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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 16, 2013 1:07:39 GMT -8
Marcus felt his guts knot up with guilt as he watched Del mount up and get herself 'strapped in' so to speak. Not that he could blame her with being upset. He saw the look on her face when she saw his wrist. Each and every clomp of her boots was just another twist in his guts. He could only hope that she would understand why he HAD to do it.
With a flick of his foot, the kickstand was knocked up and before long Marcus and Delilah were roaring across the open streets, making thier windy way down south to the docks.
Marcus had to admit, the area around the Crows nest was shaping up to be a shining example of how to run a territory. Already Marcus began to pick out ways he could incorporate some of it's themes into Anahiem.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Feb 16, 2013 1:12:50 GMT -8
Delilah would remain silent throughout the journey, looking at the scenery without really seeing it, lost in her thoughts. She allowed herself a small, wistful sigh. Too much to ask, too much to hope for. Especially with Stu back in her arms.
But enough of that. Now as a time for priorities.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 16, 2013 1:24:25 GMT -8
That sigh. Damnit that wistful sigh nearly broke Marcus' heart in two.
He wanted to wait until they reached the docks at the very least but now, taking a hand off one of the bars, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled something out of it, holding it up over his shoulder for Delilah to see.
Marcus never was the patient type.
Wrapped around his clenched fist was something Delilah would immediatly recognize. It was the very ribbon she had tied around his wrist. Any words he would speak would be lost amongst the engine roar, So the man decided to show instead of tell. Deliberatly he placed the ribbon in his left breast pocket of his Leather Jacket. Right over the heart and to drive the point home, Snapped the pocket flap closed before returning his attention to the road.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Feb 16, 2013 1:39:11 GMT -8
Marcus' movement jerked her attention out of her thoughts and back to him. She saw the ribbon dangling from his fingers and her eyes narrowed. Yeah. She got the point already. Why was he bringing it up like th--
She couldn't see what he did with the ribbon (as he was facing away from her) but she had the notion that he was keeping it safe. Just in case.
A little of the tension went out of her shoulders at this, but she could not bring herself to smile fully. Disappointment in herself. Who was she to keep him, when doing so had made him so unhappy?
Trying not to sigh again, she would turn her eyes back to the scenery as they approached the beach.
OH HEY, LOOK, BIRDS!
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 18, 2013 21:10:02 GMT -8
While Delilah distracted herself with the birds, Marcus picked out a good stretch of beach and Parked close by. This particular stretch had a pier with benches and relatively clean looking sand. The sounds of waves gently rolling in managed to lift the rather sombre mood that swept over the pair somewhat, but Marcus couldnt quite shake it completely off.
Mabey it would have been better just to leave the damn thing on then? He cut the ribbon off to REMOVE a distraction, not make it worse!
'Ok, fuck it! What's done is done. Just push it out of your head and keep walking. She's a big girl, she can deal. At least she still has Stu.'
Which surprised Marcus how he could think that without a trace of bitterness. Which only further supported his decision. Delilah was NOT his to cling after and pine like some lovestruck teenager. Not having the ribbon wouldn't change how he felt about her, but at least it would give him closure and allow him to finaly let her go.
After removing his skullcap and Goggles, Marcus slipped them into his saddle bag and tied his mane of hair back into a ponytail.
"Well First Black, Where would you like to set up shop?"
Marcus asked as a sort of apology for essentialy strong arming her out here in the first place.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Feb 19, 2013 19:47:58 GMT -8
Delilah slid off the bike gracefully as Marcus cut the engine, teasing her hair back into place and shuffling her papers around again. Her gaze flicked up to Marcus' as he asked where she wanted to sit and she quirked an eyebrow, a bemused expression finding a place on her features.
"Wherever you deem fit is fine. You brought me here, remember?"
She was smiling a little more broadly now, and obviously teasing. Crazy, impulsive Marcus. She sighed internally.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 22, 2013 23:05:07 GMT -8
"I did no such thing!"
Marcus cried in mock outrage, holding a hand over his heart before pointing it in the air matter of factly.
"You simply had no choice but to be swept along by my natural charm. TO THE BENCHES THEN!"
He then spun around on the spot and began marching towards the Pier where the waves broke againt the barnical encrusted support pillars. No doubt she would follow, so he picked the farthest bench down the pier, the one at the very end that faced out towards the open ocean.
Or at least he would remember he was missing something, Whirl around with as much gravitas as before and begin Marcus back, Pull a package out from his Saddlebag, a small leatherbound parcel, whirled around yet again and began marching down the pier. All along acting as if everything was going according to plan. Which it rarely ever did, But Marcus was a firm believer in the idea that as long as you were convincing, you could fool a GREAT many people into believing you knew exactly what you were doing!
Plopping down on one side of the bench with the Parcel sitting on his lap, Marcus would sigh nervously and wait for Delilah to join him before Holding the Parcel out to her.
"First things first. Flame throwers on Lady? Fucking Marvelous! The minute I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to get you for christmas. Problem was It took me until a few weeks ago to finaly find it. Now I know it's alittle late buuuut......Merry Belated Oh god jesus I'm sorry for taking this long Christmas!
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Feb 24, 2013 0:01:54 GMT -8
Laughing, Delilah began to follow Marcus towards the benches he indicated, following his lead--
--and pausing as he spun back around and walked to his bike. She watched with her eyebrows drawn together and a half smile on her lips. What was he doing?
As if nothing happened, he pulled a parcel from the bike and marched back the way he came to the benches. Shrugging, Delilah followed suit. She had a feeling she was going to find out.
Sitting down on the bench beside him, she was only mildly surprised to have the gift thrust at her. She blinked at the parcel, then at him. Then at the parcel again. Slowly, carefully, she took it and began unwrapping her somewhat belated gift.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 24, 2013 2:37:45 GMT -8
Marcus watched in anxious anticipation as Delilah slowly but surely unwrapped his gift. It wasn't anything cool like a FLAMETHROWER HARLEY DAVIDSON or a FUCKING TRENCH KNIFE but it was something that had been with him since his younger days in PHS 552. Craddled between Delilahs hands was a mask shaped like a stylized fox and with a slight oxidized green color.
"Way back when"
Marcus began, stretching his feet out before him and
I got myself into an interesting little adventure with abunch of other students. Had to break out of the Auditorium in pitch black Darkness you see. Ended up going through the trapdoor under the stage and before long shit went all Hardy boys on us. Stumbled into a secret hallway. Stumbled on a bunch of dudes in Masks like that one there. Real Proffesional like. Problem was, it didn't help them much. I took that Mask from the man I kicked a good few levels of hell out of and clipped it to the old trenchcoat I used to wear. Was a good luck charm of sorts."
"I figured. Well with everything thats happening and stuffs. Mabey it could bring you some luck too, huh?"
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Feb 25, 2013 22:14:11 GMT -8
Delilah opened the package....and gasped.
"What..." she lifted the mask out of the package, looking it up. An Oni mask if she'd ever seen one...no, more like a dog, but certainly a demon of some kind. The teal colour of the mask was dusky, as though highlighted by shadow. She held it up to inspect it...and forced her gaze away from it as she looked at Marcus, listening to his story with wide eyes.
As he finished, she would lay the mask down in her lap, gazing at it with a quiet little smile on her face. Just...studying it. What it meant to him. What it meant to her, without him ever being able to know. The Japanese mythology hit home deeply.
"This is called a komainu, or lion-dog," she said softly, still looking into the mask. "They are guardians of places of worship or importance in Japan, to ward off evil kami. They usually appear in pairs, one with it's mouth closed, the other open. This one," she ran her hand over the exposed teeth of the ceramic mask. "Is open. The open mouth is said to represent the first syllable in Sanskrit alphabet, called 'a'. The beginning of all things."
She turned to him, smiling with her eyes shining just a bit in the sunlight. "It's beautiful. Thank you, Marcus."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 26, 2013 20:22:15 GMT -8
Marcus couldn't help but beam, pleased that Delilah was so taken with the Mask. Of course he had no clue she would have such a connection with it. What did she call it again? A Komainu? He tilted his head and absorbed the knowledge she gave him, filling the gaps in his memory. The others DID have masks just like this one of course, and now Marcus had a better reason as to why.
"You're very much welcome! Talk about you're happy coincidences huh? You know what bugs me though is we NEVER found out what exactly those guys were guarding down there."
Marcus shrugged with indifference.
"Just another one of lifes mysteries I guess. I'm still glad you like it Del. Heh, I'll try to be alittle more punctual next year."
He added with a wink and a laugh. Enjoying the moment of just BEING outside in the sun the woman who saved his life nearly a full year ago.
The little things. You GOTTA enjoy the little things whenever you could.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Feb 26, 2013 20:47:27 GMT -8
Returning his smile sincerely, Delilah folded up the leather wrappings of the mask and let it sit on her lap. Then she reached beside her and brought out the papers. Making this legit. She turned back to face Marcus, all business once again. The suit helped.
"So! Plans for your citizens!"
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Feb 28, 2013 22:04:36 GMT -8
Slapping both his knees, Marcus immediatly put on his serious face.
"Welp, For starters the Military did thier job pretty well. Round 90% of the population are already situated more or less so really it's just been a matter of Repairing and improving thier living spaces. As for food; remember I showed you the Gardens last time you were over? Expanding that to multiple suburbs though It's slower going due to soil composition issues or something like that. Law enforcement has been....interesting mostly because alot of stupid people got it into thier heads that the Crows were more Leniant than the Fucking Military. Been having to Be more public than you guys are probably comfortable with in our executions to convince people we will NOT put up with bullshit."
"Anything else you need to know?"
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Mar 2, 2013 0:43:25 GMT -8
Delilah raised an eyebrow in question.
"That last bit. How are you going about those executions?"
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Mar 2, 2013 2:53:47 GMT -8
For a moment Marcus looked embaressed. As if this was a distasteful thing he would rather not talk about.
"Gallows. We started with the prisoners the military were keeping. Lined them out, read their crimes and hung them."
With a sigh, the man sat back in his seat, tilting his head back to look up at the sky.
"I warned them of course, but I was forced to demonstrate. Well, the station is empty now and the people are generaly quiet, but its caused....tension. Tension I hope to massage."
Marcus was most definatly NOT ok with the execution doctrine the Crows had adopted for dealing with criminals at first. Eventualy though, he saw the wisdom in it. It confused him though, why judging one thief, one murderer would be so much easier than condemning a group of ten such people to the gallows.
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