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Post by Emby Foster on Dec 21, 2009 22:20:43 GMT -5
|Open to One...but PM if you want to join and one has already replied| Emby sat with her knees hugged to her chest at the edge of the lake. She donned a sweater custom made by the one and only Madam Weaver and matching sweat pants. Worn-out black boots that she had bought in the market were on her feet. Her long blonde hair was out and lay around her shoulders. In the slightly large clothes, she looked more frail then usual. A loud sigh escaped her lips. She contemplated jumping into the river for a bath...or jumping in to drown.
Well, she didn't really plan on killing herself so it seemed like a bath was the more likely option. She frowned, looked around and stretched out her legs. It was cold but she smelled and well, no one was around. She was hoping on that when she had left her cell this morning. She pulled the sweater over her head, revealing a white wife-beater and stood up. She kicked off her boots and pulled down her pants, revealing black shorts. No way was she going to go into the lake naked. Not with all the perverts in Freakopolis. She may be blonde, but she wasn't stupid.
She stretched her arms above her head and her fingers spread out. She brought her arms down over the water, wishing she had the power to warm it. She sighed again. What was so great about being able to manipulate the elements if you were bound by rules. She couldn't produce them out of then air. She could only control them for so long before she was reduced to a hyperventilating mess and the biggest bummer? She couldn't even warm some cold water to take a pleasant rinse! She narrowed her eyes before backing up to take a running start in. She couldn't warm the water but she could get her own body temperature to rise.
She ran forward and jumped out, her body curling up as she hit the cold water. She hit the bottom and pushed back up, her head coming out of the water with a gasp. She could feel her veins constricting from the cold water and she quickly scrubbed herself, not paying attention to her surroundings like she was supposed to. |
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Post by Demetrio on Dec 21, 2009 23:39:01 GMT -5
A few weeks had passed since he had been given the cure to the disease along with the rest of the sick in the infirmary. Since then news about how the cure had been obtained was rather sparse on the details. Demetrio was rather impressed that some of the residents of Freakopolis had taken initiative and gone to raid the underground compound. The disease had taken its toll on his appearance and made him a scarecrow shell of what he had once been. Right after being cured he had been severely emaciated and pale. Fast forward to the here and now, he had gotten several meals a day and finally started to get back onto a regular exercise routine. It wasn't at his usual pace yet, but he was hopeful he would be back at 100% within the next few weeks. At least he no longer looked like he could play the part of the skeletal zombie in some B horror movie. His flesh was filled out more now to the point where he almost looked healthy.
Demetrio wore his trademark short sleeved t-shirt and jeans. On his feet were an old pair of boots made from the skin of a gator that he'd bargained with Madame Weaver for. The only other addition to his usual ensemble was a new winter coat, also designed and made by the resident seamstress of Freakopolis. Out of everything he now wore it was his favorite. Being warm and toasty in such cold weather was always a plus. Unfortunately he would soon need to brave the cold for a bath. It had been at least a week since he had last gotten up the courage to go out and bathe. The water was just so cold that his already battered, but healing, body could barely stand it. Too bad he couldn't control fire or some such thing. At least, not without such a mutant around he could draw the power out of.
His path now took him to the shore of the lake. This was the first time he had come back to the place since he had first woken up here right after his capture. Usually he went to the river and avoided the lake totally, but the winding body of water had gotten a little too crowded for his tastes recently. The lake offered more privacy, so that is where he went. Upon arrival Demetrio immediate started to strip down to his skivvies without paying attention to his surroundings. Better to get this chore done and over with quickly, no matter the consequences of these beginning actions.
He walked into the water quickly and dove under once it was deep enough. The cold gave a sudden shock to his system and drove much the air from his lungs. Where he would surface from underneath the water was anyone's guess. Control of his movements were no longer his as struggled toward the surface for fresh air. |
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Post by Emby Foster on Dec 22, 2009 13:03:47 GMT -5
Emby did not notice Demetrio's approach. Her mind was focused on scrubbing her skin till it tingled then getting out of that freezing lake. She pushed herself under, shaking her head underwater to try and clean her hair. When she popped back up, a splash of water showered her. She spun around in the water, her breathing automatically picking up. She pulled her arms out under the water, the water spreading for her as she tried to look for the source of the splash.
She saw him. A struggling figure in the murky water trying to reach the surface. She couldn't tell it was the stranger who had saved her from the infirmary though. She dived in, not knowing what type of man was in the water with her and, with the skill of a train lifeguard, kicked her way down to him.
In the dark water she couldn't really see, so she just shut her eyes and groped around, hoping to find him this way. The water twisted and turned with her hands movements. Her hand brushed against his shoulder and she tried to grasp onto him if he would allow it. First rule of life-saving, if the drowning person was putting up a fight, you let them drown. Harsh but at least two people didn't have to die. |
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Post by Demetrio on Dec 23, 2009 18:47:58 GMT -5
Dirt from the churned water stung his eyes as he tried to see where he was. Nothing was visible through the murky water except a speck of sunlight that suddenly went dim. Something moved above him that was too big to be any type of fish that would live in this lake. What appeared to be the shadow of a human hand went past the small spot light. Hope rose within him that there might be a person that had seen his struggles. And here he was thinking he always had bad luck.
Immediately Demetrio stopped moving and let his body sway with the moving water. He used every calming technique he knew in order to take his mind off the fact that his body was lacking oxygen. The best way to be found was to stay where you were; that would be his plan of action now. Soon enough he felt fingers on his shoulder. The contact startled him enough for him to almost jerk away, but he settled after a second. The hand at his shoulder groped for a hold. He went a step further and willed his arm to move.
His hand made an attempt to take a grasp on his rescuer's wrist. By this time his lungs were starting to burn in need of fresh air. Bubbles came out of his mouth as he was involuntarily forced to try and breathe. Two things went through Demetrio's mind at the same time. First, that was the last of his air. And second, that there probably shouldn't be water flowing into his lungs right now. |
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Post by Emby Foster on Dec 23, 2009 19:45:33 GMT -5
Emby took hold of his shoulder, bringing herself down for a moment. Demetrio's bubbles hit her in her face and she knew where he was exactly now. She lowered herself more, wrapped her arms around his torso and pushed off. He had been down since his first splash, she assumed and he would need air. They quickly resurfaced and Emby let go of one arm around him and pulled them to the Lake's shore. She scrambled out and lifted him out of the water.
Emby bent her head down checking for chest movement and breathing. ooc: So short and sorry if I was god-modding a bit! |
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Post by Demetrio on Dec 23, 2009 20:50:32 GMT -5
Demetrio didn't remember being pulled out of the water. He was barely conscious as it was, but he was aware enough that there were hands on his chest. Possibly checking for signs of life. Not that he was in any condition to give any. He supposed that since he was still alive that his heart was ticking at least a little. That was a good sign. Bad sign was that he still wasn't getting any air. He made an attempt to contract his own lungs and cough up what filled them. A small gush of water came rushing up and out onto the ground.
Turning onto his side caused the rest of the contents of his lungs to spill forth. Air rushed into his lungs as he gasped, coughed and clutched at the dirt. Several minutes passed before he began to exhibit even a slightly normal breathing pattern. What a horrible way to take a bath. |
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Post by Emby Foster on Dec 23, 2009 23:10:57 GMT -5
Emby's hands ran over his upper half as he rolled to his side. It was a good sign. A very good sign. One hand moved under his head, the other resting on his shoulder. "Just cough," she promoted. He was getting the water out which was good. Emby let out a sigh as he began to breathe correctly. She gently moved him to his back, letting his head rest on her knees.
"Hey, you're that guy from the hospital," she pointed out, surpise on her face. Her lips broke into an easy smile. "Hm. Guess this time the tables are reversed. I saved your life this time," she teased. Then her face grew serious. "You okay now?" |
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Post by Demetrio on Dec 25, 2009 21:18:04 GMT -5
Demetrio had just realized that his head was resting on something soft when a somewhat familiar voice reached his ears and caused his eyes to open.
"Hey, you're that guy from the hospital."
Well. How was this for irony? It was the girl from the infirmary that he had helped calm down. He was glad to see she was alive and healthy. The disease hadn't gotten her as it had so many others. His own voice failed him as he tried to reply to her observation.
"Hm. Guess this time the tables are reversed. I saved your life this time."
Exactly what he had been thinking a moment before.
"You okay now?"
Demetrio took his time and pondered on her question. Was he alright? He flexed his fingers and wiggles his toes. Nothing seemed broken or bruised, which was somewhat surprising. His voice still refused to work properly as he tried to answer her question, finally getting out something that was an incomprehensible squeak. A sigh came from him as he just settled for a nod and tried to sit up. |
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Post by Emby Foster on Dec 26, 2009 13:02:49 GMT -5
Emby frowned, seeing as he wasn't responding. Her mind thought back to her lifeguard training. Well, what she was about to wasn't really part of that particular class though. She raised one hand over Demetrio and tried to lift the excess water off of his body. It was cold and she didn't want him catching ammonia. She really wasn't paying attention until, well, she went to throw the water back into the lake and there was none to throw. It was all on him still
"Is there a reason I can't dry you off?" She was momentarily distracted by her lack of power as he tried to get up. He couldn't even speak! "Wait a minute right here. Don't move!" She doubted he could go anywhere right now. He didn't look well despite his ability to sit up. She got up and walked to her clothes. When she was a good seven yards away, she tried to get her own water off and deduced it was him that was somehow canceling her power out. She walked back to him, more wary then before.
She tossed him the sweat. "Put this on. Unless you can tell me where your clothes are." She didn't bring up all her questions just yet. She pulled on her pants and boots. She knelt down in front of him, tone serious. "I need you to go over to there," she pointed to the area behind them, "and throw up. It should get any lake water out of you. God only knows what's in it. Also, try to cough up any water you may have remaining in your lungs," she told him. "I wish there was more I could do for you but we're pretty far from the infirmary and I don't think it's that bad....you didn't black out did you?" she asked before biting her bottom lip worriedly. Normally, she would've just pulled any excess water out of his lungs but seeing as she knew that would fail, she didn't bother. |
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Post by Demetrio on Dec 30, 2009 19:46:14 GMT -5
Demetrio swayed as he sat there trying to regain his senses. He was feeling rather light headed and nauseated. This didn't seem like a good start to his new lease on life. Both symptoms grew worse when he felt the pull of a mutant power being worked on him. To look at her wasn't even necessary to know what sort of reaction he would see when she realized her mutation wouldn't work. Several loose drops of water flew from his skin as his rescuer made a flinging gesture toward the lake. It was little improvement to his soaked condition.
"Is there a reason I can't dry you off?"
The question went unanswered as he attempted to stand. His luck was better than he thought it'd be; he stayed vertical, but with his body still threatening to toss him back to the ground. Any person observing from a distance might have confused him for an insane drunk man that had decided to act like a polar bear. He eyed the woman as she returned with an armful of clothing and threw one of the articles at him. One look at it told him it would be too small, so he threw it back. Her manner toward him had changed, it was more cautious now and she seemed to keep more distance between them than before. Demetrio cleared his throat and forced his voice to come out of hiding.
"A reason there would be," he croaked as he waddled toward his own clothing pile. "And if you think, it's rather easy to figure out."
The ground was a welcome companion again as he fell to his knees upon reaching his clothes. He used his shirt to dry off, it was the least vital of the set. Immediately he shrugged on his coat and exchanged his wet piece of clothing for a nice cold, but dry, pair of jeans - behind the privacy of a bush he crawled behind first, of course. Somehow he made it back to his feet and made sure the coat was warmly secured. The transition back to vertical wasn't liked by his stomach, however. Before he could even try to stop it, his stomach revolted and laid siege to his innards. An abdominal cramp hit him right then like a battering ram, causing anything that had been inside his stomach, lungs or any other organ to be reintroduced into the world.
If there was one thing in the world he hated more than than long sleeves, it was this. Nothing else compared to retching until it felt like your insides no longer existed. That was how Demetrio felt now, though admittedly he was no longer nauseated. And that had taken care of his last instruction from his temporarily adopted medic, even though it wasn't exactly carried out where she had pointed.
"I wish there was more I could do for you but we're pretty far from the infirmary and I don't think it's that bad....you didn't black out did you?"
Demetrio waited until his head stopped spinning before emerging from behind the bush. He could walk straight now, for the most part, and he used this returned balance to close some of the gap between them. A shake of the head answered her question though he wasn't sure she saw it.
"Thanks for the help." Good, his voice sounded almost normal. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember your name." |
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Post by Emby Foster on Dec 30, 2009 21:32:16 GMT -5
Emby sighed as he attempted to stand up. He was being bothersome. Did he not realize he wasn't feeling well? Did his mutation not only block her own but his common sense as well? She picked up her sweater, pulling it over her torso, watching Demetrio with rapt attention. He was quite peculiar. Despite almost drowning, he was trying to get himself up and running. She didn't bother telling him to stay again. He didn't seem to like listening.
"I think I already figured it out," she told him as he walked away. She fell to the ground with a soft thud and another sigh. As he got further away, she pulled a little booklet of matches out of her right boot. She spread one hand over the ground and formed it into the fist. She hit the ground and it gave way, forming a small bowl. She looked around her and picked up a handful of small twigs, laying the randomly in the pit. She picked up her matches again and lit one, looking over in Demetrio's direction. He was still getting his clothes on. She turned her head away, a slight blush forming on her lips even though he had been behind a bush. She hadn't seen anything. it was just slightly awkward.
She lit the match and brought it down to the mound of twigs. She inhaled, the smoke of the fire entering her mouth. She fought a cough and exhaled. The fire bloomed beautifully and she sat back as the twigs lit up. She looked back over to Demetrio, watching him vomit. Her eyebrows knitted together, contemplating on getting up and helping him.
As soon as it happened, it seemed to be done. At least he did one thing she asked of him. She watched him carefully as he walked back. He seemed to be able to walk better now. "Good. And no problem. Least I can do." She pushed herself up from the ground, extending her hand. "Emby. And sorry, but I don't remember yours either. I'm better with faces," she said, a little sheepish.
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Post by Demetrio on Jan 3, 2010 13:42:33 GMT -5
"Demetrio. Pleased to make your acquaintance. Again." He took her hand in his and gave it a swift squeeze before letting his arm drop to his side. He remembered her now, Emby. The sweet faced girl that he'd helped in the infirmary. The slight bashfulness she let show was still quite cute for a person of her age. Almost made him wish he had kids. Almost. A world with any offspring of his in it would start revolving backward.
He migrated eagerly toward the fire and stuck his hands out toward it to warm them up, rubbing them together to help out the heat. His fingers were like ice. It wouldn't have surprised him if she'd felt that during their handshake. Not that it bothered him too badly. At least they weren't numb. The fire was helping and had been a brilliant idea on her part. Too bad he didn't have too many of those. His luck wasn't always the best when it came to such things.
Demetrio glanced out over the lake and at the reflections mirrored in it. Such a seemingly harmless body of water and yet in it was the cold finger of death waiting to drag someone under. Emphasis on cold. He sat down as close as he could and still tolerate the heat of the fire. All that cold water in his lungs probably hadn't helped in the broad scheme of things, but that bridge would be burnt when he came to it. All he wanted right now was a cup of hot cocoa to help warm him up. |
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Post by Emby Foster on Jan 6, 2010 19:23:34 GMT -5
Emby smiled and placed her hands behind her back. It was funny how unaware Emby was of her affect on people. Sure, the one on Demetrio hadn't been that strong but even he acknowledged her innocent persona. In actuality, Emby wanted nothing with innocence but all with action. Of course, she didn't know how innocent people seemed to think she was.
Emby perhaps might have noticed the iciness of his hands if her's hadn't been the same. The fire was quick to warm up her's. Maybe it was because of her connection with the element or because she hadn't almost died in the water. Whatever the reason, Emby was slowly feeling the warmth spread to her fingers. She dared get as close to the fire as she could, knowing with Demetrio around she would not be able to stop the flame if it got to close. She could almost feel the lack of control she had on her mutation. Not that lacking control was unusual for Emby.
"So, what brought you to the lake? And if I may ask, what happened?" Her eyebrows were knit together in concentration, trying to guess his answer. |
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Post by Demetrio on Jan 8, 2010 16:09:01 GMT -5
"So, what brought you to the lake? And if I may ask, what happened?"
A shiver ran up Demetrio's spine from the cold air. He pulled his coat tighter around him before extending his hands toward the fire once again. The heat felt wondrous and the cold was beginning to leave his fingers. It wasn't much longer before he was quite comfortable within the reach of the fire's heat.
"Just wanted to take a bath. Was in too much of a rush to get it done and back into somewhere warm. I was stupid and jumped in without thinking about how a person's reaction to cold water could force the air out of one's lungs."
He stoked the fire with a nearby stick he picked up.
"Good way to drown. Bad way to go." Demetrio stared into the flickering flames for several minutes. "And how about you? How did you happen to be in the right place at the right time?" |
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Post by Emby Foster on Jan 8, 2010 18:48:26 GMT -5
Emby nodded her head as he went through his answer. It was a bit foolish but Emby had done the same. The only thing that had kept her from the same fate was her control over water. She never feared death by the elements. At least that was something.
She removed her hands from the fire and pulled her arms into her sweatshirt, holding her now warm hands to her cold chest as she looked to Demetrio. "Interesting statement," she said, a bit of amusement on her face.
She shrugged. "The same, bathing." She shrugged again to his second part. "Luck, I suppose. But you seem to be the luckier one." She pulled her arms back out. "I'll be back. I'm going to find some bigger sticks." She got up for a moment, leaving him to his thoughts as she went to get better fire fodder.
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