- Status
A
Ashvina
Guest
I G N I T E . T H E . S P A R K .
scene one.
a collaboration between @Ashvina & @Zoola
With the Induction Festival less than hours away, the Ruins was a bustling hub of activity. People hurried about, scrambling to prepare for the much-awaited festival. Though it was a monthly affair, Nolan still eagerly anticipated the event every time. The Induction Festival united members of the Spark, both newcomers and veterans alike, in a single, momentous event as the new recruits committed to the profession that they would hold in the Spark. It was a night for dancing, comradery, and entertainment. Despite the night of festivities that lay ahead, Nol couldn't help but feel a tad peeved. Of all nights, he was instructed to go out on a Pill delivery to Tranquility. Still, he managed to squelch his feelings of annoyance; after all, he might as well enjoy the time he did have. At least he'd be spending the night with Sola either way.
That night, Nol was hardly dressed better than usual. At Lora's encouragement to appear a little less "casual" for the affair, for once, he was dressed in a black button-up shirt, a pair of dark jeans, and the least-scuffed up pair of shoes that he could find in his closet. This ensemble was tied together with his trademark gray baseball cap, which he was never seen without and which no one could dissuade his from wearing. Nol always preferred a more casual attire; dressing up too much gave him uncomfortable memories of the stuffy, absurdly pretentious Diamond suits he was forced to wear while attending galas and political events. He was never happier than the moment when he discovered t-shirts and jeans. Still, for Lora's sake, he compromised. Ever so slightly. Which, even then, was a rare occasion in and of itself.
Nolan ran a hand through his messy curls, popping his cap back on as he approached the Grand Oak, the magnificent hotel where Spark's leaders and elites resided, including Solara. Like Nolan, Sola also enjoyed the festival - especially for the food. It was a time of relaxation and conviviality and Nolan wouldn't doubt that she was as equally upset as he was about having to leave early for the delivery. They'd agreed to meet up beforehand in order to walk down to the festival together and so, without missing a beat, he strolled up to the door to Sola's room. "Sola!" he called out, knocking loudly on the door. "You ready to go?"
The sound of knocking on the door caught Solara's attention. She knew that Nolan would be arriving any moment, but of course it was right when she was lacing up her boots. She was halfway through trying to pull on the second shoe when the knock came. She looked up, swearing under her breath.
"I'm coming!" She called, holding her key ring between her teeth before hopping to the door and attempting to pull on the stubborn boot at the same time. New boots were always difficult to break in.
Sola was dressed as she always was to the Induction Festival. Many Sparks wore nice dresses purchased from the Market Square...but Sola didn't even own one. She was dressed in jeans and her new leather boots, a fitted one-sleeved black blouse, with a gold necklace that had belonged to her mother. She was eager to get to the festival and spend what little time they had eating as much of Val's amazing food as possible. The eating would be punctuated with dancing and talking with recruits who'd just picked their professions. Sola was eager to see her friends...to introduce new foods to Veda, to drink a beer with Val and Savi, dance casually with Lugh, catch up with Lux, and ruffle Shasta's feathers. Nol would be by her side for most of it...if he could get her to leave the pastry table, that was.
Throwing open the door, key ring still in her teeth, Sola grinned and leaned against the door frame to finally pull on her shoe. She tied it quickly before nodding. Nolan looked more dressed up than normal, as per usual with the festival. Nice clothes but accented with that cap, as always. She lowered her foot and shut the door behind them.
"Let's roll, Rich Boy. I need to eat as much as possible before the delivery."
"Hey, don't eat too much before we go. I'm warning you now, the walk to Tranquility will be pretty miserable." Nol replied with a playful grin. With Sola's insatiable sweet tooth, of course she'd be determined to stuff herself as much as possible. And before a delivery, nonetheless. Though Nol would have to admit, it was difficult to resist the treats that were offered at the festival. Especially those made by Val, the Spark's head cook. He might be tempted to discreetly take some for the road. "And I'm not piggybacking you all the way to Tranquility."
Within a few moments, the pair approached the Grand Oak's courtyard, which was decorated to the nines for the festival. Rows of booths were assembled for each profession within the Spark, where new recruits could learn information on each occupation. There were his fellow scouts, hunters, looters, soldiers, musicians, and more - the choices were numerous, and there was something suited for nearly everyone. Glancing around the festival, Nol nodded in contentment as he took in the sight. Though the Induction Festival was usually held in the Grand Oak's Ballroom, this month it was due to take place in the courtyard.
The courtyard, as always, was a gorgeous mishmash of vibrant colors, savory smells, and upbeat music. The sky was just beginning to turn orange as people took down their booths and people from the general population started to arrive for the dance. The Grand Oak towered behind them, all old world charm and curving floral architecture with gold molding. The courtyard was a vast open space that spilled into a forest clearing, ringed with tall columns riddled with climbing ivy. By the time everyone arrived, there would be people well past the clearing.
Solara could hear musicians beginning to tune their instruments and transition into the darkly delightful music of the evening festival. The pillars were wrapped in swathes of homespun fabric, dyed in a deep shade of red…the color of their people. Rows of yellow globe lights were strung in a zigzag pattern from the columns, creating a roof of fairy lights over the open space where people would dance.
Long tables laden with foods stretched across one side of the courtyard. It was all there: herb-roasted meats, grilled spiced vegetables, heavy buttery breads, pastel pastries coated in glaze, bright cakes dressed in thick frostings, sweet creams in a variety of flavors, rich wines, and smooth ale. Sola's mouth was already watering. Within an hour, the party would be in full swing. She turned to Nolan, a bright smile on her face. She was happy to be there with him, and eager to bump into their other friends. Her eyes were already peeled.
"Better enjoy it while we can!"
@rissa @Folksy @Artorias @SoleStride @Cresion Breezes @SlowInfect @SpaceCowboyEin @neptune
scene one.
a collaboration between @Ashvina & @Zoola
With the Induction Festival less than hours away, the Ruins was a bustling hub of activity. People hurried about, scrambling to prepare for the much-awaited festival. Though it was a monthly affair, Nolan still eagerly anticipated the event every time. The Induction Festival united members of the Spark, both newcomers and veterans alike, in a single, momentous event as the new recruits committed to the profession that they would hold in the Spark. It was a night for dancing, comradery, and entertainment. Despite the night of festivities that lay ahead, Nol couldn't help but feel a tad peeved. Of all nights, he was instructed to go out on a Pill delivery to Tranquility. Still, he managed to squelch his feelings of annoyance; after all, he might as well enjoy the time he did have. At least he'd be spending the night with Sola either way.
That night, Nol was hardly dressed better than usual. At Lora's encouragement to appear a little less "casual" for the affair, for once, he was dressed in a black button-up shirt, a pair of dark jeans, and the least-scuffed up pair of shoes that he could find in his closet. This ensemble was tied together with his trademark gray baseball cap, which he was never seen without and which no one could dissuade his from wearing. Nol always preferred a more casual attire; dressing up too much gave him uncomfortable memories of the stuffy, absurdly pretentious Diamond suits he was forced to wear while attending galas and political events. He was never happier than the moment when he discovered t-shirts and jeans. Still, for Lora's sake, he compromised. Ever so slightly. Which, even then, was a rare occasion in and of itself.
Nolan ran a hand through his messy curls, popping his cap back on as he approached the Grand Oak, the magnificent hotel where Spark's leaders and elites resided, including Solara. Like Nolan, Sola also enjoyed the festival - especially for the food. It was a time of relaxation and conviviality and Nolan wouldn't doubt that she was as equally upset as he was about having to leave early for the delivery. They'd agreed to meet up beforehand in order to walk down to the festival together and so, without missing a beat, he strolled up to the door to Sola's room. "Sola!" he called out, knocking loudly on the door. "You ready to go?"
The sound of knocking on the door caught Solara's attention. She knew that Nolan would be arriving any moment, but of course it was right when she was lacing up her boots. She was halfway through trying to pull on the second shoe when the knock came. She looked up, swearing under her breath.
"I'm coming!" She called, holding her key ring between her teeth before hopping to the door and attempting to pull on the stubborn boot at the same time. New boots were always difficult to break in.
Sola was dressed as she always was to the Induction Festival. Many Sparks wore nice dresses purchased from the Market Square...but Sola didn't even own one. She was dressed in jeans and her new leather boots, a fitted one-sleeved black blouse, with a gold necklace that had belonged to her mother. She was eager to get to the festival and spend what little time they had eating as much of Val's amazing food as possible. The eating would be punctuated with dancing and talking with recruits who'd just picked their professions. Sola was eager to see her friends...to introduce new foods to Veda, to drink a beer with Val and Savi, dance casually with Lugh, catch up with Lux, and ruffle Shasta's feathers. Nol would be by her side for most of it...if he could get her to leave the pastry table, that was.
Throwing open the door, key ring still in her teeth, Sola grinned and leaned against the door frame to finally pull on her shoe. She tied it quickly before nodding. Nolan looked more dressed up than normal, as per usual with the festival. Nice clothes but accented with that cap, as always. She lowered her foot and shut the door behind them.
"Let's roll, Rich Boy. I need to eat as much as possible before the delivery."
"Hey, don't eat too much before we go. I'm warning you now, the walk to Tranquility will be pretty miserable." Nol replied with a playful grin. With Sola's insatiable sweet tooth, of course she'd be determined to stuff herself as much as possible. And before a delivery, nonetheless. Though Nol would have to admit, it was difficult to resist the treats that were offered at the festival. Especially those made by Val, the Spark's head cook. He might be tempted to discreetly take some for the road. "And I'm not piggybacking you all the way to Tranquility."
Within a few moments, the pair approached the Grand Oak's courtyard, which was decorated to the nines for the festival. Rows of booths were assembled for each profession within the Spark, where new recruits could learn information on each occupation. There were his fellow scouts, hunters, looters, soldiers, musicians, and more - the choices were numerous, and there was something suited for nearly everyone. Glancing around the festival, Nol nodded in contentment as he took in the sight. Though the Induction Festival was usually held in the Grand Oak's Ballroom, this month it was due to take place in the courtyard.
The courtyard, as always, was a gorgeous mishmash of vibrant colors, savory smells, and upbeat music. The sky was just beginning to turn orange as people took down their booths and people from the general population started to arrive for the dance. The Grand Oak towered behind them, all old world charm and curving floral architecture with gold molding. The courtyard was a vast open space that spilled into a forest clearing, ringed with tall columns riddled with climbing ivy. By the time everyone arrived, there would be people well past the clearing.
Solara could hear musicians beginning to tune their instruments and transition into the darkly delightful music of the evening festival. The pillars were wrapped in swathes of homespun fabric, dyed in a deep shade of red…the color of their people. Rows of yellow globe lights were strung in a zigzag pattern from the columns, creating a roof of fairy lights over the open space where people would dance.
Long tables laden with foods stretched across one side of the courtyard. It was all there: herb-roasted meats, grilled spiced vegetables, heavy buttery breads, pastel pastries coated in glaze, bright cakes dressed in thick frostings, sweet creams in a variety of flavors, rich wines, and smooth ale. Sola's mouth was already watering. Within an hour, the party would be in full swing. She turned to Nolan, a bright smile on her face. She was happy to be there with him, and eager to bump into their other friends. Her eyes were already peeled.
"Better enjoy it while we can!"
@rissa @Folksy @Artorias @SoleStride @Cresion Breezes @SlowInfect @SpaceCowboyEin @neptune
F
Folksy
Guest
V A L E N T I N E M O Y E S
Val woke up with a splitting headache to a knock on his suite door. He looked around to see that he was surrounded by clothes, dirty kitchenware, and an embarrassing amount of ambiguously labeled bottles. The knock came again, only louder. "Okay OKAY! I'm coming!" He yelled at the door. As he was stumbling out of bed and deciding whether or not to put pants on (he was only wearing boxers) there came another BANG BANG BANG. Val rushed to the door and opened it with a quick, irritated motion. A girl who worked in the kitchen stood in the doorway with a pissed look on her face and her fist raised like she was just about to knock on the goddamned door again. He knew this girl . . . her first name was Jerry.
Val was trying to remember her name when she cut through his thought to say, "Induction festival." Val started at her. He could have sworn the Induction Festival was tomorrow . . . "you forgot didn't you" the girl demanded, swaying to the side to see past Val into his apartment. Her face was disgust and annoyance. What the hell did I do to her to make her so angry? He asked himself. "Be at the kitchen stall in an hour at least. Please," and with that she slammed the door and her first name came to him.
"Jerry B something . . ." He mumbled to himself as he shuffled over to his kitchen, which was spotless compared to the rest of the place, "Jerry Bellicose . . ." Val rooted around for the last name and a thermos, but instead found a coffee mug, which would do well enough. ". . . Jerry . . . Bane?" When he went to pour the coffee from his old french press, though, he saw that he had none, which he might have predicted if he didn't have such a killer hangover. His gaze slowly panned from his coffee pot to a bottle of something sitting on the counter, "Jerry Bristly maybe," True, alcohol was not quite a traditional morning drink, but Val said to himself that it would do this once. Maybe he had Jerry B over once and he had forgotten?
Val left his apartment with an old olive-colored tank top, grease-stained jeans, and a mug of good old moonshine. The ruins were very busy this morning and Val made sure to put on his greeting face as he ran into just about everyone in The Spark he knew. Finally, Val made it to the kitchen stall. The possibility that Jerry the Angry Dishwasher made him weary to be there, but when he arrived, she wasn't there. There was a few kitchen-hands, and one guy who Val had been teaching to decorate cakes, but didn't actually work in the kitchen. She must have left in frustration. Val let out a sigh and sat down behind a foldable table with a big "Cook" label. It was false advertising, Val would never let brand-new Sparks cook anything. All they ever knew how to cook was this tasteless mush in three different textures. Normally, he'd start people new to the ruins off with a really simple job like handing out the food or cleaning dishes. To his left was a huge table of beautiful looking and tasting food. He'd prepared maybe about half of the stuff on the table and had supervised the making of the other half, all of it was done yesterday though. He normally got a lot of recruits from the induction festival due to his friendly-ness and the fact that once they tasted anything on his table they'd think he had the most magic job in the Spark, but with the pain in his forehead he wasn't sure he'd be able to pull it off. God I hope this "coffee" kicks in soon. He took a solemn sip and surveyed the festival. He was always amazed at just how big the Spark was when you got them all together in a mob. They almost had an army.
While looking over the many faces of the crowd, Val spotted Sola and Rich Boy together, which made him smile. "HEY LOVEBIRDS!" He yelled over to them, waving his unoccupied hand in becoming.
@Zoola @Ashvina
Val woke up with a splitting headache to a knock on his suite door. He looked around to see that he was surrounded by clothes, dirty kitchenware, and an embarrassing amount of ambiguously labeled bottles. The knock came again, only louder. "Okay OKAY! I'm coming!" He yelled at the door. As he was stumbling out of bed and deciding whether or not to put pants on (he was only wearing boxers) there came another BANG BANG BANG. Val rushed to the door and opened it with a quick, irritated motion. A girl who worked in the kitchen stood in the doorway with a pissed look on her face and her fist raised like she was just about to knock on the goddamned door again. He knew this girl . . . her first name was Jerry.
Val was trying to remember her name when she cut through his thought to say, "Induction festival." Val started at her. He could have sworn the Induction Festival was tomorrow . . . "you forgot didn't you" the girl demanded, swaying to the side to see past Val into his apartment. Her face was disgust and annoyance. What the hell did I do to her to make her so angry? He asked himself. "Be at the kitchen stall in an hour at least. Please," and with that she slammed the door and her first name came to him.
"Jerry B something . . ." He mumbled to himself as he shuffled over to his kitchen, which was spotless compared to the rest of the place, "Jerry Bellicose . . ." Val rooted around for the last name and a thermos, but instead found a coffee mug, which would do well enough. ". . . Jerry . . . Bane?" When he went to pour the coffee from his old french press, though, he saw that he had none, which he might have predicted if he didn't have such a killer hangover. His gaze slowly panned from his coffee pot to a bottle of something sitting on the counter, "Jerry Bristly maybe," True, alcohol was not quite a traditional morning drink, but Val said to himself that it would do this once. Maybe he had Jerry B over once and he had forgotten?
Val left his apartment with an old olive-colored tank top, grease-stained jeans, and a mug of good old moonshine. The ruins were very busy this morning and Val made sure to put on his greeting face as he ran into just about everyone in The Spark he knew. Finally, Val made it to the kitchen stall. The possibility that Jerry the Angry Dishwasher made him weary to be there, but when he arrived, she wasn't there. There was a few kitchen-hands, and one guy who Val had been teaching to decorate cakes, but didn't actually work in the kitchen. She must have left in frustration. Val let out a sigh and sat down behind a foldable table with a big "Cook" label. It was false advertising, Val would never let brand-new Sparks cook anything. All they ever knew how to cook was this tasteless mush in three different textures. Normally, he'd start people new to the ruins off with a really simple job like handing out the food or cleaning dishes. To his left was a huge table of beautiful looking and tasting food. He'd prepared maybe about half of the stuff on the table and had supervised the making of the other half, all of it was done yesterday though. He normally got a lot of recruits from the induction festival due to his friendly-ness and the fact that once they tasted anything on his table they'd think he had the most magic job in the Spark, but with the pain in his forehead he wasn't sure he'd be able to pull it off. God I hope this "coffee" kicks in soon. He took a solemn sip and surveyed the festival. He was always amazed at just how big the Spark was when you got them all together in a mob. They almost had an army.
While looking over the many faces of the crowd, Val spotted Sola and Rich Boy together, which made him smile. "HEY LOVEBIRDS!" He yelled over to them, waving his unoccupied hand in becoming.
@Zoola @Ashvina
- Invitation Status
- Posting Speed
- Multiple posts per day
- 1-3 posts per day
- One post per day
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Online Availability
- Eastern Time:: 00:00 - 04:00 (depending on work schedule)
- Writing Levels
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Primarily Prefer Male
- Primarily Prefer Female
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Fantasy, Scifi, Modern, Magical, Mystery, Meta-Human/Super Powers, Futuristic, Dystopian.
Elisa Lowry
"If you guys don't get these concepts, I'll just plan on telling a bunch parents at the parent-teacher conference tomorrow night that their children won't ask questions when they don't understand something and; therefore, may do badly in my class." Elisa's hands scooped up her stack of papers on the desk in front of her. Just glancing through these papers told her that she was going to be giving out some bad news the following night. "It's not rocket science." Why were these grades so low this semester? It wasn't like anything had changed. Her teaching hadn't changed. Were the kids distracted? Were they just not getting it this year? "I'll be staying after class and late tonight." She glanced at her watch. "You need to be asking questions if there's something you don't understand. If I have to tell your parents that your grades are dropping, you'll be the responsible party."
Elisa sat down in her desk chair just as the bell rang, causing her to look up as if she could see the source of the sound. Obviously, she couldn't so she just looked back at the papers she was making into a neat pile. "I'll be here until seven. Get your questions in before I forget the concept of mercy." The kids seemed to get the idea that they were going to be in trouble if they didn't try to actually figure out what they were missing. A couple kids moved to her desk to start asking her questions.
Between answering questions, explaining solutions, and working on grading the papers she had collected earlier that day from her classes, leaving at seven was starting to look like a dream. Eventually, she was alone in the classroom again and trying to finish up what work she had for the night. It wasn't always the best way to do things, but Elisa preferred to get all her work done without saving any for the next day whenever she could. It kept her up late at night many days, but it was so much easier the next day.
When she was finally finished, the young woman ran a hand through her long, brown hair to push it away from her face and leaned back in her chair. Elisa rolled her shoulders a few times to relieve what tension she could and then stood from her desk, gathering her things and clutching a book and some folders to her chest as she slid her bag onto her shoulder. A few steps later and a with a jangling of her keys while putting them back in her bag, she started down the hallway. Her movement came to an abrupt halt when she slammed into something in front of her. She had been looking down at her things, trying to find her phone, and wasn't watching where she was going.
"Are you alright?" The drab male voice had her head lifting and she gave Mr. Neal, the History teacher, a nod before responding.
"I'm fine. it's my fault. I wasn't looking." She looked down and then back up again quickly, a strange look on her face. "Are you preparing for the conferences tomorrow?" She asked. "You're here pretty late." She side-stepped around the man who hadn't moved an inch since they'd slammed into each other.
"Yes." The man lifted his own stack of belongings to show. "The students aren't doing as well this semester… It leaves a lot of work for us."
"Yes, it does." Elisa nodded in agreement. "I'm having the same problem." She shook her head and pulled her hair up into a high ponytail at the back of her head. "I don't know if they're just not focusing or if something else is going on." Her hand waved through the air in a few short movements and the woman started backing toward the door. "Well, I'll see you tomorrow at the meeting."
The other teacher just nodded and turned to go off in his own direction as Elisa backed her way out of the building, pushing the door open with her backside and did a little spin to head away from the school. The walk wasn't too far so she normally just went home on foot as long as it wasn't too cold outside. The night air was incredibly refreshing, the breeze brushing passed and ruffling the woman's hair. But her gaze was caught by the sight of another graffiti tag on the wall just inside an alley way on her way home. She wasn't far from the school, maybe half a mile. So close to a public building, so close to the main road… Wasn't that dangerous?
"Find the pill…" Without thinking, the words rolled from her lips and before she knew it, Elisa was lifting a hand to touch the paint. Taking her hand away, her fingers came back clean. This paint was dry. This graffiti never stayed for very long. How did it get overlooked at such a public place? Those blue eyes shifted, glancing around to see if anyone was nearby. It was getting late so not many people were out. Was it possible that this one spot had been overlooked somehow? Her eyes scanned the tag again, the slowly building urge she'd been hiding from everyone including herself suddenly bubbled to the surface again. Find the pill. FIND THE PILL. Find it. You have to find it. FIND IT. The thoughts echoed in her head, bouncing off the walls erratically until her mind was filled with only that thought.
Last edited:
S
SlowInfect
Guest
Aaron Miller
Acrid smoke curled from a newly lit cigarette as Aaron snuffed yet another butt under his foot. The tobacco soothed his headaches, though the dull pain was a welcomed distraction to his new reality. Honestly, the outside should enthrall him more than it was. His fascination with the old world was what connected him and his wife. However, that was exactly the problem at this point. She and their children were still in Tranquility, and here he was—A fugitive, now with the spark. Aaron's lips pursed at the thought of his escape, nearly crushing the filter on his cigarette.
Peering at his surroundings, Aaron could see the courtyard was bustling with festival preparations. The bandages on his arm had dissuaded anyone from asking for his help. With his issued medication, it wouldn't have been a problem; yet, he was too distracted to insist on his usefulness. He'd present himself more earnestly when the festivities began, or when he was out of smokes.
As it turned out, the music started before his pack was empty. Aaron took one last drag before killing the embers on his boot, and shoving the stub back in the box. His stomach was empty and the painkillers were wearing off. The food table would have to be his first stop, or being personable would be a chore.
Even walking stimulated his burns with a horrendous chill—the type of pain one gets from laying in the snow too long. Aaron's fingers twitched as the cool air flowed through his bandages, and grimaced the few times he bumped into other guests. They were all dressed so nicely. He, however, still wore his sooted factory pants and a plain shirt.
The aroma of the fresh banquet food flooded the space; in so much, that Aaron's smoke permeated clothes would go unnoticed. Aaron swiped a chicken leg from the table. He quickly took a few large bites as Val called to a young couple. Although not formally introduced, Aaron recognized Val from his tour of the facilities.
"It's good to finally meet the man making all the food!" Aaron tossed a painkiller into his mouth as he walked over. "It can't be easy preparing for this many people. I'm Aaron." His hand extended as he introduced himself with some fervor—forgetting briefly the injury he had acquired.
Acrid smoke curled from a newly lit cigarette as Aaron snuffed yet another butt under his foot. The tobacco soothed his headaches, though the dull pain was a welcomed distraction to his new reality. Honestly, the outside should enthrall him more than it was. His fascination with the old world was what connected him and his wife. However, that was exactly the problem at this point. She and their children were still in Tranquility, and here he was—A fugitive, now with the spark. Aaron's lips pursed at the thought of his escape, nearly crushing the filter on his cigarette.
Peering at his surroundings, Aaron could see the courtyard was bustling with festival preparations. The bandages on his arm had dissuaded anyone from asking for his help. With his issued medication, it wouldn't have been a problem; yet, he was too distracted to insist on his usefulness. He'd present himself more earnestly when the festivities began, or when he was out of smokes.
As it turned out, the music started before his pack was empty. Aaron took one last drag before killing the embers on his boot, and shoving the stub back in the box. His stomach was empty and the painkillers were wearing off. The food table would have to be his first stop, or being personable would be a chore.
Even walking stimulated his burns with a horrendous chill—the type of pain one gets from laying in the snow too long. Aaron's fingers twitched as the cool air flowed through his bandages, and grimaced the few times he bumped into other guests. They were all dressed so nicely. He, however, still wore his sooted factory pants and a plain shirt.
The aroma of the fresh banquet food flooded the space; in so much, that Aaron's smoke permeated clothes would go unnoticed. Aaron swiped a chicken leg from the table. He quickly took a few large bites as Val called to a young couple. Although not formally introduced, Aaron recognized Val from his tour of the facilities.
"It's good to finally meet the man making all the food!" Aaron tossed a painkiller into his mouth as he walked over. "It can't be easy preparing for this many people. I'm Aaron." His hand extended as he introduced himself with some fervor—forgetting briefly the injury he had acquired.
Last edited:
P
pipermocha
Guest
Roan was bone tired from his latest run with Wilson which was made even more annoying since they hadn't found a damn thing while they were out. Wilson had dragged Roan out early last week and they'd be completely unsuccessful, something that didn't often occur with Roan. Wilson was excited for the Induction Festival and was talking about how much he loved it nonstop. Roan would probably enjoy the idea of it more if he wasn't so tired for hunting basically nothing. "You don't have to be so pissy. Sometimes you don't find things," Wilson told him on their way back. Roan rolled his eyes, and marched on in silence. He looked forward to Val's food, whatever liquor he could get his hands on, and thirty hours of food and drink induced sleep. Wilson didn't make any attempts to continue their previous conversation and spent the rest of the walk back terrorizing any squirrels that came along their path.
When they arrived back into town, Wilson said his goodbyes and left Roan standing in the middle of the square. He watched the different people in square, buying and selling last minute goods for the night's festivities. He watched a woman purchase a red dress from one of the stands and thought of Helene. She looked stunning in red. Perhaps she'd even worn a dress like that one many months ago at her last Induction Festival. He couldn't remember that far back. He didn't have the energy. He walked swiftly to his apartment, smiling and waving to those he knew on the walk back.
When he arrived, he threw his gun and bag on his bed and let out a deep sigh. He toyed with the idea of skipping the festival but he respected what it stood for too much. He wished he could care a little less about the pill and the advancements it would make but oh well. He ran his fingers through his curls before moving his hands to his dirty shirt. He threw it over his head and onto the floor and looked for something more appropriate for the festival. He settled on a dark green button down that his mother had gotten him as a gift for his last birthday. She always spoiled him and she liked that it covered the luminous flames etched into his arms. He tried to brush out his curls a little to appear more acceptable but gave up after about five minutes. "Besides," he said to himself, "Val probably hasn't brushed his hair in a week."
The square was still full of excitement, probably even more so since he had last been there a few hours ago. He felt a feeling of rejuvenation by the excitement displayed. Perhaps Wilson was right, perhaps he needed to let himself enjoy the festivities. He looked down at the watch he'd found a few years back and was satisfied to see that he was right on time. He was supposed to meet his parents at Grand Oak in ten minutes and he was impressed to see that he had arrived before them, a rarity. He figured his mother was taking just a little bit longer to get ready. He grabbed something that looked like chicken and tasted even better while sipping a glass of beer. He waved to Val and watched as the large but gentle man shout at Sola and her friend that always seemed to follow her around. "Lovebirds is right," he thought.
Last edited:
Savina Melrose
Induction days were boring. Even moreso when she was due to be in the woods. It'd been almost a month since she and Lugh arrived back home. Almost a month since the Looter Attack. The memory of coming home merely hours after so many Sparks had lost their lives still gave her chills. Still, she ached for the woods. She longed to be consumed with the silence of the wildes. It was perhaps, unusual, that she adored them, but year after year they had provided sustainability for her home and her people. What about that was there to dislike?
With a lithe, cat-like stretch, Savi stood and went to refill her mug of tea. Lugh usually ran the booth, so she wasn't worried about being on time. He'd oft tell her she scared off any new recruits with her glares anyways. Savi shrugged to herself, refilled her tea, and prowled to the window. Many people were already crowding the streets in front of the Oak, and it'd been hours since the Induction Festival officially started.
Taking a sip of her tea, trying to stall the inevitable, she thought of visiting her mother but tossed the idea out of the window as quick as it came. She'd only chastise her not being at the Festival and performing her duties. Her next thought was of Val, but knowing him, he was just getting to his own booth after a night of too much liquor. Groaning, Savi set down her tea and threw on her favorite pair of jeans, a long sleeved black t-shirt, and her hiking boots. After lacing them up she finished her tea and with another groan, walked out of her apartment.
It took a little longer than usual, with all the people milling about the Oak's entrance, to get to the booth labeled, Looter: Everyday's an adventure. Every year Lugh posted that cheesy sign, and for years, naive Deviants fell for it. Not many signed up, and few were able to pass training. Lugh, steady as always, leaned against the side of the booth deep in conversation with a pair of new Deviants. He flashed her a smile and pointed into the crowd. Turning, Savi noticed a familiar pair making their way towards the food, towards Val. She waved to Lugh and stalked over to Sola and Nol.
"What are yall doin'?" She asked softly, reaching towards the ladened tables for the nearest pastry. "Don't yall have scouting duty tonight? Shouldn't you be gettin' ready?"
@Ashvina , @Zoola
Veda Nym Creed
She woke in a cold, empty room, shivering and confused. Veda longed to fall back asleep, to grasp the dream that was slipping from her mind as the seconds ticked on. What had she been dreaming about? Why were her cheeks damp with tears? She didn't care; rolling over and cocooning herself in the blankets she'd gotten from the marketplace with Sola, she opened her eyes and glanced around the room. She'd left the curtains open and from the looks of it, had slept through the entirety of the morning. Groaning, she got out of bed, seized the first set of clothes she found within her dresser and bolted to the bathroom for a warm shower.
After she was freshly showered, Veda crept into her kitchen and made herself some coffee. Her fridge was still relatively empty; between the looter attack and helping with preparations for the Induction Festival, she and Sola hadn't had the time to finish her own preparations for her room within the Grand Oak. With a fresh cup, she padded out of her room and over to the next and softly knocked on the door. After her third knock went unanswered, she surmised that Sola wasn't home. Probably helping set up for the -- Induction Festival!
"That's today!" Veda mumbled to herself in surprise.
The surprise startled her, like it had so often as of late. It was an emotion she'd come to dislike - one upon many - still, the fact that she could experience them at all was what mattered. She glanced down at the soft red blouse and the jeans she wore and with a pang of embarrassment, realized they just wouldn't do. Functionality, of course, had been Tranquilities staple, and it was a hard to abandon the familiarity. Yet this was the Induction Festival and she needed to present herself looking the best she could. After today she'd know her place within the Spark. After today, she could start over. Start anew.
Walking back to her one room apartment, Veda closed and locked the door before shedding her clothes and coffee still in hand, scoured her apartment for something appropriate to wear. Almost an hour later she'd found something. Finally. Forgotten in the very bottom of her dresser, was a dress of soft material, black in color, and from the one time she'd worn it -- in front of Sola and her friend Savi who'd accompanied them to the marketplace -- knew it was rather revealing in nature. Yet it was the only thing she had that wasn't too casual. So Veda threw on the dress and surveyed herself in the bathroom mirror. The fabric hugged her curves and the straps fell loose around her shoulders.
Peeking out of the window, Veda saw hundreds of people crowding the front of the Oak, where the Induction Festival was to take place, and swallowing any anxiety along with her prescribed red pill (once every nine hours until her patch could be surgically removed), grabbed a red crocheted sweater, laced her arms through it, and walked out of her room and down the stairs into the madness beyond.
Thankfully, Sola was one of the first people she saw when she exited the building. She stood with her scouting partner and her childhood friend, Savina. Veda walked over hesitantly, the dress making her unusually self-conscious.
"Hello Sola." She said timidly, nodding to the pair around her. "How are you all this evening?"
@Ashvina @Zoola @lolme
Last edited:
- Posting Speed
- One post per day
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Slow As Molasses
- Online Availability
- Afternoons to midnight-ish (EST)
- Writing Levels
- Give-No-Fucks
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Genres
- Hard Scifi, Psychological, Generally weird stuff, fantasy is cool, modern fantasy is also cool, crime/film noir
Vio Selby
The sky looks dead today. As it always had. Vio sat in her classroom, in her seat that was conveniently placed near the window. Convenient for her to space out anytime she wants, that is. Classes today were the same again, clean, concise, and most importantly, simple. Although most of the other students seem to be struggling. Vio herself wasn't in the best conditions either, she closed her eyes as she twirled the pen on her desk a few times. The images were coming back, the graffitis, the slogan, and something about the pill. The only thing that snapped her back into reality was the voice of the teacher, more specifically, the voice of an annoyed teacher.
Still having her eyes half closed, Vio listened to her teacher's announcements. Something about the parent-teacher conference that made a few other students twitched in their seats. Vio never minded, since to her, school always seemed like the least of her worries. None of the stuff they taught was rocket science, like how the young teacher exclaimed. 'Rocket science? Probably not that hard if you split up the research sectors, and only learned about one field.' Vio thought to herself as she flipped through some of her notes.
As the bell rang throughout the school, Vio finally opened her eyes and carelessly tossed the items on her desk into her bag. Most of the students didn't look like they were about to leave, seems like that paper is really stressing everyone out. Vio didn't mind, the contents on those papers wasn't hard as everyone else made it seem. She had no questions, so she's leaving the place. But not so soon, as she stood up from her desk her bag was grabbed by someone. The girl sitting in the seat behind, Miia looked at her. "O-oh, you're leaving?" She said, a little surprised by Vio's sudden movement.
"Yeah, no point of staying around, right?" Vio sat back down on her chair and turned back to face the girl. "It's just that, I have these questions...and Ms.Lowry, she seems really busy today..." Miia continued with her voice smaller and smaller. "...and angry." Vio just tilted her head and picked up the notes that were laying on the desk behind her's. They were a mess, with a few lined and definitions all jumbled up. "I guess I have nothing better to do." One part of Vio felt sorry for her teacher's workload, and the other part was confused about the exponential growth of stupid-ness in her classmates. As she pulled her pen back out and tried to unscramble the messy notes with arrows and lines.
When Vio was done with helping her one classmate, most of the others were still there. But no one else has really came to her again, much to Vio's relife. She wasn't a good teacher, all she can do is do the right thing for others and let them figure it out by themselves. Her phone shook in her pocket with a message：'I'm in an appointment for my marriage patch, Mom and Dad have nightshift. Food is on the table. ' In the sender column was her sister's name. Vio let out a soft sigh and turned back to the school, towards the library. "Rocket science, huh?" She murmured as she walked.
The sky still looks dead, even in night time. Not a single star was in sight, the closest thing was the light that was emitted from the buildings in the hazy distance. Vio stepped out of the school library after being kicked out by the impatient librarian, who was actually very patient, but still cannot stand working so many hours overtime. Rocket science wasn't easy as she thought it was, though much more entertaining. She gazed up at the night sky as she walked home, the sky was dark, not a spect of light in sight. After pacing a few hundred meters away from school, running into no people along the way. It was late, after all. But passing an alleyway she noticed something strange. There was a figure of a person, down the far side. It was strange for someone to be in a place like that at such a late hour, Vio had read books about pre-Genisis War humans who commits bad actions under such circumstance. This is Tranquility though, where crime doesn't exist. Without thinking much Vio walked down the way and was getting closer and closer to the figure. She noticed that the graffitis were on the wall, so this person, was someone who was associated with them? Thoughts rolled in her head as she arrived in front of the woman, who looks like she was lost in thought.
"......Ms.Lowry?"
[/hr][/hr]
[/hr]
A
Ashvina
Guest
Violette Acotas
[BCOLOR=transparent]Induction Festivals were decidedly not Vi's cup of tea.[/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]It was crowded, swarming with people eager to talk and engage and show you their latest Market find. People who were full of opinions, that sometimes tugged on your arm when they got excited. Vi was not the sort of person who enjoyed such situations. Especially not when she was expected to act a certain way to make people feel more welcome. That simply wasn't going to happen, no matter what Shasta said. If a new recruit wanted to know if there dress fit them weirdly and it [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]did, [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]Vi was going to tell them. Why bother asking if you didn't really want to know? The only person Vi would even consider sparing feelings for was Caroline. Even then, it was with great hesitancy. It wasn't that Vi was trying to be rude, but rather that she felt people deserved honesty. Not everyone agreed.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Vi didn't understand it, but she wasn't going to waste energy dwelling on it.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]As it were, the only reason she was there was because she'd been manning the Medic booth that day, and figured she'd grab a bite to eat before heading home. It was better than going back to her room and attempting not to somehow set a jelly sandwich on fire. She didn't know [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]how [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]it would happen. Just that she was probably capable of fucking up that badly where food was concerned.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]So, Vi stayed. She stood on the outskirts of the dance floor, nearby the food table, dressed in her usual dark attire of a deep red dress. Dresses were almost [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]always [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]more comfortable than pants. At least the ones Vi wore were. As Vi gingerly took a bite from the small bowl of chocolate ice cream she held, a small sigh of appreciation left her.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]For all she didn't like being around people, she didn't much mind feeling alone in a crowd. It was sort of peaceful. And the courtyard had been decorated beautifully, with ambient light and flashes of her favorite color--dark red--all over the place. No, with a delicious dessert and such pretty surroundings, she couldn't really be dissatisfied. And that was the honest truth.[/BCOLOR]
Last edited:
A
Ashvina
Guest
[bg=white]
The sound of a very familiar voice caught Solara's attention. She turned to find Val standing right by her target location...the food table. He joked about the nature of her and Nol's relationship, as always, and Solara grinned after laughing as they approached the small crowd by the table. Everyone knew that she and Nolan were just the best of friends. They'd been for years, ever since they'd bumped into each other in the middle of the night years ago. Nol had been a new recruit, and hadn't yet learned that when you approach people who are spending time alone in the forest, they tend to react in self-defense. Solara had pulled a knife on him before realizing that he was just another Spark, apologized, and from there a friendship bloomed from a foundation of mutual insomnia and late night walks.
"The only thing I'm in love with is your cooking, Val," Solara joked as they reached the table and she plucked a cinnamon bun up despite Nol's prior cautioning about their delivery. She opened her mouth to speak again when Savina approached, finally back for a festival. As always, she was eager to be back in Savina's company. She had looked up to Savi for her entire life, and had always been comfortable in her presence. Sola smiled at her dear friend, giving a shrug to her comment about getting ready for delivery. It was a classic Savina question. Savi had been the one to train Sola in combat, and was always on top of preparation. She and Shasta were so similar, in that respect.
"We're leaving early, but couldn't resist stopping by," a little mischievous grin curved on Sola's face, as she decided to play into Val's teasing. "It's fine though. Nol loves me so much that he's going to piggyback me to Tranquility after I eat as much as I can."
Sola's words were lighthearted as she sank her teeth into the roll. The tantalizing taste of warm vanilla and cinnamon was perfect as always, and Solara made a noise of approval. Soon, Veda joined the group of people dressed in an outfit that Sola had gotten to help pick out.
"Veda! We're wonderful and you look fantastic!"
Her face, as always, had settled into a permanent smile. The Induction Festival was truly Solara's favorite day of each month. There was a feeling of community and sense of belonging that Solara reveled in. She loved having all the people that she cared about in one place, cloaked in the sound of laughter and smell of delicious food. It was a simple pleasure, but one that Solara greatly appreciated. In that moment, she couldn't have been more content.
[/bg]
"The only thing I'm in love with is your cooking, Val," Solara joked as they reached the table and she plucked a cinnamon bun up despite Nol's prior cautioning about their delivery. She opened her mouth to speak again when Savina approached, finally back for a festival. As always, she was eager to be back in Savina's company. She had looked up to Savi for her entire life, and had always been comfortable in her presence. Sola smiled at her dear friend, giving a shrug to her comment about getting ready for delivery. It was a classic Savina question. Savi had been the one to train Sola in combat, and was always on top of preparation. She and Shasta were so similar, in that respect.
"We're leaving early, but couldn't resist stopping by," a little mischievous grin curved on Sola's face, as she decided to play into Val's teasing. "It's fine though. Nol loves me so much that he's going to piggyback me to Tranquility after I eat as much as I can."
Sola's words were lighthearted as she sank her teeth into the roll. The tantalizing taste of warm vanilla and cinnamon was perfect as always, and Solara made a noise of approval. Soon, Veda joined the group of people dressed in an outfit that Sola had gotten to help pick out.
"Veda! We're wonderful and you look fantastic!"
Her face, as always, had settled into a permanent smile. The Induction Festival was truly Solara's favorite day of each month. There was a feeling of community and sense of belonging that Solara reveled in. She loved having all the people that she cared about in one place, cloaked in the sound of laughter and smell of delicious food. It was a simple pleasure, but one that Solara greatly appreciated. In that moment, she couldn't have been more content.
[/bg]
Last edited:
F
Folksy
Guest
Val definitely caught a few looks when he shouted over to Sola and Nolan, but he couldn't care less since no harm was actually done. The call sparked a wave from one of Val's old friends, Roan, who was chowing down on beer and chicken.
The man's living, He thought as he waved back. For a minute, Val considered going over to Roan and giving him a pat on the back or something. However, a group of old friends formed in front of Val's table fairly quickly as Sola, Savi, and Nolan came over. It immediately felt like a family reunion with Savi giving Sola shit about not getting ready for their run and Val's food causing Sola to make embarrassing noises.
Sola, of course, went straight to the cinnamon rolls. Val actually hated making cinnamon rolls, since they used up so much cinnamon. It was a spice that was pretty hard to grow in their climate...but once he saw the look on people's face when they ate one, he just never had the heart to stop making them. Really, he would've made cinnamon rolls for just Sola, if she was the only one in the Spark who asked for it. He had a hard time saying no to someone so positive and sweet. Either way, the whole scene warmed Val's heart and his headache went away. Whether the headache easing was due to the fact that his moonshine finally hit his empty stomach or if it was the fact that he was surrounded by pretty girls that he loved and who made him laugh, he did not know.
"Hey! Savi cut Sola a little break here, it's hard to resist the charms of my baking."
But there was a new face with them, and what a nice face it was. Well, more than a nice face. Val turned to the new girl and gave her a big signature Val grin, "And since neither of these girls are gonna introduce me. . ." Val gave a look to Sola, who' called her Veda, then looked back at the new girl, "Veda. . . I'm Valentine, head cook," Val had learned that for some reason, girls loved his full name, "and you are devastatingly beautiful in that dress. I've been told how terrible Tranquility food is, so you should come by the kitchens sometime and I could cook you a real meal. I can even make it with separate courses."
As he was talking, someone browsing his table caught his eye. Val was pretty sure she worked in medicine. He'd seen her around a lot, especially at the garden, but he'd never gotten the chance to speak to her. She was pretty and mysterious, and someone had once told him she'd been a prostitute for the rich people in Tranquility. She intrigued him. Her admiring his food was a good opportunity. Val started walking backwards towards . . . he was pretty sure her name was Vi.
"Listen I'll see you guys later. Sola, there are some fudge brownies in the cookie section. Rich Boy, you better watch your ass around my sister. Savi, try and relax. And Veda . . ." Val gave her a wink, "try not to break any hearts on your first Induction, okay?" Val gave them all a wave as he spun around on his heel to face Vi.
"Hey there. You're Vi right?" Val's grin broke again. She really was stunning, and Val bet she was also smart, with a job like apothecary. He took a gulp of the moonshine in his mug, "I've seen you in the garden a lot but I don't think we've ever talked. Enjoying my food?" Val gestured to the deserts laid out in front of them. He put a hand up to his face like he was trying to keep a secret and mock-whispered, "I slaved on them so you should probably just agree," a light chuckle escaped his lips and he let his voice go back to its normal, low, rumbly tone, "I'm Valentine Moyes, by the way."@Zoola @Ashvina @rissa @pipermocha
- Invitation Status
- Posting Speed
- Multiple posts per day
- 1-3 posts per day
- One post per day
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Online Availability
- Eastern Time:: 00:00 - 04:00 (depending on work schedule)
- Writing Levels
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Primarily Prefer Male
- Primarily Prefer Female
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Fantasy, Scifi, Modern, Magical, Mystery, Meta-Human/Super Powers, Futuristic, Dystopian.
Elisa Lowry
If she could truly feel the sensation of being startled as it was really meant to be felt, Elisa might have jumped and even screamed when she was approached by someone in a dark alleyway. But she felt nothing of the sort and instead, had to force herself to pull her stare away from the graffitied words on the wall and turn her gaze, somehow sharp at first, on the girl who had come up behind her. At first, she hadn't recognized the voice and it took her a moment to place it as one of her own students. Probably because this one, confirmed at first glance, was not one of her problem students. Vio was an intelligent girl, surely made for a higher purpose than becoming a factory worker, and had one of the best grades in her class – if not the best. She'd have to check the grade book to be sure.
"Ms. Selby." The woman responded in her usual monotonous drone. If she could put any emotion into it, she would, but living in Tranquility meant that there was no option. "It's rather late for a young woman such as yourself to be walking around in the dark." Elisa finally stepped away from the wall, as if forcing herself to do so. She didn't want to seem suspicious but it was surprisingly difficult to pull herself away from the three simple words. She was drawn to them, something she'd known since she was a child. Her words may have sounded strange considering that it wasn't like the girl would be mugged or anything. But walking around in the dark could still get someone hurt if they weren't paying attention. The last thing she wanted was for one of her precious students to get injured.
Her voice, soft and subtle, still carried through the darkness again somehow. "I would think with deadlines and an exam on the horizon, one would be at home studying." She moved closer, her steps certain until they reached a stopping point only two feet from Vio's position. "I think we should both be heading home now. So much to do, so little time, hm?" Ms. Lowry put a hand on the girl's shoulder and ushered her back toward the sidewalk, walking with her to make sure she went. "Go home. Even someone with high marks should be studying this time of the semester. We can never stop improving upon ourselves." She gave a gentle push, leading the student back in the direction of her house. "Go on."
Last edited:
- Invitation Status
- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per week
- Writing Levels
- Adept
- Advanced
- Prestige
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Primarily Prefer Male
- Genres
- Action, Fantasy, Romance, Modern, Magical, Sci-Fi, Steampunk, etc.
Jayce Dorrit
Jayce Dorrit's eyes opened to the sunlight peeking through the blinds of his one bedroom apartment. He had a late shift the previous night before and didn't go to sleep early like he intended to for the Induction Festival, so now his head was disoriented as he sprawled across the soft comfort of his bed and eyes closed once more. He had to recruit new Soldiers like everyone else had to recruit new people. He always ran into the same problem every year while talking to the new recruits of Spark, when they were going to be able to shoot and gun and when they were going to kill someone from Tranquility. Usually from there he convinces them to join the Looters or Scouts instead.
Eyes cracking open once more he let out a defeated sigh before he pushed down on the bed with his arms and crawled out onto his feet. He ran his fingers along his jawline, scratching the skin underneath his groomed and well kept beard. Eyes blinking slowly for a moment before registering his own apartment around him and unwilling feet carrying him into the kitchen to brew up a pot of coffee to help wake him up. While the coffee started to brew, his addled mind began to clear up like a heavy fog has been lifted and he became more productive. Stepping out of the kitchen he goes into his room and pulls out clothing that was suitable enough for the Induction Festival. Pulling out a pair of nice blue clean blue jeans, black and red flannel shirt with a black undershirt and his boots. The shirt was tucked in and he had a belt on. His dress style was different than that of Tranquility, and other Sparks. He seemed more like he grew up in the woods and was a lumberjack.
When finally dressed he exited the bedroom while finishing the last button at the top of his shirt and rolling the sleeves up to his elbows and into the bathroom where he looked in the mirror and fixed his hair and combed down his beard. By the time he was finished his coffee was finished, and made way from the bathroom into the kitchen to pour himself a thermos full and leaving his apartment.
Crows of people flocked to the Oak where the Induction Festival would be taking place. Jayce gave a polite nod and smile to those he walked past while drinking from the thermos. Everyone he passed was dress in their best they had or could afford, but not Jayce. He didn't really care about what clothing he wore to events such as these. He wanted and needed to be comfortable in what he wore in case something arose that required him to be actively moving and possibly moving things and wearing nice clothing like a suit or slacks wouldn't cut it.
Arriving at the food table, a crowd of people standing around it. The faces he recognized, and names, but he wouldn't say they were great friends. He was friendly to everyone in fact, and people talked to him about his problems but no one really talked to him about himself or just to talk about the most random things. Its always when they need to get something off of their chest or have a problem that needs to be solved. It doesn't hurt his feelings to only be sought out for those reasons, at least he is being helpful to the people of Spark in every possible way. Picking up a doughnut he took a bite out of it while walking by the group and towards his own table where a few other off duty soldiers sat waiting for him to begin the day of typical questions.
Eyes cracking open once more he let out a defeated sigh before he pushed down on the bed with his arms and crawled out onto his feet. He ran his fingers along his jawline, scratching the skin underneath his groomed and well kept beard. Eyes blinking slowly for a moment before registering his own apartment around him and unwilling feet carrying him into the kitchen to brew up a pot of coffee to help wake him up. While the coffee started to brew, his addled mind began to clear up like a heavy fog has been lifted and he became more productive. Stepping out of the kitchen he goes into his room and pulls out clothing that was suitable enough for the Induction Festival. Pulling out a pair of nice blue clean blue jeans, black and red flannel shirt with a black undershirt and his boots. The shirt was tucked in and he had a belt on. His dress style was different than that of Tranquility, and other Sparks. He seemed more like he grew up in the woods and was a lumberjack.
When finally dressed he exited the bedroom while finishing the last button at the top of his shirt and rolling the sleeves up to his elbows and into the bathroom where he looked in the mirror and fixed his hair and combed down his beard. By the time he was finished his coffee was finished, and made way from the bathroom into the kitchen to pour himself a thermos full and leaving his apartment.
Crows of people flocked to the Oak where the Induction Festival would be taking place. Jayce gave a polite nod and smile to those he walked past while drinking from the thermos. Everyone he passed was dress in their best they had or could afford, but not Jayce. He didn't really care about what clothing he wore to events such as these. He wanted and needed to be comfortable in what he wore in case something arose that required him to be actively moving and possibly moving things and wearing nice clothing like a suit or slacks wouldn't cut it.
Arriving at the food table, a crowd of people standing around it. The faces he recognized, and names, but he wouldn't say they were great friends. He was friendly to everyone in fact, and people talked to him about his problems but no one really talked to him about himself or just to talk about the most random things. Its always when they need to get something off of their chest or have a problem that needs to be solved. It doesn't hurt his feelings to only be sought out for those reasons, at least he is being helpful to the people of Spark in every possible way. Picking up a doughnut he took a bite out of it while walking by the group and towards his own table where a few other off duty soldiers sat waiting for him to begin the day of typical questions.
A
Ashvina
Guest
[bg=black]
[BCOLOR=transparent]It wasn't long before Vi's speculation came true. A man came and spoke to her, breaking her focus. Her gaze shifted, languidly sliding over to him--it was critical, appraising. The person, Val, who'd come to talk to her was tall and burly in every sense of the word. Vi recognized him as the Spark's head cook. He'd approached her rather suddenly, with his expression nearly conspiratorial. Like they were keeping some sort of secret. Vi blinked. There was an easygoing air about Val...but that wasn't the only thing that hung around him. When Vi breathed in, she could smell the distinct scent of strong alcohol. Something that told her whatever in his coffee mug certainly was [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]not [/BCOLOR][BCOLOR=transparent]coffee. One of her eyebrows curved up, and she took a slow bite of her ice cream, looking untroubled.[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"The food is good..." she said finally, finishing off the bowl and setting it in the dishes bin near the table. "Do you hide your alcohol in mugs at work too, or is that just for the festival?"[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Vi's gaze was unyielding as she looked at him, crossing her arms casually. There was usually only one reason men talked in such a way--abrupt, in low voices--to strangers. People played games with flirtations, but Vi was never much for it. She'd never found them fun or like a good use of time. What was the point of it all? She had no interest in dating anyone. Any romantic type of involvement she had with people were strictly physical. When her romantic attachments were strictly physical, there was no point in the task of flirting. There would either be sex, or there would be nothing. It would be a fun little way to spend her free time, and then she would get on with her life. Usually people had no problem with it. At least, the people she shared her bed with didn't. Before she slept with someone, she was always very clear about the nature of it. There was no use in hiding it. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]And Val certainly wasn't unattractive. He was a little rough around the edges, but it held a certain sort of rustic charm. A rugged sort of careless handsome. Vi finished the last of the ice cream and placed it in the nearby dishes bin, tilting her head to one side. She would wait for him to answer her question. And then she would ask one of her own.[/BCOLOR]
[/bg]
[BCOLOR=transparent]"The food is good..." she said finally, finishing off the bowl and setting it in the dishes bin near the table. "Do you hide your alcohol in mugs at work too, or is that just for the festival?"[/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]Vi's gaze was unyielding as she looked at him, crossing her arms casually. There was usually only one reason men talked in such a way--abrupt, in low voices--to strangers. People played games with flirtations, but Vi was never much for it. She'd never found them fun or like a good use of time. What was the point of it all? She had no interest in dating anyone. Any romantic type of involvement she had with people were strictly physical. When her romantic attachments were strictly physical, there was no point in the task of flirting. There would either be sex, or there would be nothing. It would be a fun little way to spend her free time, and then she would get on with her life. Usually people had no problem with it. At least, the people she shared her bed with didn't. Before she slept with someone, she was always very clear about the nature of it. There was no use in hiding it. [/BCOLOR]
[BCOLOR=transparent]And Val certainly wasn't unattractive. He was a little rough around the edges, but it held a certain sort of rustic charm. A rugged sort of careless handsome. Vi finished the last of the ice cream and placed it in the nearby dishes bin, tilting her head to one side. She would wait for him to answer her question. And then she would ask one of her own.[/BCOLOR]
[/bg]
- Invitation Status
- Look for groups
- Looking for partners
- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Slow As Molasses
- Writing Levels
- Adept
- Advanced
- Prestige
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Slice of Life, Horror, Fandoms, Superheroes, Crime, Drama, Grit, Supernatural, Light Sci-Fi, Modern Era, Dark Themes
The Grand Oak courtyard sat off in the distance, already glowing with festival lights beneath the setting sun. Lux smiled to herself, eager to get inside and find her friends. She side-stepped a group of women, all dressed beautifully, much more sophisticated than herself. While she was sure that her simple attire—a pair of blue jeans, a flannel layered over a t-shirt and boots that laced halfway to her bony knees—wouldn't receive too many questioning looks, it would have been nice to play dress up for the evening. Unfortunately, a Scout's work was never done, and there were bigger things to put effort into.
After weaving her way through the crowd, Lux finally made it inside. The courtyard looked like something from a fairytale. For a long moment, or maybe two, Lux simply stood there and took it all in. Her eyes moved greedily from the fabric-wrapped pillars, to the twinkling lights, and over to the musicians who sounded as practiced and polished as ever. Sometimes, it was hard for Lux to believe that any of this was real, but it made her appreciate the life she had; especially when she had seen inside the austere walls of Tranquility so many times before.
"Hey!" Lux huffed when a careless man bumped into her shoulder, sending her bag nearly falling to the ground, "watch it!" Never mind that she had been standing in the middle of the entrance. Shrugging the incident off, Lux moved deeper into the festival and walked slowly along one of the tables lined with desserts. Quickly, she snagged a fluffy cookie, the glaze on top still sticky, but satisfying the terrible sweet tooth that always reared its ugly head whenever confections were involved. She ate the cookie, lemon in both flavor and color, in two bites before buckling down to find a familiar face.
Soon enough, she spotted a certain dark-haired girl among a small crowd. Out of everyone she knew, her mother included, Lux trusted Solara the most and usually wasn't far off from her friend. Fixing her bag on her shoulder, Lux made her way over to the group. She wasn't surprised to see Nolan there as well, not when he and Solara were so close, and Lux greeted him with a nod before sliding up next to her friend. "This place looks great," she praised. "I wish we could stay all night."
Looking around at the others who were gathered, Veda, Savina, a man she didn't recognize, Lux pushed a loose chunk of hair back behind her ear. "I guess you'll have to party for us," she joked.
F
Folksy
Guest
Val was . . . conflicted with Vi's response. On the one hand, he was embarrassed for being called out so brutally on the moonshine in his glass; he didn't like people making comments on his drinking habits (he could handle himself, fuck off). On the other hand, God, she was so hot. Val definitely liked a girl immune to his charms, and he thought the sexiest trait a woman could have was self-possessiveness and a kick-ass attitude (explains his whole relationship with Savi). Completely unfazed, Val saw her slowly finish up her ice cream and rip Val to shreds with her eyes. What was with this girl? God, she knew how to push his buttons. Val wanted desperately to know what she was thinking as she crossed her arms and gave her head a slight, curious tilt. He also wanted to either hide underneath the table from her or wildly jump over the table, grab her waist, and pull her close in one powerful motion so that he could regain the upperhand in this conversation. Instead he narrowed his eyes, maintained his smile, and gave her a short, puffy laugh.
"Well . . ." he mocked a look of ignorance, "what else would you hide alcohol in?" Val took another sip of the moonshine with a gleam in his eye. He was very proud of himself. It was a good line. They were standing in front of the danishes, so Val picked on up and took a big bite of it, "mmmm," his mouth was still stuffed when he said, "pairs well with this coffee." He raised his glass a bit as he said it, like he was giving a cheers.
For a moment, before Val shut the uncomfortable thought down, he wondered if he'd met a kindred spirit. In a moment of extreme presumptiveness, he guessed Vi was probably a little scarred from what she had to do in Tranquility, everyone would be, wouldn't they? And yet both of them appeared strong and in control. That has to fuck someone up, he thought. Val wondered what her coping mechanism was and how fucked she was. His brother flashed through his mind, and that's approximately when he consciously attempted to stop thinking about it. His headache was coming back. His smile had faded. He swallowed the bite of danish. He took a sip of moonshine to wash it down.
"Well Vi, nice to meet you. See you in the gardens?" Val made an uncomfortable smile and moved to walk down the table, away from the girl who was so obviously not interested, "You should try the blackberry danish."
@Ashvina @rissa
Z
Zoola
Guest
"Hey, lovebirds!"
Nol recognized that bellowing voice and familiarly playful teasing anywhere. He turned to see Val situated near the food table, where a decadent display of delicious looking food was laid out. In instant, a sensation of warmth rushed to Nol's cheeks at Val's teasing. Sure, he and Sola were together often, but that hardly meant anything. They were simply friends and there was nothing more to say on the matter, no matter how much people joked or questioned the nature of their relationship. Nol did his best to maintain his composure despite the rosy hue rising in his cheeks and he reached up to fix the hat on his head in order to conceal the ruddiness on his face. "Whatever, Val," he called out, feigning a nonchalant attitude despite the redness on his cheeks. Nol was never a master of facades - that much was obvious. This shortcoming of his was what perhaps made him stick out of the Diamond like a sore thumb. Unlike those Diamond idiots, Nol refused to float through life flaunting a false front for the sake of "propriety" or other absurd Diamondesque expectations. Of course, in such times, this proved to be somewhat of a disadvantage.
Luckily, Savi had arrived soon enough to rescue Nol from his flustered state and he greeted her with a bright, eager grin. Nol turned to Sola with a brow raised when she teased that he would be carrying her to Tranquility and he rolled his eyes playfully. "Hah, yeah right. I warned you, I'm leaving you behind in the forest before I piggyback you to Tranquility, Sola," He joked, grinning wide. Nol was most definitely not piggybacking Sola all the way to Tranquility. Fortunately, his previous feelings of embarrassment had begun to die down in the midst of the playful teasing and Nol settled his usual, more relaxed state. As he was surrounded by his close friends, he was reminded precisely why he enjoyed the festival so much. It was difficult to replicate the air of hospitality and comradery that accompanied the festivals in the Spark.
Within moments, a slightly hesitant, yet beautiful looking Veda joined their group. "Hey, Veda," he said, smiling warmly. Being from the Diamond, Nolan could never quite relate to former Tranquils' struggles of adjusting to life with emotions in the Ruins. Still, he imagined it to be rather nerve-wracking. To have your entire world turned upside down in a matter of mere moments and thrown into an entirely new world? It must be terrifying. Coming into the Ruins from the Diamond was difficult enough as it was, especially as the Spark's only Diamond recruit. Soon enough, Val had caught sight of Veda and swooped in in an attempt to woo her. Classic Val. And then, as if on cue, another woman caught Val's eye and he drifted off to Vi, who Nol himself wasn't all too familiar with. All he knew about the somewhat enigmatic woman was that she was the head of medicine in the Spark and that he found her distant demeanor somewhat off-putting. "How're you liking the festival so far, Veda? Any idea what job you're gonna go with?" he asked. Nol fondly recalled his own first Induction Festival. Though he was wracked with nervousness, he knew almost instantly that he wanted to become a scout. Although he despised Tranquility and PaxCor with an ardent passion, there was something oddly comforting to him about being within its walls again; perhaps it was the thought of his sister being just beyond the barrier between the Diamond and the rest of the city.
Nol glanced at Sola, whose face had settled in a bright, beaming smile. In an instant, he was flooded with a feeling of warmth. When Sola was happy, so was he. And in that moment, that was all that mattered to him.
Soon, Lux had also arrived to join the party. "Hey, Lux! How's it going?" Nol greeted, though his warm expression soon faded upon being reminded of having to leave early. Clearly, he was more than slightly vexed at being assigned on a mission on the very day of a festival. In fact, he'd forgotten altogether that Lux was to be accompanying them. Frankly, as much as he complained about the ensuing journey to Tranquility, he had been mildly looking forward to going on the ensuing mission with Sola.
@Ashvina @rissa @Folksy @neptune
A
Ashvina
Guest
[bg=white][/bg][bg=white][/bg][bg=white]
As people spoke, Solara continued munching on her cinnamon roll. It took her about ten seconds to get halfway through, twelve seconds before she begrudgingly knew she had to take Nol's advice. Too many cinnamon rolls would truly make for a miserable trip...but they were just so good. So, she continued more slowly, taking time to note and savour all the different hints besides cinnamon and vanilla. She never needed a man. All she needed was an endless supply of baked goods. And probably Nolan to tell her to pace herself.
Val spoke, and a teasing little grin cropped up on Solara's face. She directed it over to Savi as Val insinuated not-so-discreetly that his baking was irresistible. A little laugh left her. There was no reason to make an argument. He certainly wasn't wrong. Solara would leap tall buildings and risk not getting piggybacked to Tranquility for his baking.
Her smile shifted to Veda as Val worked his charms on her. She bit back a laugh, noting how he introduced himself to her as Valentine and not Val. There was typically only one reason that Val introduced himself in such a way. Sola wondered if Veda would even understand the implications of his suggestive speech. It didn't matter either way. Where pretty and unattached people were concerned, Val was undeterred. Her thought was only proven as Val drifted away with usual goodbyes to the people he knew and a flirtatious farewell to Veda. He moved to talk with Vi, the head of medicine. Solara only knew her distantly. She knew that Savi and Vi were best friends, and that Vi occasionally beat Shasta u--sparred with Shasta.
Before Solara could make a comment, she turned to see Lux coming to stand beside her. Sola smiled at her friend, looping her arm through Lux's. The pair of them always had fun together, and Solara was always happy to be in her company. Besides, Solara had been wanting to get to know her more.
"Thank goodness you're here, Lux. I haven't yet complained enough of having to leave early." Solara grinned.
Her eyes flicked over to Nolan, noting the way his expression had soured after being reminded. Solara was equally as perturbed, but there was something truly wonderful about going on the mission with him. Just the two of them and the great forest. It never lost its thrill with him--and she loved being alone with him. Truly alone, the type of solitude that only the woods provided. Sola didn't understand why it made her so happy, but she certainly didn't question it.
"You know, Lux," Solara said, glancing back to her friend. "Nolan and I can do the delivery together. We're used to going alone anyway, and we're not projected to have more than two new people show up tonight. So you could stay, if you wanted. No sense in making you miss out on the festivities."
Sola had spoken to Lux very briefly before on the way she felt when she was alone with Nolan. It was a peculiar feeling, but he was just her best friend. There was nothing else to it. Either way, she told herself that she just made the offer because she wanted to make it possible for Lux to stay at the festival. But a nagging voice in the back of her mind--one that she ignored--told her that it was more than that.
[/bg]
Val spoke, and a teasing little grin cropped up on Solara's face. She directed it over to Savi as Val insinuated not-so-discreetly that his baking was irresistible. A little laugh left her. There was no reason to make an argument. He certainly wasn't wrong. Solara would leap tall buildings and risk not getting piggybacked to Tranquility for his baking.
Her smile shifted to Veda as Val worked his charms on her. She bit back a laugh, noting how he introduced himself to her as Valentine and not Val. There was typically only one reason that Val introduced himself in such a way. Sola wondered if Veda would even understand the implications of his suggestive speech. It didn't matter either way. Where pretty and unattached people were concerned, Val was undeterred. Her thought was only proven as Val drifted away with usual goodbyes to the people he knew and a flirtatious farewell to Veda. He moved to talk with Vi, the head of medicine. Solara only knew her distantly. She knew that Savi and Vi were best friends, and that Vi occasionally beat Shasta u--sparred with Shasta.
Before Solara could make a comment, she turned to see Lux coming to stand beside her. Sola smiled at her friend, looping her arm through Lux's. The pair of them always had fun together, and Solara was always happy to be in her company. Besides, Solara had been wanting to get to know her more.
"Thank goodness you're here, Lux. I haven't yet complained enough of having to leave early." Solara grinned.
Her eyes flicked over to Nolan, noting the way his expression had soured after being reminded. Solara was equally as perturbed, but there was something truly wonderful about going on the mission with him. Just the two of them and the great forest. It never lost its thrill with him--and she loved being alone with him. Truly alone, the type of solitude that only the woods provided. Sola didn't understand why it made her so happy, but she certainly didn't question it.
"You know, Lux," Solara said, glancing back to her friend. "Nolan and I can do the delivery together. We're used to going alone anyway, and we're not projected to have more than two new people show up tonight. So you could stay, if you wanted. No sense in making you miss out on the festivities."
Sola had spoken to Lux very briefly before on the way she felt when she was alone with Nolan. It was a peculiar feeling, but he was just her best friend. There was nothing else to it. Either way, she told herself that she just made the offer because she wanted to make it possible for Lux to stay at the festival. But a nagging voice in the back of her mind--one that she ignored--told her that it was more than that.
[/bg]
Last edited:
- Posting Speed
- One post per day
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Slow As Molasses
- Online Availability
- Afternoons to midnight-ish (EST)
- Writing Levels
- Give-No-Fucks
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Genres
- Hard Scifi, Psychological, Generally weird stuff, fantasy is cool, modern fantasy is also cool, crime/film noir
Vio Selby
The woman who was staring at the wall took awhile to bring her attention back to reality. As she turned around Vio's assumption was confirmed, this woman was her teacher, Ms.Lowry. It was one of those things that Vio found surprising but not surprising at the same time. She wasn't surprised about how her teacher stayed up late and is working over time, there were plenty of times where Vio caught sight of her late at night in school. But she didn't expect someone who is seemingly metronomic as Ms.Lowey to be someone who is interested in those graffiti. The graffiti, Vio noticed them, but not really distracted. She knew that they must have some sort of purpose, and seeing her teacher so distracted by them might have opened an eye.
Vio looked at the dark haired woman as she finally turned around to face her, and started a lecture like conversation telling her to head home. One thing the Patch has created was this sickening sense of compassion, but another thing is how easily people can show their guilt. Her days of running to help at the local hospital paid off, when Vio started to realize the differences between Patched people and those with a damaged Patch.
"Danger? There isn't any visually identifiable threats as far as my analysis go." She replied calmly with a soft smile. "This isn't the Pre-Genesis War era. Besides, I think you could be considered a 'young woman' also, Miss."
When Elisa Lowry led her away, Vio didn't resist. She thought that it might be easier to talk when the graffitis aren't a distraction anymore. But her teacher still seems to be concerned about something. Perhaps it's being caught by one of her students when she was so distracted by those graffiti. Vio closed her eyes as the topic of school was brought up, she knew very well that she doesn't need to be lectured about anything academic related. It could be that her teacher was trying to change the subject. After being led out to the sidewalk, Vio simply brushed off Elisa's hand and leaned herself on a wall.
"You know that I don't need to study." Which is true to an extent, since Vio's photographic memory always came in handy. "Find the pill...I wonder what that means?" Vio said it in an almost sarcastic tone, but the truth is she doesn't have a clue about the meaning of those words, and she knows that there is the possibility of Ms.Lowry not knowing either.
"Care to teach me?"[/hr][/hr]
[/hr]
Last edited:
- Invitation Status
- Posting Speed
- Multiple posts per day
- 1-3 posts per day
- One post per day
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Online Availability
- Eastern Time:: 00:00 - 04:00 (depending on work schedule)
- Writing Levels
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Advanced
- Adaptable
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Primarily Prefer Male
- Primarily Prefer Female
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Fantasy, Scifi, Modern, Magical, Mystery, Meta-Human/Super Powers, Futuristic, Dystopian.
Elisa Lowry
The young girl planted herself right up against a wall to continue the conversation the way she wanted this time – whether the teacher was willing or not. Another sense welled up, like it was on the tip of her tongue, barely unable to truly feel it. The sense that this moment right now was a dangerous moment. Vio looked almost suspicious of her. If it were possible for the girl to even feel something of that sort. Either way, that's what the visual cues were suggesting.
Elise took a step away, giving the girl a nod. "Alright. You're right. I should also be getting home." The woman turned on her heel, not even getting to take her first step in the safe direction before the words she had been staring at for who knows how long now came out of her student's mouth. She was stopped in her tracks, turning back to Vio just as she was asking the teacher to teach her about it. Her heart stuttered. If only for the briefest of seconds, she could feel it jump in her chest. Something was there, gripping it as if both begging for truth and denying it all together. The second didn't last long and the feeling was gone – for the most part. But those words, now spoken out loud for the first time in so many years, echoed in her head once again.
"It means that someone has too much time on their hands." Be a teacher. You are a professional. You're an adult. Tell her that there is nothing to those painted words. Tell her that there is nothing to even think about, that those words can only cause trouble. Tell her that. "Some poor soul has nothing important to do - no way to contribute to society. It means…" She trailed off, somehow unable to get those words out of her mouth. What else could she say? She blinked a few times, uncertain as to why she couldn't just give the same spiel every kid who questioned those marks got. Then, just like that, the hesitation was gone again. Like a record that had finally stopped skipping, she continued, her tone as bland as always and her expression maintaining its usual disinterest per usual. "It means nothing. Unfortunately, not everyone is as privileged as we are and are not gifted with the thing that makes our people and our society so efficient and outstanding. Those people cause nothing but trouble and it would be wise to ignore their markings. They are attributed to a suffering that we need not understand." Yes. Tell her that, that's fine. But… even though she'd said the words, she did not believe them. Was her disbelief revealed in her eyes or was she covering that up well enough? Elisa angled her head away. In the dark, seeing through her personal lie would be more difficult if one could not look into her eyes. She quickly glanced down at her watch. "Now if you'll excuse me. There are more things to be done tonight before I can rest. You should be heading back as well." She'd said it, but she didn't turn to leave either. Was she waiting for the student to go or was something else keeping her in this spot?
- Status