|
|
Post by MATHIS ♥ CLAES on Mar 22, 2013 0:14:52 GMT -6
you've got a warm heartyou've got a beautiful brain
Pain is weakness leaving the body. He always liked the sound of that, and not because he had some weird fetish. Lucas shied from pain- he'd never call his brother a coward, but Lucas was soft all over, an angel through and through. Mathis was only soft at his core. The rest was springy and wiry and a little banged up. He liked a challenge amidst all this complacency, the rough feel of rocks on his palms or the trail of sweat down his temple. The more his muscles protested the better it felt when he could move no more. When his hands shook he took it only as a good sign, fingers raw from grappling and dragging against the steeper areas of the cliff. True, a mental obstacle might have been better suited to his current state of mind, but physical was a welcome distraction.
Slow and steady. He never rushed when climbing the cliffs. Despite his built-in safety net in the form of wings, it wasn't as if he was hanging off the steepest face, swinging here and there without a care in the world. It was steep, to be sure, but not enough that he couldn't take breaks, couldn't pause and collect himself with no ropes. It wasn't a thrill thing- it was just a workout, like running stairs (which he happened to have already done that afternoon, jogging down the man-made staircase to the cove, and back up twice). By now his blood was pumping and a sheen of sweat covered his face, plastering back his light curls, but he persevered, gripping the next ledge tight and pulling himself up. He was almost back at the top where he'd left his bag, his shirt thrown down beside it, a water bottle waiting. Now that part was a little bit for the thrill of discomfort- it was stupid to work out during the hottest part of the day, but he liked the idea that it made him sweat more, validating more of his workout.
Only a little further now. He sped up, taking no breaks as he dug in his sneaker here, raised a hand there, shoulders straining. He needed to be more disciplined, he decided, knowing deep down he'd never stick with it. Though he was already thin, he didn't have the determination to build ridiculous amounts of muscle, his strength more discreet than a steroid junky. It sort of just came with the angel baggage. His fingers brushed the loose sandy top of the bluffs- as he levered himself up, he was eye-level with the wispy grass that coated la Folie de Belle's top once he was distanced from the edge. Straight ahead he could just make out the road that led back toward the school, and one that led to the town, always under watch for civilians by the St. Gabriel Guard that kept this place open to students. The ground was flat straight ahead, but led away in a small rise to his right, forming the highest point of the cove's cliffs. On the other side it flattened out and even lowered again, and was a favourite jumping point for students, clear of jutting rocks. To his left the bluffs lowered and became the steps down the nicest area of the beach.
Sighing happily, he walked the short distance to his bag, sitting heavily next to it, his elbows resting on his knees, unscrewing the cap of his water bottle and taking a swig. The sun had him feeling hazy- he let his head drop to his hands, shielding his eyes from the light until the ache in his head settled.
occ; crap post sorry >>
but it's disintegrating
|
|
|
|
Post by ELIZA ♥ WRIGHT on Mar 24, 2013 0:03:25 GMT -6
they are the hunters
So far, it was looking to be the warmest day of Fall for the island, and with Winter rapidly approaching, certain people were hardly going to let the day pass without tasting it. Eliza trotted down the short staircase that led from the school to the green grass, which was quickly growing brown. She paused to lift her arms over her head and, lacing her fingers together, stretched like a cat. The sun felt amazing after weeks of gray skies. Her jacket was slung over her bag, leaving nothing but a tank top. Her freckled shoulders rolled as she felt the urge to shift growing. pulling off her socks and shoes as she went, the girl made her way across the large swath of crackling grass. Eliza was making a beeline for the shore, contemplating her choices. The water would probably be too cold for an aquatic form. Maybe just a big cat form to stretch out on the large, sun-baked rocks, or even a bird, to ride the thermals spiraling off of the stones. It wasn't long until the path she followed diverged, one path heading down to the sandy beach, and the other twisting up to the looming cliff aptly named Folie de Belle. The shifter paused for a moment, contemplating each before taking the path to the cliff. The pull toward the hot stones was too much to resist.
Biting her lip and grinning as the dirt path turned to rough boulders that burned under her bare feet, Liz skipped from one to the next until the sparse tree coverage broke and she felt a breeze coming off of the ocean. The smell of salt and sea was enough to cause her to peel off her tank top and reveal a bikini top. When it came to warm days and sunshine, Eliza was never unprepared. The strongly scented air lifted her hair from her already sweating shoulders, cooling the back of her neck and bringing back her contemplation of a bird shape. It was only then that she spotted him. The librarian from only a week or so ago was standing below her on the bluff, a slight rise giving her extra height. Liz twisted her shirt in her hands, wondering if she should leave since he obviously didn't expect anyone else to be there. Why else would he choose an area usually deserted at this time of the year? And be shirtless?
Oh hell, why should she have to leave? It was a public place after all. He would just have to deal with it if it made him uncomfortable. Pulling a pair of sunglasses from her bag, Eliza flicked them open and put them on, feeling the instant relief from squinting. A towel came next, which was laid out on the flattest surface near the edge she could find and anchored down by her bag. It was close enough for her to enjoy the wind and the view, but not for her to worry. Although she didn't tend to worry when she could spurt a pair of wings at will. Ripping her clothes would be a shame though. She would have to wait for the man to leave before shifting, but she could be patient...sometimes. Sighing, she pulled out a magazine and flipped through it. Within only a few minutes, she was bored already.
we are the rabbits |
|
|
|
Post by MATHIS ♥ CLAES on Mar 24, 2013 21:31:36 GMT -6
you've got a warm heartyou've got a beautiful brain
If he sat still and waited for the wind to die down, it felt like the sun would just dry him out. He remained curled slightly forward until he lifted his head, taking another drink and resting the cool bottle against his forehead. He didn't hear the footsteps above the waves below, distanced as she was, but movement at the corner of his eye caught his attention and he turned reflexively. Of course- it was none other than library girl. If he believed in that sort of thing he might have thought that great powers were at work, as they somehow kept getting mashed together, but really it was just as likely as meeting any other student, he just happened to know this one by name. The only thing that piqued his interest was the fact that despite the unseasonably warm weather, it was still autumn, and it wasn't really the best sunbathing spot on the island, as she appeared to be settling in for a good tanning session. Mostly people used the bluffs for recreation over relaxation. Any layabouts favoured the beach itself. He turned away, staring out to the blue waters, using his bundled up gray tshirt to wipe his brow and dropping it into his khaki-short clad lap. A few minutes passed, his heart rate returned to normal after the climb, his thirst disappeared. He looked to the side again, up the slight rise to the flattened top of Belle. Had she noticed him there? Would it be rude to walk away? He puzzled over it for quite awhile- really it didn't matter, they were neither friends nor colleagues, but somehow he convinced himself that to do anything but go over there stung rudely. That, and the fact that he was curious as to why she'd chosen the spot urged him to his feet.
Rising up, he stretched during the short walk to where Eliza rested, working out any cramps that had begun in his arms. He would have put the shirt back on, but it was rather damp having become a makeshift towel. How was he to have known there'd be company? Taking his sweet time, bag slung over one shoulder, he played with the cap of the water bottle until he stood slightly away, smiling comfortably enough.
"Nice day for a climb," He remarked loudly, feeling no shame for going straight for cheesy opening lines, though it did come off a tinge braggy. He really just didn't want to go through the back and forth of 'oh hey, what are you doing here. Really? Oh, what am I doing here?'. Delivered confidently, pointing out the obvious became the best ice breaker. "Kind of close to the edge for sunbathing, don't you think?" On his short trek over here he'd managed to dredge up at the very least a little concern for the student's wellbeing. "And high." He looked out to the water again, squinting happily at the sun, already knowing she most likely didn't give a crap about his cautious nitpicking. Now that he was standing here, he searched for more pleasantries and found very few, sifting for a way to get himself out of further conversation. Up close with a student only reminded him that they were worlds apart, and this one in particular gave him the impression of overstaying his welcome. Searching for a good way to casually walk off without going full-blow irish goodbye, he resisted the urge to reference that stupid essay. Nothing said cool like 'stay in school kids'. Not that he cared about being cool- he knew already that he was a fine specimen.
In the course of his internal debate his expression had grown steadily more somber. "Well, don't let me block your sun." He told her cooly, turning and beginning to wander back toward the roadway and paths.
but it's disintegrating
|
|
|
|
Post by ELIZA ♥ WRIGHT on Mar 25, 2013 23:29:07 GMT -6
they are the hunters
Not expecting an approach, the shifter looked up in surprise as his voice came from somewhere nearer than she thought. Her magazine, which Eliza had abandoned to stare out over the water, struggled to escape in the constant flow of air over the cliff. She peeled it from where it had stuck with sweat on her legs and rolled it into a tube. In the back of her mind, she noted that they were both wearing less than the last time they had met. "I suppose it is," she said, smiling uncertainly. Not many had the nerves to climb up the cliffs, instead opting for the faster route off jumping off and letting gravity do the work. She certainly hadn't tried, and didn't really plan on doing it any time soon, but the fact that the librarian tended to partake in the pastime was...curious. "It probably isn't, you're right," she said, shading her eyes and looking up at him after tucking the magazine back into her bag, "But I was just waiting for...well, just enjoying the fresh air." A part of her wanted to urge him on, to be rid of his company and shed her current form, but she fought against it.
Tendrils of blonde hair tickled her nose. As the sea crashed into the rock wall below her, Eliza felt a sudden moment of brazen, brash thought. This wasn't strange to her, but usually she just ignored the urge until it passed. "You know," she said, her mouth opening as he turned to leave, "A lot of students dare each other to jump from the lower ledges. No one's ever been hurt, but still the stories of ghastly deaths and injuries persists around the cliffs." Her light eyes flashed as she dropped her hand and leaned back on her palms, elbows locked and legs outstretched. With the sun beating down, she began to realize why more students had headed closer to the water. Dropping her head to one side, she smiled mischievously at Mathis. "You were a student here, weren't you, sir?" she asked, wondering to what end her impetuous tendencies would bring her, "Ever been dared to jump?" Leaning forward, she stood, brushing her hands together and removing the gravel from the heels of her hands. The jump of spot was only just down the slope, where Mathis had come from. It was slightly lower and safer than the ledge on which the pair now stood.
we are the rabbits |
|
|
|
Post by MATHIS ♥ CLAES on Mar 26, 2013 1:24:10 GMT -6
you've got a warm heartyou've got a beautiful brain
As he expected, she didn't seem very bothered by his poking and prodding, if he took her assent as just a way to appease him. He was just beginning to feel awkward when she mentioned she was out for the fresh air- there was no law against it, and his continued presence was just a temporary annoyance, brought on by god knows what. He huffed under his breath as he retreated, until her voice stopped him. He stared back at her, nonplussed, as she mentioned cliff diving. It was only when he noticed her sly smile that he got an inkling of what she was hinting at. He turned back to face her, cocking his head to the side.
"I wouldn't say I believe in all those ghastly deaths," He began, as if his assured skepticism was somehow impressive. Really, he didn't think anyone bought those stories, when students had been jumping for decades with little repercussion. All it took was a little goading from your friends and you'd leap- and all it took was one stupid rumor to keep kids off the top ledges. Still, he didn't doubt that certain capable beings (ahem, like himself) were perfectly comfortable with the highest drop, but it was safer to spread word that the activity was altogether dangerous. He supposed as one of the people responsible for influencing young minds he ought to perpetuate those rumours, but he doubted that Eliza paid them any mind.
"You were a student here, weren't you, sir?"
His eyes narrowed, inwardly cringing at the tacked on 'sir'. He supposed she was being cheeky, as the top of a cliff really didn't put anyone in mind of academic settings requiring the use such pleasantries. It made him feel old- he wasn't a sir, he was just Mathis.
"Ever been dared to jump?"
He wrinkled his nose, uttering a breathy laugh, seeing what she was getting at. "Dared? Certainly." He walked back toward her, joining her nearer to the edge and crossing his arms, belongings still bundled beneath his grasp. His lips pressed tightly together, though the edges of his mouth curled upward, laugh lines appearing. "But I'm not telling you my track record. I'm not going to be responsible for a student's terrible accident in the wake of trying to show off to a clearly superior opponent." His tone was teasing rather than malicious. For what it was worth, he had in fact jumped, many times at various heights, but not as of late.
Though he had just made it clear he knew he shouldn't encourage wild behaviour, he was more than a little tempted to follow up on her obvious instigation. "And I suppose you've had your fair share of dives?" He inquired, brows raised dubiously. A tiny voice in the back of his mind nagged at him to not make stupid bets, a voice which went ignored.
but it's disintegrating
|
|
|
|
Post by ELIZA ♥ WRIGHT on Mar 26, 2013 22:01:49 GMT -6
they are the hunters
"Ah, I see," she said, pressing her lips together in a small smile as he waved away the rumors and added a hint of bragging. She looked to her side, down over the cliff at the deep blue-green water, thinking about the times in high school when she'd egged others on. She'd done it once herself, after about two weeks of building herself up. After, the shifter laughed with friends and felt like something was achieved, but there was a certain metallic taste that returned when she thought of the jump itself. Falling was different than flying. It was like being a bird stripped of its feathers, or diving underwater to only find vast, aching emptiness. Liz didn't like falling one bit. Putting one hand on her hip and the other behind her neck, she wrinkled her nose and looked at Mathis. "Yeah, I suppose I'd be no match, what with me being just swim team member against a librarian." Lifting her hair away from the back of her neck, Liz let it fall back piece by piece before dropping her arm.
She looked back down at the water, quiet for a moment and watching her company out of the corner of her eye. It then occurred to her that he knew close to nothing about her. An amused smile widened on her face. He didn't even know about her abilities, what she was, or what she could do. Mischief greeted her like an old friend as she raised her eyebrows. Casually, she slipped her feet out of her sandals and stretched again as a muddle of thoughts played through her mind. "So, if there's no ghastly death to think about," she said, steeling herself and leaning forward, "I guess that just about covers it." Her heart pounded in her ears as she realized what she planned to do. It was a last minute, spur-of-the-moment choice, but before she could doubt herself, she jumped.
It was remarkable, she thought as the wind tugged at her hair and clothing, that tendencies like this were beginning to seem normal. Eliza began to expect herself to do the unexpected, and she didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. The shifter let herself freefall at first, time moving slowly in a way that seemed almost theatrical, but as the water grew closer, she felt a tug in her back as she changed only part of her appearance. Speckled brown wings, like those of a sparrow or small bird, burst from her back, just missing the ties of her bathing suit. It would've been safer to shift completely, but then she probably would've lost her clothing completely and that wasn't very appealing. They snapped open, almost painfully, and slowed her fall considerably. This method also steered her further from the base of the cliff. Plunging into the water feet first, she retracted the wings before they could become saturated and drag her down. She remained under the salty water briefly, mildly surprised at how cold it was and how far below the surface she had ended up. Her hair billowed around her face before she gave a strong kick with her legs and paddled upward. She surfaced laughing and breathless, slicking her hair back and looking up at the ledge, expecting to see Mathis' shocked face.
we are the rabbits |
|
|
|
Post by MATHIS ♥ CLAES on Mar 26, 2013 23:04:13 GMT -6
you've got a warm heartyou've got a beautiful brain
Just a swim team member against a librarian. He wrinkled his nose, biting his lip as he held back a grin. Game on, he thought, though some part of him had the presence of mind to not check (in some surprise) to see if she was indeed as athletic as a swimmer was supposed to be.
"So, if there's no ghastly death to think about,"
He blinked, brow furrowing as she leaned forward. Suddenly his expression blanked, and became one of stern disapproval. "Don't," He pointed a finger at her. "No, I'm not going to fish you out," He told her hurriedly, in a voice that suggested he was scolding a bad dog. Unimpressed as he'd seemed about the drop in the context of students jumping, he certainly didn't advise it for regular ol' humans, even if they were excellent swimmers and could navigate a riptide. It was possible to misjudge from the highest point and fall inward, too close to the rocks. That, and landing wrong in the surf could do some damage.
At the same time he couldn't hold back a giddy laugh as she backed away. "Don't do it," He warned, stepping on the back of his shoe and removing one. He had one hand outstretched as she jumped, his face a strange mix of excitement and shock as she went through with it. "No!"
It was hard to describe him as crying out in panic, mostly because it was overshadowed by a wild laugh as he dropped his bag and water bottle and ran to the edge, not stopping but to slam his foot against the lip of the cliff and push himself outward with a whoop. Everything was apparently a contradiction, and some part of him had just been waiting to do a stunt like this. Milliseconds of being in the air and he wondered if he'd jumped for her or jumped for himself. Any concern for a student technically under his care was whisked away in the wind- he was in control, they were safe, but this was fun.
He could see Eliza rapidly approaching the water, and all at once, to his delight, she sprouted speckled wings below him, slowing her descent and giving her a sense of aim. He couldn't see her face as they were both looking down, but he assumed she must be at ease. Only moments later did he unfurl his own pair, huge coal black wingspan eclipsing her with his shadow and slowing him so that he wouldn't catch up. Still several feet above when she plunged into the water, he tensed and pulled his wings in and up out of the stream of air, dropping like a stone behind her as she resurfaced nearby, concentrating to dissipate his wings so that he wouldn't smother either of them beneath the surf. When he reemerged, he was just another man, shoulders aching slightly from initially hitting the water with his wings still out.
"Not...Bad..."He told her breathlessly, holding a hand to his chest beneath the waves. He stared at her for a few seconds, slicking back his hair as she had done, just bobbing in the waves in between gasps. He could think of nothing to say but to simply tilt his head back and laugh, hard.
"You're an angel?" He demanded energetically when he'd subsided into chuckles, having already decided that he didn't hold the whole thing against her as he treaded water. His eyes were bright with excitement and a bit of wonder at the chances of it, although it was a bit more likely at St. Gabriels than anywhere else in the world. Still, he knew only a very small handful of angels to begin with. To find another was fascinating.
but it's disintegrating
|
|
|
|
Post by ELIZA ♥ WRIGHT on Mar 27, 2013 23:29:03 GMT -6
they are the hunters
Eliza was shocked and spun around at the sound of Mathis' voice, eyes leaving the empty ledge. She almost expected him to be angry at the fact that she had taken the dive after he had warned her not to, but his almost ecstatic features gave her pause. Slowly realizing that he'd jumped after her, she joined in with his laughter. "Not bad at all," she managed as she treaded water, trying to avoid drowning after such a magnificent leap, and wiping dribbling trails of water from her face. Leaning back as the giggles and giddiness subsided, the shifter spread her arms out and floated on the surface of the water. Now that her body was adjusted to the cold, it was quite nice. She turned her face toward the warm glow of the sun, grinning like a fool. Her heart still beat in her throat, slowing with each thump.
"You're an angel?"
She straightened in the surf, examining his light, almost hopeful expression. The words would've been a compliment to an ignorant girl, thinking it was a remark on her features or personality, but Eliza knew better. In the past couple of years, with the growing threat of the Holy Cross, more and more supes were becoming secretive about their abilities, even at a safe house like St. Gabriel's. Angels, by far, were the most revered and secretive, older even than the vampires. Many would see them as a shine of goodness and light of perfection within the supernatural community, but that wasn't always the case. Nevertheless, there was a certain flattering aspect at being considered an angel and Eliza smiled. "Sorry," she replied tilting her head and squinting at the glint of sun off of the water, "You got the wrong girl, but you get another guess." In her mind, the shifter was just a common mutt, but she never regretted it or belittled her abilities. No, she loved what she was.
we are the rabbits |
|
|
|
Post by MATHIS ♥ CLAES on Apr 1, 2013 15:09:29 GMT -6
you've got a warm heartyou've got a beautiful brain
He blinked, excitement subsiding in the wake of her denial. "A shifter," He nodded, looking properly subdued after the outbreak of enthusiasm. Still, he wasn't a strong believer in divisions of class when it came to people with abilities, even though his mother had raised himself and his brother to be aware of some status as angels. His smile regained its confidence. "A shifter.." He repeated, now thoughtful as he bobbed in front of the girl, before narrowing his eyes and grinning. "And how long ago did you decide a good way to show that was to jump off a cliff?" He teased, shaking his head and shedding water off his reddish brown curls. "Must admit though, you gave me a scare." He raised his brows, clearly impressed. "And here I thought I'd be fishing a mere human out of the water." He laughed, as a slightly stronger wave pushed them further from open water and closer to the cliff face. Mathis glanced up, as if only now seeing their surroundings, and began a breaststroke out from the rocks. "Come on, best not to hang around here. Although I'm sure you could just..." He lifted a hand out of the water, pausing to give some nonsensical gesture. "Turn into something aquatic if you were in trouble." He laughed again, trying to show that he didn't mean it in an insulting way. He on the other hand was disadvantaged, not being able to take off from the water. Luckily he was a fairly strong swimmer, though he'd admit to not being swim-team material as she was.
As he swam away, looking back only to confirm if she followed or not, he made his way to the nearest cluster of rounded rocks that crested the beach area, away from the steeper cliff face. Setting his feet in the nooks of the little pile he climbed to a flat one, having the foresight to hold on to his sodden shorts with one hand. On top, he turned and held his free hand out to her to help her up. "You said you owed me for your essay." He smiled down at her. "I'll call it even since you got me to jump." He didn't say it, but he kind of wanted to go up to the top and do it again- fall, rather than fly.
but it's disintegrating
|
|
