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Realistic or Modern // Ignite the Spark // open & accepting


S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





Worry drained away as Kais sighed, relief clear as he squeezed her hand. The silence had returned, clearly now comfortable for the both of them. Solara walked alongside him contentedly, happy that he firmly held her hand instead of pulling away. This was the feeling that she was trying to tell Savi about. They moved quietly, peacefully, until they reached his door.


Kais' room was rather different than her own. Where Sola's was all warmth and coziness, his was all clean lines and efficiency. He had opted for less color, nearly everything black, white, or grey. The directness of it fit him, though. It had no extra decorations; everything served a purpose, and no space was wasted. No frills, practical, and to the point, just like Kais. Glancing around his room, her gaze locked on the sword hanging on the wall. She suddenly recalled the unique curved blade she purchased for him in the Market earlier that day. Deciding she would retrieve it while he was in the shower, she smiled and looked in his direction.





"I've just got to run and get something from my room while you're in the shower. I picked up something at the Market for you, but left it on my table. I'll be back before you're out," she said, thoughts focused on retrieving the blade.


Solara froze for a moment before leaving, turning towards him once again. She reached out, settling her hands on his shoulders and pulling him closer to her. Standing on her toes, she kissed him slowly before reluctantly dropping her hands and turning back towards the door.





"Honestly, I wanted to do that earlier. It was worth getting paint on my face," she grinned as she rubbed the black foundation from her mouth with the back of her hand before disappearing into the hallway.


In the corridor, she sighed and pressed a hand against her fast-beating heart. Being with Kais somehow felt very new, but also comfortable. She felt like she'd kissed him a hundred times before, instead of just at a handful of instances. At the same time, each one left her feeling breathless. Sola sighed as she made her way down the stairs and recalled Savina's words. She still had to talk to Shasta as well, but she knew her brother well enough to understand that his response would likely be similar to Savi's. She and Kais would have two people to prove wrong...two very important people.
 

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​



When Sola grabbed his shoulders and kissed him, Kais kissed her back, leaning down toward her ever so slightly. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and pull her close, keep her from moving away--suddenly he didn't care much about showering, or finding out what exactly she had gotten for him at the market, or anything else at all. Suddenly the only thing in the world that mattered was Sola, standing there and kissing him. Somehow he managed to resist; he was filthy and Sola didn't need that grime on her clothes. Too soon it was over, and Sola was moving back toward the door. He cracked a smile at the sight of her rubbing black grease paint from her lips and let her go.



When the door shut behind her, he unslung Bane from his shoulder and secured it carefully in the empty spot in his rifle rack. He stripped his over shirt off and dragged it along as he crossed to his sleeping space. Venom went into the pistol case with its mate, and the ammo belt ended up on top of the dresser. Kais dropped his dirty shirt into the laundry bin and dug through his dresser for a clean outfit before heading to take a shower.


The bathroom was clean, almost to the point of sterility, like the rest of his apartment. There were no guns hanging on the walls, here, but Kais had fit a knife rack underneath the counter, hidden from view. Just in case. There was a bar of unscented soap in the shower and one beside the sink, but otherwise there were no toiletries. Kais ran the water until the glass of the shower fogged, pulling his soiled clothes off and leaving them in a heap on the floor. His remaining weaponry he set carefully on the counter and his boots by the door.


Hot water scalded his skin, turning him pink all over, but Kais didn't care. He scrubbed his face with the bar of soap, then watched black run down the drain. It had been a surprisingly long time since he'd taken a truly hot shower, and he was almost tempted to stay in a bit longer, even after he had convinced himself that every bit of dirt and soot had been washed from his skin and hair. But Sola was waiting for him, and the temptation to stay in a hot shower wasn't stronger than the desire to be with her.


So Kais turned off the water and stepped out, toweling off with a fresh black towel before pulling on crisp, clean black jeans and a white T-shirt. He gave his hair one last rub with a towel and looked in the mirror--it was a mess, but he couldn't find the will to comb it. Instead he pushed it back out of his face, letting the remaining moisture hold it in place.


When he opened the door to the rest of his apartment, he found Sola waiting for him, sitting at the bar. She'd managed to clear enough space in the strewn electronics to set a short, curved blade. Kais came to stand behind her, eyeing the weapon with a small half-smile curving across his lips. In spite the lack of a true smile, his eyes sparkled.


"It's quite a beauty," Kais admitted, sliding one arm casually across her shoulders to assuage the feeling of needing to be closer to her.
 

S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





Solara had made quick work of running to get the blade. She had slipped into her room quietly, moving silently as not to wake Savi. Extracting the blade from the pile of new items that still lay scattered on her table, she left her bag before going back to Kais' studio. By the time Solara returned, she could hear the water running from inside his bathroom.


For a moment, she considered pulling down his bed in order to have someplace soft to settle down. After a second of thought, she ultimately decided against it. Sola wasn't used to turning it down, and a small part of her worried that it would suddenly snap back up again while she was sitting on it. It may have been an irrational fear, but it was enough for her to choose the barstool over the more comfortable bed.


Shifting aside some of the electronics, she set down the blade on the countertop before sitting down. A tired sigh slipped from her lips. It was practically early morning now, and she could feel the exhaustion settling in her bones. Her day, while not all that physically demanding, had drained her emotionally. She still hadn't gotten around to fully coping with the looter attack...mostly because she was waiting for her and Veda to tell Shasta the information before reliving it, but also because she couldn't quite bring herself think about it until she had to.


Before she could think much more on it, Kais had emerged from the bathroom. Sola didn't turn around as she heard him approaching. Eventually, she felt his arm slip around her. She leaned into him, resting her head against his shoulder. To get a better look at him as he talked, she tipped her chin up slightly. He really was handsome. It was a fact that she noticed with a smile, especially now as he stood next to her, sans paint, with shining eyes, a fresh shirt, and hair nicely disheveled.





"You clean up nice," she replied brightly, kissing him on the cheek before turning her attention to the blade. "I'm glad you like it. I figured TechSupport could use some extra help. You could call this one Customer Service, or The Manager,"


She added the last bit about names with a grin, that was quickly followed by yawn. If she felt this tired, how much more exhausted would Kais be? They both needed to get some rest soon. For a moment, she debated asking if she could spend the night with him. Her mind wandered to the previous evening, of how safe she had felt, and a warm feeling filled her. But she didn't want to interfere with him getting a restful sleep, nor did she want Savi to wake up in the morning and find that she had disappeared. They already had plans to visit Aunt Cat come sunrise, and she didn't want to jeopardize that.


With another yawn, she rubbed her eyes lazily. As much as Sola didn't want to leave, she knew that she would soon have to. Sleepiness was weighing more heavily on her each second. It left an unpleasant feeling in her stomach. For some reason, it was beginning to feel as though she and Kais were constantly having to part ways. With some hope, she noted that the monthly induction festival was happening tomorrow night. Despite the full day, maybe in the evening she would be able to convince him to have a dance with her.
 
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EVE SALEM


"Allow me to escort you two lovely ladies."


Once again Eve's lips curled into a politely gentle smile, and she gave a subtle nod. "Why, thank you, Raphael," With that, Raphael turned with Luna, and Eve followed suit. She followed Raphael, once again carefully evading the flood of people filling the room, though the task was much easier now with an escort as her guide.


Halfway through their trek to the VIP section, Raphael halted, tapping a hostess on the shoulder and spoke to her, his words loud enough for Eve to hear, "Rubette, please find the Minister of Defense and escort him to the VIP section." At the mentioning of Domenic, Eve raised an interested brow, sparing a nonchalant glance about the room as Raphael spoke. The minister of Defense was just the man she needed to speak to, given their unresolved correspondence earlier that day regarding the attack in Peace Park. A small part of her hoped that he would arrive early enough so that she could get the business portion of the event out of the way fairly early so that she could enjoy herself at least a little bit. There were other, non-business matters she wished to discuss with Mr. Kader after their little professional chat, as well.


Soon, they arrived at the secluded area of the VIP section, and Eve was inwardly grateful for the isolation so as not to be bothered by another wave of menial party-goers. Raphael extended his arm to invite them into the room, and Eve waited until Luna and her guards entered to do so herself. She waited until Luna answered Raphael's question about drinks until she did so herself, not out of blind, desperate obsequence, but rather as a sign of respect to her superior.
 
Domenic L. Kader ~ Minister of Defense


Domenic continued to wander about the Tores residence, pandering to celebrities, dignitaries and political members alike. It truly was a lot of work, but at least he was getting promised plenty of wine and cigars and other exotic items on his doorstep within the next few days. As much as he was enjoying himself, Dom was secretly hoping the Eve and Luna would eventually appear to help him escape from the cacophony of voices. Eventually it was going to be too much for him to handle. And it seemed like there was even more for him to deal with.


An older gentleman tapped him on the shoulder and inquired about finding a quieter place for the young man accompanying him to go. For a moment his brow furrowed in confusion as he wondered about who these two were, then he remembered that he read that some child prodigy would be attending the party. He racked his brain to try and remember just who it was...something heaving-sounding...Klein? He was supposed to be important.


Before he had the chance to answer though, one of Raph's female assistants gained his attention and notified him of the arrival of both President Luna and Eve Salem and that his presence was requested in the VIP room. He blinked, nodded then took a moment to consider the old man and the younger one. "Follow me, it'll be quite where we're going." Was all he'd offer before trekking through the crowd after the woman.


Before long he was slipping into the room and gave the descriptions of the two he met earlier as individuals to be let in to the door guard. Once inside things got considerably more quite and Dom was greatly thankful for the invention of soundproof materials. Just ahead of him in the room he could make out Raph, Even and Luna all conversing with each other. Not too far off was the Propaganda Minister Ava Sebastian. Finally, he was around the people that mattered. He waited to speak until they were withing proper earshot range of his regular speaking voice. "Greetings everyone, Madame President, Miss Salem. I apologize for arriving here a bit late, the crowd is getting rather...rambunctious out there. Hopefully I didn't miss any pressing conversations about recent events?"


@Darth Corvus @Zoola @Ashmorne @whitefoxkiller
 

Three Words: Part I

Kais Wiltchil & Solara Feivel
​



The kiss earned a smile from him, but her suggestion of names earned a full grin, complete with teeth. He considered the single-edged sword hanging on the nearby wall and the reasoning behind its name--Sola didn’t know, but she had unwittingly provided a perfect mate to the yet-untold joke. Kais laughed, and it seemed to push back the encroaching exhaustion.


“Those are both perfect possibilities,” he declared. It would take some weighing to decide which one would afford him the most amusement. Before he could add anything else he caught Sola’s yawn and remembered just how late it was. Reluctance gripped him; in spite of how tired he felt, he didn’t want to go to sleep. It seemed like ever since that first kiss they had shared, the two of them had hardly gotten a proper moment to themselves. He was loath to ruin such a perfect moment by falling asleep.


His smile had faded while he studied her face intently, his dark eyes bright with some indescribable emotion. He shifted so that he could look at her directly, moving his hand from around her shoulders to rest on her cheek, then stooped to kiss her fiercely. He had never before wanted so badly not to sleep, but at that moment he would have traded his full night for more time with her.


Solara leaned into the kiss, her eyes slowly sliding shut. Her arms wrapped easily around his neck as she lifted her face up, notions of sleep suddenly seeming significantly less important. Her mind blanked for a moment, forgetting all the thoughts that filled her just seconds before...her plans for the morning, her best friend asleep in her room, the planning that for the festival.


The only words left in her mind were the ones that she had been wanting to say since that first kiss in his house. They burned against her thoughts, causing her heart to pound even more than it already was. That feeling of urgency to get the words out returned to her. If she didn’t say them now, when would she ever get the chance? It seemed that all their encounters were punctuated with a goodbye. Reluctantly, Sola pulled back slightly to look at him. She gazed up at him; this was something she needed to say. She knew that now, looking in his dark eyes.


“Kais. I love you,”


When she pulled back, Kais followed, only reluctantly allowing her to break contact. He met her gaze levelly as she spoke, expression remaining much the same as it had been - composed, but with passion burning in his eyes. Her words didn’t surprise him, though he registered distantly that this declaration was significant. To him, the words didn’t matter, much. They didn’t mean as much as the taste of her lips when she returned his kiss, or the feel of her hands lost in his still-damp hair. But they mattered to Sola, and he knew as much. So he chose his words with her in mind and spoke them for her ears only.


“And I… love you,” his lips twitched in a smile. His eyes studied her face, lost in her beauty for a moment; his fingers slid across her cheek to bury themselves in her hair. “And I want to be with you - and no one else - for as long as I possibly can.”


A smile split across Sola’s face at his words, warmth spreading across her chest. She hadn’t quite realized how much she had wanted to hear them until they were spoken out loud. These were words that she had never told to another man, and it made it all the more special to her. She rested her forehead against his with a contented sigh. Her hand drifted up, brushing a lock of hair from his face before twisting it lightly between her fingers absently. She studied his face for a moment, wanting to kiss him again but realizing that he had been awake for upwards of 15 hours.


“You’re probably exhausted,” she said softly, reluctantly. “You’ve been up for ages. I should probably go so you can get some sleep,”


The smile on her face was reward enough for his efforts, but Kais’ face fell when she spoke again. They were the words that he had been dreading since being reunited with her. Somehow he had been hoping to postpone the moment indefinitely - in spite of how tired he still felt, he wanted nothing less than to sleep. The last moment they’d had together was a hurried explanation of where Kais was going and why, with no chance to truly be. Before that, their morning had been cut short by Sola’s friend, and before that they’d been interrupted by looters. Looters struck for the first time in three years and somehow managed to have the worst possible timing of anyone in the world.


“Stay with me,” Kais said. It was only half a request, by his tone. He was so tired of not being with her, and the thought of being separated again brought something fierce to the surface.


“Savina is asleep in my room right now. We had plans for the morning…” she started to say, words dropping off towards the end as she looked at Kais.


Sola considered him, noticing his frustration. It had been an ordeal trying to find time to spend with each other. One thing after another, after another. Looters, unexpected trips to Tranquility. Life in The Ruins was busy, always...but this was getting close to ridiculous. She could understand his irritation, knowing that it wasn’t directed at her but rather the situation in general. Sola rested a hand against the side of his face softly, bringing her lips to his once again. His face had fallen when she suggested her departure, and she wanted that expression to leave. Pulling back slightly, she looked at him with her head tilted slightly to the side.


“I can stay. But I’ll probably leave pretty early in the morning, so I can get back to my room before Savi wakes up,” she bit her lip as thoughts of tomorrow churned in her mind. When would they get another moment together? He would have a busy day of planning with Shasta, and her own time was filled with preparing for the festival and spending time with Sav. The next time she’d see him would probably be at the dance.
 

Three Words: Part Two

Kais Wiltchil & Solara Feivel
​



Kais made a sound of annoyance when Sola mentioned plans with Savi; he was only partially placated when she amended. He wanted to tell her he didn’t care about Savina, but he knew she mattered to Sola, so he held his tongue. Perhaps he was being selfish - exhaustion was eroding his self-control, but he couldn’t help but see a certain injustice in how things had been working out, lately.


“Make plans with me, next time,” he said, studying her intently, “Tomorrow night.”





Solara looked back at him, eyebrows raised dolefully at his sound of irritation. As he spoke, she met his gaze as she continued to absently fidget with the lock of his hair. She studied his dark eyes, the tilt of his mouth, the way hair fell against the side of his face. Had he meant the dance, or after? Kais rarely made an appearance at the party after the career fair. If he did show up, it was to keep watch from a distance. She took a moment to consider what he said, letting her hand fall to his shoulder as she responded. This was an opportunity that she wasn’t going to miss.


“Tomorrow night is the induction festival. I can meet you at the party,” she said, a sly smile curving the corners of her lips upwards. “That is, if I can convince you to come. Maybe have a dance with me,”





The festival. Of course tomorrow was the festival. It was too much to ask that they have one, single, free night together. Instead, tomorrow had to be some mindless party involving inane socialization with people he didn’t care about in the slightest. It was clear from his expression that he had completely forgotten about the festival. The annoyance showed on his face, and a second sound of irritation escaped through his mouth. He was so tired, so incredibly frustrated at the hand of fate - determined to keep them apart.


Kais extracted his fingers from her hair, and instead wrapped both arms around her, pulling her tight against his chest. He ducked his head, burying his face in her hair and willing himself not to let emotion take over just because he was exhausted. Only when he was certain he had control over himself did he speak again.


“We’re not required to attend the festival,” He murmured into her hair, voice quiet. He wanted to suggest that she give the whole thing a miss, but he knew how much she liked to be with people. Instead he offered a compromise, since she seemed to want it so much. “I’ll come and dance with you, if you promise to sneak away early with me.”


Solara sighed, resting against his chest. She savored the feeling of his arms wrapped tightly around her, holding her close, keeping her safe. How could she turn him down? She knew that he didn’t enjoy these social gatherings at all, much less look forward to them in the way she did. Festival attendance wasn’t required, true...but Solara loved joining the rest of the community to dance and listen to music. Sometimes in the ballroom, other times held outdoors...always buzzing with people. Everyone came together, and the air was electric with life. Exactly her element. It was sort of enchanting, nothing short of magical to her. She usually was one of the last people to leave. Though, if it meant more time spent with him, like this...she didn’t know how to refuse.





“Seems like a fair exchange,” she replied.





Her words relaxed him; with some definite time together scheduled, he almost felt he could face sleep and another day of planning and strategy. He moved his head back, just enough to look at her face without releasing her, without pulling away or loosening his grip.


As reluctant as he was to part from her, however briefly, he determined that it would be acceptable in order to move to a slightly more comfortable place. After all, it wasn’t as if she was going to vanish if he moved away from her. With that in mind, Kais stooped and wrapped one arm around Sola’s legs and steadied her with the other, lifting her off her feet with minimal exertion so that Sola was now a head and shoulders taller than him.





A slightly startled yelp left her lips as she suddenly found herself lifted off the ground. A smile slipped across her face as she rested one hand on his shoulder, and let the other loosely twist into his hair.





He crossed the room, tilting his head back so he could see her face, only looking away momentarily to hit the switch that would bring his bed out from inside the wall. The bed extended with a low mechanical whine; once it was in place, Kais laid Sola down and crawled in beside her.


Sola turned on her side to look at him, resting her head against his shoulder as his arm encircled her. She sighed contentedly, settling in and making herself comfortable. A yawn escaped from her lips as she placed a hand against his chest. She studied his face for a few seconds, memorizing this moment. She had never slept in his bed before. In the span of several days, everything had changed...and right then, she couldn’t have been happier.





As much as Kais wouldn’t have minded staying awake with her, the logical part of his brain had reawakened. It told him matter-of-factly that they both needed to get some sleep - Sola most of all, if she was intending to make it back to her room before Savi woke up. Kais brushed hair from her face with his free hand and kissed the top of her head, before shifting slightly to kiss her softly one more time. When he pulled back to look at her, he felt the heaviness from before returning to his limbs. Warm and comfortable as he was, it seemed a shame not to sleep, now.





“If you’ve got plans for the morning I suppose we should get some sleep…” In spite of the reluctance in his voice, Kais yawned, then smiled at her. Sleep wasn’t so bad, if she was staying with him.


Sola nodded tiredly, gazing up at him with a sleepy smile on her face. She brushed a lock of hair from her forehead as the first vestiges of sleep touch her. Typically rest didn’t come so easy to Solara, but laying next to him made it easier. She felt secure, happy.





“Just make sure to wake me if you get up before I do,” she murmured as she began to drift off, knowing full well that that was unlikely.





Kais smiled, settling comfortably beside her; Sola might wake him up when she got up, but they both knew he wasn’t likely to wake up by himself before noon. The one thing he appreciated about his room in the Oak was how incredibly secure the vertical blinds near the bed were - it would be as dark as night until he opened them the next day.


Sleep came quickly, and before long he was sunk in a deep, dreamless sleep.
 

L U N A P A C E C C O


President of Tranquility





The VIP room had a distinct lack of noise, especially compared to the flashy cacophony that was taking place in the main area of Raphael's apartment. Luna stifled a sigh of relief, though her face remained a placid mask, as if this room was no different than the other. She took a moment to nod at her lead security guard, allowing him to take a step back before she turned back to Raphael's offering of drinks.


"I'll have a glass of red wine," she said breezily. "Merlot, if you have it. Thank you, Mr. Tores,"


One glass of merlot. It's what she limited herself to at every party. Not a drop more. She was about to mention something to Eve when the Minister of Defense materialized nearby. She inclined her head cordially in greeting, a genteel smile on her face when her gaze suddenly caught on something unusual.


A child.


In the VIP room.


At one of Raphael Tores' parties.


It's not as though she didn't know who this boy was. She recognized his face. Luna liked to be kept up to date on all of the Diamond's rising stars. It was more or less the fact that no matter his academic merit, this was simply not the place for someone that young, that unestablished. She chalked that one up to Raph. It wasn't often that she felt surprised. Luna's eyebrow arched ever so slightly as she subtly glanced back at Raphael before turning her attention back to Domenic.


"Not to worry, Mr. Kader. We've only just gotten here ourselves," she replied smoothly, regarding him with glassy eyes.
 
EVE SALEM


"Surprise me," Eve said with a smile, in reference to Raphael's question about drink orders. She interlaced her fingers together, standing tall and elegant - a perfect picture of grace and poise. For a moment, she spared a glance about the room, taking in the scene with quiet admiration. The quietude of the V.I.P section was refreshing in comparison to the menagerie just beyond the soundproof walls. It allowed her to finally hear her own thoughts, much to Eve's relief.


She was drawn out of her thoughts by another arrival. Eve looked up be pleasantly surprised by Domenic Kader's arrival, and she smiled warmly at the man. Before she was able to greet him, a certain white-haired figure behind him caught her eye, that of a child, it seemed. His snow-white head and red eyes were distinctive, and immediately Eve recognized the boy as Klein Tuftler, a promising young technological prodigy. It was hard not to have heard of the young child genius; at 14, he was already a head scientist. Though the child was indeed a phenomenon within the Diamond, Eve was surprised at his presence. She had difficulty imagining that Raphael would intentionally place a 14 year old boy on the guest list, though she figured he had his motives. Eve glimpsed at Luna through her peripheral vision; knowing her, she'd certainly disapprove of Klein's presence at the event. Eve didn't particularly care one way or another. As long as the child was able to behave in a mature, sophisticated manner on par with the rest of the Diamond leaders who were present. Though, judging by Klein's panicked demeanor, he was already unable to hold himself to that standard. Still, Eve maintained her smile and nodded cordially. "Not at all. It's nice to see you, Mr. Kader."
 
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Ava Sebastian

​



Ava waited patiently for Raphael to return, and she maintained an admirable air of calm (even though there was no one there to admire it), but his possible proposition burned in her mind. She was aware that it was likely she wouldn’t actually hear it until the end of the night or until she could get him alone, but what kind of good host would leave the president's side unless she had to use the restroom. Ava, dwelling on this, saw several people approach and almost groaned. There were now two people Raphael had to be pulled away from- not likely. But then again she could just wait until the end of the night.


As Eve, The President, and Raphael arrived, Ava stood up in respect, lowering her head slightly in the direction of The President, “Lovely to see both of you, Madame President, Ms. Salem,” Ava greeted politely before, surprisingly, Dominic Kader and a nervous looking Klein Tuftler arrived. Ava was fairly well acquainted with both of the new arrivals. She’d met Kader once or twice alone or for a personal call, but they were formal meetings or group lunches with a few other ministers, so she wouldn’t label them as friends. As for Klein, Ava had never met him but she was well acquainted with his reputation and accomplishments. Suffice to say, the boy’s research interested Ava greatly. The poor thing looked absolutely spooked though, a Torres party was no place for the notoriously nervous young prodigy.


“Dominic, pleasure as always,” Ava greeted the Defence Minister, “And you young man,” Ava switched her gaze to the teen, “It’s quite an honor to meet you. I’m incredibly interested in your research.” Ava sat down, feeling a tad awkward about the young man’s presence; Ava was always weird around children, she only ever knew how to act to adults… calm, polite and political adults. What was she to do with a teenager having a panic attack while she was in the presence of The President? Were they suppose to host him in the VIP room while they all talked politics? It’s not like he would have anything to add to the political discussion and yet wasn’t it rude to deliberately talk about a subject you know one of your guests has no input for? Were the rules of polite and impolite different with a kid? Ava just was very out of her element with the kid there.


 

Salix "Lex" Darinell

The Ruins | Elm University | East Waters | Lex's Room


Scientist Pipette Operator Runaway ????
​



Sun poured in through a single, uncovered window, and bathed Lex as he slept; it soaked into his blond curls, making them look positively golden in the light. Reacting to the suddenly bright room, Lex groaned and threw one arm over his face.


"Five more minutes - you go on, get ready without me."


After a moment, Lex noticed that there was no resulting shift in the bed, or rustle of sheets like there usually was when he told Sofia to go ahead without him. He listened, but there was nothing at all. Slowly, he removed the arm from his face and opened his eyes to find himself in a completely unfamiliar room. His heart leaped into his throat and he sat up abruptly.


"So there is an afterlife."


His voice sounded strange in his ears, like he'd never really heard himself talk before. And there was something else. Something magnificent and indescribable. He felt better than he had ever felt before. If this was the afterlife then he had been a fool to wait so damn long. Lex swung his feet out of the bed and stood up. He almost immediately regretted the decision; his legs were a solid mass of sore muscles.


"Ow - bloody hell - if this is the afterlife, someone fucked up royally."


He cast his eyes around the little room as he bent forward, slowly stretching his sore legs. The room was small, but not uncomfortable. The furniture inside looked fairly standard, unadorned, but there was something peculiar about it. A closer look showed him tool marks in the wood - tiny flaws, hardly noticeable. No machine made those marks, which meant...


"Humans making furniture? This really is an odd afterlife.... stop talking to yourself, Lex, it's a bad habit."


There were three pieces in the room: a single bed, a dresser, and a desk with accompanying chair. Lex ran his fingers over the top of the desk, feeling the grain of the wood under his fingers. Everything was carved from some sort of pale wood - boxwood, maybe - and looked like they belonged together. Perhaps they had been made by the same person. He pulled the top drawer of the dresser open and found clothes inside - clean, fresh clothes. Lex hadn't noticed until just then how truly filthy he was. A quick look showed torn breeches with mud and leaves clinging to the hem, an equally dirty shirt, and arms that were streaked with dirt.


Besides the window, there were two doors. One, he found by opening it, led to a hallway, the second to a bathroom. The bathroom was tidy with some standard toiletries. There were clean towels hanging on the rack, little jars of soap, labeled in a neat hand, and a soft rug on the floor. Lex caught sight of himself in the mirror behind the sink and wished he hadn't.


"Oh, Sweetheat, you look like shit." He took a closer look, grimaced, and turned away.


As much as he wanted to know what was down the little hall outside the other door, he decided that a shower and a change of clothes was in order, first.


"Can't have you walking around in the afterlife looking like that, can we?"


And so Lex pulled a pair of blue jeans and a white T-shirt from the dresser and went to wash several pounds of mud from his hair. The hot water helped wake him up the rest of the way; as he watched dirty water flow down the drain, his memories of the previous night returned in blurry bits and pieces. The red pill, the man named Nolan and the one who looked like a machine... hadn't that all just been a dream?


By the time he was clean, dried, and dressed, he had a slightly more clear, if still somewhat patchy, version of the events last night. He remembered the city in the forest and the dark hair woman who had welcomed them. He remembered Nolan taking him in toe and bringing him to a building full of rooms. He remembered being given a key, and being told that this room was his, now.


Lex rummaged through the pocket of his discarded pants and found the key.


"So it wasn't a dream, at all. I'm here. Outside of Tranquility, in a forest-city that doesn't exist, with people who feel emotions."


Lex blinked at himself in the mirror for a moment, allowing the absurdity of what he had just said to sink in. Then, quite suddenly, he began laughing. He laughed so hard he had to hold onto the bathroom counter to keep himself upright. And when he stomach ached and his eyes ran with tears he laughed more.


"I'm alive... I'm alive!!" Lex looked at himself, grinning in the mirror. He ran his hands through his wet curls, untangling the worst of the knots, before heading for the door. He stuffed the little brass key into his pocket and hurried out of the room, nearly forgetting to lock the door behind him in his haste.


He was alive, and he wanted to experience everything.





I'm alive.... I'm alive!
Lex
 
Savina Melrose | Location: Solara’s Room

Savina woke up with a jolt. Her heart raced and she scanned the room in a wild frenzy. It only took her a moment to recognize her surroundings. She was in Sola’s room, not the forest outside the Spark. It’s okay, Savi thought to herself. it was just a dream. Savi stood up and stretched, which thankfully stretched out her sore muscles. With a peek out the window, she reckoned it was just before dawn - and with a look down at her kinetic watch she realized she was right, as usual.


She welcomed herself to the bathroom and was thankful that Sola had kept her small bag of overnight toiletries. She brushed her teeth and splashed her face with crisp, cold water before tying up her hair and making her way to the kitchen. Savi doubted Sola would mind if she made herself some coffee, and so she did. As she waited for the liquified heaven, Savina dressed herself and took note of Sola’s empty bed. Despite her feelings for the new pairing, Savi couldn’t help but smile. She’s always been a wild child, Savi thought to herself, Let’s just hope Shasta doesn’t walk in on them.


As she laced up her boots the kettle whistled and her coffee was ready. Savina helped herself to a mug and four teaspoons of sugar. She had a feeling she would need the extra boost of energy. Scalding her tongue on the first sip, Savi winced but kept drinking; it was too good not to. Pouring herself another mugful she decided to take the liquid heaven with her. She and Lugh had yet to speak to Shasta and he needed to hear their report and sign off on their inventory slip.


Damn it, Savi thought, grabbing her mug and making her way out of the door. She stopped to make sure it was locked, and then headed downstairs to her own studio. She debated whether or not to go wake up Lugh but then she’d have to deal with Starkey and that would be too much too soon. Savina needed at least four cups of coffee before she’d be able to deal with that man. So she sighed, resigning herself to the fact that she’d be doing inventory on her own, again.


She unlocked her room and just about tripped walking in. Savi saved her coffee from spilling with quick reflexes and gave the crate that blocked her way a soft shove with her boot. With a grunt she took a sip, set the mug down on the table and got to archiving the supplies. It was menial work, but it gave her mind something to do other then ponder Sola’s new relationship. Savi knew very well there had been other men in her life, but nothing as significant as this… I don’t approve but I do hope she proves me wrong. That girl deserves some extra happiness in her life.


Savi thought about Sola’s parents and her own father who went missing during the Feivel-Rose expedition. She sighed as she wrote down the last item on the inventory slip. It was a beautifully well preserved nine millimeter Beretta that she was sorely tempted to keep. She shrugged and made a note to mention it to Shasta; unless it was something the arsenal was in dire need of, he usually gave them first choice at whatever they brought in. She signed her name at the bottom of the slip, and looked around for Lugh before remembering it was just after dawn and he was asleep in his shared-studio down the hall.


She stood and stretched again, realizing for the first time since she returned home that she could take a real shower. With a smile she made her way to her dresser and grabbed some clothes and walked to the bathroom content. She’d shower and wait for the sun to fully rise before rousing Lugh and his shithead of a best friend.


 
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Keanu Forrester



​



Birds are loud.


It was a fact that Keanu never realized until this morning, when the sound of them roused him from his slumber. A spiny feeling prickled across his chest at the repetitive noise. This was what true irritation felt like first thing in the morning. The endless stream of chirping caused his eyes to eventually blink open as he gazed out the window. He stretched his arms above his head and rolled out of bed, his bare feet landing on the cold hardwood floor. The first thing he did was make his bed, which was now clothed in a deep-green comforter purchased from the market. He arranged it neatly, organizing the pillows and blankets to his liking before moving into the attached bathroom.


His reflection showed a man that he was still getting used to. There was a certain quality to him that he didn't have back in Tranquility. It was like he was looking at himself in high-definition. Leaning close to the mirror, he ran his hand over the angular planes of his face. It was like he was trying to memorize it, as if he would soon forget. Grinning to himself, he tapped his reflection on the nose before spinning around to run the water. He showered quickly, toweled off, and dressed in a pair of jeans and a long sleeved navy t-shirt. His hair fell in damp locks against his face. He dried them as much as he could, before ultimately leaving it in loose. Trying to totally dry his hair with a towel was pointless. The best thing he could do would be getting outside. Maybe he would run into Veda, Savi, or Sola! A warm feeling bubbled in him. Was this what it felt like to start to make friends, to begin to really care about people? A natural smile curved his mouth as he thought about it. Slipping on a pair of canvas sandals also bought from the market, Keanu slipped out of his dorm room and made his way outside.


He dipped into the sunlight with a wide grin splitting his face. Outside was his favorite place. Rich emerald tones of plant life contrasted the endless liquid blue of the sky. Morning light washed everything in a sheen of gold. The greenery was speckled with pinks, lavenders, yellows...little jewels against the sculpted bronze of the dirt. The earth was suddenly a sacred temple in itself, an organic castle that shocked him with its beauty. He could now understand why birds sang so loudly. They were proud of their home. It suddenly seemed to him that everything was connected-- part of each other, part of something bigger. Keanu stood just outside the entrance of the dormitory, lifting his arms slightly with palms turned outward as if to absorb the warmth. It felt as though the sun was rising in him, like light was embedding itself into his skin. His eyes closed as he tipped his face up, breathing in deeply, breathing in life.
 

Salix "Lex" Darinell

The Ruins | Outside the Dorms


Scientist Pipette Operator Runaway ????
​



The hallway eventually led to a pair of doors, which opened onto the outside world. Once outside, Lex was momentarily blindsided by the world - he remembered, more clearly now, standing in the alley the previous night looking around at the bright, crisp world for the first time. In the daylight, that crispness seemed magnified tenfold. The city looked magnificent - it had the feel of a place that had been half-taken by nature, and re-taken by mankind. It sent a thrill of something strong in a warm line from his navel to his sternum: pride, excitement, anticipation. Humans made this place: real, live, humans.


It was another minute before Lex registered another man nearby, doing almost exactly the same thing he had been doing. For a moment he wondered if everyone in this place was always astonished to find themselves in such a clear, colorful world. But he discarded that idea immediately after thinking it. Emotions, he had discovered, were incredibly distracting. People who lived with them must eventually learn some way to think and feel; the usual would eventually become the commonplace. No, if there was one thing Lex was certain of, it was what his own face looked like - bright, shining, and surprised. That was the face he saw on the other man. That was the face of someone who was still surprised to feel.


He'd never noticed faces much before - people were just a facade for a robot, in Tranquility, and none of them were alive. But this one he noticed. This one had sharp cheekbones and strong brows, and the most magnificent hair that Lex had ever laid eyes on. In addition to the surprise Lex felt at truly noticing someone for the first time, he felt strangely drawn to the other man. Something pushed him forward, a little voice whispering in his ear 'go on: reach out, feel and connect - for the first time in your life, know someone.'


Lex wasn't one to ignore the voices in his head. So he took a few steps forward; he felt no nervousness, only curiosity and a sense of wonder. He had always loved words, but in Tranquility, no matter how far he stretched, he could never reach anyone. Something told him this place would be different. Something told him that here, in this forest-city, people would hear him when he spoke, look at him and truly see him, and reach back. Anticipation and excitement joined the curiosity.


"You're new here, too, aren't you?" Lex's voice was even, but there was an eagerness hiding underneath. "Sorry to bother you - I know, it's magnificent - I just don't think I've ever really seen a person before, until now. Do you know what I mean? I couldn't pass it by, I had to say something to you."





I'm alive.... I'm alive!
Lex
 
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NOLAN SALEM


Sleepless nights gave Nolan a lot of time to dwell in his own thoughts.


Nolan was a man of many words. He enjoyed a lively atmosphere, one filled with the sounds of laughter, people all around him, and a general feeling of joyfulness in the air. The stillness of the night made him uneasy, and being alone for so long with only his own thoughts to accompany him made him restless. One would think he'd be accustomed to it by now, being an insomniac his entire life. At night, the confines of his dorm room felt restrictive, as if the walls were closing in, taunting him with the promise of sleep. He'd returned to the dorms after having shown Lex where his room was and sat awake in his own room for a few hours. He needed to escape. As with nearly every other night, he slipped out of his room and into the coolness of the night. It was there that he felt the most free, his thoughts no longer seemingly trapped in mind, thrashing against his skull. While he felt out of his element in the quietness, a feeling of serenity washed over him as the stars hung above him, glowing brightly in the midnight sky. It was late, the streets of the Ruins temporarily abandoned until morning.


The solitude gave Nolan time to think, his thoughts undisturbed. He wasn't an introspective man, but alone at night, he was forced to be. He didn't think about anything particularly meaningful. Thoughts of his family skirted across his consciousness. It's been over half a decade since he'd last seen them, and every other night thoughts of them nagged at his conscience. Unwilling to allow the guilt to creep back into his mind, he quickly pushed the thoughts away. He thought of the events of the past few days, the heaviness of death still weighing down his spirits, and wondered how everyone else was holding up. Luckily, his excitement towards the upcoming induction festival pushed away the darker thoughts. It was a time Nol looked forward to and greatly enjoyed, being the gregarious man that he was. Mostly, though, his mind drew a blank as he roamed around aimlessly, the cold air surrounding him in a chilly embrace.


The sky was brightening now, the deep blue-black hues of midnight now becoming overtaken by the orange tones of the sun. It was a sight Nolan had seen countless times before, since he was awake to see it nearly every morning, and the novelty of the sunrise had been lost to him years ago. He'd been awake for quite some time now and fatigue tugged at his eyes, muddying the clarity of his thoughts. He heaved a deep sigh as he glanced around him, his hands in his pocket as he strolled lazily through the streets. It was about time for the rest of the Ruins to wake, and Nolan figured he'd head back to his room to freshen up in order to prepare himself for the rest of the day.


* * *


The sun had risen by the time Nol reached his dorm and the birds outside sang loudly (and obnoxiously) to greet the morning. Once he walked through the door, he slung off his hat from his head and tossed it into the bed. After glancing at his rugged face through the mirror, he realized he hadn't cleaned himself up from the previous night's expedition into Tranquility. With a disgruntled sigh, he made his way towards the bathroom to make himself presentable, at the very least.


He emerged from the bathroom looking noticeably fresher than usual, with his damp hair washed and his stubble trimmed. Rummaging through his drawers for a clean pair of clothing, he picked out a set that hardly differed from his usual attire: a dark long sleeve tee and jeans, finished off with his grey baseball cap. After preparing a pot of coffee, he sat on his bed (the chairs in his room were occupied by mounds of items that Nol neither needed nor used) sipping his drink from the red mug he'd bought from Lugh the day before. Once he finished, he rose with a grunt. With that, he was ready to face the day ahead and strolled out of his room, hands stuffed into his pockets.
 
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S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





Deep, uninterrupted sleep was something that Sola didn't get very often. Her insomnia, when not keeping her wide awake, usually woke her up every couple of hours. If it wasn't her general inability to sleep well, it was nightmares. Either way, she was extraordinarily bad at sleep. Tonight, however, was different. She rested deeply, soundly, without stirring. It was a silky and rich sleep, not even rippled by a dream. When her eyes finally fluttered open, she was taken aback by exactly how well rested she felt.


A smile formed on her lips as she remembered where she was. She lay exactly where she fell asleep, with her head against Kais' chest and her arm wrapped loosely around his midsection. Reluctance filled her as she gazed at him for a moment, his face looking serene and unperturbed. He was deeply asleep still, his breathing even and steady. It felt like they were still in a bubble of two, and she wasn't quite ready to leave it just yet. A large part of her wanted to settle against him again and let herself fall back asleep.


She remembered her plans for the day and blinked. As much as she would have loved to stay, she couldn't just completely fall back on her plans. Moving fluidly, she slowly inched her body away from Kais' and quietly slipped out of bed. Careful not to to disturb him, she moved silently crossed the room on light feet.


Kais woke when she slipped away, feeling the shift of the bed beneath him. It was a slow wake, and an incomplete one; he opened dark eyes and watched her as she began to move away from the bed. He remembered that she had to go somewhere - his sleep-addled mind couldn't quite remember where - and he knew he couldn't stop her. But as she padded quietly for the door, he couldn't help himself but try.


"Not even going to give me a kiss goodbye?" He asked wryly, rolling over so that he was splayed out on his stomach, one arm nearly reaching across to the other side of the bed. His head rested still on the pillow; his hair was a mess, as he hadn't bothered to comb it before it dried, and it was clear from his expression that he wasn't completely awake.


Kais' words stopped Sola just as she reached the door. Turning, a laugh spilled from her lips as she saw him flopped over on his stomach and reaching for her. A smile slowly spread across her face, seeing his dark locks disheveled in a way that she found absolutely adorable. She made her way back towards where he lay, stooping to smooth hair away from his face.


"I can make time for one, as inconvenient as it is," she said with a small laugh, kissing him softly before standing again. "I'll see you tonight at the dance then. I'll have to look extra nice. Don't know if you heard, but I have a date for once,"


She added the last part with a wink, before grinning and turning to leave. She waved at him before opening the door and disappearing into the hallway. Once in the corridor, she picked up her pace to get to her room. Partially because Savi was waiting for her, but also because she really didn't want to run into Shasta.


Arriving at her door in less then a minute, she pushed it open to find an empty studio. Sunlight poured into the room, making it much brighter than Kais' space and allowing her to see that it was later than she initially thought. Solara checked in the bathroom and let her gaze sweep the rest of the area before letting out an annoyed sigh. Guilt settled in her as she crossed her arms, knowing that she had missed seeing Savi because she was with Kais. How could she be such a careless friend? She'd have to make it up to her, somehow. Maybe make a second trip to the Market at some point.


Sighing, Solara ran a hand through her hair. She locked her door and shuffled to the bathroom. Stripping off all her wrinkled sleeping clothes, she tossed them in the hamper and stepped into the shower. The hot water soothed her, helping her feel more alert and calm. The smell of lavender filled the air as she washed up. Fifteen minutes later, she emerged feeling clean and even more at peace. Drying off and wrapping a towel around herself, she moved to her dresser. For now, she put on a pair of jeans and a simple black tank top. She knew she'd have to change before the induction festival and dance. Making a mental note to stop by Veda's room and ask if she wanted to get ready together, Sola wondered if anyone has even gotten around to telling the other woman about what the festival actually was.


Stepping into the kitchen, she pulled a box of tea bags from the cabinet. Maybe she could see if Kais would want to join her in a quick breakfast before she stopped by Veda's room and then started her busy day of helping set up for the event. She reached into her fridge for the leftover box of cinnamon rolls before slipping on her sandals and leaving the room.


Sola walked through the Oak at a quick pace before finding herself at Kais' door yet again. She adjusted the boxes in her hands before running her fingers through her damp hair self consciously. Stifling the urge to roll her eyes at her own nervousness, she knocked on the door since he hadn't been expecting her. She stood outside for a moment, hoping he was awake and still in his room.
 





Keanu Forrester



​



A voice melted through Keanu's thoughts, his eyes opening as he turned towards its owner. Standing there in front of him was a man with an expression similar to the one on his own face. His hair was a molten gold color under the sunlight, and his eyes made Keanu falter. They were bright and alive, with so much intensity behind them.


He was struck all of a sudden by how diverse beauty could be. The earth was gorgeous in a way that was organic and ethereal. The man in front of him was lovely in an entirely different way, in a more electric sort of manner. How had he lived before, without noticing these details? He was so captivated for a moment, seeing such beauty again, that it took him a beat or two to register what was being said.


He understood exactly what the man was talking about. It would be impossible not to, as his own experience with that seemed like it would be forever burned into his memory. Keanu thought back to the first time he had seen Solara after regaining his vision. He remembered seeing liquid eyes and raven hair, hearing her musical laugh. She had taken the breath out of him, and in that moment, he thought he would never see anything quite as beautiful as her. He also thought about everyone else he had met in The Ruins so far-- about how Savi had made him laugh, about how Veda made him feel like he somehow had a little piece of home here, about how Helene had given him cinnamon roll that made him feel like everything would be okay.


Keanu blinked, a breezy smile slipping across his face as he focused on the man in front of him.


"I know exactly what you mean. But when I tried talking to the person, it didn't end all that well for me," he said with a laugh. "I'm glad you talked to me, though. I'm Keanu. Got here just a couple of days ago,"
 
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Jasmine Jordana Bloom


 Stone District | Bored | Outfit
​





"Jasminium Grandiflorum." her mother said, only once. The voice was void of compassion, or any other thing a mother should have towards their own child. The name has been heard many times in Jasmine's short, repetitive time in this life. It was a reminder. She wasn't sure what for. Her mother had explained it long ago, when she was a child. Jasmine had simply forgotten after years of not hearing it. The lack of compassion in her mother's voice didn't bother her. That was the nature of the Patch. The nature of the very thing she spent her career working on. Things that would normally set anyone without the Patch into an emotional state didn't affect her. Or nearly anyone else in Tranquility. Well, to say they didn't affect her would be a lie. Something stirred within her, but she wasn't sure what. It may have just been the bland leftovers she ate, but she sensed it was more than that. It was the feeling that something wasn't right


"Mother. I have news for you. I think you'll be quite pleased." Jasmine's voice was light and soft. Almost hopeful. Almost. Her mother looked over at her and narrowed her eyes. Jasmine couldn't tell whether it was a form of animosity or not. Hyacinth. The name of her mother. Also the name of a purple flower. The tradition had been going for quite some time now. It was only fitting when her mother named her after a flower as well. Jasmine had never been a fan of Hyacinths. They were pretty enough, sure. But when you got real close to them, you realized that they were actually kind of unconventionally ugly. She had only seen such things in textbooks sadly. Perhaps if she were exposed to a real one she may feel different, but she knew that would never happen and she was content with it. She was content with nearly everything in her life. But nearly everything did not equal everything.


"Well, are you going to just stand there and waste both of our time, or are you going to tell me?" her mother's jarring voice snapped her out of her thoughts and refocused her back onto the main subject. "Of course, yes. My apologies, mother." Jasmine said calmly. "Asher and I applied for Unit Status. We should be receiving word of acceptance or rejection today, although chances of rejection are low." she said in the same calm, uncaring tone. The whole idea had been Asher's. Jasmine was just convinced by him that it would perhaps bring them closer, making it easier for them to bond at home. Jasmine disagreed, but nonetheless conceded. She watched for her mother's reaction patiently, wondering how it would go over with her.


"I see. Congratulations. You know how I feel about your partnership with anyone but a government worker from the Diamond District." her mother said in an even more cold tone than usual. "Ah... yes mother. I know. But I'm afraid it's too late now. And even if it wasn't, I'm almost positive that Diamond District residents are not candidates for Marriage Pacts with people from other districts. That is merely an assumption though, and I have no factual research to prove my point." she said slowly, hoping to help her mother understand. For as long as Jasmine could remember, her mother had been preparing her for the Marriage Pact. When she wasn't studying in school she was taking Etiquette classes. They seemed relatively needless to Jasmine, but she grew to accept them, just as she grew to accept that her mother did not view her an intelligent individual. Rather, she viewed her as a property to get rid of by marrying her off to some government official. If Jasmine hadn't had the Patch, she might've felt severely disappointed. Instead she merely accepted her mother's point of view and move on. There was nothing else she could do. "I see." her mother said in her usual voice. Nothing she could do. "Well, it would probably be best if you left. You have a busy day ahead of you, do you not?" Quite honestly, she didn't have much of a busy day, but she did have things to do. There were some slight preparations to be made at work, a few things to be finished up, and then she'd be home in time to get the news on the Unit Status application. So she nodded and left, going off to the Blood District. Something about a chemical imbalance in one of her formulas for an experimental new Patch. It was fixed with relative ease once she arrived. Menial things, honestly. An assistant could've done it, but she preferred to do these things herself. It guaranteed efficiency. She prepared the other formulas, although they'd need at least seventy two hours to settle. With nothing left to do, she headed home. The trip home was boring, except one thing stuck out to her. A large graffiti tag on the wall of a building. Find the pill. 23:30. She had seen these before. Whoever was putting these up was going to be severely punished. But it sparked something within her she had not felt since her days in school. She was curious. She wanted to know more. She would figure out what 23:30 meant. She would find these people leaving these tags. She had to. The burning curiosity within her would not subside until she did.


When she arrived home, she found her husband Asher staring at a datapad. It looked as though the application results had come in sooner than she'd thought. "Hello, I'm home. What are you looking at, Asher?" her voice was filled with curiosity, something Asher had not heard before. He turned and gave her a strange look. "It's our application results for the Unit Status. Are you doing well? You sounded... strange when you said that. Is everything satisfactory?" he said in a concerned voice, although the concern was most likely stemming from the fact that he was worried she may be Deviating. "Yes, I'm doing perfectly fine, thank you for asking." Heh. She wouldn't know perfectly fine if it slapped her across the face. She just wanted to know the application status.


"We were accepted." is all she hears when that feeling from earlier this morning hits her again, but much stronger this time. A baby. She'd be having a baby. His baby. She tried to push the feeling into the back of her mind and forget about it, but something just wouldn't allow it. This didn't feel right. She didn't want this. She didn't want to have his baby. Hell, she didn't even know him that well. She didn't even want to be married to him. This wasn't right. Nothing about this relationship was right. She didn't want a baby and she certainly didn't want to have one with him. The feeling was strange. She was unsure of where the feeling was coming from, but she disliked it. Perhaps she needed to use the experimental Patch. Maybe that would make this feeling go away. Whatever it was, it was bad. The image of herself with a large, pregnant belly flashed through her mind. Before she knew it, she was making her way to the bathroom to spill her guts, literally. This was the worst news she'd ever heard. Two words kept repeating in the back of her mind and she couldn't quite deduce why. Jasminium Grandiflorum. Jasminium Grandiflorum. Jasminium Grandiflorum.






 
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Salix "Lex" Darinell

The Ruins | Outside the Dorms


Scientist Pipette Operator Runaway ????
​



Lex watched as a smile formed on the other man's face and couldn't help but mirror it. It was almost as if smiles were contagious in this place. Teeth flashed in a bright grin; Lex felt truly happy - happy to smile, happy to feel happy, happy to have someone to be happy with, and truly ecstatic to have made a connection, however small it might have been. The little spark of excitement and anticipation inside him grew into something bigger, something more unrestrained and very nearly hungry.


Connections - relationships - after nearly a lifetime of watching everyone around him turn their backs and fold their arms, he had finally reached out to someone who had reached back, and now he wanted more. He wanted to meet more people, and learn about each and every one of them. He wanted to see what people were truly like without the patch. He wanted to explore and experiment, he wanted to know what other people wanted, and he wanted to use that to connect with them.


The man - Keanu - introduced himself and made mention of his own initial experiences in this strange new world. Though Lex's curiosity was immediately piqued, he introduced himself first, before asking any questions.





"I'm Lex, I only just arrived last night, and haven't really any idea what I'm doing here," he admitted, though with an air of amusement, rather than sheepishness. "What did you mean when you said it didn't end well for you?"


Truly, Lex was intrigued; the whole world seemed new and unpredictable, and it seemed only logical that this emotional world would have pitfalls in it. While he wanted to know where not to step, himself, Lex was more interested in just learning the what and the why of this place.





I'm alive.... I'm alive!
Lex
 

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​



Kais fell back asleep with a smile on his lips after Sola left. He had never been much of a morning person, and late nights accentuated that. The very well-designed blinds covering the window by his bed certainly helped; inside his room, in spite of the sun outside, was a darkness illuminated only by a handful of LEDs in various electronics throughout the room.



Before he had a chance to catch up on several mornings of missed sleep, however, a knock on the door roused him. He opened his eyes, squinting through the dim light toward the door as if that would help him ascertain who had knocked. Who would be looking for him at this time of day? Moreover, who would be looking for him here? There were two possibilities, really - either it was someone important, in which case, they could let themselves in, or it was someone unimportant, in which case he wasn't going to bother to let them in. Either way, he wasn't getting up.





"If you have a key, come in; if not, go away!" Kais called toward the door, not moving an inch.


Sola laughed at Kais' directness as she fiddled with her keys for a moment before unlocking his door with the tag. She pushed it open and peered inside, her eyes not accustomed to the darkness of the room. Squinting, she blinked and could make him out to be in more or less the same position as when she'd left.


Closing the door behind her, she held up the boxes of tea bags and leftover cinnamon rolls...a near-pointless gesture, given at how dark it was.


"Savi had already left by the time I got back to my room. I thought I could convince you to have a cup of tea and a cinnamon roll with me before I have to go. But I can go if you want to get some more sleep, too,"


Kais smiled as the lock clicked and Sola came in. His eyes were well enough adjusted to the darkness that he could see she was holding a box of something--exactly what it was, he wasn't certain--but he was pleased to see her, regardless of what she brought with her.





"Don't lie. You couldn't keep away," He said, tone wry. He rolled over onto his back and stretched dramatically, "I'll let you stay, if you want to be here so bad."


He yawned widely before sitting up and sliding off the bed. When he stood, the bed retracted back into the wall, leaving the space free. Kais crossed the the window and opened the blinds; they slid to one side of the window, bathing the little apartment in light. For a moment he stood, blinking in the light and allowing his eyes to adjust. When he could see again, he turned back toward Sola.


"Alright. I suppose I can be convinced to have a cinnamon roll and some tea," He smiled easily at her, crossing to the kitchen to put the kettle on. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't quite remember when the last time he had eaten was.


While he waited for the water, he searched his cupboards for a pair of cups. He used his kitchen so infrequently that he could not remember where he kept them. Eventually he found a pair of plain white mugs, which he set out on the bar, leaning against the inside as he faced out, toward Sola.


"You going to talk to Shasta, today?"


 

S o l a r a || F e i v e l


spark scout





Sunshine spilled into the room, causing Sola's eyes to flutter as they got used to the new lighting. A grin found its way on her face at his sarcastic comment as she moved to set the two boxes on the counter. For a moment, she simply watched as Kais moved around the kitchen, retrieving the kettle for tea. The familiarity and easiness that existed between them was something that she had always appreciated, and she was grateful that adding a new dynamic to their relationship hadn't changed that.


The mention of Shasta’s name caused a sigh to slip from Sola’s mouth. She perched on one of the barstools and leaned forward to rest her elbows on the counter. Settling her chin in her hand, she bit her lip as she considered how the conversation with her older brother would go. She had seen Shasta very briefly the day before, in the middle of his hectic schedule. There hadn't been much time to talk, with the twins finally being home. She had just stopped by his suite for a handful of minutes to make sure he was actually home and safe. The miniature speech she'd prepared flew out of her mind, and she'd hugged him tightly instead...too full of relief to really think about anything else. He conceded to discussing the matter later. Sola fixed her gaze back to Kais. They hadn’t even really had time to talk about how Kais’ talk with Shasta went.


“I might, if I have time after helping set up for the festival. I'm at the scouting booth this time,” Sola replied with another sigh, rubbing a hand over her face. Glancing up at Kais, she continued. “We never really got a chance to talk about how it went between you and him yesterday,”


Her mind shifted for a moment to what they had done instead. They had finally gotten the chance to enjoy each other's company, and the words she had been waiting to say were at last no longer bottled up. A happy feeling wriggled in her despite the stress of talking to Shasta. She opened the box of teabags, extracting two paper-wrapped packets and sliding one over to Kais.
 
Aisha Rose Mifsud


spark soldier





The morning sun brought a wave of nostalgia for Aisha. She remembered when she was in the same position the recruits were now. Young and scrappy, ready to explore her newfound emotions and find out what section of The Spark her destiny lay. That had been about five years ago, give or take.


It had been approximately five years since Aisha had spoken to any of her family. She wanted to protect them, and if Paxcor knew that they were in contact with a Deviant--


She would not let that happen.


Still, sometimes when she saw new recruits, she wondered if they knew a Kaleel, or if they'd ever heard the surname Mifsud. She wanted to ask her her brother was doing; he should be 16 this year, he should be beginning the rest of his life. She remembered when she was 16, and had decided Tranquility was a place oozing with lies. She had been lucky to realize it. Most were not.


Now was not the day to dwell on things. No day was, really, but especially not today. Aisha Mifsud was a woman with responsibilities, with things to do, places to be and people to see. Today's people, places and things were different, though; different in a good or bad way had been yet to determine. She finished her coffee, grabbed a roll of bread and put her pair of faded brown combat boots on, then strapped her machete and its holster to her thigh. It wouldn't be a bad thing to intimidate a little today, she thought with a smirk. One last check in the mirror to make sure her hair was good and glasses were even, and then out the door, making sure to lock it behind her.


Now, to go find the new recruits. That was going to be fun. They were all probably going to be a mess, with the whole 'emotion' thing still a foreign concept. People like Shasta and Sola were born lucky, never having to know the reality of living in a world where feelings were all but banned, personalities frowned upon, and malcontent practically unheard of. People forced to live an apathetic life not all that different than the way that cattle existed.


The Spark had done good with this most recent mission of liberation. She'd forgotten the count, but Aisha knew it was a good amount of people. She'd heard the word 'potential' in association with the recruits, but she would be the judge of that. Potential wasn't a word to just throw around as some sort of coddling for those who weren't as talented or useful; it was meant for those who were willing to work, who showed ambition and weren't afraid to fail. Maybe she was biased, but it was her firm opinion that failure was the most important step in success.


Taking the last bite of her breakfast, Aisha saw two of the new recruits outside the dorms, basking in the sun. They were talking to each other. She almost snorted at how amazed they seemed by the world. As she grew closer, she noted that both were men. They were smiling. Neither had seemed to notice her.


"So, how're you two getting on with everything?" She'd meant to sound friendly, or at least a bit welcoming...but her natural tone was neither. More along the lines of threatening, if she was going to be honest.


Aisha remembered why she hated introducing herself to new people.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Shivali Lila



The new day announced itself as it usually did--by flooding in through the uncovered windows in Shivali's bedroom, bringing life and color to the room. She left all her windows uncovered for exactly this reason--the sun was the absolute best alarm clock in the world. Pure, natural, light; there was simply no better way to wake up. And so, when the light streamed across her bed, she woke gracefully and with good cheer. She slid out of bed, wearing only a nightshirt over her underwear, and stretched her hands over her head, arching her back and making a noise that was part sigh, part groan.





Her room was neither small nor large, but just the right size. The walls were painted an off-white eggshell color, but the actual walls were hardly visible behind a multitude of paintings. The paintings were of a variety of things, but with a certain them: -there were many that depicted nature, especially flowers, others which were portraits of herself, or herself with Sapphira, and still others which seemed to be of nothing in particular, but had a certain flow and motion to them. The floor was hardwood--all the better for dancing on--and the furniture was sparse. There was a dresser, overflowing with the clothes she had collected, a similarly-full closet, and a hammock in lieu of a mattress in a frame. The hammock was woven from scarves and scraps of fabric knotted together in a grid and hung from the ceiling, and inside was a comfortable nest of richly colored blankets--turquoise, olive, and fuchsia.





Shivali stretched thoroughly before making her way to the door and exiting into the common space shared between herself and Sapphira. Their suite in the doors was made up of two bedrooms, with shared kitchen, dining, living, and bathing space. The colors here were slightly more subdued and cohesive, but still bright and welcoming. The back of the living space--opposite the exit to the hall--held the entrance to the two bedrooms. Between them was a single bathroom with two doors and more counter space than most people needed. The rest of the living space was open, all combined into one single room, with a sunken, carpeted lounge area, and a neat kitchen with a small table. The pair had elected to leave the dining space empty, opting instead for a kitchen table, so as to leave that space open for dancing, whenever necessary. Of course, Shivali had been known to make space where ever she went for dancing, regardless of how much space was available. However, she tended to be much less destructive if empty space was provided.





As she padded across the room on bare feet, Shivali hummed. It was one of Saph's songs, and she half-skipped, half-walked to the kitchen while she hummed. She flitted across the kitchen, heating water and rummaging through the boxes of tea until she found a flavor she wanted, then she pranced around to find a mug that suited her mood, never ceasing to hum. She spun circles while she waited for the water to boil, nearly forgetting to put the tea and the mug together. It wouldn't have been the first time she had hot water instead of tea in the morning.
 





Keanu Forrester



​



Keanu tilted his head to the side as he thought about Lex's question, not exactly sure how to explain how Kais' face had gone from human to something mechanical. He gave the man a good natured smile, and shrugged his shoulders easily. He felt a slight blush color his face as he recalled the more minute details of the event, running his fingers through his hair before letting his hand fall to his side.


"Ah, well-" he began to stammer hesitantly, slightly embarrassed. "There was this girl. Maybe you've met her. Solara. She's the one that gave me the Pill. I ran into her...and was just so taken aback by how pretty she was. It was like seeing someone for the very first time. I called her beautiful without thinking, and, ah, I...kind of basically got put into place by a man that was with her. Maybe her Marriage Pact Partner, I don't really know."


He stopped to laugh awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. Before he could say anything else, another woman had approached them. Keanu blinked, admiring the endless spirals of curly hair that she had. Her voice brought him back down to earth. She had said something rather polite, though her voice came off almost cold. Still, Keanu smiled and inclined his head towards her.


"It's overwhelming, but in the best way. Thank you," he replied before looking over to Lex and then back to the woman. "I'm Keanu. Nice to meet you,"
 

Kais Wiltchil

Spark Strategist

​



At Sola's mention of Kais' own talk with Shasta, he made a face. She deserved to know what had happened, and he had been meaning to tell her. But neither of those things made him actually
want to go back over what had happened. He took the teabag she offered and poured hot water into both of their mugs when the kettle boiled, then he ran a hand through his tangled hair, trying to decide how best to explain what had happened.





"It was... uncomfortable, in a word. But I suppose it went as you might expect," Kais considered, twisting his hair together and draping it over one shoulder. He filtered through exactly what had happened with Shasta, deciding what was necessary, what was relevant, and what could be left out.


It was probably best to leave out his own overreaction of the situation--and the fear he had felt. Also the fact that he had called Shasta an idiot. These were the sort of things he was fairly certain he wanted to forget, himself--and it would be preferable if Sola didn't hear about them. The fewer people knew, the easier it would be to bury it and forget it had happened. Shasta was unlikely to bring it back up, and Kais was certainly not going to if no one else did.


"Shasta was as understanding as could reasonably be expected--once I had explained that, in fact, we had not been hiding anything from him. And by that, I mean, he doesn't believe we can have a successful relationship, but isn't going to interfere." Hurt and disappointment showed on Kais' face; it hurt to know that his best friend didn't really understand him and seemed to have no faith in him--at least not so far as this was concerned. Though he knew Shasta was just being cautious and protective of his only sister, it still hurt.


Kais sighed, tugged distractedly at his hair. "I told him we would prove him wrong, but somehow it doesn't make me feel any better. I feel like we shouldn't have to." He paused, then shook his head, "I don't know what I expected. I suppose I just hoped he knew me a little better."


Shasta's words played through his mind, as if he'd recorded them. How could he possibly think that Kais wouldn't--or couldn't--take care of Sola? Was it so impossible to believe that maybe, just maybe, he had abilities besides shooting people in the head from very far away? That was what people thought of him, and Kais expected it from them. But not from Shasta. From Shasta he expected more understanding; Shasta had seen who he was, underneath everything he showed to the world, everything he hid behind. He knew Kais.


Or at least, Kais had thought he did.
 
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