Who: Kaiya and Sheldon
When: Afternoon
Where: Stables
What: Finding comfort with a friend

It had been a dark two weeks for the Japanese fae. Ever since the incident with Hayate, Kaiya had refused to leave her cottage to face the outside world. It seemed unbearable to her. It hurt her too much to see other people frolicking around in happiness when she had just had her heart broken. What had gone wrong with Hayate? Why had he broken things off with her? The questions still rattled her mind, and it caused her to fall into a deep depression.

She watched the season change from the window in her bedroom. The leaves had turned from green to shades of orange and yellow. Dead leaves littered the ground, crunching under the feet of people who walked by. Everything was dying, like she was. Kaiya felt like she was dying inside, and it was impossible to find any good left in the world. She had made such progress when it came to her self-esteem only to have it ripped away from her. She felt worthless now. Empty, and cold. It wasn't a new feeling, just a very old one from her past.

Kaiya finally found the strength (somehow) to leave her cottage on this day. Her wings had lost their luster, and she seemed paler than usual. Her feet dragged along the ground, and surprisingly they carried her to the stables. Kaiya had, before the break-up with Hayate, found that she enjoyed spending time at the stables with the horses. They were always so accepting of her, neighing happily when she came around to brush them or feed them sugar cubes. A ghost of a smile crossed the fae's lips as she flew over the fence and into the enclosure. One of the horses recognized her, and immediately he trotted over and nudged her in the arm.

"Konnichiwa," she said softly into its ear as her hand smoothed along its mane. "She is sorry that she has not come by to visiting with you." Her English was, as always, still in the works. The Elven steed nudged her again, as if it could sense the sadness coming from her. Kaiya smiled, and shook her head. "She is fine," she said while hugging the horse, oblivious to the fact that someone had been watching her.

Who: Hayate, Kaiya, and Faye
When: Late Afternoon
Where: Kaiya and Faye's Cottage
What: A clean cut is not always possible to achieve.
WARNING!: Violence not for sensitive readers (as some of it is against women).

Hayate sat down on the sofa, having been invited into the faes' home by Kaiya herself. He folded his hands in lap and looked down at them first. It was important to get this over with as soon as possible, and Hayate did not want to waste anymore of his time with the dark-haired fae. He glanced up, meeting her eyes across the distance between them. He could tell something was cooking the moment he walked into the house, but he expected to leave before anything went wrong or the other fae noticed anything should she be around.

He was merely here to break it off with Kaiya, to end it once and for all between them and remove himself of all ties with the fae. It brought back to him the plan he had originally contrived so long ago to maintain sanity as long as he was held prisoner in this place he had previously considered a hellhole, this haven. This sanctuary. The utter idea of this place was laughable, but that wasn't the point of why he was here. The pretend game with Kaiya had lost its shine.

As his time became more and more consumed with Chris, Kaiya fell to the wayside in his mind and in reality. He no longer had interest in keeping up the game he had started with the fae. It was best to end it now, so she could not possibly cause trouble with him and Chris later. ( The last thing Hayate wanted was trouble added to his pristine name. )

Who: Kaiya and Leon
When: Dinner time
Where: The Restaurant
What: Kaiya cries over her dinner, and Leon can't help but notice

It had been a week since Kaiya had seen, or heard from Hayate. A week, seven whole days, ten-thousand and eight minutes, and entirely too long in Kaiya's opinion. She had wanted to see him again, wanted to spend more time with him, wanted to have sex with him again. Sex meant acceptance to the young fae though she and Hayate hadn't had sex since that first time they shared a bed. It worried Kaiya that they hadn't, and she feared that she had fallen out of his favor.

It was such a big worry for the fae that she couldn't even enjoy the dinner she had ordered at the restaurant. She sat there with her pasta dish in front of her, untouched and uneaten. Her hands were folded in her lap, and her eyes were cast down onto the table. She had begun to cry. Soft, silent tears that streamed down her cheeks only to drop off at the edge of her chin. She sniffled, pulling the napkin from the table to dab at her eyes gently. But her tears wouldn't stop flowing.

The more she thought about Hayate, the more she wept. Kaiya feared that she had been used by Hayate like she had been used in the past by all of the other men who came to her bed. She was an object to them, something that they used to relieve all of their frustrations upon, sexual or otherwise. Kaiya had hoped that things would be different with Hayate; after all, Elysium was a new beginning for her.

Still, she cried harder now than before. She was sobbing loudly, and the wooden table was becoming spattered with her tear drops. Kaiya pushed her food away, and rested her head against her forearm. She felt terrible, and it didn't matter that she was causing a scene in the middle of the restaurant.

Who: Kaiya and Sheldon
When: Late Afternoon
Where: Library, near one of the big windows
What: Not sure yet, will edit later!

Kaiya had been in good spirits lately. She had been growing more confident in herself, and the hope that she could have some happiness in her life. But also, she was beginning to feel like she belonged here in Elysium. Was it such a bad thing to think that the virus was actually a good thing? If it weren't for PV Kaiya would have never known of Elysium or the happiness that came with the haven. She never would have met Faye or Irei, both of whom have become her dearest friends. But she also would have never met Hayate, and she was growing to adore him more each time she saw him.

But that was far from her mind as she sat in the quiet of the library with English books sprawled out in front of her. She was determined to learn how to speak the language that most of the people in the haven spoke. She wanted to make more friends, wanted to meet more people and learn more things. This was the turning over of a new leaf for the fae, and she wanted to make the most of it.

The ebony-haired praeternatural read the words in the children's book slowly. The Japanese-English dictionary was opened nearby so that she could look up words that she did not understand, or know how to pronounce. What was it that Faye had taught her? To 'sound out' each of the letters in the word. In many ways it was like hiragana - a phonetic sound for each letter of the alphabet. She could learn how to do that easily, right? Kaiya wished that she had someone nearby to help her, but she was alone today. Perhaps tomorrow Faye would join her. For now, the Japanese fae was determined to finish the book in front of her, The Cat in the Hat. Was it foolish of her to read a children's book? Hopefully not, especially since it seemed entertaining.

"Theeeee... Essss..." she was elongating the 's' sound while trying to combine it with the 'u' and 'n' that followed it. "Youuuu... Ennnn..." She rubbed her head. "Esss-Youuu-Ennn... Sooo-Ennn... Sooo-Ennn." Kaiya wrinkled her nose and sighed, pulling her dictionary close to her to look up the definition of the word. It wasn't until she had seen what it was in Japanese did she know what the word was in English.

"Sun!" She said excitedly, her face erupting in a smile. "Theee... Sunnnn...." She continued, wanting nothing more than to finish reading her book.

Who: Hayate and Kaiya
When: After the wedding reception, late at night.
Where: Kaiya's cottage.
What: Hayate is disturbed and seeks solace.
WARNING: Vague mature sexual content.

His run-in with both Danté and Irei earlier that day unraveled the vampire more than he allowed even himself to believe, but some part of him knew of the precarious balance in his head their encounters had brought him. First, he was being threatened — over Chris' safety, of all things — but instead of going to check-up on the girl in person or spending time around her that evening to ensure her safety, Hayate had kept an eye on her from afar. He turned to more clandestine ways. It was better this way, the vampire believed, than having to reveal the truth of it to her. She would know the moment she saw him, so he kept his distance.

Each encounter brought him to the doorsteps of this cottage. His head was swarming with thoughts as if a storm had descended upon his mind. Lifting his hand to knock, Hayate rapped his knuckles against the door and briefly closed his eyes. Religious notions never had the power to soothe Hayate, and it always rested on him and him alone to pull his own mind out of the consuming whirlwind darkness that lingered on the edge's of what little sanity he possessed. Vices that were comforts pulled him more from the brink than anything else. Blood was one of them, his most favorite. Nothing told Hayate Kaiya would resist if he descended upon her for her blood, and she would never tell.

He was about to find out as he waited for her to answer the door. Kaiya had been enjoying the wedding, and he spotted her leaving sometime not too long ago. Hayate followed her back to her cottage, keeping to the darkness for shelter, and only revealed himself in the open some time after she had already been in the house.

She will answer, he assured himself. A part of him he would never listen to, not yet at least, questioned why he wasn't somewhere else.

Who: Kaiya and Irei
Where: Irei's bungalow
When: Mid-morning
What: Kaiya stops by to ask Irei about the gift he sent

The morning had been uneventful for Kaiya with the exception of the few birds that had flown into the open window in her room. They were chirping happily, flying about with one another and playing together mid-air. The simple scene was enough to fill the fae with joy. But then Kaiya had found the pretty hat box on her doorstep when she opened the front door. A bright smile formed on her lips and she lifted it up. She shook it like a child would on Christmas morning and then brought it into the house. There was a note on the top and she read it carefully, translating the English words in her mind.

"Shinsuke...?" she said to herself wondering why he had written the note in English. Perhaps he was trying to help her with the language! Yes, that had to be the reason she surmised as she pulled the top off to peek inside. There she found a length of red rope and she pulled it from its container to inspect it carefully. There was nothing special about it, it was just a length of red rope and for some reason it had reminded the necromancer of the fae.

More curiosity filled the young praeternatural and she took the gift and headed down toward the water bungalows. Kaiya didn't rush though, she simply strolled along with the box in her arms enjoying the sights and sounds around her. There was a smile on her face, after all she was going to visit a special friend, and she was going to thank him for his gift, odd as it was. Plus, she wanted to ask him about it. Perhaps there was a specific reason he had given it to her and he just hadn't explained it.

Whatever the reason, Kaiya was going to thank him for the rope. Irei was always thinking about her and giving her gifts and she wanted him to know that she appreciated it. The fae finally reached Sascha and Irei's bungalow and she knocked on the door. Hopefully the necromancer would be there and he wouldn't have minded her visit.

Who: Logan and Kaiya
When: Night-time
Where: Logan's room / Kaiya's room / Land of Nod
What: Dreamwalking is Dreamstalking

Logan's mood was dismal. He wiped the last remnants of paint from his hands as he examined the picture he had just finished. He had been working on it for a week, late at night, when he should had been sleeping.

His sister. His beautiful and seemingly tortured sister. Few seemed to realize the extent of her sadness. Logan did. Perhaps Mitsuko masked it from others. Maybe she felt safe with Logan. Maybe she just didn't notice he was there-- certainly this was true of many people. But the usually bright and happy Kitsune seemed to wilt and dim when in private.

And now she was in the Medical Pavilion. Logan had spent much of the day there, but knew not what was wrong with her. He was told not to worry and that she would be fine. He should just get back home and get some rest.

But rest would not come easily to Logan. It never did. His dreams were haunted, not his own. He was bombarded with the slumbers of the other inhabitants of Elysium. They were quick images. They never made any sense. But they were... Alien. Not his own. Disquieting.

Yet those were just the drifting images of his own rest. He had not intentionally used his dreamwalker powers in weeks. He yearned to. For one specific reason. For one specific person. There was only one he wanted to see now. One who might make him forget his troubled thoughts. One who would make him forget the world around him.

Logan laid down on his bed carefully, his sketchbook by his side. He flipped through the pages to one of the many of the Fae. He placed his hand upon the drawing, smiling softly as he closed his eyes.

Kaiya... He thought clearly as he felt himself drift into dreams not his own. It was late, surely she would be asleep. And what would his beloved fae be dreaming of?

Who: Kaiya and Faye
When: Afternoon
Where: In the fields NE of Helicharis
What: Frolicking in a field of flowers

It had been far too long since the two fae spent time together out in the tranquility of nature. The sky was cloudy but that didn't take away from the overall pleasant temperature of the day. Plus, who would let cloudy skies put a damper on a flower picking expedition? Certainly not Kaiya and Faye as they skipped through the fields with baskets that were still only partially filled with colorful flora.

"Faye-san!" Kaiya called out as she bent over to pick some baby blue eyes and put them in her basket. "Here!" She said with a distinct Japanese accent. The dark-haired fae had been learning English with her roommate and on her own, and though she was still shy to use it with others she was more comfortable with her roommate. Kaiya was in better spirits today especially since she had received such a beautiful portrait of herself earlier that day. It was slipped under the door of their cottage without a note. There was only a name on the portrait: Logan Nagamori. How would she find out who this mystery man was?

Kaiya wasn't thinking about that at present as she waved her arm to beckon Faye over. "Here!" She repeated with a smile. "Aoi hana!" she blurted out in Japanese before she laughed and corrected herself. "Ano... uh... flower!" She said temporarily forgetting the English word for the color 'blue'. She blushed slightly but plucked more from the ground and held it up for Faye to see so that the other fae would know what she was talking about.

Who: Hayate and Kaiya
When: Early Afternoon
Where: The garden grounds in the middle of Helicharis cottages.
What: Lion and the lamb.

"It is nice out here, is it not?" Hayate asked with a smile as his gaze fell to the fae beside him. They were sitting in the grass, enjoying the scenery and simply talking and sharing some food. Mostly, the food was going to the fae. Hayate ate very little unless it was to show her the ongoing lie that he did indeed consume solid foods like her. Sitting cross-legged in the grass with a suitable amount of distance between them that propriety would allow, Hayate glanced up at the sky and took an outward notice of the clouds that seemed to have moved in and the distant smell of water in the air. "Is that . . . " he began slowly, confused as if he was not expecting the rainfall today.

The rain began to fall slowly at first, droplets of cool water that signaled the end of their quiet picnic. The fae turned her face upward and took a deep breath. She always loved the rain and the memories that came with each drop, even if they were painful. She was free in the rain, and somehow it cleansed her heart and soul. Her nose wrinkled when the rain came down a bit more and she let out a light laugh. Her big, brown eyes turned to face Hayate. A smile was drawn upon her lips and she sighed happily. "Rain," she said in an oddly dreamlike voice. "I love the rain," she said even though small goosebumps formed upon her skin from the cool splashes of water.

( Droplets fell slowly at first, and Hayate did not move from his spot. )

Who: Faye & OPEN to others for viewing and/or interaction or dining!
Where: The Restaurant
When: Beginning around 7:00 PM.
What: A few songs and dancing for the crowds.

OOC Note: Anyone may join the thread, either as a "Narrative" if they are just watching the performance OR leave it open if they would like to interact with Faye or others!

After the rainfall from earlier, the sunset provided a fiery pink and violet glow. The grounds were still damp, but the rains were not coming back. Glowing lanterns illuminated the scene of outdoor tables with their umbrellas to shield daytime visitors from the sun and the many seats of chairs occupied by people enjoying their dinner with some fine wine or other refreshing beverages. Tonight, the umbrellas did not shield from sun but they provided an aesthetic appeal for the restaurant’s setting. There was a section set up amidst the tables, all of which had been moved outward in each direction for the platform, that served as a stage for the performance. Tables surrounded it all around, save for at the back. To prevent distractions from the street beyond, a dark backdrop was provided, alight with tame but sparkly decorations.

Instrumental music had been played for a while as the people ate their meals until an announcer came out. The empty microphone stand onstage was connected to no wires, but a witch had bewitched its microphone to amplify the voice of whoever spoke close enough to it. The spell would only last the night before it would fade out, though. Faye was going to make the most of it tonight. A young man from the restaurant came up to the stage, speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!” he began, drawing the attention of the crowd towards himself. “Tonight, we will be having a special performance by a wonderful vocalist. She has been in love with music all of her life, a child of the forest growing up in the concrete jungles of the world. She also resides right here in our very town, over at the Helicharis cottages. Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to present to you . . . Faye Capricia!”

The crowd clapped in a tamely manner, curious to see the vocalist mentioned by the young man and looking around on stage for her. However, Faye emerged from the back of the crowd, the bewitched microphone in her hand. The petite fae wore a little black dress, her hair done up in a modern and interesting fashion, with black strappy high heels on her feet. The band began to play live music, a song that began slow and soft. It held an old quality to it, definitely not from a recent time period. The song itself was “Fever” by Peggy Lee, and Faye began to make her way slowly through the crowd towards the stage.

“Never know how much I love you,” Faye began to sing in a sultry and deep voice, “Never know how much I care . . . when you put your arms around me . . .” Here, she had approached a man in the crowd, reaching out and putting her hand on his shoulder. “I get a fever that's so hard to bear,” she sang lowly to him, giving him a coy look with her eyes.

Who: Kaiya & Shige
When: Midday
Where: The dead cat's grave
What: The arrogant kitsune apologizes! *gasp*

The day was much cooler than any other that Kaiya had experienced as she walked down the lonely gravel path. There was a slight breeze whipping around her tiny form and the bouquet of flowers that she held tightly in her arms. Her long, dark hair was billowing around her face but that didn't seem to bother the fae all that much. She merely continued walking, slow and deliberate steps toward her destination that lay just off the side of the road.

Kaiya still did not understand what sort of monster would kill a beautiful creature and then leave it out to rot. From what she understood most animals killed to survive. They lived off the meat of another only to maybe one day succumb to the whims of something else that needed it for food. It was the way of life, a never-ending cycle of life and death. But this was done not for survival according to the people who gathered yesterday at this very spot; they all said that this was done for sport, a show of strength. If there was anything that Kaiya understood it was the need for one being to demonstrate its dominance over another through an act of violence. She had on many occasions been on the receiving end of power hungry fists that sought to use her as a punching bag.

But those memories were long gone now and she didn't think about them as she stopped by a newly formed mound and knelt beside it. Her small, delicate hands laid the flowers down upon the obvious grave. Her fingers grazed the dirt gingerly as if she were afraid that it would crumble beneath her touch. "Poor thing," she said softly under her breath as the vision of the dead cat flashed in her mind. The Japanese fae frowned softly and withdrew her hand. "May you rest in peace," she said with a heavy sigh.

WHO: Open to All (more than one character invited to join!)
WHEN: Just after sunrise
WHERE: On the road to Helicharis
WHAT: Finding dead things

Sunrise brought many things to the land, but one did not expect that death would be amongst them. And yet it was there in the middle of the gravel road that led straight into town. The scent of blood and dead flesh attracted flies and carrion crows alike. They hovered over the dead animal, buzzing around frantically as they searched for a place to land. Occasionally they would scatter when the dark birds would swoop in, picking through the ashen fur to get to the meat, while others simply went for remains of the organs that were spilled upon the ground. They cawed loudly at one another, fighting over the animal that lay there with passive, grey eyes that still looked out upon the world.

It was not a pretty sight. One could tell that this animal used to be a beautiful creature when it was filled with life. The reddish-grey fur held dark, black spots all over its body. The lifeless eyes peered out from what seemed to be a sweet face. The same reddish-grey color here was marked with black lines instead of spots streaking outward from the nose. Black tufts decorated the tips of its ears while the fur around its neck ruffed out like a collar. The animal's paws were huge and heavily padded and one could imagine that this animal was a stealthy hunter, one that could tread the forests without being seen or heard.

And yet somehow it was lying in the middle of the road. Dead, the victim of something that was either much bigger, or much stronger than it was. It had no chance of survival though it was obvious that it had put up quite a fight. The claws of the predatory cat were covered in blood and there were slight remnants of fur — or was it fabric? — still clinging to them. The cat itself had suffered from slashes from its opponent as well before it had fallen. A victim of a broken neck, obvious by the position of the head, or perhaps it had bled to death from the puncture wounds in its neck? Even more likely was the large slice across its belly that spilled its innards. Most of the larger organs were gone now, scattered along the way as it was dragged across the land, but for the most part the sinewy remains of the intestines, both large and small, were hanging limply from its body.

Nevertheless it was dead and out in the open for all to see. The question was whether or not anyone would take notice before the carrion carried away the body one piece at a time.

Who: Kaiya and Hayate (and eventually Irei)
When: Noon
Where: Starting off by the pond
What: Getting tangled in a web of deception

Kaiya hadn't ventured beyond the area of the cottages for a few days now. She had kept to her routine of walking around the pond and picking flowers before returning to the house she shared with Faye. It wasn't a very exciting routine but Kaiya was starting to become accustomed to a more subdued life and the fae was perfectly okay with that. She did, however, have a specific reason for her daily walk around the pond, and that reason had a name: Hayate.

She had been hoping to run into him again as she had on their first meeting. It was a random occurrence then, but it had lifted her spirits so much that she wished for it to happen again. But Kaiya was not the type of person who went out looking for people; her docile nature caused her to be more passive in her pursuits. As such, she repeated the action that had brought her and Hayate together initially. While it had yet to bear any fruit, the girl with the iridescent wings refused to give up her quest. He would eventually come back, Kaiya had faith in that fact, and if it took her one-hundred trips around the pond before she saw him again, then that was a price she was willing to pay.

And so she appeared from her cottage around noon, dressed in a simple, white eyelet sun dress with a pair of sunglasses borrowed from Faye. She placed them over her eyes and began her daily walk around the pond. Kaiya wasn't really expecting to run into anyone while she took her walk, and if she had she certainly wasn't expecting it to be Hayate. But as she approached the bench of their meeting, she noticed that a figure was seated upon it. Her heart beat faster at the prospect and as she drew closer, she noticed the blonde hair and the small figure. Kaiya's feet quickened their pace and soon she was but a few steps from it.

"Hay... Hayate-san?" Her voice questioned, not wanting to assume it was him only to be proven wrong. She lingered back and pulled her glasses from her face and waited for him to say something.

WHO: Logan (Narrative, special appearance by Kaiya)
WHERE: Logan and Mitsuko's cottage, Helicharis
WHEN: Afternoon, Saturday, August 25, 2007
WHAT: Logan finds his muse (no offense to Loki)

Logan's room was now starting to resemble his room back in Vancouver. The day before, he had gone to the marketplace with Mitsuko and her boyfriend, Loki. They had been very kind to him, getting him everything he needed. Not just furniture and clothing, but art supplies.

Mitsuko had indulged him, picking up almost anything he had showed interest in. An easel, several canvases, paints, new pencils, sketchbooks, charcoal.... He was in heaven.

His room wasn't yet as scattered as his old room... He hadn't spent enough time there. But his new equipment had been set up in the room. He had put up many of his sketches on the formerly blank walls.

Logan was sitting on his bed. He had set it up next to the window, so he could sit on it, look out the window and let inspiration strike. He was going to be spending a lot of time in here.

He had just finished up a sketch of the cottage across the way. He looked at it critically before turning the book around, showing the sketch to the urn of his father, which sat on his new bookshelf. He smiled sadly, knowing his father's response would have been nothing but praise. He had always loved Logan's art.

Something moving outside the window caught his eye. He looked down and his eyes widened.

She was absolutely gorgeous. Small and frail... Long dark hair... Translucent, delicate wings on her back... There seemed to be an aura of sadness around her, something in the way she moved.

Logan placed his hand against the window, his heart thundering against his chest. He let out a shuddering breath.

He snatched up his sketchbook again, pencil gripped so tightly in his hand his knuckles began to turn white. He furiously began to sketch the girl, hoping she would stay still long enough to for him to capture her features. Logan was very good at remembering faces and her visage was going to forever be burned into his brain. She was a grounded angel.

But too soon, she was gone. Logan was left with nothing but his sketch of her

( Read more... )

It didn't do her justice... Her delicate beauty could not be duplicated. Logan flipped to a blank page and began to draw another picture. Of course, that wouldn't stop him from trying.

Who: Irei, Kaiya, and Faye
Where: Kaiya and Faye's cottage
When: late morning
What: Irei is checking up on Kaiya, and he's bringing a little present.

It was a nice day.

It wasn't normal for Irei to over project the niceness of days. He didn't ever seem to be the one who would play up the day it self by calling it glorious or magnificent. Nice was good enough for him. It expressed his feelings without going to overboard.

Irei took a deep breath as he walked toward town. It had been a few days since he had watched Kaiya leave his home after she had spent the night in his bed, while he in turn was on the couch. He wondered how she was doing. It seemed she had cried a lot that night. Well to him it was a lot.

He veered off the pathway a bit and into an open field where late summer wildflowers were still blooming. There seemed something about this place that made even the wildflowers more beautiful. Irei wondered if Kaiya liked flowers. She liked rain, singing, and jumping in puddles. He shrugged and figured it was a pretty safe bet that she would appreciate some hand picked flowers. He started to gather quite a few into his hands, creating a bouquet that was a bit bigger than he originally was going to make it. He hoped it would at least make her smile.

Irei started back on the path passed the market and the stores that had their doors open, ready for business. He thought he might have to go by a few of those places eventually and see the kinds of goods being made here in Helicharis.

He continued to the cottages and realized that he had no idea where the pretty fae lived. He put his face in his hand and shook his head. Looks like he'll have to be social and ask someone.

"Ah, excuse me.." He stopped a woman with a basket who seemed to be going to get some morning shopping done. He asked her if she knew where a shy young Japanese girl was staying and if she could tell him where that was. He smiled for he was a little embarrassed and tried to hide the flowers behind his back. The woman put her hand on her hip and, with a knowing smile, helped him out by pointing toward the fae's home.

Irei bowed and thanked the woman before he started a off at a quick pace following the instructions she gave him and went up to their door. He straighted his shirt and picked out the flowers that had broken along the trip or where just stems and rapped lightly at the door, hoping he had gotten the right place has he held the flowers up over his face, his bright blue eyes peeking up over the colorful blossoms.

Who: Malcolm and Kaiya
When: Morning, Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007
Where: Helicharis
What: Shopping

Malcolm strolled down the pathway towards Helicharis. He suspected Ide would be home soon and after spending the last two days out searching for survivors, he should have fresh food in the house. Malcolm wouldn't cook for him-- that would be a terrible homecoming indeed-- he would at the very least have some good food in the house.

He also hoped he would perhaps run into Emily on the way to town. Oh, Malcolm was incredibly pathetic, wasn't he? He was walking all the way to town on the off-chance of seeing his neighbor, who he was actually able to go and visit any time he liked!

Food, focus on the food, Malcolm chastised himself. Perhaps while he was in town he would take the time to look for some new gears.

Who: Hayate and Kaiya
When: Noon
Where: The pond at the town cottages.
What: Hayate stakes his claim. >;-D

Hayate sat on one of the benches along the walking path around the pond that lay in the center of the residential cottages. Whoever drew out the plans for this particular corner created an aesthetically pleasing layout that centered on the natural aspects of the grounds. Trees littered the lush grassland at his feet and aligned themselves along the dirt pathway that circled the pond with various connecting paths spreading out towards the cottages. His eyes knew the flashes of city lights for so long. Looking upon the simplistic beauty of nature quieted the stirs of agitation and anxiety tearing at his mind from his meeting with that boy and girl the other day, those taunting ghosts in their faces. How dare they disturb his newfound peace and quiet? What arrogance they threw at his way.

Pulling the cigarette from his mouth, he blew out a stream of faint smoke into the air. His other arm rested along the back of the bench, the one holding the cigarette propped upon the armrest at the elbow. With his right leg crossed over his left, Hayate watched the smoke curl away from him with interest. Such a simple thing, and yet it filled him with calmness. His interest couldn’t be held for long, though, not by cigarettes and smoke alone. If desires of a deranged mind burst free from confinement, revealing him for what he was? How would he continue to hide here? Distraction. Hayate needed distraction to keep from exposing the monstrous side of himself.

Blue eyes detected a lithe form beyond the swirls of smoke departing from his lips. She walked along the path in a blue sundress, peach-tinged wings swaying outwards and then drawing back in a slow and steady pattern. The broken and yet beautiful fae from the festival. Mine, his mind echoed, remembering her. She danced in front of a bonfire with a petite blonde. Mentally, he had marked her as his and he hadn’t event talked to her. Yes, she was his. His distraction picked flowers and strolled along peacefully in her solitude, closer and closer to Hayate’s bench. Dropping his cigarette onto the grass, he crushed it with his shoe and put it out. That must change. As she wandered even closer, Hayate stood up from the bench.

Today his appearance presented him in a much more subdued way than usual. His hair was tinted to a softer shade of natural blond, laying wavy on his head. A few wispy top layer strands lifted in the gentle breeze that passed over him. His smile echoed genuine and true, even though it was just another face that he wore for entertainment and blending. A calculating persona suddenly became almost bumbling and excited as he displayed a classic kindhearted and polite role for her.

“Please, sit,” Hayate said kindly, gesturing towards the bench he had just been sitting on before she came by. “I didn’t mean to take up the bench,” he commented with a manner of shyness, casting his gaze downwards and away from hers. “It’s yours if you would like to sit there.” He pointed his arm towards the bench again. Then, his gaze dared to rise up again to meet hers, wondering deep inside if she could see past the mask to the real him. Some people sensed those types of things. Hayate knew. He ran into a couple of them on occasions in the past. Most of them weren’t alive today either.

Hayate smiled timidly at her, glancing down again at his feet.

Who: Kaiya and Irei
When: around 8 PM
Where: The path around the market place
What: Playing in the rain

The clouds that had been lingering about all day finally released the rain it had been holding. It started off as soft, random drops, a sprinkling of moisture all over Elysium. It became heavier after a few minutes as lightning flashed within the dark, fluffy forms in the sky. It fell upon the ground at a steady pace, not hard or soft, but just right. It almost felt like spring in that everything seemed fresher, as if the rain was washing away all of the dullness that had accumulated.

The brisk air was revitalizing to Kaiya as she walked through the rain with her umbrella overhead. She reveled in the sound the droplets made upon the nylon fabric. It echoed in her sensitive ears and practically drowned out any other sound. Kaiya didn't mind though since it engulfed the world and left the fae all to herself with her thoughts. She had had a lot on her mind lately, most notably the drastic change her life had undergone. One minute she was in Kyoto working as a waitress at a small noodle bar, and the next she was being whisked away to this place.

Elysium. She hadn't yet associated the word with 'home', but then again Kaiya hadn't had a real home in her entire life. Homes were supposed to be warm and inviting, full of love and joyous laughter. Kaiya never knew any of that having only experienced violence and abuse at the hands of her father. No... he wasn't her real father. Daisuke had explained to her that fae like herself could only come from fae parents; the fact that both Izanami and Katashi had no wings proved that they weren't fae and therefore not Kaiya's parents.

"Not my parents... then who...?" It was a useless question for Kaiya. She would never find her real fae parents, and even if she did would they want her still after all these years and after everything that has happened to her? She was broken now, a mere shadow of whom she could have been if she grown up with them or even those of her own kind. She hadn't known about other fae until Daisuke and even then it had only been him and her. Now in this new place she was living with a fae and going out to festivals to dance with other fae around a bonfire. It was all overwhelming and it made Kaiya feel more alone that ever because she wasn't like those other fae - they were all so happy and free whereas Kaiya felt awkward and stifled.

The rain though... Kaiya felt free during the rain. She remembered times during her childhood when she would go outside and play in the refreshing drops of water. They'd splash upon her skin and soothe the stings caused by Katashi's fists. Sometimes the fae imagined that the rain were angels' tears crying for her because they pitied her existence. Were the angels pitying her now? Were their tears falling so that they could wash away the sins of her past and start anew in this haven? A soft smile formed upon her lips and she let the umbrella fall to the ground. The water was cool and as soothing as she remembered. Her wings remained hidden beneath her simple white blouse that became more transparent with each drop of rain. Her dark hair soaked up the moisture and her shorts went from light to dark purple. Kaiya's smile grew though as she allowed herself to enjoy the rain. She lifted her face to the sky to feel each drop that descended upon her skin. Her eyes closed as she reveled in the feeling and her feet began to move backward on their own accord. Kaiya was so caught up in that moment that she didn't know that there was a person behind her until she bumped into them.

The fae broke out of her reverie and stumbled forward. Her mouth was gaped open in shock and she was afraid of what punishment she would have to face for such a trespass. Kaiya turned out quickly and bowed without even looking at the person. "Gomen na-" Kaiya bit her tongue and cursed at herself for speaking in Japanese. "Uhh... Umm... Sor...ree..." She said slowly and with uncertainty. "Sorry..." She said a second time with more confidence. She hoped that was the right word and she began to lift her eyes to meet those of the person she bumped into. Hopefully they would accept her apology. If not, then she was prepared to face the consequences.

Who: Everyone! [Open for All]
When: Evening, beginning around 6 PM
Where: Festival grounds NE of Helicharis
What: The Autumnal Festival!

** To join in on this post, simply comment to the main post. If you are replying to someone else or joining them, reply to their comment and not to the main post.


The happy sounds of the autumnal festival were ringing throughout all of Elysium even before the sun sank beneath the horizon. The hard work the fauns had put into the celebration was evident by the elaborate decoration and set-up of the grounds. Wooden lamp posts lit with colored flames littered the festival while garlands of flowers wrapped themselves around each post, adding to the earthy beauty of the entire scene. Each attendee was greeted with their choice of a garland of flowers for their head, neck, or wrist if they desired one (or more, for some).

Upon entering the grounds enchanted colored leaves fall from the sky and then back up again very slowly from the flora littered ground to create a more autumn-like atmosphere. The curious insects known as fairies were also in attendance due to all of the lights, the bright and happy colors attracting their attention while their prismatic bodies blinked in and out of sight like lightning bugs and little dust fell from their minuscule wings. The bonfires too added warmth to the cool night air and brought comfort to everyone who had come out to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the continuation of life.

What festival would be complete without fun and games, though?

The fauns, along with the centaurs, had set up an archery range at the eastern end of the grounds, along with areas for knife throwing and a ring for wrestling with a minotaur. "Care to try your luck?" read the signs posted in that area for all who ventured that way. The northern end of the grounds, near the saltwater lake, was also bustling with activity with the ale drinking and Lembas bread eating contests. The rowdiness of the crowds, however, did not take away from the good-natured atmosphere of the food and drink area nearby where many people were seated upon soft grasses of the earth.

The contests did not interrupt the music and the dancing either, both of which were only a few feet away. The musical fauns, with their pipes and flutes and drums, played with fervor and enticed the attendees to dance and sing joyously. Their music permeated throughout the entire festival and many, especially children, were invited to play along with flutes and drums that were handed out as they arrived. Music was a central theme to many of the faun’s festive activities throughout the year, the autumn festival being no exception, as was the dancing and the feasting upon delicious foods and decadent drinks laid out across the grounds.

The southern part of the festival held the games geared toward the young or simply the young at heart. Barrels were available for those who wished to roll down hills, piles of leaves were created for those who wanted nothing more than to jump and play in them. Colored sparklers were handed out freely and there were even pegasus rides for anyone who wanted to soar through the skies. There were contests here as well, simple ones that had participants bobbing for apples and fruits and curious prizes, searching for toys in piles of hay, and even pinning horns on a wooden faun.

As fairies danced their way through the crowds to spread the joy of the festival, fireworks explode into the night sky. The magical light show added to the overall joyous atmosphere of the first festival in the safe haven of Elysium.