Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Apr 18, 2010 23:42:15 GMT -5
Dominic shut the door softly behind her, then headed carefully into the kitchen; finding the aloe plant and breaking off the tip of one of the leaves, he smeared the cool, soothing juice on his blistered finger, sighing as the pain lessened.
He tiptoed carefully back to the living room and got settled down on the couch again, lying awake, staring into the shadows of the ceiling, lost in thought and worry. What if he wasn't able to cure his disease? What kind of wild animal would he become? Would the transformations hurt, if or when they came?
He didn't fall asleep for a long time, lying awake long enough to hear someone come into the house. He sat up a little, listening. Soft footsteps came downstairs, and he heard Katalin's voice from the hall, and a man's deep voice answering. Dominic relaxed and lay back down. It was only Istvan's uncle come home from work.
Eventually fatigue overcame him, and he fell into a rather troubled sleep. His dreams were full of full moons and shadowy figures changing into animals -- wolves, lions, tigers and bears, all with eerily flashing eyes.
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 0:12:07 GMT -5
Kazari did not return until the stars began to dull with the oncoming sunrise. She approached the front of the house and, peeking into the windows, saw that Dominic was asleep. She had not stopped since leaving the house before, and much to her dismay she had been unable to find a mage to help him. She gave a feline equivalent to a sigh (one of those nose-huffs) and padded around to the side of the house, where she leaped onto the roof of a small makeshift greenhouse. From there she could reach an open window-- to Istvan's room, it looked like.
Kazari's muscular body barely fit through the window, but she managed. She was exhausted-- without so much as a thought she curled up on the rug and fell asleep.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 19, 2010 0:22:20 GMT -5
- - -
Istvan woke the next morning to the sound of heavy breathing from floor level. He opened his eyes and sat up a little, spotted the she-cougar sleeping peacefully on the rug beside his bed, gave a shrug and let her be. He got up and stepped around her, shutting the window and moving to his closet.
He changed quickly into a clean outfit, ran his hands through his hair to tidy it, then crouched down beside the sleeping cougar and gently shook her awake. "Morning, Zari."
He stepped over to his bed and pulled the blanket off of it, draping it over Kazari's body and turning his back to let her change, speaking to her without looking at her. "Where were you all night? And where did you leave your clothes?"
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 0:34:01 GMT -5
Kazari came to slowly, blinking her eyes. Her pupils reduced to slits in the morning's light, and she folded her paws over her head until she felt the blanket hit her. That was her cue to change-- she did so as swiftly as she was able, sucking in a lungful of air and holding it in until her body stopped shifting. She let it out in a gust, wrapping the blanket snugly around herself and arching one sleepy eyebrow.
"Thi' Zari wasselpin'," she mumbled, sleep making her voice sound a little growly. She took a moment to remember where she had left her clothes.
"They'rin th' den."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 19, 2010 0:36:51 GMT -5
Istvan nodded slowly, not turning around for a few moments while Kazari changed and covered herself. "In the d-- WHY did you take your clothes off in the den?!" he yelped, spinning suddenly around to face her. "Wasn't Dominic in there?"
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 0:40:30 GMT -5
Kazari made a face at the sudden volume in her friend's voice.
"He could not this Kazari see," she protested, fully awake now. She watched Istvan through her hair and huffed, blowing a tendril out of her face. "This Kazari a-hunting went. For mages." Her eyes went wide and her hands, wrapped in blanket, flew to her face.
"But you did not hear that!"
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 19, 2010 11:59:14 GMT -5
"Hear what?" Istvan raised his eyebrows, looking at Kazari in confusion. "Why did you need to hunt for a mage?" He took it that she didn't need an illusionist, or she could have just woken him up. "And what kind?"
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 15:46:23 GMT -5
Kazari watched him over mass of fabric. She blinked a few times, wondering if it was safe to speak. She decided that, of all here, Istvan was the person she could trust the most.
"Dominic's bite," she said, then paused. "By a lycanthrope was he bitten. A-hunting for a necromancer went this Kazari. She wanted to help."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 19, 2010 16:14:14 GMT -5
Istvan's eyes widened. This was serious. "Were you able to find one?"
He glanced over at the calendar on the wall beside his bed. There were ten days left before the next full moon. If they didn't find someone to help Dominic by then, things would get very dangerous, very quickly. He couldn't help but wonder what animal form Dominic would take if the disease overcame him.
"You should go find your clothes and get dressed," he said, looking back at Kazari. "There's still time to get help for Dominic. I think he should stay here for a while. We've had experience with werebeings, we can tell him what he needs to know, and maybe help him through the change." He just hoped, for Dominic's sake, that they wouldn't have to.
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 18:57:47 GMT -5
Kazari nodded. She slipped past Istvan and had no trouble making her way unnoticed to the den, where she retrieved her clothing and retreated to the bathroom to dress. She returned to Istvan's room a few minutes later, his blanket draped neatly over her arm.
"That Kazari wonders what we are to do."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 19, 2010 20:19:16 GMT -5
Istvan took the blanket from Kazari and draped it over his bed again with a sigh. "Other than finding a necromancer who could help Dominic, I don't know. There's a chance the disease will be stopped, and a chance it won't. I doubt we'll know for sure until the full moon."
He moved toward the door and headed up the hall toward the stairs, looking over his shoulder at Kazari. "Let's see what's for breakfast. I imagine you're hungry after walking around all night."
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 22:53:27 GMT -5
As if on cue, Kazari's stomach growled loudly. She folded her forearms across it and grinned sheepishly. "What is this walking? Ran, this Kazari did."
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 19, 2010 23:03:05 GMT -5
Istvan smiled, holding the door open for her to follow him. "All the more reason to need to eat. Come on."
He headed downstairs and into the kitchen, where Dominic sat sleepily at the table and Katalin stood at the stove, making breakfast. The smells of French toast filled the air, making Istvan's mouth water; he slid a couple of slices onto a plate and sat down next to Dominic.
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 23:07:55 GMT -5
Kazari followed Istvan into the kitchen and, after getting food and a glass of water, dropped lightly into the seat across from Istvan.
"Sleep well-- if you did, this Kazari wonders," she said idly to Dominic between bites. Rawr, food.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Apr 19, 2010 23:11:36 GMT -5
Dominic gave her a sleepy smile, running a hand through his bed-mussed hair. "There was definitely room for improvement," he said softly. Then his face sobered as he focused on her, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Did you have any luck at all with your search last night?"
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 19, 2010 23:13:18 GMT -5
Kazari's expression fell and she dipped her head slightly in a show of defeat. She felt horrible for not being able to find someone to help Dominic.
"This Kazari is sorry," she muttered into her half-empty plate.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Apr 19, 2010 23:18:27 GMT -5
Dominic nodded slowly, his face falling in disappointment. He stared at his plate for a moment before lifting his eyes to Kazari again.
"I see," he said quietly. "Well... thank you for trying. I do appreciate the effort. And we still have time... nine, maybe ten days if we cut it close. The question is, what am I to do until then?"
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 20, 2010 0:02:33 GMT -5
"I think you should stay here," Istvan spoke up, looking over at Dominic. "There's still time, like you said. Maybe we can find a healer for you before the full moon. You probably shouldn't be travelling again soon anyway, not with your injuries." He looked at his aunt, wondering what her decision would be.
Katalin regarded Dominic in silence. She had already spoken with the man about his condition, and she knew the potential danger this would put her family in if things went wrong. Kazari was the only one who was really safe; if Dominic bit her, it would have no effect whatsoever. Istvan was in danger of losing his magic if he was bitten. And she and Gellert faced the same danger that Dominic was in now.
"He should stay until his wounds are healed, regardless of whether or not you find a magical healer for him," she told the others, looking especially at Dominic. "We'll need to take time to consider what to do in case one can't be found. You understand, Dominic, that I must put my family's safety first."
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Apr 20, 2010 0:14:01 GMT -5
Dominic nodded, grateful and understanding. "Yes, I understand. Thank you." He had his own family to look out for, too... their situation would be much the same as Istvan's family was now. Diana was already a lycanthrope, so another bite likely wouldn't do anything magical to her.
He returned his attention to his breakfast, though he didn't have much of an appetite. There was a steady countdown starting in his head, every second bringing him closer to moonrise on the twenty-sixth. Ten days really didn't seem all that long.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on Apr 20, 2010 0:28:30 GMT -5
Katalin continued making breakfast, looking up as Aneska entered the kitchen and giving her a smile, a soft greeting and a plate of toast. She set the rest aside for Gellert to have whenever he woke up. The poor man and his awful work shift. He always slept through breakfast.
Istvan was the first to finish his meal; he stood up and took his dishes to the sink, filling it with water and soap before putting them in. He washed his dishes in silence and set them up to dry, leaving the water in the sink for the others to use after him.
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 20, 2010 21:39:27 GMT -5
Kazari finished soon after. She scrubbed her dishes quickly, looking out the window as she did.
"If anyone would like to join, this Kazari wonders, she would like to go for a walk." That, and cover up any evidence she might have missed on her return trip the night before. There would be no use in sending up a panic by leaving traces of a wild cat's trek through the area.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Apr 20, 2010 22:11:46 GMT -5
"I'd like to join you," Dominic answered, looking up from his breakfast after swallowing a bite of toast. "As soon as I'm done here." If he was going to be staying in Budapest for a while, he wanted to get a better feeling for the layout of the city.
He finished quickly, bringing his dishes to the sink and washing them as he had seen the others do. He slipped out of the kitchen and down the hall to the living room to grab a light jacket, shrugging it on as he rejoined the others.
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Baratoge Kazari
Keme
Academy Junior: Cougar Shapeshifter
Lusus Naturae
Posts: 176
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Post by Baratoge Kazari on Apr 27, 2010 22:16:47 GMT -5
Kazari smiled as he approached, opening the door for the two males to exit before her. She paused when she walked out and closed the door behind her, trying to remember which direction she had gone in the night before. She tilted her face slightly upwards and breathed in deeply through her nose. Her sense of smell might have been multiple times more efficient than a normal human's, but it was still the least powerful of her senses-- even as a shapeshifter. She took a moment to wish that Gussu were here-- he would have been able to smell a mage from miles away to help Dom. And he would have been able to find her previous night's trail without so much as batting an eyelash.
It took almost a full minute for Kazari to find her trail. She hadn't left much evidence of her passing, which was good. She had half a mind to not bother covering it up, for there was so little physical marks from her trip that she doubted a human would be able to see it for what it was.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Apr 27, 2010 22:45:19 GMT -5
Dominic walked quietly beside Kazari, looking around carefully as he went. They passed the entrance to the alley where he had fought off Aneska's attackers the previous evening, and Dominic couldn't resist a glance down into the alley. He wondered if there was still any evidence of the fight there; there had been quite a bit of blood left on the pavement, from all three of the men.
He rubbed absently with his thumb at his burned and now bandaged fingertip, unable to forget what he had become, and fearing the worst. What if they ran out of time? What if he hurt someone? The countdown in his mind was still ticking away. He did his best to ignore it, still looking all around him without speaking.
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Fekete Istvan
Ireth
University Junior: Mage
Make believe, close your eyes, I'll be anything for you.
Posts: 140
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Post by Fekete Istvan on May 3, 2010 21:21:52 GMT -5
Istvan walked quietly on Kazari's other side, looking neither left nor right; he knew the city like the back of his hand. The morning was a bit chilly, and he was glad he'd decided to wear his jacket.
He glanced discreetly over at Dominic, seeing the worry in the man's face. He couldn't blame him for it at all. Changing from a mortal to any kind of supernatural took a lot of getting used to, even for one who was accustomed to living in a world of mgaic and non-human creatures. At least the curse would only affect him once every full moon -- that added up to only twelve or thirteen nights a year. Unlike, say, a mage or a vampire, who was affected 24/7.
"How far did you go last night, Zari?" he wondered out loud, looking at the girl.
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