Fantasy ☽ umbra moderna ☾

[Aster]

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[Aster]

Interactions: None
Mood: x
Location: Salem Town

Cato Marshall Caine​

Cato hated moving and for good reason too considering how every time he did so, he had to repeat the same thrice damned processes he so loathed. New guardians, new schools, new friends, new neighbors, new scorning faces.

Hurray.

But out of everything, there was nothing more he hated than them. The plants. The fucking plants, and it just happened to be in his luck that his new home was situated near a cornfield and only a walk away from the forest. They were everywhere.

He could hear them as he walked through the small town, arriving at the doorstep of his new home. A distant relative of his late mother, a kind looking lady who calls herself his aunt, guided him in with a warm hand on his shoulder. He heard them like a multitude of whispers echoing in his head. It drove him insane.

His dark gaze fell on the poorly lit home. It looked dreary and that was oddly comforting. His scowl deepened as he walked past a vase of tulips.

"Eww. He looks as bad as Aunt Karma's smelly old carpet," he hears them say in unison. Flowers have a habit of doing that, especially when they were of the same species. They always spoke as a collective bunch, bitching like a clique of mean girls in high school dramas. Cato hated flowers.

"Assholes," he muttered under his breath, knowing that his appearance was far from the best condition. His skin was pale and dry, making the hollows of his eyes stand out. His eye bags were carrying an impressive load themselves.

"What was that, honey?" Aunt Karma asked.

"Nothing," Cato replied quickly, shifting the backpack to another shoulder. The aunt stopped and gave him a concerned stare. She, like most of his relatives, knew full well that Cato was... not like other kids.

"Well, okay honey," Aunt Karma says, testing her words as if Cato would fall into a spazzing fit if she said something wrong, "You can leave your stuff here. Go ahead and explore the town if you want, but make sure you come back home for dinner. Dinner's at 6, okay?"

Cato merely lifted his eyes at her in response, mumbling a gruff, "Sure," before turning out the door. Explore the town, she said. He scoffed when he was far enough.

They were in the middle of nowhere, in a town situated across an old, abandoned highway Cato doubts is even on the map anymore. There's a public high school down one of the worn out roads, only accessible through car or bus; but buses stop running at 4:30 PM on weekdays and even earlier on weekends. There was really no point in checking that place out, seeing how he'd be attending the next remaining years of his youth there; a thought he regards with dread. He was never understood there and failed to fit in, regardless of the amount of times he's transferred around.

He was neither popular nor sociable, criticizing even the oddballs who did their best to include him in their strange games of dungeons and dragons or fanatic talks about the latest padme fanfiction. Cato wasn't like that. Cato was just a normal kid, with normal interests, who also so happened to be able to talk to plants. Overlooking the third fact, he would've considered himself a pretty lucky boy who could've lived an exceedingly pleasant, average life. If it weren't for those damn plants.

Maybe this time, things would be different. But that was all hopeful wishing and not even Cato believed in those words anymore. If he was lucky, he'd get by this chapter of his life without any problems.

He looked down at the scuffs of his sneakers and then back up at the grey sky. The clouds looked like they were constipated with rainwater and yet, for minutes nothing happened. Sometimes, like him, not even the sky can bring itself to cry.

 

[Merciless]

Jett​

location: salem town​

With a loud crunch and a pained howl a ginger haired man ungracefully toppled over to the ground. He was clutching his (probably) broken and bleeding nose for dear life and dared to throw a stinky eye to his assaulter.

Jett - the one who had punched the man straight in his ugly crooked nose - was casually loosening his wrist after the blow. His black leather gloves creaked satisfactorily because of the movement.

“Listen, Greg, I don’t want any more trouble from you. One betrayal was enough.” Jett said in his monotone voice, as if the whole situation was of zero interest to him. “You give me the information and we just part ways like good pals.” He continued as he busied his hands by retrieving a pack of cigarets from his coat pocket.

The ginger looked at him with a sneer and spitted blood right next to Jett’s black military styled boots. “How about you fuck yourself, Jett? Your ‘information’ is costing me a lot. They almost caught me.”

Jett didn’t react to the man’s outburst as he lit a cigaret. He inhaled deeply and then blew the smoke into the ginger’s face as he crouched down to face the man. “Well I guess if you can’t get me the information I need, I will have to find someone else.” Jett twisted his neck with a pop, feigning boredom. " You know what that means, right?” He added lazily as he took another puff of the cigaret.

The man looked horrified at that. “No please! You don’t know what they will do to her if they find out!” He reached to grab for Jett but the white haired man moved away.

Jett waved him off. “Yeah, no kidding asshole, we are all in the same boat here.” He said gruffly.

“Alright. Listen. They’re planning something but I haven’t been able to find out what exactly. All I can say is that they have developed something to track you lot down.” The ginger sighed. “I don’t know how but you won’t be able to hide for much longer I’m afraid.”

Jett nodded solemnly. “I thought as much. Don’t worry, your daughter is save for now but I will relocate her to be sure.” He put out his cigaret on the dirty pavement and stood up. “Next time you try to betray me I won’t be as kind, Greg.” He ended their conversation by glaring at the ginger haired man, stepping over a thoroughly broken little bug microphone to listen in on their little talk.

 

[Aster]

Interactions: Jett
Mood: Curious
Location: Salem Town

Anora​

Like a caged bird in an empty gilded cage, Anora grew up in solitude within the confines of the mansion's solid grey walls. On rare occasions where both her parents and her caretaker were out, she was given the luxury to go out on a walk, to take in whatever poor sights the dreary town had to offer. It was walks like these which stretched on for hours as the young girl made valiant efforts to explore ever nook and cranny. This one was no different, but she had been unlucky.

Her misfortune led her to witness the end of a scene between two large men, one clearly more injured than the other. She should've left right there and then, moving on silently but when the ginger-haired man swore he wouldn't betray in a desperate sob before scrambling away, Anora's senses prickled.

"He's lying," the words left her mouth in an declarative monotone. The truth was as plain as day to her and she gasped at what she's done, quickly clasping her hand over her mouth.

 

[Merciless]

Jett​

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location: salem town​

“He’s lying.” A soft monotone voice said. It sounded like a robot. A child robot.

Jett turned around to look at the source of the voice. Just as he had guessed, it was a little girl. The girl looked shocked at the fact that she had spoken up and was clasping her hand over her mouth. Well, she wasn’t wrong and he couldn’t blame her for saying the obvious. Greg was an asshole.

The corners of Jett’s mouth lifted into a little sad smile. “Hey, little miss,” He started, “don’t you know it’s bad to listen in on conversations?” He looked around then turned back to her with a frown. “Especially when you're all by yourself and in a dirty alley like this.”

 

[Aster]

Interactions: Jett
Mood: Neutral
Location: Salem Town

Anora​

It would make sense for Anora, being the 12 year old girl that she is, to feel scared or threatened when addressed by such a rough looking male, standing lone in the dark alleyway with a bleeding, half-beaten man at his feet; but she wasn't.

There were many strange things which happened in Salem town. Most which were swept under the rug and never uttered again. Try as people might, Anora usually found herself as an eyewitness to these puzzling phenomenons, all which failed to faze her. While most kids her aged would be terrified for their well-being, Anora remained unconcerned. Aloof even despite logic telling her otherwise.

You encounter all sorts of things in the god-forsaken town, she's learned. No one except the unwanted scraps of society occupy the wide, empty space and she's grown jaded to the different types of peculiarities she's met. Most of them were friendly, she thinks.

Her reaction is to nod obediently at the stern reproach. The truth in the man's words told her he meant well for her, like her parents and every other elder in the town. This made her automatically categorize him as a friendly face and she relaxed a bit more. Her eyes shifted to the twitching man who was attempting to crawl away from the larger male.

"What are you going to do about him? He plans to snitch," she comments flatly. There was unwavering assurance in her voice.

The ginger looks up at her with livid hatred. "You shut your mouth, you little bitch! I'll have your head if you say more shit. I won't put my daughter at risk," he spats in defense.

Anora stares down at him, cocking her head to the side as she processes the information. One truth, one lie. She wonders which is which but chooses not to address either.

The prolonged eye contact she shares with the ginger clicked in a sudden revelation.

This child isn't normal, he realizes.

"You're fucking one of them, aren't you?"

She doesn't comprehend what he's asking and turns to ask the standing male instead. "What's 'them'?" Before anyone could answer, the sky began to pour.

Interactions: Cornelia
Mood: Anxious
Location: Salem Town

Cato Marshall Caine​

Cato should've known better than to go out when the sky was looking cloudy and ready to give in at any moment. He was already a good distance away from his house when it finally started to rain and finding no better shelter than some dark, sketchy store, Cato ran in to take cover from the rain.

The skulls and candles were the first thing he sees when he enters. Strange markings fill the walls and the store seemed empty.

"Hello?" he called out, hearing no voices other than his own. It didn't seem like there were any plants in the shop either.

His eyes followed the strange plethora of miscellaneous items arranged in shelves and glass cases. They seemed to be on display for sell but Cato didn't see why anyone would want to buy some overpriced glowing crystals or ancient hawk feathers. He nearly jumps out of his skin when he finally hears a voice and turns to the source, not knowing what to expect.

 

[Merciless]

Jett​

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location: salem town​

Jett choked on his spit at the words of the young miss. Snitch, huh? She was way too straightforward.

Greg like always decided to make matters worse by opening his mouth. In all honesty his existence was bad enough but he also had to be able to talk. He always had such unsophisticated language. Calling a child a bitch? Greg was the one putting his daughter at risk with his speech.

Jett had enough. Maybe freezing his tongue off would be good.

He was about to do that, the girl and Greg having a stare contest, but Greg’s observation stopped him.

The girl looked at him asking him the question he always dreaded.

What exactly they were? He didn’t know. Freak, demon, alien - he had heard it all.

Just his luck that it started pouring rain. As the droplets fell on his face they started to chill because of his abnormal body temperature. The droplets slowly but surely started turning into ice. It was uncomfortable and he hurriedly pulled his hoodie over his head.

“They are advanced humans.” He answered calmly. “Don’t get involved little miss.” Then with hostility in his steps he approached Greg. “And you, I want you to get the fuck away from here as far as you can because if see you anywhere close to this town I will kill you.”

Greg gulped as he nodded and ran away as fast as he could.

Jett turned back to the girl.

Cornelia​

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location: salem town​

WILL ADD TOMORROW

 

[Aster]

Interactions: Jett
Mood: Excited
Location: Salem Town

Anora​

Anora registers the man's answer, expression dead and chin tilted at an angle. She doesn't look surprised or in disbelief, knowing for a fact that what he said was true---not because she was aware that Unusuals existed but merely because of the compulsion deep within her soul which told her yes, he's telling the truth.

It was the same voice which told her lie when her parents said they loved her and are protecting her by keeping her in Salem Town instead of sending her to school; the same voice which told her truth when she asked herself in the mirror if she was normal. A voice as clear as day, as obvious as the sky was blue. Undeniable, clear and direct.

It made sense why she was alone in the large empty mansion, save for her butlers and tutors who homeschool her and care for her. Occasionally her brother would come around to check how she's doing but Anora had no one she could call a friend; because she was, well, Unusual.

It brought her a strange sense of comfort and revelation when she caught sight of the droplets which condensed into shards of ice on the man's cheek. She had tilted her head to confirm her suspicions, seeing well for herself the sheer layer of frost beginning to form from beneath that hood.

Her eyes widened as she stepped closer to the male. A faint glimmer of hope took flame inside her.

"You're one of them then? An advanced human?" she asked, almost close enough to grab the stranger. The rain pleated down, drenching her hair and clothes but rain was the least of her concerns now.