But he wasn't magic. He didn't just make everyone stronger or smarter by being there. And his death didn't make them any weaker or dumber either. Do you understand?"
"I think so... So, you're saying that Te'i Sai is still as strong as it was before I killed him?"
"Everyone in that organization is still as dangerous as they were before his death, yes. They might be struggling to organize themselves since they have to restore their chain of command. But that process isn't likely to take long."
"So, what should I do?"
"I-" She took a deep breath and let it out on a long sigh. "I don't know."
He blinked and tilted his head, and she came forward and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know everything, big guy. I'm just a doctor. I heal people and make them feel better when they're sick or feeling bad."
"Right."
"You know more about Te'i Sai than I do. So you tell me. What should you do now that Rosche is trying to get Te'i Sai back on track?"
"I should kill him."
Lorraine closed her eyes and sighed through her nose.
"No."
"Why not? He's the one who's in charge now. Killing him would fix this, right?"
"No. Someone else would take his place. And if you killed that person, someone would take their place. You'd never make any progress. What else can you do?"
"Hm... If I don't do something about Rosche then he's going to make Te'i Sai go back to killing people again. But maybe I can do something about the fortress instead."
"What do you mean?"
"It's their home. So if I find a way to destroy it then maybe they'll all go away."
"How many of them are in there?"
"Most of them. Unless they're on a mission they're always training, resting, or just wandering around."
"Then you might be killing a lot of people."
"I don't think they're going to stop if I don't."
Lorraine removed her hand and took a deep breath.
"Can you find a way to destroy it without them being inside?"
"Hm....... I can probably do something like what we did before to draw them out."
"... Do what you can."
"Mm." He grunted with a nod.
"Before you go... How'd you get in here?"
"Upstairs window."
"I locked them."
"Yeah."
"... Please don't do that again."
"Why?"
"If you want to talk to me, just perch on the balcony upstairs and knock on the wooden part of the window. I'll hear you, and I can open it for you."
"Mm."
"Thanks. Be sure nobody sees you on your way out, okay?"
He nodded before going upstairs and leaving through the window he'd used to enter, which Lorraine promptly closed and locked behind him. Turning around, she walked over to the bed and face planted with her face buried in the pillow.
"That went well." She mumbled into the pillow.
Knock, knock
The door creaked open.
"Detective?"
"Greetings, Doctor. May I come in?"
"Under normal circumstances I would say "yes," but this doesn't feel like a normal circumstance," she said with a glance over his shoulder at two guards flanking him.
"Right you are, Doctor. We believe we've identified a potential witness. But she seems to be in an incredibly agitated state and refuses to speak like a sensible and stable person. We were hoping you'd come with us to help calm her down so we can get some information out of her."
... The woman... I didn't see or hear her give consent... I went to help... Echoed in her mind on loop.
"Very well, Detective."
She stepped outside, closed and locked the door, and followed the three men through the streets until they reached a local inn just down the road. Walking inside to an empty inn was more than a little unusual. Even the innkeeper was gone.
"Might I ask why nobody's here, Detective?"
"The innkeep was kind enough to step out and close the building to the general public for as long as we need to question the witness. Makes our jobs, and her life, easier that way."
"If you say so."
"You disagree?"
"She's a woman in an unstable mental state and surrounded by armed and intimidating men in an empty building. Anyone, stable or otherwise, would be stressed about that situation."
"Do you have a suggestion?"
"May I speak with her alone first?"
"I was afraid you'd say that. But very well, Doctor. We'll give you a few minutes to try and calm her down and get her stabilized before we enter and continue with questioning."
"What've you asked so far?"
"We tried asking her name, where exactly she was that night, what she saw, if anything. And we got nothing. She just stammered or looked away from us muttering incoherently and shaking like a leaf."
"Mm." She said as her lips tightened. Well done, gentlemen, she thought with the most subtle shake of her head.
"Whenever you're ready, Doctor. She's in the first room upstairs."
"Thank you."
Walking up the stairs in the back of the building and turning the 90 degree corner before reaching the second story and coming to the first door. And even before she reached for the doorknob she heard the mumbling inside. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and was instantly met with screaming and a woman in rags dashing about the room knocking things over trying to escape from her.
Lorraine stood very still with her hands folded in front of her stomach and waited patiently for almost five minutes until the woman calmed down and simply sat down, backing herself into the coerner of the room, staring at her like a rodent staring down a wolf.
Lorraine gave a light bow and spoke softly.
"Greetings, madam. I’m Doctor Almna."
“Did they call you to examine me?! They think I’m crazy! They said I was crazy! Do I look crazy to you?!”
"No, madam. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, and maybe ask-"
“I’m NOT okay! Those two attacked me and then were torn apart by a fucking Demon! How am I supposed to be ‘okay’?”
"You were attacked?"
“Yes!!”
"By who?"
“How should I know?! They were two men who chased me down, grabbed me, groped me, slapped me, and were starting to pull at my clothes before their blood was thrown all over the damn square!”
"I see. I’m sorry, madam."
“Why? It’s not like they attacked you! What do you have to be sorry for? Is this that stupid sense of self righteousness I’m always hearing about where you try to pretend you’re sympathetic to gain our favor before interrogating us?!”
"What in-… No, madam. Who gave you that idea?"
“Okay, Doctor. You wanna pretend to sympathize with me to make me calm down? Fine. Let’s play the game, shall we?”
She stood up, but continued to huddle in the corner.
“There. See? Calm as can be. Happy?”
"You were attacked, madam. What’s there to be happy about?"
“Oh, cut the bullshit sweetheart. What do you understand about being happy? You probably grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth, didn’t you? Had all your schooling paid for by mommy and daddy and got to be a doctor young by sucking off your school’s top brass after failing out. Right?”
"No, madam."
“Sure, sweetie. You’re probably still a virgin too, right?”
"… I am unmarried, yes."
“Oh! ‘Unmarried.’ Not exactly trying to say ‘no’ there, are you?”
"Unmarried women are not permitted to engage in sex in our culture. You know that, don’t you?"
The woman spat.
“’Culture’. Nobody actually gives a shit about culture. Especially the kinds of ‘men’ who attacked me.”
"That’s not true, madam."
“Not to your sheltered mind, maybe. But I’ll tell you sweetie, if you were to go out at night I’m certain others like the ones who attacked me would be happy to visit the same on you. What with your perfect face and body. Not to mention hair that’s perfect for holding like the reins of a fucking horse!”
"Oh..."
“Yeah. With a face like yours, tits like watermelons, and a pussy that’s probably tighter than a crab’s shell presuming you’re still a virgin, they’d fuck you all night long on any and every surface, and every position they could possibly think of!”
Lorraine fell silent and simply stared calmly at the woman as she slowly stood up, still pressing herself in the corner.
“Still think I’m ‘okay’?”
Silence.
“Didn’t think so. Have you given up already, Doctor?”
"No, madam."
“Still want to help me then? See if I’m ‘okay’?”
"Yes, madam."
“Gods, you’re thick. Take the hint, bitch. Get out of here! And take those assholes with you!!”
"I’m afraid I can’t, madam."
“Why? Are they paying you to badger me until I say something they can use to lock me up and get me off the streets like they do all the others?! Did they promise to help you lose your virginity nicely? Get you nice and wet first so you don’t feel them grating your insides like cheese when dry?”
Silence.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like the visual?”
"No."
“What are you going to do about it, then?”
"It’s happened to you, hasn’t it?"
“What do you think?”
"I think you’re emotionally unstable due to the recent trauma, but otherwise mentally sound."
“The fuck does that mean?”
"It means I think you’re okay. You just need time to settle down."
“… Okay? You think I’m okay?”
"I do. Despite your words and obvious frustration with me, you’ve given me no reason to believe that you’re mentally unsound or in need of physical assistance of any kind."
“Then why are you still here?”
"It’s my job. Even though I’m under the impression that you’re mentally sound and simply experiencing the natural effects of surviving a serious emotional trauma, I feel it’s my duty to receive confirmation from you that you’re okay before I take my leave."
“There you go again, using the word ‘okay’. You really think I’m okay after all this?”
"I do."
“Why?”
"I’ve given my reasons."
“Will you make some fucking sense?”
"Have I not?"
“No!”
"What would you like me to clarify?"
“How about all of it? How am I ‘okay’ to you after all this?!”
Lorraine gave a small bow.
"When I entered the room you ran around looking for an escape and then backed yourself into a corner. This is common behavior for an individual suffering intense emotional distress and whose mind is seeing everyone around them as a serious threat. Given that you encountered two men who sexually assaulted you, followed quickly by the Red-Eyed Demon tearing them apart, I can-"
“-I never mentioned him.”
"You said they were torn apart by a ‘Demon,’ right?"
“Yes, but-… Whatever. Keep explaining.”
"To add to my presumption, I found the wounds on the bodies were also consistent with his past attacks."
“Get on with it!… Please.”
Lorraine gave yet another small bow.
"Given the encounter, I can conclude that your emotional distress was a cumulative result of the assault, bearing witness to the violence that followed, and then being brought into custody in a room with no windows or escape routes. This combination of factors would make anyone frantic for a sense of stability and a semblance of control over their own situation."
“Is this your ‘professional’ analysis of me?”
"It’s my professional opinion, yes."
“What about my words?”
"It’s a regular occurrence for me to receive hateful rebukes to my words by patients suffering from mental or emotional distress. It doesn’t bother me."
“That right?”
"Yes."
“You sure you’re not a nun?”
Lorraine chuckled.
"Admittedly I thought about becoming one as a child for a bit. But medicine was my stronger calling."
“Hmph. So this is your ideal of healing me?”
"I would say we’ve certainly made progress."
“How?”
"You’re standing straight and no longer in the corner of the room."
The woman quickly glanced around and found she’d unconsciously wandered away from the corner and was now, more or less, in the center of the room.
"See?"
“When did I get here?”
"Somewhere between saying nobody cares about culture and letting me know what would happen if I went out at night alone."
“How?”
"I’m not a psychologist. But from talks I’ve had with colleagues in the field the center of the room is a power position, and moving to it is part of an effort to gain power and control over a conversation or situation. And given how aggressive your words were at the time, I’d say it fits the description quite well. Don’t you think?" She asked with a subtle giggle.
“And you just let me take this spot?”
"I’m not here to control you or try and claim power over you. As I’ve said from the start, I just want to make sure you’re all right before I take my leave."
“…”
"Are you?"
“… Yeah. I think so.”
"Excellent!" Lorraine said with a little clap of her hands, followed by a bow. "May Peur’Tia smile upon you, madam."
As Lorraine left the room the woman was left speechless until the door closed. And outside, the Detective was waiting for her.
“Doctor. Did you get anything?”
"Yes. She was sexually assaulted by two men and bore witness to the Red-Eyed Demon slaying them."
“Anything else? Who she is? How she got to the square? Why the Demon killed them but not her? Something?”
"No. Perhaps it’s my ignorance to investigative processes, but I don’t believe such things are important when it comes to a victim who’s clearly homeless and knows only that she suffered a traumatic event, and not why she had to suffer it."
“Hm. Fine. We’ll take it from here. Thanks for your cooperation.”
"Of course."
Lorraine departed the building and made her way back towards the clinic. But as she did so she saw a flash of a shadow cast by the rooftops moving close by. Upon looking up, she saw the Red-Eyed Demon staring at her before turning away and disappearing beyond the roof’s edge.
"Be careful, please." She whispered.
The door creaked open.
"Detective?"
"Greetings, Doctor. May I come in?"
"Under normal circumstances I would say "yes," but this doesn't feel like a normal circumstance," she said with a glance over his shoulder at two guards flanking him.
"Right you are, Doctor. We believe we've identified a potential witness. But she seems to be in an incredibly agitated state and refuses to speak like a sensible and stable person. We were hoping you'd come with us to help calm her down so we can get some information out of her."
... The woman... I didn't see or hear her give consent... I went to help... Echoed in her mind on loop.
"Very well, Detective."
She stepped outside, closed and locked the door, and followed the three men through the streets until they reached a local inn just down the road. Walking inside to an empty inn was more than a little unusual. Even the innkeeper was gone.
"Might I ask why nobody's here, Detective?"
"The innkeep was kind enough to step out and close the building to the general public for as long as we need to question the witness. Makes our jobs, and her life, easier that way."
"If you say so."
"You disagree?"
"She's a woman in an unstable mental state and surrounded by armed and intimidating men in an empty building. Anyone, stable or otherwise, would be stressed about that situation."
"Do you have a suggestion?"
"May I speak with her alone first?"
"I was afraid you'd say that. But very well, Doctor. We'll give you a few minutes to try and calm her down and get her stabilized before we enter and continue with questioning."
"What've you asked so far?"
"We tried asking her name, where exactly she was that night, what she saw, if anything. And we got nothing. She just stammered or looked away from us muttering incoherently and shaking like a leaf."
"Mm." She said as her lips tightened. Well done, gentlemen, she thought with the most subtle shake of her head.
"Whenever you're ready, Doctor. She's in the first room upstairs."
"Thank you."
Walking up the stairs in the back of the building and turning the 90 degree corner before reaching the second story and coming to the first door. And even before she reached for the doorknob she heard the mumbling inside. She took a deep breath, opened the door, and was instantly met with screaming and a woman in rags dashing about the room knocking things over trying to escape from her.
Lorraine stood very still with her hands folded in front of her stomach and waited patiently for almost five minutes until the woman calmed down and simply sat down, backing herself into the coerner of the room, staring at her like a rodent staring down a wolf.
Lorraine gave a light bow and spoke softly.
"Greetings, madam. I’m Doctor Almna."
“Did they call you to examine me?! They think I’m crazy! They said I was crazy! Do I look crazy to you?!”
"No, madam. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, and maybe ask-"
“I’m NOT okay! Those two attacked me and then were torn apart by a fucking Demon! How am I supposed to be ‘okay’?”
"You were attacked?"
“Yes!!”
"By who?"
“How should I know?! They were two men who chased me down, grabbed me, groped me, slapped me, and were starting to pull at my clothes before their blood was thrown all over the damn square!”
"I see. I’m sorry, madam."
“Why? It’s not like they attacked you! What do you have to be sorry for? Is this that stupid sense of self righteousness I’m always hearing about where you try to pretend you’re sympathetic to gain our favor before interrogating us?!”
"What in-… No, madam. Who gave you that idea?"
“Okay, Doctor. You wanna pretend to sympathize with me to make me calm down? Fine. Let’s play the game, shall we?”
She stood up, but continued to huddle in the corner.
“There. See? Calm as can be. Happy?”
"You were attacked, madam. What’s there to be happy about?"
“Oh, cut the bullshit sweetheart. What do you understand about being happy? You probably grew up with a silver spoon in your mouth, didn’t you? Had all your schooling paid for by mommy and daddy and got to be a doctor young by sucking off your school’s top brass after failing out. Right?”
"No, madam."
“Sure, sweetie. You’re probably still a virgin too, right?”
"… I am unmarried, yes."
“Oh! ‘Unmarried.’ Not exactly trying to say ‘no’ there, are you?”
"Unmarried women are not permitted to engage in sex in our culture. You know that, don’t you?"
The woman spat.
“’Culture’. Nobody actually gives a shit about culture. Especially the kinds of ‘men’ who attacked me.”
"That’s not true, madam."
“Not to your sheltered mind, maybe. But I’ll tell you sweetie, if you were to go out at night I’m certain others like the ones who attacked me would be happy to visit the same on you. What with your perfect face and body. Not to mention hair that’s perfect for holding like the reins of a fucking horse!”
"Oh..."
“Yeah. With a face like yours, tits like watermelons, and a pussy that’s probably tighter than a crab’s shell presuming you’re still a virgin, they’d fuck you all night long on any and every surface, and every position they could possibly think of!”
Lorraine fell silent and simply stared calmly at the woman as she slowly stood up, still pressing herself in the corner.
“Still think I’m ‘okay’?”
Silence.
“Didn’t think so. Have you given up already, Doctor?”
"No, madam."
“Still want to help me then? See if I’m ‘okay’?”
"Yes, madam."
“Gods, you’re thick. Take the hint, bitch. Get out of here! And take those assholes with you!!”
"I’m afraid I can’t, madam."
“Why? Are they paying you to badger me until I say something they can use to lock me up and get me off the streets like they do all the others?! Did they promise to help you lose your virginity nicely? Get you nice and wet first so you don’t feel them grating your insides like cheese when dry?”
Silence.
“What’s wrong? Don’t like the visual?”
"No."
“What are you going to do about it, then?”
"It’s happened to you, hasn’t it?"
“What do you think?”
"I think you’re emotionally unstable due to the recent trauma, but otherwise mentally sound."
“The fuck does that mean?”
"It means I think you’re okay. You just need time to settle down."
“… Okay? You think I’m okay?”
"I do. Despite your words and obvious frustration with me, you’ve given me no reason to believe that you’re mentally unsound or in need of physical assistance of any kind."
“Then why are you still here?”
"It’s my job. Even though I’m under the impression that you’re mentally sound and simply experiencing the natural effects of surviving a serious emotional trauma, I feel it’s my duty to receive confirmation from you that you’re okay before I take my leave."
“There you go again, using the word ‘okay’. You really think I’m okay after all this?”
"I do."
“Why?”
"I’ve given my reasons."
“Will you make some fucking sense?”
"Have I not?"
“No!”
"What would you like me to clarify?"
“How about all of it? How am I ‘okay’ to you after all this?!”
Lorraine gave a small bow.
"When I entered the room you ran around looking for an escape and then backed yourself into a corner. This is common behavior for an individual suffering intense emotional distress and whose mind is seeing everyone around them as a serious threat. Given that you encountered two men who sexually assaulted you, followed quickly by the Red-Eyed Demon tearing them apart, I can-"
“-I never mentioned him.”
"You said they were torn apart by a ‘Demon,’ right?"
“Yes, but-… Whatever. Keep explaining.”
"To add to my presumption, I found the wounds on the bodies were also consistent with his past attacks."
“Get on with it!… Please.”
Lorraine gave yet another small bow.
"Given the encounter, I can conclude that your emotional distress was a cumulative result of the assault, bearing witness to the violence that followed, and then being brought into custody in a room with no windows or escape routes. This combination of factors would make anyone frantic for a sense of stability and a semblance of control over their own situation."
“Is this your ‘professional’ analysis of me?”
"It’s my professional opinion, yes."
“What about my words?”
"It’s a regular occurrence for me to receive hateful rebukes to my words by patients suffering from mental or emotional distress. It doesn’t bother me."
“That right?”
"Yes."
“You sure you’re not a nun?”
Lorraine chuckled.
"Admittedly I thought about becoming one as a child for a bit. But medicine was my stronger calling."
“Hmph. So this is your ideal of healing me?”
"I would say we’ve certainly made progress."
“How?”
"You’re standing straight and no longer in the corner of the room."
The woman quickly glanced around and found she’d unconsciously wandered away from the corner and was now, more or less, in the center of the room.
"See?"
“When did I get here?”
"Somewhere between saying nobody cares about culture and letting me know what would happen if I went out at night alone."
“How?”
"I’m not a psychologist. But from talks I’ve had with colleagues in the field the center of the room is a power position, and moving to it is part of an effort to gain power and control over a conversation or situation. And given how aggressive your words were at the time, I’d say it fits the description quite well. Don’t you think?" She asked with a subtle giggle.
“And you just let me take this spot?”
"I’m not here to control you or try and claim power over you. As I’ve said from the start, I just want to make sure you’re all right before I take my leave."
“…”
"Are you?"
“… Yeah. I think so.”
"Excellent!" Lorraine said with a little clap of her hands, followed by a bow. "May Peur’Tia smile upon you, madam."
As Lorraine left the room the woman was left speechless until the door closed. And outside, the Detective was waiting for her.
“Doctor. Did you get anything?”
"Yes. She was sexually assaulted by two men and bore witness to the Red-Eyed Demon slaying them."
“Anything else? Who she is? How she got to the square? Why the Demon killed them but not her? Something?”
"No. Perhaps it’s my ignorance to investigative processes, but I don’t believe such things are important when it comes to a victim who’s clearly homeless and knows only that she suffered a traumatic event, and not why she had to suffer it."
“Hm. Fine. We’ll take it from here. Thanks for your cooperation.”
"Of course."
Lorraine departed the building and made her way back towards the clinic. But as she did so she saw a flash of a shadow cast by the rooftops moving close by. Upon looking up, she saw the Red-Eyed Demon staring at her before turning away and disappearing beyond the roof’s edge.
"Be careful, please." She whispered.
The setting changes from Cre' Est to
"Jessica, please apply pressure to the brachial under the Humerus."
"Yes, Doctor!"
Jessica wrapped both hands around the upper bicep region of the patient and squeezed the underside using her fingers to stem the flow of blood previously spurting intermittently as the crudely applied wrapping was removed.
"Be careful!!" Screamed a woman hovering nearby, held back by another nurse.
"Monica, wrap please."
"Of course, Doctor."
Monica, a portly woman in her early 40's, approached with a belt-like item and wrapped it around the area just below where Jessica and the other nurse applied pressure. Pulling it tight she squeezed and secured the locking mechanism, giving Jessica and the other nurse a nod. Slowly the pair released their held pressure. And although a single small spurt of blood escaped the open wound due to the change in pressure coupled with the amount previously held back, it came immediately to a stop afterwards.
With the wound secured Lorraine gave a nod to Jessica who nodded back and took over for her as Lorraine approached the woman.
"Please, tell me what happened."
"Shouldn't you be staying with my husband?!" The woman demanded.
"Ma'am, please. I assure you my staff are more than capable of stabilizing your husband. I need to know what happened to him."
"Like I told the little twat at the front desk when she badgered me with questions instead of calling for help like I told her to, my husband and I were just shopping when we were attacked by a madman slashing wildly with an axe! He tried to protect me and lost half his arm! Shouldn't that be obvious just by looking?!"
"Ma'am, please don't lie to me."
"Excuse me?!"
"Your husband's wound is not consistent with a bladed assault. The frayed flesh and bone are more consistent with either a bite wound from a large creature like a Gil Bear, or a blunt force weapon with enough crushing power to shatter the bone and heavy enough to tear flesh away when retracted after the initial impact. I need to know which it is."
"How dare you?! Insinuating that I did anything to harm my husband?!"
"I made no such comment, ma'am. I'm just asking what really happened."
"You!... I still don't care for the remark that I'm lying to you! That's what happened!"
"Ma'am, I know what an axe wound looks like." Lorraine's left hand slowly found its way to her chest. "Axes heavy enough to take half an arm leave clean, smooth wounds behind. This makes it almost impossible for flesh and arteries to properly retract and naturally close themselves off to preserve the victim until help can arrive. As a result, most victims of such injuries die before moving more than 50 to 100 feet from the spot where they were injured."
"Why won't you just believe me when I say what happened?!"
"Because if what you told me was true about a wild man swinging an axe, the chances are exceedingly high that there would have been more victims than just your husband. And I would like to repeat that your husband's injury is not consistent with an axe injury."
"How did you ever become a doctor?!"
"I studied and trained for over seventeen years before being tested academically and practically by the Cre' Itian Academy of Medicinal Arts to earn my title, ma'am."
The woman fell silent.
"I'll ask one last time, madam... What really happened to your husband?"
The woman's eyes had been filled with tears prior to the questions, but now burned with scorn as her brows narrowed.
"I've already told you what happened."
Lorraine sighed.
"Cheyanne!"
The door to the lobby opened, and the peppy young spectacled blonde working the front desk popped her head into the clinic space.
"Yes, Doctor?"
"Please call for the local authorities. I want this properly investigated."
"Of course, Doctor!"
Cheyanne disappeared, and the woman stormed out not long afterwards. Lorraine's eyebrows turned up slightly as she heaved a sigh and returned to the man's bedside.
"How's it coming?"
"He'll be all right. We'll make sure he stays sedated and cauterize the entire surface of the wound."
"Thank you, Jessica."
The day seemed to fly by after the incident, and the authorities found and questioned the woman before her admission of guilt in attacking her husband with his Smithing hammer during an exceptionally heated argument was documented, and a report filed. The woman was in prison by the end of the day, and Lorraine and her staff were updated on the situation by none other than the Detective she'd been working with previously.
"Trouble never seems to not follow you, eh Doctor?"
Lorraine chuckled. "It is indeed quite the persistent companion, of late."
"Well, at least this time it was someone else's trouble. Have you been keeping well?"
"As well as I can, thank you."
"Very well. Excuse me."
The Detective turned to leave the clinic when he paused and turned around.
"I don't believe I've ever properly introduced myself, have I?" He gave a light bow. "My name is Richard Volmere. It's a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance, Doctor Almna."
She returned a slightly deeper bow.
"The pleasure's mine, Detective Volmere."
"Please, call me Richard. We can save 'Detective' for when we're working together more directly."
Lorraine smiled. "As you wish, Richard."
"There. That's far more comfortable, isn't it?" He asked with a wink.
Lorraine couldn't help but laugh as he gave another bow and exited the establishment. And it was at that moment Lorraine felt a nudge against her side and saw Jessica giving her a sly glance and a quick eyebrow flutter.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jessica waved her hand as she walked back towards the lobby door on her way home for the evening. "Buuuuuut... If I may be so bold, Doctor." She glanced back with another sly smile. "The Detective isn't bad looking, is he?"
Lorraine rolled her eyes with a smile. "Jessica, we both know your matchmaking skills are sub-par."
Jessica stopped and put a hand on her hip.
"Excuse you?"
"You've tried to set me up with at least three men in the last two months, and all of them were more interested in staring at my chest than actually speaking with me."
"Oh? I hadn't noticed. So, maybe my matchmaking skills could use a bit more polish. However, I did notice that the Detective kept his eyes firmly on yours, dear."
Lorraine shook her head and stifled a chuckle. "Goodnight, Jessica."
"Goodnight, Lorraine. May Peur'Tia bless your evening."
"Yours as well, my friend."
The two women shared a bow of equal depth as Jessica made her way out.
"Doctor? If I may?" Came a soft voice behind her.
"Yes, Annie?"
"May I go home a little early tonight? It's my brother's birthday and I've already missed the main party."
Lorraine's eyebrows rose. "Why didn't you tell me it was his birthday earlier?"
"Oh. Well, you were busy with the man who lost his arm and I couldn't find an opening."
Lorraine placed both a hand on both Annie's shoulders. "You can always talk to me about family, Annie. It's the most important thing in this world. And like I told that woman earlier, our friends are more than capable of taking over if I need to be pulled away."
"But-"
"No butt's. Next time you have a family matter please let me know right away. Special occasions like this deserve the time to spend with those we hold most dear. Stop me any time, okay? Now go on. They're waiting for you."
Annie rushed forward to hug Lorraine, which the Doctor gently returned with a stroke of the girl's hair before they shared a bow of equal depth and Annie departed for the night.
Later that evening Lorraine made her way home and sat on the edge of her bed in her night wear looking out the open window.
The Detective isn't bad looking, is he?
No, he's not. But that's not important.
...I did notice that the Detective kept his eyes firmly on yours, dear.
True. But that's just common courtesy. Besides...
Lorraine looked at her calendar. A red circle was drawn around tomorrow's date.
My window to find a husband closed three years ago.
Echoes of her mother's teachings from when she was a child floated through her mind.
You're starting to reach that age now, dear. Boys and men are going to vie for your attention and affections. But it's important to remember that a good looking partner isn't always what you want. You need to look deeper at what's inside their hearts before you make any final decisions. Trust me. I know.
Lorraine's head slowly dropped, hiding her eyes behind the shadow of her bangs.
Just be sure to find someone within or before your 21st year.
Why momma? She heard her younger self asking.
Because once a woman is twenty one she's considered to be in her prime. Once she turns 22, she's past her prime and the majority of men in our culture won't see her as a viable marriage candidate anymore.
But, why's that? That's not fair!
It's been this way for centuries, dear. And you're right, it's not fair at all. Unfortunately, it's just the way things are. Both religiously and socially women are seen to be at their most beautiful and vital when they're under the age of 22. After that...
Glancing towards the calendar again, Lorraine's lower lip quivered as she saw the number 24 inside the circle.
Jessica knew how old she was. Yet she still tried to play matchmaker. She meant well. She truly did. And Lorraine knew it. But still...
Lorraine's hands gripped her night gown until her knuckles turned white.
"Peur'Tia, please give me strength. Tomorrow's going to be a long day." She whispered.
"Yes, Doctor!"
Jessica wrapped both hands around the upper bicep region of the patient and squeezed the underside using her fingers to stem the flow of blood previously spurting intermittently as the crudely applied wrapping was removed.
"Be careful!!" Screamed a woman hovering nearby, held back by another nurse.
"Monica, wrap please."
"Of course, Doctor."
Monica, a portly woman in her early 40's, approached with a belt-like item and wrapped it around the area just below where Jessica and the other nurse applied pressure. Pulling it tight she squeezed and secured the locking mechanism, giving Jessica and the other nurse a nod. Slowly the pair released their held pressure. And although a single small spurt of blood escaped the open wound due to the change in pressure coupled with the amount previously held back, it came immediately to a stop afterwards.
With the wound secured Lorraine gave a nod to Jessica who nodded back and took over for her as Lorraine approached the woman.
"Please, tell me what happened."
"Shouldn't you be staying with my husband?!" The woman demanded.
"Ma'am, please. I assure you my staff are more than capable of stabilizing your husband. I need to know what happened to him."
"Like I told the little twat at the front desk when she badgered me with questions instead of calling for help like I told her to, my husband and I were just shopping when we were attacked by a madman slashing wildly with an axe! He tried to protect me and lost half his arm! Shouldn't that be obvious just by looking?!"
"Ma'am, please don't lie to me."
"Excuse me?!"
"Your husband's wound is not consistent with a bladed assault. The frayed flesh and bone are more consistent with either a bite wound from a large creature like a Gil Bear, or a blunt force weapon with enough crushing power to shatter the bone and heavy enough to tear flesh away when retracted after the initial impact. I need to know which it is."
"How dare you?! Insinuating that I did anything to harm my husband?!"
"I made no such comment, ma'am. I'm just asking what really happened."
"You!... I still don't care for the remark that I'm lying to you! That's what happened!"
"Ma'am, I know what an axe wound looks like." Lorraine's left hand slowly found its way to her chest. "Axes heavy enough to take half an arm leave clean, smooth wounds behind. This makes it almost impossible for flesh and arteries to properly retract and naturally close themselves off to preserve the victim until help can arrive. As a result, most victims of such injuries die before moving more than 50 to 100 feet from the spot where they were injured."
"Why won't you just believe me when I say what happened?!"
"Because if what you told me was true about a wild man swinging an axe, the chances are exceedingly high that there would have been more victims than just your husband. And I would like to repeat that your husband's injury is not consistent with an axe injury."
"How did you ever become a doctor?!"
"I studied and trained for over seventeen years before being tested academically and practically by the Cre' Itian Academy of Medicinal Arts to earn my title, ma'am."
The woman fell silent.
"I'll ask one last time, madam... What really happened to your husband?"
The woman's eyes had been filled with tears prior to the questions, but now burned with scorn as her brows narrowed.
"I've already told you what happened."
Lorraine sighed.
"Cheyanne!"
The door to the lobby opened, and the peppy young spectacled blonde working the front desk popped her head into the clinic space.
"Yes, Doctor?"
"Please call for the local authorities. I want this properly investigated."
"Of course, Doctor!"
Cheyanne disappeared, and the woman stormed out not long afterwards. Lorraine's eyebrows turned up slightly as she heaved a sigh and returned to the man's bedside.
"How's it coming?"
"He'll be all right. We'll make sure he stays sedated and cauterize the entire surface of the wound."
"Thank you, Jessica."
The day seemed to fly by after the incident, and the authorities found and questioned the woman before her admission of guilt in attacking her husband with his Smithing hammer during an exceptionally heated argument was documented, and a report filed. The woman was in prison by the end of the day, and Lorraine and her staff were updated on the situation by none other than the Detective she'd been working with previously.
"Trouble never seems to not follow you, eh Doctor?"
Lorraine chuckled. "It is indeed quite the persistent companion, of late."
"Well, at least this time it was someone else's trouble. Have you been keeping well?"
"As well as I can, thank you."
"Very well. Excuse me."
The Detective turned to leave the clinic when he paused and turned around.
"I don't believe I've ever properly introduced myself, have I?" He gave a light bow. "My name is Richard Volmere. It's a pleasure to officially make your acquaintance, Doctor Almna."
She returned a slightly deeper bow.
"The pleasure's mine, Detective Volmere."
"Please, call me Richard. We can save 'Detective' for when we're working together more directly."
Lorraine smiled. "As you wish, Richard."
"There. That's far more comfortable, isn't it?" He asked with a wink.
Lorraine couldn't help but laugh as he gave another bow and exited the establishment. And it was at that moment Lorraine felt a nudge against her side and saw Jessica giving her a sly glance and a quick eyebrow flutter.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing." Jessica waved her hand as she walked back towards the lobby door on her way home for the evening. "Buuuuuut... If I may be so bold, Doctor." She glanced back with another sly smile. "The Detective isn't bad looking, is he?"
Lorraine rolled her eyes with a smile. "Jessica, we both know your matchmaking skills are sub-par."
Jessica stopped and put a hand on her hip.
"Excuse you?"
"You've tried to set me up with at least three men in the last two months, and all of them were more interested in staring at my chest than actually speaking with me."
"Oh? I hadn't noticed. So, maybe my matchmaking skills could use a bit more polish. However, I did notice that the Detective kept his eyes firmly on yours, dear."
Lorraine shook her head and stifled a chuckle. "Goodnight, Jessica."
"Goodnight, Lorraine. May Peur'Tia bless your evening."
"Yours as well, my friend."
The two women shared a bow of equal depth as Jessica made her way out.
"Doctor? If I may?" Came a soft voice behind her.
"Yes, Annie?"
"May I go home a little early tonight? It's my brother's birthday and I've already missed the main party."
Lorraine's eyebrows rose. "Why didn't you tell me it was his birthday earlier?"
"Oh. Well, you were busy with the man who lost his arm and I couldn't find an opening."
Lorraine placed both a hand on both Annie's shoulders. "You can always talk to me about family, Annie. It's the most important thing in this world. And like I told that woman earlier, our friends are more than capable of taking over if I need to be pulled away."
"But-"
"No butt's. Next time you have a family matter please let me know right away. Special occasions like this deserve the time to spend with those we hold most dear. Stop me any time, okay? Now go on. They're waiting for you."
Annie rushed forward to hug Lorraine, which the Doctor gently returned with a stroke of the girl's hair before they shared a bow of equal depth and Annie departed for the night.
Later that evening Lorraine made her way home and sat on the edge of her bed in her night wear looking out the open window.
The Detective isn't bad looking, is he?
No, he's not. But that's not important.
...I did notice that the Detective kept his eyes firmly on yours, dear.
True. But that's just common courtesy. Besides...
Lorraine looked at her calendar. A red circle was drawn around tomorrow's date.
My window to find a husband closed three years ago.
Echoes of her mother's teachings from when she was a child floated through her mind.
You're starting to reach that age now, dear. Boys and men are going to vie for your attention and affections. But it's important to remember that a good looking partner isn't always what you want. You need to look deeper at what's inside their hearts before you make any final decisions. Trust me. I know.
Lorraine's head slowly dropped, hiding her eyes behind the shadow of her bangs.
Just be sure to find someone within or before your 21st year.
Why momma? She heard her younger self asking.
Because once a woman is twenty one she's considered to be in her prime. Once she turns 22, she's past her prime and the majority of men in our culture won't see her as a viable marriage candidate anymore.
But, why's that? That's not fair!
It's been this way for centuries, dear. And you're right, it's not fair at all. Unfortunately, it's just the way things are. Both religiously and socially women are seen to be at their most beautiful and vital when they're under the age of 22. After that...
Glancing towards the calendar again, Lorraine's lower lip quivered as she saw the number 24 inside the circle.
Jessica knew how old she was. Yet she still tried to play matchmaker. She meant well. She truly did. And Lorraine knew it. But still...
Lorraine's hands gripped her night gown until her knuckles turned white.
"Peur'Tia, please give me strength. Tomorrow's going to be a long day." She whispered.
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by KumoriRyuu on Wed Jan 05, 2022 1:04 am
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Greetings one and all!
If you're interested in the story and the RP then please do shoot me a line! If not, I'll understand.
This RP is really here for me to enjoy one last hoorah on the site which really gave this story some lift under its wings. And while I would rather enjoy it alongside other people I know it's not likely to garner any positive attention.
Even so, I hope you at least enjoy reading what I have to offer.
The first post will go up sometime tomorrow as it's too late in the evening for me to write it today.
Oh, and Happy New Year to all!!
Here's hoping 2022 is better than 2020 and 2021!!
~ Kumori
If you're interested in the story and the RP then please do shoot me a line! If not, I'll understand.
This RP is really here for me to enjoy one last hoorah on the site which really gave this story some lift under its wings. And while I would rather enjoy it alongside other people I know it's not likely to garner any positive attention.
Even so, I hope you at least enjoy reading what I have to offer.
The first post will go up sometime tomorrow as it's too late in the evening for me to write it today.
Oh, and Happy New Year to all!!
Here's hoping 2022 is better than 2020 and 2021!!
~ Kumori