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Post by Katsuri Katashi on May 31, 2013 13:16:39 GMT -8
Dragon territory. One might wonder what he was doing wandering about this place, sanctuary for dragon kin. Rumors, curiosity, old friends, all of these things culminating in a single thought, I should go walk about and see what this place is like.. and rather its any better than Barkers shit hole.
Well, that and wondering if he'd run into familiar faces, Leon, as he recalled, had been calling himself a dragon since before this war. There were a few other names, not all known, or remembered, but there none the less. And to the fitting attire for his stroll?
A grey, v-cut vest, buttoned up on his chest, with a white button up shirt tucked away underneath, red tie finishing it off. Pair of grey slacks, and grey lo-tops finished off his 'business' ensemble. Unless one were to count those rather loud set of ear-buds dangling from his head down into that vest, a rather bright blue.
Hands tucked away in his pockets, he was strolling rather carefree down the road, whistling along to the music blaring in his ears. That stride long, given the size of the beast, standing over eight-foot at this point, four inches precisely, and having finally just stopped growing.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 2:36:03 GMT -8
-One Hour Earlier-
"Hey Les, can I go hang out with Ernie and Vicki today?"
"Those are the two you were out after dark with, weren't you?"
"Err..."
"No. Not until I can talk to their parents."
"But that's not fair!"
"That's safe. And as long as you live under my roof-"
"It's not your roof, it's David's! And you're not even my MOM!"
"That's enough. Discussion over. I need to go drop these documents off at the office, and then I'll be back to make lunch okay? Stay here."
-----
Needless to say, ten year old Madelyn didn't 'stay here,' but rather ran out the door after Olesya rounded the corner toword the business-side of the territory. She didn't know much about it except for 'don't go here, it's not for kids' and that Olesya and David were both really busy with that area of the territory. They were both Dragons, well, David was a Dragon and Les was his Voice, whatever that meant. It was all way over Maddie's head, and her young mind really couldn't care any less about the responsibilities of the adults here.
Just like she felt the adults couldn't care any less about the kids. Why couldn't she go play with her friends!? It was TOTALLY safe here! It was like a big giant house you had to go in and out of the big gate door, showing her civilian's badge she had on a band around her arm at all times, at least during the day when she was out and about.
However, today she didn't have her badge, she didn't even have her shoes she was so mad and defiant in every way the little girl could be. She ran down the alleyways, weaving and an out between people and things, not caring what they were. That was, until she ran into a giant PILLAR.
"Oof! Ow.."
She collided and fell back on her butt, raising her hands to hre head in a dazed fashion. She looked up at the man she ran into...he was literally a giant! He looked like he was like fifty feeet tall or something...Maddie just stared up at him completely in awe and a bit intimidated (and not at all scared...no, not scared at all...).
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 6:58:29 GMT -8
Something small ran into him, a dog?, instinct though, would have let a foot come out as the girl fell and move underneath her backside so she wouldn't just fall straight to the concrete. Then he glanced down and found a child. That head of his tilted and he'd have reached down into his vest, fishing round for a moment before there was a distinct click and the music halted. Tape player. His old mp3 player had unfortunately bit the dust when Barker decided EMPs were fun happy times. One of the many many reasons he hated that man.
Eyes darted over this tiny person, noticing the lack of shoes, and she'd have felt that foot push her up, trying to get her back to her feet, "You alright?" The first words out of the giants mouth, hardly I will eat your bones, though a few people had made that mistake before.
The curious thing to him was that now he wondered if these streets were safe enough for a child to be wandering around, or, the more likely scenario, she was out here and should not have been.. rather she had no parents or simply ran away. The big gate was 'safe' but not THAT safe.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 8:56:10 GMT -8
Maddie would feel the foot catching her a smidge off the ground as opposed to the hard earth beneath her. Shed pause, looking up at the mountain of a man looking down at her. Maddie was a bit on the short side for her age standing at four foot three, a tiny slip of a girl looking even tinier next to the man.
"Um....yeah."
She said, still shocked at the sheer height of her savior. She righted herself, dusting off her jumper. It dawned on her that she had yet, the realization painted all over her little face.
"I mean, thank you sir."
She said, remembering her manners from David and Olesya. Olesya! Ugh, the young girl's defiant anger returned once more and she frowned, her emotions completely transparent as was much like a child.
........
-Meanwhile-
Olesya returned from dropping the papers off, having been in thoughtful silence the entire time. Maddies words had stung quite a bit, especially considering her and Davids talk about adoption. Maddie wasnt her child, shed never had proper parents as far as Olesya knew. 'Maybe her file is still at the orphanage.' Okesya thought, tucking it in the back of her mind before returning to the problem at hand. She and Maddie had never had any fights, Les had always been more of a big sister than a mother figure to the girl. However, the longer Les was her guardian, the more her maternal instincts surfaced. She was twenty five, about the age of marriage and families for her generation...before the bombs fell and society shattered. It wasnt all that surprising that she found herself falling into this role, and she didn't exactly mind, either.
Walking into the house, Les veered to the kitchen to start making lunch for Maddie. She got out the homemade bread and peanut butter and homemade jelly, setting them on the counter.
"Maddie, is PB and J alright? Its all we've got, so we can go to the market later and you can pick out what you want for dinner, okay?"
...
"Maddie?"
....
She abandoned her sandwich makings and walked to Maddies room, gently pushing the ajar door open...
"Listen, I know youre mad at me but-"
And saw an empty room.
"Maddie? Madelyn?!"
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 9:13:04 GMT -8
Her size was gauged by him, given she came just about his hip, he'd have guessed in the four foot range. Those eyes were not good enough to get a perfect length though. "Good good.. and you're welcome." The big man practically blotted out the sun, but those pearly whites would have shined through at least, a smile pulling across his lips.
One of those massive paws came down, ruffling her hair slightly, the hand could have easily engulfed her entire head, but that palm just did what it intended. Gently. "You should watch where you're running though, running into an inanimate object is much less fun." He did that sometimes, it was hard when you were the size of a gorilla, meant you had a lot more areas to worry about than most people.
She was brave at least, did not just scream and run away from him, he'd been known to get that reaction, although more often at night he had found. Still. This was curious, that head moved around in nearly all directions, as if looking for someone darting towards their child, standing in front of this leviathan, worried for her life, and no one came to mind. "Hmmn."
That sound came from deep in his chest, contemplating something before he shifted back some and so he did not knock into the poor thing as he dropped down to a crouch, still a little bigger than her even as he did. "So where were you off too in such a hurry... ah.. did not even ask your name. I am Katsuri little one, you are?"
Children were easier to deal with than adults, and she seemed to at least be old enough to know some of what this place was like.. maybe with some rose glasses, and unlikely to know where he could meet Leon or a few of the other names he had heard mentioned about this place, but interesting none the less.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 9:37:45 GMT -8
Maddie grinned slightly as he ruffled her unruly chestnut hair. Some kids would be afraid of a man so big, but Maddie could see that he was very kind, like a giant mountain bear. The teddy bear kind, but really big! She blinked when he crouched down to see her better, he was still taller than her, but not gigundo-mountain-sized.
"Kat-surry. Nice to meet you! My name is Maddie."
She struggled slightly with his name, her young vocabulary not used to the more exotic name. She did her best though, offering her own name because she knew it was polite. She noticed him look around, but didn't really understand why. David was busy and Olesya was running errands and probably didn't even care anyway because she was a big ruiner of fun. Who could he be looking for?
"Are you looking for someone?"
She asked, completely miscontruing his intentions.
-----
Having searched the house and finding neither hide nor hair of her young ward, Olesya bolted out of the house on a frantic search for Maddie. She whistled to the Dragon guard on patrol that had been set up near their house after the masked attack, grilling him for any information he might have. Unfortunately, the young man had only started his shift a couple minutes ago, and hadn't seen any activity in or out of the house. Les ordered him to grab a couple men from the barracks and start combing the territory for her. The soldier clenched a fist to his heart before running off to do as she ordered.
Les ran off to search on the other end, frantically peering in windows and doors and alleyways as she passed.
"Maddie! MADDIE!"
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 10:02:29 GMT -8
The way she pronounced his name got another smile, a little bigger, it was close, actually, really close, she really only rolled the r in his name too long, which surprised him. "Nice to meet you Maddie."
Though, her question did get a pause out of the big man, he began to reply, "Ah, well I was looking for.." And he stopped, as if thinking it over for a moment before smiling once more. The girl was in no danger, at least with him standing here, might as well ask her the question he had in mind. Never know what will come out of the mouth of babes.
"Leon. Leon Sudeki. I think he's also going by Lighting Dragon more often now a days. Although if I cant get in touch with him, David would suffice, David Blaze, not sure what his dragon name is though." Katsuri did not baby talk the girl as some other adults may have, it was not his nature, and as he talked that relaxed smile stayed on his face.
He did, however, have to shift from one foot to the other he stayed rested there in that low crouch, given his size, hunching down like that was a little uncomfortable, but he did not want to loom over her.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 10:30:06 GMT -8
Maddie looked at him with a slightly blank look on her face. She'd heard the name 'Leon' before, Les and David had mentioned him. She'd never met him or seen him though. The young girl's entire face lit up at the second name, however, and she gasped excitedly.
"I know David! He's my guardian! Well, one of my guardians."
This big mountain man knew David! He had to be a nice guy then, right?!
"He's the STORM DRAGON!"
She brought her hands up like little claws, bearing her tiny teeth with a wicked grin. Maddie loved the Dragons, they were like superheroes to her. She still had the mini earth unicorn that Mathew had made her a while ago.
-----
"Anything?"
"Nothing."
"Keep searching."
She ordered tersely, having run into one of the soldiers in her search. Where the hell could that girl be?! Could the masked man have taken her?! If that was the case, Olesya would never forgive herself. She'd left the girl for no more than a half hour! She couldn't possibly consider over-coddling the girl, but she knew David would skin her alive to hear she'd left her alone. Being a parent was like being in a constant state of utter exhaustion and terror, how could Maddie think Olesya didn't love her? She hadn't said that, but she said she wasn't her Mom. It was true, but was it really?
Waves of different emotions passed through Olesya as she searched. Anger, fear, panic, sadness, love, protection, pride, worry, and other in-between unnamed emotions. She just needed to find Maddie, she needed to find her little girl.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 10:59:10 GMT -8
At first, it seemed Maddie had no idea what he was talking about, but the minute David's name left his lips her face lit up, which in turn got his smile to grow. Seems he was right to ask her after all. What he did not expect was that David was this girls guardian, thats to say, Katsuri knew he was a 'goody two-shoes', 'protector of innocent', all that rabble, but this girl specifically?
The god of fate was an interesting creature to have put her here, in front of him, like this. "He's one of your guardians? Well now. " A chuckle escaped his lips, and his eyes focused back on her as she spoke of him being Storm Dragon? Honestly? Hmm.. interesting. Never would have thought him to take up that mantle, what, given the past of the dragons.. suppose time changes all.
"Really? That sounds nice." Her hands coming up into a claw, and her showing her teeth got another boisterous chuckle from the large man, loud, booming, but far from dangerous. That hand came down once more and he ruffled her hair again. "I take it you want to be a dragon when you grow up Maddie?"
Interesting concept, the dragons had existed for power, and here they had a sanctuary. Some of them were even the guardians of this child. He'd been gone too long it seemed, but when Barkers bombs fell the only thing he could think of was to try to deal with his issues with his family, and ensure the line was safe.. which, it was to a degree. Hardy people the Katashi's. If she responded to his comment about being a dragon, he'd have followed it up with, "Could you bring me to David? Or someone that would know where he is?" Seemed like he would probably have to go through David to get to Leon.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 12:20:32 GMT -8
"Yeah! I wanna be the Sparkle Dragon!"
Maddie exclaimed, waving her hands around in some sort of fashion to imitate sparkles. She clearly didn't understand the convention of the Dragons, but David and Olesya had let her imagine it anyway because it as close as a post-apocalyptic little girl could get to Princess Peach mixed with Batman.
Maddie super emphatic grin disappeared to a thoughtful frown at his question.
"Well, um, David is on a mission right now. He told me to be good while he was gone! And I am! Well...kinda."
The young girl's frown deepened as she remembered her promise to David. Was running away from Olesya good? No, not even if she thought Olesya was super mega SUPER wrong. She sighed, the guilt written on her face.
"I think I have to go home. Olesya is there, she'd know about David. She's his voice, even though she doesn't sound like him. I'll show you!"
--------
Olesya reached the end of her route, turning around at the wall with a frustrated growl. Her heart was racing and her breathing was heavy like she'd run a marathon. Her thoughts were traveling at a mile per minute as she thought through strategies, tossing them aside or considering them in how to find and rescue her ward.
"Voice! Voice!"
A young soldier ran up to her, gasping from his sprint. Les turned to him, instantly business.
"Report."
"She's been spotted, about a klick from your house."
"Did you secure her?"
"No ma'am. She's...she's with a really large man. 'Bout 8 feet tall."
"And you didn't secure her?!?"
"Sorry ma'am, he was...real intimidating looking."
"Are you kidding me?! And you just left her?!"
"Well...I-I-"
"I'll see your stripes taken for this. Get out of my sight."
She ordered, venom in every word. She took off running before the soldier could stammer out a disheartened 'yes ma'am.' Seriously, too intimidated to secure a child? In their own territory!? Les would have to have some strong words to the Generals about the recruits they were taking in. She sprinted back toward the direction of her home, cursing under her breath and hoping to death she wasn't too late.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 12:59:59 GMT -8
A sparkle dragon? Not bad. He chuckled a bit to himself as he thought about a dragon blinding people with shiny sparkles, and just as quick a shake of it brought him back to reality.
Seemed he was not going to be catching David today either, though missions implied they were doing more than holing up in this place and keeping Barker out. Then of course, she told him exactly what he had suspected, she was not supposed to be out here on her own. Her frown was certainly cute though.
He rose to his feet, back into the clouds, and a hand would have been let loose, offered to her, that smile still there. Children were nice when they were this age.. its when they got to be teenagers that they got annoying. Though, who she was talking about being worried of her was not ringing a bell to him.. Olesya.. hmm.. "I would love that. Please. Lead the way Maddie."
Katsuri had been so caught up in talking with the little person, there was no heed even given to the soldier that had come close enough to spot him, and her, and then promptly disappeared. He was most likely retreating to report to someone in power... After all, it certainly had to have been strange to see some eight foot gorilla, laden with muscle crouched down talking to a little girl. Where we goin' thunder.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 13:36:37 GMT -8
Maddie's little hand could only hold his middle, ring, and pinky fingers when she went to take his hand.She wasn't as far from home as she had originally thought, having inadvertently run in a circle as opposed to running in a straight line. Still, it took them about twenty minutes to a half hour just short of the half mile back to Maddie's house. It was a cute little thing, meant for a small family. There weren't any crazy embellishments or decorations tacked to the house, it was simple in design, but there were sidewalk chalk drawings all over the sidewalk and walkway...Maddie's creations.
"This is my house!"
She let go of Katsuri's hand and skipped up to the door, pulling it open with both hands.
"Les said she had some work to do and would be home soon."
She informed the mountain man, walking inside and holding the door open for her new friend.
"Want some lemonade? I helped make it."
-------
Almost...there..."
Unlike Maddie, Olesya had not wandered in a circle, but had wound up on the other side of the territory looking for her young ward. She'd checked the marketplace, looked in windows and doors, checked with known friends and still found nothing. How could she manage to lose Maddie so thoroughly and entirely!?
Twenty minutes...she'd only been gone for twenty minutes! But that was all it took for an abductor, she supposed. And a large one at that! Les had taken on much larger and tougher adversaries than the one the soldier described. And on top of that, Maddie was involved....remember those maternal instincts? Well right now they were raging like an angry mother lion. Anyone who touched a hair on that girl's head could guarantee a swift and painful death.
She just needed to get there first...
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 13:51:36 GMT -8
As they walked, the big man ensured that Maddie was allowed to lead, cutting his stride by a little more than half. The size of that giant would have meant her little hand probably would have only been able to wrap about two fingers at most, what, with each digit roughly the size of two fingers of the average man.
Arriving in front of a house that looked to be a 'family' home, his eyes would have glanced up taking in the entirety of it before shifting gaze down to Maddie. She let go of his fingers and ran for the door, telling him one of her protectors would be back in a bit, which got a smile. Not so sure its a good idea to follow her in, but who am I to tell this cute little girl no?
"Sure. I'll take a glass of lemonade, thank you." Said ahead of time, as he walked past those cute chalk drawings up to the door, stairs creaking a bit under the weight of that mammoth. Shifting sideways, he'd have ducked down in order to avoid the door frame and stepped inside after Maddie. Katsuri had no idea that he had angered mama bear, instead, here he was following a little girl around like he was Big Daddy, man.. he missed video games.
He let that door shut behind him and would have stood back up to his full height, head probably just a little shy of skating across the top of the ceiling, chances are he'd be sitting in the floor as most furniture meant for the average person would not be able to hold his weight.
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Post by Your Mom~ on Jun 3, 2013 17:24:31 GMT -8
(OOC: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BIG DADDY! <3333333333333333 You know this means we have to throw them together in some sort of insane questy thing, right? IT WILL HAPPEN.)
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Grinning at his agreement to a glass of lemonade, Maddie climbed up on the counter, opening the cupboards and pulling out two glasses and setting them down on the counter before closing the doors and hopping down. She opened the fridge and pulled out the pitcher of lemonade which was about a third full at this point. Carefully with child-like precision, she poured too glasses, only spilling a little bit on the counter. She returned the pitcher to the fridge and brought him his glass.
"We squeezed lemons and everything! At Madame Butterfly's, they only used the powder stuff."
She explained, not realizing he would have no idea what 'Madame Butterfly's' was, taking her glass in two hands and taking a long loud series of gulps. Running around had made her really thirsty!
-----------
Olesya got within sight of her home just as she saw a really large figure enter her house....that must be the man he was talking about, she thought as she narrowed her kaleidoscope eyes. The behemoth...entering her home?! Did that mean Maddie was back inside? Had he passed her off and now was looting her home too? Not that there was much to steal, but still.
She ran quickly and quietly up to the door, taking a look around before slipping inside. The solider hadn't returned to his post yet, he was probably still halfway across the territory on Olesya's orders. She'd had to face him herself. The smart thing would be to go the barracks and get some back up, but she felt like she had no time. Time was of the essence, she needed to get Maddie back as soon as possible, who knew that they could be doing to her!
She snuck down the hallway, hearing the two voices back and forth. The content was deceivingly civil, she wouldn't let it put her off-guard. She snuck around the corner to one of the kitchen entrances, the one Maddie had her back to. She took a steady breath, eying her ward and the mammoth drinking lemonade.
Like lightning, she pulled her knife from the holster at her shin, jetting forward between Maddie and the man, putting her free hand out to push Maddie behind her. The young girl shrieked, spilling lemonade all over the floor but clinging onto the glass. Olesya didn't notice, her eyes were locked on the intruder.
"Who are you and why are you in my home?!"
She demanded, keeping her free hand back as a warning to Maddie, the knife pointed at the man. It wasn't much of a defense, but she was a mama bear and he was in her den. There was no limit to what she was capable of when defending her home, especially since she had already been attacked once in so short a time.
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Post by Katsuri Katashi on Jun 3, 2013 17:56:38 GMT -8
( OOC: xD I am sure calling Katsuri Mr. Bubbles would amuse him greatly, but I am definitely down for that. =3 )
Freshly squeezed lemonade. That sounded awesome to him, and that smile was as cheery as ever on his face. Though, he had no idea what Madame Butterfly meant, he nodded along quietly, agreeing with her, after all, what was the harm in it? He also allowed her to get the cups and the like, just making sure to pay attention in case she were to fall once more.
It seemed that things were not going to be peaceful though, as no sooner than he had picked up his cup off the table, and uttered the first bit of, "Than...", someone was in front of him. This someone had forced poor Maddie to dump lemonade to the ground and was now brandishing what looked like a butter knife at him.
The first instinct was almost to just reach out, grab the knife, and bend it in half, but he refrained from doing that. Instead he continued staring at her, brow furrowed as if confused. What am I doing in her home?... And it clicked. This would be the guardian Maddie was talking about.. Ol.. Olesya right?
The giants brain stopped muttering to itself and he would have let that grin flip back on his lips, peaceful it seemed, just taking a drink of that lemonade. "I am Katsuri Katashi. I was invited here by your charge, Maddie, and am currently enjoying a cup of lemonade she gave me. From what she's told me I take it you are Olesya." He'd have just slightly butchered her name, not very good with them to be honest.
Another drink was taken from it before he nodded in the direction of Maddie hidden behind this woman. "Thank you by the way Maddie." Probably to the dismay of Maddies guardian he did not seem threatened by in the least, knife or no, that stature of his relaxed, no sign of tension as he waited for her reply.
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