Azuel’s hands were on his musket the instant she had pointed out the noise. His weapon was his advantage. He could gain a small sense of security from the knowledge that he was the one holding the most advanced piece of equipment around. He shrugged the musket from his shoulders, and with a second movement, flipped down his visor in the expectation of trouble.
He made certain she walked first. She was the one with the melee weapon, after all. Azuel swallowed, her reaction having filled his head with dozens of ghastly scenes.
Their approach was swift and subtle, Azuel’s timid mind sending waves of adrenaline rushing through his body. His heart rate picked up as they pushed around the final brush. Azuel’s pointer finger was set, by muscle memory alone, off the trigger.
But now he stood aghast, his face draining of color before a violent, rushing red wave overtook it. No weapon could save him from what he now bore witness to. His mind ceased all thought as he watched an elf and a human make love at the memorial gardens of his ancestors. This was... it was blasphemy of the highest caliber.
His finger moved from the safe position to the trigger. The musket itself remained pointed at the ground, though it twitched. His grip was tight, fair more intense than was required and the gun was dangerously close to discharge. Who were they, to fly in the face of natural laws? Who were they to ignore the foundations of Puradyne society?
The barrel of his gun inched forwards as his rage warred with his common sense. The images stuck in his mind, particularly of the pointed and rounded ears. All he could see of the scene before him, blinded to all else by the nature of his thoughts, were the two, dissimilar pairs of ears and the sexual organs of the pair.
The sounds of crashing brush and flailing snapped him from his thoughts. Beyond the capacity for rational thought, the muzzle swerved upwards. Before it came anywhere near the young elven couple, the stress on the trigger, already mere moments away from firing, became far too much.
BLAM!
His musket discharged into the earth, trailing smoke from the muzzle. Azuel dropped his firearm, his iron grip was abruptly loosened by fear of the noise. It landed softly on the grass, hardly even bouncing, as if it had not just nearly dealt in blood. It made little noise, apparently sated by the blast.
As if the release of the gun had let loose his emotions, Azuel broke into tears and collapsed to his knees. He had been completely unprepared for all that had happened. What was already a tense day had come to horrible fruition. He sobbed, unable to stop, unable to think to stop. He made a pitiful sight as he scratched at his helmet, eventually flailing his arms such that the visor rose. With hands wreathed in steel he attempted to claw at his eyes and wipe his nose, only causing further harm.
His incompetent display only made him cry harder. He reached for his musket, as if to pick it up, but the moment his fingers touched the handle they recoiled involuntarily. He recoiled with such force that he toppled backwards. Even as his face hit the earth, he continued to sob.
His mournful howls and sniffles slowed as he coughed, struggling to pick himself up from the earth. He clutched at his stomach and moaned, his blurred, water-filled eyes rolling up into his head. He could not see anything. He could not smell anything. He could not taste anything over the bile. He felt helpless as a child and he cried out with the same vigor.
He only ceased his limping crawl when his back hit a bush. He leaned into it, unable to support himself, and his armor cushioned him against the prickly leaves. Only now did his thoughts start to return to him, and only now could he hear over the sounds of his own noise.
The New Recruit
-
Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
Mire jumped backwards from her crouch when the gun went off, landing heavily on her backside. A gouge of earth had shot up in the place where the couple had been. All the color had drained from her face. She looked at Azuel and watched, mouth open in shock, as the guardsman crumpled.
He... he had discharged a firearm at two harmless university kids who couldn't be much young than she was.
Had he... had he intended to kill them?
Was he... was he crying?
It wasn't until he started to hurt himself that she launched into some kind of action. Pulling off her gauntlets, she moved toward him, then froze in her tracks as he reached for the gun once more.
The wait was in vain, though, as Vyaduka collapsed nearly face down in the dirt, curled into a ball, clutched at his belly, and moaned.
What in the... Mire wanted to help him, but didn't know what to do. Every ounce of her said, that when someone cried like that, you comforted them.
As he sagged into a prickly bush, she moved toward him slowly taking care to push the gun as far out of his reach as possible. Very carefully, she knelt beside him, facing him. Her helm was off and her gaze was concerned.
"Hey..." Mire reached out and hesitated. She scooted a little closer.
"Hey..." She reached for his hand and pulled off the gauntlet. She clasped his hand in both of hers, offering the comfort of touch in the hopes that it would help ground him.
"Vya... Azuel?" What? Was he OK? Obviously not, but what else was there to ask? She didn't want to trigger another episode, but what WAS that?? Mire had to admit she was more than a little scared, but he was her partner, right? She was going to see this through. Maybe she just needed to pretend it didn't happen?
"Why don't we get back on a patrol, yeah?" Mire's gaze searched Azuel's face.
He... he had discharged a firearm at two harmless university kids who couldn't be much young than she was.
Had he... had he intended to kill them?
Was he... was he crying?
It wasn't until he started to hurt himself that she launched into some kind of action. Pulling off her gauntlets, she moved toward him, then froze in her tracks as he reached for the gun once more.
The wait was in vain, though, as Vyaduka collapsed nearly face down in the dirt, curled into a ball, clutched at his belly, and moaned.
What in the... Mire wanted to help him, but didn't know what to do. Every ounce of her said, that when someone cried like that, you comforted them.
As he sagged into a prickly bush, she moved toward him slowly taking care to push the gun as far out of his reach as possible. Very carefully, she knelt beside him, facing him. Her helm was off and her gaze was concerned.
"Hey..." Mire reached out and hesitated. She scooted a little closer.
"Hey..." She reached for his hand and pulled off the gauntlet. She clasped his hand in both of hers, offering the comfort of touch in the hopes that it would help ground him.
"Vya... Azuel?" What? Was he OK? Obviously not, but what else was there to ask? She didn't want to trigger another episode, but what WAS that?? Mire had to admit she was more than a little scared, but he was her partner, right? She was going to see this through. Maybe she just needed to pretend it didn't happen?
"Why don't we get back on a patrol, yeah?" Mire's gaze searched Azuel's face.
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
Azuel felt fingers lift his hand, but even now he couldn’t see who was holding it. With his thoughts only gradually returning to him, it took him time to piece together who it might be. Once he did though, his tear filled eyes went wide.
“Nnnnn!” He voiced through gritted teeth, yanking his hand away from the elf. It was too much for him. A fresh wave of tears cascaded down his cheeks, and he pulled himself two steps away, shoving himself into the brush’s corner. As he looked frantically around, only vaguely identifying her location, his fear was plain.
Now facing downwards, he curled into a ball and put his hands above his head. His movements scarred the trimmed grass and put dirt between his armor’s joints. He whispered “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry” over and over, though so quietly it was not likely that anyone would hear it.
“Nnnnn!” He voiced through gritted teeth, yanking his hand away from the elf. It was too much for him. A fresh wave of tears cascaded down his cheeks, and he pulled himself two steps away, shoving himself into the brush’s corner. As he looked frantically around, only vaguely identifying her location, his fear was plain.
Now facing downwards, he curled into a ball and put his hands above his head. His movements scarred the trimmed grass and put dirt between his armor’s joints. He whispered “I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry” over and over, though so quietly it was not likely that anyone would hear it.
Re: The New Recruit
Mire pulled her hands back, lifting them in a gesture of surrender.
"Shh.. it's OK. It was an accident, right?" Her voice was soft, pitched soothingly. Guard training did not teach one how to deal with this sort of thing. Assess the situation. Bash heads. But... you don't bash the head of your patrol partner.
"If... if anyone asks about the gun shot, I'll say..." Mire looked around, biting her lip. "I'll say I wanted to try it out. Right? OK?"
Mire sighed and looked down at the man who was obviously having what she could only call a nervous breakdown. She could hear what he was saying. Elven hearing is sharp.
He was obviously afraid, but she couldn't fathom why he looked at her in fear like that. Mire was smart enough to stay where she was, even though she really just wanted to pat him on the back or stroke his hair. She dropped her hands and leaned near to him, to try and get him to come out of whatever this was.
Vyaduka reminded her of her days in the orphanage, when one of the smaller kids had a really bad nightmare.
"Shh," she said. "I'm here for you. OK? Azuel?" She repeated it over and over again, hoping he might calm down. What was she going to do? Was he going to react like this every time a situation occurred? What if it had been something serious?
Maybe... maybe if she requested him as her partner from now on she could keep an eye on him? Make it so, nothing like the accidental shot happened again? How could he shoot at a couple of kids having sex?
"Shh.. it's OK. It was an accident, right?" Her voice was soft, pitched soothingly. Guard training did not teach one how to deal with this sort of thing. Assess the situation. Bash heads. But... you don't bash the head of your patrol partner.
"If... if anyone asks about the gun shot, I'll say..." Mire looked around, biting her lip. "I'll say I wanted to try it out. Right? OK?"
Mire sighed and looked down at the man who was obviously having what she could only call a nervous breakdown. She could hear what he was saying. Elven hearing is sharp.
He was obviously afraid, but she couldn't fathom why he looked at her in fear like that. Mire was smart enough to stay where she was, even though she really just wanted to pat him on the back or stroke his hair. She dropped her hands and leaned near to him, to try and get him to come out of whatever this was.
Vyaduka reminded her of her days in the orphanage, when one of the smaller kids had a really bad nightmare.
"Shh," she said. "I'm here for you. OK? Azuel?" She repeated it over and over again, hoping he might calm down. What was she going to do? Was he going to react like this every time a situation occurred? What if it had been something serious?
Maybe... maybe if she requested him as her partner from now on she could keep an eye on him? Make it so, nothing like the accidental shot happened again? How could he shoot at a couple of kids having sex?
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
Azuel heard her over his tears and madness. He waited for a long moment, trying to regain something approaching normal breathing. A hacking, horrible giggle escaped his lips, causing him to gasp for air. As soon as the fresh breath entered his lungs, he reared up with sobbing laughter racking his entire frame.
“You don’t get it!” He screeched, louder than was necessary or wise, “you still don’t fucking get it, do you?! I hate you! I hate you so much! I hate all your kind!”
Azuel spun around with a fanatical grin. The time he spent on one arm was enough to make him collapse anew, but now he was at least facing her. He pulled himself back up yet again, so that now he was simply sitting. He could manage that, at least.
He felt sick, and so rested one of his hands on his stomach. His right arm was placed on the soft grass for stability. His face ran with all the fluids it could produce, blood, water, spit and snot. And he was smiling. “But now there’s an idea!” His voice broke in the midst of ‘idea,’ sending his pitch abruptly, unnaturally upwards. He sniffed, trying to control himself and failing. “You want to take the fall for me? Beautiful! Great. They’ll all believe me! I’m a mother fucking descendant! I could pin all the blame on you!” He laughed again despite the clear pain it was causing his stressed windpipe. He started coughing again, and only stabilized when he wrapped both his arms around his gut.
He wasn’t vocalizing his sobs or laughing madly when he came back from the pain moments later, though his eyes still ran fresh with tears. “While I’m at it, maybe I could kick the poor and murder somebody’s fucking puppy! Then blame that on somebody else too!”
He started crying in a quieter, more controlled manner, though he had again lost his speech. His blurry eyes gazed mournfully at the marred dirt by his feet. His whole body shuddered under his armor and a great choking noise broke from his throat.
He sniffed while shrugging his shoulders forwards so that he wasn’t leaning on the bush, attempting to regain his dignity piece by piece. He could see her now, even through the water which filled his eyes, beautiful in bearing and nature. “I wonder... if I asked you to... would you kill me?”
He chuckled a bit, not waiting for a response. “Of course not. I’m descendant. I am immortal to you.” He said, meaning that were she to kill him at his request she would be accused of murder. He was not considering how she might take such a statement.
“You don’t get it!” He screeched, louder than was necessary or wise, “you still don’t fucking get it, do you?! I hate you! I hate you so much! I hate all your kind!”
Azuel spun around with a fanatical grin. The time he spent on one arm was enough to make him collapse anew, but now he was at least facing her. He pulled himself back up yet again, so that now he was simply sitting. He could manage that, at least.
He felt sick, and so rested one of his hands on his stomach. His right arm was placed on the soft grass for stability. His face ran with all the fluids it could produce, blood, water, spit and snot. And he was smiling. “But now there’s an idea!” His voice broke in the midst of ‘idea,’ sending his pitch abruptly, unnaturally upwards. He sniffed, trying to control himself and failing. “You want to take the fall for me? Beautiful! Great. They’ll all believe me! I’m a mother fucking descendant! I could pin all the blame on you!” He laughed again despite the clear pain it was causing his stressed windpipe. He started coughing again, and only stabilized when he wrapped both his arms around his gut.
He wasn’t vocalizing his sobs or laughing madly when he came back from the pain moments later, though his eyes still ran fresh with tears. “While I’m at it, maybe I could kick the poor and murder somebody’s fucking puppy! Then blame that on somebody else too!”
He started crying in a quieter, more controlled manner, though he had again lost his speech. His blurry eyes gazed mournfully at the marred dirt by his feet. His whole body shuddered under his armor and a great choking noise broke from his throat.
He sniffed while shrugging his shoulders forwards so that he wasn’t leaning on the bush, attempting to regain his dignity piece by piece. He could see her now, even through the water which filled his eyes, beautiful in bearing and nature. “I wonder... if I asked you to... would you kill me?”
He chuckled a bit, not waiting for a response. “Of course not. I’m descendant. I am immortal to you.” He said, meaning that were she to kill him at his request she would be accused of murder. He was not considering how she might take such a statement.
Re: The New Recruit
At the crazed giggle, Mire sat up. She eyed Azuel with uncertainty. There was compassion, and then there was common sense and self preservation.
When he started yelling at her, his voice horrid, she froze. Her eyes went wide and the color had drained from her face. Mire was unsure of what she should do or how to handle such blatant, vitriolic hate and madness. All she wanted was to get away from him and return to the barracks to report this ... incident. She couldn't let this ... His soft words gave her a cold chill.
“I wonder... if I asked you to... would you kill me?”
Mire shook her head vehemently, "Never!" Her braid swung violently. Her response was overridden by his chilling reply.
“Of course not. I’m descendant. I am immortal to you.”
One thing had become explicitly clear: Azuel Vyaduka was completely mad. He needed to be in the Asylum. She was afraid to set him off again. She was afraid if she moved he might try to attack her. Her training hadn't trained her for this - he was a guardsman! A comrade!
But he hated her... hated elves?
Lifting her hands in a placating gesture, Mire slowly rose to her feet. She didn't try to pick up her gauntlets. She was worried about him going for the musket and killing her or himself, but she didn't even look at the thing. She didn't want to draw his attention to it and she didn't want to try to leave with it so easily accessible.
"Let's head back to the Barracks and let ...." Mire started to say Seventri, but he was an elf even if he was the medic. "... human medics see to your face. You scratched it up a bit with your gauntlets." She was still holding her hands up placatingly, but was ready to move.
When he started yelling at her, his voice horrid, she froze. Her eyes went wide and the color had drained from her face. Mire was unsure of what she should do or how to handle such blatant, vitriolic hate and madness. All she wanted was to get away from him and return to the barracks to report this ... incident. She couldn't let this ... His soft words gave her a cold chill.
“I wonder... if I asked you to... would you kill me?”
Mire shook her head vehemently, "Never!" Her braid swung violently. Her response was overridden by his chilling reply.
“Of course not. I’m descendant. I am immortal to you.”
One thing had become explicitly clear: Azuel Vyaduka was completely mad. He needed to be in the Asylum. She was afraid to set him off again. She was afraid if she moved he might try to attack her. Her training hadn't trained her for this - he was a guardsman! A comrade!
But he hated her... hated elves?
Lifting her hands in a placating gesture, Mire slowly rose to her feet. She didn't try to pick up her gauntlets. She was worried about him going for the musket and killing her or himself, but she didn't even look at the thing. She didn't want to draw his attention to it and she didn't want to try to leave with it so easily accessible.
"Let's head back to the Barracks and let ...." Mire started to say Seventri, but he was an elf even if he was the medic. "... human medics see to your face. You scratched it up a bit with your gauntlets." She was still holding her hands up placatingly, but was ready to move.
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
Azuel cackled and started to stand, using the branches of the plant to pull himself up. He was taller than the elf, but his hunched and pained posture dropped his head to her level. “Even now,” He spat out, flecks of blood dribbling down his lips, “you are trying so damn hard to be kind. I would appreciate it greatly if you would show me the hatred I deserve.”
She probably thought him mad. Azuel suspected he looked the part, and was almost certain he sounded it. He reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes, this time more cautiously. His gauntlet touched the bruises he had previously inflicted on his face, and he winced and pulled it away. He was disturbed by the red and green hues that now clung to his arm.
He started walking over to his musket, thinking to pick it up and carry it back to the barracks. He stopped about halfway before he got there, noticing its shifted position. He hesitated, perhaps picking up on her view of the situation. He made the will to vocalize his comprehension to her, but no words left his gaping mouth. He had not the strength.
After several moments of enduring the tense atmosphere he had brought to the clearing, he finally summoned the will to think about his situation. He slowly took a step backwards, hoping to convince her he was not a danger, and raised his right hand to his aching forehead. He took a long sniff, finally bringing a complete halt to his tears.
He had no future anymore, at least not in the guard. Even if the elf was still willing to take the fall for him, an event which he highly doubted, he could no longer trust himself. He was unfit for the guard and anyone who witnessed his display would agree.
“Alright... I’m going back to the guard barracks now.” He said softly. “When I get back, I will tell them what happened because I am a puradyne and an honest man. I will lose my position in the guard. I will lose the respect of my family.” His eyes welled with more tears. He wondered when he would run out. “I will become another failure to add to the Vyaduka line.” He thought of his sister’s life of misery and simple hedonism. It was the fate of those who could not find their way, Azuel’s personal vision of Hell. He wondered if he was going to join her.
His started to cry again, but it was a gentle, stable flow of tears. “Take my musket. I won’t need it any more.” He sniffed, and flipped down his visor. It was the least he could do for the good of Marn now, to keep the people from seeing his bruised and battered face.
She probably thought him mad. Azuel suspected he looked the part, and was almost certain he sounded it. He reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes, this time more cautiously. His gauntlet touched the bruises he had previously inflicted on his face, and he winced and pulled it away. He was disturbed by the red and green hues that now clung to his arm.
He started walking over to his musket, thinking to pick it up and carry it back to the barracks. He stopped about halfway before he got there, noticing its shifted position. He hesitated, perhaps picking up on her view of the situation. He made the will to vocalize his comprehension to her, but no words left his gaping mouth. He had not the strength.
After several moments of enduring the tense atmosphere he had brought to the clearing, he finally summoned the will to think about his situation. He slowly took a step backwards, hoping to convince her he was not a danger, and raised his right hand to his aching forehead. He took a long sniff, finally bringing a complete halt to his tears.
He had no future anymore, at least not in the guard. Even if the elf was still willing to take the fall for him, an event which he highly doubted, he could no longer trust himself. He was unfit for the guard and anyone who witnessed his display would agree.
“Alright... I’m going back to the guard barracks now.” He said softly. “When I get back, I will tell them what happened because I am a puradyne and an honest man. I will lose my position in the guard. I will lose the respect of my family.” His eyes welled with more tears. He wondered when he would run out. “I will become another failure to add to the Vyaduka line.” He thought of his sister’s life of misery and simple hedonism. It was the fate of those who could not find their way, Azuel’s personal vision of Hell. He wondered if he was going to join her.
His started to cry again, but it was a gentle, stable flow of tears. “Take my musket. I won’t need it any more.” He sniffed, and flipped down his visor. It was the least he could do for the good of Marn now, to keep the people from seeing his bruised and battered face.
Re: The New Recruit
"I don't hate you."
When he moved toward the musket her hand went to her mace, ready to draw it and defend herself. She might be able to knock the aim away from her with the mace. Grappling and hand-to-hand, that she could do. Mire breathed a sigh of relief when he backed away.
She listened as he spoke. " Tch. What will you tell them? That your gun discharged? That you saw two people having sex in a place they had no business having sex? Or, that you hate elves?" Mire snorted softly and moved carefully to lift the musket from the grass by it's strap. She slipped it over her shoulder, opposite the one with her mace.
"Since when has hating elves been a crime? It might be wrong, but it's only a crime when you assault someone else. You didn't."
Mire reached for her gauntlets and slipped them on. The helm followed. Now she looked almost, almost human and certainly more androgynous than feminine based on the design of the armor.
"That hot mess of crazy you just went through?" She made a gesture with her hand, circling the area. "If being a guard means that much to you, then that should be reported to one of the medical personnel. You could get placed in the office and maybe work with someone on..." For the first time, she actually let her gaze move from him. Mire glanced to the side, "...whatever that was."
She backed away a few steps and gestured for Azuel to go before her. "After you."
She'd give him a day or two to take action. He seemed resolved to do something today. She would write up her report and it would be factual. If he asked her if she didn't hate him, then what... she'd tell him.
When he moved toward the musket her hand went to her mace, ready to draw it and defend herself. She might be able to knock the aim away from her with the mace. Grappling and hand-to-hand, that she could do. Mire breathed a sigh of relief when he backed away.
She listened as he spoke. " Tch. What will you tell them? That your gun discharged? That you saw two people having sex in a place they had no business having sex? Or, that you hate elves?" Mire snorted softly and moved carefully to lift the musket from the grass by it's strap. She slipped it over her shoulder, opposite the one with her mace.
"Since when has hating elves been a crime? It might be wrong, but it's only a crime when you assault someone else. You didn't."
Mire reached for her gauntlets and slipped them on. The helm followed. Now she looked almost, almost human and certainly more androgynous than feminine based on the design of the armor.
"That hot mess of crazy you just went through?" She made a gesture with her hand, circling the area. "If being a guard means that much to you, then that should be reported to one of the medical personnel. You could get placed in the office and maybe work with someone on..." For the first time, she actually let her gaze move from him. Mire glanced to the side, "...whatever that was."
She backed away a few steps and gestured for Azuel to go before her. "After you."
She'd give him a day or two to take action. He seemed resolved to do something today. She would write up her report and it would be factual. If he asked her if she didn't hate him, then what... she'd tell him.
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
Azuel’s jaw dropped. What on earth had she just said? She couldn’t be serious. He clenched his hand into a fist and leaned forwards, holding his hand out in front of him. He was ignorant to the threat such a position proposed. “Did you not see what I nearly did?” He yelled, pointing back to the garden with his other hand. The scarred earth was still visible. He regretted shouting immediately, as it was a miracle that nobody had come to see the commotion already.
He continued more quietly, but his voice still carried a frantic tone. He had to make her understand that he didn’t deserve her kindness. “I nearly murdered two people! That’s what’s going on my report. I’m not going to cover it up with... with half-truths and implications of an accidental misfire! Besides which, I just had a breakdown of such scale, that... that...” He attempted to imagine how it would have gone had the situation been more serious. His imagination scared him, and his face went white. He waved his palms through the air as he struggled for more words. “What if it had been serious? And what if I had hit them? What then? Somebody so... unstable is not fit for any position on the guard and you damn well know it.”
He turned and walked forwards like he had a guillotine hanging over his head. Maybe she didn’t understand politics, but regardless of pro-human or sentiments that ran abound in Marn the other families wouldn’t hesitate to use any failing they could find. At least he was a Vyaduka. That they did not have clear cut enemies would work to his advantage.
Even if she managed to glance over the near murders, his breakdown was still plenty to render him unfit for the guard. Whatever about that scene had caused it... he dared not think of it further. Suffice to say the thought of it occurring a second time frightened Azuel down to his core. He shivered, displaying his discomfort. She had already seen him at his worst; it was pointless to hide anything now.
He looked over his shoulder at the elf. What in the name of Teonidus was she even doing, being so damnably kind to him? At the very least he expected her to encourage his flight from the guard force for the safety of her own species. Maybe she pitied him. The thought that he would need pity from an elf would have made his blood boil any other day, but now it only added to his misery. He couldn’t imagine himself sinking much lower; if he had ever needed sympathy, it was now. He could hardly complain about its source.
His shoulders dropped and he shook his head, staring back at the long road ahead. “I’ll quit the guard myself if it comes to that. I am not what the city needs or should have.”
He continued more quietly, but his voice still carried a frantic tone. He had to make her understand that he didn’t deserve her kindness. “I nearly murdered two people! That’s what’s going on my report. I’m not going to cover it up with... with half-truths and implications of an accidental misfire! Besides which, I just had a breakdown of such scale, that... that...” He attempted to imagine how it would have gone had the situation been more serious. His imagination scared him, and his face went white. He waved his palms through the air as he struggled for more words. “What if it had been serious? And what if I had hit them? What then? Somebody so... unstable is not fit for any position on the guard and you damn well know it.”
He turned and walked forwards like he had a guillotine hanging over his head. Maybe she didn’t understand politics, but regardless of pro-human or sentiments that ran abound in Marn the other families wouldn’t hesitate to use any failing they could find. At least he was a Vyaduka. That they did not have clear cut enemies would work to his advantage.
Even if she managed to glance over the near murders, his breakdown was still plenty to render him unfit for the guard. Whatever about that scene had caused it... he dared not think of it further. Suffice to say the thought of it occurring a second time frightened Azuel down to his core. He shivered, displaying his discomfort. She had already seen him at his worst; it was pointless to hide anything now.
He looked over his shoulder at the elf. What in the name of Teonidus was she even doing, being so damnably kind to him? At the very least he expected her to encourage his flight from the guard force for the safety of her own species. Maybe she pitied him. The thought that he would need pity from an elf would have made his blood boil any other day, but now it only added to his misery. He couldn’t imagine himself sinking much lower; if he had ever needed sympathy, it was now. He could hardly complain about its source.
His shoulders dropped and he shook his head, staring back at the long road ahead. “I’ll quit the guard myself if it comes to that. I am not what the city needs or should have.”
Re: The New Recruit
When he lifted his fist to her, Mire stepped back a half-step waiting for a blow. When one didn't come, she waited tensely. She listened to him wallow and waffle and wallow more. When he turned to walk away, she grabbed his shoulder and pulled back on him hard - making him face her.
"What if, what if, what if! You're right. What I saw was a break-down of epic proportions. So what if you resign from the guard? Will that change that you will still be confronted by things that might trigger another breakdown? Will that make you any less dangerous? Just because you are not in the guards? Does that mean you will not have a weapon or won't know how to use it?"
Mire shook her head and stared hard at him. Her brows had drawn together.
"Will losing your position as a guard, one you value so highly, create a situation of harmony? Or will it make things worse? Don't you think that you owe it to yourself to figure out what it is that drove you to these actions? How can you just accept losing everything and hiding from it? How can you not FIX it?" That damnable visor of his was down and she couldn't see his face.
She did pity him a little, but more than that she was disappointed, stunned, and angry.
"No, the city doesn't need assholes who judge someone because of what they are and not who they are. What the city does need is men and women who want to protect the citizens of the city, no matter who they are. So, if you want to be an ass, you should quit. Is that what you want to hear?"
"What if, what if, what if! You're right. What I saw was a break-down of epic proportions. So what if you resign from the guard? Will that change that you will still be confronted by things that might trigger another breakdown? Will that make you any less dangerous? Just because you are not in the guards? Does that mean you will not have a weapon or won't know how to use it?"
Mire shook her head and stared hard at him. Her brows had drawn together.
"Will losing your position as a guard, one you value so highly, create a situation of harmony? Or will it make things worse? Don't you think that you owe it to yourself to figure out what it is that drove you to these actions? How can you just accept losing everything and hiding from it? How can you not FIX it?" That damnable visor of his was down and she couldn't see his face.
She did pity him a little, but more than that she was disappointed, stunned, and angry.
"No, the city doesn't need assholes who judge someone because of what they are and not who they are. What the city does need is men and women who want to protect the citizens of the city, no matter who they are. So, if you want to be an ass, you should quit. Is that what you want to hear?"
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
He grimaced when she grabbed him, and stumbled as he turned around. He quickly drew himself up to his full height and took a step backwards, though it was more to get his face further away from hers than any sort of return of vigor.
He felt a secret, deep joy when she yelled at him. A profound feeling of release came over him when she called him out on his behavior. This was what he deserved, he knew it in every fiber of his body, and he couldn’t get enough of it.
“Yes!” He shouted back, grabbing her by the shoulders. The way he moved drove the pair of them back a couple steps. “Yes. If I’m not a guard, I won’t be armed. I won’t be able to hurt anyone!” He drove them another step backwards. “You know who I am. I am Azuel Vyaduka, grandson of the judge! You figured it out even back at the outpost. I only became a guard when grandpa favored my entry! Because I’m useless, incapable, lazy and pathetic in all ways! Had I been in your position? An subhuman, below a decendant? They would have spit on my face the instant I showed it at the fort.”
He released her with a small shove and tore his helmet from his head. He made the mistake of lifting it by the visor, which caused it to clang awkwardly upwards before he caught the side of the helmet itself and managed to pull it off. The embarrassing display only made him more upset. He stared her straight in the face, glaring at her with all his sullied, bloodied features. “And they would have been right to do so! It doesn’t matter how much I care about the guard, or how much I want to be a part of it. This is the real world, and how much a person cares doesn’t mean shit without the strength to back it! They are better off without me! Without assholes like me!”
He clenched his teeth and recoiled a bit, disturbed by how close he had gotten to her. “Stop trying to save me. You just admitted I’m an ass, and people? They never change. I’m. not. worth it.” He took another step back, shaking his head. "The sooner you accept that, and forget I ever existed, the happier you'll be... The happier we'll both be."
He felt a secret, deep joy when she yelled at him. A profound feeling of release came over him when she called him out on his behavior. This was what he deserved, he knew it in every fiber of his body, and he couldn’t get enough of it.
“Yes!” He shouted back, grabbing her by the shoulders. The way he moved drove the pair of them back a couple steps. “Yes. If I’m not a guard, I won’t be armed. I won’t be able to hurt anyone!” He drove them another step backwards. “You know who I am. I am Azuel Vyaduka, grandson of the judge! You figured it out even back at the outpost. I only became a guard when grandpa favored my entry! Because I’m useless, incapable, lazy and pathetic in all ways! Had I been in your position? An subhuman, below a decendant? They would have spit on my face the instant I showed it at the fort.”
He released her with a small shove and tore his helmet from his head. He made the mistake of lifting it by the visor, which caused it to clang awkwardly upwards before he caught the side of the helmet itself and managed to pull it off. The embarrassing display only made him more upset. He stared her straight in the face, glaring at her with all his sullied, bloodied features. “And they would have been right to do so! It doesn’t matter how much I care about the guard, or how much I want to be a part of it. This is the real world, and how much a person cares doesn’t mean shit without the strength to back it! They are better off without me! Without assholes like me!”
He clenched his teeth and recoiled a bit, disturbed by how close he had gotten to her. “Stop trying to save me. You just admitted I’m an ass, and people? They never change. I’m. not. worth it.” He took another step back, shaking his head. "The sooner you accept that, and forget I ever existed, the happier you'll be... The happier we'll both be."
Re: The New Recruit
When he stood straight, he was taller than her by a few inches. He grabbed her. She'd let her guard down when she ranted at him and he held her shoulders tightly. It was lucky she was wearing armor, otherwise he'd might have left marks.
He shoved her backwards and she stumbled with the force of his movements. She regained her footing only because he shoved again. The third time he shoved her she moved only a little, having planted her back foot to keep herself steady. A particularly stubborn set of her jaw appeared.
He'd pulled off his visor. So, she pulled off hers and threw it to the ground. Then she pulled off her gauntlets. With an easy dexterity, the chest plate fell to her feet and she stepped over it, toward him. She still wore the leather under armor, but now she had more flexibility of movement. She couldn't bash him with her mace, but by Teodinus...
"Sub-human?? SUB-HUMAN?! Teodinus made ELVES because you HUMANS were too pansy-assed to get the job done. How's that, huh? You're a Descendant, grandson of a Judge? Well, I guess I'm gonna lose my position on the guard, too!"
With that, she grabbed the rounded edge of the plate at his chest and pulled him toward her, hard. This motion was coupled with a swing of her right fist at his jaw. "Sub-human?! I'll show YOU how SUB I am! Sounds like the only SUB here is you!"
He shoved her backwards and she stumbled with the force of his movements. She regained her footing only because he shoved again. The third time he shoved her she moved only a little, having planted her back foot to keep herself steady. A particularly stubborn set of her jaw appeared.
He'd pulled off his visor. So, she pulled off hers and threw it to the ground. Then she pulled off her gauntlets. With an easy dexterity, the chest plate fell to her feet and she stepped over it, toward him. She still wore the leather under armor, but now she had more flexibility of movement. She couldn't bash him with her mace, but by Teodinus...
"Sub-human?? SUB-HUMAN?! Teodinus made ELVES because you HUMANS were too pansy-assed to get the job done. How's that, huh? You're a Descendant, grandson of a Judge? Well, I guess I'm gonna lose my position on the guard, too!"
With that, she grabbed the rounded edge of the plate at his chest and pulled him toward her, hard. This motion was coupled with a swing of her right fist at his jaw. "Sub-human?! I'll show YOU how SUB I am! Sounds like the only SUB here is you!"
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
“What are you- hey, what are you doing?!” He asked frantically as she started letting pieces of her armor fall to the ground. He reached out to stop her, but then her arm shot up and grabbed his chest plate! Being a spoiled, upper class child, Azuel had never been disciplined outside of guard training. He was completely clueless as to what was coming next.
In response to such aggression, his first instinct was to throw his hands up to the sides in a gesture of surrender. His voice carried a more vitriolic tone than his actions as he protested, “Oh, what? Now you draw the line? You already knew I abhor, sub... nonhumans, you said it yourself; so long as I don’t assault anyone—”
It was at this point that he felt her fist connect with his face. The force of the hit caused his head to snap backwards, painfully contorting his body into a shallow and sideways ‘u’ shape for a brief moment. His knees went weak and he only barely managed to remain standing, throwing both arms out to his side for stability as he staggered backwards. One of his legs gave out at the same moment as he was blinded by a wave of pain, causing him to drop to one knee. His weak leg crashed into the stone road with a good deal of force, though the armor at least prevented him from scraping it.
Azuel’s face contorted with the pain his collapse had wrought, which had the unfortunate side effect of adding pain to his newly acquired split lip.
“W-what the...?” He protested, clutching his jaw with his left hand while his right was held over his face. Feeling dizzy, he weakly stood back up. “I wasn’t even thinking when I said that! You try and live my life without picking that up as a blanket term for all nonhumans.” He blinked. That sounded a lot more stupid than it had in his head. And for that matter, why was he trying to justify it to her? He did think humans were the superior species... right?
The sudden dissonance of his feelings overtook him. Any thought was welcome to avoid it, and unfortunately his mind seized on the recent attack. Fine. He had deserved the punch. He could take it, even if it was going hurt for days. He used his kneeling position to lunge forwards, his arm, formerly guarding his face, turned into a steel-wreathed elbow aimed for her now merely leather-guarded gut.
In response to such aggression, his first instinct was to throw his hands up to the sides in a gesture of surrender. His voice carried a more vitriolic tone than his actions as he protested, “Oh, what? Now you draw the line? You already knew I abhor, sub... nonhumans, you said it yourself; so long as I don’t assault anyone—”
It was at this point that he felt her fist connect with his face. The force of the hit caused his head to snap backwards, painfully contorting his body into a shallow and sideways ‘u’ shape for a brief moment. His knees went weak and he only barely managed to remain standing, throwing both arms out to his side for stability as he staggered backwards. One of his legs gave out at the same moment as he was blinded by a wave of pain, causing him to drop to one knee. His weak leg crashed into the stone road with a good deal of force, though the armor at least prevented him from scraping it.
Azuel’s face contorted with the pain his collapse had wrought, which had the unfortunate side effect of adding pain to his newly acquired split lip.
“W-what the...?” He protested, clutching his jaw with his left hand while his right was held over his face. Feeling dizzy, he weakly stood back up. “I wasn’t even thinking when I said that! You try and live my life without picking that up as a blanket term for all nonhumans.” He blinked. That sounded a lot more stupid than it had in his head. And for that matter, why was he trying to justify it to her? He did think humans were the superior species... right?
The sudden dissonance of his feelings overtook him. Any thought was welcome to avoid it, and unfortunately his mind seized on the recent attack. Fine. He had deserved the punch. He could take it, even if it was going hurt for days. He used his kneeling position to lunge forwards, his arm, formerly guarding his face, turned into a steel-wreathed elbow aimed for her now merely leather-guarded gut.
Re: The New Recruit
Mire let go of the chest plate when her fist hit Azuel's face with a satisfying and sickening smack. She'd taken off the gauntlet and other armor pieces because she didn't want to be a "guard" when she did what she did. The smack of her fist against his face. Mire's body curved inward and she softly mouthed,
"Owwww..." she looked at her hand and shook it out. Azuel's voice brought her back to the present. Her brows drew together and her mouth drew in a line. Her hands curled back into fists. Azuel had fallen to one knee
Try and live his life?! He should try and live hers!
Mire inhaled a breath and moved toward Azuel fully intending to use her knee on his chin while he was down.
“Oh?! Did you grow up in an orphanage? Did you put yourself in harm’s way to protect the younger children from perverted Descendant parties? What age were you when you lost your innocence by force? Teodinus forgive that you might have had to make an effort for the privileges you didn’t earn!”
Stepping toward Azuel was an unfortunate move on her part. Mire was still young and green, and she was operating emotionally instead of falling back on training. So, she was actually open to Azuel’s unexpected launch toward her.
His elbow slammed into her stomach, knocking the air out of her. Mire doubled over and water filled her eyes. Azuel’s weight advantage lead to forward progress of his body, taking them both down. Mire’s head bounced on the gravel walkway that led around the lake. Her arms fell crooked above her head. Water filled her eyes as she gasped for breath, stifled by the blow and Azuel’s weight on her. They landed in a position that could have been intimate in other circumstances, what with his face so near to hers that she shared a look with him. He was laying between her legs, too.
Time had seemed to slow in the moment they lay like that. What would happen? The surprised, watery eyed look on her face, turned intense. Mire readied herself to wrap her legs around his waist, grab his hair, and start wailing on his head with her fist.
"Owwww..." she looked at her hand and shook it out. Azuel's voice brought her back to the present. Her brows drew together and her mouth drew in a line. Her hands curled back into fists. Azuel had fallen to one knee
Try and live his life?! He should try and live hers!
Mire inhaled a breath and moved toward Azuel fully intending to use her knee on his chin while he was down.
“Oh?! Did you grow up in an orphanage? Did you put yourself in harm’s way to protect the younger children from perverted Descendant parties? What age were you when you lost your innocence by force? Teodinus forgive that you might have had to make an effort for the privileges you didn’t earn!”
Stepping toward Azuel was an unfortunate move on her part. Mire was still young and green, and she was operating emotionally instead of falling back on training. So, she was actually open to Azuel’s unexpected launch toward her.
His elbow slammed into her stomach, knocking the air out of her. Mire doubled over and water filled her eyes. Azuel’s weight advantage lead to forward progress of his body, taking them both down. Mire’s head bounced on the gravel walkway that led around the lake. Her arms fell crooked above her head. Water filled her eyes as she gasped for breath, stifled by the blow and Azuel’s weight on her. They landed in a position that could have been intimate in other circumstances, what with his face so near to hers that she shared a look with him. He was laying between her legs, too.
Time had seemed to slow in the moment they lay like that. What would happen? The surprised, watery eyed look on her face, turned intense. Mire readied herself to wrap her legs around his waist, grab his hair, and start wailing on his head with her fist.
A story is like a tapestry; it is never finished until the final thread is sewn.
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Azuel Vyaduka
- Guardsman
- Posts: 146
- Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 11:07 pm
- Name: Azuel Vyaduka
- Race: Human
Re: The New Recruit
Azuel was staring into her eyes, out of breath. He shuddered over her, which brought to his mind the horrific implications of their position when the leg armor they both wore clanked together. His right arm, locked between their forms, could feel the smooth curves of her leather armor where her breasts began to lift it. He could feel her every breath. He felt a spike of unfathomable unease stab at his very core and an uncomfortable, familiar ache at his groin. He felt and extremely strong, sick desire to push his hips forwards, even despite the metal which covered both their groins. The effect of such compulsions brought tears to his eyes and paralyzed his whole form.
His eyes did not make him feel much better, staring at her face as they were. She was so beautiful, even beaten down and glaring at him with her layered green eyes, so different from his own even emeralds. Her beauty only contributed to his growing passion and horror. The two slithered about within him like snakes, each seeking to destroy the other but only succeeding in making the other grow. His eyes flicked across her features, not quite frantic but close, searching for any imperfection that he could focus on and finding none he had not caused, none that did not inspire guilt. Guilt, and the desire to make it all better in a revolting way.
He wasn’t so far gone he couldn’t surmise the cause of the water filling her eyes, but it made him ache. When they changed, ever so swiftly, into green fire ringed by determination, he finally had the excuse his psyche needed. He recoiled in fear, rolling his free arm such that his other slid from her stomach. He made every effort to pull his hips away. It felt like he was trying to lift the justice hall from its foundations.
A great liquid feeling rose from his lower left lip, and he knew it must be completely covered with blood by this point. He exhaled a great, heavy breath, sending tiny drops of the blood sailing from his lips. “W-What...”
Are we to solve our problems with our fists, then, like pathetic children? was what he wanted to say. He just didn’t feel like he could. He worried he might say something else.
Eventually he was kneeling just out of the V made by her legs. His hands were folded on his thighs in a diplomatic manner. After staring pointedly at the cobblestone and waiting for her to recover a bit, he made another effort to speak. He whispered to her, his voice pleading. He left it quiet enough that he figured she might not hear his pitiful speech, not counting on her elven ears as usual. “I can’t... change...” His mouth wavered and hurt, yet despite the blood pouring from his lip his tongue felt dry. He was on the verge of tears again, but he desperately did not want to cry. “I can’t change who I am, you know.”
He didn’t know why he said that. Of course she knew that. He tried again. “I shouldn’t have hit you.”
His eyes did not make him feel much better, staring at her face as they were. She was so beautiful, even beaten down and glaring at him with her layered green eyes, so different from his own even emeralds. Her beauty only contributed to his growing passion and horror. The two slithered about within him like snakes, each seeking to destroy the other but only succeeding in making the other grow. His eyes flicked across her features, not quite frantic but close, searching for any imperfection that he could focus on and finding none he had not caused, none that did not inspire guilt. Guilt, and the desire to make it all better in a revolting way.
He wasn’t so far gone he couldn’t surmise the cause of the water filling her eyes, but it made him ache. When they changed, ever so swiftly, into green fire ringed by determination, he finally had the excuse his psyche needed. He recoiled in fear, rolling his free arm such that his other slid from her stomach. He made every effort to pull his hips away. It felt like he was trying to lift the justice hall from its foundations.
A great liquid feeling rose from his lower left lip, and he knew it must be completely covered with blood by this point. He exhaled a great, heavy breath, sending tiny drops of the blood sailing from his lips. “W-What...”
Are we to solve our problems with our fists, then, like pathetic children? was what he wanted to say. He just didn’t feel like he could. He worried he might say something else.
Eventually he was kneeling just out of the V made by her legs. His hands were folded on his thighs in a diplomatic manner. After staring pointedly at the cobblestone and waiting for her to recover a bit, he made another effort to speak. He whispered to her, his voice pleading. He left it quiet enough that he figured she might not hear his pitiful speech, not counting on her elven ears as usual. “I can’t... change...” His mouth wavered and hurt, yet despite the blood pouring from his lip his tongue felt dry. He was on the verge of tears again, but he desperately did not want to cry. “I can’t change who I am, you know.”
He didn’t know why he said that. Of course she knew that. He tried again. “I shouldn’t have hit you.”