|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 19, 2006 14:13:33 GMT -5
Rhiannon didn't quite know how she had presence of mind enough to extend her hand and clutch the offered hand/paw/claw? She wasn't scared as much as still in shock. But that was fading fast to give place to wonder. It wasn't everyday you were confronted with creatures you'd only thought existed in books and your imagination, even if deep down you wanted to believe they roamed the earth. It was like looking up from a fairy tale book to see the creatures you'd been reading about in the room with you, as if they'd come straight out of the pages.
It was a rather amazing experience.
Also helped the fact that her grandmother wasn't running around scared or trying to fight this creature... Stone. They seemed to be friends, or so Siobhan had said. Besides, you didn't drink tea with monsters who wanted to kill you, so Rhiannon was pretty sure Stone was not going to snap her neck with his huge arm any moment now. He looked rather gentle. The hand that shook hers was strong but careful, as if he was aware that any more strength would break her fragile bones. And there was kindness in his eyes. Ancient eyes.
Rhiannon wondered how old he was.
"Your grandmother has told me alot of things about you, all of them good."
"She has?" Rhiannon managed to say, her voice sounding high even to her. With an annoyed mental shake of her head and a clearing of her throat, she managed to regain her usual soft tone and not sound squeaky. "You have me at a disadvantage. She's never told me of you." Her smile was genuine, the shock slowly giving place to fascinated interest. Her eyes studied the giant creature before her, noticing the wings that were kept close to his body inside, the strong muscles of his huge arms but, mostly, the eyes. Eyes that had seen too much.
"I guess now it's the time to tell you Stone won't be the only surprise Los Angeles will have for you, my dear," Siobhan said, the tone of amusement in her voice mixing with sobriety, for the subject she'd have to breach with her granddaughter was not one to be taken lightly. "Please, sit with us. Taste Stone's tea. It's wonderful."
Still slightly breathless, Rhiannon brought a chair closer to her grandmother and her friend, took the cup Siobhan trusted into her hands almost absently as she kept staring in open curiosity at Stone. She almost burned herself when a drop of tea fell from the cup she was bringing to her mouth but once she tasted the blend, her eyes widened.
"Wow, this is great!"
Siobhan laughed and shared a look with Stone.
"You must tell me the secret to this one day, my friend."
|
|
Stone
Bad Ass Demon Slayer
I remember
Posts: 276
|
Post by Stone on Jun 19, 2006 14:30:40 GMT -5
"Wow, this is great!"
"You must tell me the secret to this one day, my friend."
Stone gave a hearty laugh "If i told you, there wouldn't be any reason for you to come over. And i hate to be robbed of your company my friend."
"You have me at a disadvantage. She's never told me of you." "I'm not surprised she hasn't. Openly telling people you know me can lead to attention you don't want. But to level the odds i guess i should tell you about myself." he took another sip from his cup "I don't really have a name, but people call me Stone. I'm originally from Greece. Athen to be precise. And I'm two thousand, five hundred and nine years old." He leaned back, anticipating the shock that would inevitably come. Humans were always amazed by his age, even though his father was more then three times his age. Granted, both his parents where traveling the dimensions when he last meet them two hundred years ago. So in a way he was the oldest of his kind on earth.
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel Corvis on Jun 19, 2006 15:36:04 GMT -5
After his meal with Isabella, which ended quite oddly when they shared a rather tender kiss between each other, Gabriel went for a walk after taking her home. At first he was confused as to what had happened, did she always feel that way about him? or was it something that had just..well..happened. He thought about seeing his aunty but he she'd only make a fuss and insist they begin dating, the thought of being with a girl he'd known for the better part of his life was an alien concept to him.
He liked her, he just never saw her as a girl he could be with, or did he? she was very attractive and she had a very caring and loving personality, could she be the person to finally end his rather mean attitude. Maybe she was, first thing was first though, he had to find the pefect gift, that way when he told her he was willing to take that bug step in their relationship, it would be a lot easier for him.
He headed to the only place he could think, Mooshine Occult Shop, the place had always fascinated Isabella, she would spend hours looking at the various trinkets, some of which Gabe would end up buying for him. Yet, a simple mood stone or a an enchanted crystal wouldn't be enough, he needed something which would be truely special.
He opened the door and looked round, he saw no one was around, very odd, he slipped his hand into his jacket pocketed and slipped his fingers partially into his brass knuckles "Siobhan? you around?"
|
|
|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 19, 2006 16:13:21 GMT -5
2500 years. Goddess, 2500 years! That was more than could be conceived by mortal minds, more than Rhiannon could even begin to imagine. He was older than entire civilizations! The things he must have seen! The people he must have met! The wondrous life he must have lead! Rhiannon could not contain the fascination that had taken over her. It showed in her eyes and her posture, as she drank his every word like the best wine.
Like any child, Rhiannon had always dreamt of meeting the incredible creatures she'd read in books, been told of in bedtime stories her parents told her, seen on the television. She'd imagined herself living in these worlds, among fairies and dragons and unicorns, talking to giants and sharing songs with elves. It part of any child imaginary -- it was so easy to believe in magical beings when you were young and innocent.
As she grew older, unlike most children, her dreams did not fade. They remained as strong, and the more she read about creatures of myth and legend, the more she believed in them. Except the only creatures she'd ever had the good fortune of seeing had been sprites, and then during highly magickal moments when she called upon the four elements to power her circle and witness her rituals. She accepted that the world held much more wonder than she would ever had the opportunity to see.
It did not mean that, when finally confronted with one such magical creature of myth and legend, she wouldn't feel shock. She was still trying very hard not to keep touching the gargoyle, as to make sure he was real, and was indeed there and not a figment of her imagination. It was hard to actually blink for fear that he'd suddenly evaporate as if he'd never been there in the first place. But this was no waking dream. It was reality, indeed. He felt substantial to touch and Siobhan saw him as well as Rhiannon did.
Not to mention her grandmother still had a very amused expression in her eyes, as if she was trying to contain her laughter, but also a look that seemed evaluating. Tense. Waiting for something. Or preparing for it.
"That is amazing. You're... you must have seen so much in your lifetime." Rhiannon laughed. "I feel like I'm talking to history!"
Siobhan grinned. "Well, he makes me feel like I'm young. And that's a true gift when your bones crack when you shift in your chair or when you can't remember where you put your glasses in the morning."
Suddenly their conversation was interrupted by the door bell again. Siobhan shared a look with Stone. There were too many people who came to her store who were as blind to the mysterious creatures that roamed the city as her granddaughter had been until now. And it didn't exactly matter how gentle a creature Stone was... it only took someone who shouldn't have to see him for panic to set in... and possible a hunt. People feared what they could not understand.
"Siobhan? you around?"
A smile graced Siobhan's lips.
"I'll be right back," she said to her granddaughter and her old friend. "You two should talk."
Then she quickly got up from her chair, turned around the counter and went to meet the newcomer.
"Merry meet, Gabriel," she greeted him jovially. "What brings you here again so soon?"
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel Corvis on Jun 19, 2006 16:16:34 GMT -5
He smirked seeing Siobhan and let his hand fall from his pocket, glad she was alright "Well, this weekend is Isabella's birthday and seeing as how she loves this place so much" he rubbed his chin looking round "I was wondering if you had anything a little extra special" his eyes gazed at the various items which filled the shops many already packed sheleves, Gabe figured if there was something Isabella would love for her birthday, then it'd be right in here.
|
|
Stone
Bad Ass Demon Slayer
I remember
Posts: 276
|
Post by Stone on Jun 19, 2006 16:29:05 GMT -5
"That is amazing. You're... you must have seen so much in your lifetime." Rhiannon laughed. "I feel like I'm talking to history!" "I'm not that old." He said jokingly."But i have seen my fair share. And like all old people i like to talk about it, boring the young ones to death."
"You two should talk." Stone studied the young girl for a minute. Just like Siobhan had said, she was a sweet girl, and it was hard to not like her. And something told him she was gonna have a interesting life. "So, do you wanna hear a old demon's stories, or perhaps tell a few of your own? Or...." he leaned in close, his deep warm voice whispering in her ear "do you want to fly?"
|
|
|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 19, 2006 17:20:30 GMT -5
SIOBHAN
Siobhan knew Isabella. Liked her very much indeed. She had also noticed how much the girl doted on Gabriel, how her eyes followed him wherever he went, how she looked at him with such feeling it was impossible not to realize she was in love with him. It was in her body language, in her expressions, in her voice.
Of course, Siobhan had always been very good at reading people. Ages of experience dealing with all sorts of people had made her understand human nature very well and had made her an extremely observant person. It was impossible for something like the love that girl had for this man to go unnoticed to her. Which didn't mean it didn't go unnoticed to Gabriel.
Men had always been blinder to the mysteries of the heart than women.
"I may find something to her tastes in here, but it would help if you could tell me the kind of things she likes." Of course, Siobhan had found that men also had a really bad knowledge of the kind of things women liked, especially those close to them. Not to mention they tended to forget whatever they, indeed, knew. Siobhan had lost count the number of times Michael had offered something she didn't quite appreciate because he'd forgotten (or it had never really entered his mind) her particular tastes. It didn't make her love the man any less, of course, and he always made it up to her.
|
|
|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 19, 2006 17:20:46 GMT -5
Rhiannon watched her grandmother walk away and leave her alone with her friend, which made Rhia feel suddenly self-conscious and a bit embarrassed at her behavior. Granted, she'd never seen someone quite like Stone and thus was entitled to a bit of staring, but that tended to annoy human beings after a while, and gargoyles would probably take it no differently. Still, it was impossible not to. Like seeing your dreams come to life, flesh and bone and blood.
"I'm not that old." He said jokingly."But i have seen my fair share. And like all old people i like to talk about it, boring the young ones to death."
"Oh no!" Rhiannon shook her head earnestly. She was so excited about meeting Stone she forgot she was usually shy among strangers. "I don't get bored so easily. Believe me, I went through the most boring classes in college and didn't fall asleep. I'm tough."
"So, do you wanna hear a old demon's stories, or perhaps tell a few of your own? Or...." he leaned in close, his deep warm voice whispering in her ear "do you want to fly?"
Rhiannon was already nodding the moment Stone mentioned telling stories, because, really, what good stories did she have to tell that could compare to his? She'd only been living for 21 years whereas he had more than two millennia (it was still hard to process such a number... the only things she'd ever seen that old had been pieces of sculptures and objects, which she'd studied in college); how could she compare? Nothing exciting had ever really happened in her life. But she sincerely doubted this old demon, like he'd referred to himself, was as boring as he was making himself to be.
But then he mentioned flying, a whisper in her ear that froze her in complete disbelief. And wonder. The mere thought of it left her breathless. To fly, without being surrounded by the metal walls of an airplane. To soar through the skies, hair flowing, the wind in your face, caressing your skin, watching the world below, tiny and distant... like riding in the arms of Zephyr.
"Fly?" she tasted the word in her mouth, her voice a mere whisper that could barely be heard. "You really mean..." she trailed off, took a deep breath. "You can... you can take me flying?" Her brown eyes were as wide as saucers and shinning like a thousand moons had taken residence in them.
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel Corvis on Jun 19, 2006 17:51:57 GMT -5
He scratched the back of his head "Well, she likes anything that sorta has a glowing qaulity to it, not to extravigant, she prefers somethign she could hold onto" he tapped his fingers across his lips and his eyes lit up "Like a necklace!" he said snapping his fingers "Yeah, she'd love that" he was surprised he remembered the kind of things she liked, as she was very difficult to pleaseon occasions.
"So, you got anything like that in here?"
|
|
Stone
Bad Ass Demon Slayer
I remember
Posts: 276
|
Post by Stone on Jun 19, 2006 18:43:22 GMT -5
"You can... you can take me flying?" At first he didn't notice she had answered him, lost in her mesmerizing eyes. Perhaps it was just the memory of his wife lingering, but her eyes really reminded him of Antonia. But he knew she would like flying, all humans did. They had been denied the freedom, and even though the used their sciences and their physics to create machines that seemed to bend reality, they could never obtain it in it's full uninhibited glory.
"Yes" he said in that warm voice of his "I can. Of course, you would need your grandmothers permission, but i don't think she would deny you. After all, she used to love it herself when she was younger." he shifted slightly "So, what do you want to hear about while we wait for her to return? I got ancient Greece, vampire hunting in Rome, slayers in Paris and a rather fascinating story about a famous English mass murder"
|
|
|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 20, 2006 4:33:55 GMT -5
SIOBHAN
She tried hard not to laugh as Gabriel tried to remember what his friend's tastes were and what she'd like the best. It reminded her of her husband a little, the way he'd scratch the back of his head when he was trying to recall something and quickly, lest he feel the wrath of his wife. It was almost comical the twin expressions of puzzlement in Gabriel's and Michael's eyes.
Siobhan found herself missing her husband fiercely right then. The memory of him had been summoned in her earlier conversation with Stone, and now Gabriel was unconsciously mirroring a few of Michael's mannerisms. It was enough to drive an old woman to melancholy, except Siobhan was not the kind of woman to let herself crumble in tears in the middle of her store (well, at least when she was not hearing stories by an old, old friend). Not to mention she didn't want Gabriel to feel awkward were she to start lamenting her husband's passing and telling him he was making her remember him.
"Like a necklace!" he said snapping his fingers "Yeah, she'd love that"
The look of triumph that crossed his face the moment he found what his mind had been searching for almost sent Siobhan into peals of laughter, but she contained herself and simply smiled at him. Despite his dark appearance, Gabriel was a really nice boy, always treating her and his Auntie O with great respect. He had a good heart. N wonder that young girl of his worshiped the ground he walked in and looked up at him with those big brown eyes full of love. If Siobhan was a few decades younger, she wouldn't let him escape.
"So, you got anything like that in here?"
Siobhan smiled at him. "Of course I do, my boy. Here, let me show you some of our jewelry." She lead him through the store, past books and crystals and herbs to a closed vitrine with various beautiful necklaces in pewter silver. "I wouldn't think she'd want some overly pagan themes," Siobhan said, as much to Gabriel as to herself, and busied herself with choosing a few necklaces from the vitrine that jumped at her eye. But it would be left to Gabriel to make the choice, since it was his present. She laid them out over the glass vitrine, and looked up at the young man. "What do you think of these? Do you think she'd like one of these?"
|
|
|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 20, 2006 9:25:55 GMT -5
"Yes" he said in that warm voice of his "I can. Of course, you would need your grandmothers permission, but i don't think she would deny you. After all, she used to love it herself when she was younger."
In a moment of childish defiance, Rhiannon almost found herself saying that she was twenty-one years old, thank you very much, an adult who didn't need to ask permission of nobody to do whatever she felt like doing. Including flying. She stopped herself before any of those words came out, because it would be whining and because she would never leave the store without telling her grandmother where she was going. Not only was Siobhan her boss for all intents and purposes, but Rhiannon cared too much for her grandmother to just leave without a word. Besides, she wanted to ask her about having flown with Stone before... that must have been quite an experience!
That didn't mean she couldn't mentally scoff at the probably unintentional slight to her age and capacity to make a decision on her own. Then again, she probably was a child in Stone's eyes. Everyone, including her grandmother, would be but younglings compared to his 2000 plus years. It was a hard concept to wrap your mind around. One Rhiannon was still trying to process, and which proved to be all the more captivating at his next words.
"So, what do you want to hear about while we wait for her to return? I got ancient Greece, vampire hunting in Rome, slayers in Paris and a rather fascinating story about a famous English mass murder"
Rhiannon eyes widened again and she could barely contain her surprise and excitement, as well as a note of weariness in her voice. "Vampire hunting? What... are you telling me vampires really exist? They're not just myth?"
A shiver ran down her spine, making her skin suddenly raise in goosebumps. The possibility of the existence of vampires had crossed her mind before. She'd read about them, knew quite a lot about their mystique, the legend surrounding them, how history portrayed some individuals in a certain light that allowed for speculation, but she'd never even come across the hint of a vampire in her 21 years.
But if someone like Stone could exist, if magick was real, then why not vampires and assorted demons too? Her grandmother had told her L.A. held more surprises than just her friend here, and Rhiannon was starting to wonder if such surprises involved bloodsucking creatures of the night as well. The thought was hardly reassuring. Although she had, like pretty much everyone, a certain fascination by the myth of the Vampyre, it did not mean she wanted to find herself face to face with one in a dark alley.
She really didn't want to die at so tender an age. But knowledge had always been the best of weapons, so Rhiannon decided she wanted to know more.
"Tell me about them. Tell me about hunting them in Rome. I want to hear it, please." She needed to understand.
|
|
Stone
Bad Ass Demon Slayer
I remember
Posts: 276
|
Post by Stone on Jun 20, 2006 10:54:33 GMT -5
Mentally kicking himself for being reckless, Stone prepared for a long talk that he had had so many times he knew it by heart.
"first of all, forget all you think you know about vampires. They are not nice creatures. When they get sired, as they like to call it, a demon takes over their body. A evil demon mind you, the kind that is in majority. Afterwards, they might have the knowledge and appearance of the person they where, but their not. They are cruel, sadistic and pure evil. What you need to know is how to kill them. Stake to the heart and decapitation works, as does fire and sunlight. Holy water burns them and crosses repel them. Although crosses aren't really reliable."
He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye "Now, i know you might have notions of mystic and romance in your mind when it comes to vampires. But i need you to ignore them, forget about them. They are monsters, and if you see one, attack or run."
he stood up, cracking his neck and finishing the remainder of his tea "Your grandmother really should have been the one to have this conversation with you, but i guess I'm the most qualified. I have been a hunter for more then two thousand years, and vampires are one of the most common foes i face."
He put on another kettle of tea, his bag of tea now half empty "There are, apart from those humans who decide to take up arms, certain entities that fight vampires and demons." with a bitter tone he added "And some of them don't care if the demon is good or evil." "There is the slayers, a girl empowered by a ancient spirit, granted enchanted strength, speed and healing. I have a admiration of slayers, for they are often still teenagers when called, and since there can only ever be one at a time they often fight the evil of the world on their own. They are aided by a watcher, a person trained by a organization dedicated to aiding the slayers. Or so it is in theory, but they have become more of a hindrance then a aid these days." The tea was finished, and he poured himself another cup and offered Rhiannon a refill "There are others, many of which are more like racists then heroes."
|
|
|
Post by Gabriel Corvis on Jun 20, 2006 12:24:56 GMT -5
He followed Siobhan till they reached the various jewelry, his eyes looked over everyone, taking interest in the ones which he thought Isabella would like. As he stood there, his nose just barely touching the glass, suddenly one caught his eyes. He smiled slightly, it was beautiful, a long silver coloured necklace with an intrigate pattern hanging from the chain, what caught his attention was the small stone.
He nodded, standing back and tapping his finger on the glass "That's it, that's the one"
|
|
|
Post by Rhiannon Shaw on Jun 20, 2006 14:35:35 GMT -5
Rhiannon listened to every word Stone said with devoted attention, an expression of intent concentration on her face, wrinkling her forehead and casting shadows of her brown eyes. The subject matter being discussed (or rather, explained) was of interest to her, not to mention there was a certain urgent need to it, as if it was important that Rhiannon learn as much as she could about these creatures. She suspected her grandmother had been searching for the right moment to let her know about these things, but the opportunity hadn't come until now.
She'd read a lot about vampires and other mythical creatures (not so mythical now). Some of it had been obviously fiction, some of it had had little snippets of the truth perhaps, like Bram Stocker's Dracula. But some of it had come from real sources, things she'd read in books her grandmother had collected over the years. It wasn't as if she'd consciously gone to look for books and other readings on vampires... she'd just come across such things during her studies and her perusal of Siobhan's vast and eclectic library.
But to hear a first hand account from someone who'd been fighting them for millennia was a hundred times more interesting than a dusty book, even if also a hundred times more frightening. Because Stone did not pull punches. Vampires were not creatures of lush imaginaries created by movies and novels, which helped cultivate a romanticized ideal of the vampire that seemed to be far from the truth. At least Rhiannon could say she had known the correct ways to kill a vampire... she'd never believed garlic to be any protection at all, like legend told, except if you wanted to drop a vampire with your bad breath.
It was difficult to imagine ever walking down the street and encountering a vampire, but she was certainly not going to wait for one to attack her. Then again, how could you recognize a vampire? Did they have a sign on their foreheads announcing them to be bloodsucking creatures of the night? You wouldn't expect to find a mirror in every street you crossed (or even a window), and it wasn't like they were going around with exposed fangs and last century's attire. That was only in movies...
Goddess, she would never get out at night again without looking over her shoulder.
And then Stone spoke of someone she'd never heard about. Slayer. A teenager who carried the weighty responsibility of fighting the forces of evil. Rhiannon shuddered -- she did not envy them their fate. Granted, they seemed to be blessed with supernatural gifts to help in their battles, but Rhiannon didn't think it was so great a trade-off. It hardly meant a normal life.
Rhiannon accepted a refill with a grateful smile (the tea was really a blend blessed by the Gods, it tasted so good).
"I would like to hear more about the Slayers," she said softly, taking a sip of the hot tea, the drink grounding her, removing the cold feeling that had settled over her at their conversation. "You mentioned you'd met one in Paris?"
|
|