|
If it's not real, you can't hold it in your hand
|
|||
05-20-2012, 01:23 AM
[html]
05-20-2012, 10:38 AM
[html]
the baffled king composing
Mostly introspection post! Only the last paragraph is relevant. 370 words Levent Kartal learned much and more in this sleeping city, and from all of the unexpected sources. As he reclined in the shade of a tree, once no more than a sapling on a median, he breathed deeply and thought. He smelled of mildew and hot asphalt, dust from old tables and traces of evaporated oil from old cars, and of his own rich scent mixed with that of cats. The white tom noticed as much as he curled up against his ribs, hesitating and drinking in the smell as he woke before relaxing. It had been obvious how little he thought of other felines; the uncomfortable apathy had been amusing when they met with the kittens and with the intelligent Element, however briefly they’d crossed paths. While the luperci was eager to seek out the black cat again, Wilson probably wouldn’t dream of it. Lev wondered if he was to blame for that. In London, there had been plenty of cat families, but Wilson had bonded to him rather than remain with his kin. He became too wolfish to stay with cats, and too cattish to stay with wolves. He understood the luperci life, watched it daily through sand-colored eyes, but he was shunned from anything more. Idly, the man ran his cream fingers over the cat’s scruff. A purr rumbled through his sleep, at least until the gentle caresses became little rousing scratches behind his ears. The skyscrapers were outlined with brilliant red from the hidden sun, and the eastern sky had gone dark. As comfortable as he was, he knew that they had to find somewhere better to sleep; he hadn’t yet risked meeting the creatures who prowled Halifax at night.
Wilson woke and began to pad after him on soft sleepy feet, but eventually the Turkish wolf smirked and scooped him up in his arms. He moved slowly through the streets and appraised the buildings as he passed them, trying to find one sturdy and secure but not impossible to get into. Pale blue eyes regarded about a dozen doors before the scent of a wolf wafted to his nose; he squinted in the darkness and let out a low woof to question the other’s presence. <style> @import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Metamorphous); .levbaff {width:98%; max-width:598px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/I8P0v.png); background-color:#DBCFC3; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; margin:0px auto; border:#000 1px solid; border-radius:30px; color:#000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height:20px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;} .levbaff .tagline {color:#fff; font-family:'Metamorphous', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size:30px; text-align:center; opacity: 0.8; margin:20px; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; } .levbaff p {text-indent:0px; padding:3px 15px;} .levbaff b {color:#000; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 0.7;} .levbaff b.cat {color:#fff; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 1;} .levbaff p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-size:12px; padding:0px 15px;} .levbaff p.wordcount {font-weight:bold; border-top:1px dotted; text-align:right; padding:0px 5px; margin:0px 15px;} </style> [/html]
05-20-2012, 08:40 PM
[html]
05-24-2012, 07:37 PM
[html]
the baffled king composing
285 words He thought he could hear a voice yammering on as he approached the building, but as he heard the loud crack of wood, Levent figured it had been out of frustration. He jumped at the sound, and Wilson rocketed up onto his shoulder with his white tail puffed out like a bottlebrush, but the man had become familiar with the sound of doors breaking off during his escapades in Europe and relaxed shortly, murmuring little mews of comfort to the feline. It was harder to get the jumpy cat to calm down, but at least he felt safer on his perch on Lev’s shoulder—which was all too used to the pain of cat claws digging into his flesh. Shadowed by the buildings around them, the wolf continued to walk forward. Smell told him that the stranger was a lone female, though that didn’t mean she couldn’t be a threat. He remained hopeful, however, keeping his distance as his blue eyes peered into the darkness. When she spoke again, he laughed, and stepped closer so that both of them could get an eyeful of the other.
“I’m whoever you want me to be,” Levent said in theatric tones, his short body bending in a low bow that had the feline scrambling for balance. He managed a grin, rising slowly, a gold hoop at the base of his dark ear jiggling—but it was then he noticed the hilt of a sword at her hip, where her dark hand rested. Altogether she looked the part of royalty from his corner of the world, decorated by human clothing, her weapons’ belt well-made. His smile grew curious and impressed, but he spoke casually. “Can you use that, <style> @import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Metamorphous); .levbaff {width:98%; max-width:598px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/I8P0v.png); background-color:#DBCFC3; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; margin:0px auto; border:#000 1px solid; border-radius:30px; color:#000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height:20px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;} .levbaff .tagline {color:#fff; font-family:'Metamorphous', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size:30px; text-align:center; opacity: 0.8; margin:20px; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; } .levbaff p {text-indent:0px; padding:3px 15px;} .levbaff b {color:#000; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 0.7;} .levbaff b.cat {color:#fff; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 1;} .levbaff p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-size:12px; padding:0px 15px;} .levbaff p.wordcount {font-weight:bold; border-top:1px dotted; text-align:right; padding:0px 5px; margin:0px 15px;} </style> [/html]
06-04-2012, 08:02 PM
[html]
06-13-2012, 06:16 PM
[html]
the baffled king composing
It's all good! I was a bit swamped myself earlier. >__> 263 words The woman said that she didn’t need anyone, and Levent laughed. “Even the most solitary of creatures need someone,” he retorted, passing on from one cliché to the other. He gestured somewhat at his feline companion as he spoke. He was pretty sure someone would go insane without another beast to talk to every once in a while, though she was apparently trying hard to go through at least this hour that way. Something told him he might have come at a bad time, or maybe she was just wary.
But Lev didn’t really think himself that dangerous. Now, those he occasionally ran with…
Her hand reached for the sword as he teasingly pointed it out, and he took a step back at the glimmer of the steel as she unsheathed it. He nodded curtly at her explanation, even as Wilson mewled weakly and dropped down to crouch safely behind him. “Where’d you get it?” the Turkish wolf asked, open curiosity and even a bit of awe creeping into his voice. It would help if he sounded genuinely curious rather than coveting, though; he had no need of a sword, and while she didn’t know that, she might worry he’d steal it. Not that it wouldn’t fetch a pretty penny…
“I’m Levent Kartal, from just about everywhere on the other side of the sea, and from absolutely nowhere on this side.” He grinned teasingly, shoving his hands in his pockets casually. “I didn’t think you were a fool, Ember. A fool might be more welcoming.” He hinted at her wariness with some amusement. <style> @import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Metamorphous); .levbaff {width:98%; max-width:598px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/I8P0v.png); background-color:#DBCFC3; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; margin:0px auto; border:#000 1px solid; border-radius:30px; color:#000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height:20px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;} .levbaff .tagline {color:#fff; font-family:'Metamorphous', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size:30px; text-align:center; opacity: 0.8; margin:20px; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; } .levbaff p {text-indent:0px; padding:3px 15px;} .levbaff b {color:#000; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 0.7;} .levbaff b.cat {color:#fff; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 1;} .levbaff p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-size:12px; padding:0px 15px;} .levbaff p.wordcount {font-weight:bold; border-top:1px dotted; text-align:right; padding:0px 5px; margin:0px 15px;} </style> [/html]
06-23-2012, 05:10 PM
[html]
06-30-2012, 12:45 AM
[html]
the baffled king composing
365 words The other mentioned a companion named Bayard, but Levent made no comment on it; she had proven his point for him, and he wasn’t going to be too annoying toward the woman, even if he might border on being so. This Ember seemed to be able to hold her own on that account, however; she matched each of his remarks with a wry one of her own.
Her comment about him not being lonesome had him grinning. “Now that’s just unrealistic,” he said, overplaying his modesty even if it was true. He didn’t like to think of himself as a manwhore, but the man never said no—but other than one potentially sociopathic individual, not many in Nova Scotia had thrown themselves at him. Even if they wanted to, he was sure his little feline guardian would have something unpleasant to say about it—and he wanted to stay on the tom’s good side ever since the last incident with the merchant woman. For now, at least. Until the next pretty got in line.
The dark woman justified her wariness, and he nodded in understanding. “My father was a trader,” he said quietly, his voice less colorful and embellished as he slipped in this serious remark. “He was killed by brigands on the road, so I understand.” His lips split in a grin, and he was back to himself as he finished: “But when I’m encountered by murderers and thieves, I usually just talk them to death.” It wasn’t really too far from the truth (minus the “to death” part), seeing as he found it easier to babble to get out of a hot spot than spill blood. He simply wasn’t that good of a fighter.
He shook his head as she explained the origin of the sword, only muttering, “You’re lucky, tatlım,” but her sudden attention toward the white cat had his ears pricking. Her remark about eating them made the male’s smile vanish, his claws tightening on his crossed arms. His pleasantness returned a second later—albeit a bit forced. “That’s the fate I saved Wilson from, actually.” His blue eyes narrowed. “Everyone underestimates how intelligent cats are. Equal to luperci, I’d guess.” <style> @import url(http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Metamorphous); .levbaff {width:98%; max-width:598px; background-image:url(http://i.imgur.com/I8P0v.png); background-color:#DBCFC3; background-position:top center; background-repeat:no-repeat; margin:0px auto; border:#000 1px solid; border-radius:30px; color:#000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height:20px; letter-spacing:.5px; text-align:justify;} .levbaff .tagline {color:#fff; font-family:'Metamorphous', palatino, georgia, serif; font-size:30px; text-align:center; opacity: 0.8; margin:20px; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; } .levbaff p {text-indent:0px; padding:3px 15px;} .levbaff b {color:#000; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 0.7;} .levbaff b.cat {color:#fff; text-shadow:#000 1px 1px 2px; opacity: 1;} .levbaff p.ooc {font-style:italic; font-size:12px; padding:0px 15px;} .levbaff p.wordcount {font-weight:bold; border-top:1px dotted; text-align:right; padding:0px 5px; margin:0px 15px;} </style> [/html] |