Fire and Ice

[♣Duchess]

Duchess was growing to like the company of these two quite much so. They both seemed pleasant, reserved, and overall, very gentle and understanding. She wouldn't be one to call them dull, but something about them was... lacking. Like they were missing a piece of their essence, the piece that allowed them to be carefree and open, innocent and child-like. Perhaps it was just her own twisted understanding of the world, but she believed everyone, in order to live a truly full life, should be able to feel that way. No matter what they've seen or done. Maybe that was what drew her so strongly to her dearest Ividine. He lived his life without walls. She felt like she could reach out and hold his heart in her hands.

Shaking her head slightly to rid herself of the downing thoughts, she returned her gaze back to the ever-lovely Damion. Her face lit up as he referred to her as "sweet," a compliment she was not unfamiliar with. People were always comparing her to sugary objects: honey, sugar, sweethearts... Did she honestly look that appetizing? The smile began to creep back onto her lips; it rarely wasn't there. Then he hit her with a word bomb, one that sank deep into her stomach. Her face darkened. She lowered her gaze.

"...I have no idea. One day he just..." She waved her hand in the air. "Poof."

"A bit longer than two years." A bit of color came to her cheeks at Miriel's second question. "Well... He's very adoring and understanding... He always tried to decipher the meanings of my meaningless babble... I never discouraged him. No one has ever truly tried to 'get inside my head' before. It can be quite a scary place."

The smile dominated her feelings of loneliness as she continued. "He always knew how to make me grin, even though that's not all that difficult of a thing to do. Oh, and his cooking..." she sighed wistfully. "He made the most delectable batch of cookies I've ever tasted in my life. I've been craving butterscotch ever since I tasted my first. I swear I can smell the darned stuff from miles away."

[saerwen]

Damion stayed quiet as the girls talked. He just stood and watched, seeing as how most of the books were back in their proper place. Every now again, while listening, he would spot one, and pick it up after inspecting it. Brown, black, navy, green, red...ah, books came in so many different colors, it was like a rainbow that held such knowledge inside. When he started to think about it he was surrounded with colors wherever he went. Even people gave off colors. You couldn't really understand how or why this was true, but it was. Take Miriel for instance, she always off bright colors, like yellow, orange, and pink. Jaedon always gave off darker colors though, black, brown, forest green, midnight blue, and grey. Neron gave off...well, he just stayed black. And now, Duchess was giving off purples, bright blues, neon colors... This is the taste of personality that everyone had to Damion. He sometimes wondered what kind of colors he gave off. "I am sure that unconsciously people relate me with white..." he thought as he flicked some of his hair a little further away from his eyes.

"Well, Duchess, you know that there might be a reason that he left, but he didn't want you to know. I would say keep searching for him, but be careful. People disappear for a number of reasons, and if they truly care about the person that they are leaving, then it is usually to protect them from something." Damion spoke gently, not pressing the issue too far, seeing as how he could tell Duchess was still very attached to this "Ividine"

"If you want people inside your mind, then I have the perfect doctor for that one. Miriel knows her too..." Damion spoke with sarcasm, hinting to the only person that he knew could drive someone up the wall into insanity. At the mention of butterscotch Damion wrinkled his nose a bit. He almost let out a sigh of disgust, but withheld it for the sake of being chivalrous to Duchess. His distaste for them was simply displayed by his continued silence...

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Jaedon watched as he winced. "That must be one bloody bad headache." she thought. "I guess that I could do him the favor of talking a little bit softer..." She smirked as she heard what he said. "If you keep pulling away from people it won't get better." She could hardly choke the words out. What Neron didn't know was that she was preaching more to herself than to him.

She wanted to slap him for what he said next. "At least I try to be social, Pinocchio." she bit out, rather sourly. She wanted to yell it at him just so that it would hurt, but she didn't. She just let out a sigh. "It really doesn't take rocket science to figure out what happened. I went to the underground, played some cards, won more than what they wanted me to, they got sour about the fact I won fair and square... well actually that part isn't true, I did cheat, but they never knew how... But anyway, I won about $500 and they got ****ed. It really wasn't my fault they got mad, but of course they made it my fault, and now: one is dead, giving me about another 100 bucks he had stashed in his pocket with great joy, reimbursment for cracking my ribs to ribbons." It was obvious she harbored some rather ill feelings for that one. "One is still out in some dark alley way trying to find me and the other half of his face that I tore off, probably being trailed by zombies or something; one is still knocked out under the card table, I got a few bucks off of him too; and one is sinking to the bottom of the lake with my Italian Leverletto knife with a snakewood handle stuck in his chest, that was unfortunate, but not to be helped..." She was obviously upset about her knife. "That rat kicked my knee in and stole my freakin' expensive and nice knife." She was getting more riled up by the minute as she released the story. Then, she realized what she was talking about and let out another sigh.

"Jeez... It's just like Fische used to say, once you're and assassin, you're an assassin for life." she put her hand over her face and slumped down in her chair.

[Neron]

Miriel smiled slightly at the mention of knowing someone who had a "specialty" in the mind area. Jaedon, yes of course, she had a special knack for that area. Well, more than a knack, more like a full blown natural talent. Though she wondered if Jaedon would be freaked out by this girls mind, it seemed quite, different.

It was strange though that a girl Duchess's age would care so much about this guy, he must have meant a lot to her. Even though Miriel had learned never to judge a magical creatures age by looks, she couldn't help but view Duchess as a girl. This Ividine must have really been something.

Damion's face at the word butterscotch nearly made Miriel start rolling on the floor, it was so full of disguised distaste. Though Damion would be abhorred if he realized how undisguised his disguise was. "So butterscotch is not on his like list." Miriel smiled brightly, well that was one more thing learned. It would be interesting to see Duchess's reaction to Damion's words. they were very sage.

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"I'm pulling away from people for their own safety Jaedon. I'm trying to change...believe it or not." At this a sharp in take of breath was heard, though he tried to stifle it into non-existence. The words change caused the voices start to bang harder. " The more social I get the more dangerous I become." He seemed to meld slightly into his chair as he listened. It was as if he was trying to disappear from the surroundings. He had to smirk at her story and obsession with her lost knife. She hadn't realized it but her voice had gotten louder in distress of loosing her knife. A wince crossed his face once more, though the wince barely twitched his stoic visage. "Aw, poor baby, lost your knife and got a hurt side. Do you need a band-aid and a kiss to make the boo boo go away?" All a disguise, all the banter.

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A world of books, a universe in itself. The books had history, science, math, everything and they seemed to be in their own little word. Echos of people and creatures of past, their wisdom and laughter encased forever in the pages of paper and leather. Ares's red hair shone like a sunset, but it didn't have a blinding brightness of day, nor the stifling blackness of night, but instead was a beautiful combination of light and dark. It brushed into his sky blue eyes that seemed to shine forth with a great beauty and intelligence but also with good nature. He wore just simple cloths, blue jeans and a white shirt. But you never saw the simplistic wardrobe for he covered over it with his graceful and elegant nature. Now his wardrobe wasn't because of his lack of style, but instead the want to be comfortable.

As his feet crossed over the floor a familiar form came into view, an old friend. "Neron?!" His rich voice sprung forth and seemed the caress your ears. "Imagine seeing you in a place of books."

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Neron winced slightly as a voice range forth, it seared his mind. "Ah, just when my headache was starting to clear up you had to bring up another wave." Neron turned to Ares, "And it may be a surprise that I actually have a fondness for books."

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Ares smiled slightly at Neron at the thought of him holding a book. A raging dragon holding a delicate book, what a picture. "well you certainly need some culture in life, maybe it'll rub off on you." His eyes glanced toward Jaedon. "Ah I'm sorry, Neron you should introduce me to your friend."

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"Culture will never be able to rub off anything on me.. it's hopeless." Then with a tired wave of his hand he gestured to Jaedon, "Ares, this is Jaedon. Jaedon" He gestured to Ares, "This is Ares."

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Ares Nodded and did a slight bow to Jaedon, it wasn't a full fledged bow but more of a bowing of the head that sort of had a slightly upper body movement. "Pleasure to meet you Jaedon."

[♣Duchess]

Duchess narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, considering Damion's proposal for a moment. Her gaze shifted between the book still clutched against her chest and Damion's face, trying to make up her mind of whether she could honestly consider this. After a second of silence, she finally replied timidly, "I-I don't know... I mean, what could he be hiding? He was always such an.." She glanced down at a book still lying on the ground, its pages splayed and smirked. "...open book."

To his second proposal, she nearly jumped ten feet upward and held her hands out, making her drop her only information onto the ground. "Ohh, nononono. I'm quite alright." She knew he had probably been joking, but still, just the thought of someone ACTUALLY being able to get inside her mind? It frightened her beyond all belief. Duchess the ditz had had far too many experiences with manipulative psychics and mind-readers. They all made her want to burst her britches.

Seeing as it might be somewhat odd to them, her crazed reaction and all, Duchess nervously scooped her book back up and glanced between the two of them, smiling sheepishly. "Ah.. I do apologize. It's only, those who can do such things within another's mind... Well, they scare me more than month-old pizza." She shook her head as to rid herself of dark thoughts. Fear was one of her least favorable emotions. Who wants to be afraid when they can be enjoying all that is lovely in life?

[saerwen]

"Yes, he might have been, but everyone has their secrets Duchess. There are certain things that they choose not to tell, simply because it is hurtful, or just not needed to be told. And some don't tell because no one ever asked about it directly." He looked to Duchess, still gentle and caring, but something would have appeared different to Duchess. Miriel had seen it many times before... Damion was easy to read, especially when he was remembering something. Icy blue depths peered at Duchess with a storming haze, like a blizzard, behind them. They would convey such ancient wisdom as no one could ever understand, such a tempestuous beauty that could calm and scare at the same time. Damion remembered so many people that had left him in his life time, simply because of what he was. He hoped that Duchess never had to know that feeling, especially from this person that she cared for so much. It made Damion angry when he thought about it... He would never leave his friends... Never.

Almost like a flash of lighting which comes and goes in an instant, Damion's mood went back to normal as he chuckled at Duchess' reaction. "I suppose that means that Miriel and I will have to guard you from Jaedon to make sure that she doesn't give you an even better reason to hate her." And when she tried to make her apology for her reaction though Damion couldn't help but start laughing. "Don't worry about it!" he recovered quickly with a large grin on his pale face. "My dear, you are not the only one that feels that way. And another thing, Neron and Jaedon are by far, much more contraversial than you. At least you haven't been marked as a wanted person before." He picked up one of the last books and placed it on the shelf as he spoke.

He then turned to the ladies, "Well, now that the task is completed, I am going to go and see if Jaedon and Neron have torn each other to pieces yet. Perhaps Duchess should come and meet the other two of our group, eh Miriel?" He made a mock bow before he slipped around the corner heading back to find Jaedon and Neron.

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Jaedon couldn't help but smile at the old joke. "Yes, I am a poor baby. Feel sorry for me." she was being mockingly pitiful. She could see that the headache was only getting worse. Perhaps I should just shut up...We would probably both be better off if we stopped talking... Jaedon thought to herself. However, before she took up a vow of silence she had to reply to his jab.

"Miriel is the only person that can kiss me and make my 'boo boos' go away." she spoke completely straightfaced and emotionless. "And I wouldn't let you kiss me if you were the last guy in the world." Jaedon, while talking rather softly, but still audibly neglected to notice that someone had walked into the room because she had been staring at Neron. It was only when she heard him speak did she realize that someone had probably come in at just the right time to hear the very last part of her previous statement. She jerked her head around to see... Red... Blue... Person... Guy. That was it. Jaedon was completely out for the night. This guy knew Neron which made it even worse. Jaedon couldn't help but have a slight hatred for this guy as her face turned about as red as his hair. To hide her shame from Neron, she bowed her head, her black hair falling in ringlets around her face, shielding her fairly well, but not perfectly.

When Neron started the the introductions, Jaedon made a scramble to regain her composure, but she knew that she failed a little. Her cheeks were no longer brilliant red, but still slightly pink, which was blatantly obvious against the rest of her almost white skin. She looked up, using every ounce of will power within her to keep her blushes under control. With a strain of courtesy Jaedon nodded, "Likewise, Ares." To Ares, she wouldn't have sounded strange, but Neron probably would have been able to notice that she was trying hard to keep something locked up. Her green eyes flickered around the room, and then she bowed her head again, leaning on the table as the red flushes flooded her cheeks again. Why did Neron have to be here... He is going to make fun of me now, and then I am gonna get mad... Bloody. Bad. Luck.

[Neron]

Miriel focused on Damion's face as he talked. He was showing his true self right then, his age, his wisdom, his experience. It made her respect him all the more. Damion had seen so much in his life, she knew that for sure. Even though she didn't know the specifics about what he had done, or what he had seen, she knew that there were not many things he hadn't seen. She was taken back to when he had put his icy hand on her side, stopping the blood that had been flowing out of her. Unconsciously her hand moved to her side that now showed no sign of scars or even the wound. Even still the ache was there and there was a weakness there, not because she wasn't healed but because of how the healing had taxed her. The memory caused a slight smile to creep over her face, it wasn't a bright one, or a sad one, but a secretive smile, one that people show when they remember something that means a lot to them.

Though a true laugh did come out when Damion had mentioned keeping Jaedon out of Duchess's mind. Turning to the girl Miriel laughed, “Well I'll try my best, though I severely doubt I will be able to prevent to much. Just don't make her mad.” She then sighed as Damion disappeared around the corner. She took a couple steps after him before turning back to Duchess, “Oh, just to warn you....Neron has been acting a bit strange of late.” Her face clouded for a moment with worry before clearing. “Just be careful around him... He has an unruly temper.” Then with a motion of her hand for Duchess to continue she to walked around the corner and headed to where the others were.

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Neron smirked at her comment about a kiss. “Good, it saves me the trouble then.” He cracked his eyes open and looked at her red blushing face. It was strange to see such a color grace her pale face, it made her look innocent. “Hah, innocent Jaedon, what a thought” This almost caused a slight laugh, but it never came to life. His green eyes looked at her once more before closing them tiredly. He could hear more footsteps coming towards them. “oh, great....people...” He muttered under his breath. Of course more people would swarm about him. After all it seemed there was a law of life that stated, “When Neron wants to be alone, or is in a bad mood, people must come and annoy him. The more people the louder the noise the better the obedience”. If no one was around Neron would have been in a curled up position with his hands clutching his head, eyes closed, and face twisted in pain. But since there were people he had to keep up his calm, I'm-not-hurt demeanor. The last thing he wanted was people crowding even more around him to see what was wrong.

That was something he had never understood, why do people crowd around hurt ones? Don't they know that they are suffocating the life out of them? It even made him sick to think about.

He knew that Jaedon was expecting him to shoot something out back at her. Perhaps a stinging remark or a comment that would bring all the attention to her scarlet face. But he didn't have the energy nor the urge to cause things to just get louder in the room.

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Ares raised an eyebrow as Jaedon said what she had. His eyes drifted from Neron abck to her as he heard Neron's remark. A sigh came from him. That was so like Neron, to whip out a such a sarcastic remark. He never would learn how to talk to women. Ares's attention shifted to the girl for a moment. She was quite pretty, with bright green eyes and beautifully curling black hair around her flawless pale skin. But what on earth was a girl like her doing around Neron. Well actually he probably should be asking what was Neron doing around a girl like her? She seemed a little out of his league. Oh well, he knew better than to ask Neron about it right now.

Silence seemed to stretch out between the three of them. Ares desperately wanted to fill the air with something, for this silence wasn't of a comfortable type. Lifting his hand he placed it on his red hair and scratched it for a moment. His body took on a thoughtful and distressed look as he leaned back slightly and stared at the ceiling. But the pose didn't last long until he looked back at the two and asked, “What brings you two here?”
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“Silence, I was hoping for silence, but it seems like everyone has it in their mind to disrupt this wonderful thing.” Neron spat out as his eyes flashed opened to reveal an angry green fire smoldering in his eyes. Then his eyes were veiled once more by his eyelids and he sighed again. "Don't they know this is a library?"
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Ares shook his head. Neron hadn't changed one bit. HE averted his gaze to see two figures coming toward him. One was a gentleman with startling white hair, and the other looked almost like the twin of the girl here with straight hair being one of the only differences.

[♣Duchess]

Duchess looked between the two of them as they began to migrate over towards the other figures all hovering in a circle like a flock of hawks. Well, that might be a bit harsh, but they all did look frightening in their own special way. She folded her hands behind her back, taking Damion's words to heart no matter how much it pained her. She couldn't pretend, regardless of her desire to continue believing that nothing could be wrong. Something had happened to him; she just couldn't bear to think what.

Timidly she followed Miriel like a sad lost puppy, her heels clacking against the tile floor. As to her warning, she just nodded nervously, already feeling her uneasiness rising as to what, or who, was to come. She did not enjoy anger, not in the very least. Ah well. As long as the other two lotties were willing, she would trot along. Duchess had never known many; she kept to her own little family world growing up, and clung on to Ivi as her only dear companion during her young teen years. Surely she would learn to be open. Regardless of how ancient she truly was, being amongst these people made her feel like a child: a small, ignorant child.

Her hands fidgeted with her gloves as she stalked directly behind Miriel, peering out to look at the ones she was about to be acquainted with. "I do hope they like cats..." she muttered to herself.

[saerwen]

Just when Damion thought that things couldn't get any more strange with Jaedon he looked at her, only to find her blushing with shame, head bent, hand clutching her side slightly. Oh dear, what has happened. If Neron did anything, I am gonna kill him. When he heard Duchess' comment about liking cats Damion chuckled. "It would be awfully hard for Jaedon not to like cats seeing as how she is a cat."

He had hardly noticed the newcomer that seemed to be acquainted with Neron...Now that was a strange thing indeed. Someone that actually knew Neron other than Miriel? What kind of past did these two have together? But right now, he was worried about Jaedon. She was acting like a ghost, she was far too pale, and she looked sick. She also looked really miserable, but then again, the bright blush that lined her face wasn't helping with the miserable appearance. Then again, Neron didn't look great either.

He looked back to Duchess who had stayed behind Miriel the whole time. With a jolly smile on his face, he motioned to Duchess, taking her arm gently, he pulled her a little forward. "Neron, Jaedon, I have someone for you to meet. This is Duchess. Be nice."

He then turned to the new comer with the red hair. Interesting fellow... Red and blue were quite the radical combination. "And forgive me, friend, for not taking the opportunity to introduce myself." he offered Ares his hand. "I'm Damion Cervantess." he gave a rather welcoming smile, speaking with only courtesy.
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Jaedon was tempted to reply to Neron, but then she decided that it was better silent. She liked that it was quiet...for a time. She just fell back in the chair lightly, head still bent, trying so hard to get the red off her face. She was finally getting there, but she was so tired that she was coming to the edge of I don't care. What a bloody waste of her determination, trying to get the blushes off her face. Who knows, a little color might give her a little less dead look.
"Yes, Neron," she spoke very softly, showing a bit of sensitivity for his headache again, but also serving her own desire for peace and quiet. "Everyone knows that this is a library. They are just too juvenile to know that a library automatically equals quiet." She turned to Ares, "I'm here because I was bad. Damion got sick of me." Just then, guess who came walking in...Damion. Thankfully he wouldn't have heard her comment.

Right behind Miriel, the little cheshire cat. She leaned over to Neron a little a whispered, "I think that you and I are about to abandon ship...She smiles too much..." She was very apathetic. If people smiled too much, they usually talked too much.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel smiled brightly at Duchess's little comment about cats and listened to what Damion had to say. There he was, all manners and charm. BUt it wasn't the cheap type, he wasn't trying to prove anything to anyone, nor was he trying to get something from you. "What a selfless creature..." She turned to Damion slightly and studied him. "Many of us could learn form people like him." Her attention was brought back to the three who were already here. Miriel could barely look at Neron and Jaedon, they looked terrible, NEron's case she knew she couldn't help, he would have to fight for himself. JAedon on the other hand....Miriel's eyes flicked to Jaedon. She couldn't help her if she wanted, she was still to weak. Really, she only have enough energy in her to heal a small scratch, and by the paleness of her friends face, she knew that the wound was more than just a scratch. "Always getting into trouble those two.." Her gaze then shifted to the noble figure of the stranger. He seemed so full of life, especially compared to the others. He almost seemed to shine out in the library with life and kindness. It was strange to see someone like him around Neron, but then again she was around Neron wasn't she.

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Ares blinked slightly, "Ah sick of you eh?" Just then the one she was talking about walked in. Seeing that talking more of this subject might be stepping on raw nerves he avoided the subject in the presence of this white haired one who was called Damion. So instead he smiled brightly at Damion, here was a fellow he would like, he could tell from the moment he saw him. "I am Ares Koritha." Ares grasped Damion's hand with a firm but gentle handshake. He then turned to Miriel, "Ah, you must be Miriel, Neron has talked about you..though that was a long time ago.."

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Miriel looked at NEron with a shocked expression, he had talked about her to this guy? Questions showed in her eyes, tons of them. But Neron didn't make eye contact, instead he just settled into his chair, as if he was trying to make the chair eat him alive. "Ares.. now that sounds like something NEron would hang around, but this man doesn't seem anything like the ancient greek...how strange" Her gaze shifted back to Ares.

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Ares turned to the one that had just been named Duchess. "Hello Duchess, nice to meet you." A friendly smile came to his face as he bowed slightly to her. His blue eyes shone like the sky on a clear day and with a wink he straightened up and faced the new comers. "I must warn you, these two - " He motioned to Neron and Jaedon, " are quite the company.. the conversation is quite lively here."

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NEron cracked his eyes open once more to peer at the new comer. The girl's hair seemed so bright, like the sun. HE winced slightly at the brightness but he straightened from his slightly hunched position and nodded slightly in her direction. Then with a sigh he leaned back and tried to ignore all the talking about him. All he could picture in his mind were vultures, yet vultures circling over a carcass, he was the carcass and they...well they were all vultures, preying on his quietness.

Just when he had almost blocked everyone out with the picture of vultures Jaedon cut through and shattered the whole thing. IT was strange, no matter how much he wanted to push everything out, Jaedon was the only one that would be able to cut through some of his defenses. Though he could detect her presence in his mind if she dared to tread on it, and he could block her out sometimes, there was something in him that made him want to listen to her. "Strange." Abandoning ship sounded nice, perhaps he could actually go somewhere nice and quiet for once... All these voices... they made the screams inside his head start to turn into a sort of chanting. A rythmic beating on the inside of his mind. "Wonderful" Was all he said.

[♣Duchess]

Duchess took in the new group, her colorless eyes swooping in a circle, taking a moment to stop on each person. The red headed fellow was the only one who seemed at all cheerful. The other two folks? Well, one, she could tell, was inexplicably grumpy, enough so that he looked like a little child, pouting in his timeout chair. Perhaps she would be the one to make him smile. The thought itself made her smile, in addition to the one named Ares and his oh so gentlemanly nature. Such nice men they had around here! She curtsied politely in response and grinned; her feline nature enjoyed doing leaps and bounds within her at times such as this.

Considering the irony of it all, she voiced what surely most of them were thinking, "Well, you certainly bear zero resemblance to your mythological Greek counterpart, Sir Ares, and I am not at all complaining." If anything, their little whiney friend bore some striking similarities. Then again, who was she to judge? Half the time her head was up in outerspace.

Hearing the one called Neron finally manage to spit out a word, the word wonderful nonetheless, Duchess perked up and smiled, nodding cheerfully. "It is most definitely wonderful, isn't it?" No one ever said she was exceedingly observant. Then, just as the sun was bursting through her gloomy clouds on this turn of events, something hit her. Or someone. Her eyes widened and her stance tensed as her gaze rested on the shortest of the bunch, feeling something within her, just from the intensity of her blank stare. She bit her lip and felt herself gripping tighter onto Damion's comforting hold that had just gotten about 100 times more comfortable.

The clouds were rolling back in.

Oh, you nitwit. What have you gotten yourself into now?

[saerwen]

Damion was happy to be around such agreeable people. He really liked Ares. This guy was a guy after his own heart and he knew it for sure. "Nice to meet you Ares. What kind of things do you find interesting here among such 'lively' company?" he was hinting to Neron and Jaedon of course, whom he knew were not lively at all. Damion could tell that Ares was someone that he was going to like simply by the way he shook Damion's hand. It showed strength, integrity, and a willingness to grow. He really liked that.
When he heard what Neron said and then what Duchess said in reply he knew that Neron was going to come back with something vulgar. "Yes it is Duchess! When you are with friends everything is wonderful, I will assure you. of that." He had just turned to Miriel and was fixig to ask her something, but he never quite got there because there was a tug at his arm. He turned as suddenly as a flash of light to see what was wrong. Duchess was clinging to him for dear life. "Duchess, what is wrong?" his blue eyes flashed with a sudden surge of protectiveness for his new friend.
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Jaedon nodded to Ares when he repeated her statement about Damion. She did really feel like talking to any of them. She wanted to go to sleep. Actually, that probably wasn't the best of ideas...who knows what her dreams might hold. That was going to be a scary thing to watch tonight...Perhaps she should go out into the woods and go hunting. Oh yes Jaedon...Is that your answer to everything. Go out to the woods. Go hunting. Go kill something. That sounds like lots and lots of fun. Jaedon let out a disgusted sigh. She was about to get up and leave, but she noticed that if she left Damion would see something was wrong. He would see that she was limping. Bloody. Bad. Luck.

[Neron]

Miriel winced at Duchess's answer to Neron's word answer, she didn't know what that could bring upon her. "Poor soul..." Her black locks swayed as she shook her head slightly, people just getting to know Neron was always a painful thing to watch. Her gaze turned to Damion and watched as a common bond seemed to be forming between him and Ares. This added warmth to her heart, and friendliness toward Ares. He seemed like a nice person, she couldn't wait to hear how he and Neron met, that must be a doosey of a story. Then the pleasentness in the room was broken by Duchess's pale face. Miriel was confused, what was she so upset about, Neron hadn't opened his mouth...yet.
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Neron was about ready to spit out a stinging remark but he gave up on it. This girl wouldn't understand and he wasn't ready to have some crying girl on his hands. That would just grate his nerves to a rawer state then it was at the present. "Well I hate to break up this happy party but I think I'm going somewhere with some peace and quite. Some people here just don't know how to shut their mouths."" He almost hissed this out at them. Stnading up from his chair he glared at Ares, Miriel, and Damion but when his gaze shifted to Duchess he paused for a moment, her face was in complete shock. "ah who cares about her, she's doing quite fine hiding behind Damion like a lost kitten." The thoughts rang in his head. His form turned and he started to walk away.

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Ares smiled at Duchess, his blue eyes shining. "Yes." His deep melodic laugh sounded in the room, "Many have found my name to be a major contrast with my nature. But that's how things usually work in life, though I must exclude you. You certainly seem to be the essence of a Duchess." It was true, with Duchess's elaborate hair and dress she indeed looked like a duchess from one of the books off the shelf that surrounded them. He didn't even acknowledge Neron's presence leaving, he knew that when Neron left, it was better to let him go. But just then Duchess's face froze in terror. Ares's face became covered in confusion. "Duchess?"

[♣Duchess]

Duchess's head was whirling at about 90 miles a minute. Her ebony eyes shifted anxiously between all the eyes on her, knowing she must look like a deer caught in headlights. Then again, that would be an accurate comparison to how she felt at the moment. She knew she was worrying her new friends, but their calls out to her were distant and echoed, like they were being shouted from across a cave. The cloaked one was making her feel so woozy it took effort just to stand on her own toes. Trying to steady her already tipping body, she stuck her arm out and swung it around before finally planting herself firmly and confidently on her feet, even if her noggin was still swaying and whirring wildly like a sickening carnival ride.

Her already pale complexion was ghost-white; the only thing giving her any color was the red rogue right on the apples of her cheeks. When her vision finally regained its steady sharpness, she laughed breathlessly and faked a grin, something she had learned to master. "...My apologies. Just felt a bit tipsy right then.." she said with a blink. Duchess shook her head as to rid herself of the horrid thoughts that were, without fail, regurgitated at the mere mention of mind readers, mind controllers, mind make-uppers, etc.

Just now had she noticed the departure of the grumpy one. Peering around and under Damion, she searched for the unhappy fellow, but saw neither high nor end of his scowling face. "Hmm. I do wonder where our pessimistic companion hopped off to.." she voiced, thinking out loud. "Then again, he didn't seem to take much of a liking to me," she added with a tinge of sadness. It was never pleasant, being rejected by another. Even one as board-stiff as Neron. Perhaps under that distant face was something pleasant and charming, just waiting to burst out. Like... A secret love of bunnies. One could only hope.

Her gaze avoided the one called Jaedon at all costs, although occasionally she would make sure to acknowledge her presence within their little gathering, not wanting to appear rude. She was coming to realize, however, that courtesy may just not be an option in this particular predicament. Every time her gaze lurked over to her dark silhouette, she felt a small shiver, like little mice dashing up her spine. After a bit of this, she simply felt her legs giving out from under her. Still trying to uphold a cheerful facade, she smiled slightly as she admitted reluctantly, "Perhaps... Perhaps I should sit."

[saerwen]

When Duchess finally steadied herself Damion was more than a little worried. Was she alright? Was she sick, perhaps a fever...No, she didn't feel that hot, he would know if she had a fever because he wouldn't be able to stand around her without sweating. What was wrong. Then he started to notice that she was hardly making eye contact with Jaedon at all. Was she scared of Jaedon? He knew that Jaedon had a dark figure and a dark character, but was she really that scary? Neron couldn't be the source of her problem, because he was almost out of the room. "Are you sure that you are alright Duchess?"
He listened her continued assurance that she was fine and that she was okay. Then, when she said that she thought it would be better if she sat down he couldn't agree more. He kept a firm hold on her arm and helped her over to one of the many chairs that had been stuck around. After he made sure that she was down and alright, he turned to Miriel and spoke quietly. "Can you tell what the problem is?"

While Damion was playing gentleman, Jaedon decided to play jerk. She stood up slowly, agonizingly, and she walked over to the door. With Damion so focused on making sure that Duchess was alright, he would be far too busy to pay attention to Jaedon who slunk out the door, right behind Neron. Perhaps my luck isn't so bad after all! She was glad to be out of the sight of people, people who cared about her. She knew that Neron wouldn't make a big fuss, and so she was safe. she muttered quietly toherself, "Thank heavens. No more people."

[Neron]

Ares took a step back to allow Duchess and Damion to have clear access to the chairs. HE frowned for a moment. This girl certainly was a weak little thing, she seemed to unwind at the slightest things, but then again perhaps this wasn't such a slight thing. It seemed that the girl was absolutely terrified about something, or someone. It wasn't hard to figure out who it was, Jaedon. but when he turned to look at Jaedon to figure out why, she had left. Sighing he shrugged his shoulders, perhaps it would be better if she left, she didn't seem to happy to be here anyways.
----

Miriel looked at the girl with a slight frown. What could be wrong. Kneeling down by the know sitting duchess she placed her hand on the wrist of the girl. "Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you.." Closing her eyes her hand glowed for a moment, it was glowing a red color instead of a bright light. She wasn't healing, instead she was searching for any wounds or sicknesses that would cause such...strange behavior. Asigh passed her lips and she rocked back on her feet before standing up. Even though that little trick had taken only a little magic, it still caused her to fell tired. But she didn't let anything show. "Nothing is wrong with her as far as I can tell. I think she'll be better in a moment." She tilted her head slightly and let her black hair stream over her shoulders. "What are you so afraid of?
----

Neron turned to find Jaedon slowly making her way towards him. With a smirk he replied her her comment. "Perhaps no people, but there is a person here. Though I see you have decided to pick up your usual pursuit, little stalker." He turned and went out the doors. "Though I suppose that is better than loosing something like a knife, poor girl that must have been such a great loss." He turned the corner and soon disappeared out of sight. Right now he really didn't need anyone near him. Hopefully that would be enough to make her not follow him. As soon as he was out of sight he collapsed on the ground and held his head, rocking back and forth, he bit down on his lips so hard that blood started to pour from it. Pain, death, suffering, hatred, it all was poison to his system now, all poison. His breathing grew heavier as he felt himself grow sick to the stomach. Soon enough he emptied it on the ground, behind a bush. He groaned slightly. "Wonderful." He knew he couldn't stay here, so rising once again he stumbled off, tripping once or twice along the way.