Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 26, 2006 21:02:44 GMT -5
It took Aubrey several minutes to finally calm down, eyes shut so as to not see his only friend's dead body. When he finally opened them, he still cried, but he was no longer sobbing. He crawled foreward, avoiding the small puddle of vomit, and gently shut Loran's eyes, kissing his forehead before he started to cry again. Sweet, smart Loran.. Why had he done something so foolish? Wasn't it Loran who had warned Aubrey against such a thing?
"Thank you.." he whispered, taking the tattered shirt and covering his friend's face with it. He couldn't look into that face.. No, not after everything that had happened. He would never be able to do what Eligor had asked. To.. to.. How was he supposed to take the body to the pit outside..? He wouldn't worry about it now.. No..
He had to do as he was told, and first, he had to clean up his own mess. He moved as if on auto-pilot again, using the remains of his former clothes to clean up the vomit before he took them to the wash as well, returning to find himself faced with the most difficult task of all: taking Loran's body to be burned..
A deep breath, and he folded Loran's arms over his chest before taking hold of his ankles and beginning to drag him, unable to carry him due to his own fragile form.
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden on Dec 27, 2006 1:45:20 GMT -5
(Sorry about taking so long to get this thing out there. My schedule will be a little erratic from here on out, but I just ask that you bear with me. ^^)
Things had turned out worse than expected. When he left Patra just a measure of days ago with this caravan, he never thought he'd wind up detoured in Yareth, trying to keep a low profile in some shady tavern. The sounds he heard from upstairs sent shivers up his spine, and he softly cursed the gods for stranding him here.
The trip had been going fine. Those that he traveled with were boring folk, pale, blank faces with no real history behind them. While it wasn't entertaining, most his journeys usually weren't - there would be entertainment once he got to Meridian City, a thought he continued to repeat in his mind as soon as he found out they were heading off course. There was no shortage of horror stories about Iodar, and he didn't intend to be written into them... that said, he was an exotic and attractive young man, just a stone's throw away from his eighteenth year, and he knew what kind of slaves his type made. Manual labor seemed pleasant compared to that, even if it was in some mine where he had no hope of ever seeing the sun again. Unsure of what to do, he improvised - this was a merchant caravan after all, with no shortage of potential distractions. He hoped the ivory clay that was currently hardening around his canines would be enough, as well as the extra clothing he'd adopted... any self-respecting vampyre wouldn't go traveling through the desert without covering himself. Jaiden was no vampyre, but he hoped he could talk the talk and, if it came down to it, walk the walk. Self-preservation had always been one of his main concerns, and now it would be tested.
Covered from head-to-toe in strange garb, he hoped what he purchased to go with his already odd clothing would do enough to make him seem eccentric and unapproachable. Who knew how long they'd have to stay in this seedy little establishment, where all the servants keep their head down as they shuffle about under steady watch from the management? Tongue idly tracing over his faux-fangs, he just hoped that nobody had the gall to say anything to him... he had the overconfidence angle down to a science and the red eyes were probably intimidating (he couldn't very well blind himself, so he went for the next best thing - it cost him a decent chunk of Ka to a last-minute hustler) but he wasn't sure if he could be frightening or not. He'd have some choice words for the Caravan leader if he ever saw him again, but for now, he just had to focus on himself - still, he hoped distantly that some of those plain-jane peasants had gotten away as well.
|
|
Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 27, 2006 2:21:01 GMT -5
Aubrey came down the back stairs, not wanting to disturb the guests with a dead body. Loran was heavy, and Aubrey mentally scolded himself for thinking such things about a man who'd tried to save his life. When he finally brought Loran out back, to the pit, he was still crying, plump tears sliding down innocent cheeks as he finished the job, placing the body of his only friend into the pit and saying a small prayer before returning back inside.
Unable to stop the tears that fell, Aubrey went to work, waiting on tables and taking orders the best he could. He was so tired, and he hurt everywhere, and all he wanted to do was curl up and sleep in his own nice, warm bed back in Telsey..
Hair hiding his face, and thus hiding his tears (for the most part, though hair is not solid, and he had to see out, so it was not impossible to see in), Aubrey approached the newcomer, eyes down and spirit gone. "May I get you anything, sir..?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. His eyes were dull, broken, and it was apparent that he'd just suffered a great deal.
If the blood staining the back of his shirt was any extra indication, that is. He didn't seem to notice that one of the wounds was opened again, only that his entire being was composed of pain, and that there was nothing else for him.. No one else he could depend on. He was alone.. All.. alone..
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden on Dec 27, 2006 3:07:48 GMT -5
At first, Jaiden felt relief - he'd been noticed by one of the servants (was bound to happen eventually), but it seemed that this one was even more lackluster than all the others. He wasn't likely to ask any questions besides the usual one, and he was right about that.
What he wasn't expecting was the boy's eyes. Jeez... there were some screwed up things in this world, but only the worst could do that to you. He found himself feeling sorry for the kid, which was absurd for two reasons: one, Jaiden himself was in deep trouble, and two, he was calling the servant "kid" in his mind when he himself was just seventeen. Squirming a bit in his seat, he meant to utter something cruel and short - maybe something about how he'd drink him dry if he didn't bugger off. It didn't really work out that way, though. It was "What's wrong?" instead, spoken softly. Yeah, he sucked at this vampyre thing.
|
|
Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 27, 2006 14:59:09 GMT -5
Aubrey looked up in mild surprise, and a glimmer of life sparked briefly in those pretty blue eyes. He had obviously forgotten his tears, or had given up on trying to manage them in any form, but they were slowly drying anyways. What was wrong..?
"I.." he looked down. He was not going to say 'everything' like some drama queen. No, he hated it when people did that all the time, and he wasn't going to become one of them, even if he was stuck here his entire life and the answer truly was 'everything.' No, he decided to go with the biggest of his problems right then.
"My friend, Loran.. he's.. dead.." he answered quietly. Fresh tears stung his eyes as he spoke, but this time he didn't let them fall. "And it's all my fault, sir. You shouldn't worry about me, though, if I may be so bold.."
For being the damaged little beauty that he was, he at least retained his manners. Had he not been so depressed, he would have stuttered and been nervous, but too much had happened in the past few days to allow him that freedom..
|
|
|
Post by Arion on Dec 27, 2006 19:48:56 GMT -5
Eligor looked around the tavern. Where was that useless boy? Oh, there he was, talking to...a vampyre? If he wasn't careful, he'd find himself being a snack.
Eligor walked over to where Aubrey and the vampyre were. "Boy, I told you not to dawdle," he snapped. "Bring this...gentleman a cup of blood, then get to the kitchen and clean the dishes that are stacked up back there." He looked to the vampyre. "I'm sorry, sir, if this boy bothered you."
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden on Dec 27, 2006 21:36:23 GMT -5
Dead friends, huh? That was never fun. The kid looked so helpless - he could look at the other saps in here and feel bad, but he could barely raise his eyes to this boy's gaze. He was about to say something when he noticed a rather dangerous looking Nymandine man overlooking them, who he could only assume was the proprietor of this fine establishment. He muttered something under his breath as he drew near, clearing his throat quickly.
Ready to defend himself, he found that it wasn't necessary - the Nymandine male seemed to already be humbled towards him. Were vampyres common around here? In a place like Iodar, he wouldn't be surprised... maybe this would go smoother than he thought. Still, he didn't have any sort of plan yet, and he'd need someone who knew the place. The servant boy sounded just about desperate enough that he might help. His slender fingers curled around Aubrey's wrist as the owner approached, vibrant blood-eyes narrowing. "The boy was not dawdling... and I prefer my meals fresh," he hissed, straining his voice to do so. "He has lovely hair. I'd like to borrow him for my... purposes. I will pay double and you will allow me to do so. My promise to return him unharmed will be adequate, yes?" Ooo, it was fun to speak as if the Nymandine man had already agreed to his demands, but hopefully it scared him instead of pissing him off. That would be bad. "It will be the most exquisite pleasure he's never known. Perhaps it'll improve his sour mood, and I won't be forced to complain about his depressing attitude. I trust you have a room open?"
|
|
Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 28, 2006 1:51:13 GMT -5
Aubrey winced as he was touched, body tensing and eyes remaining downcast as he tried to keep calm. Yet, he paled visibly as the stranger spoke in such a frightening voice, talking about.. WHAT?! Aubrey felt as if he might be sick, trembling and on the verge of tears again. He hadn't even recovered from his encounter with Raechen, yet!
While he was unaware of the 'vampyre's' plans, he was not entirely unaware of how pretty people seemed to find him, and when he added this to the fact that vampyre said he liked his meals fresh.. It was a wonder that Aubrey had not yet passed out from sheer terror. However, his fear did not have the nervousness that had once accompanied it before Raechen had come along, so it would not be hard for Eligor to see that the boy had been broken by Raechen, and effectively at that.
Please, Inve.. he began to pray, but did not continue, as his prayers were rarely answered anymore..
|
|
|
Post by Arion on Dec 31, 2006 20:13:39 GMT -5
Eligor considered the vampyre's response.
"Very well," Eligor said. "It will be two hundred ka an hour, and we certainly have a room available. However," Eligor gave a wicked smile. "He need not be returned entirely unharmed. However, if you are to kill him, it will indeed cost you. You may take the first room at the top of the stairs."
Eligor held out his hand for the money, the first hour was always paid for up front.
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden on Dec 31, 2006 20:27:19 GMT -5
Wait... was that an open invitation to hurt the kid? Things around here must be worse for him than he originally thought. Jaiden resisted the urge to shiver, both at how much this servant boy must have gone through and the idea of him enduring the same torments if he didn't find a way out of this place. At least he'd have a private room to think in for a while, but for two hundred Ka!? Ridiculous! Whatever... it could be replaced. Between being poor and working here, he was more than happy to drop a pair of Ka into the owner's hand, both a deep shade of violet. It wasn't pleasant parting with them, but hopefully it would pay off in the end.
With the first hour paid up, Jaiden got out of his chair, standing on his tip-toes; the robe was long enough that no one would be able to see, and he didn't want anyone to see him as any less threatening. "Lead." He was rather proud of his Vampyre voice, which, if he ever made it out of here, would go on to later describe it as "a dark wind blowing through dead trees." He didn't care if the boy took him to the room or the owner did, but the sooner he got out of public eye the better.
|
|
Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 31, 2006 20:55:43 GMT -5
If Aubrey hadn't felt sick before, he certainly did now. For just two-hundred ka an hour, plus a little more, Eligor had just sold his body and possibly his life. Head hung in shame, humiliation, and utter defeat, Aubrey watched the deep-violet colored ka move from the vampyre's hand to Eligor's, and then took a deep breath.
Without a word, despite the tears that welled up in his eyes at the prospect of death in his immediate future, Aubrey began to lead Jaiden to the room Eligor had given them, wondering if he should be appalled at himself for not fighting. His mind felt numb, especially after everything that had happened, and he almost found himself welcoming death. Was it so bad to want freedom so badly as to welcome the end?
The Ascent was not nearly so bad as it had been the first time, something he noted with an almost sickening amusement. Every step seemed to represent another step closer to his likely demise. The first room was clean (as was the second room now that he'd cleaned it), and Aubrey moved to sit at the edge of the bed, head down and face hidden by the pretty golden locks that seemed somehow as sad as he was..
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden on Dec 31, 2006 21:12:35 GMT -5
The first thing he made sure to do was lock the door; he had no idea what sort of privacy customers were allowed here, but if the owner was the kind to just bust in without announcing it, it would at least give him a few spare moments as he fumbled for the key. Now, where was he? Oh yeah, escaping. He looked around the room, quickly, finding himself disappointed with the lack of useful features. It didn't offer anything except some brief respite from watchful eyes and a place to think. Well, that and a human being that he could sate whatever perverse desire he had on. Speaking of which, he should probably do something about that...
Jaiden walked towards the bed, sighing heavily. If nothing else, it'd be nice to take all these wrappings off. "Come on, kid... don't look so depressed." His voice sounded different right away, but it only became clearer as he uncovered his mouth that this was definitely not the same person from downstairs. Once the mass of cloth that he'd used to conceal his face had fallen to the ground, he tossed his hair, thankful that he could breathe deeply again. "You're cute, I'll give you that, but I'm not going to hurt you." He watched the kid with one hand on his slender hips, hoping that he could bring himself together long enough to help Jaiden escape.
|
|
Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 31, 2006 21:39:23 GMT -5
Aubrey's gaze shot up to Jaiden at the voice change, eyes seeming quick and shocked and mind working to try and figure out what the hell was going on. He bit his lip, flushing at the compliment, but still confused and seeing now that his buyer was not who he had been thought.
"I.." he started, but his voice caught in his throat, and he had to clear it before he could try speaking again. His throat was sore from crying.. "Then.. w-what are you going to d-do with me..?"
|
|
|
Post by Jaiden on Dec 31, 2006 21:52:36 GMT -5
"Take you with me if possible, but I can't make any promises." He'd normally wink or give some kind of sultry look after a remark like that, but the situation didn't call for it. He wasn't really expecting there to be windows, but he could hope, right? This was Iodar... if there was an inn where violent sexual fantasies were lived out, it wouldn't surprise him if they allowed spectators - for a fee, anyway. Jaiden ran his fingers through his hair and stared at the ground, wondering if there was any real hope in getting out of here...
He noticed the look of surprise was still on the boy's face and he sighed. "Look, I'm not a Vampyre. I was just passing through when the caravan I was on sold me out. I didn't mean to scare you or anything, but honestly, I never thought it would work. I'm just trying to get out of here before they do to me what-" He stopped and frowned, wondering if he was being insensitive. "they did to you."
|
|
Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
|
Post by Aubrey on Dec 31, 2006 22:01:33 GMT -5
Aubrey could have cared less if Jaiden's words were insensitive. He'd heard two major key phrases in that, and they were, 'take you with me if possible,' and 'I'm not a Vampyre.' His face lit up and he gaped, despite crystaline eyes glittering with hope that they had not given off in weeks.
"R-really?" he asked, seeming by far more lively now. "If.. If I can help you.. Could you really get me out of here?" His voice was soft, even with the excitement, because he didn't want to risk Eligor listening outside the door. Chances were slim, but then again, the owner did seem to have it out for Aubrey, and the boy would not put it past him to listen to his pain. On the other hand, the tavern was fairly busy.. He hoped they would be lucky enough that Eligor was too busy dealing with customers and yelling at other servants.
"I mean, I-I don't know how I can help, b-but," he flushed, breathing too fast and too deeply. So much in one day! He took a slow, deep breath to calm himself down, and bit his lip. "I can still try."
|
|