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.
It was 8:30 when Belle's bedside alarm went off. A steady string of bleeps one after the other. The morning light was smooth and cut across the land like a velvet. But Theo would wake up very much alone, but not lonely.
The open airy room faced the sunrise out of glass doors that looked outward onto the garden. The room was a jasmine white colour, so the light from outside wasn't too harsh. But to the left, the study room's door was open, inside hundreds of drawings and ink paintings hung, sat, and thrown. The work of an artist inside. The door out onto the top floor was open too, just slightly. Enough to know that someone had left the room already.
Everything seemed still and quiet. Everything perfectly set, but the crumpled sheets of the duvet that hid the body beneath. New clothes, apparently for him, had been laid out on the dresser. How unusual. The whole house was clean from top to bottom. Either because Belle was natural clean, or the house was exactly lived in an awful lot, which seemed more likely given Belles nature. She wasn't a stay-at-home kind of person.
It was likely that Theo had never slept in a bed so big. Or so comfy. Not to say the least of how it have compared to the bed he must have owned wherever he lived.
This place and his seemed a world apart.
Slowly, the vague sound of music could be heard from the open hallway door, and the smell of...pancakes. Belle, it appeared, had been busy already this morning. She was downstairs waiting, it seemed.
Normally, mornings like this were no problem. Key word: normally. Even after a job that entailed a rather busy night Theo was usually able to catch a few short hours and be awake well before his client was, typically rising with the first rays of dawn. But this morning was proving altogether different after mere moments of consciousness. The first thing to hit him was the altogether foreign sound of an alarm clock; shaking off the daze of sleep just enough to be pseudo-cognizant he at first wondered whose phone was going off. It took several minutes for his brain to wake up enough to recognize the sound and circumstance, during which it was also trying to gather together enough energy to actually keep him awake.
Everything felt sore, from head to toe. Bit by bit, flashes of the previous night came back to him, making Theo alternately smile and stare aghast at the ceiling overhead. Belle had meant it when she'd said he wouldn't know what had hit him come morning; the whirlwind of sexuality that was halfway rising through his thoughts was proof enough, and beyond that was the fact that no one, not one single client thusfar or anyone else he'd ever been with, had ever left him in this kind of fugue state. Not that there had been many, of either, but enough to draw some comparisons at least.
Belle was in a league of her own.
Slowly, fighting with every aching muscle, he pulled himself out of the altogether impossibly wonderful bed and shut off the alarm. Sitting there, naked, he drank in the grace and clean, simple elegance of his surroundings as mind and body worked on coming fully awake. He'd barely gotten to see anything of the house the night before -- there hadn't been time and it hadn't really been the focus -- so to awaken here wasn't really far removed from the unsettling feeling of waking up somewhere other than where sleep had taken him. Still, the calming nature of his surroundings quelled that uneasiness quickly, and he was soon gazing around in awe. The colors. The glass. The furniture. Garden. Drawings and paintings.
And the clothes.
His eyes fixed on the clothes, seemingly left for him to wear. He had no idea where his previous outfit was... if, indeed, it had survived the night. That bit was still blurry. He also felt like he'd seen the new outfit somewhere before but couldn't quite place it... part of him, with no lack of enthusiasm, wanted to say it was a design of Belle's, but half-awake he wasn't altogether sure. He stood, walked over completely nude, and just stared at the garments for a spell. Now he was fully awake, even if memory was still somewhat lost in the haze of morning drift.
They appeared to be his size... and they were just laying there, waiting. Music snuck up on him, soft and somewhat removed... and then a smell that brought all his senses up fully.
Pancakes.
Gathering the clothes up carefully, Theo retreated to the nearest bathroom and made quick work of getting himself cleaned up -- a necessary skill of the "industry" -- and got dressed. Everything was a perfect fit and he couldn't help but stare at the mirror a bit in appreciation. Ah, but his hostess awaited; sufficiently ready, the young prostitute made his way through the upstairs, descended the stairway, and wasted no time in finding Belle and the source of that wonderful smell.
Downstairs was just a bright, taking in as much natural light as possible. Everything was open and clean, perfectly in order. The laminate flooring shone between the light coloured rugs, not a mark on anything. The kitchen was off to the right as you came down the stairs, brilliantly polished black marble counter tops on cherrywood drawers. The kitchen tops followed the back wall, and a second section a good 5 or 6 foot in front of it, lined with high stalls, served as the table. On it sat a bowl of unnaturally beautiful fruit.
To the left was the living area, a massive corner sofa that didn't even touch a corner. A glass table, with mug coasters and a few books on it. A large TV was mounted to the wall, and in every corner of the large open plan room was a vertical speaker for the surround sound from which Pink Floyd gladly played. Abstract art adorned the walls, adding much needed colour. Below the TV was an artificial fireplace, the fake stone rose to the top of the ceiling, framing the screen nicely. A shelf below it, and above the fireplace, proudly displayed things Theo would probably know all about.
A CFDA award for Life Time Achievement. At 24. CFDA Fashion Icon, Womenswear award, and a Swarovski. RCFA Awards and British Fashion and Inspiration awards. Along with these were smaller, but no less valuable, College and University Awards, for innovation, achievement, and contributions. To say Belle was proud would be an understatement.
The smell of pancake, would lead him to the kitchen table-counter. A stack of 4 perfect pancakes sat on a single plate, which was boarded by a knife a fork. A small jug, normally used for milk, contained cream, two others containing chocolate and maple syrup. A sugar bowl and spoon was laid out also, and a choice selection of fruit; sliced strawberries, bananas, blueberries, cranberries, and even mango and a sliced lemon.
There was the sound of a sliding door, and Belle came in from the garden, barefooted. "Morning." Was all she said as she went to lay on the sofa, turning on the news station, but keeping the volume low. Pink Floyd man. "That's for you, by the way." She breathed. "Aftercare is a must, not a maybe, after all." There was a brief, music filled gap in her speech. "Like the clothes? You might recognize it from my 3rd collection a year or so back. Of course, that's just a prototype, and obviously not made for men, but womens clothes suit you. I keep a lot of them upstairs."
Belle definitely seemed less...tense than their past few meetings. And it probably wasn't a mystery as to why exactly that had changed.
" 'Aftercare'?" Theo asked, barely able to get his voice up above a whisper. He was just a little overwhelmed by all of this, 'little' actually meaning 'rather very extremely'. Here he was, in the stunning home of the woman whom he virtually worshiped, surrounded by light and color and comfort, wearing one of her prototypes...
... and laid out for him was one of the most magnificent breakfast spreads he had ever, ever seen. The young man had never heard the term 'aftercare' before, but it now sat alongside of 'heaven' and 'bliss' in his personal dictionary.
He tentatively stepped forward, running his fingertips lightly along the edge of the counter top just to assure himself that all of this was real. It wasn't the opulence that struck him -- his parents had owned and brought him up in a reasonably nice house, though it still paled in comparison to this. It was the sense of balance and grace to everything, the way all the aspects of design were balanced. This place was a refuge, a sanctuary for the weary mind, a still harbor in a sea of storms. It was a bit like a basilica dedicated to rest, comfort, and beauty... no wonder he felt like he was treading on "holy ground". If Belle wasn't being so casual and generous he would've questioned whether he even belonged here.
"...I've never had 'aftercare' before." He admitted, slightly afraid he would somehow offend her. A pause as he reached the breakfast spread. "Pancakes, however," He gave her a grateful smile. "Now that's another story. These look delicious -- it all does. And the outfit is perfect."
He was a touch overwhelmed by her hospitality, especially considering what she'd said last night about "using and tossing him aside". Obviously not the case. "... I'm not really sure what to say. Thank you!"
The urge to try a little bit of everything hit him and he went with it. In between each pancake layer was placed a topping and a mix of fruit: chocolate with strawberries and bananas on the bottom, maple syrup with blueberries and cranberries, mango with cream splashed onto it, and on the top a simple light dusting of squeezed lemon juice. Taking the whole plate over to the table nearest to Belle -- and with the greatest care not to get anything on the clothes she had so generously lent to him -- Theo sat down and cut into breakfast.
With each magnificent bite more of the tired achiness seemed to melt away. The pancakes were heavenly, pure ambrosia, and everything that went with them was superb. So THIS was aftercare. It was without a doubt one of the greatest things ever, and cast a night of sex into a rather different light. Even those few times he'd 'been with' someone and it wasn't a job or... otherwise, nothing like this had ever even been on the radar. When it was over it was over, and everyone went their separate ways. Aftercare was a revelation.
He paused, putting down the silverware, a contemplative look on his face. Theo was obviously struggling with something. ". . . Belle, why... I'm not sure I understand why you're being so nice to me. No one's ever been this nice to me. And the way things went back in Nightshade I thought... well, I wasn't sure you..." Words weren't really his strong suit this morning, it seemed. He was grasping for an explanation for kindness that maybe didn't require one, yet was so far outside the field of his experience that he wasn't even sure where to start.
remember when you were young you shone like the sun
While her Fighter made work of his breakfast, Belle picked up one of the books settled on the glass table. Seemed she was happy to stay that way until she fancied something else. She let him go about his gleeful gratefulness semi-ignoring him. Certainly she didn't reply. At the least, Belle wasn't used to other people in her home. Honest truth being she herself wasn't even used to being in her home. She always found herself elsewhere during the day, and here at night maybe a few nights of the week.
When he questioned her reasons it took her a while to respond. "Aftercare is like consent. Not an option." There was a pause as she turned the page of her book. "It's my job to take care of my sub." Was her only reply for now. Obviously Belle had a history in a certain community, and likely it simply came with it. It was a somewhat bland response either way. Like that was the only reason, it was what it was and there was nothing more. Belle, it seemed, was determined to keep up the impression of not really caring more than she felt she had to. "Besides, I had the same thing. Might as make more than enough for me. Next time I'll make burned toast."
Leaving it as that, she continued to chew her way through the book for a good while before "...I've already read this." And Belle put the book back on the table, sighing. It seemed she needed to go entertainment shopping. She didn't even have a bookcase. The News kept her updated on the rest of the world, a world that Selene kept well away from. Or the other way around.
Belle got up, walking towards where Theo sat and taking away the plates, putting them in the dishwasher. The only other things within were her own plates and whatever she'd used to make the pancakes. So she just turned it on and let it be. "Don't get used to it. You're a prostitute. People don't go out of their way for you. And she went back upstairs.
Time passed, and there wasn't a sound from upstairs. It didn't seem like she wanted to come back down.
What she said made sense, certainly. Perhaps he'd been a bit presumptuous, thinking she'd gone out of her way for him or that he'd somehow merited special treatment. She operated at a very different level than him, clearly -- a fresh pancake buffet may have been for her like cold leftovers were for other people, though her jest about burned toast left him not entirely sure. The young demoniac was just so used to getting up and leaving with sometimes little more than a 'thanks' after most nights that the idea... the mentality that the client would take care of him was almost as foreign as someone speaking Chinese. If nothing else, Belle had a very different approach to things... humane, in a refreshing and pleasant way, even if her demeanor about it was clearly detached and somewhat impersonal. He certainly wasn't about to snub his nose at it, whatever her reasons.
Pancakes eaten and dishes in the wash, Belle vanished upstairs with a quick, dry reminder of the reality of his life. She was right, of course. Absolutely right. No one cared to care for the 'hired help'. Why would they? It wasn't like a relationship or even a wild fling; Theo slept with whoever paid properly (as long as they didn't break any of the rules), did as he was told, and then said "thank you for choosing Amour Cafe; we hope you'll bring your desires to us again" on the way out. That had been his life since arriving on Selene, and it hadn't been one he'd seriously regretted yet.
People didn't go out of their way for him. And maybe neither had Belle, really. At a glance it might've seemed she was treating him like a guest, but that glance had probably been wrong. Still...
... still, she didn't treat him like anyone else ever had. She'd considered him. Clothes. Food. It wasn't just 'that was a decent lay, now off you go'. She acted like it was normative and doing less would be unacceptable; he, meanwhile, was blown away.
And this, he realized with a very slight grin, was the same woman who'd roughly bent him over a table the first time they'd met. The one who lived to make certain people, men especially, ashamed of themselves. Both were part of who she was: the vengeful valkyrie of fashion was also the considerate queen of pancakes. It wasn't really a juxtaposition as he thought about it... but it was interesting, and just a little bit amusing, nonetheless.
A thought slowly dawned as he glanced at the nearest (and very nice, at that) clock. It was now just after nine. In a few hours he'd have to check in with the Cafe's management... and he had no idea where his phone had ended up. It had been in his denim jacket, right alongside the lipstick blade she'd let him borrow last night. Truthfully, he wasn't even entirely sure he remembered what room that particular article of clothing had come off in last night, much less if it was still there. He'd have to ask her.
Moving with a respectful tread, careful not to disturb any of the nice things all around him, Theo made his way to the base of the stairs. He'd heard her go up, but where she was now was anyone's guess. The young demonling hesitated, then in a voice far meeker than he'd expected called up to her.
"Um, Belle? Sorry, but, can I ask you a question?" He actually felt embarrassed -- he could find the phone himself but that would mean wandering and rummaging around her house unattended, which just felt far too intrusive. He wondered what she was doing... and whether he should go up or not.
remember when you were young you shone like the sun
As it turned out, Belle had made the bed in complete silence, as had slunk into her study to organize what she had. But it was all still a mess to say anything about it at all. A room full of colours, paper, and other stuff that Belle though she could have used and never did.
She heard Theo call from down the stairs. Ah, yeah. Didn't he say something about having to get back before 11? She sighed again, it was something she seemed to do a lot of. Huffing and sighing. Getting up, she open the bottom drawer of the dresser. Theo's clothes from yesterday. She picked them up, grabbing the phone from the pocket of the jacket. The knife had been removed 'earlier'. She came to the top of the stairs, and threw the phone at him, hopefully he could catch it.
Carrying the neatly folded clothes, she then passed them to Theo once he'd dealt with his phone. "I'll take you down if you want. Or you can walk I suppose." She walked passed him, picking up the remote, turning of the TV and then the surround system. Pink Floyd silenced. Looking over at the books on the table with scorn she re-realized her need for better materials in the house.
Ah, she was on top of things. With a grace that was now almost unaffected by the exertion of the previous night he caught the phone with one hand, smiling and nodding. "Thanks."
He weighed his options. Either would work, certainly, and though he was leaning more towards wanting to stay with her he didn't want to be a pest and overstay his welcome either. After a moment's thought, though, he answered her question with a tangent. "If it's reading material you're looking for, I might have a suggestion. There's a place I've browsed down in Gibbous called The Memoir with a lot of rather unique books and antiques; more expensive than I could afford, but it's got quite an atmosphere about it." The callboy checked the time on his phone. Still plenty. "I could show you where it is, if you want. All I really have to do is give them a call to check in; if there's nothing new scheduled I should be off for the rest of the day."
It was an offer, at least -- his small way of repaying her for breakfast. Feeling bold, the demonling gave Belle a grin. "That's two breakfasts I owe you now, by the way."
remember when you were young you shone like the sun
Belle strode to the door, besides which hung various coats and bags. She plucked the one she remembered having her purse in, and threw it over her shoulders, carrying on, letting Theo speak without showing too much interest. Obviously he was getting the wrong idea. She was being too nice, it seemed. This battle she fought between treating him like a male, and the more natural and instinctive way of treating him like her Fighter was a tiring one.
Pulling her purse out, she realized that she had no physical cash left on her. Oh well. She put it back, and opened the door to go outside. "You're still set on that hmm?" It was warm out. A nice day, and it would be a waste to spend it inside, or even in the house at all. The garden was nice, but the fact remains that she didn't really do gardens very well.
"I think I can figure out where it is, kid. I'll drop you to Amour, get some cash out, but my name on your tab, and we'll be done here." Once again Belle was coming off as cold, like she didn't want them to be more than...well, this. Anything else was something she'd want to forget about altogether. But she could shake the undertones of how she felt. She was drawn to him. And she hated it.
Her car was...impressive. Not like something you really saw around Selene, Belle wasn't going to use the buses for the life of her. White, clean, it had expense written all over it. "Right, little devil, coming with me, or walking?" It was back to the nickname the Cafe knew him by.
It seemed things between them were once again 'professional'. Somewhere along the line he'd overstepped himself, or said something that didn't agree with her. Well... whatever the case, he wasn't about to ruin what had otherwise been a good -- if well and truly exhausting -- experience, so with a polite nod he fell into step behind her. "I'll go with you if that's okay, miss."
Yes... back to "professionalism".
"And, um," They were almost out the door when he asked. "What about these clothes? I'm sure you'll want them back." He liked the outfit but definitely didn't intend to take anything of hers if she wasn't offering it. Theo was many things, perhaps, but a thief wasn't yet one of them. "I can drop them by later if you want." He would have offered to change quickly but she seemed set on heading out.
remember when you were young you shone like the sun
Some part of her was screaming about how she was treating him. The back and forth. Last night she'd seen his discomfort and taken it upon herself to remove him from the situation before he got hurt. Her brain told her that, no, she just didn't like that man, he was slimy, and she wanted to take Theo from him simply to make him angry. And then she used him appropriately. It was his job, after all. She was simply giving him a living. What else would he do if not that?
Damnit. This was all so messy. "Keep the clothes. Like I said, prototype. I have loads." Simply, she didn't want him coming back to her house. It was a stupid mistake anyway. Amour had been across the way, why hadn't they just gone there? Then she would have had to make breakfast, or drop him back, or give him clothes, and she could have been gone before he'd even woken up. That was a much better idea, way less complications. Way less of...this.
She seemed visibly frustrated in the seconds before she drove away from the house she owned. This whole thing was stupid. But she'd be lying if she said that she wasn't getting anything out of it.
------------
Stopping at the super market, Belle drew out $500 from her winnings the night before, and got herself a coffee. Getting back into the car, having left Theo there, not allowing him to follow, they continued to Amour Cafe. Belle didn't bother getting out. "Have this." She handed him $350. "A tip." And that was petty much it. Some part of her didn't even want to go to that shop he recommended. "I'd give that much to anyone else, so don't think too much on it." Belle completely avoided eye contact.
She wanted him out, suddenly. But later Theo would find a plain piece of paper with her number. It seemed that after he'd contacted her before, she'd changed her number.
To say Belle was sending him mixed messages would have been to understate the situation, but Theo kept quiet for the most part and smiled softly when appropriate. He wasn't entirely sure what she was thinking or had in mind, but something told him that the best move was simply to let her lead and follow when and how she wanted him to.
That made the tip on the way out all the more unexpected, truthfully. If she'd looked at him with calm reserve when she said that everyone got the same from her he might have believed her, but her uneasiness gave the lie to the whole situation. Still, he didn't want to make the situation awkward for her. "Thank you" was all he said as he accepted the money in hand. Part of him wanted to say more, but it wasn't prudent; the heart-felt 'thank you' would have to do.
And then suddenly her expensive car was driving down the road and out of sight. Going to pocket the money Theo discovered a slip of paper with a phone number on it. Was it... had she...? He guessed she had. Huh.
Not every Pair got along, he knew. Some couldn't stand each other. Others never interacted -- it was just too complicated. Everyone on Selene was, in theory, one part of a Pair and it was foolishness to think they all forged bonds and became close. Theo -- Mephisto -- had no idea for certain which direction he and Belle would go. Forces beyond them may have bound them but free will wasn't so easily subjugated.
Whatever she chose, he'd respect it.
Turning towards the Cafe, he headed inside. She'd driven off before explaining the situation from last night; that would mean he'd have some explaining of his own to do. It would all work out, though, of that he felt confident.
