[M] Cold Dreams (IC)

[Kiall]

Rated M for Horror and adult Themes

I hear the train a comin'
It's rollin' 'round the bend,
And I ain't seen the sunshine,
Since, I don't know when,

"Folsom Prison Blues" Johnny Cash

Dawn

Awake!, Awake, It saw the world with a million eyes and understood, for years it had gazed upon the world but lacked comprehension something kept it disconnected from Its gestalt mind, until now. What had freed it? Seven, of Seven, of Seven. Yes! That must be it, It chuckled. Memories long since hidden flashed through It’s mind, yes it was time to reclaim it’s property, that what was sworn to It long ago, but no, It still couldn’t move, the time wasn’t right was not RIPE, so It waited, watched, and dreamed.


Morning

A lightning bolt crashed to the ground in front of him knocking Daniel to the ground, his vision was blurry and he was drenched in rain, nevertheless he found himself running towards the edge of a cliff a figure was in the distance but he couldn’t make it out. As he got near the figure stepped off the cliff hurtling towards the jagged rocks below, he made a final leap and grabbed the figures small hand. Before he could pull the person up he felt the rocks give away and found himself falling down, down. “Dan!” a voice came in the darkness “DAN!” Daniel awoke with a start “huh? Wha?” he said shaking his head, he must’ve fallen asleep at his station again, “Captains coming!” the guard stationed to his right said. Daniel stood up straight hands firmly on his spear, thank Cyros for Brian he thought the captain was always a hard ass on the Feast of Plenty. The captain marched towards them a scowl on his mustachioed face. “Straighten up! This is the busiest day of the year and I’ll have no slouching!” the old captain barked, “Guardsman Daniel, you’re on escort duty assigned to Princess Felicia, do not lose her! The grand banquet is tonight and all of the royal family must be in attendance, do I make myself clear?!” “Yes Sir!” Daniel said automatically, “Good, head to the courtyard double time guardsman!”

Midday
Daniel yawned, Cyros’s ass he wished he was out at the festival, where there was music, and dancing, food, lots of ale, but no he had to stand around getting a bunch of angry glares. He got the distinct impression that Felicia didn’t like him, probably had to do with that business with her little lover boy, he had chased him all the way to the wall he even got a good shot with his spear on his bum, ha poor fool jumped ten feet in the air! The thought made him laugh.

[AliceMalice15]

Dawn

Lierah's eyes opened slowly as she woke from another sleepless night. Sittingbup she looked out her window, a small smile spreading across her face. The Feast of Plenty. It had always been her favorite day of the year. Sliding her legs over the side of the bed she slipped on her slippers and stood up. Waking into the washroom she closed the door to wash.

Morning

By the time Lierah walked out of the washroom she was fully dressed in a soft, blue dress with a tan apron over it. Pulling on her stockings and shoving her feet into a pair of brown boots she finished dressing and put her hair up in a ponytail with a yellow ribbon. Exiting her room she went downstairs into her shop. Grabbing an assortment of beautiful watches all of different shapes, sizes, and uses she stuck them in a bag and grabbed an already prepared bag with her tools and some pieces for her to build more. Pulling out her keys she walked out and locked the door behind her. Off to the festival!

Midday

Lierah smiled as she watched a couple
of children run off with one of her special "adventure finding" watches that showed them where to find fun safe spots to imagine they were going on an adventure. In truth they were more of saftey watches. They made sure that anyone holding it was in a safe area and would beep if a threatening presence was nearby. She didn't really know how it worked, but she knew that they worked. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out an old scratched up watch. It was her own safety watch. Her father had made it with her when she was five. She had kept it with her all the time and still did. It didn't work anymore, but it always made her feel safe. It was like her father was in the watch keeping her safe. Not that Veingaden was unsafe, it was just a nice feeling.

[Wattz]

Midday

The heel of Felicia’s shoe sunk deep into the garden’s dirt, almost taking it off completely. She looked around nervously as she carefully extracted it, the skirt of her green dress brushing dangerously with a thorny plant. The raucous sounds of the festival made her infinitely nervous, feeling as if thousands of eyes would be judging her poor escape plan. But there would be guards in the courtyard and others attending to the royal banquet. She'd have to find a way out before they noticed she was missing.

But it wasn’t an escape plan per say. She’d be coming back, after all.

After judging the vines climbing up the walls, however, she began to question her ability to even flee the garden. How had Gio climbed the wall so easily? Perhaps there was a hole in the bottom, some other way.

Felicia wasn’t sure if she liked the thrill of escape much. It didn’t take long for the thrill to spiral into a thick, heavy fear that sat in her chest like a brick, especially after finding that the only hole in the garden wall was hardly big enough to fit her enormous dress through. After much deliberation, she unlaced her Victorian-like boots, threw them over the side, and began climbing the fragrant magnolia tree, though with much difficulty. Her arms were so weak she practically had to throw herself onto each branch. Finally coming to the top, she aimed for a bush below and… dove onto a bush.

She already missed the loving embrace of the castle. Surely a knight would escort her back inside, though. After re-lacing her boots (with some difficulty, since it had always been servants whom had done the job for her) Felicity was almost counting on the knights finding her at this point, or at least that they would escort her back to the castle. The princess was counting on the return home being the easy part.

Travelling through the streets was just as much of a nightmare. She’d always watched the festival from afar, watched as plumes of fire shot towards the sky, watched as the commoners erupted with strident merriment. It was an entirely different experience, being in the middle of it all. Felicia twisted through this labyrinth of pyromancers, trying to keep her eyes forward on the goal. Truly there must be more to gather about the outside world than simple sparks and evil.

Finally…

“Gio? Gio!” Felicia glimpsed her friend slip through the crowd, clad in his usual jester-like garb. She did her best to run, but it was more like a tapping jog. It was too familiar, this scene. Her usual dream of a decayed castle interrupted by visions of her bizarre friend. It was this familiarity that kept Felicia going forward, kept her launching through the crowd in a desperate attempt at understanding.

How could a dream end up feeling so real?

[kagomri]

Dawn

Sharon stretched her arms above her head, her back arched up and her toes cracked as she pointed them away from her body. She could feel the excitement of the day settle into the household, for the Festival was here! She preferably liked the night than the day because the dark holds many secrets that's never to be told. Perhaps this is the year she'd be whispered to.

Morning

Sharon brushed her straight icy shine red hair vigorously. There were no tasks for her that day, but she was definitely expected to arrive promptly and on time. She was almost as respected as the Royal Family was, and they had a high reputation that she was tempted to break, but she owed them a lot--everything to them for taking her in, so she had no intention to disappoint them.
Next tore a very feminine and fancy blue dress off a hanger. It embraced and emphasized the natural curves a women should have. She hated this more than anything. Why do women have to look so pretty and presentable all the time? Why not just jeans and a tee? This whole society was so screwed up.
Reluctantly, she slipped it on, grabbed her pocket watch, and headed out the door in annoyance.

Midday

"Of course dear." She said, a smile plastered on her face.
There were too many people greeting and wanting to talk to her. Too many happy grins. Too many smiles to return, each time she felt more and more fake. Responding automatically like a robot.
However the day wasn't so bad with all the free wine. It made her happiness more real, and she felt calm and a lot more sociable.
She caught a glimpse of Lierah fishing for her pocket watch, starring at it. Sharon never had a real relationship with her. Sometimes she was so lady like she wanted to strangle her my the throat. In a high talkative mood, she made her way towards her.

[Jacogos]

It was very early in the day, a few moments before the first golden rays of sun peeped over the horizon when a shadow slipped into the front gates of Veingaden. The guards never saw him, mostly because he slipped in among the masses that were coming early to attend the Feast. They would never notice one out of many. He was sure of that. And he was right; The guards never noticed.

That part was easy, though. Now inside the walls, Delta was faced with the choice of where to make his hideout, his temporary home. As he set out, Delta couldn't help but notice all of the scrumptiously perfect places he could loot. This city is very rich, he thought to himself. So very, very rich... It'll make ME very, very rich! He laughed and strolled about town, searching.

It took most of the morning, but by noontime, Delta felt he had found a suitable place. The Three Kings wasn't the greatest inn in the city, nor was it the poorest. It was exactly what he needed. Subtle, yet still comfortable. Well, when you could be comfortable in a haystack in the barn like Delta, even this was comfortable, really. He paid for a room up front to the heavyset man in charge and made his way to his room.

Once secluded in his private room, Delta checked his pack. He was sure he had brought everything, and he wasn't disappointed. Grappling hook, assorted knives, rope, whetstone, a boarding axe he had pilfered from those pirates ages ago, a few trinkets from his past, and his own homemade smoke bombs. Yes, he was ready... Looking out the window, Delta took in the sight of the feast unfolding below him. He smirked. Oh yes... This would all be perfectly amazing...

Chuckling, Delta exited the room, thinking to himself about all the riches he would make that day.

[Kiall]

Midday

Daniel headed to the garden just in time to see a single foot go over the wall. Shit! No wonder she wasn’t at the courtyard! Panicking Daniel rushed towards the wall “Nononononono!” he was gonna lose his job for sure! Clambering up the wall he jumped over landing awkwardly on his shoulder. For the next five minutes he laid there writhing in pain, this was it for him, so long cushy royal guard job if he was lucky he might be able to get his old job back as a city guard, which meant long patrols alone at night, finding the odd dead body. Still griping he managed to stumble to his feet and headed towards the city maybe if he was lucky she would stick out in the crowd!

........

She did not stick out in the crowd! The city was swarming with people and there were enough women in lavish dresses that he couldn’t pick out the princess. Alright think, where would she go? She must’ve…. Was that stall selling pocket watches? Ooh how nice he’d been meaning to get one and there seemed to be some nice ones on display.. Gah! Focus! Alright the Princess was new to the city all he had to do was keep calm and not lose his focus.

Evening

He had lost his focus. Daniel had spent all of five minutes of dedicated searching before a great thirst had him seeking out a nearby stall selling ale, after downing a pint he decided the best thing to wash down a pint of ale was with three more pints. He then promptly lost what little money he had in a ball and cup game, after stumbling around for a bit he found himself in the middle of a rousing dance and really how could say no to the pretty redhead? Just be impolite really. So now the day was almost gone and he still had no idea where he was, Cyros! Why’d she have to pick the biggest festival of the year to run off? Stumbling he headed towards the Grand amphitheater where they’d soon be performing the classic drama of the two brothers Cyros and Pokir, a lot of people were going already and it was the only idea he had really

[AliceMalice15]

Sunset

As the sun began to fall behind the walls of the city Lierah started packing her watches back into her bag. Luckily there were only a few left. When she saw the royal advisor walking towards her she waved in greeting before*racing home. She had to get changed before the dancing began! After quickly unlocking the door she flung it open, dropped the watches on the counter and ran upstairs stumbling over the top step. She was soooooooooo excited!!!!! Opening her wardrobe she pulled out her dress for the evening. Giggling she stripped out of her clothing and pulled on the silkier fabric of the evening dress which fell half way down her calves. Smiling she kicked off her boots and pulled on a pair of tan flats, threw a shaw over her shoulders, and raced down the stairs and out the door. Turning back she locked the door and jogged back towards the festival.

Evening

Lierah smiled as she headed toward the Grand Amipitheater to watch the play. This was the first time she'd actually be able to see it. Before this year she had always kept the stall up, but this year she had made up her mind to go. When she saw a guard ahead of her seeming slightly sloshed to say the least, she walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. When he turned around Lierah recognized him. He was the guard who was usually with the princess.

"Hello," she said warmly, "are you going to be alright? You seem a bit upset. Oh, I'm Lierah by the way. I've seen you around before. You usually watch after Princess Felicia? Sorry I'm probably being really nosey...What's your name?"*
*

[kagomri]

Sunset

Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes.
The Carnival of fire was approaching. In just a few hours, she'll be dancing in her sexy sleek black dress around, over, and into the fire. Okay, maybe not IN the fire, although it would look as if she were. The sun brightened the day away, and now, the night was coming alive. It whispered secrets. The night was promising. She felt more energized.

Sharon pulled on a dress hastily. There was absolutely no time to waste. This was the time of year that she was anticipating. Every year. And now that it has finally arrived, she felt every nerve in her body abound in a dark, mysterious and uplifting spirit.
Earings. Necklace. Perfect.
Sharon spun gracefully out the door.

Evening

The fireworks exploded into the sky as Sharon threw paper boat over paper boat over paper boat into the flickering fire. There was one thing that she hated about fire; it was too hot. She hated the heat. It made her sweat and feel humid, and when she feels sweaty she can't get any work done and its harder to breathe. On many occasions, she secretly curled up in the freezer(omg, humungous man), sometimes even falling asleep.

Eventually the fire seemed big enough to satisfy everyone. She smiled, got up. Slowly, she shimmied her shoulders, feeling the tingling in them long after she stopped, snaked her hips, and ballet-leaped towards it, taking big strides. Never does she stretch.
Feeling her black sleek silky fabric brush against her legs, she closed her eyes and let out an awakening sigh. Her arms above her head, ready to flow, her right hip and leg thrusted.

Her beautiful physique, only an exotic silhouette to the eyes.

[Wattz]

Evening

Hours had passed and Felicia still could not find Gio. Her exhaustion had prompted her to park herself at an empty bench. It hadn’t been difficult to find, since everyone was so busy dancing around the flames. They possessed them like demons, their silhouettes melding together on every surface. Felicia would have been more captivated if she weren’t feeling so distressed and enervated by this ridiculous chase.

A flash of jester clothes from the corner of her eye. Her head snapped in that direction, but to her dismay, she only saw a knight. Daniel, to be specific. Part of Felicia wanted to command the knight to escort her safely home, but the curiosity was just too strong. The dream had to have meant something.

Just as the princess was getting up to run, she thudded against something, nearly falling over. She looked up to see a woman in a sleek black dress. Felicia had seen the woman at the palace before, but the covers of darkness and firelight made her almost unrecognizable.

“Oh – oh dear –“ Felicia stammered, not bothering to give an apology. She had to get herself lost in the crowd before she was noticed.

[Kiall]

Evening

Still no sign of her, dammit! He might as well not even show up for work tomorrow, no doubt the whole castle was in a panic, he’d have to leave head to a new town under a different name! from behind he heard a woman say “Hello,are you going to be alright? You seem a bit upset. Oh, I'm Lierah by the way. I've seen you around before. You usually watch after Princess Felicia? Sorry I'm probably being really nosey...What's your name?" Daniel panicked, quick think of something “ha ha no I’m not him no, uhhh you never saw me okay? Official guard business, very secret you understand.”

Though come to think of it she might be able to help him, “hey just a second, how would you like to be a volunteer constable?” touching her shoulder as she turned to leave. “Don’t even answer that of course you would, now I’m currently pursuing a girl she has frizzy black hair in a bun, sort of a dark brown complexion and is in a really fancy dress.” He thought for a second about how to describe her better, “She looks a lot like Princess Felicia, but isn’t her! No just looks like her definitely not her, she’s safely back at the castle and nowhere near here!” he laughed nervously and cleared his throat, “if you see her don’t talk to her she’s very dangerous, she stole all the…bread in the royal larder, just look around the ampitheater while I check by that area with the dancing, if you see her just make a cawing noise got it? Great, go team!” then he sped off.

...........

The flickering lights of the bonfires cast everything in an orange hue, the festivities were intensifying as it grew closer and closer to midnight when the seven great candles of Veingaden would be lit. Just then Daniel saw her trying to head into the crowd “ I see you!” he cried out charging and tackling her to the ground. “I finally found you! Ha yes now we can all get this cleared up.” He said standing up and helping Felicia to her feet, “Alright let’s get our story straight, you were kidnapped by murderous bandits and I heroically gave chase murdered them all and saved you from a fire,” He said panting, “So let’s go no more sightseeing, sweet Cyros it's been a long day” he said grabbing her arm and dragging her along

Midnight

A cold breeze made him shiver, “brrr did you feel that? Where’d that come from?” he asked letting go of Felicia’s hand. With an almost audible snap the temperature plummeted and every fire went out plunging the city into darkness, before Daniel could say anything he was blasted by a howling wind knocking him off his feet, The wind shrieked and howled blocking out his cry of “Son of a Bitch!” as he was pelted with hard pieces of ice and snow which stung his face and blurred his vision. Through the howling wind he struggled to get back on his feet.