Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 13:59:43 GMT -8
Aranel wandered into the the park by herself. Abe had gotten distracted by the shiny lights of the arcade and left her to wander on her own, which suited her just fine. She wanted some time alone for now.
She stretched contentedly as she walked, admiring the scenery. Talon's city was a beautiful place but it felt like a grave, which was fitting enough, she supposed, since he was Death and all, but the feeling of being trapped had gotten a little too much for her.
She clambered down the side of the lake to some flat rocks there and sat back on him, watching the swans and ducks swim by.
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 14:17:37 GMT -8
"If only I could see the day...If only it were the day I see..." Andy shrugged," Not bad." He wrote down the line he developed in his notebook. He closed it and leaned back against the bench he was sitting on. "My head," He put his hands on his head and closed his eyes, "I hate brainstorming songs sometimes." He sat back up into a hunched position and opened his eyes, keeping his hands just above them to keep out the light. At that time he noticed Aranel. "Not a day of inspiration for you either, huh?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 15:34:07 GMT -8
Aranel looked up. "What? Oh no, I'm looking for inspiration," she said, sitting up. She clambered to her feet and wandered over out of curiousity. "Are you a writer then?" she asked, peering at the notebook.
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 15:43:30 GMT -8
"Lyricist. And a musician. Putting together a CD. It passes the time." Andy stretched his neck to the left and right with a crunching sound. "It a sucks though. Even songwriters get the same writer's block headache that authors get." He rubbed his head to try to ease the pain. "What are you looking for inspiration for?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 15:59:47 GMT -8
She smiled and shook her head. "I'm not. I'm just here for the scenery." She sat down next to him without invitation, crossing her legs. "I don;t have any kind of writing talent except when it comes to paperwork," she said, laughing a little. She held out her hand to shake, "I'm Judge Aranel Ebner by the way. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ooc: I accidentally left out the not in 'I'm not looking for inspiration' in my previous post, pardon.
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 16:18:33 GMT -8
"Andrew Meister." Andy said as he shook her hand. He took a mental notice to her skin, harder than his from playing the guitar. "Now did you say that you were a judge? Like the kind with a black robe and a gavel in a courtroom?" He asked. "Because I don't think I've ever seen a judge around my age before."
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 16:27:34 GMT -8
"No, I'm not a Judge like that. I'm a Judge from... Well, I'm a whole different species." she said, " Would you believe me if I said I'm from a different world? I don't think I can prove it, but I assure you that it's true."
In fairness, it would be somewhat hard to believe. Aranel had a normal human appearance. She was a averagely pretty girl, slim with straight black hair, pale skin and purple coloured eyes. A bit striking due to her colouring but not really someone that would stand out in a crowd. However, her skin was maybe just a bit too pale for anyone not an albino and it didn't have much of the pinkish hue that theirs would have, more of a matte white, and her irises seemed just a bit larger than a humans'.
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 16:35:40 GMT -8
"Not too farfetched. But for the heck of it, let's follow you back to your homeworld. I haven't left this planet. And now that I kind of have a tracking device, I can finally see what its like where you are from." Andy stood up quickly. "Do you want to see your homeworld again? I can go by myself but why not have a tourguide?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 16:43:38 GMT -8
"Uh... You can't." Aranel said, wincing. "Trust me, if I could go back I wouldn't even be here right now. I'm only here because my friend and I got attacked when we were in the Morphae and we had to escape but the way we got here was a one-way route. We're stuck for now. The best I can do for now is show you pictures or my Scythe of Office." She gestured to a small rod on her waist. "It's collapsed right now of course."
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 16:54:47 GMT -8
Andy let out a small chuckle under his breath. "No I don't mean like that. We aren't going anywhere, its almost like..." He stumbled on what to describe it as. "Time Travel, only we can't touch, or be touched, only watch. And since I know what we are looking for, its easy for me to find where to go. Interested?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 17:03:41 GMT -8
"I think I know what you mean." she said, standing up. "And yes, I'm interested. So, how do we do it? Do I have to hold your hand or something, like in the films?"
Though it wouldn't be like returning home and she wouldn't it would be something better than not seeing her home or her house every again.
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 17:12:06 GMT -8
"Yep, just like in the films," Andy touched her hand and the world around them began flashing different dim colors at high speeds. Then it stopped in an instant. They stood infront of a girl who looked exactly like Aranel, time was not moving around them. "This is you right?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 17:46:50 GMT -8
Aranel reached out and poked her. It had no effect.
"It looks like me. A bit younger though."
She started to walk around the girl. The girl in question was indeed Aranel, albeit one from several years ago, with shorter hair and wearing a big purple coat trimmed with gold. She was biting her lip.
Aranel checked Young Aranel's hands.
"This must be from before I became Abe's Watcher. She, I mean, I don't have the tattoos."
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 17:49:39 GMT -8
"Then shall we?" Andy said. Time started moving again. "Don't get to far from me, not good to be lost in time. And remember nothing can harm you it will go straight through you like a ghost." He followed the younger Aranel.
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 18:04:36 GMT -8
Ooc: As so to avoid confusion, past events will be in italics.
Aranel walked with him, keeping pace easily. Young Aranel was walking quickly, obviously in a great hurry. Another girl caught her by the wrist, pulling her into a doorway. The girl in question looked somewhat similar to Aranel; both had familiar features and were incredibly pale, but this girl was inhumanly thin and had white hair and blue eyes.
She gave Young Aranel a smile.
"You ready for your first time as a Speaker?"
"Of course I am... Not. I can't find my files. I can't remember where I out them after you gave them to me!"
"That's because I never did. Here." the girl handed Young Aranel a brown paper folder. "It's pretty standard. A Cruzen killed his friend during a duel. Just make the sentence."
Young Aranel nodded, "Got it." The two started talking about things that would be of no relevance to anyone.
"That's my half-sister Invidia," Aranel said to Andrew. "She's an Executioner. She's younger than me but she's been an Executioner longer."
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 18:27:02 GMT -8
"So you are the one that is going to be sentencing. And she..." Andy caught wind of what was happening. "Basically you bring up an order and then she carries it out? Tough place." He said. "So how did you become a judge? Or am I about to find out?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 18:58:29 GMT -8
"You won't find it out in this conversation. Basically, there's three races. Cruzen, Cruzmal and Cruztar. You'll see them all in a minute. Invidia is a Cruzmal. I'm a ZenMalTar, that means I'm a mix of all three. "About ten out of a thousand have the potential to be part of the Council. Cruzen become Witnesses, Cruzmal become Executioners, Cruztar become Dreamakers and ZenMalTar become Judges. We're impartial because we're all of them, you see."
Young Aranel and Invidia set off walking, still talking.
"They're heading to the Council now." Aranel said, "Do you want to see it all?"
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 19:04:34 GMT -8
"Sure." Andy shrugged. He looked around as he followed. "You know I expected weird plants. Crazy colors. And strange machienes. This isn't far from the Silnoi area." He said. "All except for the race deciding job. What is up with that by the way?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 19:17:52 GMT -8
"Well, it's complicated. The Council is both government and justice system, so it has to be worked out that way. The Cruzen are the only ones that can see the past, because they have genetic memory and their magic expands on it, so they see all crimes that are committed and we use them to forecast political choices based on teh past. The Dreamakers don't do much justicewise, just make the prisons, but they are like royalty to the Cruztar. "The Cruxmal are the only ones who can do Death magics. It's their culture that lets them, it's... Special. And they own all the family trees and the histories. I've already explained the ZenMalTar. "And you know, I don't suppose it is that different from your world. I mean, I can breathe there and everything so the air is the same. And we have humans here too. So I thionk it's the same, except the for Morphae. Your world's connection to the Morphae is different. You don;t seem to have any tears through to it and none of the monsters either."
Aranel took a deep breath.
"Wow. That was a long speech. Anyway, the Council is beginning. Do you want to go inside?"
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 19:21:18 GMT -8
"Ladies first." Andy said. "Besides, I don't know left from right here. Figuratively." He said letting Aranel infront of him. "This should be interesting anyway. The insides of the arcitecture. I assume it is similar."
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 19:54:48 GMT -8
Aranel led the way in though the door that all the other Judges were filing in through. It opened out into a wide cavern.
The cavern looked as though it had been hollowed out from a great amethyst. The sides were smooth and glossy, mottled with varying hues and shades of purple. The sunlight shone though, bathing the whole cavern in a purple light. It was quite airy and bright, with strangely shaped windows of blue glass here and there. In the roof there was a hole that opened out to the fresh air and another one that became a tnnel on the far left side.
There were seats arranged in a semi circle around a dais that was in the center of the room. The seats were divided into four discrete sections. On the far wall was a set of large double doors.
The seats on the farthest left were near the tunnel in the wall and ones farthest right were near the hole in the wall. The ones nearest on the left were already filling up with Judges which meant the Dreamakers sat on the near right.
At the bottom of each section was a podium with a member of each respective race already there.
There were a faint chime and things began to happen.
First there was the thunder of feet and Cruzen began to run into the room through the hole in the wall. They were jumping from tunnel wall to tunnel wall, the impacts of their feet making sharp snaps as they cracked the crystal walls. The crystal glowed where it cracked, healing itself.
They were all tall and broad, with ink black skin and coverings over their lower faces. They were also all dressed in short, hooded robes over trousers and went bare footed.
Some of the Cruzen skidded to a halt once the reached the seats and sat down in a formal fashion, others, mostly the younger ones, did acrobatic flips and fancy moves to land in theirs.
"Cruzen present!" they roared as one, their voices echoing through the cavern.
Aranel laughed. "They do like to show off, even if no one's there." she said, smiling.
After that the Dreamakers appeared, simply stepping out of ripples in the air. They all looked human, though some had veritable rainbows of colours in their hair, and were dressed in silver robes embroidered with green and silver.
"Dreamakers present."
The Judges made no grandiose entrance. Instead they all simply stood and saluted. They were a mixed lot, having all hair colours possible and a few that weren't, and their skin colours ranged from paper white to jet black and ashen grey and almost every human mix and inhuman in between. They all wore the same purple coat as Young Aranel.
Then it was the Cruzmal's turn. They glided from the hole in the ceiling, their wings spread wide. The mix of their white robes and hair, majestic wings and cold, alien beauty gave them the appearance of angels returned to the Earth, the sunlight backing them only furthering the image.
They twirled in the air, curling the room once or twice then landed lightly at their seats, resting their wings on props put there especially.
"Cruzmal present."
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 20:17:09 GMT -8
"The Cruzen were flashy and everything, but I like the Cruzmal's better, always wondered what it would be like to have wings." He said admiring the wings still. Being able to advance human capacity had always been a dream of his. Even his time travel didn't suffice in that respect because he could not become something more than a pair of god-like eyes. "So you are a mix of these three races." Andy tried to make sense of that, though he wasn't good at math. Couldn't have three parents... maybe ....but probably not since they were similar to human. He began to think about how his ethinicity ran being mostly German but with traces of others. "So you must be at least half of one right?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 30, 2009 21:05:17 GMT -8
"Pretty much," she said, nodding. "My mother is a mix of Cruzmal and Cruztar, my father is Cruzmal and Cruzen. I'm pretty lucky though, I don't have the flimsy bones that the Cruzmal have. I took after father in that way. You could throw me from a ten storey building and I'd be just fine. Decent magic too."
The Council began. First it was minor things, petty thievery and the like. Then the doors swung open with a low grating sound and a young Cruzen entered, flanked by a Judge and an Executioner. His head was hung low, his eyes hidden by his long hair. His hands weren't shackled but they didn't need to be. This boy wasn't running anywhere.
They reached the dais and stood there.
The Cruzen at the podium stood to attention.
"Witness Ahriman Solomon speaking," he said in a low voice. "Abaddon Goetia, you have been brought before the Council for the crime of Unprovoked Murder in a Duel. This crime has been seen by Witness Alastor Goetia. There is no margin for error. You will be duly sentenced after discussion."
Young Aranel stood to attention at her own podium, as did the Dreamer and Executioner representive. She looked at them both. "Birch, Albus. You are to present your cases for why this criminal must be eitehr imprisoned for life or put to death."
Birch shook her head. "The Dreamaker representative offers no case, Your Honour. We trust your judgement."
Young Aranel could be seen to wince. Aranel herself did too. "That was a great way for her to lay me in the waste, you know." she muttered, "I had to come up with reasons why on my own.
Albus smiled widely, showing many small teeth. "The Executioner representative feels that this.... This Cruzen," he pronounced the word with the same distaste he would pronounce 'rapist' or 'paedophile', "Must die simply because he is much too dangerous to live. The assembled has all seen the recording, yes? The Cruzen simply seemed to go into a rage and killed his friend. His friend, good people. Is that boy was not safe who would be?" he pointed at Abe, "Do you really believe this boy, this child, can control his temper?"
There was a faint murmur of dissent. Abaddon looked like he was about to cry and he kept casting helpless glances over towards the Witnesses. Hardly the picture of a ruthless killer.
Albus sighed. "He may look innocent, but I assure you, all murders can act."
Aranel growled low in her throat. "I've always hated Albus," she said. "Smirking, self-satisfied..."
Young Aranel looked as though she shared the same opinion as her future counterpart, looking at Abaddon with pity and Albus with disguised disgust.
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 30, 2009 21:44:27 GMT -8
Andy was sure of at least two things. One was that impartiallity did not get rid of hatred. The second, there was a definate racism, at least against the Cruzen. "Did you do something to this Albus, or was he just always against you? Speaking of which, where is he in present times?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 31, 2009 15:05:30 GMT -8
"Oh, this isn't Albus being against me, this is just him doing his job." Aranel said matter-of-factly, "He's actually a really good friend of the family." She tapped her chin. "I'm not really sure of where he is right now, probably at home, working. Like I should be."
Young Aranel closed her eyes for a moment then opened them. "Abaddon Goetia. Have you any defense?"
By now he was starting to cry, his shoulders shuddering and his eyes already bloodshot. “I… I didn’t… I didn’t want to do it. I got really angry but I never wanted to… I don’t even remember most of it. Please, don’t kill me. Lock me up in prison or an asylum or anything, just don’t kill me.”
Young Aranel looked at him, over at the Witnesses.
“Can you clarify that for me? What do you remember?”
Abbadon took a deep breath and started to speak, his voice shaking. He was still tryign to hold back tears.
“I remember that we were Dueling. Just fists, no weapons. He got in a hit and then everything just shut off. I couldn’t see or feel anything and all I could hear was this weird noise. It was like a scream in my brain and then I couldn’t hear or see anything. Then I could and it was just… It was him. He was… Torn up, and my hands were covered… They had me pinning down and some of them were crying and I couldn’t…”
Young Aranel frowned again. She held up her hand and clicked her fingers.
“The Judge representative calls for a recess. No one told me about this.”
“Dreamakers agree.”
“Witnesses agree.”
“Executioners disagree.”
“Three to one. We have recess. Now, excuse me.” Young Aranel hurried out of the courtroom.
“It’s a kind of illness that Witnesses can get sometimes,” Aranel said to Andy softly. “We’re not sure why, but most people say it’s a curse. But they reach a boiling point and just go insane. Sometimes for minutes or hours. They don’t remember much of it afterwards. We don’t kill the people who have it anymore, anyone who does have it has to have a Watcher to keep them from triggering or from harming anyone if they do.”
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 31, 2009 15:19:08 GMT -8
"Wow, crazy stuff. So you had to assign someone to watch this guy?" Andy said. "Oh you know what, nevermind, I would rather watch this." He touched her hand and they skipped to the end of the recess in what seemed like a second.
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 31, 2009 15:42:38 GMT -8
It changed to what could have been a different day, even a different week. The light in room was darker than which meant it was either near dawn or sunset. The array of faces in the audience had changed but the Speakers at the podiums were the same. Abaddon was at the dais again, still flanked by a Judge and an Executioner but now they had given him a chair to sit on. He sat there, gripping his knees in his hands.
"In light of recent evidence," Young Aranel began, "The Council has decided not to place you in prison or sentence you to death. Instead, you will given a Watcher. If a Watcher does not not volunteer, then you will be.... Removed."
She turned to the Judges. "Knowing all the risks and the difficulties, is there anyone here who will become his Watcher?"
No one said anything.
She narrowed her eyes. "No one? To save his life?"
A few of them shook their heads.
"Fine." she turned to the podium. "I, Judge Aranel Ebner, offer myself as the Watcher. If any of the Council have a reason or a difficulty with this, speak now.
She glared back at them, almost daring them to. Again, there was silence.
"Very well. Abaddon Goetia. You have been assigned a Watcher. Judge Sinarel, Executioner Amana, take him to the waiting rooms. Case over."
"And that," Aranel said, "Is how Abe and I met. I would have preferred something a little nicer, but that can't be helped."
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 31, 2009 15:54:39 GMT -8
"So you are saying that THIS guy, with the capacity to go psycho...is on earth?" Andy started to become somewhat fearfull. "So can I go to the time in which you guys left for earth? Or is that somewhat off limits?"
|
|
Abe & Aranel
Sophomore
I am on your shoulder, giving you bad advice.
Posts: 213
|
Post by Abe & Aranel on Jul 31, 2009 16:01:59 GMT -8
"We didn't really leave for your Earth. We ended up there by accident." Aranel said then laughed, patting Andy's shoulder. "You don't have to worry about him going psycho and killing you. It takes a trigger for that and a certain level of built up anger and right now he's the most relaxed he's been for weeks. I'm good at keeping him sane. If you want, you can meet him properly in your own place, he just went into the arcade there for a while. The shiny lights attracted him."
|
|
Andy
Freshman
Posts: 17
|
Post by Andy on Jul 31, 2009 16:09:07 GMT -8
Andy nearly fell over from Aranel patting him. He never felt so weak next to a girl until now. "Alright, I think we have seen enough." With another touch to her hand they were back in the park. "You know, the Cruzen have a very attractive air around them. Unbelievable strength. Somewhat monsterous. The pitch black complection and bodies. If it weren't for the black out thing then I would have a hard time not falling in love with the race."
|
|