<span style='width:100%;font-weight:bold; font-size:10px'>Out of Character</span> <table class=ooc><tr><td> This thread is free for all, so feel free to join if interested ^^. It was inspired by (and is part of) a plot began by Archfang (http://shadowlack.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1991Maybe... Maybe not, a plot idea.</a>) So, what is this about? Niotis have been kidnapped and are held in a secret prison in the cold and distant land of Dhruv. This story takes place in the prison itself. Estrella has been hired to guard the little ones and make sure none escape. So, if you'd like to join, perhaps you could roleplay a captive 'dragon between the ages of 500 and 1500? I'm thinking at least 4 niotis but we'll see how it goes. </td></tr></table> Day : 23rd Month : Tria Year : Year 81378 "Perfect for the job". That's what he had said of her after their brief interview. She hadn't expected the encounter to go so well, after all 'dragons usually frowned and grimaced when the saw her and judged her more on her appearance than on what she could offer. Not that she cared. It was just... She wished they'd be less superficial. Or at least she had cared once, but now it was the least of her worries. the fact was she hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. But, no matter how much she tended to lie to herself, she had to agree that, as he had put it, she was "perfect" for this particular job. She had the physique, muscles and all, and, more importantly, the mindset and grim determination required for it. Yet, though she couldn't quite figure out why, it troubled her. Not the fact that these people were sequestering defenceless little niotis, because, quite frankly, she tried not to think much of it, but the fact that she had once again been judged so quickly. He had only taken one good look at her, they had exchanged a few words... And that was all. He had said yes, just like that. He had shook her paw briskly, nodded, then given her her schedule and uniform. The plain, grey uniform she was now wearing. It was old and worn, shapeless, but comfortable enough. Perfect for the job... Did she really look that heartless and cold? Was that really how the world perceived her? "That's right. And you know why? It's because you are "heartless and cold". " she told her self, as she stooped slightly, dropped the food tray she was carrying rather carelessly, causing its contents to spill a little. Peering into the cage, she allowed a smirk to line her face as she glared at the occupants, daring them to come any closer. "Food is served." she drawled.
IC: Hailie She herd the mind before the clater of the food tray and agreed. Indeed this pendragon was heartles, but somewere there was a heart for something. There was in everyone no matter.... She trailed off. Cutting her thoughts sharp. She didn't know why she was here. She was older then the others and didn't seem to fit in. But she assumed it was nothing more then the fact that she seemed to be different, and she was. Although she knew they didn't know why she was different she knew people could feel something about her. Her cloaked figure sat on the ground. Royal blue fur hidden under the blacknes, hood pulled up concealing her eyes. Black didn't shine over black. Especially her eyes, she kept them easily emotionless. Her ears flattend against her eligent crown by the cloaks hood were still plenty alert. Even without her sences highted she could sence things better then any pendragon. Why? Not many knew, her lipes curled up on her muzzle in a smirk. She was different and she enjoyed it. Some senced it as an evil others as a great power none as something holy. She looked at he food in the tray and splatterd on the floor her eyes looking in disgust. She was still full from her last feeding and wouldn't need food or water for a many day but she had better eat something to keep "them" guessing. Right now nothing would be suspicous so she would wait. She looked around at the others knowing they would gratefull eat whatever food there was there. If you could call the mush food. She sneered at it. She could get out right now right at this very moment but she would hold off. Too many people would know, it wouldn't be in her favour. {Plus whats wrong with a little adventer} She thought nodding slightly to herself, the russling of her cloak filling her ears.
OOC: A reply ^_^ Sorry for the lateness, am technically away on holiday. BIC: 'Strella chuckled as the little good-for-nothings, eyeing the non-descript soupy porridge thing which was their daily diet, threw themselves forward, fighting for their share. This usually resulted in them spilling a lot of the already meager portion. "How pathetic.", she thought, all smirk but a foreign, extremely annoying part of her one might call a conscience was silently accusing, pleading, demanding that she do something. "Hey you. Yeah, you with the coak, there" she called, noticing the not-so-little 'dragon sneering at her food, "Gotta problem with the food? Not your usual five star fare, huh? Poor little baby, ickle little spoilt brat's not used to this food... I'm sorry Princess but you'd better get used to this." She didn't even pause to wonder why she was picking on the kid, she had stopped justifying her cruelty long ago. But something about the kid had caught her attention. Somehow, she felt different from the others, she could sense the difference. And judging by her size (but one could never tell), she seemed older than the other rascals. And why wasn't she famished as they were?
a tiny red 'dragon sat in a cell across the way. The clattering noise had caught his ears as he perked up and turned around. He looked over and saw that it was time for food. He had been seperated from the others, Why? He didn't know. But what he did know was that he was stuck in a cell, cold and alone. But, he sniffed slightly, that's how they wanted it. He was starving though because he hadn't gotten his last meal. When he saw that the cloaked one wouldn't eat, he saw a chance to get himself a meal. His stomach grumbled as he shouted <span style='color:blue'>I'll have her share!</span> He stuck his tiny withered paw out between the bars as though expecting food. He was practically nothing but skin and bones anymore.
Her attention was soon drawn off the finicky niotie when she saw one of the little rascals, a tiny red one, spring to life and come to claim her share. "Poor bastard" , thought 'Strella, "Must be the smallest thing I've ever seen in my life. So skinny too. Deperate little thing would do anything for some food. Probably get's his share eaten by the others anyway." For a split second she thought of handing him a bowl full of the hateful gruel, but she instantly shrugged that thought away, as one would shake water off their coat. That couldn't be guilt she was feeling... Surely she was beyond that? "Ooo dear me, quite vocal aren't we little one? Hungry, Kid?" she cooed tantalisingly, feeling the familiar sense of sadistic satisfaction take control of her, "And just what, tell me, are you ready to do for a bowl of food?"
He lowered his eyes to the ground. <span style='color:red'>I can't do anything</span> he said. <span style='color:red'>I'm stuck in here</span> he said gesturing to the bars encaging him
"Oh, but suppose I was to let you out? What then?" the large 'dragon continued, a smirk lining her unhansome face. Estrella didn't quite know where all this game would lead to, yet she remained composed. After all, what could go wrong? What could a starved little good-for-nothing of a whelp possibly do against her, trapped in the fortress of ice? "Not a thing."
He plopped down on the floor, defeated. His tiny body was so weary. He lowered his head to the floor. Always being the runt and never strong enough to defend himself, small tears crept through his eyes. He was extremly dehydrated, and the tears took his last bit of strength. His breath came in gasps as his tiny body tried to fight for air
An amalgam of annoyance and emathy flashed accross her unflattering features as her dull rain-coloured eyes pinning the young prisoner as he crumpled to the floor. "Quit showing off your acting skills Kid, they won't get you nowhere." drawled Estrella, her voice as sharp and her tone as cold as the ice that surrounded them. Anger, imatience, realisation and finally grudging pity filled the lone guard successively as the minutes ticked by. Cursing a deity she didn't believe in, 'Strella filled another bowl with the hateful gruel. Her eyes stared daggers at all the other whelps as she placed the bowl besides the bawling pup, daring the others to try and steal it. Estrella's menacing smirk clearly warned any who might even so much as think about disobeying her that she would deal with them mercilessly. Swinging her tail disgustedly, she exited the cell and waited.
Tsuj crawled over to the bowl of gruel. he picked it up in his paws and ate it slowly, trying to make it last. he turned grateful eyes to where the 'dragon who thought herself "frozen" had exited. A tiny smile light his face for once in a long while.
Swish. Swish. Her tailed still swinged irritably like a whip. She felt her lip curl into a smile as the pup picked up the bowl but immediately repressed it when he turned to her, a grateful look in his eyes. "Don't think I did that out the goodness of my heart, Kiddo, 'cause it ain't the case. I'm here to make sure you stay put and alive, and that's what I'll do. Wouldn't want any of you whelps dying on my guard now would I?" she snarled, trying to convince herself more than anything.
He smiled again before returning his attention to the food in front of him. somehow, he had to show this "ice queen" that she wasn't what she thought and that, unlike him, she could get out of here and do whatever she wanted. If only he could show her that fact.
The nerve. The little good for nothing was smiling. Smiling. After what she had just said. She scowled moodily as her tail still restlessly lashed the floor like a silver snake about to attack. Had that pup not an ounce of sense in that minuscule cranium of his? But what was far worse than the little red 'dragon's defiant smile was the unacceptable fact that it had actually made her feel like doing something entirely out of her character. For Lehi's sake, she had almost wanted the grin right back, or nod in approval or do something equally and utterly revolting.
He gently reached between the bars of his cage and placed the bowl on the floor. He turned around and walked to the back of the cell. He sighed, but his sighs came out as more though as if you had a squeaky toy. He looked out a tiny window that was in his cell. it was far above him and he tried to see the stars, which he hadn't seen for a long time since he got here. when he noticed, he still couldn't see them, he sighed again and lay down.
'Strella still couldn't bring her self to suppress the twisted grimace on her face. Neither could she stop thinking of the shocking, digusting. revolting and utterly dispicable urge to smile she had had to repress earlier. What was wrong with her? Was she going soft ? Had the cold finally to her? Shrugging these obnoxious thoughts away, she instead observed what she considered the object of her affliction detachedly as it peered through the tiny windows at the starless skies beyond. "No stars tonight." she thought sadly. Only darkness, and lost in it's midst, the faintest glow that was the moon. Estrella had always loved watching the stars, however soppy and out of character that might have sounded. Not so much because her name meant "Star" - no, in fact she hated her name because she was far from being as pretty or bright as those balls of fire - as because she loved the way one could never ever count them all, however hard they tried. Of course, she had never shared this with anyone before. "D'you often look at the skies Kid?" she drawled, feigning complacent laziness.
He looked at her sadly. <span style='color:red'>I'm just looking for the stars</span> he said. He looked at the sky again. <span style='color:red'>why are there never any stars out</span> he asked wistfully.
<span style='font-size:10pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:arial'><span style='color:aliceblue'>Estrella frowned a little at his question, not knowing how to answer. Should she answer, she wondered? Her colourless pupils stared into space as her mind wandered. </span> <span style='color:royalblue'>"Some will tell you that the stars are the reincarnations of souls lost to Fronima. And that everytime a life is taken, a star is born to replace it. I've heard others claim that they are actually a way if measuring Hope. Tsk, my mother, bless her foolish soul, believed in such things as only gullible niotis will. I find it ridiculous. But if the stars are a way of measuring Hope then it is no wonder that there aren't any in these parts."</span>,<span style='color:aliceblue'> she laughed bitterly at this, her eyes glazed over, as though they were in another world entirely, </span><span style='color:royalblue'>"Happiness and Hope have forsaken these barren lands. The Dark Lord Jessaisa, God of Sickness, frowns upon anything bright and frail and has surely chased the stars away. Nothing survives in the Badlands but what is cold and ruthless... Or imprisoned like yourselves."</span></span> </span>
He appeared entranced as she described what she had heard about why stars hung in the night sky. But he sighed and looked to the ground as she laughed about the theory of hope. But as she spoke of him, he looked up at her again. He still sat on the floor of his tiny cell.
<span style='font-size:10pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:arial'><span style='color:aliceblue'>Snapping out of her reverie, 'Strella scowled moodily at the icy walls as her eyes came into focus. Curse that kid, how had he gotten her to say those stupid things? Because surely that meaningless rubbish couldn't have been volunteerily uttered by her, could it? </span> <span style='color:royalblue'>"It's the cold. It's driven me mad."</span>,<span style='color:aliceblue'> she concluded firmly. </span> <span style='color:royalblue'>"What are stars to you anyhow Kiddo? Why should you care that they be out or not?"</span> Estrella didn't bother trying to find out why she was speaking to the tiniest prisoner at all, having already given hope of ever attaining sanity again.</span> </span>
He looked back at the sky momententarily <span style='color:red'>It's just....I haven't seen them since I came to reside in here. I used to see them everynight. And,....well, truthfully......I miss them.</span>
