Onyx and Ivory (CA - Melinda & Diane)
Quote from Indy on May 27, 2021, 11:57 pmMelinda maintained eye-contact, watching Diane’s eyes dance before the candle-light. Was it Diane who drew near the light that could burn her, or she it? Or perhaps both simultaneously, caught by the same beacon in the darkness…
“Then in that way, perhaps we stand upon even ground at this moment. I cannot imagine a world where the places we has traveled, the people we have met, the illnesses we carry, and even our very emotions are worn upon us for all to see much as they would a light jacket. So forgive me if I do not appreciate the gravity of the gesture. I can only navigate by that which I see, and in understanding the manners of people”.
Melinda dared a small smile, “I would still call your kind that, yes? A people? And all people want something, if only you know how to ask. My ‘end’ is simple, so to speak. I see an opportunity. I possess a piece of knowledge you do not, and you possess resources I do not. I believe our work could mutually benefit both parties, although it would invoke risk for both of us. Yet nothing ventured is nothing gained, so the question remains what you would be willing to risk to see your desires come true”.
Melinda maintained eye-contact, watching Diane’s eyes dance before the candle-light. Was it Diane who drew near the light that could burn her, or she it? Or perhaps both simultaneously, caught by the same beacon in the darkness…
“Then in that way, perhaps we stand upon even ground at this moment. I cannot imagine a world where the places we has traveled, the people we have met, the illnesses we carry, and even our very emotions are worn upon us for all to see much as they would a light jacket. So forgive me if I do not appreciate the gravity of the gesture. I can only navigate by that which I see, and in understanding the manners of people”.
Melinda dared a small smile, “I would still call your kind that, yes? A people? And all people want something, if only you know how to ask. My ‘end’ is simple, so to speak. I see an opportunity. I possess a piece of knowledge you do not, and you possess resources I do not. I believe our work could mutually benefit both parties, although it would invoke risk for both of us. Yet nothing ventured is nothing gained, so the question remains what you would be willing to risk to see your desires come true”.
Quote from Mae on June 9, 2021, 1:36 am"Control?" Diane's voice peaked in the darkness, and for but a solemn moment it carried a maleficent echo across the corpses.
"You think that I desire control over the short of coming, those like your sister?" Her voice rescinded in sublime translucence. "Those who must depend upon a substance to exist in this world?"
Diane lowered her chin, and for perhaps the first time there was evidence of feminine vulnerability in her features. She leveled her eyes with Melinda, and by the gesture leveled with Melinda in more than one way. For that which Melinda never allowed herself to disclose was known to Diane. She remembered that night in the woods, when Melinda and Jackie thought they were alone. Moreover, every woman, even the business hardened man-made women of the world, knew the sensitive nature of the heart and its impulse to nurture its own. Diane knew Melinda's affection for her adopted sister, but she would not abuse it.
"I'm sorry to say that such control is unnecessary in my world... Those who cannot control themselves are eliminated." Diane looked indeed as she spoke, sorry, nonetheless her grace ever remained.
"Your sister may have our blood, but she is not one of us. None who walk ignorant are True-Born, and all who are not True-Born shall die.""But do not suppose you came here in vain. As I said, I am quite curious about you. I have been since I first laid eyes on you in Middlecrest. And what you said... in the woods, before her alpha came."
"I can protect her. Perhaps you have other knowledge that I would be interested to hear."
"Control?" Diane's voice peaked in the darkness, and for but a solemn moment it carried a maleficent echo across the corpses.
"You think that I desire control over the short of coming, those like your sister?" Her voice rescinded in sublime translucence. "Those who must depend upon a substance to exist in this world?"
Diane lowered her chin, and for perhaps the first time there was evidence of feminine vulnerability in her features. She leveled her eyes with Melinda, and by the gesture leveled with Melinda in more than one way. For that which Melinda never allowed herself to disclose was known to Diane. She remembered that night in the woods, when Melinda and Jackie thought they were alone. Moreover, every woman, even the business hardened man-made women of the world, knew the sensitive nature of the heart and its impulse to nurture its own. Diane knew Melinda's affection for her adopted sister, but she would not abuse it.
"I'm sorry to say that such control is unnecessary in my world... Those who cannot control themselves are eliminated." Diane looked indeed as she spoke, sorry, nonetheless her grace ever remained.
"Your sister may have our blood, but she is not one of us. None who walk ignorant are True-Born, and all who are not True-Born shall die."
"But do not suppose you came here in vain. As I said, I am quite curious about you. I have been since I first laid eyes on you in Middlecrest. And what you said... in the woods, before her alpha came."
"I can protect her. Perhaps you have other knowledge that I would be interested to hear."
Quote from Indy on June 21, 2021, 7:30 pmMelinda regarded Diane as she caught her gaze. While perhaps some might have found the vulnerability a comfort, as though to prove their opponent was only human as it were, the woman found far more comfort by Diane's hard, thorny edges. She could trust in the logic of a bloodthirsty business decision. Yet trusting in the goodwill of another, especially a Betine, was a far harder sell.
Melinda sighed in a long muse, "Well, I suppose that does make things simpler for you. And yet, curious you were so inclined to volunteer me as a member of your kind, if that were to be my fate..."
Melinda's lips twisted to the barest corners of a smile, and faint amusement twinkled in her eyes. While the delivery of her words had been harsh, clearly by faint expression it had been intended as some manner of a joke.
"I will not deny this is in part because of my sister, Diane... However my reason for meeting you is larger than myself, and larger than her".
She glanced sidelong into the hall, clutching the candlelight, "And what would you say to know there are those who disagree with your opinions on the sanctity of bloodline? Who would say to one who considers your kind a tool to be made and controlled like one constructs a machine, though themselves has not crossed that threshold?"
Melinda's gaze caught Diane's, not showing the woman her vulnerability, but instead the contrary. Here was a woman who had been constructed from her failures and her losses. Here was a woman who would stake it all, if only to see her ends accomplished. If she were to fail, she would first try everything in her power to see she would not with single-minded efficiency.
Melinda regarded Diane as she caught her gaze. While perhaps some might have found the vulnerability a comfort, as though to prove their opponent was only human as it were, the woman found far more comfort by Diane's hard, thorny edges. She could trust in the logic of a bloodthirsty business decision. Yet trusting in the goodwill of another, especially a Betine, was a far harder sell.
Melinda sighed in a long muse, "Well, I suppose that does make things simpler for you. And yet, curious you were so inclined to volunteer me as a member of your kind, if that were to be my fate..."
Melinda's lips twisted to the barest corners of a smile, and faint amusement twinkled in her eyes. While the delivery of her words had been harsh, clearly by faint expression it had been intended as some manner of a joke.
"I will not deny this is in part because of my sister, Diane... However my reason for meeting you is larger than myself, and larger than her".
She glanced sidelong into the hall, clutching the candlelight, "And what would you say to know there are those who disagree with your opinions on the sanctity of bloodline? Who would say to one who considers your kind a tool to be made and controlled like one constructs a machine, though themselves has not crossed that threshold?"
Melinda's gaze caught Diane's, not showing the woman her vulnerability, but instead the contrary. Here was a woman who had been constructed from her failures and her losses. Here was a woman who would stake it all, if only to see her ends accomplished. If she were to fail, she would first try everything in her power to see she would not with single-minded efficiency.
Quote from Mae on June 21, 2021, 8:47 pm"I would say such were arrogant at best, and doomed to be the subject of their own fall. Those who play with fire will be consumed by it; Nature's laws are not to be contended." Diane answered without the least hesitation. She was keen to observe every inkle of emotion that ever stretched over Melinda's features. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But what do you desire? What could it be? Larger than yourself, larger than all you possess, and still you must believe I can make it happen. To change the world, I do hope you are not proposing the atom bomb nam metaphorice."
"I would say such were arrogant at best, and doomed to be the subject of their own fall. Those who play with fire will be consumed by it; Nature's laws are not to be contended." Diane answered without the least hesitation. She was keen to observe every inkle of emotion that ever stretched over Melinda's features. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"But what do you desire? What could it be? Larger than yourself, larger than all you possess, and still you must believe I can make it happen. To change the world, I do hope you are not proposing the atom bomb nam metaphorice."
Quote from Indy on July 5, 2021, 1:32 pm"No," Melinda said after a moment, "Nothing so ridiculous as that".
The woman maintained eye-contact with Diane, the same hard contours of her face where they had been last; her jaw clenched, her eyes steeled, and her nerve intact. Yet she did not hide the other expression either this time, the kind found in the eyes of a fearful child by the sound of a thunderstorm, or the sound a dog makes to the crackle of a firework. The expression did not appear to be due to Diane, but something else. Just as it was observed, it vanished beneath the hard edges.
"What I desire is of no consequence, and whether it can truly change the world is another matter. Let us simply say... I agree with you. The laws of nature should not be manipulated for the sake of an individual, and I am content to let them be as they may... Yet not all will agree with me, and some would see the world burned simply to find their single torch. Will the fire ultimately consume its wielder? Perhaps - yet nature can work slowly at times, and the scars the world bears as consequence cannot be undone".
She held the candles closer to her as she spoke, the warmth of the flames somehow cool against her skin, while simultaneously the cool air of the darkness a greater comfort than those flames at that moment. She averted her gaze.
"A meeting, Miss Betine," she said abruptly, "I ask simply that - a meeting of my employer with yours. Mine seeks resources to see its ends met. I ask not for outcome, but simply an open forum to pledge our interests... and yours to make of those interests as they will. And if my sisters' safety can be attested for.. then I ask for that as well. Of my own wellbeing, I place it least of all".
Melinda exhaled, "In exchange, I will offer you any of my own knowledge you would wish to possess".
"No," Melinda said after a moment, "Nothing so ridiculous as that".
The woman maintained eye-contact with Diane, the same hard contours of her face where they had been last; her jaw clenched, her eyes steeled, and her nerve intact. Yet she did not hide the other expression either this time, the kind found in the eyes of a fearful child by the sound of a thunderstorm, or the sound a dog makes to the crackle of a firework. The expression did not appear to be due to Diane, but something else. Just as it was observed, it vanished beneath the hard edges.
"What I desire is of no consequence, and whether it can truly change the world is another matter. Let us simply say... I agree with you. The laws of nature should not be manipulated for the sake of an individual, and I am content to let them be as they may... Yet not all will agree with me, and some would see the world burned simply to find their single torch. Will the fire ultimately consume its wielder? Perhaps - yet nature can work slowly at times, and the scars the world bears as consequence cannot be undone".
She held the candles closer to her as she spoke, the warmth of the flames somehow cool against her skin, while simultaneously the cool air of the darkness a greater comfort than those flames at that moment. She averted her gaze.
"A meeting, Miss Betine," she said abruptly, "I ask simply that - a meeting of my employer with yours. Mine seeks resources to see its ends met. I ask not for outcome, but simply an open forum to pledge our interests... and yours to make of those interests as they will. And if my sisters' safety can be attested for.. then I ask for that as well. Of my own wellbeing, I place it least of all".
Melinda exhaled, "In exchange, I will offer you any of my own knowledge you would wish to possess".
Quote from Mae on August 6, 2021, 2:11 amThere was a moment, a very long moment, in that Diane's eyes and face appeared without façade of character of form, and in that moment the cleverness of the woman and the danger of the wolf were both in one transparent and clear. She was studying the matter in her mind, the clever creature. Tempted, no doubt, but nothing in its simplicity would come easily. While she stood thinking the candlelight flickered, gracing her features with prominence and form. Then at last she made her reply.
"I'll take it." She said with a slow blink of her eyes. "Tell me your story, Melinda. Everything. And in return I'll arrange such a meeting."
There was a moment, a very long moment, in that Diane's eyes and face appeared without façade of character of form, and in that moment the cleverness of the woman and the danger of the wolf were both in one transparent and clear. She was studying the matter in her mind, the clever creature. Tempted, no doubt, but nothing in its simplicity would come easily. While she stood thinking the candlelight flickered, gracing her features with prominence and form. Then at last she made her reply.
"I'll take it." She said with a slow blink of her eyes. "Tell me your story, Melinda. Everything. And in return I'll arrange such a meeting."
Quote from Indy on August 24, 2021, 11:18 pmMelinda watched the slow machinations of Diane's musings arrive at last to the final offer. For a fraction of a moment, the walls that had enclosed the woman on their first meeting remained strong, and a firmness in her stare suggested as though she would balk the offer outright. She had planned the show-and-dance, and had prepared to give up many things - yet her own story had been least, and perhaps most, of all of them.
"If you would desire something so slight, " the woman said suddenly, a weariness settling upon her, "Then you may have it. I suppose nothing in my life has been my own, not even its story".
The woman regarded the cool shadows, "Yet I think you would agree this is a poor venue for such a tale. Though I do not fear the dead, it is best not to tell sad stories in solemn places".
Melinda watched the slow machinations of Diane's musings arrive at last to the final offer. For a fraction of a moment, the walls that had enclosed the woman on their first meeting remained strong, and a firmness in her stare suggested as though she would balk the offer outright. She had planned the show-and-dance, and had prepared to give up many things - yet her own story had been least, and perhaps most, of all of them.
"If you would desire something so slight, " the woman said suddenly, a weariness settling upon her, "Then you may have it. I suppose nothing in my life has been my own, not even its story".
The woman regarded the cool shadows, "Yet I think you would agree this is a poor venue for such a tale. Though I do not fear the dead, it is best not to tell sad stories in solemn places".
Quote from Mae on August 25, 2021, 1:08 amDiane inclined her head just so. "Very well," she said in voice deep and smooth. "It shall be an item of business at our next meeting. I'll expect the first installment then. For now..."
Diane turned from Melinda and looked down the long black halls. "The dead speak no secrets and they shall keep our correspondence safe. Leave your messages on the White Wolf's tomb and she will bring them to me. Let no other know it, and always take a different path to and from her, lest she follow you home and take you with her to the land of the dead."
Diane gestured forward into the darkness.
"Follow that hall to it's end. If you do not stray from a direct course you will come out on Martin Street, and be outside the cemetery. Attempt to reenter by that way, however, and you will surely be lost." Diane turned one last time to look Melinda in the eye. Even as she did so, her human-esque form pulled away from the shadowy blackness of her primal claws. "Until our next meeting, Melinda Channing."
And Diane sprinted away into the darkness.
Diane inclined her head just so. "Very well," she said in voice deep and smooth. "It shall be an item of business at our next meeting. I'll expect the first installment then. For now..."
Diane turned from Melinda and looked down the long black halls. "The dead speak no secrets and they shall keep our correspondence safe. Leave your messages on the White Wolf's tomb and she will bring them to me. Let no other know it, and always take a different path to and from her, lest she follow you home and take you with her to the land of the dead."
Diane gestured forward into the darkness.
"Follow that hall to it's end. If you do not stray from a direct course you will come out on Martin Street, and be outside the cemetery. Attempt to reenter by that way, however, and you will surely be lost." Diane turned one last time to look Melinda in the eye. Even as she did so, her human-esque form pulled away from the shadowy blackness of her primal claws. "Until our next meeting, Melinda Channing."
And Diane sprinted away into the darkness.
