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You may now access your selected file regarding subject codenamed "Cypher".
Name: "Classified"
For the next nine years, he along with five of his former classmates were used in illegal brain washing experiments conducted by Dr. Malcolm Hayes and Dr. David Shun Heung. Each of the six children were attempted to be "broken" by a different means; fear was used on Cypher, attempting to strip him of his personality and free will by placing him in tormenting, dreadful situations. His spiteful attitude quickly made him a favorite among the group as Dr. Hayes grew to enjoy the satisfying feeling empowerment he had over the younger man. Cypher quickly developed aquaphobia after numerous drowning attempts and tortuous behaviors during hydrotherapy.
Migisi 
The Stag: Species wise he closely resembles a leucistic red deer though malnourished in appearance. Stomach not as rounded nor is his chest as muscular as the average red deer. Backside fairly evened and frame supported by slender, length legs giving him a very sleek, thin look. (Similar to this.) Scruffy fur is an unnaturally bleached color with mahogany-colored ear tips and bordered-tail, hind legs appear to have been "dipped" into the same coloring as socks run up from his hooves before blending and fading into his white fur just above his hock. Beneath his fur, multiple scars from his early days can be found, giving a tiny glimpse into his abusive past.
The Man:English heritage, stands slightly around 6" with a scrawny frame. Arms and legs are both lanky with very little sign of muscle with thin wrists above medium-sized hands and long bony fingers. Semi-diamond-shaped with slightly sunken in cheeks beneath raised cheekbones and pointed chin. Nose somewhat long and pointed. Eyes a deep, crystallized blue beneath groomed, bushy eyebrows. Skin always soft and pale, face shaven daily. Well-groomed dark brown hair is short in the back as it grows progressively longer towards the front before becoming scruffy medium-length bangs that drape over his forehead; sideburns run down both sides of his head and are trimmed just below the ear. (He has unintentionally morphed into Cumberbatch. I swear, it was purely by accident.)
While he enjoys the thrill of a chase and a good brawl, confrontation is something Cypher will try to avoid if he can. The phase "his bark is worse than his bite" sums him up nicely. He will not hesitate to make snappy comments that often get taken as taunts, resulting in him getting punished for opening his mouth. At first, he will try his best to bargain with the opposing party to bide time as he tries to figure out a way to escape. If he cannot manage to slip away or talk his way out of a fight, he will stand his ground despite knowing it will end poorly for him. Unlike most men of his age, Cypher is on the scrawny side with very little muscle, making him agile and quick but causing him to get injured fairly easily. He knows proper fighting stances but lacks force to do serious harm unless a weapon is being used. He relies on his intelligence and quick thinking more than his body to protect him; often using the environment to his advantage.
In the distance, Cypher could
He paused at the border of graveyard to feel the air. The fur on the back of his neck stood straight as the ectoplasmatic electricity swirled around him. He seemed to attract it like a magnet. Can yew feel the ghosts 'round here? Guess they like lingerin'... He smirked as he replied with a low tone, "Yes.... Oh yes... I can feel it."
Guess they're the hangers-on. The ones who don't wanna let go.
Cypher trotted around the graves, studying each one as he spoke, "They are called Ethereals, my dear. At least that is what we classify passive spirits back at the Agency." A tall tombstone stood at the corner. Chips of it had fallen off with age and moss climbed up the its stone side. "They are the ones who are too afraid to pass over but are too fragile to lash out at the living. Instead they linger and observe from a safe distance. Quite an annoyance if I may say so myself."
Quill had then pointed to a large chasm that housed a hidden, locked door. Cypher fearlessly stepped beside her, gazing down upon it. His eyes hidden by the shadow his fedora created on his face. Curious... I will take note of this.
As he studied the door, he noticed that Quill had moved on again. This time the tiny doe waited for him. He began to follow him with the voice's laughter of delight echoing in his head.
Quill didn't miss a lot.
With a small smile, she watched him walk behind her. Quill began to strut, prancing towards the ring of magic. Her head lifted high and she made sure to lift her legs as far above the ground as she could. She almost felt important, showing him around like this.
The birch forest began in a bloom of red against the green. She looked up into the widely-spaced trees, hearing birds twittering. The white and red was a contrast against the brown and the green of the older forest. Still, she thought of it a little like a holy place, as if Mother had created the land for her followers. After all, what would she paint it but red?
"Cypher, this here's the Birch Forest. Pretty, huh?" Her voice was distracted, somewhere else entirely. Suddenly, she darted over the border and up to the hill where De Drinkplaats rested.
Pausing at the edge, she waited while he caught up. A crack of lightning and a roll of thunder startled her and she jumped. Turning around with a guilty look, she hoped he hadn't noticed.
While a star glittered above, she looked into the ring, as if she was speaking to one of the numerous animals perched along the floor.
"Don' step in there, you'll go nekkid. I think this is where Mother loses her power--this here ring. Mebbe those Gods take over or somethin'. Mebbe it's just the end of the world, where all the magic piles into one place. I dunno, really, but it sure is pretty. Mother fades when I go in there anyhow." Quill shrugged, as if it was nothing. Truth was, it did worry her a little. It was as if the Idol's presence faded from her, leaving her alone. She'd gotten used to the familiar darkness, growing ever so slightly, little by little, in the edges of her vision. A stone idol suddenly fell from the sky and landed in the shallow pool of ever-flowing water with a resounding thunk. Quill laughed again, shaking her head.
Sometimes, it seemed like the magic of the forest knew what she was thinking.
"If yew drink from that pool, yew turn into an animal of another sort. Crow, rabbit, things like that. Kinda fun, if yew ask me." She paused a moment, thinking. The Playground and the Old Oak were left.
"Yer choice now, Cyph. The Playground or the Old Oak first?" Quill turned to him, waiting for his answer.
"Know an awful lot about
"Tis my job, milady," Cypher took pride in his words. He was an expert; this was something he would not deny, but then again why should he? It was his expertise that saved his life all that time ago.
He followed closely behind the hopping doe. Somewhat amused by the flashes of red popping up over the brush and tall grasses. Not before long, she began to blend into the surroundings. Squinting, he was able to keep track of her against the crimson canvas of the birch woods. She came to a stop as she stood at the edge of a circular force field that had sprung up in the middle of the Forest. Cypher was startled by its size and strength. It caused him to stop dead in his tracks. The jerking motion of his head caused his fedora to loosen. It hung off the side o his head, remaining in place only by his ear.
"My word... What the bloody hell is this?" The shock broke his attempt to hide his British accent. He let the improper wording slip through his tongue which embarrassed him but he hoped Quill did not notice.
Cautiously, he approached the glowing aurora. Looking up and down he studied the barrier. He leaned in closely to get a better look when he saw the idol plunge into pool located in the center of the magically circle. He stepped back and took note of the location of the watering hall. Will investigate farther.
Yer choice now, Cyph. The Playground or the Old Oak first?
He thought for a second as he straightened his hat, "I suppose we should go to the Old Oak."
Quill had come to recognize
So it was his job to know about spirits. He might be some kind of investigator; that'd explain the outfits. Quill stored this information away too.
The doe laughed at his surprise. This was the most she laughed in a long time and she was enjoying it. It felt good to finally be carefree. Cypher, whoever and whatever he was, was first and foremost a friend to her. "Guess ya didn't expect this kinda thing, huh? Doncha worry about cursin' here either, by an' by. Isn't like I haven't heard it all an' worse in my lifetime." Distracted, she stepped into the ring and suddenly lost her entire set, watching it fade off in a cloud of smoke. Naked and much taller now, she whirled around. With an embarrassed yelp, Quill turned red in the face and leaped out of the circle, regaining her height and most of what she had been wearing, though the red pelt seemed to have vanished into thin air. Quill retained the bright red blush.
"...So, erm. That's what it does," she muttered, looking wholly humiliated. With a sudden burst of energy, she took off towards the Old Oak, scattering dust and grasses in her hurry to escape.
After she arrived, she quickly grabbed her characteristic red pelt from the Idol up stream. When she returned, she was much more relaxed. Spotting Cypher, she motioned him inside the Oak. The ceiling soared far above them, deep into the top of the tree. It was humming quietly, as per normal. The sound comforted the doe and she relaxed, sitting and laying her head on the ground.
"The Oak's always humming quietly to herself or mebbe to us. It's real nice in here when it rains and gen'rally you can find most deer in here. I dunno how this Oak got born, but she's older than most of the trees in this forest." Quill's ears twitched as she caught the quiet sound, enjoying it for a little while.
"Playground next. Guess that'll conclude this tour, since I'm pretty sure that'd be everything 'round here."
Quill's giggles of delight
Then, the little doe leaped over the circle of mushrooms. He had been so lost in thought that the puff of smoke startled him to reality. The milky white smoke engulfed Quill as it swirled around her in the wind. It covered her from head to toe before vanishing into the it as quickly a it had appeared. Within seconds, she landed on the ground in a sandy brown pelt; only her flushed cheeks indicated any hints of her former color. Over the sound of her hurrying hooves, he heard a faint Eeeeppp! as she squealed in embarrassment. The steady beat of her feet faded away in the distance along with her as she quickly skidded to a halt, before turning around to dart away. As if she wanted him to catch no glance of her without her solid red pelt but her attempt was fruitless.
Her comical nature may have been strange to him, but it tickled him in a way he had never known before. his heat skipped a beat as for a second... One brief second... It felt as light as a feather. A spark of antsy energy shot through his body, causing his hair to stand straight. The corner of his lip curled upward in an attempt to smile. However, the moment he felt the reflex he fought it back to a frown. Why did he almost smile? Could it have that he did secretly find Quill's silliness to be entertaining? Or was it from the impression at the strength of the Forest's magic? Yes... that must be it, he thought to himself as his eyebrows lowered beneath his mask. Surely that was the cause. Nothing more.
From some distance away, Cypher could see Quill's fur had turned to its original color. She was standing inside of an ancient oak, motioning him. She scratched forward towards the ground and shook her head, beckoning him to join her. He trotted in her direction only to have the same static charge rush over him again as he drew closer to the oak. A low hum gnawed at his ear drums like tiny insects trying to borrow their way into his skull to feast upon the voice's decaying body as it growled back in defense. His ears flickered in an attempt to scatter the noises away, but they had dug their selves deeply into his conscious.
"Gaahh.... Sounds like a truck horn is blaring inside of my head..." he mumbled as he stepped into the tree's wooden cavern with her.
I'm actually pretty happy
So what I do is just click the middle of the biography and use the scroller on my mouse to browse down the page.
LOL The Log In screen is
[[Clever biography. That's
"Not yer cup of tea, eh? Mebbe a bit too loud for them sensitive ears..." A wicked smile crossed her face as she suddenly leaped into the air, biting for his ear. Unfortunately, with his head up, he was much taller and she missed by a good margin, landing in the dirt with a thud. Quill muttered something and picked herself up, shaking off her fur.
"Nex' time, putcher head down so's I can grab it. Agreed?" The wicked look moved into her eyes and she flashed him another smile. With a prance, she lead the way out of the Oak and further towards the pond, which she motioned to with a flick of her head.
"Think I covered that before. The Pond, made from Mother's tears an' all. I've heard some nasty rumors 'bout things lurkin' down there and the dead rottin' away--guess some choose the pond to breathe their last in." Quill shook her head softly, as if disapproving of such an extreme measure. She would never take it that far, she assured herself. With a glance at Cypher, she wove through his legs, bolting out in the direction of the Playground.
"Catch me if ya can, Cyph! Betcher slow!" The red deer bolted between trees, a bright little spark nearly lost among the green. As she entered the red once more, she seemed to almost blend into the long grasses. Of course, she chose that moment to pop up like a spring and watch for him. Of course, she didn't stay long. It was a race after all.
When she touched the first rock of the Playground, she collapsed in a panting heap. Quill was alright at running, but long-distance hiking and walking was more her style. Running wore her out like nothing else. However, she managed to roll over and glance up at Cypher, looking overjoyed despite the sweat beading on her forehead.
"So this here's...the Playground. Lotsa deer like the... view or jus' jumpin' from the rocks," she caught her breath, then went on to say,"Meself, I jus' like sitting round here, feelin' tall. It's a nice feelin'. It's a good place 'round here too. Great view." With a grunt of effort, she pulled herself to her feet and leaped up onto the rocks, looking over the waves of red and gold. If the sun had been setting, this would have been about the time--though of course, the sun rarely set in the Endless Forest.
"Guess that there ends our tour, but yer welcome to stay. I certainly ain't gonna chase you off." Quill settled at the peak of the largest rock, looking at him with warmth. He had somehow managed to change her entire current outlook on life back to the way it had been before in a single day. She was practically glowing with happiness now. Her eyes closed as she waited for his decision.
"'Course, we'll have to save off mushroom and blueberry testin' for another day. Gotta make sure yew come back, hon." Quill's ears betrayed some other emotion as they twitched faintly. Noticing, she pinned them back, as if simply listening.
(Heh thanks, guys!) While
While still wincing from the loud hum in his ears, Cypher stumbled backwards to avoid the nipping jaws of Quill. He shook his head and huffed at her antics, snorting hot air from his flaming nostrils. putcher head down so's I can grab it. He stomped his hoof in disagreement, "You have spunk. I will give you that."
Although it would seem as if Quill's attention that already been taken away from her attempted bites at him. She was now prancing around, staring at the pond. I've heard some nasty rumors 'bout things lurkin' down there and the dead rottin' away--guess some choose the pond to breathe their last in. Cypher's stomach churned with her words. Water....Death.... Death by water.... Visions of dark water rushing uncontrollably filled his head. The sunlight vanishing beneath the raging waves as his conscious sunk into the abyss below. His breath seeping away as his gasps surfaced without him. He lost feeling in his body as he could hear his heart beating in his ears. The beats were furious but slowed as his life slipped away...
"Catch me if ya can, Cyph! her voice was sharp as it squealed with joy. Her cries of joy snapped him out of his dying trance. A cold sweat drizzled down his neck as he wildly looked around his surroundings with widened eyes. He was still in the Forest. Still dry. Still in the sunlight. His feet still on solid ground. She was no longer at his side. Instead, she was quite some ways away. Her red hind splashed the Forest with color as she bounced above the brushes and grass.
He turned and began to follow her. His footsteps heavy, loud as they pounded against the rocky ground. His pressed shirt had been damaged from the running through the brush; his black vest was in need of cleaning and the red band had nearly been ripped off from his leg. As Quill rested in the sun, he approached her with a few buttons unbuttoned and his tie hanging out over his vest. His fedora was tilted to the side.
"It was marvelous.", he said with a heavy British accent. He jumped upon the steady stone she was resting upon and circled behind her, gazing out onto the world. The voice was not pleased by any of the days activities. He knew it would make him pay the moment it sound him at his weakest. Until then, he would try to take advantage of time away from the voice. "Yes, of course."
"Glad yew said yes," she
Shaking off her strange trance, she looked over at the stag. "Yer lookin' outta sorts, Cyph," she stated with a grin, looking over his disarrayed form. Quill giggled softly, still smiling. "Nex' time I'mma grab yer ear so hard it'll pull off," she said, winking in his direction with a flick of her ear. "I got a bite like a shark!" She snapped her teeth together to illustrated the point. She scooted even closer, leaning on him. Again, she sighed softly, as if contented. Her friends really made the forest for her.
"So, mystery stag. Tell me somethin' about yerself. Maybe perhaps how yew got here?" She shrugged, raising an eyebrow. She remembered her own arrival, but to her, it remained a strange dream. The deer waited with a smile.
"A shark? Perhaps more like a
He was curious and questioned if he too should share his battle scars. Did he dare reveal his identity? Would the AoM approve of such a thing? No, it was not time yet to remove his mask. It would be against protocol and he did not feel like going through the mountains of paperwork that followed breaking it.
Maybe perhaps how yew got here? Yet another incident that would break protocol. It was against policy to speak about the AoM. They were meant to be a secret non-government agency; speaking about it would result in consequences but how were they to know what he did and did not say?
"I was just sent here," he lowered his hefty body beside her's. "It is as simple as that, my dear. I was sent here by my administrator. Nothing more to it but what about you...? That scar you have is quite deep."
[[I will respond to this in a
...That and she didn't want him to see her crying. >>]]
(Oh god I have no idea how
[[Lol. xD She'd probably curl
As for now, Quill will just curl up in there. :P]]
(Cypher tried to get Eiros to
Cypher actually has kind of a rude history with Eiros. When he first entered the Forest, he frightened Eiros. Then he spied on Soona and him. Now he walked away to chase after a doe. Oh, Cypher, you're a jackass. Just how you're suppose to be.)
[[Oh Cypher. xD Poor Eiros!
Pffff. Quill finds him adorable, though! >>]]
(Yes, Eiros is a sweetie. Tis
"Yew got that straight, she
Ah. Still mysterious. She almost chuckled. He hardly told her anything! Yet, it was enough for her. Quill smiled, then frowned as she thought. A quiet sigh came from her.
"Yew ain't willin' to tell much and that's okay, Cyph. I don' mean to press," she muttered, stalling. For awhile, she was silent, looking out at the forest. When she spoke, it seemed as if somebody had dampened her spirit.
"Les jus' say...some ain't as acceptin' of me likin' girls as yew are. Plus, some people, when they get bored, well, they like to make trouble. Just a stupid gang o' kids." Quill spat, fur on her shoulders bristling. Suddenly noticing he had sat down, she moved closer, leaning into his side. Another few moments of quiet passed.
"Is Cypher yer real name?" Something to say. Anything to break the awkwardness.
...when they get bored, well,
Her sentence hung in the air with a heavy breath before entering his ears. It twisted itself like an anaconda around his brain as it sunk in. Yet another cynical smile embraced his lips. The voice shouted with pride at the connection. Oooooh... If only you knew... he thought to himself.
Just how many times had he woken up on a pool of his own blood in his life? How many bars on the streets of Anglesey had he been kicked out of? How many psychiatrists had tried to help him? How many medications had he been prescribed? How much money value had all the items he had stolen over the years totaled? What was the number of broken noses? Black eyes? Knife and gun wounds? Overnight visits in prison...? Locks picked...?
The encounters were far too many to count.
"'Tis the story of my life, miss," The malicious look faded as he noticed that Quill and moved closer. He could feel her tiny body pressed up against his. Her ribcage gentle rising up and down with each breath. He glanced down at her as she asked about his name. For a moment, he went silent. Was "Cypher" his real name...? His ears pulled back beneath his fedora as he thought, "I... I honestly do not know... It is what I have always been called though. And 'Quill', is it your's?"
The malicious look alerted
At least she...
Stop thinkin', Quill. Yew don't wanna. Erase the memories and they never happened, right? With a forced smile, she listened to him. As if she had suddenly decided, she crawled up onto his back and settled there. These memories needed comfort, and Quill didn't exactly have boundaries.
"Java Faunus Quill. That's tha full epigram. Some call me Jav, most I ask ta call me Quill. Parents named me after coffee, eh?" Quill laughed, but a bitter undertone swept through. Her parents had also decided not to decide and leave her as she was. Quill held back a snort of disgust.
"Know how old yew are, then?" she queried.
(I'll reply to this in a
[[Awesome! I'll look out for
(It's up now. And damn that
[[Yes you do. o_o
(e) I need a link. I failed at finding it. ;;]]
Bam! Magic. Awwww
Anyway, night. Now debating on whether or not I want to wait my vest to work tomorrow or not. I'll have to sleep on it.
Thank ya! And g'night. I say
And g'night. I say wear the vest. >>
(e) You're a great story-teller! You kept my interest the entire way through. The suspense was also well done.
(Quill, I wore my whole
Quill's little hooves dug lightly into his skin through his clothing. The pinpointed pressure felt good on Cypher's muscles as she unknowingly massaged him as she nestled herself down. The dirt from her feet wiped off upon the cloth, giving his once white shirt a beige tint. His vest was going to need to be pressed and steam cleaned once again, but were there even dry cleaners in the Forest...?
At first he wanted to object to her intrusion on his outfit, but he saw no harm in letting her rest upon him. The day's events had already taken their toll on his clothes; he would have to wash them anyway so what was wrong with another layer of dirt?
He could feel the heaves of her warm breaths upon his neck as she spoke. A strange sensation began to bubble somewhere within him. A sensation he had never felt before and it greatly angered the voice. Could he have been enjoying her company...? He shook his head trying to silence the voice in order to listen to Quill's over its rage-filled screams.
"I am equivalent to a human man in his mid-20s," he replied to her question. "Youthful still, but I have some life experience. And you, milady?"
[[First off, sorry about the
So awesome. o3o I'm glad you wore the whole thing. 8D
I'll need to watch out for those. o3o]]
"Ha! Couldn'ta guessed we'd be about the same age, haha. Not so similar neither! In my dreams, I'm twenty-two, though here, I'm about a month old." Quill winked, unaware that he would be unable to see it.
The darkness at the edge of her eyes was pulsing again, sending little tendrils into her main vision. Something was wrong? Quill's brow furrowed softly. The darkness pulsed fiercely for a moment, half-blinding her, and she winced softly. Mother was warning her. The cloying scent of the poppies reached her even here, calling her to the Idol's side. With a sudden decision, she refused the call, closing her eyes and pretending not to catch the scent.
Something was weird about this call. Perhaps Mother didn't like him after all? Quill laughed it off softly, shaking her head and burying her face in the fabric of his jacket for a minute. She realized she had been shaking. Quill had never defied Mother before. A small smile replaced her worried look.
Mother would forgive her anyhow.
Raising her head, she looked up at the fedora far above, then down at the somewhat dirtied clothes. Now how on earth was he going to get those cleaned? It wasn't as if there was a dry cleaner in the forest. Quill shrugged. Maybe he had a way. Her head tilted to the side as she thought up another question, the scent of poppies passing by her faintly and making her wince.
"So where were yew born, mm? Seeing as yew don' seem to be from this here place," she queried, ears tilting up and forward.
(It's cool. I also probably
From her perch on his back, Cypher could feel the faint vibration of the little doe's body shivering with no explanation. Her exhaled breaths beat the back of his neck as she nestled herself against him, burying herself in the flap of his vest. His body tensed as she cuddled beside him; physical contact was still something he had not gotten use to. Yet despite the voice's obvious fury at her presence, he did not want to disturb the distressed doe.
He turned his head to in attempts to face her, but it strained his muscles to turn it that far back. Something was wrong with her, but he could tell she was fighting to hid it.
"Worcester, England," he quickly replied trying to help distract her mind from whatever she was combating.
[[That sounds fun. ;; And I
Children are not allowed to ignore their parents.
Quill continued ignoring her anyways, pinning her ears to her head as if that would block out the sound. Another angry pulse spread darkness across her entire vision for a moment. Quill gasped, a sharp intake of breath, but it receded quickly after. Even the scent grew faint. The doe sighed quietly, muscles relaxing into Cypher's warmth. She grunted in contentment, moving her head to his shoulder.
She seemed to seek comfort more lately. Must be the forest's doing, she thought, Makin' me grow soft. The red deer lifted her head and nudged his. "Don' strain yer neck, yew might get stuck like that, Cyph." She laughed softly, picturing his head twisted like that for eternity. Poor guy. He wouldn't like that, she bet.
"The slums of Buffalo, New York, U.S.A. 'Least, that's what them dreams tell me. I'm statin' to think they ain't just dreams, y'know." Quill was truly confused about her dreams. Mostly, it seemed as if they were just that--fictional pieces of memory and experiences devised by her brain. Yet sometimes, they felt more real than her other dreams. Things made sense in them. Nothing too weird happened; there were no floating clocks, no aliens, just fairly normal things save for being what most would call 'human'. But if she'd been born here, then what were they?
Quill realized she had been staring intently at the white fur on his shoulder for a few minutes and shook her head. She had probably missed his answer too. "Did yew say somethin'?" she muttered, rather embarrassed.
Dreams... Dreams.... She
From over his shoulder, he could see the doe's body loosen as she arranged herself into a more comfortable position. She had her front legs tucked under her chest as she leaned against his broad shoulders. Her right leg was pulled near her body, while her left dangled off his side. She had her head cuddled up close to his neck. The voice hissed madly at the sight. He could feel its tightening grip begin to curl around his mind, preparing to strike him.
Gulping, Cypher was unsure of how to handle the upcoming situation. He knew it would be violent; he had been disobeying it all night but he did not want Quill near to see it. Yet he did not want to chase her away.
"Dreams? What dreams?, he quickly asked trying to delay the attack.
The doe hesitated a moment,
"Well, sometimes the dreams ain't so nice. I dreamed once of how I got this here scar. I guess it explains it, 'cause I sure as heck don't know how I really got it. Guess I thought I was born with it. Anyways, let's just say it wasn't too pleasant. But..." Quill wondered how much to tell him. After all, these definitely seemed like delusions sometimes. For awhile, she'd just figured she was a lucid dreamer, able to change her dreams and interfere with them. Now...
"These dreams, they feel real, y'know. Not like the dream-real, but...I can feel all sorts o' stuff, smell stuff, hear stuff...even taste stuff. I dunno." Quill shrugged, never once moving her head from its position on his shoulder.
"Sorry for borin' you with these sort of long explanations. So what'dyou do fer fun, eh? Can't imagine yer as much of a stuffed shirt as yew sometimes act like." She grinned.
Cypher was careful to listen
He rose to his feet slowly to ensure that she did not fall off his back as he began to search for items that could help protect her, "Have you seen any white butterflies or fine mist before sleeping? Perhaps a snake? Do you feel any pressure on your chest and have trouble moving when you wake?"
His eyes wandered as he began to trot about with her still dangling from his back while he started his search, "We need to find a mirror or metal or a broomstick. Or... I could stand by as you slept..." While rambling on with his nonsense, he realized that she had asked him about what he did for "fun". He stopped walking and glanced back at her, "What is fun?"
Quill was shocked when he
Quill was shocked when he stood. With a small yelp, she made sure to hold tighter. "Give me warning', Cyph!" However, a smile was in her voice as she spoke. When she looked around, she realized how fun riding on his back was. What a lovely view! Quill's eyes widened in appreciation, but his voice brought her back to reality. For a moment, she paused, making a small hm noise as she thought hard.
"No...No. Far's I know, I ain't seen none of that. Black mist maybe, a darkening as I fell asleep here." Quill shrugged, frowning. She'd seen other disappear in black mist, so that couldn't be it. "No, none of that. I wake up here like I was jus' nappin' fer a bit. All refreshed and ready to go, y'know. In them dreams, I gen'rally wake up kinda groggy but jus' fine..." The red deer seemed confused, trying hard to think of any time she'd seen that, but coming up with nothing. At his next words, she seemed even more confused.
"What's that stuff? I hear some say the pond's like a mirror, but I ain't seen one...Though I think I called somethin' a mirror in one o' my dreams. Kinda shiny, reflects yew back atcher self? Dunno whut a broomstick might be. Metal...Iszat the stuff the cage in the ruins 's made of?" Quill was fascinated by all of these new words, yet incredibly puzzled at the same time. They seemed vaguely familiar, yet she couldn't place their images in her head. She continued holding on as he walked, scanning the surroundings for any of the stuff he had mentioned. When he asked the question, she paused in shock for a few moments, blinking blindly.
"Stop jokin' around. Yew know what fun is. Jus' answer the question."
((Here Cypher! This should help!
"No no no..." he shook his
He took another mental note make sure he properly protected himself before night fell.
Stop jokin' around. Yew know what fun is. Jus' answer the question. her voice was stern yet had a mocking tone to it. Cypher continued to stare at her with a blank look in his face, "You mean what I do where I do not work?"
"I cain't say I've got any
At his blank look, she hopped down from his back and crossed to stand before him, looking more puzzled than ever. Quill nodded, a bemused look on her face. "Well, I 'spose that works. I mean more like what yew do when yew don't werk. Like...entertainment?" Her head tilted to the side, questioning.
Quill now stood before him.
He cleared his throat to break the now awkward silence and prepared to answer he question, "Why I unwind from a mission with a nice glass of gin and tonic. Though I have been known to enjoy the thrill of gambling and tend to have a bit of a rough streak when it comes to interacting with other blokes."
"If it eats them bad dreams,
"Can't say I don't like all that myself. But dontcha go out with friends and things? Maybe just run around or see movie or somethin'?" Of course, she was confused at where all this was coming from. For now, she simply let it go, shrugging. A sweet scent washed over her nostrils and she snorted.
Just a reminder.
Cypher huffed as he gave an
Everyone else he had known were just the doctor's who confirmed his madness. The nurses who cowered at the sight of him as they tended to his medical needs. The other agents of AoM who all seemed bitter towards him. What was the point in being near them?
"I cannot say I do, darling," he stopped before her. "I do enjoy a good noir film, however."
Java Faunus Quill. Shut
Shut it.
"Dunno what that sorta thing is, but it sounds fine to me. 'Cept we're gonna have to fix one thing, Cyph--I guess we'll have to teach yew how to have fun." Quill laughed, as if it was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard. Yet, she looked forward to the prospect. Maybe he'd lighten up a little. She motioned to him to bend down.
"So's I can git back up. We've gotta find that mirror, yeah?" she stated, smiling. Hey, what did she know about beasts and monsters? Might as well go along with it. It might save her life.
Java sighed quietly. Putting it off the Idol much longer wouldn't be a good thing. "If yew could drop me off at the Idol, I'd appreciate it. And er...Mebbe yew could go off an' do somethin' for a little bit. Mother needs to talk to me." The doe sighed quietly, pinning her ears back. Ah well.
The stag tilted his head as
"Anything else, your highnass?" he sarcastically asked while she hoisted herself back up. He felt humiliated being used like a common horse, but it seemed to please Quill.
Steadily he pranced over towards the Idol's direction as a gut wrenching feeling stabbed him sharply in the stomach. Something was not right; but he could not tell what.
"Oh haha, yer so funny.
Quill.
Oh, lovely. Her ears pinned back and she winced. The Idol was certainly angry at her this time. Quill's head drooped and she scratched at the soil. Her ears turned back to Cypher but she didn't look at him.
"Yeh. Um, just go ahead and...do yer business. Looks like she's mighty angry at me. Jus' better let her get it out." Quill moved around and splashed into the water where they had been earlier, standing and looking up at her "mother" with her eyes closed. When she was fairly certain he was gone, she opened her eyes again.
To any observer, it would look as if Quill was simply starting at the statue. Her stare was interrupted by frequent winces, after which she would pull herself up again and stare directly into the eyes of the statue. Suddenly, she seemed to fluff up, growing bigger. Quill was yelling at the statue.
"Whatd'you mean, I can't see him again? That's stupid!" she cursed, hopping out of the stream with the fur on her back standing straight up.
"Yew can be mad all you want, I ain't gonna--" Suddenly she paused, standing straight and stiff. A little cry came from her and she shook her head furiously, as if to banish something.
"Mother...?" Her voice was almost afraid for a few moments. Quill was looking around, but her eyes focused on nothing.
Be glad I didn't do more.
Suddenly, she seemed able to focus and let out a soft sigh, head drooping. With her ears pinned back, she looked around, noting that the darkness had crept a little further into her vision. Now it was constantly there, lingering visibly at the edges of her vision.
It made her shudder. What had she meant by more anyway?
"Cypher?" she called as loudly as she could manage, hoping he was nearby.
Unsure of what her urgent
"Of course, milady," he tipped his hat in Quill's direction as he turned to leave her to the Idol's mercy.
He figured he might as well take this moment of loneliness as an opportunity to search the Forest for any possibly, useful material and clean his clothes. The stream that the Idol created emptied into a lake in the center of the Forest. While the thought of being near the pond caused him to panic, there was no other way to wash the grass stains from his vest and shirt. As he got near to the water's edge, he heard his name screamed from up the hill. His ears perked and his head turned sharply as his whole body turned towards the source with a jump. Legs spread out in all four directions, he listened carefully to try find where it was coming from.
"Quill...?" he silently mumbled to himself as he took a step in the direction towards the Idol. His body was stiff as the inner voice within him told him to let the doe suffer. It seemed thrilled by the pleading in her screams but from beneath its villainous laughter, a separate voice begged him to go after her. For a few seconds, he was unable to move. Immobilized by his conflicting personalities but Quill called for him again; this time with pain. His heart pounded as he quickly began to ran towards her - unsure as to why he felt the need to aid the wimping doe.
Interesting. I will watch,
"Yeh, say that to my face, ya ol' bag," she muttered quietly. For a moment, she wondered why the Idol was so worried about Cypher. The though caused a dark shadow to pass in front of her eyes, both physically and from her own worry. A reminder, she supposed. Quill winced and stumbled.
Since when was that rock there? With a frown that creased her face, she mumbled to herself and stumbled down towards where the white stag was running towards her. With a shaky grin, she greeted him with a bow.
"Cyph, yew look outta sorts. Though fer me, it's kinda normal. Don' worry, I'm alright. Jus' got a lil' worried back there. Nothing to get too excited about." Quill shrugged it off, closing her eyes for a moment. So the Idol could take away pieces of her vision when she wanted? That was unfortunate and rather frightening. Shaking away the thoughts, she forced her grin to brighten, looking up at the taller stag.
"We got things to do an' places ta see. Yew prob'ly need a wash, eh? Mebbe the pond? Oh, I'm forgettin'. We gotta get them materials or whatever yew said. Guess I don' really get why we need 'em still, but that's okay. Yew remember where the Ruins is? I can show ya if yew need me to, yeah?" Quill was aware she was talking fast and made no attempt to slow herself down. If she could distract him, maybe he wouldn't worry.
But what if he should? What if she was bringing some kind of destruction on him but letting Mother watch him? Quill shook the thought violently from her head.
No, no, he'd be fine.
The stag slowed his pace as
His confused crystal eyes exchanged between the cowering doe and the Idol. He could still sense a heated anger illuminating from it. The voice - at first - growled as this new threat attempted to overtake his captive. However, the voice also seemed pleased at how the Idol was toying with Cypher's suppressed emotions.
"Quilll, are you... you alright?" he lifted a leg over her body as he rose standing above her, somewhat attempting to protect her from whatever was tormenting her.
Quill sighed and nudged the
"Me an' Mother jus' had a lil' argument. Nothin' major, y'see, jus' a tiff. Turns out she's right nasty when she gets down to it!" Quill said, winking. Her old demeanor was returning as the potential threat decreased. For now, Cypher was safe and she could still--mostly--see. With a bounce, she wove under his legs and brushed against one with a smile.
"Perfec'ly fine, Cyph. Now, we gotta see about gettin' yew cleaned up. Follow me. Mother's tears is good for cleanin' if anythin'." With a bound, Quill shot out from under his legs and began galloping towards the pond--though not without tripping over a tree root she never saw coming. However, she had simply picked herself up and continued running.
Not a problem. Besides, she'd lost a piece of her vision before. Of course, she couldn't remember why, exactly...No matter. When she reached the shallows, she paused, waiting for Cypher to catch up.
A few minutes passed as Quill
Cypher glanced back at the crying Idol. He did not understand Quill's worship of the idol or why she referred to it as "mother", but he respected her wishes to obey the unspoken commands. However, he had always disliked taking orders, especially from a source he could not see. A malicious smirk crossed as face, taunting the mysterious being to have its way with him. A spark of danger glittered in his eyes as he pulled his head close to his neck, gleaming at the Idol from beneath the rim of his fedora. His lips curled around his teeth. Go ahead, the voice made me mock. I am a tough sonvabitch.
Snorting, he turned his back to the Idol and pranced over to Quill. His chest puffed out with pride, exposing his thin, yet healthy, frame. He was far from buff. Being built with average characteristics but he could easily hold his own, "Sounds like a plan, miss".
He reached the water's edge before stopping in his tracks. His confidence began to fade at the sight of the deep abyss located near the middle of the pond. Its dark void teasing his natural fear of the water. He tried to hide the uneasiness he felt but his ears pulled back against his skull beneath his hat as he felt the water belittle him.
You do not mess with a god,
The words were faint in her head, as if the Idol wasn't speaking to her. The little red deer was puzzled and quietly shook the thoughts away, looking at the beautiful koi fish swimming just below the surface of the pond. She could hear Cypher walking up behind her and was just about to point out a particularly beautiful fish when the noise stopped.
"Hm?" Quill turned to see Cypher paused at the edge of the pond. She shot him a quizzical look before trotting back. The expression on his face was almost frightening to her. He seemed pretty calm but now, he seemed uneasy. With a splash, she drew up onto the bank beside him.
"Everythin' okay, Cyph? You look kinda..." Quill was looking at him with worry. Her ears pinned back to match his own. "Is there somethin' in there? Like, some kinda monster I should be worryin' about?" Quill paced nervously at the edge of the pond, trying to see into its depths. What if something was down there now?
She couldn't see any other reason for his fear besides that. What else would he have to worry about? Mother's tears were healing, cooling. Quill sighed and looked down into the water even harder. Maybe if they stayed at the edge, they'd be okay.
His ears flickered side to
Looking up towards the surface with pleading eyes as he could see the disfigurement of his murderer laughing down at him...
Shaking his head furiously, Cypher tried pushed the thought out of his mind. This phobia of his was nothing more than a result. A bypass product of a situation he had survived. His fear was caused by nothing more than being the result of his post-traumatic disorder. Like, some kinda monster I should be worryin' about?
"Only man," he replied coldly as he began to remove his vest.
"'Course it's good to fear
He seems haunted. Perhaps he is not a threat.
Go away. He doesn't need you here right now.
For once, Quill pushed back and Mother listened, retreating her attention for the moment. However, Quill could swear that she was laughing or grinning. Of course, she remained there no matter where her attention turned, always watching.
"Cyph...Everything isn' okay, is it? Yer actin' kinda funny. Yew don' have ta do this right now if yew don' want. We can do somethin' else, eh?" Quill offered kindly, glancing at the Idol down the stream. Maybe she was doing something to him? Quill hissed softly, moving away from the stag. Just in case, she probably shouldn't touch him.
With a resigned sigh, she sat down on the bank. "Will yew tell me...?" she murmured quietly.