Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Nov 16, 2021 7:11:24 GMT
The world was falling apart. Again. Only this time, she wasn't a tween trapped in a love triangle, and the world was a little more literally falling apart. A supposed demon king had risen from the blood of an actual sacrifice, and then disappeared off into the night. Some psycho was out there, killing off entire groups of people and painting walls different shades of red. Oh, and there was her new Doom and Gloom buddy who always seemed to be followed around by a cloud of... well. Gloom.
She needed a break from it all. To get away and breathe. Two days ago, life was pretty simple. She wrapped the loose fabric of her trench coat around her lithe frame, her eyes a bright and brilliant blue as she took in the trees and shrubs all around her. Whomever had decorated this park had gone to almost inhumane lengths to make it really seem a world apart from the hustling city. She could barely hear the traffic.
Walking a bit further in, she finally crouched near a tiny, barely flowing creek. Staring at the water for a moment seemed to lull her, her eyelids growing heavier... until she collapsed against the hard, cold ground. Wincing, she shook the sleep out, reaching up to run her fingers through her Raven locks. "Fuck, man... how long has it been since I slept?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Nov 16, 2021 12:13:44 GMT
Faythe wasn’t far, she had seen the woman approaching and watched her go by the river. She had continued her own work searching through and collecting mushrooms of all things. Most of what was out here were regular almost button looking ones but those were toxic… actually the ones Faythe looked for grew in lands recently flourishing after a fire some time back in hey we’re pretty popular in cooking shows these days so she expected to see a higher demand for them.
Her fingers ghostly and dirty as she had found a handful and dug them up from deep under so not to break the roots too terribly. She would hear where the plant was comfortable and so not to put it in shock. She heard a rustling from the woman and saw her fall and shoot up right once more. Dozing off in a place like this wouldn’t be unusual but it wasn’t quite safe either.
Faythe thought to approach her but tripped on her own poncho and fell with an “Ooph!” clutching her small basket to stay upright.
“Oh… oh…no, no.” She cooed gently her voice above a whisper and breathlessly gentle. “No harm done, or to do.” It wasn’t clear if maybe she was talking to anyone or to the lady by the water.
She sat up and brushed her clothes of the dirt and grass that had stuck to her. The ghostly complexion of her face seemed to furrow in a look of a pout as a stain appeared on her clothes. She wore whites and greys which should have been the first wrong when getting into these dirty situations but she felt the color suited her. Most others made her look Absolutely dead or deader. At least in white she convinces herself she looked Angelic. Whether that was true or not was beyond her.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Nov 16, 2021 12:49:36 GMT
Ripley was so very close to just... ignore this stranger. They were in the middle of the only real wooded area in a less than safe town... and she knew the "innocent girl needing help" routine. Hell, when she was younger, she even helped set that one up on many occasions. She was just about to roll onto her side, to give in to the temptation of sleep.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep inhale.... when she heard the crashing sounds of a human body thunking gracelessly against the ground. She let out her breath in one sudden whoosh, reaching a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose.
"Why?" She muttered, mostly to herself. "Can't you cut me some slack? Seriously. What did I do?"
With that and a groan, she shoved herself up into a seated position. Despite the cold and her apparent lack of body fat, Ripley wore a rather revealing outfit: way too short shorts over funky, striped stockings, a skin tight turtleneck that had long since lost both sleeves, a pair of fingerless gloves, thick leather boots that trailed halfway up her calf... and, of course, the oversized trench coat that hung off her tiny frame. There wasn't a speck of actual color in her outfit: black, with splashes of white for the stockings... Against her night owl skin, it looked stark, almost like a void waiting to swallow you whole.
She propped one leg up and rested her arm idly across the knee, staring at the woman with her intense blue gaze. "Hey. You okay?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Nov 16, 2021 13:09:26 GMT
“Oh… um yes I didn’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to come close and let you know people have been seeing a ghost lady in long dresses muttering to herself out here recently. I’ve not seen her but I fear it means that there might be some dangerous kind. Not sure sleeping out here is a good idea.” She turned her head looking a bit ashamed. “Thought suppose it’s not my business… I greatly apologize for waking you.”
It was true that while her shop is not far news travels to and from and not long after she started looking for these mushrooms did she hear of these rumors. As far as Faythe knew it was all only rumors for the whispers in her ear tell her not of any danger or mystery. But as her experience goes anyone not taking a blade or a fire to the Bark of the trees or to a single blade of grass they just pay no mind to the habits of humanity. Not anymore that a man recognizes the presence of a fly on the wall or a dandelion sprouting from the cracks in the concrete.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Nov 18, 2021 22:22:01 GMT
Slowly, very slowly, Ripley blinked her large blue eyes. She had to fight the urge to physically twitch. She wasn't entirely certain who this waif was... or why she was still here... or, honestly, why she was apologizing so profusely. It wasn't as if she had actually done anything wrong.
She gave a shake of her head and began to sit up, slowly and carefully. If one paid enough attention, they'd see the almost feline grace with which she moved. Every shift, every breath, had intent and purpose behind it. She fought the urge to ball both of her hands into fists and took a deep, steadying breath.
"Chill, dude..." She murmured softly. To the unsuspecting, it probably seemed calm, almost kind. She reached up to gently rub the bridge of her nose. "You're fine. No need to apologize. I'm not scared of the boogeyman. What's he gonna do?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Nov 19, 2021 0:34:51 GMT
She gathered her basket and stood dusting of more as she rose from the ground. “Doesn’t seem like much would scare you now that I’m getting a better look at you. Anyone who can’t see it in your eyes has not lived like you have or isn’t observant like myself. Seems like I worried for not… do you cook much? Or… oh, do you smoke on occasion, tobacco or cigarettes I meant?”
She opened a small messenger bag almost unseen from under her poncho and waited for the woman to answer.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Nov 22, 2021 0:43:04 GMT
Ripley jerked her head back slightly with a furrow of her brows. That... was unexpected. Slowly, a wicked grin crossed her lips, spreading with a slight show of her teeth. She cocked a brow over one shining blue eye.
"Yeah, I smoke. Cigarettes usually. What, you do too? Little miss mother nature imbibes? Color me shocked." She snickered and rolled her head back and forth with a slight Crack of her neck. It was true... She was thin, she looked weak. It worked in her favor, more often than not. But most people didn't bother to see the Demons in the seas of blue.
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Nov 22, 2021 1:20:22 GMT
Faythe shook her head. “Oh it’s… nothing serious just you can get some similar effects through herbal products which I sell. They are less toxic and make you less dependent than the store bought cigarettes. I…” she was rummaging deep in her bag as she paused. She got her arm seemingly half way through the bag making it appear deeper than it might originally be perceived and pulled up a wooden box. Which opened with six different compartments.
“There they are… I can’t smoke but I have these new samples made of things like rose petals and lavender, finely ground and can be burned in multiple vessels. You may know the properties of them in oils and such but you can smoke them too. Lavender of course can help you sleep for example. If you want to pass up one of your usuals to try this you can always come back and tell me how it was for each pouch has my business card with it.” She would allow the woman in front of her the chance to accept and take one or refuse and she’s put away the box. She would note the list of herbs on the folded pouches and the benefits that came with them to make an accurate choice.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Nov 28, 2021 23:45:21 GMT
Ripley watched the girl closely for a moment, watching her dainty motions. Had this girl ever worked, hard labor, a day in her life? In a lot of ways, she reminded her of her mother... That same delicate frame, slightly sunken in cheeks, almost sickly pale skin... and that smile that drew people in, like witchcraft.
She gave a slight shake of her head and jerked her gaze away, eyeing what was in her hands. She cocked a brow. Smoking natural herbs? It couldn't be that different, considering most of what she smoked was "natural" to some degree, anyway.
"So you're looking for a lab rat to give you feedback?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Nov 29, 2021 1:23:00 GMT
Faythe gave a soft chuckle it was almost a gentle breathy whisper. “Ah… I did not intend to offend but I suppose it can be viewed that way. Would you like compensation? I can offer something more finite and seasoned in return for your opinion.”
Actually it dawned on Faythe that not many people choose to sleep outside. Not even her as if she could when the whispers are almost as loud as a market most days. Though the girl didn’t look it she wondered if her luck was down.
“I can’t help but want to pry a bit… do you have a place to go?” Her gaze went to ponder, to make sense of the whole situation. She brought out the impersonal salesman first but now her very personal want to aid those in need seeped through.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Jan 9, 2022 8:45:45 GMT
The soft, almost non-existent chuckle... She couldn't help the smirk that began to cross her face at that sound. She so rarely spent enough time around people to make them laugh, and if they did... Well, they probably had some chemical assistance. The thin criminal couldn't help but feel like this tiny waif of a woman didn't utilize the substances she was oh so familiar with.
"Finite and seasoned, hmm?" she murmured, cocking a brow over one brilliant blue eye. She was just about to dig deeper, ask more questions, when Faythe continued to speak.
Glancing around at the park, she gave a half-hearted shrug of one shoulder. "I mean, I have plenty of places to go. None are quite this... peaceful, though. People don't usually come to these parts, I guess? Just us ghosts and monsters, hmm?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Jan 9, 2022 9:24:55 GMT
“I doubt actual creatures beyond a vagabond looking for a place to hide. Taking a nap might be the least of one’s deeds these trees have witnessed. I’m sure.” Faythe nodded sweetly.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Jan 9, 2022 22:13:57 GMT
Ripley blinked slowly, working her way through everything that Faythe said. This strange little girl out here in the wild... spoke like a socialite, or at least high class society. Giving a shake of her head, she fought the wave of instinctive response that always crept through her when she thought of THAT walk of life... of those people, and how they interacted. She hadn't spoken to her mother in quite some time, but it was like a second nature, always waiting to rear its ugly, beautiful, disgusting head.
Funny, the irony of her fear: she was always so worried that the socialism in her breeding would wreck the life she had chosen to live... Wasn't it usually the other way around?
"These trees, huh? Do they tell you their stories? Is that how you know?" Ripley shifted her weight until she was able to, rather suddenly, gain her feet once more. She shifted effortlessly to a standing position, her body honed and trained to roll and absorb any of the impact in non-vital areas. The sheer amount of control that went into even the smallest of action was a testament to her willpower and her willingness... and, at the same time, it spoke absolute volumes about just how far to the fringes of society she had fallen.
"I heard stories that there were little wood wraiths or whatever crawling around, listening to Grandfather Tree spin his stories. That wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Jan 9, 2022 22:33:17 GMT
“I…” there was a shrink in her stature, a cave in of her shoulders towards the center of her body and hands gripping the strap of her bag tightly. “It was an expression… I do not know of wood wraiths or a grandfather tree. I don’t want trouble, it’s not good for business and that’s all I have.”
She turned to try and start walking back. She was a bit stiff and didn’t want to raise an alarm.
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Jan 10, 2022 18:49:57 GMT
"Uh."
Ripley stood there for a moment, staring after this stranger that had, only moments ago, been playful and light. What had she said?
Following after the stranger, she looked her up and down once. "That escalated quickly. Seemed like I touched a nerve. You all good there, Wraith?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Jan 10, 2022 20:57:31 GMT
That was outright calling her an insult. They were beyond symbols and euphemisms now. That was definitely touching nerves.
Her body halted and her voice came out a whispering. “It’s a bit hurtful if you call me things like that.”
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Jan 11, 2022 18:05:19 GMT
"To call you what? Wraith?" Ripley looked taken aback by that, standing there rather awkwardly with the wind sending the tips of her black hair twirling. She tilted her head to one side, eyes wide with innocence.
"What would you rather I call you?"
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Jan 11, 2022 19:29:32 GMT
“My name would be better, Faythe, it’s in the business card.” The pale woman was breathing deeply and calmly her expression looked akin to tired but it might have been the lingering discomfort from the last couple points of conversation. “My physical attributes are… not something I’d choose if I had a one. I’d rather not be compared to a Ghost or undead of sorts if you chose some kind of nickname after we become more familiar with each other.”
|
|
Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
|
Post by Rie on Jan 12, 2022 2:04:44 GMT
She couldn't help but snicker slightly at the look on the girl's face. She gave a slight shake of her head. "That comment had nothing to do with your name. I wasn't calling you Wraith because of your hair." Or skin, or eyes, or or or.... Ripley kept even pace with the girl, her feet sliding rather easily over the forest floor. She wandered through the forest just as easily as she did the city sidewalks.
|
|
Faythe Lyveaf
New Member
But I did not fall, I hope something good is coming.
Posts: 98
|
Post by Faythe Lyveaf on Jan 12, 2022 3:23:18 GMT
“Why else would you have chosen to call me that?” Faythe furrowed her brow more it made even less sense now.
|
|