Watch Me (V Please)

[Aello]

Spring 4, 511 AV Aello was walking through the busy streets of Ravok. The hood of her cloak was pulled up over her head, and she was walking swiftly. Looking down at the ground, and generally doing her level best not to be noticed. Her bow was resting in her right hand, her quiver, and her bag were thrown over her shoulders, the bag on the right, the quiver on the left. Yune was perched on her right shoulder, and if she hadn't been singing so loudly, Aello's plan may have actually worked. But instead, the incessant singing caused everyone she passed to simply stop and stare, perhaps wondering how she had managed to tame the bird. The singing, although strangely beautiful and alluring in its own way, quickly got on Aello's nerves, especially because it was right next to her ear. Aello could feel the blood behind her ears pulsing. Pushing its way through her veins as it coursed through her head, and lingered around her temples, applying a pressure so strong, that at times it amazed her that she had managed not to scream. "Quiet down Yune," Aello hissed, "you're causing everyone to stare at us!" As if in defiance of her master, or perhaps happy that everyone seemed drawn to her music, Yune continued to chirp. Aello grit her teeth and growled. "Gah, don't you have any manners at all Yune? Any respect for the hand that feeds you and her desires?" Aello added as she pushed through another throng of people and grabbed the top of her hood in her left hand. She pulled it farther down, to help conceal her face. It was best that no one see who she truly was. Especially now that Aello's eyes were blazing. Surely they could set just about anyone on fire. Aello was doing her best to disappear, but the bird seemed to be ruining everything. Surely he would notice her this way. The tall man who had been following her for several blocks. He looked so sinister, and Aello couldn't help but wonder what he could want with her. Yet, when she found it in her heart to try and confront him, she couldn't find him following her anymore. Aello would simply glance over her shoulder, and the mysterious figure would be gone. Sometimes, she'd turn around and retrace her steps; looking. She'd glance down alleyways, and around corners, but he wouldn't be there. She'd move to higher ground and survey the crowd, but she'd never spot him, no matter how long or how hard she looked. It was like the man was a master of disguise, and could make himself appear just as easily as he could make himself seem to disappear. OOCThere is no man, her thoughts are merely her rising sense of paranoia. An after effect of her magic use.

[Verilian]

Aello continued to walk, trying to remain unnoticed but somehow the sinister man always seemed to know exactly where she was. It felt like it was impossible to escape him, and aside from making her afraid it was also driving Aello mad. As she turned a corner she spotted the man again, but as always she couldn't get a good look at him and whenever she tried he always seemed to disappear, blending into the crowd far better than Aello apparently could. Suddenly Aello felt a sense of amusement building in her. Amusement at the foolishness of her paranoia, but the feeling somehow felt foreign. It was as if she were feeling the emotions of another. And it wasn't the first time it had happened. A few short days earlier Aello was shopping for a new pair of shoes and was about to buy a pair when she suddenly got the feeling that she, or someone, thought she was being ripped off. As it was now, the feeling had felt like it wasn't coming from her, but from someone else. Aello declined the purchase, confused about her instinct but following it nonetheless. Or perhaps these were her own feelings. Perhaps the rational side of Aello's brain was trying to tell her something and keep her from making herself look like a fool. Aello spotted the man yet again and quickly turned down an alley trying to lose him only to bump into a handsome young man with dark blue eyes and curly blond hair. He looked to be pretty well off based on how clean he was and how well he was dressed, and usually in Ravok that meant you were either a merchant or part of the Black Sun. "Oh! Excuse me, ma'am. I didn't mean to bump into you." The man glanced over Aello's shoulder and peered into the crowd, a slight frown creeping onto his face. "Are you okay, madam, you look like you've seen a ghost. You were in such a hurry, is somebody chasing you?" Aello didn't know this man. She had never seen him before in her life, but somehow his voice sounded like one that could be trusted. He looked at her with those deep blue eyes, each like bottomless oceans filled with unknown mysteries just waiting to be found, and Aello could not help but trust him. Aello suddenly felt like she could tell this man anything, unload all her troubles onto him and he would accept it. Aello felt as if this man whom she had only just met would fix everything that was wrong with her. She wanted to tell him everything, to let it all out. Surely he could protect her from the sinister man who was following her. Surely this man, with his muscular arms and athletic build, could scare off her stalker and keep her safe. Aello knew she was right, she knew she could trust him, and wanted to tell him everything. OOCAs you may have guessed, Aello is being compelled by something more than the man's charming good looks to trust him. Please feel free to question yourself, but in the end you can't help but play along.

[Aello]

"No... no... don't be silly," Aello giggled before she looked up and into the man's eyes. They were a deep blue, like the bottom of an endless see. "Um... sorry, for you know, bumping into you. Are you alright?" Aello stammered as she found herself feeling drawn to him. She inched her body closer as Yune chirped endlessly by her ear. Silence Birdie! Aello wanted to scream, as she stared at the man, awaiting her answer. My this looks familiar. Dearest Aello is getting hypnotized again it seems. But Aello couldn't hear. She was too busy being drawn into him, by some intangible force. It was as though she were a ship, hopelessly sinking into a whirlpool; lost to the world within seconds. As to why Aello felt such a strong connection to this man, she was uncertain. But whatever it was, she knew she could trust him, despite his being a total stranger. Each moment she looked into his eyes, she felt the walls she had built up crumbling down. She could sense her bottom lip trembling. She could tell her secrets. Let them all out into the thin expanse of air that lingered between them. Let her words twist and turn around his ears and dwell within the inner reaches of his mind. He could be Aello's shoulder to cry on; her rock. If only she allowed him to. If only she used her words to let him in. She really wanted to anyway, and it wouldn't take too long, or be painful at all. There was simply nothing to lose. "Well, now that you mention it," Aello began, "there was someone following us." Oh here we go again, Aello's brain muttered, as it pictured itself rolling its eyes, and slapping itself in the face. Meeting all the crazy people in dark alleys. The man raised his right brow, "oh?" he said. Aello nodded. "He has been following us for a while now," Aello answered. The man's expression didn't change, he seemed to be asking her, he? Despite his lack of words. "I don't know his name. But, he seems to be following us everywhere. He's been following us for a few days, and whenever I turn to confront him. He's gone." Aello paused as she swallowed the clump in her throat, and raised her left hand to the man's chest. It rested on his lapel. She stared at it for a few moments, and the connection she had once felt temporarily broke. "And?" the man asked, sensing there was more. Aello looked up, and found that she couldn't look away again. He held her in the palm of her hand once more. "He is dark, and mysterious. Easily lost in the shadows, a master of the art of stealth. We have no idea if he means us harm, or is simply following us for the sake of being creepy." Aello finished. The silence that stretched between then was enough to cause her eyes to lose their focus, and the next time the man spoke, she didn't quite catch what he said. Even so, it was enough to bring the young spiritist back, so that she could say, "you could see for yourself if you'd like. He's standing right behind you." OOCAello is too distracted to notice anything her brain is saying. And again with the hypnotism, spiritism, and creepy meetings in dark alleys. You are giving me a complex V! You know how much counseling Aello will need after this mess?

[Verilian]

The mysteriously handsome man stared at Aello as she spoke, his eyes roaming over her with a look that felt like he was seeing into her very soul. Something about the look was familiar to Aello, if she cared to notice, as if he was seeing something more than just the woman standing in front of him. At first a frown creased his lips, but just as quickly it turned upside down into a charming smile. When Aello said the mystery man was standing behind him the man raised a curious eyebrow. He knew there was nobody in the alley behind him, and he was pretty sure Aello knew on some level as well, but he turned around just to humor her. To his surprise there was a man standing there, or at least he acted like there was somebody standing there. "Hey! You! Get out of here, leave this woman alone!!" The man drew his sword and waved it threateningly at where he hoped Aello imagined the man was, drawing curious looks from passerbys, then turned back around. "Come with me, I'll take you somewhere safe where he can't find you." Again his words made perfect sense and were almost impossible to resist. The man reached out with his free hand and took Aello's in his, guiding her across the street. His hand was large by comparison to Aello's and was warm and slightly moist. He glanced over his shoulder to where the man supposedly was then pulled Aello along a bit faster, "Hurry, before he decides to follow." To Aello going with the man made perfect sense. He was armed, he could protect her from the mysterious stalker, and he was very handsome and seemed the trustworthy type. But as he guided her through the crowded street Aello felt that foreign sensation stirring in her again, and it disagreed with everything she was doing. To it, this was all wrong, this was a bad idea. But Aello didn't want to hear it, every look the man gave her as he led her along simply reaffirmed her trust in him. The feeling of his hand over hers was unbelievable and she didn't want to let go, as if losing his grip would cause her to lose what was left of herself. The stalker was still following them, though her rescuer didn't seem to see him. He was leading them away, however, and hopefully they could lose the stalker in the crowd. Her rescuer paused and turned to Aello, looking at her with those enchanting eyes. "My house is just around the corner. You can hide there while I deal with that man." Again the foreign feeling rose inside her, but the man's words were powerful and to Aello going to his house seemed like the perfect idea. The man led Aello around the corner and to his house, letting go of her hand and running up the steps to open the door. "Come on, you'll be safe in here." Aello started to walk up the steps when suddenly she was hit by a familiar feeling, like she had just fallen through the ice on a lake and was freezing cold. "Aello, stop." The words came from her mouth, but Aello hadn't been the one to speak them. The man turned and looked at her from the threshold of the house, a confused expression on his face. "I'm sorry, what was that? You can ask questions later, we need to get you to safety. Come inside quickly." Still his words carried much strength, but the ice in her veins was distracting Aello from their power. Aello's voice was her own again, and she found she could move freely, but what had caused her to speak those words? "Please, you need to hurry, he'll find us if you don't get inside! Come on, you can trust me. I'll protect you from him." The man held out his hand, beckoning Aello to come. She couldn't deny he seemed trustworthy, more so than anyone she had ever met. But then what had made her say that, and why was she so cold? Was she possessed? She could still move. If she took the man's hand he could protect her, but if she refused then she would have to face the stalker on her own. What choice did she have? OOCHey, it's not my fault Aello is always in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Aello]

"It was... nothing," Aello said somewhat confused. She knew she wasn't the one who had spoken, and yet, the words had escaped her lips. Aello simply stared at the wooden door for a few minutes. She was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. Here the man was, being so very kind to her, and offering his assistance on the one hand, and on the other, there was a strange voice coming out of her mouth saying not to go inside. Yet, that voice, whoever it was, seemed to hold so much weight. It nearly made Aello's heart stop when she heard it. Yet, when she turned to look at him, into the man's dark blue eyes, she couldn't help but feel foolish, if not somewhat paranoid. Aello's face was turning a light pink. Technically, she didn't need him to protect her from her stalker. She and Yune could handle him easily enough. But... that didn't mean she didn't want him to protect her. After all, she hadn't managed to catch him yet, let alone deal with him. Not to mention, it meant that there was one less thing for her to do. Then there was the whole "knight in shining armor" thing that all women seemed to fall for. Of course, the man wasn't decked out in shining armor, but he was starting to bring down the walls Aello had built up and get to her. Finally deciding once and for all that she was simply being ridiculous, Aello turned back to the door. She extended her right hand and reached for the doorknob. Don't do it! Aello's brain screamed. Aello gulped as her hand hovered in mid-air. Now turn around and run! "Don't be ridiculous," Aello whispered, quietly enough where the man couldn't hear her. She began to move her hand toward the handle again. When she reached the golden-colored knob, she wrapped her fingers around it. The knob was strangely cool, as if reflecting the true nature of the man who lived inside the house, or the person who was warning her. Although Aello couldn't know that of course. That would have been too convenient, and made the day too uneventful. Aello slowly turned the doorknob counter-clockwise. When the lock clicked, she slowly pushed the door open. It creaked rather loudly on its hinges. Aello quickly made her way inside, not wanting to linger on the street any longer. When she had stepped through the threshold, she noticed that the room was rather sparsely furnished. There was a single, twin-sized bed nestled into the far left-hand corner. A white, cotton bed sheet hung loosely to the bed's wooden frame. A series of dark red and white sheets spilled over the side, and pooled around the bed's southeast leg. It looked like a mixture of blood and snow, along with a hint of grey dust. A single window hung over the back of the bed, right above where one would rest their head during slumber. The window was made of glass, and was covered in thick black curtains. Only a small sliver of glass window was actually visible, but it didn't allow any light into the room. Aello assumed it was because it was hovering over the side of a dark alley. The floors were hardwood, and relatively clean, although dust bison tended to lurk in the corners. The ceilings were of an average height- no higher than seven and a half feet up. The walls were painted white originally, but because the paint had grown so old, and it was so dark in the room, they appeared cream-colored. A small wooden table with two small wooden chairs sat in the far, right hand corner. A white glass plate sat on top, surrounded by a silver knife and fork. Atop the plate was a cloth napkin and appeared to be a half-eaten leg of lamb poking out from underneath the napkin. The room smelled distinctly of sweat and meat, and Aello's nose itched. It must be the dust build-up in the corners. A row of wooden cabinets circled the wall around the table. Some of the handles were broken off, and the wood seemed to chip in certain places. A small wooden bureau was pressed against the wall below the bed. All thrown together like this, the room looked both homely, if not a little dark and generally unkempt. Yune chirped in Aello's ear. "Well it's better than nothing love," Aello replied, as the door slammed shut behind them. Aello jumped up a little, and Yune flew off Aello's shoulder and onto the bureau, as her mistress' heart began to race. Aello looked back over her shoulder at the door. No one was there. "Now how did that happen?" Aello whispered, a hint of trepidation in her voice, as she turned to face her sparrow. "You ok love?" she asked. OOCI hope you don't mind my describing the room. Bureau and cabinets for... evil props and stuff, assuming you need them. >.<

[Verilian]

There was nobody in the room with Aello except for of course Yune, who was very unhappy with the situation. She had to assume that the man had shut the door before going to deal with the stalker. Maybe a gust of wind had made it shut harder than he expected? And here she was standing in his house.. She didn't even know his name. She didn't know anything about him and here she was. He could at least have said goodbye before leaving Aello alone in a semi-creepy dust ridden house. But Aello was not alone, and she knew it. No matter what tricks her mind tried to play on her, Aello knew there was someone else in he house with her. It was cold, and even without the cold Aello would be able to sense it now. And then of course there was the fact that something had made her speak earlier. The ghost in the room seemed to realize this as well. Before Aello could say or do anything she heard a shriek and a woman appeared next to the bed, her eyes ablaze with fury and envy. Time seemed to slow as the next few moments played out before Aello's rightfully shocked eyes. "He is mine, you stay away!!!!" The ghost let out another horrifying wail and charged at Aello in a series of blinking bursts, coming closer and closer. More surprising than that, at the same time another ghosts appeared seeming to come right out of Aello's chest.. Or maybe it had just been standing behind her. Either way, the new ghost met the charge with one of it's own and dove right into the shrieking woman and hurtling it across the room. The first ghost let out a shriek of pain and fury and the second one shouted "Be gone, spirit!" The first ghost, clearly surprised and frightened by the second, shrieked again then turned and fled through the wall to the alley beyond. The second ghost, a woman who looked vaguely familiar to Aello though it was hard to tell since she was looking the other way, stared at the wall for several long seconds before finally speaking. "She won't be coming back any time soon..." The voice too was familiar. Aello knew she had heard it before, but she couldn't quite place it. Whoever this ghost was it was powerful enough to drive the other one off with apparent ease. And then the ghost turned around so Aello could see it's face and it hit her... She did know the ghost. It was Cassandra. "Hello Aello.." OOCSo I don't know the rules on ghost vs ghost combat or anything, but i would assume they can harm one another if they wanted too. Anyway, I know i didn't really give you much to go on here dialogue wise, but saying hello seemed a good end to the post.

[Aello]

"Hello Cassandra," Aello replied as Yune began to chirp wildly in alarm. "Shhhh love, this ghost is a familiar one, and more than likely won't try anything stupid, dangerous, and or life threatening again, now will she?" Aello asked as she glared at the ghost. She was certainly in no mood to do the woman's bidding again. Yune started to calm down, and then stopped chirping altogether. Aello turned abruptly on her heels, and tried the door. The knob would twist, but never unlocked the door. Aello continued to jiggle it with her free hand, but it wouldn't open. Why is this door locked? What is going on? And since when do the things lock from the outside? Aello turned around again to face the ghost. Suppose we're stuck with her again. "So Cassandra, are you doing that?" Aello asked. "Doing what?" she replied. "Locking the door?" Aello asked. There was no reply. An eerie silence swept over the room before the spiritist spoke again. "So Cassandra, how have you been? It has been quite some time since we last spoke, hasn't it? Possess any people lately, you know, other than back there? Attack any other ghosts? Supposedly do something for the greater good, say, chase away jealous spirits?" Aello asked sarcastically before she paused. "Or is it just me that you like to pick on?" Aello walked over to the bureau Yune was perched on, and rested her bow up against it. She slipped her bag off her shoulders, and put it beside her bow. It made her body feel far later, as though it were floating. But the sensation soon died off. Nothing good ever lasted long. Aello turned back to the ghost. "So, it was you who spoke, back at the door. Why? What is so bad about this place, other than the fact that we seem locked inside? What are you so afraid of? What is there to fear? The place is essentially JUST a poorly furnished and somewhat unkempt single bedroom." Aello paused. "Or are you to here to say that not everything is as it seems?" OOCHope you don't mind the bit about the door. Aello wouldn't talk to Cassandra otherwise. She doesn't exactly trust her after the last time they met.

[Verilian]

"Nothing is ever as it seems, Aello. And if you think threatening me will keep me from doing what is necessary then you are wrong." Cassandra smiled, though whether it was friendly or not was hard to tell. Her face revealed little about what she was thinking or feeling. Somehow she seemed different than the last time they met.. more confident, more in control of herself. Cassandra glanced at the door, seeming to consider something, then looked back to Aello. "Believe what you want, but I am not here to hurt you. That man is a slaver, and he has you believing he is your knight in shining armor. He'll string you along until you trust him completely, then sell you off to some Nuit who only wants.. well, he'll make you a slave and you won't be able to stop him. He's already gotten to you a little. He has you believing he can protect you from something that isn't even there." Cassandra was talking about the mysterious man, the one that her "knight" was supposedly taking care of at that very moment. The ghost moved over to the door, placing a hand on the knob which it could not grasp. "I can open the door and you can escape, but you have seen his face and he will not let that stand. He will find you, and you will have to face him alone.". Cassandra turned back, her expression sincere, "Or you can stay and help me. There are other girls, just like you, who he has already taken. We can free them, but I can't do it without help." OOCThis is a short one.. Couldn't really think of how to make it longer. Still burnt out from the weekend, but I'm trying to keep things steadily moving.

[Aello]

"Sorry," Aello said sarcastically. "Didn't mean to hurt your precious feelings." There was a slight pause. "After you possessed me and got your revenge," Aello mumbled under her breath. There was something about Cassandra that made Aello feel uneasy, and it wasn't just their history together. It was something about her smile, it simply sent a chill up Aello's spine, and made Aello think that the ghost was up to no good again. Like she was concealing a very important piece of information from her. Aello's eyes narrowed and her hands balled into fists. Her nails dug into her palms, her skin grew whiter, and her veins bulged. She unclenched them, and then repeated the process, clenching and unclenching her hands as she thought about what to do. Aello had no reason to trust the ghost, and yet, the man was a stranger, she had no reason to trust him either. Thus, she decided that she should take a leap of faith, and go with the ghost, after all, she was locked inside the room anyway. "Something tells me Cassandra, that even if you opened that door, you would follow me, much as he would. Knowing you and what little there is of your past, you would want me to help them, just as you helped yourself, with a little help from a human last time our paths crossed." There was a slight pause. "Now Cassandra, we both know that he would be no match for someone in their right mind, right? So surely he could be dealt with even if he managed to find those whom escaped..." the spiritist's voice trailed off as Yune began to chirp. Was he coming back now? "Shhhh, Yune, not now," Aello scolded. The bird kept chirping. Aello turned to her. "Please Yune, be quiet." The bird was flapping its wing wildly, trying to get Aello to understand, but what? Finally the bird was silent. "Thank you," Aello said as she turned back to Cassandra. "Where were we? Ahh yes... no matter what, you would find a way to get me to help you. So, we might as well get this over with here and now." Aello paused. "Try to do anything stupid again, and we'll.." We'll what, the bitch is already dead. "Hurt you, and it'll be really painful," Aello finished as she put her hands on her hips, scrambling for the words. "So what should we do first? Break out of here after we collect our things, or, perhaps search through those cupboards for anything else that may come in handy?" Aello paused. "Or do you have something else in mind?" Surely there had to be something useful in those cupboards. They couldn't just be empty... Well, they could, but that would just be weird. OOCOh it's alright, I know you're busy, and we're still setting everything up anyway.

[Verilian]

Cassandra shook her head. "No, we wait here. He will take us to them.". The ghost paused, seeming lost in thought. Perhaps Aello was right in assuming there was something she wasn't being told, or maybe Cassandra just liked dramatic pauses, but either way Aello had the feeling something was missing. Whatever it was, she would have to figure it out later because Cassandra was talking again. "When he gets back, play along with whatever he wants. I will be with you, but I won't try anything unless you start to slip. He's going to try to put you under his spell, but don't fall for it. If you do, I'll have to take over. Now.. he should be back soon. We should get ready. I am going to possess you, but you will be in control... I'll only take over if you start to slip. You can talk to me, and I can help you if you need it, but do not do it much in front of him. He can see auras like you can. Yours should mask my own, but if I am too active he may see me." It seemed as if Cassandra might have explained more, but before she had the chance they heard noises outside the door, the sound of a latch opening. Cassandra vanished and Aello felt a rush of cold as the ghost entered her and settled somewhere in the back of her mind. She could still feel Cassandra there, but the ghost remained semi dormant to avoid being noticed by the blue eyed man who was now opening he door. "I led him away," he said as he entered the room, "We should be safe for the moment, but he'll be back. I know a place we can go where he can't get to you." The moment the man spoke, even though she now knew exactly what he was doing to her, Aello could feel her desire to trust him rise. He was still talking, nothing important, but his words were so mesmerizing. If this was a spell then it was a wonderful spell. How could someone with such a sweet and gentle voice as his possibly be involved in the things Cassandra had suggested? ...Cassandra? At the thought of the ghost Aello remembered where she was and what was happening. The man was in front of her now, he had taken her hand and was saying something. "..never met anyone as beautiful as you. I would never let anything happen to you, Aello." He knew her name? Had Aello told him that? Had he told her his name? Yes.. at some point he had. She knew it was Gabriel, though whatever else he'd said was a mesmerizing blur. As mesmerizing as his eyes... he was pulling lightly on her arm now, taking her somewhere. To the bed.. To the bed!? But no, they passed it by. He led her to the dining table, pulling out a chair for her then retrieving a bottle of wine from the cabinet. How gentlemanly he was. Nobody ever treated Aello with such kindness. And this stranger, Gabriel, he was so sweet to offer her the wine. Nobody ever gave her things either, just demanded. Especially the ghosts. They all wanted something from her, just like... CASSANDRA! Aello felt a sharp push in her head from the ghost to focus. Find out more about the safe place. Special Notes : Okay, if the last couple paragraphs seem confusing, it's cause they're supposed to. Aello is in a constant struggle to keep her mind under her own control. Cassandra is an anchor she can use to help snap back. Feel free to interrogate the man in any way you'd like as to discovering all about him. Come up with whatever explanation you want him to give, doesn't really matter, it's all lies except for one thing. The "safe" place is somewhere at the docks. Anything else you want him to say or do is fair game, and you can even have him take you there if you want but leave the actual arrival scene to me. Also, because of Cassandra's precense and your competent level in Spiritism you have limited access to the following skills and memories: Seduction +25 Persuasion +10 Interrogation +10 Dagger +10 Memories (Temporary Lores Basically): The Blue Eyed Men: Gabriel, as well as Nathan the man from her last experience with Cassandra, are both part of a cult of blue-eyed hypnotists who search for, seduce, and ultimately send women to a single Nuit at his hidden lair, where they are forced to do things which Cassandra refuses to share. Each woman has something unique about them, whether it be magical prowess, a physical trait, or something else. How to Recognize That you are being Hypnotized (basic) You will have access to these memories/skill bonuses until Cassandra leaves your body. The lores come to you as confusing memory flashes, and the skills.. However you'd like to roleplay put your access to them is up to you. The spiritism description only says you have "limited access" to the ghosts skills, so however you think that access should manifest is up to you. Just know that every time Aello accesses Cassandra's knowledge she is risking revealing her in her aura. Finally, if for whatever reason you want to give full control to Cassandra at any point, then I have to take over your actions. This also applies if I randomly decide to just make her take control, obviously. Oh, and you can talk to her in your head, but again doing so is risky as she will be quick to remind you of. The end.