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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 17:53:38 GMT -5
Red rushed up the stairs and into her room on the third floor. The floor was reserved for her and Granny, their own personal suite for when they needed a break from the numerous patrons. Granny was in the process of finishing up the last few customers of the cafe for the day, and the bar would be closed for the next several nights... without Ruby to run it, the position was never filled. The brunette flew into her room, shedding the corset, undershirt, thick skirt, undergarments and boots as she went and tossing them haphazardly across the room. She was running late and finesse would simply have to be overridden. A growl rumbled in the pit of her chest, as the pins in her hair were stubbornly stuck and eventually she just let them break, too frustrated and running out of time to care. Glancing out the window and checking the low position of the sun she bit her bottom lip in worry.
"Red... are you alright?" She jumped, startled at the sound of Granny's voice and rolled her eyes as she darted over to the closet, pulling away cloaks and skirts and undershirts to reach the simplistic white dress. The material hugged her every curve as she pulled it over her lithe frame and the bottom flared out stopping halfway down her calves, rather indecent, but perfect for the fast removal she would need quite shortly. "If someone's bothering you I don't mind putting a bolt in them." Despite the cheerfulness in the elder woman's voice, Red knew how deadly she was with a crossbow.
"No Granny... you don't need to put a bolt in anyone's brain. I'm just running out of time." Red murmured into the room, tugging the only black cloak she possessed and throwing that over her shoulders, and pulling up the hood to hide her face to the best of her ability. She never wore shoes... they were always destroyed anyway, best not waste money on such trivial things.
"You seem flustered, distracted... you are usually not this... worried about the nights you change." Red looked out the window fleetingly, the sun would only be visible for another hour or so. She needed to leave. Now. She chewed her bottom lip, knowing full and well she wouldn't escape until she had appeased the old woman.
"This is the first full moon since my return. I am worried about controlling it." Her voice was soft, gentle and the old woman relaxed instantly. Control was something Red struggled with greatly, had ever since her discovery of the wolf that lurked within her, and while she had protested Red burning the enchanted cloak, she realized it was something Red had needed to do. She moved out of the door frame.
"Well then, don't stand around talking to an old bag of bones like me! Get a move on!" Red appeared in the doorway smiling widely at Granny, kissing her quick on the cheek, before vanishing down the stairs and out of sight. Granny sighed, hopefully no evils would befall her high spirited granddaughter.
Red wasted no time, time was something she no longer had. She flew through the cafe at a light jog, cracked open the front door, glanced both ways to be sure no one was around and darted. Somewhere between a light jog and a fast walk, she shot down the semi-abandoned streets. The forest was a good half an hour's walk away and she did not possess a horse, at least not one that she was willing to throw to the beast once she changed. Emerald eyes clouded with sudden apprehension and she increased her pace. She needed to hurry.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 12, 2013 18:20:07 GMT -5
Dorian was quite the solitary man as of late. He'd had a lot on his mind, what with digging through his library to find something--anything--that pertained to comedy. But clearly, he read no comedy, and his collection showed. When he'd been back in London, he could always trust a good Shakespeare play to life his lonely spirits (not that he'd ever been alone for more than an hour back then) but here, all he had were Greek and Roman works, mingled with religious writings and some stupid Norse tales. He did not care for them at all.
And to relieve his mind of boredom, he'd tried just about everything--he'd even gone through a tin of cigarettes that he'd vowed to save for when he needed them. They had come with him from London. Hell, he'd even gone back behind the curtain in his study to see what had become of his painting. A few more wrinkles, a little less dignity--he'd done some bad, but nothing that he hadn't already done. And he had not corrupted any young ladies lately--Ruby hadn't been pure when he'd had her. So what reasons were there for it to look any more horrid than it already did? He would have to find a way. And he was sure he would. But his immorality and immortality were products of that Faustian deal, the one that won him that dark secret, an he was certain he'd never let anyone know. He was a Duke. He could hide anything, right?
But now his boredom had reached an all-time low, and he resorted to riding. He sent for his stable-boy to fetch his mount, a stallion he'd named Ernest, and then set out to go somewhere other than his estate. The strong bay carried him down toward the river, and when he got there he could but stare at the water, his thoughts running through things that were gone. Sibyl, Basil, Henry... They were with him no more, and he'd been the reason two of them were gone.
But never he minded. He rode onward, toward the forest, his bow and arrow in tow lest he find some good game. The sun was going to set soon, so he'd do what he could. But suddenly, he saw a figure--or so he thought. A nimble body, springing through the field toward the trees. He was all too curious, and rode closer.
Only to find that, "Ruby!"
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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 18:39:18 GMT -5
Ruby smiled as she left the familiar settings of the city behind and her runaway heart slowly calmed as she breeched the fields. She still had a good half an hour before the sun left her line of sight, plenty of time for her to lose herself in the blackness of the forest and hopefully avoid any hunters who might be scouring near the black of dawn. Even if she suffered a loss of control, she was far enough away and unlikely that the beast would hurt anyone, and her face paced gait slowed considerably.
She glanced over her shoulder to double check, to be sure no one had followed her, and the smile spread as she starred out at the abandoned fields. She gnawed her bottom lip, she hated this part, it hurt, so incredibly so, the shift. Every single muscle, nerve and fiber were destroyed only to be reconstructed, it was a scarce thirty seconds of mind numbing agony but then... freedom. Freedom the likes of which she had never tasted anywhere else. It was impossible to describe how wonderful it felt to leave society behind and careen into the wilds. She let out a breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding.
Ruby!
She jumped and panic blossomed in her chest, spreading through her veins like wildfire and overtaking her senses. Someone had seen her, someone had followed her and she would kill them. She had half a mind to bolt, she was faster than most and perhaps if she started off a dead sprint she could outrun them. She whirled around to face her caller only to see the heavy legs of a horse. She couldn't outrun a horse. With panic stricken eyes she followed up the sleek boots, the flawless riding attire and to the flawless grinning face of Dorian, and terror and panic were the only two things that gripped her.
She did not love Dorian. She found him intriguing, sharp witted, and an interesting friend but she did not love him. She had laid with him, scarcely a week or so ago and she had found his companionship rather enjoyable but she had laid with him and by very definition that made him, her lover. She couldn't kill another one of her lovers, she couldn't be responsible a second time. The act would kill her. All color drained from her cheeks, and she almost wished she would have asked Granny to accompany her, so she might be here to distract him.
"D-D-Dorian." She stuttered his name, her panic stealing coherent thought from her brain. Her gaze shot to the setting sun and fear squeezed her heart twenty, twenty five minutes maybe? She swallowed hard and tried to recollect her frazzled thoughts. "W-What are you doing out here so late in the evening? You'll catch hypothermia out here." She almost smacked herself for such a ridiculous comment. She didn't have anything on her feet nor ankles, and she had barely a slip on underneath the cloak... he would think her mad. Better mad than a monster. The cynical side of her brain quipped.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 12, 2013 18:55:49 GMT -5
Dorian watched the sky carefully. Apparently, according to one of the only things he'd found worthy of reading, there were ways that one could read the sky to see his destiny. It did not make muc sense to him, and the signs seemed like primative omens, but what else had he to do? And where else to try it? He snickered as he forgot everything he'd read, and shook his head. He'd go on; this was absolutely silly. And well he did not intend to make a fool of himself when he was a duke.
He rode on, pace slow at first, watching what was around him and absorbing the atmosphere. But eventually that grew to be tedious and his mind would hold no more observations. He pushed on Ernest to a canter and danced around the field, the edge of the forest. He would see that there was no game left when he had his chance, or at least find something else to occupy his mind.
It was then that he noticed the figure; it was a slim thing and if his memory wasn't failing him, one that he'd seen all to recently. He knew the curve of that body, the tone of that skin, the blur that it was while running. And then it sparked. Ruby. He'd taken her for his lover last week, and was no better for it, but she had quenched his desire for both companionship and pleasure. So what was she out here for? She was a barmaid, and a good one. She'd no reason to face this part of the world on her own.
So he thought. But the look in her eyes told Dorian that he was probably an unwanted intruder here. Where was she going, to see some other lover? To join a cult? Hell. Now she'd made him curious. And her words, they did not make it any clearer. Damn.
"It's not that late, sweetheart," he pointed out, with half a mind to dismount Ernest and join her. He looked her over and noticed her distinct lack of suitable clothing. Dorian knit his brow and his face turned down. She was one to speak. A pang passed through his stomach but he tried his best to ignore his thoughts, knowing she was alone and scantily clad. He had other worries and curiosities right now. "Not I, Ruby. I should turn the question back on you, my love; Why are you here so early?" He reached back to assure his bow and arrow were still there, was something to suddenly attack Ruby.
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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 19:13:29 GMT -5
Ruby swayed uneasily, her brain was jumbled mess, flashes of warm flesh, gasps of pleasure, the scent of sex and sweat... the memories meshed in her panic and turned coherent thought to mush. She forced herself to calm, her heart to slow and her thoughts to focus, she took a deeply calming breath before facing him once more. Her chest shook slightly and only now did she feel the cold seeping between her bones. She tugged the thick cloak tighter around her frame, she would have no need to abandon it for several more minutes, no point in freezing until then.
"No I don't suppose not, it's been long day, too many stragglers, too many people being dragged away from their own worlds." Her voice was a whispered murmur, distracted and not really there, and her gaze escaped once more to the setting rays of the snow and she chewed her bottom lip, wracking her brain for anything... anything at all she could use to get him to leave. She couldn't feign that she had journeyed this far for a hunt, her bow and her arrows were back at the Inn and she certainly wasn't dressed for such activities. There were no animals in those woods that would dare cross her path anyway with the smell of the wolf so heavily on her. They were not foolish, there was not much that could escape the wicked clamp of her teeth. A brief image of those teeth sinking through Dorian's gut entered her mind and she swayed, reaching out to grab one of the trees to steady herself. Don't think like that Ruby. You can control it. You can.
"An evening stroll, a few problems that require my desperate attention, nothing you need to concern your gorgeous self with darling. The bar will be open again in a few days time why don't you drop in and we will see if I can't get you drunk enough to have your wicked way with me again ya?" She was desperate to get him away, all eloquence had dropped from her speech and it was the only thing she could think of to possibly drive him away, it's not like she was about to protest another round of pleasure with him. He may be a duke, but he knew how to pleasure a woman.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 12, 2013 19:37:02 GMT -5
Dorian's senses were on high alert, as he could sense that there was a dark tension in the air. He really wasn't sure what had possessed him to come away this far, but now that Ruby was here and something was wrong, he was glad he came, for either reason. Ruby did not look well, and she looked more anxious than he remembered ever seeing her. What was going on? He fought the urge to dismount, as he was a coward and chose to fend for himself, and also fought the pleasure-filled memories at the forefront of his thinking. He could not bother with that right now.
He raised a curious eyebrow and cocked his head. Something was strange about this, and he wasn't sure what. "No," he said slowly, carefully. "I know that that's all been going on, but surely it's no more than usual." He tried to smile at her and tried to call upon his devonaire charm, but it did not seem to work. Something was far too wrong. And damnit, didn't she know that he was hard to dismiss? He knew how wonderful he was, and his curiosity usually beat out his thought process.
But he could see by her face that something was troubling Ruby, and he almost wanted to comfort her for whatever it was. Lest... Lest it involved some other lover.
Did she think she was decieving him? Did she truly think he was that easy to turn off of a curiosity? She must be kidding herself, he thought, because she should know better. He swallowed but went on with his forward speak. "For all your charm and as enticing as the offer is, this is one time I can think with my mind. Why are you trying to put me off?" He was frustrated, almost ireful. But he restrained his emotions until he got some real explanation. Dorian continued, "If you've got some other lover you're going off to see, then I'll steal you back and take you to my manor." He was being tricky, but more than that he was being serious.
Because the air was somehow thicker than it should have been.
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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 19:58:59 GMT -5
He was far too intelligent, too keen to be distracted so easily, she knew better, but she was desperate, she could sense his growing agitation with her... hell she could smell it and if she had been any other woman, she would have cursed, but she still maintained some air of dignity and repressed the growing urge. One of her canines dug into her bottom lip, piercing the flesh as it sharpened and she winced, bringing a hand up to examine the sore spot and swiping away a bit of the blood. Damn it.
His words were enticing, despite the slow moving pain that was creeping into her muscles, her insides quivered at the thought of him stealing her. He could steal her any time he damn well pleased and she doubted she would have any problems with it, but damn it not tonight! He couldn't be here, he shouldn't be here. She glanced back at the sun, it was close to gone she was out of time, it would be a mere ten minutes before the change took her body. She shivered, something that had nothing to do with the cold now freezing her toes.
"No... I have no other lovers, haven't for quite some time..." Her eyes took on a hint of anger at such an accusation, but just as quickly it faded, she sure looked like she was sneaking away for just that purpose. "Just you." She amended softly, an apology more than a reassurance, and finally she gave up, she had no more times for lies or diversions, but tears brimmed at the corners of her eyes, and they intermingled with the blood still dribbling from her lip. She didn't want to hear his biting words, his accusations, his claims of monster. She wasn't one, or at least she tried not to be and hearing it from him... it would sting, much harder than if some stranger had discovered her secret.
"I'm not..." She struggled with herself, fought for the words that stubbornly refused to come. " I'm not good for you Dorian, I'm not good for anyone." She angrily wiped at the tears angry at herself for breaking down in front of him. "I've killed too many people, I've ended too many lives, I learned to control it, but I don't... I don't know if I can anymore and if I can't...if I can't control it..." She sucked in a much needed breath and steadied her nerves. "You don't have to trust me, you don't even have to like me, but I don't want to kill you and I don't know if I can stop it. Please Dorian, you have to leave." She spoke through her tears, their salty scent stinging her heightened senses and she angrily swiped them away.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 12, 2013 20:17:34 GMT -5
Dorian felt something that was nearing guilt. He never regretted anything he'd done, nor did he usually care how others saw him, but something was pulling at him. Usually, with his immortality and his picture to take his beating for him, Dorian did not have the strength to look back. But now he felt a new sensation, and he wasn't sure he liked it. It made him feel open to attack; vulnerable.--something Dorian hated above much else.
He was also not someone to get easily flustered or angry. It took a serious betrayal to ruin a relationship with someone, or a look at his painting--that would put someone out even more quickly, and for good. Basil had known. And Basil had ended up at the bottom of the Thames.
Her words quickly moved Dorian back to the moment, and made him think fast for a response. He searched the sequestered concubines of his mind. What did he feel? He almost felt glad. Should he say that though? "Well. Good. Because there are none above me." He said it with a very haughty air, dismissing all men that were not himself. Here came out his vanity, which he was certain she was already aware of, and it was a good cover for itself anyway. He was pretentious, he knew. And he would stake the claims he felt necessary to stake.
He was confused, though, to see her break down. He caught the blood on her lip and the tears that she was fighting to restrain. "Not good?" He almost laughed. "You were fabulous." His ire was subsided with his own humor, and he was glad for it. But she'd either had a change of heart or there was something sinister on the horizon, and he had to know. "You?" he said simply, nearly stunned by the words. She couldn't kill, no. And she wouldn't dare kill him. Of course, he wasn't immune from death.
He calmed himself and answered soberly, "Well, then, offer me an explanation and I'll be on my merry way." He paused. "And I'll call upon you tomorrow."
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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 20:37:03 GMT -5
His haughty tone did not offend her, nor did his compliments raise her spirits, she hated feeling so pathetically weak. She was not sure if she had maintained her control during the switch back to her home land and if she hadn't the horse that Dorian road better be a prized stead or he was screwed regardless. His light hearted air would offer him no quarter with the beast that smashed against its confines, eager to unleash its power, eager to bask in the moonlight. She grinded her teeth, forcing her mind to focus, digging her slowly lengthening teeth into her lip, the pain gave her something to focus on, something to ground herself with. She breathed heavily through her nose, her body breaking out in a cold sweat and she clung to the tree like a lifeline, nails chipping off in the wood from the fierceness of her grip.
"I am..." She gasped for breath, the pain manifesting itself and blocking out all other thoughts as a whine of pain tore itself from her throat. Her eyes bled to a bright golden hue and her pupils stretched and grew into the resembled something much more canine. "A child of Luna." She tore the cloak from her back, she needed it off of her, the dress was quick to follow and she slumped to the snow, on her hands and knees, crying out as the pain quickly overwhelmed the rest of her senses. "A werewolf." It was more growl than speech and she no longer possessed the capacity to speak, to beg him to flee.
The sickening crunches of her own bones echoed through the barren field, her spine pressed angrily against her flesh and her skull elongated cracking and breaking to accommodate the snout. Her teeth elongated and sharpened into fine points. Thick ebony fur broke out everywhere as her body bent and contorted in unnatural ways, the beast grew until it matched the size of the horse, one of its canines, the width of ones forearm. Finally the thick bushy tail grew from its spine and the beasts eyes snapped open, locking with Dorian's. It thick breath puffed into the air in long bursts of steam but it remained still, not moving to attack and not moving to flee. Its golden eyes softened and a keening whine broke from its vocals. She had kept her control.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 12, 2013 20:50:38 GMT -5
Why she was unable to respond, Dorian was slowly being able to grasp. It was her; there was something about her that she wasn't offering up. His realization came at his own expense, for he of all people should have known that everyone had dark secrets. No, not everyone. But a lot of people. He would do everything he could to protect his--she was going to have to give hers up. Fair? No, of course not. But he was Duke Dorian Gray. He deserved to know.
Part of him wished to jump from his mount and aid her; she was clearly in some sort of horrid pain. But he knew somewhere that it was a morbidly terrible idea, that something bad would come of it should he do so. He winced at her sounds of pain, grimaced as he watched--but then she said it. He understood. And he shivered atop his mount as he watched, for he could not tear his eyes away, despite the deal he'd just proposed. Why should he leave? This was not at all what he was expecting, and he was absolutely stunned. Astounded. This was insane and incredible. He knew the forces of magic--they'd made him forever young. But this...
He nearly grinned but in his terror could not. He turned Ernest away, ready to ride, until his eyes caught those of the wolf. What? Run? Stay? He did not know how to read it. But he could tell that it was still Ruby, that she was still somewhere in there. "What?" he said quietly. "Either you attack me now or... Perhaps I ought return in the m... I don't know. Ruby. I don't want to leave you here alone, wolf or no."
But he was still poised to flee.
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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 21:16:50 GMT -5
The pain had long since vanished from the beasts body. It stood sleek and smooth as any master predator. Her vocal cords did not give her the ability to speak. She could not answer him. She stretched, the massive, limber body bowing in an arch and straightening itself back out. She shook her massive coat , sending small bits of snow flying in all directions. Ruby had calmed. She could still control this side of her, which meant she could still be useful to the kingdom. If she could control it thus far, perhaps she could find a way to change at will. She would be much more useful with such a talent.
She forced her attention to turn back to Dorian. It was bizarre to see him through the wolfs eyes, he seemed so small so fragile... a complete opposite to what her human self saw. A wide grin broke out across its face and it barked. A soft sound, but one that held no violence, even her tail gently sashayed back and forth. She knew not how to convey that she would not harm him. He surprised her, it was not often someone watched her transformation and did not run off screaming something about a monster. But perhaps he had his own secrets, his own demons waiting in the wings, hers was just a bit more... obvious.
Sharp whistles and the pounding of horse hooves had her ears careening forward. The Kings guard perhaps? A scouting party returning? But why were they coming this way? The Kingdom was to the south, her eyes widened and a snarl pulled itself from her throat as it dawned on her. The whistling of arrows caught her ears just a fraction of a second too late and as she leapt backwards numerous bolts scraped along her hide and she hissed. Dorian's horse screamed and her golden eyes shot to the sound. The arrow had sunk deep, had caught the beast just before the ribs and had sunk clear to the feathers, not an injury it was likely to survive.
Dorian. They would kill him, he was a foreigner here and they had already seen her, they would know he was here for her, they would assume he was here to help her, they would offer him no quarter and they would kill him. Bounding forward without giving it a second thought, she coiled her teeth around the fallen horse and pulled its weight off of him. She growled at him lowly offering him her side. This would test the limits of her control, being able to smell his blood pumping mere inches from her jaws... but what choice did she have, she couldn't very well leave him here to die. She whined, the sound of the horses drawing ever closer, she could not lift him from the snow, her teeth would tear his flesh. She lowered her underbelly to the snow, hoping he would understand.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 12, 2013 22:12:57 GMT -5
Dorian did not mind with the frivolous wonders of magic. He knew already that it existed, that it powered parts of the world and he did not have to understand. Right now, he was thinking practically, thinking well. And later, he would sort everything out with his emotions. That was something he had time for later, when he was alone. What with his curse, his painting bore all of his weight and he did not have time or strength for any sort of regret. No. He would focus on Ruby.
Dorian was having trouble trying to figure out what is was the wolf wanted to communicate. What was she saying? How was he supposed to understand the subtle language and emotions of some other creature? But he tried. Because he had to. But the arrows came whizzing through the thick air, straight toward him, and he let his fear paralyze him there. Below him, he could feel Ernest collapsing, and the chain began. Poor thing, whinnying in pain. Damn! "Ernest!" His best stallion, his good, expensive mount... But all too suddenly, the beast had fallen, and fallen atop his master. Dorian was crushed by the weight of the horse.Och, but this was awful.
He looked out to see who was after them, suddenly fearing for both his life and his lover's. He did not think he cared that much for Ruby, but clearly in this situation she was worth his worry. He didn't want to leave his dying horse in agony, but apparently this was a life or death situation for him as well.
Ruby, the wolf, saved him from the weight of the horse, and Dorian knew for certain that she was not hostile toward him. He was glad for it, and looked into her golden eyes with a curious wonder. Her growl seemed like an invitation, and her posture as well. Oh, Alright, thought Dorian. He spent a moment's hesitation, but then realized that it could not be justified. He found his way onto her back and they began to run--but not before he could grab his bow and quiver and strap them to himself.
As they ran, he almost laughed. "So we're back to me riding you?"
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Post by Ruby on Jan 12, 2013 22:45:48 GMT -5
Ruby watched him, waiting, she heard the drawbacks of bows knew it would not be long before more arrows rained from the skies and Red flinched, she could not wait much longer. If he did not move, she would be forced to fight them, and there were too many. She could try but she wouldn't come out of that fight unscathed. They were trained huntsmen, not bedraggled villagers, but Dorian wasn't leaving her much of an option. She readied herself to fight, to perhaps blow through them, distract the masses, give him enough time to escape back to his manor. God only knew what they would do to her once they tracked her, found her lying naked in the snow, but at least Dorian would be safe. If it wasn't a life or death situation she might have frowned at that logic. Since when was his life valued higher than hers? She didn't have feelings for him... did she? She shook it from her head, there was no time to ponder such things now and just as she was about to take off towards the hunters Dorian moved and Ruby could have kissed him.
She wasted no time adjusting to the foreign weight and rocketed off into the woods. She knew these woods like the back of her hand, it was a familiar path, she focused solely on outrunning the group and let her feet take her where they will. The wolf knew where it was going, it was Ruby that was lost. The horses were not so fearless of the forest, they would not blow through the water, they were fearful of the dark, the shadows, Ruby had no stipulations, but what they lacked in speed, they made up for in the accuracy of those arrows and those crossbows.
Dorian's laughing words reached her ears and they swung around to catch his tone, momentarily distracted. She turned her head just slightly to glance at him quickly, the laughter that danced in the beasts gaze and the smile that seemed to stretch over its face was purely Ruby, but that small little hint of distraction was all that one of the hunters needed, he released the bolt from the crossbow with deadly accuracy. The bolt sunk into her back mere inches from where Dorian sat and Ruby yelped, slamming her jaws shut and fighting the pain with every stride she took, but she kept running, she had too, she sure as hell hadn't risked her neck for Dorian in the first place only for the hunters to catch them both.
She forced her legs to move faster to stride farther, to eat up the terrain beneath her furious gait. She could not see Dorian completely, but she had not heard any cries of pain nor could she smell his blood, she hoped, at least, that he would escape this unscathed, he wouldn't even be in this mess if it wasn't for her. This was entirely her fault, the loss of his horse, whatever injuries the fall had cost him... all she could do was see to his survival, she would deal with her guilt later.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 13, 2013 13:04:38 GMT -5
Dorian hated to be concerned about seemlingly petty things--his horse, for instance--but he was. He'd not had the steed long but it had been a good one and a strong one. Poor thing didn't deserve to die so suddenly. But Dorian knew better than to worry and he took off with Ruby to run for his life. He watched, his bow and quiver round one shoulder, and when the arrows began to rain down once more, he thought the best thing to do would be to shoot back. So Dorian drew up his bow and reached for an arrow.
He looked back as he tried to hold on, and made himself poised to let go the arrow. Once positioned, Dorian released a string of four or five arrows, unsure of whether or not he had actually hit anyone. But at least he could try. He dropped the bow, having only two arrows left in his quiver, and was horrified to find that there was blood on Ruby's back, and he heard her yelp of pain. Damn it! They'd hit her. He took up the bow again and strung the last two arrows. One he was certain hit someone, the other perhaps not. But he was livid--dare they chase them, when he was armed and she was highly dangerous? Did not they know what he could do to them if she was seriously injured, him being a duke with the command of several vicious servingmen?
Och. What a lot of fools they were. Dorian replaced his weapon, now out of arrows, and held on, hoping ceaselessly that Ruby was going to be alright. Her pace quickened always, and he wondered how much she would be able to keep this up. And where were they headed? It looked like, from what he knew and could gather, that they were on course to make it back to his duchy.
"Ruby..." he whined, half-voice. He was overly worried for her, worried for someone other than himself. What was this?
He leaned down closer to her head and said, "If you go to my manor, I'll take care of you." He could only hope that she understood, that she would do as he asked. He could not bear to lose someone so... valuable. Was that what she was to him now? Och, perhaps.
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Post by Ruby on Jan 13, 2013 13:33:08 GMT -5
Ruby had felt a great deal worse that the arrow jutting from her side, physical pain held no contest over the agony she had felt after killing off her two precious people. Her mother and her lover. Her mother she had scarcely known for a few days but it was she who had taught her to control the wolf, and it was she that was currently responsible for saving Dorians life and once she had time to think again, she knew the guilt would start to chip away at her again, but now was not the time to think of such things.
As it turned out, Dorian seemed to be talented in more than one area, she could hear the cries of two...three of the hunters behind them? His arrows had struck true, or at least some of them had. If she had learned anything from fleeing in the past, it was simply no matter how much they wished to kill her they were loathe to leave behind an injured companion and slowly but surely, the sounds and the scents of the horses vanished somewhere behind them. Ruby slowed her furious pace to a casual gait, still moving, unwilling to stop and give them the opportunity to catch up.
She craned her head around to see him better, to make sure he had no mortal injuries, she tested the air for the scent of his blood, and smiled to the best of her ability when she realized he was unscathed. His words were soft, with just the barest hint of concern and Ruby whined nudging his leg with her nose. She would be fine, sore for quite some time and she certainly wasn't looking forward to changing in the morning... or the following night, but she would live. Hopefully the bolt would remain in her muscle when she shifted back, and didn't sink in further to pierce something vital. Pain she could tolerate but she wasn't sure how she would survive pierced organs... she was a werewolf, not a superhuman.
His manor... did she risk venturing into the town to return to his manor? Was that wise? Her gaze lifted to the skies, roughly an hour left of nightfall... she hadn't realized she had run so long, but for the wolf, stamina seemed everlasting. If she shifted back out here, she would have no clothes, and nothing to bandage herself with, at least back at Dorian's manor she might get lucky if he had some bandages lying about. Again it seemed that the choice was beyond her control. She was getting irritated with such things.
She changed her direction, racing back towards the kingdom at a heavy run, not a full out sprint like before, but with only an hour to return them it left her little choice, time, as always, seemed to fight against her. She kept to the outskirts of time, fleeing in the shadows, his manor was on his own private estate and was not nestled in the center of town much to her relief, which made not being seen a vast deal easier.
The sun crept over the horizon, its first rays of light crashing against her, and the wolf hissed. The bones cracked and snapped, reshaping to fit her human side, her tail vanished, paws became hands and crammed toes lengthened back to fingers, the fur retreated back into her skin, and long curled brown hair stopped at her midback. Her skull shrunk back from a snout and her eyes rippled with color once, twice and then reverted back to emerald green. Her slender legs buckled beneath her and she slumped into the snow, shivering from both the pain in her back and the bitter ice against her bare flesh.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 13, 2013 13:59:10 GMT -5
The night was cold, and Dorian's poor, pathetically thin clothing was not holding up to the weather. He knew he should have sported his surcoat, or maybe even the thick fur coat, but he'd been foolish when he'd gone riding and not thought out well what could happen. Och, well, most people would probably just say it served him right to be cold, as his heart was also callous and cold. He has so few friends but so many people who kissed up to him just to get the things they could attain from his rank and wealth. Fools.
Dorian held on as they rode, but soon enough the footfall of horses at his back was dissapated and there were hunters behind them no more. He was relieved to say the least, and nodded in frivolous disallusion. This had been quite the night. Dorian had learned of magic beyond his own and of the curious hunters who thirsted for her blood. What a scene, what a day. And what a lesson for him--never stray to the forest again, lest he wish death upon himself.
He thought he caught a smile upon the wolf's lips but wondered if it was perhaps just an illusion. Wolves didn't smile; but then again, this was no regular wolf. It was Ruby, his viciously delicious Ruby. He grinned back.
The pair went out toward the kingdom, toward his home, and he could not think of anywhere else he'd rather be going. It was his haven, and his study was his gaol cell. But it was his and he loved it as much as one could love an object, besides maybe his horse. When they were there, he dismounted to allow her the space to change back, as he could see the oncoming sun and knew the change was imminent.
He watched, cringing, as she changed, and wanted so much to help the pain she seemed to feel. But at long last she lay alone in the snow, nude and alone, but once more human. Dorian bent down and took her in his arms, cradling her close and trying to heat her with his perspiring body. He walked her through the snow into the manor, kissing her forehead and saying "You saved me, didn't you?"
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Post by Ruby on Jan 13, 2013 14:25:20 GMT -5
Ruby shook violently, her eyes large and disoriented and despite the bitter chill her body had broken in a violent sweat. She always woke up like this, lost and shaky, until she could regain her senses. The change was difficult and took its toll on her body. Even as a human Ruby possessed heightened senses but they could not compare to the wolf, and when the shift occurred, come morning, she felt deaf and blind for the first few minutes. She was vaguely aware of being lifted out of the snow, but her first thoughts of coming back down to earth was the feel of someone's lips against her forehead and whispered words against her flesh. Slowly, her muscles stopped spasming and Red seemed to regain the awareness in her eyes and she buried her face in the slender column of his neck, not really caring where he was taking her.
"D-doesn't seem f-fair." She stuttered softly into his skin, the cold now beginning to really effect her, without the fur to keep her warm and the cold chill of the manor she shook slightly in his embrace. "You're still fully c-clothed and I'm already b-bare." She murmured just as soft, nuzzling her nose into his neck and leeching off his heat to the best of her ability. A sudden spike of pain that shot down her back reminded her that now was probably not the best time to tempt him.
"I couldn't leave you. I d-don't know why you were out there, but you n-never asked to be pulled headfirst into my c-curse. B-besides I k-kinda like you, just the t-tiniest bit mind you... b-but I couldn't see you d-dead." Her voice was quiet, a soft tremor from the pain seeping into her tones. "I d-don't suppose you would have any b-bandages?" As much as she was loathe to leave her personal space heater to wrap her stomach, she needed to pull the bolt out of her back. "T-thank you and I'm sorry."
She didn't want to meet his eyes, she felt so guilty, so terrible for so many things... she had been responsible for tearing apart so many lives, so many deaths, perhaps it would have been best had the bolt breeched one of her lungs, but then they would have gotten Dorian, and then she would have been responsible for yet another death. She gnawed her still wounded bottom lip, would she ever stop being a monster?
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 13, 2013 22:40:11 GMT -5
Dorian watched with quiet, observant, and consciencious eyes as she awoke, but he was careful to pick her up before the chill of the snow was able to settle in her bones. He did not dare to watch her fall victim to the cold, and at least he had some protection from it. She came to in his arms, and he let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. She buried her face in his neck and he knew that she must be freezing; he bit his lip and trekked in.
Her joke startled him, and he realized what he hadn't before; that she was absolutely bare before him. But it took every ounce of his restraint to not, when he'd gotten her inside, lay her down on the divan and have his way with her. He knew she was hurt and he knew that he could not get away with that game again. He took a deep breath and willed his body to his command.
"I'll have you back later," he told her wickedly as he placed a blanket over her freezing frame, with a wink. He stood still for a moment, trying to understand what she'd told him, and bit his lip in contemplation. She was a curious thing, Ruby, and when she said she liked him, did that mean she had feelings? Because Dorian could not handle those. His emotions had bought him an eternity in Hell already, and he;d killed a man and caused his fiancee to commit suicide. No. No more emotions for him. He was unattached. "Well thank you for saving me." He covered his terrified thoughts. She could not like him. They were here for each other's pleasure, no more. He did not want to ever fall in love again.
He went to the other room, stonefaced and walking very slowly, his eyes wide in shock still. A minute later, he returned with the bandage she'd requested and knelt before the divan with it. "Do you want me to help you?" he asked, his eyes sincere.
He wanted to protect her and care for her, in a way, but he did not want her to mean too much, lest she find out who he really was. A monster.
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Post by Ruby on Jan 13, 2013 23:45:33 GMT -5
The blanket felt divine against her skin, she missed the warmth his heat provided but she dare not speak her mind. She was lucky he still spoke to her at all, most would not be so kind. Most tried to kill her once they discovered the demon that resided in her chest. The chill slowly fell from her flesh and the sharpness of her senses returned to her. The pain in her lower back was still there, but it wasn't near as bad now that she wasn't moving, she was lucky, it had not sunk so deep. She laughed lightly at his teasing banter, he just couldn't resist himself could he? Not that she was one to talk...
She caught his deer in headlights expression and she chewed her bottom lip, causing it to bleed once more. but she paid the dull throb no heed. She would wait until he returned to pull the bolt from her back, she would need the pressure of the gauze for the wound to clot faster. She had lost enough blood as it was, she returned her attention to the stone faced duke, and knew she had said the wrong thing... fantastic. With a soft sigh she reached for him, gently plucking the bandages from his fingers and tracing the line of his cheekbone.
"First of all it would be fantastic if you could pull the bolt from my back and wrap my side, I may be limber but I'm not quite that amazing." She laughed lightly and let the blanket drop from her upper half, it wasn't like he hadn't already explored her with tongue, teeth and fingers. She waited until he had pulled the thing from her back and had bandaged her torso before speaking again. " Second... you can stop looking like I have sentenced you to the guillotine, if anyone should wear such a look it should be I... you've just learned my darkest secret, you've seen how much of a monster I am. Most of the time people react rather poorly, you are the first to take it in stride." She heaved a sigh, running a hand through her messy hair. She bit her bottom lip thoughtfully, debating silently for only a moment, but finally she inhaled sharply and her eyes lost their humor as began to speak.
"First of all do not thank me for saving your life if it wasn't for me, you would never have been in such a dreadful situation to begin with and for that, I apologize, for you and your horse." She looked away from him, focusing on the physical pain and attempting to block out the pain that weighed on her heart.
"I never knew about my curse, my Granny told me my parents had been killed and had an enchanted cloak made for me, it kept me from the transformations, but she never told me. Our village was plagued by a monster that slaughtered men, women, and children without care or remorse, Granny never told me it was me. I met a man named Peter and we fell in love, he was my first and they thought him to be the wolf. I ran away with him, to protect him from the village, come the full moon I bound him in chains to a large tree." She paused then, a weak smile pulling at the corners of her mouth and tears gathering at the corners of her eyes that she refused to let fall. "I tore him to pieces. He never even had a chance, he had no weapons and I chained him, I chained him to that goddamn tree... they couldn't recognize the body it was so mutilated."
" A few months later I met my mother quite by chance. She taught me to control it, and then I killed her too." Finally she forced her gaze to return to those onyx orbs that had held her so captivated when they first met. "You are one of two people, who know my story and I tell you not to feel your pity or your sympathies, but because you need to understand that I am a monster. I am a demon, and I dont deserve kindness from anyone, but when I say I like you, it means only that. I cannot love anyone Dorian Grey, because I destroy everything I have ever loved."
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 14, 2013 18:17:33 GMT -5
Dorian had gotten himself into some fairly tight spots, namely with Basil Hallworth and Sibyl Vane, but the only thing that had caused him to escape those was death. Murder or Suicide had spared him his life. Now he was caught again, in this trap of a relationship that he wasn't sure he wanted. Hedonism was his lifestyle; pleasure was his daily bread. And he did not want any more than that.
He nearly startled himself for a moment with his thoughts, and when Ruby dropped her blanket he could feel the heat in his core. But he tried to ignore it like he tried to ignore the memory of the night he'd spent with her as he pulled the bolt from her back, the whole time probably wincing and grimacing more than she. When he'd finished that, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder and a gentle kiss on her neck. "You're stronger than I am," he observed with a lighthearted laugh. He then wrapped her abdomen with the bandage, attempting but not succeeding in not being a bit over-touchy.
He sat up beside her. "That was first. Second, I only take it so well because I understand the presence of forces we don't control. I've seen them at work before." He refused to elaborate on his experience. If she pushed, he might have to tell her he was always young. But he would never, for his life, reveal the atrocity of a painting that sat veiled and hidden away in his study.
"I'll take some adventure over nothing any day," he winked. He was a hedonist, religiously. He engaged in all sorts of pleasure, and though he would always look young, he could still be mortal. His life might have the potential to never end, but he could still be struck down by some hellion. He knew. And he was careful. And as he listened to Ruby, Dorian kept his lips pressed together and his eyes narrowed, for want of a better posture, and wondered why she so willingly gave up her story to him. But tears came, and he opened his arms to her, assuring her that if he did not offer love, he offered warmth of some sort, that might be repaid to him.... later.
He nodded when she was done and took a moment's silence to think of the right words. He was wary in his choice of vocabulary. "I feel honoured to have been bestowed your story, for I would never willingly give up my own. And I know. I know what it is like to destroy your passions and your loves. But I am glad you do not love me, because I cannot love. I am a monster whose life has been devoted to pleasures, and love would ruin me. I hope you'll stay with me for a time, though, I do. Show me the aesthetical pleasures of your world." He smiled, and realized that he had said too much. Far too much. What had he done? This was bad, very bad, and what was it of him that was trying to compensate. No, Dorian! Mustn't let your emotions return.
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Post by Ruby on Jan 14, 2013 18:51:31 GMT -5
Ruby did not divulge the full length of her story to anyone, and she wasn't sure what had compelled her to do so now. Perhaps it had merely ate at her for far too long, the guilt of making Snow share her secret. Or maybe it was simply the secret itself that needed to break free, whatever the case may be, she focused not on her story but on the gentle pressure he supplied to her midriff as he bandaged her tightly. She did not know what she expected his reaction to be, she had never told her story to anyone. The only reason Snow harbored her secrets was because she had been there. Not even Granny knew the extent of the damage she had caused.
"I shudder to think what you have seen if a three hundred pound wolf does little to phase you." Her voice held the utmost seriousness, but a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. "I shall not ask... the fact that you have not returned with silver bullets or something of the like to drive through my heart is enough." And it was. So many people hated her once they discovered her true nature, the fact that he was so calm and so collected, it made her ever so grateful that he was the one to stumble upon her and not some frostbitten villager. She didn't want to be a monster, but she was cursed. She had considered many times making a deal with Rumple, to rid herself of the beast, but that would be akin to trading one devil for another... what was the gain in that? She was already in an open ended agreement with him and that alone was enough to make her cringe. Deals with Rumple never ended well, but what was done, was done, and there was nothing she could do now but wait to do his bidding.
She blinked, eyes wide and tears forgotten at his gentle words, shock and surprise sparkling in their emerald depths, and she gnawed her bottom lip as she contemplated his words. She was frightened by how well he had understood her words, and she was even more nervous about how much sense his own words made. Although she knew not what his own demons were, he claimed to be a monster and flesh and she a monster of blood. They both understood the dangers of love beyond the confines of momentary passion and neither of them wanted it. It didn't matter what his own darkness was because she understood him... and that terrified her, but then she smiled. A large, wide smile that damn near split her face in two and lit her eyes with humor. Despite the seriousness of his words she could not stop the laughter that poured from her mouth and when she had finally managed to reign herself in, she grabbed him by his lapels and tugged him forward until he was forced to stand and lean over her. She touched her forward to his softly shaking her head.
"I tell you I have murdered hundreds of people, and you thank me for telling you my story. I tell you I destroyed the lives of the two people I love most, and instead of kicking me out like any sane person would have done you ask me to stay for an undetermined amount of time..." She shook her head lightly. "What does that say about you? And what does that say about me that I yearn to say yes?" She could feel the rough material of his clothing against her bare flesh and despite the pain of her injury, all she could think about was how amazing he had felt inside of her, and how badly she wanted him again. This was dangerous, this was stupid, but she couldn't say no.
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Post by Dorian Gray on Jan 14, 2013 19:17:49 GMT -5
Something was tugging at Dorian's heart or mind or something. They were all interrelated, anyhow; what did it matter if something irked one of them? for it irked them all. He did not bother with what part of him yearned; to him it all had to end the same way. It had to be pleasure and it could not be emotion; it had to be carnal and it couldn't involve heart. Because Dorian's heart was blocked off from all the rest of him. It resided in the painting with the part of him that could never be forgiven if known. It was outside of him now, and he had put it there.
He merely grinned, only grinned, but dared to grin. He'd seen too much in his life. He'd seen death and destruction, greed and grief, lust and loneliness. And most of it was his own. But it was and was not his, because he was unable to feel what his painting reflected, and regret did not plague him as it should. He shook his head. "You would not want to hear it, love. My life has been far worse than ever I would want to share."
But he doubled back in thought. "No," he said definitively, "I will tell you. I will tell you what you deserve to know and no more." He looked her in the eyes and told her what he could, knowing she could keep this much of a secret and hoping it would not turn on him. "I cannot age. I am young for all my life; the pains of age will not touch me. Thus I cannot die, until someone sentences me to do so." It wasn't really that simple.
In truth, the painting was a reflection of everything that did not show on Dorian's moral flesh. And it wasn't that he was immortal, it was more that he could be if he was careful. He could probably cause his own demise, if ever he came to that point, but he knew also that a sword or poison could kill him. He was not immortal. Just always young. Basil had painted that, and in his foolish youth, Dorian had been easy for Lord Henry to draw into hedonism. He never looked back on his actions, and never thought of his own contradictory self, but some part of Dorian knew the truth. He was Henry's puppet. He was someone else's masterpiece. And his influence was not his own to freely give.
She pulled him to her and he did not want to protest, but he did. He was too melancholy for this now, and common courtisan sense told him not to hurt her more, for she was already hurt. "It says that I am an unfeeling bastard," he whispered, "and that you've foolishly fallen under my influence." He lifted himself up and placed a finger upon her lips. "And you're foolish still, to tempt me. Because you would hate me if I did that to you while you ached as you must." He was serious, but his eyes still sparkled.
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