Completed [The Flower Stand] Shades and Blooms (Kouri)

[Reine Darlyeo]

Reine blinked in surprise when the room darkened significantly. It made no sense. There were no breeze to do so, not in Syliras. She could hear Delvor jumping in surprise and settling his unfinished food upon the table once more. Something was clearly not right. As if responding to her thought, the heat seemed to leave their quarters entirely. A chill ran down her neck and unconsciously she gravitated toward Delvor. It took her a tenth of a chime to recognize the figure half-hidden in the darkness. For a moment she thought that she was imagining things. She wasn't. She recognized the figure. Reine had just met the nervous girl in the flower stand. The odd girl with white hair and red eyes. Before she realized it, Delvor had stood in front of her, partially shielding her. It was times like this that she would not expect such treatment from him. He was not supposed to be protecting her. It was amazingly gratifying, yet at the same time confusing. And right now, it was just plain worrying. He was not in his best state. What was he expecting to do? She was not even sure that you could fight off a being you can't really touch. Her guard dog, Allero, barked from the other side of their apartment and she could hear him running into the dining room, probably sensing the disturbance. True enough, the dark-haired canine took his place beside her, growling at the . . . spirit. The youg girl in front of them looked . . . insane. She let out a high-pitched laugh as if it was all fun and games. White strands of her hair whipped behind her slight body, pronouncing the haunting quality of the girl. What were the chances she had accidentally disturbed a ghost? Who had actually followed her home and was now somewhat threatening her. Reine wounded her fingers through Delvor's squeezing it tightly. She had faced horrors most people did not, but all those things were far different than this. Reine had learned not to show fear, not ever, for fear gave everyone else power over her. And she did not show it even now. Yet, she was holding on to her master like she holding on to life itself. Reine almost felt like she was twelve again. The slave girl could clearly see that her master was distraught and confused, not really understanding what was. Well, neither did she. "Why? Why is it so significant for you?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Muhuhuhuhehehehehahahaha~" Kouri's high-pitched haunting giggle echoed in the dining room. Kouri relished in the fact that both the woman and man were obviously not used to seeing beings like her. She heard barkings and she groaned in annoyance. Great... a dog... A dark-haired canine came into the dining room and took its position beside the woman, obviously showing that the woman was its master. It kept growling and snarling and barking, Kouri couldn't take it anymore. "Oh, shut up!" She extended a tendril and punched the dog's neck with enough force to knock it unconscious. The dog went limp and fell down. Dirty mutt... With the minor disturbance gone, Kouri could get back into business. The woman and man seemed to be protecting each other. And then the fated question was asked, Kouri was expecting this. "Significant? Hmmm... let's put like this... you tried to hypnotize me that's bad, veeeery bad, Madame~ So, I demand a compensation. An easy compensation, just tell me about that scar and don't try to lie..." Kouri's lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Believe me, I will know if you're lying..."

[Reine Darlyeo]

The ghost kept laughing and when Allero had barked angrily, a misty whip expanded from the spirit and attacked the guard dog. That was not a very good sign, wasn't it? If the ghost could hurt a dog, what's stopping her from hurting Reine and her master? "She wanted to know. Alright, I could tell her," Reine snapped with anger. At the sight of her faithful guard dog laying weakly on the ground, her fury was triggered. It was not the smartest thing she could've done in front of a psychotic ghost, but she could not believe what the ghost did just for the sake of curiosity. Reine had heard of what ghosts were capable of. They could interfere with the living and not rarely, in a way that involves violence. It would be better if she ended this - whatever this is. Both Reine and Delvor was no fighter, they would not be able to stand a real chance against this ghost. "Reine," Delvor started. He knew full-well that she truly despised remembering her time with Garhat. This girl he had been fond with as soon as he saw her sitting out in the garden of his family's mansion, staring up at the night sky. Even he could understand how much it hurts for her to remember and telling it to a foreign . . . being would not be good for her. Reine shook her head, her dark hair falling down as if it was trying to cover her face. "I got these," she said as she raised both of her hands up, "during my time as a slave. When I was younger, I tried to force my way out of my manacles. Scars were what I got in return for my hopeless effort." The whole time Reine talked, her voice was flat, her face emotionless. It was almost like she was talking about someone else - a stranger's story instead of her own. "Is that what you want to hear? I simply do not want anyone questioning me about my past. Am I not allowed to hide the fact that I was a slave? Should I announce it to the world?" Every word from her was sharp, pronounced and each carrying a hidden pain which only he could truly notice. Though coated in anger, Delvor could not help noticing that Reine chose her words carefully, answering he ghost yet not revealing much of their connection between each other. She's intelligent, that's for sure. The young master gritted her teeth and looked straight at the ghost. "Now, could you please just leave us?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Wonderful, Madame~" Kouri clapped her hands together, giggling in delight when the young woman finally relented. She was all ears, listening intently to the woman's story with a grin on her face. ".........." But the grin quickly faltered when she heard the word 'slave'. Kouri's threatening display was gone, replaced with shock mixed with anger; angry at the fact that this young woman had suffered so much. Being a slave was far worse than death in Kouri's opinion. Rena, her adoptive little sister, was killed by her own mother to avoid the both of them being captured and sold as slaves. "I didn't expect that... I'm truly sorry..." Kouri's intimidating aura suddenly vanished, a look of concern on her face. She bowed deeply to the woman, truly not expecting her story. Kouri had the assumption she was an evil mage because of her attempt to hypnotize her. "Now, could you please just leave us?" ".................." Kouri's attention shifted to the man near the woman, a smile on her face; but then she quickly flashed a disturbing grin. "No." She answered simply. "I have one more question... who are you, Sir?" She vanished from her location and suddenly appeared upside-down in front of the man, like a resting bat with her eyes on the same level as the man and her body clinging to the ceiling. Kouri's crimson eyes locked themselves to the man's, interrogating him. "What is your connection to her? Are you her husband? Hmmm... or perhaps..." She extended both of her materialized hands and grabbed both of the man's cheeks, chilling him with her frost touch. "You are a slaver..."

[Reine Darlyeo]

As she talked, Reine noticed the change on the ghost's face. She had somewhat calmed down, looking less and less mad. Until at some point, the ghost had even apologized, the menacing air around them completely gone. It was over, at least she thought it was over. She was wrong. Delvor had spoken up, shifting the ghost's attention from Reine toward her master. And the haunting laugh returned. Reine watched with wide eyes as the ghost materialized upside down right in front of her master. The girl than reached out to touch him and Reine pushed down her urge to yank Delvor away. She was not sure what would set the ghost off and she knew she better thread carefully. She knew he would not be so easily scared, yet she worried that his lack of fear would endbadly for them. The girl kept her cool when the ghost accused Delvor as a slaver. Clearly, the spirit sympathized slaves, yet despised slavers. She had no idea what would happen after this. She certainly could not let the ghost lash out at her master. There was no way she would let anyone hurt him - just like he would not let anyone hurt her. "Please, please leave us," Reine pleaded. She was tempted to use the full force of her hypnotism but she feared that it might not be as strong for the ghost had known of her power. At least now, she had a faint idea of how this young ghost think. Her mind automatically set up a plan, a series of actions and words she could say in order to sway the ghost's will. It was almost hard to stop her djed from expanding around her. But she could not risk it, not right now when her confidence had been drained out from her. Reine could barely speak out loud. She needed to do something. Something! Delvor stopped himself for doubling back the ghost touched his face. He knew full well that the ghost was trying to intimidate him into spouting out the truth. He would have told her - if he was not an interrogator himself. Instead of backing down, he stared right at the ghost bloody irises. He had been in fearsome situations before and he handled himself well. His face was relatively impassive, just as Reine had done, but at the same time, unyielding. He was certainly unhappy to deal with this trouble. He had came home earlier after weeks of travel, wanting to rest all day for he felt sick. He did not know why but he knew it was bad enough that he could not hide it from Reine. Tomorrow he had to leave again, but he doubted it he could leave Reine alone after this particular event. "I'm not her husband. I'm her lover. I don't see why it is your concern."

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOCThis should be my last post for the thread, Reine. Your last reply will end it. PM me for confirmation and I'll post it for grading or you can post it for grading yourself after your last reply. "Hmmmm?" Kouri tilted her upside-down head to the man, interrogating him with her stare; determined to dig every dirty secrets she suspected of this man. Her child-like mind drew baseless assumption that this was the woman's slaver, but... slavers didn't kiss their slaves, right? Kouri's idea of slaves was people who were treated more like objects than a person, but this man seemed to treat the woman with compassion, but... "Or are you just acting lovey-dovey knowing I'm here?" She accused the man with again, baseless assumption. She heard the woman's plea for her to leave, Kouri briefly turned her head to the weapon; beaming her with a gentle smile. "Don't worry, Madame... after I'm done with him, I'll leave~" Her swift mood-swings for threatening to gentle was proof that Kouri's mind was not... 'right' by civilized human standards. "I'm not her husband. I'm her lover. I don't see why it is your concern." She turned her attention back to the man and found his impassive expression. "...." Kouri's eyes glowed slightly, signalling her growing frustration. This man was either very brave or was really telling the truth. Kouri stared at him, the man and the phantom staring off for a good fifteen chimes before Kouri finally closed her eyes and sighed. "Alright... I believe you..." She whispered and shifted herself into a standing position, her face on eye-level with the man's. "However... If I should find out that you're lying..." Kouri suddenly extended two tendrils and used it to pull the man's collar, crashing his forehead with her own "I will butcher you... Ehehehe... ehahahahaha!!". With a final insane cackle, Kouri released the man, unmaterialized herself, and flew up; phasing through the stone ceiling and leaving the apartment.

[Reine Darlyeo]

It was most odd seeing the difference of the ghost girl's reaction to her and Delvor. The change had been so effortless, so natural that she could not help wondering what had happened to this girl in such a young age to be such a unstable ghost. Her whole body was as rigid as a wooden plank as she watched the exchange between her master and the ghost. Neither seemed to want to back down. Both of them held each other's hard gazes, unmoved. There was nearly no sound but her own thumping heart. She felt like it was climbing up her throat and it was going to jump out of her at any time. She dared not make a move or sound, fearing to break this tension between them. The worst part was when the ghost had yanked Delvor so that their foreheads met each other and threatened him. Thankfully, it was over fast and the ghost disappeared through the roof. The slave and her master was left standing silently in the darkness, no lights from the candles to illuminate them. Reine sighed in relief and wrapped her arms around his neck, breathing him in deeply. Even though he looked calm, now that she was pressed against him, she could feel that his heart was racing as fast as hers. "By the gods, Delvor! I thought she was going to kill you." She had never truly considered what would happen if he died and this event has forced her to. It took him a few seconds to react. He hugged her tightly, his chin resting on the top of her head. "She most likely would, I think. But not for now." She was the the one who pulled away first, her hands still resting on his shoulders as she scrutinized his face. "You're alright?" "I'm fine,' he said dismissively, probably noticing that she wasn't simply asking about their enocunter with the ghoul. "How did it find us and how did it know about your scar?" he asked rather suspiciously. His fingers brushed lightly across the uneven skin of her wrist, sending electricity through her. "I'm not sure," Reine lied rather smoothly, as she pulled back her arm. She had no intention of telling him of her brief encounter of the girl in the flower stand who turns out to be a ghost. Now that she thought about it, she wondered how could she missed that? The girl had seemed odd enough to her but it never occurred to her that she was dead. And somehow, Reine was rather interested in finding that ghost again, needing to find out about their attacker. Delvor would never let her if he knew. "It doesn't matter, really. We should forget it." Delvor rolled his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair. "Don't use that one me, love. You know it never really works on me. I know you all too well." He linked his hand with hers then pulled her towards their front door. He threw it open, letting the lights and the noises of the Maiden District fill their dwellings once more. "We deserve some sunlight, I suppose," Delvor decided. His smile was wide and cheery and it made him look younger. She still noticed the paleness of his skin, but she decided it was nothing to worry about. They had just encountered a ghost! A little paleness was quite acceptable. "I don't know how you manage to stay here the whole time, Reine." Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Reine smiled back at him. "Yes, we certainly do."

[Cloud]

From the sky falls your reward!

Reine :

Please update your CS by deducting living expenses from your ledger, once this is done notify me via pm and your grade will be posted here.

Kouri :

Experience
Skill | XP Earned
Materialization | +1
Soulmist Projection | +1

Lores
• | Lore Earned
• | Using Lighting When Materializing
• | Using Soulmist Projection To Appear Human
• | The Exslave and Her Lover

Misc. :

None

Question marks to be made? Exclamations to declare? Feel free to send me a pm and we can tend to any concerns you have.