Vivienne Loçiure's Story

Vivienne had faded to the point that she was no longer a physical object in the world— no longer bound by gravity or life itself but rather by her will to exist. The air was all too humid in River Town that day, and the rain the day before had fried her generator. She was useless, without it. No computer, no cell. She had a box of batteries and a tape recorder and had etched her memories by hand onto its pitiful memory, but that wouldn't do in remembering the beauty of this place this time of year or the way the rain smelled. She could describe it, eating up megabyte upon megabyte of data, but why do that when she could— ah, she couldn't even remember what else she could do. Sighing, she slipped through her apartment wall to the streets below.

She would have reached out to touch the budding flowers as she walked, but her spiderlike hands were translucent, reminiscent of the cloud of mist so often hung over the river. Yes, she and her blonde hair and her milky complexion made her a cloud of mist hovering with her toes just barely gracing the asphalt.

Hovering down the street, Vivienne caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure taking a tumble. Curiosity got the better of her. It wasn't as though she had anything better to do with her day. Until her computers were working again, she couldn't record her memories, and shifting her body fully back into reality would most certainly wipe away the remnants of the past few days still lingering in her temporal lobe. Bored and ghostly as ever, she drifted over to the figure, a girl no older than fifteen, surrounded by a wreath of light hair.

Vivienne had never once glimpsed the girl before, but she grinned, then spoke, "You okay?" Her words were no more than vibrations in the air set off by minute manipulations of Vivienne's bent reality field. Her words, coming from within the shifted reality, were neither true nor untrue; they were simply objects that existed, not unlike the walls or the trees. She was a ghost, after all, and a thing that didn't exist could never tell a lie. "I think I've seen your face around here before. I've never caught a name, though. I'm Vivienne." She extended a translucent hand even though the girl wouldn't be able to touch it; it was really more a gesture of greeting than anything else.

Emma stood up after her recent stumble. A girl rushed to help her and told her that her name was Vivienne. But something about the girl made Emma's head hurt. Her words were not lies nor truth. Emma grabbed her head to try and ignore the piercing headache that her built in "Lie Detector" was causing.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Emma... I'm heading for River Town, but I haven't been in forever. Could you point me to the right direction?" Emma asked, pushing up her round goggles that were slipping off her head.
She looked back to see a blur behind her. It could have been her headache making things that weren't there, so she turned back to Vivienne, ignoring the awful feeling that she should turn around. After all this time with her power, you would have thought Emma Brooke would have thought to trust her senses.

Dower suddenly reappeared in the shadows of an ally way by a building that was much closer to where the explosion went off. Screams of pain, people yelling, running away or towards the source of the explosion. The wind was pushing the smoke down the city blocked, slowly making visibility worse. The smell of burning brick and treated wood was slowly becoming stronger in the air.

"Pain. The ultimate form of selfishness. Trying to get away from it so you won't feel it. Then Guilt and sorrow follow that you didn't try to help so others would not be in pain. Pain just leads to sorrow.

A young girl caught his eye that was running away from the explosion. She tripped and rolled in front of the building just a few yards away from him. He narrowed his eyes. It was Emma.

"Emma, I haven't seen her in ages." Then a short, young, blond came and held her up. Her name was Vivienne, if he remembered correctly. He saw Emma talking to her, but her words were drowned out by all the yelling and screaming.

"Is there anyone else here?"

It sounded like a cry for help, at first, amid the screams and the chaos and the dust that clung to the back of her throat but not to her skin. Things had calmed down, some, since the collapse, with officials running amok and citizens unsure what to do. Li Mei hadn't twitched a muscle, but she stood a good hundred feet from where the girl now sat. She stared at her hands. What had just happened?

A man who looked as though the very colors of his body were staging a mutiny stood feet away, as did another figure, but they were nothing to the strange feeling that had nestled itself in the pit of her stomach. There was a certain breed of dread that had overtaken her, bitter and writhing like a snake's nest. She sighed, disappointed in her lack of self-control. It was her fault she wouldn't be able to remember this later. Now that she'd attached such primal things as feelings to her memory, the thoughts would wither away and die by tomorrow. She sighed to herself, then began to walk.

Then she stopped. There was an invisible body in her way. She cocked an eyebrow in perfect, practiced apathy, backed up, and waved, unsure whether she was waving to its front or to its back. Though she couldn't see the figure, it couldn't hurt to at least be polite. Years of servitude had at least taught her the value of subservience, if only that of the type that showed through on the surface. Her strange dress was mottled with soot again, but she could forget about that, for the moment.

[OOC: The Handmaiden bumped into Cara, in case that didn't make sense.]

---

Vivienne smiled when the girl spoke. Her words sounded strange and hollow. Sound always did when she was separated from the world, especially when she's spent more than a day in the state she was in. The tinny voice spoke, asking her where River Town was, and she did her best to remember what River Town, exactly, was. Being as old as the world itself, she had seen so many things to the point that separating one thin from another was a challenge without her records. She rolled her eyes up, searching for the information.

There was nothing there.

"Sorry. I don't know." She spoke, her voice quiet and wistful this time. Not even being able to recall her own address led to a certain set of problems, most of which she couldn't even pull to the forefront of her mind to make use of them. "Though I'm looking for it, too. Why don't we go together?" Her eyes flicked to the smoke that hung heavy in the air. "It... might be safer that way, after all." She could remember the explosion. That was for sure.

Emma smiled.
"Together would be great. And I agree... much safer."
Although Emma wasn't sure if safer was an option, she would prefer to not be alone when heading to River Town.
"I just have to run back to my apartment to get my stuff. Then we can head out."
Emma ran to her apartment to grab a few things that she would wish to take. She found her brown stuffed bear, which was in rough shape, lying on her bed. It had been created with her. She wondered what Maria had given it to her for.... Maybe she just needed a friend..... Cheesy....

Cara was freaking out. Had someone... waved at her? Plus it looked like that one boy heard her and was looking for her. How had they.... Cara's invisibility wavered as she grew nervous. For only a split second, she appeared, but manipulated her light again as quickly as she could. It wasn't her time to be seen yet. And if she got caught, she couldn't fathom what they would do to her if she would make it into their hands alive. They would prefer her to die a captive than reemerge a coward. She had no intent on dying either way.

Out of nowhere a horrific sob rang out. Cara looked up and smiled at the darkness's good work. People were beginning to panic. Just according to plan.

Vivienne nodded and waited, letting her toes brush the ground below. She couldn't actually feel the pavement, but if she could, she was sure it wouldn't have felt pleasant. Unlike the sweater she wore, a dark olive green draping over her hands, and her leggings, black as night and translucent as her legs. She swept a few strands of hair from her face, letting them fall back, in time. Gravity didn't really apply, but, then, neither did the reality of her being non-real. Her hair fell toward her feet, as did the baggy sweater's too-lovable material. Just like that, she stood, silent and waiting, for Emma to return. She didn't mind traveling, even if it did get her into trouble. She wouldn't remember it.

Granted, she didn't want to lose it all. She didn't want to let the memories slip away. She needed a computer. She needed something with memory— her mind certainly didn't have any.

---

The Handmaiden stood dead-still, as silent as she'd always been. She was curious, certainly, but never having had voice to give light to her own questions had constrained them to her mind, where they stayed locked away until she could answer them herself. It was for this that she, upon seeing the flash of a body next to her, instinctively reached out a hand to touch it. She's glimpsed a girl, and she was panicking. Was it because of the smoke? She stare at where the body had been, willing it to reappear. When it didn't, she glanced away. There were so many questions still left unanswered.

The girl in the technicolor dress as dark as the writhing shadows was still, now, her hand extended into what very well may have been thin air. She could see out of the corner of her eye a man pointing at her— or was it the girl why had just flashed to life a moment ago?— and her eyes fell to the ground. She didn't want to draw attention to herself. Whirling around and disappearing in a graceful flurry of shifting color, the Handmaiden let Master take her being wherever He pleased. She had no more business, there. She had questions, and for this she had touched a girl, but she still had more left unanswered than she had the means to understand.

Li Mei's feet touched down on dust. She was far away from the city, now, in the canyons. She liked it here, in the silence. She was a girl brought to life by the desert. Though her expressions were, as always, muted, she spared a smile and began to walk. Perhaps she would find something out there in the bright light and the harsh shadows cast by the rock.

After all, what better a place to find answers to questions of the arcane than a desert canyon where no one dared to wander? The Handmaiden's dainty form disappeared into the canyons, hair swaying gently with her dress as she walked— the sight of which, a girl in pretty dress, very much out of place against the sheer rock faces and the worn canyon-bottoms.

Emma Brooke, with her small bag of things, took off running down the street, pushing past the panicked people who's eyes were wide with horror. Emma felt sorry, but she had to get to River Town ASAP. She almost forgot about Vivienne! Emma looked around, but couldn't see her friend anywhere.
"Vivienne?" Emma asked, her green eyes scanning the area. Emma stuck her thumb into her mouth and began softly gnawing on it. It was a bad habit she got when she was nervous. Emma took in a deep breath.
If I can just get out of the crowd, maybe she'll find me or I'll spot her.
Emma hurried through the busy streets, only reaching an open area when she saw the sign.
"Thanks for visiting Aster City! Come again!"
Emma stared at the sign. She had never saw that side of the welcome and goodbye sign. Emma had never even thought about leaving Aster City. And here she was, on a race to River Town, the place she swore never to return to. Emma turned to look back for Vivienne, but to her horror, a hiss came from behind her. She turned only to let out one word.
"CRAP!"

....

The Snow Beast had just finished a good meal. The child was.... eight maybe? It was stupid for wandering into this part of the woods. Sean had secluded him as deep into the middle of nowhere as he could, but people were still curious. The Beast smiled sickly at his strange popularity. He was some sort of tourist attraction... but any brave enough to find the main event became the main course.
Just as the Beast prepared to take a nap on his full stomach, a small yet angry cry arose from a nearby spot in the forest. The Beast couldn't comprehend what the voice was saying, only that it seemed like less and less people valued their lives anymore... more and more wanted to visit him. The Beast looked around, but couldn't see where the owner of the voice was. As he shook off the blood of his last meal, he charged at where the last noise had came from, only being stopped by the chain around his leg. He growled and yanked with all his might, but couldn't break the chains. He let out a horrid cry as he lay down in the snow, defeated by the brains of his human form. As he drifted off, he slowly began to change to a scrawny boy with black hair and pale skin. The boy laid in the snow, surrounded in the blood of the child he hadn't meant to kill. He did not stir in his deep sleep.

...

Cara James strolled along the city. She was unnoticed by many and those who saw her were too busy worrying about the explosions and earthquakes than to think of what an innocent looking girl may be plotting. Cara tried not to smile at how stupid these people were. They were too daft in their end to think of the girl that walked and talked like them. They were too selfish to point a finger at the girl who they had taken everything away from. Suddenly, a pain shot through Cara's body. It wasn't the pain of some kind of wound, but the pain of remembering her parents. Remembering what had been done to them. Remembering how cruel the people who murdered them were. Hate ran through her body like blood pumping through her veins.
They deserve to die! Cara thought in anger. She huffed and marched along the sidewalk, not noticing the very few people who wondered if she was here... who had noticed her.... She thought she was safe. She was as far from safe as she could get.

Emma stared back at Dower Prose. She hadn't seen him in a while. She had a run in with him when she first came to town. I guess they may have hit it off on the wrong foot. Emma crossed her arms.
"That's just being alive. You have sadness in life, but it will pass. Good can prevail. And, by warning everyone, we can save lives. Wouldn't a mother be more happy to know her child is living than dead? If I let them die, I'll be just like the people killing them. My turn to ask a question. Where is Vivienne?"
Emma seems very strict with her last words. Although Emma is a joyful person, she doesn't look happy one bit.
"If you've done anything to her, you're not going to just get away. So, shall I ask again? Where is she?"

...

Sean woke up to fingers on his neck. His eyes shot open and he grabbed the arm of the person touching him. Sean was about to ask who he was and what he was doing when he realized the situation. He was sitting in a pool of blood and bones.
"Ah!" he screamed, leaping out of the bones. Shaking, Sean backed up, but his sore foot gave way and he landed on his rear in the cold snow. He had surely twisted his ankle from the Beast pulling at the chains.
Sean placed his head in his hands. What had he done? What had happened? He looked up to the boy staring back at him.
"If you're going to kill me, do it," Sean said, hoarsely. "Kill me."

"Now why would I do anything to Vivienne? I have never killed anyone. True, I have made people so full of sorrow that they kill themselves, but that just means that they were overcome by their selfish desires in life. Just give me one moment" And dower disappeared into the shadow realm, He quickly floated over to another "shadow portal" and saw Vivienne, stading in the entrance hall, a concerned look on her face. Dower returned to Emma.

"Well, Vivienne is still back at the entrance hall of your apartment. I can retrieve here if you want. And it seems that I can't change your mind, I could help you get to river town much faster"

(OOC: I doubt anyone is even still checking this, but I thought I'd make one last post at least, if not somehow give the roleplay CPR and somehow restart it's heart. Although it's probably dead, I just want to say it was fun while it lasted and I had a fun time roleplaying with you guys.)

The boy had a lot of questions, most of these Sean didn't even know how to begin answering. How he had came to be the legendary Snow Beast was a thing of mystery to even him. But, he decided it would be good to start with a name.

"My name is Sean," he said in a hoarse and quiet voice. His throat was scratchy and he felt sick at the smell of death all around him. "I was a shape-shifter with full control over my power. I never hurt anyone and I had never transformed into a beast like the one I do now. One day, I just lost it. Now whenever my adrenaline is peaked or I'm hungry, it happens. So, I locked myself away for good measure. But every now and then a curious person strolls along, thinking I'm just a stupid myth. And I can't stop myself."

He tried to pull his hand free, but the boy seemed to have an iron grip. Normally, Sean would have been strong enough to release himself, but he was tired and miserable, so he didn't prevail. He looked at the boy and gave him a serious look. "Just, whatever you do, don't take me back to town."

...

Emma stared at Dower, completely surprised. He, of all people, wanted to help her get to River Town. Emma figured he would try to sabotage her trip or kill them both in the process. But Emma's power sensed that he was right. It would be faster if their were three of them to fight off whatever crap was in store for them on the way there.

Although her gut screamed at her not to, she nodded. "Alright," she said. "I guess we could use some more company." Her voice still seemed a bit cold and stern. "But if you try anything, anything in the slightest, you will regret it. So, let's go get Vivienne."
...

Cara couldn't help but smile. She had played her part in striking fear into the city. And now the others who were with the Darkness were going to play their hand. Now Cara just had to stay out of sight at watch the world fall apart.

Dower just gave a weak smile and disappeared into the shadows. and reappeared out of the shadows of the dark corner of the apartment lobby next to Vivi.

"Emma is sorry she left with out you Vivienne. She sent me to bring you to her" Dower whispered in her ear.