08-21-2020, 10:40 PM
[align=center][div style="border-width:0px; width: 60%; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 140%;word-spacing:-1px;"]"You're nervous."
The demon couldn't help but glare at the rock he passed as if the voice came from beside him. A click of his tongue verbalized his annoyance as pointed ears flicked, the abrupt movement causing the red flame that burned at the end to falter. He paid no attention to the voice in his head that now giggled and apologized for stating the obvious, an action that only fueled his irritation. Large, sturdy claws gripped the soft ground under him and with every step he unearthed it. Pacing back and forth, he eventually created a subtle path a few meters long that lead to nowhere. He was nervous but hearing it from someone else wasn't what he needed. He likes to think he has every right to be nervous. A lot of things must have changed since his long absence and though integrating back wont be as difficult in comparison to when he first joined, there was always the possibility that he could blow it. First impressions were important after all. More than nervous, he was more scared about interacting with others. You see, Ren's strength wasn't socializing- at least, not in a friendly way. Standing at the top commanding a group of individuals or talking down to others was a scene all too familiar. But the Eurasian lynx is proud to say he's moved on from that chapter of his life and doing his best to pave a new path for himself. Speaking to others is a huge aspect of that and the fear he felt towards slipping back into a tyrannical tone made the hair along his neck rise.
"Coward."
The teasing murmur warranted yet another glare, this time aimed towards the ground. His short tail lashed as he muttered under his breath, "Are you finished?" The small flames that danced around his heavily scarred form died and relit continuously- a sign of his unstable and newly acquired fire ability so graciously (not) given to him by the annoying voice in his head. Anatole's quiet laugh echoed in his cranium as a sigh passed through the demon's lips. Though he was irritated by their previous statements, he couldn't help the twinge of content upon hearing the other's chuckle. It was almost as if they were a different person. When they met, Anatole was laying on their side surrounded in flames that burned pathetically. Their frame was lined with untreated wounds and eyes swollen shut. The horse, though massive in size, looked as frail and weak as the flames that stood guard around them. Ren wasn't sure if Anatole ignored him at first or if they were too exhausted to lift their head. But when they spoke, something stirred within him and the voice that's been guiding him for months finally had an identity. There laying before him amongst orange flames and drifting embers, the lynx's dark red optics rested on a dying god. Wasting no time, the fire god called him over and with haste he obeyed. Anatole's breathing was laboured and with every strained word that escaped their mouth, Ren felt his throat become raw as if he'd been screaming for hours. They explained with every passing day, keeping themselves conscious grew more challenging and they could feel their lungs failing. The form they currently hold was finally decaying after uncountable decades of use. They were careless and did not seek another vessel until they found themselves unable to walk, their aching bones growing stiff. They needed a strong body to take refuge in while they recovered as they used the energy they didn't have trying to keep their form from ripping apart. The skeptical expression Ren wore in his face made the horse exhale through their nose in amusement but remained silent after that. Of course they could take his body by force, but should he decline Anatole wouldn't fight. Instead they would simply nod their head and wait for death to take them. Clearly things didn't work that way else Ren wouldn't be pacing back and forth telling them to stop talking.
"You're wasting time, Ren. I'll count down for you so let's get started already."
Their voice, though kind, was laced with impatience causing the ruddy lynx to sigh. "That will not be necessary," he starting, rolling his broad shoulders. "I got it." There was a soft hum in response as Ren bit the inside of his mouth. It is just like a bandage, he thought to himself as he started towards camp. No warning, just rip it off. He ignored the way his stomach twisted and turned and decided to blame it on hunger to distract himself. It seemed to work in the beginning but as the town came into view, his resolve wavered. Still the demon pressed on, large paws creating slight imprints in the soft ground. He had rejoined a few days prior but he made no attempt to make himself known to the others who reside here. As much as he enjoyed keeping to himself, he was more fond of interacting with others as he held some pride in his social development.
Steeling his nerves, Ren sat down somewhere not in the way of the other members and inhaled slowly. Mulling over what he wanted to say only left his brain a scrambled mess and decided it was best to wing it. "Hey-" He cut himself off when it came out quiet and awkward. Lucky, it was too pathetic for anyone to hear so instead of several creatures giggling it was only Anatole's laugh that resonated in his head. Feeling his face grow hot and shaking the disgusted scowl off, he started again. Properly this time. "Meet and greet, anyone?" His deep voice carried well causing several of the members to look in his direction and trot over. With a polite dip of his head, the large feline introduced himself. "It is nice to meet you. I am Renegadeanthem, though you can call me Ren"
The demon couldn't help but glare at the rock he passed as if the voice came from beside him. A click of his tongue verbalized his annoyance as pointed ears flicked, the abrupt movement causing the red flame that burned at the end to falter. He paid no attention to the voice in his head that now giggled and apologized for stating the obvious, an action that only fueled his irritation. Large, sturdy claws gripped the soft ground under him and with every step he unearthed it. Pacing back and forth, he eventually created a subtle path a few meters long that lead to nowhere. He was nervous but hearing it from someone else wasn't what he needed. He likes to think he has every right to be nervous. A lot of things must have changed since his long absence and though integrating back wont be as difficult in comparison to when he first joined, there was always the possibility that he could blow it. First impressions were important after all. More than nervous, he was more scared about interacting with others. You see, Ren's strength wasn't socializing- at least, not in a friendly way. Standing at the top commanding a group of individuals or talking down to others was a scene all too familiar. But the Eurasian lynx is proud to say he's moved on from that chapter of his life and doing his best to pave a new path for himself. Speaking to others is a huge aspect of that and the fear he felt towards slipping back into a tyrannical tone made the hair along his neck rise.
"Coward."
The teasing murmur warranted yet another glare, this time aimed towards the ground. His short tail lashed as he muttered under his breath, "Are you finished?" The small flames that danced around his heavily scarred form died and relit continuously- a sign of his unstable and newly acquired fire ability so graciously (not) given to him by the annoying voice in his head. Anatole's quiet laugh echoed in his cranium as a sigh passed through the demon's lips. Though he was irritated by their previous statements, he couldn't help the twinge of content upon hearing the other's chuckle. It was almost as if they were a different person. When they met, Anatole was laying on their side surrounded in flames that burned pathetically. Their frame was lined with untreated wounds and eyes swollen shut. The horse, though massive in size, looked as frail and weak as the flames that stood guard around them. Ren wasn't sure if Anatole ignored him at first or if they were too exhausted to lift their head. But when they spoke, something stirred within him and the voice that's been guiding him for months finally had an identity. There laying before him amongst orange flames and drifting embers, the lynx's dark red optics rested on a dying god. Wasting no time, the fire god called him over and with haste he obeyed. Anatole's breathing was laboured and with every strained word that escaped their mouth, Ren felt his throat become raw as if he'd been screaming for hours. They explained with every passing day, keeping themselves conscious grew more challenging and they could feel their lungs failing. The form they currently hold was finally decaying after uncountable decades of use. They were careless and did not seek another vessel until they found themselves unable to walk, their aching bones growing stiff. They needed a strong body to take refuge in while they recovered as they used the energy they didn't have trying to keep their form from ripping apart. The skeptical expression Ren wore in his face made the horse exhale through their nose in amusement but remained silent after that. Of course they could take his body by force, but should he decline Anatole wouldn't fight. Instead they would simply nod their head and wait for death to take them. Clearly things didn't work that way else Ren wouldn't be pacing back and forth telling them to stop talking.
"You're wasting time, Ren. I'll count down for you so let's get started already."
Their voice, though kind, was laced with impatience causing the ruddy lynx to sigh. "That will not be necessary," he starting, rolling his broad shoulders. "I got it." There was a soft hum in response as Ren bit the inside of his mouth. It is just like a bandage, he thought to himself as he started towards camp. No warning, just rip it off. He ignored the way his stomach twisted and turned and decided to blame it on hunger to distract himself. It seemed to work in the beginning but as the town came into view, his resolve wavered. Still the demon pressed on, large paws creating slight imprints in the soft ground. He had rejoined a few days prior but he made no attempt to make himself known to the others who reside here. As much as he enjoyed keeping to himself, he was more fond of interacting with others as he held some pride in his social development.
Steeling his nerves, Ren sat down somewhere not in the way of the other members and inhaled slowly. Mulling over what he wanted to say only left his brain a scrambled mess and decided it was best to wing it. "Hey-" He cut himself off when it came out quiet and awkward. Lucky, it was too pathetic for anyone to hear so instead of several creatures giggling it was only Anatole's laugh that resonated in his head. Feeling his face grow hot and shaking the disgusted scowl off, he started again. Properly this time. "Meet and greet, anyone?" His deep voice carried well causing several of the members to look in his direction and trot over. With a polite dip of his head, the large feline introduced himself. "It is nice to meet you. I am Renegadeanthem, though you can call me Ren"
[align=center][div style="font-size:14.4pt;line-height:.9;color:#000;font-family:impact;padding:8px;letter-spacing:.7px"]JOYFUL TEARS, THROUGH BLOOD APPEARS
— A HEART OF LEAD AND COPPER —[div style="font-size:7pt;line-height:1.2;color:#000;font-family:arial;margin-top:2px;margin-bottom:5px;letter-spacing:0px;margin-left:0px;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase"][[ information ]] [[ plotting ]] [[ penned by raiden ]]
— A HEART OF LEAD AND COPPER —[div style="font-size:7pt;line-height:1.2;color:#000;font-family:arial;margin-top:2px;margin-bottom:5px;letter-spacing:0px;margin-left:0px;text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase"][[ information ]] [[ plotting ]] [[ penned by raiden ]]
