share the sunshine young blood
#1
[html]

387 → I think Ata's updating Arte for a few rounds, then Draugr will come in? Could be wrong though.

The passing of time had gone on unnoticed for far too long. Since Larkspur's funeral the largest girl of his second brood had essentially disappeared from sight, only leaving to complete her adulthood ceremony. A mask had indeed been the answer, and she'd been rewarded. More importantly, her studies had become her main interest. Books and paper didn't talk back, didn't question her, but instead offered knowledge that could be unlocked by simply lifting a metaphorical beam that barred certain doors. Many of them went untouched by normal people, but with guidance she'd been steered toward them.

Now, nearly three months into her studies, she held onto Italian with an iron-fisted grasp and had grown bored with intellectual puzzles aimed at testing the true depth to her abilities. They felt, and may well have been endless. Learning underneath someone who was also capable of making their mind a vessel with which to contain everything the world had to offer was helpful, but she itched to make her own discoveries. Unaware that the sun had risen some hours ago, it was with less-than-certain steps that Atemisia had emerged from her ruin that, while provincial and hardly worth living in, sheltered her work when she was away from the Eternity home. Unwilling to let go of familial ties and fly the coop so to speak, she felt like the only one who continued to care for her mother. In turn, it would appear as though she was free to do as she pleased. Despite being Salsolan blood-royalty, though not officially, she suspected this wouldn't have been a problem. Her birthday would be here in less than one cycle of the moon, and with that she would be an adult in more than mind and body.


Her body had shed some of its awkwardness and from it emerged the subtle (though still quite masculine, unfortunately) shapes of a woman. The closer to home she found herself traipsing, the easier her steps became. Intense gold-orange eyes were, as always, surveying the land. It was an obsessive antic; if she didn't, something would surely happen. There was no way to alleviate the sense of ever-present danger, especially when a majority of the pack was self-serving and wouldn't hesitate to figuratively throw someone under the bus for their own advancement in the ranks.

<style>
.heraldictxt-2 {font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing:0px; word-spacing:2px; text-align: left; margin:0px 15px; padding:10px; background-image:url(http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5086/wreath.png); background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position: top left;}
.heraldictxt-2 p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt-2 p.ooc + p {padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt-2 .wc {text-transform: uppercase; font-weight:bold;}
.heraldictxt-2 p {text-indent: 25px; margin:0px; padding:10px 5px; text-align:justify;}
.heraldictxt-2 b {letter-spacing:.05em;}
</style>
[/html]
#2
[html]

Word Count → 204 :: short post is short

Ataxia emerged from her mother's home, carrying a basket filled with psychoactives. Like her taller sister, she was wary and nervous - but that was all due to the circumstances she was faced with now. If her mother was still the Auxiliary and her father was still alive, she might have remained arrogant and unconcerned with her place in Salsola.

The young hybrid was returning to her own home when she spotted her sister. They hadn't talked in a while, and each had taken out their grief in different ways. Her sister, it seemed, had done so by avoiding everyone else. "Arte," Ataxia said, "I haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been?" Civility among the two was rare, but Ataxia was willing to hold her tongue so she wouldn't feel so alone.

Ataxia had tried to take out her grief on the Boreas wolves, with limited success. She hadn't dealt the killing blow like she had wanted to, but her anger was gone and was almost ready to move on when the changes happened in Salsola. This was precisely why she had asked her mother for something to relax her mind. She needed to be calm so she could see the future clearly and react when the next inevitably unfortunate thing happened.

<style>
.heraldictxt-box {background-image:url(http://i.minus.com/isouZf6qbMVQM.png); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; width:233px; height:178px; float:right; margin:3px; }
.heraldictxt {font-family:'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing:0px; word-spacing:2px; text-align: left; margin:0px 25px;}
.heraldictxt p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt p.ooc + p {padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt .wc {text-transform: uppercase; font-weight:bold;}
.heraldictxt p {text-indent: 25px; margin:0px; padding:10px 5px;}
.heraldictxt b {letter-spacing:1px; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; letter-spacing:-.05em;}
</style>
[/html]
#3
[html]

348 → No worries!

Things might not have been so difficult between the two sisters if one of them was less inclined to play games. Even though she had the head for them — now, as she hadn't in the past — it was inane and useless prattle to her. Their silver-tongued king enjoyed mincing words and finding new ones, so she'd learned, but found it boring. There was no usefulness behind it, and she greatly preferred bolder terms as opposed to secretive ones with dual meanings. So, when she approached, it was with some surprise to the orange-eyed girl that there wasn't a game afoot.


Busy, She answered with brevity to the inquiry as to her recent whereabouts. The pursuit of knowledge is never ending. Something her silver kin should be able to appreciate. Their methods differed, of course, but Ataxia's arcane truth seeking was not so different from her course. Of course, her pursuit was purely academic... Whether this was the same for Ata, she didn't know. And you? It was polite to return the question, nothing more. This much her teacher had drilled into her head. Loneliness was the bane of both sisters, or so it would seem. Arte's was self-induced, though; both her hermit-like habits and social awkwardness made it difficult to pursue any sort of relationship. It was also her opinion, for the time being, that a carnal relationship would be more of a distraction than anything else.


In an attempt to continue the unstable politeness between them, Artemisia gestured to the basket her sister carried with relative disinterest, but something flickered in her eyes. Hope, maybe. Wherever she was going with it, Sia could surely follow. She was larger and probably stronger, but surprisingly light on her feet, and more apt to conversation than anything involving a physical confrontation. I could carry that for you. It was a lame attempt to offer an olive branch of peace between them. As enemies or rivals they would always be distracted, but as companions... Even the most powerful Salsolan might have cause to fear what the sisters might come up with.

<style>
.heraldictxt-2 {font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing:0px; word-spacing:2px; text-align: left; margin:0px 15px; padding:10px; background-image:url(http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5086/wreath.png); background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position: top left;}
.heraldictxt-2 p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt-2 p.ooc + p {padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt-2 .wc {text-transform: uppercase; font-weight:bold;}
.heraldictxt-2 p {text-indent: 25px; margin:0px; padding:10px 5px; text-align:justify;}
.heraldictxt-2 b {letter-spacing:.05em;}
</style>
[/html]
#4
[html]

Word Count → 446 :: Out of Character text

Ataxia gave a nod to her answer, as if she understood. To some extent, she did - at least the grief that might cause one to ignore everything else in favor of a distraction. She did not hold her sister's interest in reading and writing, however, though perhaps one day she would eventually take it up if it helped her other hobbies.

Her desire for knowledge of the spiritual realm wasn't driven for the sake of it. It was driven by an impulse to control everything around her, to protect herself when things went awry. There, too, was an almost unconscious lust for power that was created from these same impulses. In the back of her mind, she thought if she was high enough, no harm would come to her and she would not be pushed around by the whims of someone else who may not have her best interests at heart.

If Ataxia were more self-aware, she would realize she was driven entirely by fear. Whether this revelation would actually be helpful was yet to be seen. It would likely be a time before she came to that realization; her unconscious mind would not allow that to enter her conscious mind, yet. She might not be able to feed off others' fears and boost her ego when she became aware of her own.

"Same," she answered, which was partially true. She had spent some time arranging things in her new home and getting settled with Nagual, the rattlesnake. Still, she could have spent more time with her mother, or even the rest of Salsola, than she had.

A hint of surprise crossed her face when her sister offered to carry the basket. She opened her mouth to refuse - it wasn't at all heavy - but then reconsidered. Having Artemisia carrying the basket would give her the perfect excuse to spend some time with her without seeming too suspicious. "Very well," she said, and transferred the basket to Arte's possession. "I'm going..." Home didn't seem right in this instance, as all of Salsola was home. "...to return to my quarters. You can come with me if you like." She paused. It felt strange to offer such when, for most of their childhood, they'd been at odds. Ataxia was not sure if letting her in now was a weakness or not.

She tried not to dwell on that thought too much. The silver-haired girl turned away, not waiting for an answer, and began to walk back to her house as if she thought her sister would automatically follow. "So, what do you think of all that has happened recently?" She asked, curiosity apparent in her voice.

<style>
.heraldictxt-box {background-image:url(http://i.minus.com/isouZf6qbMVQM.png); background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; width:233px; height:178px; float:right; margin:3px; }
.heraldictxt {font-family:'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing:0px; word-spacing:2px; text-align: left; margin:0px 25px;}
.heraldictxt p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:12px; text-align:justify; text-indent:0px; padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt p.ooc + p {padding:0px 5px;}
.heraldictxt .wc {text-transform: uppercase; font-weight:bold;}
.heraldictxt p {text-indent: 25px; margin:0px; padding:10px 5px;}
.heraldictxt b {letter-spacing:1px; font-family:georgia, serif; font-size:12px; letter-spacing:-.05em;}
</style>
[/html]


Forum Jump: