Werewolves (RP13.1) Many Decisions: Dangers
Quote from Kaqurei on October 31, 2020, 10:35 pmSabrina's eyes followed the crumpled letter as it hit the floor--then darted to Jackie reeling backward. She waited a moment, to see if she would regain her composure. Then curiosity got the best of her and she snatched up the letter to see its contents.
"Dear Jacqueline,
I trust this message is well-received, and that your time on sabbatical has found you well-rested. Our endeavors have come to fruition faster than previously projected. Thus, our mutual employer has elected to cut your leave of absence short.
Enclosed you will find instructions for your re-assignment. Follow the instructions well and I assure you that your transition will be seamless.
Regards,
Melinda N. Channing"That was no cry for help. Sabrina's eyes flashed pitilessly at Jackie, doubled over against the safety deposit boxes. "Sabbatical?" she repeated, "Is that what you sought at Reknab? If this was written after she found you, I can't help but feel this is some poor attempt at a joke. Sabbatical." A terse laugh. "Is that what your employer calls having your life upended? And thinks it so simple as that you can be reassigned elsewhere?"
Stoke the fire. Give it fuel. Give it air. Let it breathe. Let it burn. Let it explode.
She was silent a moment, considering the implications of the letter, Jackie's concern for Melinda, and, more so, her reaction.
"...What does this mean for your sister?"
Sabrina's eyes followed the crumpled letter as it hit the floor--then darted to Jackie reeling backward. She waited a moment, to see if she would regain her composure. Then curiosity got the best of her and she snatched up the letter to see its contents.
"Dear Jacqueline,
I trust this message is well-received, and that your time on sabbatical has found you well-rested. Our endeavors have come to fruition faster than previously projected. Thus, our mutual employer has elected to cut your leave of absence short.
Enclosed you will find instructions for your re-assignment. Follow the instructions well and I assure you that your transition will be seamless.
Regards,
Melinda N. Channing"
That was no cry for help. Sabrina's eyes flashed pitilessly at Jackie, doubled over against the safety deposit boxes. "Sabbatical?" she repeated, "Is that what you sought at Reknab? If this was written after she found you, I can't help but feel this is some poor attempt at a joke. Sabbatical." A terse laugh. "Is that what your employer calls having your life upended? And thinks it so simple as that you can be reassigned elsewhere?"
Stoke the fire. Give it fuel. Give it air. Let it breathe. Let it burn. Let it explode.
She was silent a moment, considering the implications of the letter, Jackie's concern for Melinda, and, more so, her reaction.
"...What does this mean for your sister?"
Quote from Indy on November 1, 2020, 2:01 amJackie did not regain her composure. The woman stayed where she was, crouched besides the boxes, her breathing shallow and fast. The entire room was spinning, the sounds, colors and the smells - especially the smells - suddenly as bright as a lamp abruptly lit in the dark. The metal boxes had begun to taste like the iron of blood. She closed her eyes and clamped her fingers over her nose, breathing tersely through her palms.
To Sabrina’s query she could not immediately reply… Deep below her skin the fire had indeed continued to turn over its ample fuel supply.
The walls of the room clawed at her skin, the towering frames of the boxes threatening to collapse and bury her beneath them. A sense of danger pervaded - she had initially feared the bank woman might have turned the key to lock them inside forever and thrown away the key. There were no windows in this room, no sign of the outside earth and greens in the recirculated air.
Yet in the pages of the letter, the fear had morphed. It wasn’t a matter of what couldn’t get out, but what had already come in and what had lay waiting for her like a lion in the tall grasses. In her mind’s eye, her father hovered over her with the silver key. He taunted at her before he closed the lid to the metal box, and turned it, darkness engulfing her in her own dank breath… it always came back to that box. That sense of entrapment - no escape.
“No…” Jackie whispered.
There was a warning in Jackie’s voice if Sabrina could hear it. Her eyes flashed to Sabrina’s in a fraction of a moment, the expression as bewildered as Sabrina’s must have been to experience such an obvious presentation of fear. Deep in her bones she could feel a change incited upon them - and deep in her heart, she knew she could not survive it.
Jackie did not regain her composure. The woman stayed where she was, crouched besides the boxes, her breathing shallow and fast. The entire room was spinning, the sounds, colors and the smells - especially the smells - suddenly as bright as a lamp abruptly lit in the dark. The metal boxes had begun to taste like the iron of blood. She closed her eyes and clamped her fingers over her nose, breathing tersely through her palms.
To Sabrina’s query she could not immediately reply… Deep below her skin the fire had indeed continued to turn over its ample fuel supply.
The walls of the room clawed at her skin, the towering frames of the boxes threatening to collapse and bury her beneath them. A sense of danger pervaded - she had initially feared the bank woman might have turned the key to lock them inside forever and thrown away the key. There were no windows in this room, no sign of the outside earth and greens in the recirculated air.
Yet in the pages of the letter, the fear had morphed. It wasn’t a matter of what couldn’t get out, but what had already come in and what had lay waiting for her like a lion in the tall grasses. In her mind’s eye, her father hovered over her with the silver key. He taunted at her before he closed the lid to the metal box, and turned it, darkness engulfing her in her own dank breath… it always came back to that box. That sense of entrapment - no escape.
“No…” Jackie whispered.
There was a warning in Jackie’s voice if Sabrina could hear it. Her eyes flashed to Sabrina’s in a fraction of a moment, the expression as bewildered as Sabrina’s must have been to experience such an obvious presentation of fear. Deep in her bones she could feel a change incited upon them - and deep in her heart, she knew she could not survive it.
Quote from Kaqurei on November 1, 2020, 9:47 amSabrina tightened her jaw. How many times was she going to assume she could predict Jackie's reaction to anything? She wanted anger. She expected anger. But there was none. In that short second that Jackie's eyes met hers, there was only raw terror.
She glanced back at the door through which they had come, and briefly played in her mind the manner of chaos that would ensue in the bank should a werewolf or two come barrelling out of the back... The screams, an armful of lollipops flying everywhere, perhaps the old man dropping to his knees in the throes of a heart attack...
"Jackie," she said, "Remember what I said before we came out here. I meant it." Her voice dropped an octave, almost a snarl, but in defense of and not aggression towards Jackie. "We are the hunters, not the hunted. You are not alone. Tell me what we are up against, and I will fight for you."
Sabrina tightened her jaw. How many times was she going to assume she could predict Jackie's reaction to anything? She wanted anger. She expected anger. But there was none. In that short second that Jackie's eyes met hers, there was only raw terror.
She glanced back at the door through which they had come, and briefly played in her mind the manner of chaos that would ensue in the bank should a werewolf or two come barrelling out of the back... The screams, an armful of lollipops flying everywhere, perhaps the old man dropping to his knees in the throes of a heart attack...
"Jackie," she said, "Remember what I said before we came out here. I meant it." Her voice dropped an octave, almost a snarl, but in defense of and not aggression towards Jackie. "We are the hunters, not the hunted. You are not alone. Tell me what we are up against, and I will fight for you."
Quote from Indy on November 1, 2020, 11:25 pmThe woman's fingers curled hard against her cheeks, as if somehow she might keep what wanted out in. Almost imperceptibly she turned her eyes to catch Sabrina's. Jackie closed her eyes, steadying herself in a breath. Although Sabrina must have thought the question simple, Jackie knew it was anything but.
"I..." she felt herself retch, but not quite. More an internal muscle jolted by a spasm, that only in the last moment she managed to keep in its place, "Don't... know".
Her skin had gone shock-cold to the touch. The feeling was familiar - but wrong.
"Just... tell me how to make this stop…”
“Please,” she whispered, “I… think it would kill me”.
The woman's fingers curled hard against her cheeks, as if somehow she might keep what wanted out in. Almost imperceptibly she turned her eyes to catch Sabrina's. Jackie closed her eyes, steadying herself in a breath. Although Sabrina must have thought the question simple, Jackie knew it was anything but.
"I..." she felt herself retch, but not quite. More an internal muscle jolted by a spasm, that only in the last moment she managed to keep in its place, "Don't... know".
Her skin had gone shock-cold to the touch. The feeling was familiar - but wrong.
"Just... tell me how to make this stop…”
“Please,” she whispered, “I… think it would kill me”.
Quote from Kaqurei on November 5, 2020, 3:21 pmSabrina narrowed her eyes. Claustrophobia, panic, both, or something else? She thought of the vial seated deep inside Jackie's backpack. The corner of her lip twitched, though more like she was resisting the urge to frown than to smile.
"At any rate, let's get out of here. We'll talk about how to stop this and exactly what this is once you get some fresh air. You look horrible."
Without waiting for an answer, she snaked her arm around Jackie's shoulders, gently but firm enough to lend support, and moved to guide her back the way they'd come.
Sabrina narrowed her eyes. Claustrophobia, panic, both, or something else? She thought of the vial seated deep inside Jackie's backpack. The corner of her lip twitched, though more like she was resisting the urge to frown than to smile.
"At any rate, let's get out of here. We'll talk about how to stop this and exactly what this is once you get some fresh air. You look horrible."
Without waiting for an answer, she snaked her arm around Jackie's shoulders, gently but firm enough to lend support, and moved to guide her back the way they'd come.
Quote from Indy on November 5, 2020, 7:56 pmThe woman allowed Sabrina's arms to loop through hers, but offered no more than dead weight in return. Her fingers were still clasped against her face. She could still smell the blood in the iron, rich and heavy in the air. The smell was so strong it was hard to think of anything else - even to leave this place.
So focussed was Jackie on her own deteriorating faculties, that she had missed the obvious: the air did indeed smell like blood. Not strongly so. Among the notes of rusted metal it would have been easy to mistake it in human form. Yet for Sabrina's proximity to its source, the error could not so easily be made. In equal distance lay a slip of paper between two rows of safety deposit boxes.
The woman allowed Sabrina's arms to loop through hers, but offered no more than dead weight in return. Her fingers were still clasped against her face. She could still smell the blood in the iron, rich and heavy in the air. The smell was so strong it was hard to think of anything else - even to leave this place.
So focussed was Jackie on her own deteriorating faculties, that she had missed the obvious: the air did indeed smell like blood. Not strongly so. Among the notes of rusted metal it would have been easy to mistake it in human form. Yet for Sabrina's proximity to its source, the error could not so easily be made. In equal distance lay a slip of paper between two rows of safety deposit boxes.
Quote from Kaqurei on November 11, 2020, 9:57 amSabrina paused, noting the distinct smell. She eased Jackie down and put the papers retrieved from Jackie's safety deposit box into her inner coat pocket, drawing out a handkerchief with the same movement. With her other hand, she withdrew a small vial from her left pocket. As she swiftly opened the vial, the faint scent of lavender could be made out. She doused a few drops on the handkerchief and quickly kneaded in her hands so that the smell of the oil would run throughout. Then she put it into Jackie's hand and raised both to her nose.
"Drown out all others," she said. "Relax." Her eyes now shifted to the letter from which the smell of blood was emanating.
She left Jackie with the handkerchief and went to get the letter.
Sabrina paused, noting the distinct smell. She eased Jackie down and put the papers retrieved from Jackie's safety deposit box into her inner coat pocket, drawing out a handkerchief with the same movement. With her other hand, she withdrew a small vial from her left pocket. As she swiftly opened the vial, the faint scent of lavender could be made out. She doused a few drops on the handkerchief and quickly kneaded in her hands so that the smell of the oil would run throughout. Then she put it into Jackie's hand and raised both to her nose.
"Drown out all others," she said. "Relax." Her eyes now shifted to the letter from which the smell of blood was emanating.
She left Jackie with the handkerchief and went to get the letter.
Quote from Indy on November 11, 2020, 7:31 pmJackie recoiled at the stench of the lavender, and her first instinct was to knock the insult away from her face. The woman flashed a glare to Sabrina, before reproachfully taking the smelly rag and pressing it to her nose. There were few things worse than smelling lavender for the next week, yet unfortunately she had found one of them.
"You're like a grandma's medicine cabinet," she grumbled, but not ungratefully. She could think again, and her skin didn't feel like it wanted to run away with her. The breathless feeling hadn't left, but she could manage one problem better than three.
After a few steadying beats, she glanced upwards to see what Sabrina had in her hands. It was a small slip of paper, folded into thirds, with a rust-colored stain the size of a quarter on one end of the folded page. In the same way she didn't need to ask who had placed the letter, she didn't need to ask to whom the stain belonged. She inhaled deeply through her nose, focussing on how much the lavender oil burned every sensible hair in her nostrils instead of the contents of the letter.
"What does she say?" she said quietly, her voice carefully measured.
Jackie recoiled at the stench of the lavender, and her first instinct was to knock the insult away from her face. The woman flashed a glare to Sabrina, before reproachfully taking the smelly rag and pressing it to her nose. There were few things worse than smelling lavender for the next week, yet unfortunately she had found one of them.
"You're like a grandma's medicine cabinet," she grumbled, but not ungratefully. She could think again, and her skin didn't feel like it wanted to run away with her. The breathless feeling hadn't left, but she could manage one problem better than three.
After a few steadying beats, she glanced upwards to see what Sabrina had in her hands. It was a small slip of paper, folded into thirds, with a rust-colored stain the size of a quarter on one end of the folded page. In the same way she didn't need to ask who had placed the letter, she didn't need to ask to whom the stain belonged. She inhaled deeply through her nose, focussing on how much the lavender oil burned every sensible hair in her nostrils instead of the contents of the letter.
"What does she say?" she said quietly, her voice carefully measured.
Quote from Kaqurei on November 17, 2020, 3:11 pmSabrina read each line of the letter quickly, though at times had to go back for a double take. It was written in French, and it had been a little time since she last had use for the language of love.
"A warning, a request, and an apology," she said after a moment, folding the letter neatly as she had found it. She slipped it, too, into her inner coat pocket.
"We need to get going," she said briskly, offering Jackie hand up from the floor. And, in the same beat, "The blood on the paper, is it hers?"
Sabrina read each line of the letter quickly, though at times had to go back for a double take. It was written in French, and it had been a little time since she last had use for the language of love.
"A warning, a request, and an apology," she said after a moment, folding the letter neatly as she had found it. She slipped it, too, into her inner coat pocket.
"We need to get going," she said briskly, offering Jackie hand up from the floor. And, in the same beat, "The blood on the paper, is it hers?"
Quote from Indy on November 17, 2020, 11:31 pmJackie glanced up from her diligent efforts, watching the slip of paper disappear into Sabrina's coat jacket. If she'd have been in a better state, she'd have offered a protest. But as it was, she found herself relieved to have one less thing to manage - or loose.
"Sounds like her," she grumbled, pressing the cloth more closely just as Sabrina offered her a hand up. She turned away, as if disinterested from the request - and moving altogether.
But the truth was that Sabrina's question had perplexed her. Could she know with certainty that Melinda had placed the letter in the crack of the foundation? No doubt the blood had been left as a tell-mark sign only a werewolf would find, and the letter riddled with clues that should confirm her sister's identity. Certainly the entire setup, right down to the perfect circle of rust on the page, had reeked of her sister's touch even if her senses couldn't confirm it with any precision.
"It's blood," she was watching Sabrina carefully now, ignoring the hand offered to pull her up and stood on her own - while still keeping a hand one hand clamped on the cloth, "She's type O negative. Tell you what, we can run a blood test and find out".
Now standing, she didn't want to stay in the strange vault any longer than she needed. She rushed towards the door, feeling the air pressure weigh heavily around her. The door was unlocked. Neglecting the protocol that she ought knock on the door first to alert the bank teller, she slipped outside. At the other side of the door, she removed her fingers from the cloth. At last she could breath deeply again, her chest rising and falling to make up the deficit.
Jackie glanced up from her diligent efforts, watching the slip of paper disappear into Sabrina's coat jacket. If she'd have been in a better state, she'd have offered a protest. But as it was, she found herself relieved to have one less thing to manage - or loose.
"Sounds like her," she grumbled, pressing the cloth more closely just as Sabrina offered her a hand up. She turned away, as if disinterested from the request - and moving altogether.
But the truth was that Sabrina's question had perplexed her. Could she know with certainty that Melinda had placed the letter in the crack of the foundation? No doubt the blood had been left as a tell-mark sign only a werewolf would find, and the letter riddled with clues that should confirm her sister's identity. Certainly the entire setup, right down to the perfect circle of rust on the page, had reeked of her sister's touch even if her senses couldn't confirm it with any precision.
"It's blood," she was watching Sabrina carefully now, ignoring the hand offered to pull her up and stood on her own - while still keeping a hand one hand clamped on the cloth, "She's type O negative. Tell you what, we can run a blood test and find out".
Now standing, she didn't want to stay in the strange vault any longer than she needed. She rushed towards the door, feeling the air pressure weigh heavily around her. The door was unlocked. Neglecting the protocol that she ought knock on the door first to alert the bank teller, she slipped outside. At the other side of the door, she removed her fingers from the cloth. At last she could breath deeply again, her chest rising and falling to make up the deficit.
