Just like a fountain (open)

[Anonymous]

Evening in Serendipity, the sun sparkling as usual during summertime. The countryside filled with peasant kids. After finishing their chores they had started playing their usual wargame with homemade wooden swords and shields.
Pretending to be dragonslaying heroes or Defending the city from raiders. Like always he had been excluded.
Most of them couldnt even approach Braid anyhow. As soon as they got within 20 feet they would get a funnytummy or something similar. Thanks to that most would simply run away, call him names from beyond that distance or throw a rock to keep him away.

While words and rocks had been arriving in daily dosages for years now, even with the constant  reassuring of his parents and reminders that he shouldnt act upon it because they didnt know better. A hero wouldnt just sit idly by and watch people insult him right?It was then during this act of vengeance.
Armed with a makeshift hatchet, a selfmade instrument of rock and stick with rope holding the two together that he drew blood for the first time.

The stone was still stuck in Jordans head when Braid released his grip on the weapon. The flame of anger and lust for vengeance vanished in an instant almost like magic. Most of the children dropped their weapons and cried for mommy, some ran to get adult help and some stood there in shock unable to fathom what had just happened as blood streamed out from the edges of the rock.

Just like a fountain with thousands of small droplets.

Shining in the sun as they where sprayed on him like rain.

Braid couldnt move, any sort of bodily function was in lockdown. Had he really done this? How? What would his parents say? What would the other adults say? Why? What? When? RUN! That was the answer. YES! Finally his body moved. Over Johnsons fields, over Carlson's fields. Around the church of Astromath or whatever god. Its not like he cared for religion right now.

The preachers and stuff where nice people though. Always smiling and with a fruit or a buiscuit ready. Without them he wouldnt have been able to read and write. Over the road and into another set of fields and over another batch of potatoes. Over a fence and into a herd of sheep their guttural cries and constant moving made it easy for him to pass trough them. Almost like they knew where he was going to run and moved away for him in syncronised union.

Finally he couldnt run anymore and the tears started. Thoughts of regret and childish guilt entered his head and heart. Dad used to take him here. A small lake where they would make fishing rods and fish with earthworms as bait. Here he would sulk, alone like he used to do when things where rough but.
 Was he really alone this time?

[Anonymous]

A hard day, like most nowdays. Rest was becoming rare for Theo. The young mercenary barely had time to return home and just... sleep.
With his sword at his back, and his brilliant blue eyes alight and curious, he missed score to nil, most jobs asked of him were successful, and the blue-eyed youth prided himself on that. Time once was he was a boy, and he used to watch the 'big kids' play sword games with wooden sticks, soon enough, once he turned twelve, he followed suit. But eventually, the sticks just didn't cut it. He strived for metal and sparks.

His mother used to listen to his hope filled stories of how he was "gonna be a hero someday" and that someone somewhere would remember him.
He knew his hopes were going to be fulfilled someday, he had thousands of years on his side, thanks to his mothers elven blood, he had plenty of time to see them come true, and he would wait as long as it took and try as hard as he needed to, to get where he wanted to go.

Running his hand through his black spikes, Theo walked down the pebbled pathway. This was after all, where he had grown up. He missed the place, the calm atmosphere was just so rewarding. After a hard day, who wouldn't want to return to this? The sunset threw bright orange hues over the hills and houses.
Theo walked, His cheerful grin slapped in place, as it usually was. His chain mail clinking as he walked. Though none of this was out of the ordinary. It would take a very close friend to know the weary man behind the bright smile and twinkling eyes. The man who seemed to be taking more and more control over him.

Eventually, metal toed boots met with water, and Theo sighed. Dropping his smile, he lifted a gauntlet covered hand to his chest. With an idle flick of his wrist, he unbuckled his huge sword from his chest, and leant it against one of the trees. Next, off came his blue tunic, revealing the muscled chest beneath. Off came his boots, till he stood in nothing but his cream coloured leggings.
He lowered himself into a sitting position by the water, about to enter it, to wash off all the blood and sweat he still felt on his body. But he paused, hearing something.
A sob?

He found the source of the noise, a little kid. He was crying, about something...
Without a second thought, Theo moved to his side, placing a large hand on the kid's shoulder, "Hey, kid" he said, a smile in his voice, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly in his smile, "What's wrong with you now, eh?"

He paused then, noticing little tiny droplets of blood splattered over the kid's clothing, his smile vanished, and a more serious expression fell over his face. He blinked, shaking the kid's shoulder slightly.. Was he injured?

[Anonymous]

Busy wallowing in self pity and regret Braid hardly noticed the man untill a large warm hand landed on his small shoulders. After getting over the initial suprise of being touched he looked over his back smiling expecting his father. But it wasnt his father and so the smile quickly faded. It was just some half naked teenager he hadnt seen before.

Quickly looking away from this wierd guy he wiped away all the snot and tears with the bottom part of his brown wool tunic turning his face red with the remaining blood. It was only after wiping that he realised that the entire tunic was stained red and that the blood now covered his face aswell.

«Oh.» he expressed as calmly as one could do after crying your heart out. He felt lightheaded and there was a feeling that he had to puke for some reason. «No it isnt my blood.» he said with a wierd smile before it happened. «Hehehehehe..... GJAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH» this outburst of laughter was quite the insane one . It too came from the same place those tears had been hiding in. Scraping down at the bottom of his now joyfull self. It was time to celebrate not cry.
 
Why had he done it? Justice of course, Heroes killed bad guys like him all the time didnt they? 3 years of torment. Che! The kid whose skull he had maimed, he had been one of the worst. Maybe now the rest would keep their distance like proper people.

«What?» he stared back at the guy still clutching his shoulder. This guy had a real weapon. Surely he would understand. You could only take so much crap at one time. He had been given nothing to soothe the oceans of anger within and this was the result.

Besides his parents there was noone that really cared for him. Looking at this new guy with those childish eyes. "This is the head evil guy's blood. I killed him in a duel."

[Anonymous]

The kid looked up, upon feeling Theo's hand, a smile in place, and it confused the older man. Theo blinked, and the smile faded as the kid noticed him.
He began to wipe the tears from his face, and the blood that had been splattered on him... wiped onto his face as well.

Getting a better look at the kid now, Theo sucked in a gasp. He wasn't injured.. oh no, that wasn't his blood either. But.. why was there so much?
The kid noticed at the same time Theo did, and he confirmed the thought that no, indeed it was not his blood.
Theo's hand left the kid's shoulder, and his blue eyes went wide as the kid... laughed. Theo only blinked, trying to make sense of the situation. The kid spoke again, and if it was possible, the mercenary's eyes went wider.
Killed him... in a duel?

Theo shook his head, he was a kid... this had to be some sort of game, Yeah, that sounded about right...
He moved so he was sitting on his knees, "Come on, kid" he gestured for the kid to follow him toward the water, "Let's get this blood washed off you"
Then maybe I can make sense of what the fuck is going on...

He held out a hand for the kid to take.
Though it felt odd somehow. How could this kid have killed someone? He drew blood that was for sure, the stench of it made Theo's nose wrinkle.
Despite his age, Theo knew a fair bit. His mother owned a library, in his free time, Theo would spend hours at a time studying, reading up on just about everything he could reach. That included magic tomes. Though, this kid had no visible magic, he had something... else. But what it was... was unbeknown to Theo.

Yes, Theo had seen the kid around, upon his frequent visits home.  "Where are your parents, huh?" he asked in a gentle voice.

He'd had his fare share with kids,  throughout his teenage years, he'd had a few whom he'd teach to fight with swords, those kids had held a sort of... hero worship for him.
But he knew this would be a different case, this kid was not ordinary. Hell, no kid's really were.

[Anonymous]

He guessed someone was killed by the sad faces. And by the angry faces he could tell this was no accident.
Varr straightened his vest and tried not to look uncomfortable. He grabbed the handle of his sword out of habit and waited patiently for the crowd to open. He slowly edged up to the crime scene. He gasped when he saw the body. Who could kill... a child?
He stepped out of the crowd. Who could do this? He thought. He slowly turned around. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to come here...
Then a cry rose from the crowd. Varr saw a woman drop her basket and shove through the bodies screaming, "That's my son! Oh god, that's my son!" Varr couldn't look away.
It was none of his business. But he was curious as to how this happened. The trail of blood that led away from the crime scene was suspicious. It was barely noticeable, but Varr's sharp eyes could trance it. And the scent was still new. Varr started after it. He knew he shouldn't be messing with other's affairs... but he couldn't just forget about it.

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OOC: (Thanks for letting my jump in, Ric and Kiyu. I read the first post over and over again in order to get it right... I hope I did!)

[Anonymous]

«No, i refuse to bathe.» A small sigh escaped Braids mouth and he closed his eyes aswell already remnicing what he had done twinfold and trying to figure out what to do next. Picturing in his mind what his mother would have done should he have been killed by Jordan and his gang of mobsters.

That trail of thought led to her roundhouseing Jordans influential father painting a gleefull smile on his face for some moments before the sudden realisation that this was not the chase. He was the childslaying monster, and no doubt considering Jordans father. The entire village would be screaming bloody murder.

This stranger was already involved, he shouldnt suffer because of Braids act of retribution. «My parents? Dad works in the city as a soldier, rarely see him during weekdays.» Mom always said she could tell he was lieing from watching his eyes so he turned away, clenching his fists hopeing the stranger would believe the one he was going to tell. «I,m going home now.»

Why his faith and self reliance was wavering already he couldnt tell but it didnt take long before he reminded himself of why he had done the deed and why he was alone. «Monsters dont need friends so, you should forget  we ever crossed paths.» He ran again, this time towards the forest.

[Anonymous]

(OoC_ Of corse! and it's fine, don't you worry ^^)

Theo nodded as the boy refused his offer of washing all the blood off. He lowered his arm. His face fell a little, but his brow knit in concern and confusion. The kid had a good vocabulary for his age... he looked no older than nine. He seemed pretty intelligent too... So that made the prospect of the 'game' that he had 'killed' someone in even less likely.

If this boy really had killed someone, there was going to be trouble. He mentioned his dad was a soldier, and Theo nodded, he might know the man... then maybe he'd be able to talk to him about what was going on with his son...
But before Theo could voice his query, the kid was up again, going home?
Theo stood as well, the kid continued, and Theo shook his head, "You aint a monster kid!" his voice was heavy with something.. he wasn't sure what. But the kid wouldn't know the real meaning of the word monster, but he was gone.

Theo growled loudly, "Shit.." he murmured, he leant down and scooped up some water, throwing it over his head, ridding the red stains of blood that lined his black spikes. Then he leant down and swept up his belongings, shoving his boots on and falling into a sprint. Pulling his blue tunic on as he ran, followed by the strap that held his sword to his back and his gauntlets.

The kid had run into the forests. It couldn't be too hard to find him, Theo knew these forests like the back of his hand. Having gotten lost in them many times. "Stop!" he yelled loudly, hearing the soft footfalls of the kid fade away before him. Theo stopped after a while, once the sound of the boy's feet faded.
He didn't know if the kid had stopped completely or if he'd lost him. He'd say the former, it was unlikely a little kid would be able to outrun him.
He was worried now, as well as confused. If this boy had killed someone, then something had to be done, running wasn't the right option. Theo wasn't sure this kid knew that either. Though he was sure he would have done the same had he been in that situation..

He caught sight of a small, barely visible, trail of blood. Theo paused, his eyes following the trail up and through the trees. His elven senses telling him the kid wasn't too far, that was good.
But he stayed where he was, not moving a muscle, for he felt another presence. Someone's aura was approaching, and it flared with... curiosity? uncertainty? theo wasn't sure, but he looked in the direction of the feeling. Stepping over the trail, as if to protect it from whomever was approaching. One hand on his sword's hilt.

[Anonymous]

Varr had caught up to the scent. It was only a matter of time before he wielded his sword for the first time. He was excited - the monster within him was practically doing cartwheels. His nails and canine teeth grew longer. His eyes changed from brown to yellow. He began to pull the sword free. Slash first, ask questions later. That was his werewolf way.
Varr could see a fleeing child, and the small trail of blood he left behind. Blood that was not his own. Maybe Varr was expecting this. But it still came as a shock to see a blood covered child. What had happened to cause this child to commit murder?
And then the tiniest shift in the wind caused Varr to freeze. He sniffed the air. There was a sweet smell, and a pure aura to go with it. Powerful, too. Too powerful to fight against? The creature within Varr told him to fight the pure creature. To take any risks and never back down.
But Varr stepped back. He glared at the child. He'd remember this scent. And the pure aura of the other creature. He went deeper into the trees. He'd stay close, but in the shadows for now. He'd trail them from a distance, until he understood the child and the pure one.
"You'd better hurry." Varr called to the sweet aura. "He's going to get away. Don't worry; I'll be back in a little while. And when I return... you'd better be ready to use that sword."
And he faded away.

[Anonymous]

Defiantely. That guy from before was definately following. Curses why did he have to meat someone that cared now off all times. The punishment for killing someone was not something Braid intended to face, he wasnt stupid.

This was part of his hero legacy, defeating the evil imp Jordan and escaping the grasp of vengeance. To live on the road communing with the animals. The aspect was an appealing vision. Now to get rid of his follower. He stopped next to a giant tree with an already set springtrap.

To catch his breath and to wait for this stalker to fall in his trap. Bella old horse, the retired warstallion was the target his feet would carry him to next. Feeling the tension and the exitement of the chase. «Comon stalker, You are no match for this Monster hero.»

Bah he had stopped, why? Did he know he know about the trap? Oh there he was, with his sword out as if protecting him. The voice threatening to come at them with a sword was feral and dark. The voice of a true demon. Swallowing his fear like a true soldier he ran for it yet again. «Sorry stalker man but I want to live!» Free and careless, this city existence is not for me. Its full of people with hatered and spite that would sell their own mothers to devils just like Jordan.

Over the road and onto a field of horses. Bella would surely let him ride her yet again. He had a strange affinity with animals that unmistakably had led to more teasing and rock pelting but a dog had come to his rescue once and bit Celine Mandrake in her ear and a cat had once clawed Jordans best friend Salagir on his peepee. Running towards the forest had just been a temporary diversion. Miriam, Bella's owner and the bakers wife had a girl his age and by now her clothes where hanging at the clothesline.

Jumping into a barrel of water he removed the bloodstained tunic, chucking it down at the bottom of the waterbarrel after wiping his face with the dry unbloodied backside. Useing the cold water to make his already fatigued muscles polevault him out, Stark naked but sternly marching down to the clothesline.

The comfortable dress suited him perfectly but Stalker man would be able to tell from the wet water prints leading this way so he rid himself of the wet shoes. Tossing them into the bush, replaceing them with a set of long girlish linen socks and shoes. It was a full kit. Anyone looking at him now would barely be able to see a resemblance.


Holding the dress as to not get it dirtied he entered the stables. The horses recogniced his smell. He had come here to sulk often. An apple for Bella as he entered the pen.

Acceptance! Huhei, he had barely managed to put on the carpet and was trying to put on the saddle before hearing sounds outside. The horses had heralded his coming.

Probably Stalkerman. Hmm maybe he could trick him. After fastening the saddle he hastely groomed his hair down and straight like a girls. Then he began grooming the horse whisteling on the same song he had heard Celine whistle when she groomed her horses. Just come stalkerman! This should fool you.

[Anonymous]

It was getting closer, Theo could hear it. Footsteps came to his ears, and the aura changed. Became... different.
The mercenary tensed, and half drew his sword. Eyes scanning the area before him. He could see the silhouette of someone in the trees before him, and a voice met his ears. He drew the sword then, what was left of the sunlight glinting off the silver blade.
The voice didn't sound very human, but Theo caught what parts he needed. The real voice was a young one. This person.. or thing.. was young. Younger than he was, but still far older than the kid.

Before Theo could reply, though. He had gone.
He would be ready... whoever that was couldn't be much worse than some of the things he'd had to face. Hurry.. Why'd he need to--

The kid's footsteps had started moving again. Theo's head whipped back around, and he took up his run again, following the sound.
Eventually the trees cleared and Theo broke into a field. He stopped there, and sheathed his sword again. Walking now.
But he couldn't see where the kid had gone. Horses instead. Theo blinked. His face blank, trying to understand what had just happened.

He strode around the corner from the barn and walked to the barrel, noticing it's slight quivering. He jumped a foot when the kid leapt out of it, splashing Theo with the cold water. He ran out of Theo's sight yet again.
The mercenary stood there again, trying to get his mind to register, yet again, trying to get what had just happened. Before he stumbled back into a run, following after where the kid had gone.

A trail of clothing followed the kid's path. and so did Theo. He ducked under the clothesline and headed around tot he front of the barn. He could hear some of the horses in there. He sighed, "Come on!" he shouted, "I'm not trying to fucking hurt you!" he shook his head, and sneezed heavily. Backing up against the barn's wall as he was overcome with sneezes, his eyes began to itch too.
Theo swore heavily as he fell onto all fours, his nose was blocked now, and his eyes were hazed. It seemed he had come a little too close to the horses. His allergies were eating him alive again.

He coughed heavily, his eyes watering, making it look like he was crying. He wiped them hastily. Then froze as a newer sound met his ears. Whistling.
He sniffed and sat up. He'd go into the barn... but he was almost blind now. He staggered to his feet and practically fell onto the door, pushing it open.
He couldn't see much, but there was the kid, grooming one of the horses... whose fur was flying right at Theo.

The mercenary sneezed again, flying into the door he had just closed. He raised a hand to wipe at his now bloodshot eyes. The kid was there, his aura was still the same. At least that didn't get messed up when Theo got close to horses.
He opened one eye and looked at the kid. Before he was overcome with hoarse laughter. Why was the kid wearing a dress.. ?

Theo's laugh soon turned to a chesty cough. He stepped to the side and pushed open the barn's door, "Oh for fuck's sake..." he swore as he left the barn falling back to the floor again. On his hands and knees.  

He raised a hand, trying to find some water to throw over his head. Get his vision a little clearer, but his hand only met air.
Horses, really. Why had the kid felt the need to dress as a girl.. ? To groom a horse!

Where was that other person now? The thing he had met in the forest. Goddess, hopefully he'd return and knock some sense into this stupid kid.
Theo felt... pathetic. The feeling was a horrible one too.

[Anonymous]

Listening to Stalkerman as he sneezed and cursed was kinda fun but like all good things it  came to an end when he ran out the door he came from. Gently he finished the last part of the mane. Things like earning a creatures trust even if it was used to humans in the first place. Was something to be taken seriously. After all they where the only ones next to his parents who wouldnt glare at him as if he was a thing to hide under the carpet.

Steadily he led the horse out of its pen and jumped on the saddle. He had no muzzle to hold on to and steer it with. There was no need. He made it stop after exiting the stable itself, looking down on  the sneezing, Stalkerman. Feeling a slight pang of guilt, if Stalkerman was to be judged by the townspeople in his place. Shakeing the thought away, still clinging to a handfull of horsehair and hay just in chase. «Why are you still following me? Are you an idiot Stalkerman? I killed another kid in a duel, cant go back then.»

He could feel slight tears run across his now clean face, salt from held back tears yet he stood steadfast not giving in just like everytime he had been pelted with rocks.

Braid felt he had to tell Stalkerman because keeping it inside would be a waste. Atleast if he told him then the burden would be shared. Perhaps he could even make it into a poem.

«Compared with the adults atleast Jordan and his friends had been honest and said it out loud. Noone of that stupid hiding and wispering. I am old enough to understand that I wasnt welcome from the beginning, monsters like me should just leave.»

Then there was the question. A burning desire to know why his plan had failed so.
"Just tell me one thing. I thought hatred and emptyness would go away if i killed someone related to it like in the books about revenge and stuff. But it was a total failiure. Why?"

[Anonymous]

(OoC_ Next post is on you Varr)

The door to the barn opened again and Theo heard the sound of a horse coming out. He groaned and stumbled back to his feet, stepping back and leaning against one of the fences to steady himself and stay away from the horse in the same movement. He coughed heavily again and looked to the kid when he spoke.

He smirked behind his hand slightly, "It's Theo.. not Stalkerman" he said, his voice hoarse, "I am an idiot, I get told that plenty of times a day," another sneeze, "Running away won't do you any good, kid" he said, standing again. Dusting some of the loose horse hair from his tunic, his eyes still streaming.

He frowned at the kid's next sentence, guessing that Jordan was the kid he had killed. The name didn't ring a bell, it had been a while since Theo had spent much time at his home.
He shook his head to what the kid asked then, "Sometimes it may seem like it, but killing never really solves much." he wiped his eyes again, "Believe me, I know. The bad guys in the books are usually bad bad guys. Books are books for a reason, half the things in them probably never happened. What you did will only make you feel worse." he moved to stand in front of the horse, giving the kid a stern look.

Theo's blue eyes met with the kid's, such a similar shade to his own. "Running away will not do you any good" he repeated.

He coughed again, muffling his mouth in the crook of his arm. Hoping to god that this time the kid would listen and get off the damn hose so Theo didn't die between now and the next ten minutes.

He looked up again, "You aren't a monster, kid."

[Anonymous]

"Where the hell am I going?"
Varr slid to a stop. What was he doing? He couldn't just leave. Not with the killer still on the loose. But what was he going to do about it? He didn't know the family and it wasn't any of his business. So why did it matter so much? Varr turned around and marched back towards the trees. Child or not, murder was wrong.
And punishable by death.
Varr retraced the trail. It was weaker now. Varr had to hurry. He leapt through the trees at high speeds. He searched for the sweet scent – that pure aura. Did the child have a friend? What part did the sweet scent play in this puzzle? Varr wondered if he'd have to clash swords with the sweet scented being.
Do I stand a chance is the real question... Varr thought. He noticed the scent took him in a different direction now. Varr saw a trail of clothes. It was the kid's clothes that led to an empty clothesline. And behind that was a barn... Varr heard noises coming from it. Sneezing... and cussing? Who was that string of curses coming from?
"Come on! I'm not trying to fucking hurt you!"
Varr stopped. He grabbed the handle of his sword, standing right outside the stable. The sneezing continued, a little louder than before. What was wrong with this guy, Varr wondered. He heard the sweet aura curse again. Silence followed after that. Varr wasn't sure what was going on.
"Just tell me one thing. I thought hatred and emptyness would go away if i killed someone related to it like in the books about revenge and stuff. But it was a total failiure. Why?"
Varr blinked. What did that mean? He entered the stable door. The hay that covered the ground looked disturbed, like some one had just crawled through on all fours. Varr walked towards the cracked door on the other side of barn.
"It's Theo... not Stalkerman." A hoarse voice said. "I am an idiot, I get told that plenty of times a day," a sneeze, "Running away won't do you any good, kid"
Varr paused yet again. He was so unsure of himself.... he figured that if he listened into the conversation things might start making sense.
"Sometimes it may seem like it, but killing never really solves much. Believe me, I know. The bad guys in the books are usually bad bad guys. Books are books for a reason, half the things in them probably never happened. What you did will only make you feel worse."
This is stupid, Varr thought. I'm moving it.
"Running away will not do you any good." There was another couch, this time slightly muffled. "You aren't a monster, kid."
"Guess again!" Varr shouted. With a powerful kick he blew the door off its hinges, into the air. He stepped out of the barn and drew his sword. Two surprised faces stared back at him. A little boy – dressed as a girl – on a horse, and... was that an elf?
"You're coming with me, kid." Varr barked. "And you... Theo 'Stalkerman', don't stand in my way!"

[Anonymous]

"Che," The sound as a door blew off its hinges sent the old warhorse galloping as soon as this new guy appeared. Holding the saddle with both hands to not get bounced off in the process.

If he ran maybe Theo would be spared of having to help him. The elf was obviously a meddler and would probably try to risk his life just to protect Braid. He didn't want those kind of lives on his conscience. "Keep at it, full speed into the forest." Strangely enough the horse had already aimed for the forest, but that was a trail of thought he would have to pursue another day.