Hello, everyone! after dealing with real life and the other nonsense of living, panny and i have decided to bring back war of change. give a round of applause. we’ve worked through all of the information and hopefully improved coherency and cohesion; however, tell us if we missed something. eventually, we’ll announce an event to celebrate the re-opening, so look out for information on that. -RAIDNE, THE HEAD ADMIN
From the moonless night, screams of terror and fear resound, spreading across the world and infecting the masses; however, those sleepless nights occurred years ago. A new era began with the fires of war, and with no end in sight, the residents of Selene Isle trudge through life, basking in the momentary peace. Despite their prayers for continued monotony and peace, a storm brews, stirred to life by the continued presence of Rapture and Wraith. And as we set our sights on the seemingly peace laden isle, we must ask: how shall this tale end?
As the years passed, the number of true pairs increased; however, they continued to live in the shadows, catering to the whims of the mundane. Seven Moons kept watch over them all, instructing them and assisting them, but for many, the attitudes and ideals of the organization were smoldering, suffocating. With Seven Moons and the mundanes, they could not grasp the freedom, the power dangling before their eyes. In the beginning, rebellion was a dream, a fantasy, a figment—developed by the repressed and carried forward due to the nature of humanity. No one expected the call to sound, and no one expected the call to be answered. However, it happened.
THE SOUNDS OF BIRDS PERVADED THE SMALL volume of Angelique Paradise, their harmonies providing an enchanting atmosphere. Just the feathered creatures sang the rabbits rustled, the kittens purred, and the new born squirrels skittered around in their designated areas. The shop had been active since early in the morning when Casimir first walked into the selling floor. As soon as he had turned the lights on, the animals began their routine of demanding attention and gentle pets from the teen. He was, as usual, happy to oblige, and spent time with each group of adorable creatures being sure to give all of them scratches behind their ears and kisses on their furry heads.
Casimir had woken up before dawn, from a rumble that he could have only identified as thunder. Yet, no rain fell and was forced to presume it to be a mere residual thought from a dream. Not wanting to awaken his brother, the younger purplette had journeyed down the stairs and took to working on a set of sketches; each one had a single animal from the shop etched in pencil.
Now that the sun was actually above the horizon, Casimir wandered across to the front of the shop and unhitched the door’s lock before flipping over the small ‘open’ sign in the window. Looking out into the forest Casimir could see that it was a breezy and quiet Sunday. As he watched the trees he could almost imagine the smiling faces of child when they would walk to the store, their eyes locking on the cute animals just beyond the glass windows. Their innocence would have matched that of Casi’s, and the glint in their eyes displaying the compassion and sweet anticipation that came when getting a new pet. To love, to care for something, and to get love back in return. Soren’s used to look the same – so full of life and happiness. Now it was almost as if all the hopes were drained from his older brother’s gaze. But, none the less, Casimir held enough optimism for the two of them, plus some more, and he was sure that eventually the fire in his brother’s eyes would return someday.
“I guess you guys are hungry, aren’t you?” the teen asked, turning to look at all the animals with a gentle smile appearing on his face. A few of the newer inhabitants of the shop looked up towards him, tilting their heads slightly and gazing on him with curious eyes. Others with more experience in the pet shop seemed thrilled at the key words that they had learned meant that the human boy would be gracing them with yummy crunchies and nummies to feast upon.
Casimir could only smile and chuckle to himself as he trotted off into the back of the store. Looking around the shelves, Casimir grabbed food bowls and dishes of all shapes and sizes, filling them each with different treats. Stacking them carefully on top of one another, the purplette slowly lifted the bottom from the counter and took a step back, his eyes glued to the top of the wobbly food tower. Just as he had managed to maintain a steady hold on the stack Casimir heard the familiar ring of the bell that hung above the door. Quickly following was the light ding of the small call bell that sat on the front counter of the shop.
“H-Hold on one moment please~!” he whimper, looking quite frantic. He then slowly extended one leg out, shifting his weight to the side as he stepped and slid the other behind him. Considering how clumsy the boy was, he wasn’t quite sure how we was going to handle the situation under the watchful eye of another human. See, the animals never could laugh at him when he tripped and spilled the food across the floor… Or at least he couldn’t hear and understand it.
I see the angels, I'll lead them to your door. There is no escape now, Now mercy no more
Sunday again... the days go pass by so fast in this never ending cycle of life. Day in and day out the sun chases after the setting moon and the moon does the same to the setting sun. The blazing light shown as bright as its rays sparkled down on vast earth. Rays of light twinkled upon the land illuminating the growing foliage with such brilliance. Through this path she walked so many times. The young heiress found herself traversing it once more. During this day without a fail in her record she comes by this road towards the single establishment rooted at the far end of the dirt road. Trees grew freely shielding the patches of earth in cooling shade against the burning warmth of the morning sun.
A yawn slid past the gentle appearance of the ‘brunette’ there was never a time she went out in her real appearance... Rika’s disguise was a simple urge of the moment driven by the child’s unpredictable nature. She glanced up ahead, squinting her eyes to see the concrete building taking form with each step she took, long grasses pastures stretched along the property fenced up to prevent the grazing horses from escaping out into the forest. The forest around here are notorious for their wild life, speaking of which, at the top of her hair, the strands move. As if something tried to dig it way out of the long tresses, Rayne’s hand rose from the side as she felt the movement targeting the squirming creature as a rodent’s head popped up from the golden colored strands. Her hand hovered over it, watching it like a hawk about to scoop its prey as it grabbed the creature by the tuff fur around it’s neck. “Neveé” began the child, Brilliance greens stared straight at the road while keeping a great distance between her at that fence where the horses graze.
Her actions must already have spoken for her, as much as she loved animals horses...aren’t included in the list. In fact, as shamefully as it sounded, the child held one fear... and that was horses. She could lay the blame on her parents as she had done ever since the accident or the one she recently discovered. Her two older brothers. The oldest one is where her current dilemma against the majestic creatures started.
But it was a tale for another time...right now, as her eyes caught the clear view of the upcoming farm house she sped up her pace. Walking as she placed the whining creature that squirmed at her grip at the nape of her neck. “Be nice... Neveé.” Cutting off the indignant complain of the albino haired ferret. On its settled an unsatisfied pout or what a creature like it called one. He knew stubbornness was a going to be long battle with his owner but it was something they had done for as long they had been together. It’s what made their partnership desired by both sides. “Wonder if Soren is up yet...” She muttered mostly to herself. At the sound of the name Neveé perked up, their argument momentarily forgotten at the thought of his cozy ‘bed’ making his appearance.
Probably not... she frowned, rushing the last few steps as she skipped over to the door. Pushing it open her presence was announced by the bell at the top of the door. It’s open...the large sign outside proved it. She scanned around with her sharp green eyes, looking at the numerous lively creatures running rampant around the shop. “Aww... still as cute as ever neh minna-chan?” She chirped a greeting towards the active inhabitants of the pet shop. This place... as weekly as she often comes here was because this was the only place that sells a certain special mix of ferret chow Neveé devours on a daily bases. She walked up to the counter, pinging the bell that sat on it...she waited,
Until she heard an answered whimper coming from the storage area, she rose her eyebrow, it wasn’t the same unfazed tone of the boy she was so used to seeing it was more...a lighter tone of the one that always handled the shop. His younger brother... not that she ever talked to the guy so much. “Take your time,” She called back until she spotted the figure hefting a tall tower of bowls by the hand. Her eyebrow ascended up, this...was not going to end well judging from the way he hobbled. She had half a mind to stand by but... dammit, she had to follow her disguise’s personality. With a sigh she pulled up a cheerful worried front. “Do you need help?...” She hesitantly asked as she moved reluctantly closer.
WHEN CASIMIR HAD FINALLY MANAGED TO maneuver back into the front of the shop, he looked around the stack slowly, making note of the customer. Her red tinted brunette hair and extremely vibrant green eyes were quite unique features and set her apart from their other regular customers. He recognized her almost immediately, as she came to the shop often and seemed to have a good relationship with Soren. As far as he knew, she was his brother’s only friend; and he was grateful to her for being so kind to him despite his brother not always being the most responsive of people. However, Casimir had never really had a conversation with her other than the occasional sale that went between the two – so when she offered to assist him with the wiggling tower of food dishes, he was caught slightly off-guard.
“N-no, it’s okay,” Casi laughed, his voice shaking slightly, “I couldn’t ask something like that from a customer~!” The purplette then made a decent attempt to side step from Rayne, reaching up and grabbing one of the bowls and dropping it into the enclosure that housed some of the new born baby rabbits. They had only been in the shop for a week, but each one was growing more and more used to being held and surrounded by people. Casimir had taken a particular liking to one of them, a small grey bunny with a pair of spots on its ears. He had affectionately started calling him ‘Acelin’.
When he had found Acelin and his siblings they were all huddled up in the corner of the glass pen, and their little noses were turned upward, whiskers moving frantically at the sight of the purple headed male. They were terrified at first, shuddering in their group. Surprisingly enough, the runt of the group then jumped his front paws up on the glass with an excited flair. Little Acelin had been Casimir’s favorite ever since. His overly friendly and strange-natured ways made the bunny a great friend and Casi would miss him greatly when he was adopted. But for the time being he would reach in and hold the small lump of fur and love him while he had the chance. But Acelin also had a devious side.
Catching Casimir off-guard, the small grey creature jumped out of his enclosure and began running around the store. The male squeaked in surprise and followed Acelin, pleading the rabbit to return to him home. Forgetting completely about the wobbling stack, Casimir moved as quickly and as swift as he could… But graceful Casimir was not. His feet fumbled beneath his tall stature, and he soon found himself falling. Throwing his arms out in front of him, he caught the floor with his palms, leaving the dishes to clatter loudly as the food spread out across the shop’s wooden floors. Casimir’s clenched eyes slowly opened, but he soon found himself wide-eyed and blinking rapidly.
Beneath him was a short, sweet looking blonde with striking ocean blue eyes. Casimir looked at the woman for a moment, confused and intrigued. Who was this and when did they enter the shop? He could not remember ever meeting her before, and he had been certain that there was previously only one customer in the shop.. And then his mind returned to him. A deep set blush fell over his face, and his mind went into overdrive.
“J-Je suis très, très désolé!” his apologizes were met with his eyes tearing up slightly. The embarrassment was almost too much for him to handle. He wanted to curl up and die.
I see the angels, I'll lead them to your door. There is no escape now, Now mercy no more
Move out... her instincts began to whisper to her ears, move away it insisted sending images of the boy’s preconized fall on the fall. The tower of bowls swayed from left then swayed to right as he moved carefully throughout the shop. Sharp gaze noted the boy’s clumsy steps. It only meant delaying the impending disaster. Rayne secretly shook her head, careful to keep it out from the boy’s attention.
It would be right for ‘Rika’ to show something that isn’t labeled within the programming she gave her personality. It wouldn’t be good if she goes out of character. To the heiress this was nothing more than another acting job that has to be carried out in perfect order. She’s an actress and the audience demanded nothing but perfection to the marionette that assumed the role. Against her better judgment Rayne hesitantly ignored the incessant warnings being sent by her guts and the intuition she had for fast approaching danger. Her instincts had an aptitude in detecting dangers. Call it...an extremely sensitive sensory when it comes to think that could potentially screw her over.
How she wished sooner or later she listened to it like she always did and the second time she decided to ignore it another incident would befell her. She eyed the wobbling tower warily already in the state of doubting her decision to not listen she sensed her instincts were smirking at her with the platonic ‘I told you so’ written all over its face. Oh how ironic. She decided to ignore the sinking feeling within her gut as the man declined her offer. “Are you sure?” She asked, wary fully uncovered in her tone as she took all of her will not to give into her instincts. She watched as the boy walked towards the glass burrow that held the small rabbits running inside. Small paws curiously fiddling on the glass before they huddled at the end at the boy’s approach.
Holding back a small smile at the skittish fur balls, she stayed in silent the scene calmed down her apprehension towards the whole scenario. She should have known never to trust the thing they called fall sense of peace... for no sooner had he reached the small cage a tiny creature bounce away from its siblings. Her attention flitted away from Casimir momentarily to watch the tiniest rabbit paw at the glass then like an escape artist bounced off from its home.
That should have sent the red bells but the child continued to ignore the sharp instincts screaming at her to jump away until...she saw the small furball bounce past her. She blinked, footsteps clicked rapidly on the floor as she slowly looked in front to see... the purplette’s hurried form moving towards her direction. It happened so fast, in a split second that took her brain’s function to a complete halt as the surprise froze her in place. She tried to will her body to move but it was already too late for that. Collision was to be eminent... A cry of a yelp gasped from her throat as he collided onto her tiny frame his weight forced onto her dashed the tiny hope of gathering any footing to avoid the fall that would happen.
THUD
A harsh sound resounded in the room of a body knocking hard on the hard wood tile. Rayne flinched, as the back of her head made the first contact before the rest of her body came down. But that wasn’t all that fell...the distraction proved to be what killed something that she would not be happy to have been deactivated... shadows covered her form in a split second as it dissipated revealing the small frame of a blond haired child, her hair strewn over the floor like scattered pieces of golden thread. Her blue eyes hesitantly twitched then opened to see...
A man over her, her heart... stopped dead in its tracks. It never did this, the whole room fell silent including the animals who halted and stared at the two humans. It was like... something shut the sound in the room... her voice remained clog onto in her throat refusing to allow her to speak other than a few stuttered squeaks. “I-It’s fine... P-Please get of meee...” She stammered out in a complete daze, as her mind tried to reel in what was happening to her. A bright flush of red scattered across her cheeks sparking it in a rose colored glow. This never happened to her... never ever...
CASIMIR'S BODY WAS TENSE AND SHAKING. His arms were failing under his weight and his wrists ached from stopping his body in the fall. The purplette’s hair fell over his shoulders, shielding his face in shadows. This wasn’t happening. His hands were pinned on either side of the blonde’s head, shoulder’s tight and weak all at once as they supported his weight above her. His back arched and one knee pressed roughly against the wooden floor next to the girl’s hip, the other resting further back… between her legs. Casimir’s eyes clenched shut, the tears they once held falling slowly down his face. This was too embarrassing for the young male. He wasn’t even sure what was happening in the world around him. His tiny heart was pounding against his chest, and blood rushed through his veins and heated his face to a bright pink. The world seemed to be spinning around the pair. Casi tried to urge his body away, but he teen found himself paralyzed hovering over the small girl. Despite his will, he was stuck, frozen in the most of fragile states.
His eyes eased open, looking at the girl’s flushed face. Upon a second glance Casimir knew that he had never seen this person before. Her hair, thrown haphazardly across the floor from the fall, left trickling golden streams across the floor and under his fingers. Her pale skin matched elegantly with her bright blue, childlike eyes. Yes, yes. Casimir had never once laid eyes on this girl. So where had she come from? He lifted his head once, looking around the empty shop. The previous brunette was long gone, possibly to see Soren? Oh god. Soren would not be happy if he saw this. The floor was covered in food -- which Acelin was happily munching on -- and this poor girl was pinned down. It was definitely not an appropriate scene.
Rolling quickly onto his feet and keeping his head low and pushed his body away from the blonde. Pushing his back against the nearest glass enclosure, Casimir hung his head as he wiped the residual tears from his face. “I-I’m sorry, again,” that was all his voice could muster before his throat squeezed itself shut. There were too many emotions running through his head, it was starting to hurt-
“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry. Hold on, I’ll a first aid kit for your head!” Casimir bolted up onto his feet, running to the back of the store frantically. Tripping once more, his arm flew out, catching himself on one of the counters in the back. The purplette rustled through the cabinets, throwing bottles and miscellaneous items around carelessly in search of the small box that he kept in case of emergencies with the animals. On occasion the puppies and kittens would play too roughly and would end up injuring their companions and Casi would take to caring for them.
When he found the box, the teen rushed back into the front of the store and slid to Rayne’s side, cupping one arm under her neck and grasping the furthest shoulder before slowly lifting her into a seated position. He crossed his legs, the first aid kit sitting beside him, and scooted closer to the blonde, gently brushing her golden hair to one side.
