say your prayers and comb your hair
#1
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private for zero-babe. post takes place somewhere between halifax airport and halifax. couldn't find a suitable town further north that was unclaimed. :x so I made one up.

Word Count → 604


It was that time of day again, when luminosity made way for dusk in a unique, once-a-day only, display of pastel colors strewn across the darkening sky. Dreamers were raising their noses towards the light show, losing themselves in its splendour. Meanwhile, a sense of concern washed over the dual-toned female who, instead of enjoying what nature had to offer, found herself racing against the clock to find yet another refuge to spend the night. She had not failed to notice how heavily established the surrounding packs were. Scents lingered, a hushed menace outlining danger zones. It made life easier, knowing where she could and could not go. In a way, the Soulstorm daughter was thankful for that. It was a form of guidance in a world unfamiliar to her. But it also made it harder to find a secure place to call home.

Her primary goal was to avoid civilization. Personal experiences of the past had made her wary of communal life and distrustful of others in general, particularly males. Her first encounter in the New World hadn’t gone awry but the red-eyed hybrid had brought forth carnal feelings and memories of a past life. She’d felt someone else’s presence while interacting with Itachi: a caress on the back of her neck, frigid and unearthly in nature. The madness was spreading. It was spewing forth, escaping the confines of her soul. Lillith Stormbringer had heard voices and overtime, she had lost her grasp on reality because of them. Was this the legacy she’d left her child? A life overrun by doctrinal beliefs and fake Gods? Caribbean blue orbs stared ahead, offering nothing but a blank face to the outer world. Her surroundings were quiet and composed, similar to the lifeless expression plastered to her visage. Danger wasn’t out there. Au contraire, it was concealed inside of her; waiting for the right moment to break free and wreak havoc upon the world.

The urban area she’d stumbled upon was surprisingly little in size but more than likely connected to the concrete pillars in the distance. They seemed to be linked by the paved roads that adorned the ground, cold to her touch and cracked deeply under the weight of time. It appeared to be a public marketplace of some sort, given the various store signs. They were all pretty self explanatory: the bakery illustrated by bread, the local coffee shop discerned by its steaming cup, so on and so forth. Lilin had made her rounds, eventually realizing that the shops had been pillaged long ago by creatures seeking to feed themselves too. One last shop, however, had distinguished itself from the rest and caught her attention. The sign was faded and yellow, but the canine silhouette was still very apparent to anyone who looked closely.

Inside she stood, motionless and somewhat taken aback by the wide variety of dog posters, books and magazines. It was a small grooming shop, furnished with very little equipment. The reception area was decorated eloquently; featuring a variety of different breeds on the walls. She couldn’t help but note how beautiful some of them were, especially the long-haired breeds. Unlike her, they were well-groomed and free of mats. For a moment, Lilin had trouble making sense- any sense- of the envy that befell her. The feeling was fleeting, however, and it vanished as soon as another dog hindered her vision. What the fuck? Before her was a standard poodle, sporting the English saddle cut. The two-toned femme couldn’t help but grimace at how grotesque it looked, momentarily glad that she looked nothing like that. Where was all its hair?




table by the Mentors!

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#2
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I agree with Lilin on the poodles xD

Dusk was a peaceful time for Barrett — doubly so in these late autumn months. As the sun retreated a little earlier every night, there was less room for daytime productivity. Since there wasn't much to do anyway, it was no cause for distress. Springtime repairs would carry the garage and other adjacent buildings through winter's worst; summer's harvests would supply his hired hands and customers until inventory replenishment next growing season. Weeks of toil and labour in early fall would give him a head start when the warm weather did return — seeds were gathered, plans were made, equipment was maintained, and all he had to do now was wait. His mall-caps;">To Do list for the entire season contained as many items as a week might in a busier time of year. That left him with plenty of delightful downtime.


On this particular eve he found himself gravitating northward. It wasn't particularly remarkable or surprising — as Inferni and Anathema emerged as two of his most frequent haunts, he grew increasingly familiar with the expansive tracts of land that lie between those packs and the city. Nevertheless, tonight (as with most nights) he wasn't truly headed for one or the other. And although he spent a lot of time bouncing back and forth, a scent unlike either dominated his fur. Whatever he had going with Axle and Grit could never be rightly called a pack, but the trio was decidedly settled on the little property and Barry was their indisputable ringleader. A strange mixture of lifeless Concrete and piney Marijuana blended together with their collective scents to produce a unique signature. More often than not, it was accented by those of the wolves he met along the way. The life of this loner certainly wasn't one of homelessness or alienation — of all nine packs in the region, he could claim at least one friend in six of them.


He might go his entire life and not understand mentalities like Lilin's. Yea, there were some rather sour souls who were best avoided, and nah, he didn't care for the structure imposed by a pack, but generally speaking, company wasn't a bad thing... Especially when he was bored, and even more so when said company was exceptionally pretty. Maybe it was the way the reddish light reflected off the gold chain around her neck or that exotic two-tone fur, but Barry wasn't seeing any mats or imperfections on the femme as she disappeared into a shop up ahead. Maybe she'd seen something interesting inside? He shifted his backpack and started after her, then paused when he reached the front window — he didn't want to go inside or make her feel cornered. Through the dirty glass, he followed her gaze to the apparently mange-ridden poodle. He tapped lightly on the glass with one long, overgrown nail to get her attention and pointed. Do you think it was sick? he wondered aloud, his countenance friendly and neutral with a bit of genuine curiosity.

Barrett
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#3
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<3 ilu

Word Count → 330

Nimble fingers hesitantly reached out and touched the glossy poster, tracing a pattern around the dog's haughty figure. Although she understood the fact that it was merely a picture, her digits still searched for confirmation of the creature's existence. Sadly enough, the material evoked no texture or warmth, leaving her imagination as the only source of speculation. The Stormbringer girl had no problems believing in abstract theories or apocryphal beings. She did not doubt the authenticity of the dog-like animal displayed on the wall but her mind demanded additional information nonetheless. Silent assumptions teased her intellect until a plausible theory, one that wasn't her own, seemingly vocalized out of thin air. Flinching momentarily, Lilin allowed her ears to droop ever so slightly. While it wasn't wise to turn her back on a complete stranger, she couldn't help but remain in that position while his words replayed in the back of her mind.

It started off as a blur: a sound jagged and distorted becoming clearer with each push of the play button. Perhaps she would've reacted differently, a little more readily, had he used a different tone of voice. But the male's choice of words, the timbre applied to them and the safe distance kept between the two wanderers evoked no immediate threat, if any at all. Although security wasn't a concern for the time being, her posture maintained a hint of caution. Coaxed by the unexpected presence in the area, Lilin finally pivoted toward the entrance. Her ebony tufted tail was taut yet tolerant enough to sway from side to side. “Maybe,” She hadn't considered sickness to be a culprit in this situation but now that he'd mentioned it, it was definitely a possibility. Her gaze went from the poodle to his distant silhouette. Bringing up a hand to shield her eyes from the setting sun, assessing the traits that she could see through the window, the bi-colored femme elaborated on her one-word answer. “Do you think it's contagious?”

table by the Mentors!

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#4
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♥ Poor Barry, if only he knew XD

Although Sol's low rays illuminated the little boutique's interior, many details were obscured by a fine layer of soot coating the window panes. Her initial response was so subtle he briefly wondered if she heard him at all. But after a pregnant moment, he saw her turn towards him in the hazy red light. She wasn't startled, even if she seemed a little wary; her reaction was a healthy combination of caution, curiosity, and congeniality. It felt like half the wolves he encountered on these barren city streets — like Chishio, Tlantli, and TaeKyung — were so on edge, sometimes it was actually a relief to find someone normal.


A simple smile found its way to his face. As she squinted towards his silhouette and continued their conjecturing discourse, he decided he was clear to enter. He made his way to the doorway and took several even strides in her direction. For now, he kept his eyes set on the faded image. He paused to regard it thoughtfully, then turned to her with a shrug. Hopefully not, he mused, but even if it were, I don't think we have to worry. Even if the diseased animal once walked through this lonely parlour, its germs would've surely perished from desiccation or malnutrition in the absence of their host.


Once again, he turned his attention away from the dichromatic girl with the sky blue eyes. Tell ya what, though, he started with a smirk, all the floofin' in the world ain't gonna help that poor sap, he laughed. Really, did they think amplifying the remaining fur would compensate for the distinct lack of it elsewhere? Not like he had much room to talk when it came to staying well groomed — he was mostly lucky his coat hid dirt exceptionally well — but even he knew that wouldn't work.

Barrett
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#5
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uh-oh!

Word Count → 411

He had mastered the subtle art of dealing with people. Lilin thought she'd seen a smile through the fiery brume of particles separating the two wolves but that could not be confirmed until he made his way to the entrance, appearing in the doorway. The remnants of a good-natured smile were indeed detectable, adding to his poise and smooth behavior. Although the Soulstorm juvenile did not quite mirror the hushed greeting, the slight upward curling of her lips did show willingness. Smiles didn't come easy back home, where she'd had little to no relationship with the pack males. This kind of encounter was new and quite refreshing. Lilin did not budge as the stranger neared her exact location, instincts triumphing over intellect. Whilst he avoided direct eye contact at first, preferring to examine their subject a little more closely, the Azathoth descendant did the exact opposite.

Orbs of Caribbean blue went directly to the copper key adorning his neck chain, travelling upward to examine the anatomy of his face. A multitude of blackened hues ranging anywhere from light to dark contributed to his uniqueness. She immediately appreciated that, somewhat relating to his uncommon appearance. Then he finally turned in her direction, long enough for her to study the contrast between his darkened fur and cream-colored eyes. To the general population, staring down a stranger might've been considered rude or defiant. But for someone like Haku's daughter who hadn't been taught the first thing about social etiquette, there was nothing wrong with it. “You're probably right,” she admitted softly, clearly in acquiescence with his assumptions.

Her attention once more turned to the sick dog, analyzing it with the same intent she had devoted to her fellow investigator a few seconds prior. Another statement reached her receivers, followed by the melodic sound of something she hadn't heard in forever. This time, a genuine smile found its way to her maw. The only contagious thing around was his laughter. It broke the ice. Tensions eased significantly and Lilin found herself making way for an age-appropriate attitude.“Oh, he's beyond salvation but there might still be hope for you. Maybe we should floof you up!” she chimed in, allowing her tail wags to pick up the tempo. Scanning the vicinity for more tips and information- books in particular- the bi-colored girl made her way around the reception desk to rummage through its contents. “You just wait. I'm pretty sure I'll find something explaining how to.”

table by the Mentors!

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#6
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Poor Lilin. Poor Barry XD

Paradoxically, while her gaze was both scrutinising and intense, she seemed neither dominant nor aggressive. In all his infinite wisdom, Barry mistook her eyeballing as a sign of attraction. To his credit, similar displays in the past usually signalled as much; alternatively, wishful thinking couldn't be ruled out. He couldn't complain about his luck with the ladies lately, but it was in his nature to push limits to the breaking point. If an unplanned pregnancy and an adulterous affair couldn't deter him, by golly, what would!


Whatever the case, her smile only seemed to confirm his theory. He mirrored the expression in a subconscious effort to build rapport and turn up the charm, with his tail swaying in time with hers for good measure. Her suggestion nearly floored him. Now he was convinced! Grooming another wolf was a fairly intimate thing — by definition, there was a lot of physical contact involved. Oh yeah? he mused slyly, leaning forward on one arm as she went to peruse the old periodicals.


Maybe it wasn't a terribly uncommon skill, but he couldn't help but be somewhat impressed by her ability (and willingness) to read. His parents forced literacy lessons upon him, which arguably were useful from time to time, but he rarely had the patience to sit down and really study a text — especially in the presence of such distracting company. But hell, if that was the way she wanted to play it, that was just alright with him. Let's see whachyu've got, he challenged playfully, eyes alight with curiosity and anticipation.

Barrett
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#7
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im too easily amused. ;-;

Word Count → 361

In a sense, his nonchalance and light-hearted, optimistic outlook on life differed greatly from the way she’d been raised. Never in a million years would she have reacted this way, mirroring the same level of poise he so casually flaunted if she didn’t already consider him to be somewhat surreal. Her admiration, for that was what it was, resembled the same degree of awe a person would display upon meeting a childhood hero. Fascination was a powerful thing and in Lilin’s case, influential enough to acquire a normality that she had not once displayed before. It did not completely null out her inexperience and naivety, as the stranger would eventually notice, but it did help tremendously. The buoyant defiance thrown her way became a source of conviction and his ruse was met with the same fervent determination. Was he challenging her grooming abilities?

She too, leaned forward emphatically; resting her upper body on the reception desk as she expertly presented him with the “All Breed Dog Grooming” guide. There it was, on page 87, the Keeshond dog in all of its glory. Sliding the encyclopaedia towards her interlocutor, the Soulstorm juvenile brought forth a finger to outline the dog’s silhouette. Also known as the wolf spitzer, the Keeshond shared many similarities with the male leaning before her, including an assortment of earthen hues. What they were looking for was the volume and majestic appearance the smaller breed possessed: a look that she knew would somewhat effeminate the stranger when in all reality, she already found him quite handsome with all of his little imperfections. “This is what I’ve got,” she countered with a smirk, quite satisfied with her discovery.

Crystal blue irises found their way to his masked face, seeking his citrine gaze for signs of approval or dismay. With the distance between them lessened, Lilin unabashedly allowed her hand to brush the side of his cheek. Her playful expression then morphed into the perfect caricature of an incredulous stare. “When was the last time you took a bath?” she chastised, promptly retracting from their proximity and moving into the adjacent room: the one dotted with shelves and a grooming table.


table by the Mentors!

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#8
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rofl >_>

For all his faults, he often assumed the best in people. He tried hard to like something in everybody — and he generally succeeded. He spurned only the grandest of assholes; even then it was with some sense of loss. When confronted with hostility, he'd do his best to comprehend and diffuse... but when all hope was lost, he'd wish the battered soul the best and continue on his way. He wasn't the sort to get sucked down into drama or despair. In some way, his outlook was a carefully crafted barrier put up to distance and protect himself from life's inevitable pain. She was right: it afforded him an almost surreal sense of optimism, even though at heart, he was a realist.


In any case, if Halo's sour attitude barely rattled him, nothing even slightly bizarre about this girl could register on his radar. Their proximity only served to distract him further from any potential red flags; whether she knew it or not, she was pushing a lot of his buttons. He licked his lips as he studied her down-turned muzzle and intently focused gaze; only when her sky-blue eyes returned to his face did he drop his to the page in question. One brow lifted as he studied the poofy creature; truthfully, it looked ridiculous and he doubted his fur would ever do that. But hey, if it was what she wanted — Bring it, he laughed, nipping playfully at one tanned finger as she toyed with the fur along his face.


Then just like that, the moment was over. She retreated and left him staring after her, dumbfounded. Ppppt, he snorted once he regained his sensibilities, bracing himself on the counter and leaping over it with ease. Just a couple weeks. That wasn't so bad, was it? What can I say? I'm a dirty boy, he continued, looking for any sign she understood his double entendre. Nature of the animal when you play in the dirt a lot. With a smirk, he hopped up and took a seat on the stainless steel table, then watched as she continued to gather supplies.

Barrett
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#9
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slight pp, nyah. :3

Word Count → 544

The challenge intensified further given his willingness and whimsical taunts. He was so refreshingly different from other people she'd encountered, shattering a canvas of seasoned misconceptions and remolding it into something legitimate. This was an unexpected change of great significance, beatifically welcomed by the self-proclaimed cult heir. It had taken one out of hundreds to make a difference, one male to prove his selfworth. Already, she understood a little more: why Lillith had been capable of creating friendly liaisons with some of them at an earlier time in her life or why she spoke of her childhood playmate, a male of the de le Poer bloodline, with such an emotional attachment. Clearly, not all of them were brutes. Perhaps this was why her dam, according to the tracks she'd followed up until their dissipation, had come back to these lands.


A doggish bark had escaped the confinements of her maw when his good-natured nip had assailed one of her digits; an unwarranted threat of a fake retaliation, beware! Fun, games and laughter did not come without consequences for the two-toned female. Admist the lively atmosphere there was a pinch of guilt preventing her from giving in entirely. Her mentor would disapprove of such conduct, of this she was certain. But Lillith was nowhere remotely close and her daughter found herself empowered by this stranger's contagious amiability.

Her nose crinkled with amplified discouragement when his confession came about. He was dirty indeed and seemingly proud of it. She made no fuss about it though. “How typical.” One thing she did know for a fact, hygiene was never a male's top priority. Perhaps it wouldn't have been such a big deal to Lilin if her undercoat weren't thicker than average and matted so easily. It actually made for a good source of warmth during the winter months but come spring, shedding would be a plague. By the time she found what she'd been looking for, he had already taken a seat up on the table. Proactivity was a wonderful thing and it pleased her immensely. Brushing out the coat had to be the first step to a well-executed groom.


“I'm Lilin, by the way.” she offered gratuitously, moving over to the table and setting down her acquisitions next to him: a slicker brush and a dematting comb. Hesitating, the Soulstorm juvenile briefly debated whether the grooming table's capacity could support two wolves at once. She decided against it though, judging it wiser to experiment while standing up and avoid the awkwardness that would surely ensue if they broke the table and somehow both landed face first on the floor. Instead, she positioned herself safely behind him. A gentle tug on the male's cap was enough to release him from its possession, revealing quite the messy hairdo that lay hidden underneath. A stifled laugh accompanied her discovery as she leaned over his shoulder and returned the piece of clothing to its owner.

She chose the slicker brush first, examining the thin metal tines by pressing on them with the tip of her finger. They were smooth and flexible enough, ensuring an unyielding level of comfort for the test subject. It was with great care and delicacy that she exerted the first stroke. “Does this hurt?”

table by the Mentors!

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#10
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@____@ Hrmg, dude. I finally have my profile 99% up to date with credits, art, and all the stuff for Hilsburn... plus my archives and post log. I think after this and maybe one more post I'm done for the weekend. Sorry about the wait on this x__x Also rofl @ "test subject" XD

Her gentle criticism made him genuinely wonder if he was missing something — how often did everyone else take a bath? He usually made some half-assed attempt to clean up after meals and extensive yardwork, if only because it was much easier to wash himself than the furniture... but if he wasn't particularly grody or planned on sleeping under the stars, why bother? Burrs and twigs that got lodged in his coat and made him itch were removed only when they became a nuisance; once dry, most soil could be flung off with a good shake. His clothes seemed to get dirty as soon as he laundered them anyway, so he gave up and only bit the bullet when they were really getting stained. To his credit, he combed the longer fur on his head with his fingers daily, and at least in summer, he got a lot more unintentional baths when he went swimming.


Luckily, she didn't seem too perplexed by his questionable hygienics. When she offered her name, he flashed another charming smile. Well met. I'm Barry. His tail gave several light flops, then ceased as she disappeared behind him. He blinked when his hat mysteriously lifted from his head, then arched a brow at her subdued giggles. He cast her a look of devious anticipation as she passed the woollen garment back to him, then settled with it in his lap. He just barely managed to bite back some crude remark about whether or not she wanted him to take his pants off, too, when she began. The first stroke was executed so tenderly he barely felt it. Nope! he exclaimed encouragingly, glancing back over his shoulder. I can handle it a little rougher than that, he assured her with a wink, ever-so-confident that she couldn't possibly miss his play on words and their implied double-meaning.


Oh, if only he knew what he'd just gotten himself into.

Barrett
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#11
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figured we'd move this along a bit. <3

Word Count → 265

Working her way from top to bottom and carefully separating the occasional knot or two from the combed-out fur, Lilin managed to make it all the way down to his nape without much difficulty. Everything was done in a gentle manner: holding the problematic areas securely between her fingers before running the slicker brush through. The neck area proved to be a little more difficult than she'd expected but using the same method, this time with the dematting comb, she made considerable progress. Evidently, results weren't as easily achieved around this region and she had to give her instrument the occasional tug once in a while. Every time she did, her receivers instinctively flattened against the top of her skull as if anticipating a reprimand.


“Sorry.” The apology came as she was working on a particularly challenging area, following a few consecutive pulls. She could only hope he hadn't been kidding when he'd previously bragged about the level of discomfort he could handle. The Soulstorm juvenile worked meticulously and in silence, evaluating her undertaking as she worked her way through his fur. Although she had been all smiles and dimples until now, tranquility gave birth to more pressing matters. “Barry,” she started, weighing the words she would use. There was a long pause, a moment of hesitation. “I know this is straightforward, but once we're done here... can I come home with you? Just for a little while?” She had nowhere to go and although she strived to keep away from trouble, there was no telling who or what she'd run into on her own.

table by the Mentors!

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#12
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It was fortunate there were no mirrors before them and that all quasi-reflective metallic surfaces were covered with enough dust to hide his winces and grimaces. It took every ounce of willpower not to visibly twitch, jerk away, or tense in anticipation of another pull as she worked through the thick of his mane; instead he expressed his discomfort through a series of bizarre, distorted facial expressions. This did the trick for awhile — usually she unknotted the tangle before it became an issue. One stubborn snarl proved more problematic than the rest, however, and just as he was about to huff and squirm away from her grasp, she relented. 's all good, he reassured her, although he couldn't fully prevent his voice from developing a strained creak.


Luckily, as she moved past the ruff down the length of his back, the going got easier for both of them. It was even relaxing. His eyes closed without him realising it, and they only blinked open again when he heard his name. Mm, yea? he queried, ears fluttering back. Her tone was so tentative and the pause so great, he half wondered if the rest of her words had flown away. But then they came to him, and he considered them naught a moment before he flopped his tail in consent. He arched his back and tipped his head at such an extreme angle that he was able to shoot her a ridiculous upside-down grin. You can stay as long as you'd like, he purled, perhaps not truly comprehending her intentions.


With that, he tugged his cap back on, swivelled around on his butt, and lifted his head with an exaggerated, flashy smile. So how do I look? he pressed, tone playful and clearly none-too-serious. I don't live too far from here, he added as he hopped down to stand beside her. Shall we?

Barrett
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