Below are the 16 most recent journal entries recorded in Luke Hill's LiveJournal:

Monday, September 14th, 2009
2:19 pm	{San/Sothis} Coming Home Again He heard the sounds of Anobium rushing to help Zohar, downstairs. She would be alright; she was badly injured, but she would live. He had... other concerns. ( Now, I need to tend to myself... ) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
8:30 am	{Nonspecific} Meme I can't really think of anything to post on my own, so it's time to lean on my lovely flist for help! Post a comment with a topic you'd like me to write about, and a character from whose perspective you'd like me to address that topic, and I'll do just that. I'll try to answer the first five, but depending on how in-depth the topics are I might make a few more or a few less posts than that. Comments at the top, and comments with especially interesting topics, get preference. :) Current Mood: busy (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
10:48 pm	{San} When You've Nowhere to Go, Go Nowhere Link to a video for the song All around me are familiar faces, worn out places, worn out fa-ce-es Bright and early for the daily races, going nowhere, going no-whe-e-ere Their tears are filling up their glasses, no expression, no ex-press-i-ion Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow, no tomorrow, no to-morrow-o-ow The winds whipped up around him, blowing a bit of grass across his face. He reached up, grabbed it, and flicked it away. San was laying on his back, staring at the sky. There were a few stars out, but mostly it was just clouds rushing past. He could feel the bugs biting at him, but he didn't care. You couldn't really appreciate the sky with the city lights nearby, so he walked out into the swamp until he was a mile from anything that had seen the shaping hand of men. The crickets are thunderous, and the wind a cacophony, when all your mind sings in harmony to a song you have no desire to hear. Exercises in distraction... but you can't run from yourself forever. "You can't hide from us. You know that, Jeremy." He didn't have to take his eyes off the sky to know whose voice that was. He could see the grey coat, the cold eyes and the insanity in his mind's eye as clear as day. It was The Doctor. "I wasn't hiding from you. I do know better. I was hiding from... everything, everyone else. Hoping that they would forget me." He had a great deal on his mind, lately, from the myriad problems of the Awakened world to a heart more tumultuous than that to which he had grown accustomed. And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take When people run in circles it's a very, very Mad World, Mad world "We've made sure that wont happen. You can't die as long as we're inside you, as long as there's more work to do. The road is in your feet, San. You know that." The Doctor said. He hated the Doctor, as much for his overwhelming ego as for his tendency to actually be right. It just made the urge burn even hotter to prove him wrong. "There has to be more to me than slaughter and punishment, than death and judgment. There has to be... or I'll never be enough. Never enough to be, just enough to do." He was grasping at straws, trying to find answers that he knew weren't coming. He was allowing his selfishness and indulgence to get the better of him, forgetting his roots, his Code, his Mission, his Program. Children waiting for the day they feel good, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday And I feel the way that every child should, Sit and listen, sit and listen Went to school and I was very nervous, No one knew me, no one knew me Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson, Look right through me, look right through me "You know better than that. You do what we made you to do. You are... you are nothing but a tool, an instrument, a means. You know I'm right." These last words stung, like a splash of acid across his face. He closed his eyes to shut out the press of voices around him, the cacophony of sounds drowning out his own, feeble voice. "I'm not yours any more. Part of me may never leave That Place, but part of me will never go back. I'm growing past the bars of your cage, outside of your control. I'm not Yours any more." He didn't believe a word of it, but he said it anyway. "You are what we made you. There is no love for you, and no friendship, no attachment, no growth, no companionship and no humanity. We cut those parts out. They're in little jars, on a shelf, two doors down from the rest of your past. If you come back to us you can have them again, but even if you don't you still serve our purposes." He was winning this time. San just knew he was right... just knew that he would never quite be whole. And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying, are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take When people run in circles it's a very, very, Mad World, Mad World With that the silence returned. The only sounds were the crickets, the birds, the frogs, the wind... and San, curled up into a ball, trying to forget everything he was so that he could simply be human. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Current Music: "Mad World" - Donnie Darko sdtrk (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, November 16th, 2008
1:49 am	{IC-Requiem-Mercury} I Have a Dream He was singularly uninspired tonight, and was finding it difficult to get back into his groove. While his paintings were technically advanced, visually stunning and critically-acclaimed, they lacked for inspiration. So, he went where he normally went for inspiration: his ultimate mentor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He browsed the internet for a few speeches, and played them on his computer while sketching whatever came to mind. ( Finding the muse ) ( Letter to the Court ) Current Mood: hopeful Current Music: "I Have a Dream" - MLK (Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
4:19 pm	{San} Awakeabout It was cold, and he was wet. The first sound he heard was the wind blowing down the dark alley. The first sight to greet his eyes was blinding light, the sort of light that comes from staring into the sun after a lifetime of living in the dark. He blinked a few times and, when his eyes adjusted, he saw that the light was coming from a bright white sign advertising a "24 hour grocery". He heard a woman talking into her cell phone as she walked into the store. "I'll be home soon, Richard. I just have to pick up some milk from the store." She said impatiently, before closing her cell phone and walking inside, out of view. He looked down at his hands, at his clothes, in an attempt to understand how he got here. His mind was foggy, his memories a haze... and his hands were covered in blood. He knew that it wasn't his blood, somehow, but he still needed to clean it off. His clothes were tattered, white linens, unmarked relics of some hospital from which he must have come. I've got to find somewhere safe, somewhere secure. I can't just stay out in the open or They'll find me. Who They were didn't cross his mind. The only thing he knew was that he had to stay away from Them, or something very bad would happen to him. He went to the end of the alley and looked left, then right, trying to gauge his next move. Nothing useful was nearby - a self-storage facility to his left, a bank to his right. He thought for a moment, then decided that he should try to find somewhere safe that he could rest. Left and right were a bust... but there are always more directions than the obvious. He moved back down the alley, looking for a manhole. He didn't find one. Your mind can take you there. It has taken you this far, don't let it stop you now. He stretched out his hand toward the ground, imagining the sewer just a few steps away. In his mind the Seal of Mercury, god of travelers and messengers, flared to life on the pavement. He pushed his Will forward, filling the tapestry his mind had created, making real what was moments ago just a fantasy. A sickening lurch reminded him that power comes at a price. His nose started to bleed and bruises welled up on the palms of his hands, from which his power had flowed into the ground. All of that was worth it, though, as the spell became real. The pavement became shiny and brittle as colored glass, then cracked and fell away. Beneath it, on the other side of the Portal, the sewer was revealed. The dank, stinking sewer, somehow better than the street but certainly not the best place to be late at night. He stepped forward and through the Portal. He felt a great pressure upon his chest, as though for a split second he were thrust into a vacuum, and then he exited the other side. His nose wished he'd stayed in the vacuum, while the rest of him was more concerned with the waist deep water filled with shit. It was going to be a long night. Once he got some rest, he could start to answer some of the questions burning up the back of his mind. Before he could do that, though, he needed to find some dry ground to sleep on. (Comment on this)
Monday, February 11th, 2008
10:39 pm	{Manjusri} Magical Tradition - Ascendant Buddhism, part 1: The Four Noble Truths The Buddha (ref: Sanskrit, 'Awakened One'), in his first sermon following his Enlightenment, shared with the world his map on how to become a Buddha. These simple rules formed the foundation for all of his other teachings. The teachings that the world at large knows are only reflections of the original, filtered through the limited understanding of the Masses. The true teachings are preserved within a lineage of Ascended Adepts, tracing back their origins to one of the Lamas present for the Buddha's first sermon in Sarnath. 1. Dukkha: Suffering All that is of the Fallen World suffers. Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death it suffering. The Fallen World is the place of birth, aging, illness and death; all that are within the Fallen World suffer. 2. Samudaya: The Cause The Fallen World is the place of suffering because it is the place of attachment. All that is within the Fallen World is connected, bound in Indra's Net. Connection and attachment breed suffering; unity and ascent are impossible so long as the world is divided. All that is within the Supernal Realm is beyond differentiation; all are one when one is Enlightened to the Truth. 3. Nirodha: The End Suffering may be ceased by destroying all attachments, all desires, all cravings. By extinguishing all of the emanations of the Fallen, the true unity of the Supernal may rise above. Eliminate the physical form, all physical desires, all mental blockages, and all spiritual ailments, in order to rise above. Only the most sublime soul may rise above the Fallen, resisting Mara's temptation to fall into Naraka in order to rise into the Supernal and find Enlightenment past the Watchtowers. 4. Marga: The Path In order to cease all attachments, to cure all ailments and remove all blockages, one must abide certain behaviors. They are: * right view (to see the world with eyes unclouded by hate, understanding Suffering, its Cause, its End and the Path to that end), * right intention (always direct your energies and your effort toward Enlightenment), * right speech (speak without hatred or attachment; speak only truths, and refrain from such speech as would distract from the Path), * right action (do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not engage in harmful sexual practices, do not cloud your mind with intoxicants), * right livelihood (live a lifestyle directed toward the preservation of life, rather than the consumption of life it), * right effort (always endeavor to cleanse the lens of your consciousness, so that you may see the world clearly and without attachments), * right mindfulness (stay ever alert, acting always with the fullest understanding of the world and of oneself), * right concentration (spend time in contemplation and meditation, that you may thereby free yourself of attachment to the physical shell by focusing energies within and toward Enlightenment) (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, October 29th, 2007
3:39 pm	{San} The First Domino [Backdated, pre-ICC] The glow of the computer kept him awake some nights. This afternoon it was too early to tell. He opened his e-mail, and read what was there. The useless drivel was deleted. The rest he began to sort through. An e-mail from Lachesis stuck out. "She thinks she's being framed. She needs help." Zohar told him. She's a good person... worth listening to. He opened up the e-mail and read it through. ( Lachesis' message of Peace ) "It merits a response..." he said to himself. Yes, it does... The keys of his old desktop computer clacked away, as he started to compose a reply. It was painful work; he wasn't accustomed to persuasive writing. A simple charm of Mind eased the going, but it still took a great deal of effort to make his writing both persuasive and intelligible. The first draft was too weak. You're lying. No peace when there is fear. The second draft was too flowery. You're missing the point. No change without action. The third draft was too founded in idealism... it had no substance. You're ignorant. Change must have a model; movements must have a leader. The fourth draft hit closer to the point... but there was still something wrong with it. You're confusing the point. Peace must be won on the blood of heroes; stop running from the inevitable. Yes, he had it. ( San's declaration of War ) It was a declaration of war... and it came at just the right time. There would be blood spilled; he wasn't sure whose blood, but he knew there would be blood spilled. The avalanche had begun, and all he had to do now was to draw out the rest. It's what you were made for, San... Current Music: Rage Against the Machine "Killing in the Name of" (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, July 15th, 2007
9:26 am	{San} Treachery in the Blood (pt. 1) Reaching up, he found a hook-shaped shard of glass dangling on a long chain from what might be called the "roof" of his retreat. In truth, such distinctions were meaningless. The roof was as much a roof as his feet were Buckingham Palace; all of those distinctions and definitions were created within the mind, and it was within the mind that such distinctions could be eradicated. Then why are you still standing on the floor, and looking up? What keeps you on the ground, if it's all just an abstraction? Gravity, as defined by the consensus view. Preconceived notions of reality, natural bias instilled by parents into the young. How mediocre. I'd expected something more. Fine then, what about Truth? What about it? I'm asking questions, not answering them. A higher Truth, hidden in the simplest of phenomena. The light of the Supernal, speaking through and defining All That Is. Child's play. Show me something that will prove you're worth saving. The complex interplay of light and shadow. The light of the sun filtered through the clouds, the dancing shadows on the wall, pretending to be real. A reflection of the Truth. The work of a kindergartener. The law of sympathy. Like attracts like. Descent through the Void has changed it, creating mass where once there was substance. Where once there was freedom, there arise restrictions. What once held all together in harmony, now injures, murders and eradicates. Gravitational tides ebb and flow, destroying everything substantial when considered in the long term. A beginning... He pulled the hook-shaped shard of glass down and looked into its smooth surface. On the other side, in the reflection, he saw himself digging it deep into his flesh, rending his flesh while he stayed suspended inside of his sanctuary. Is it the reflection, after all? He awoke. In his sanctuary there was but one sensation: pain. He felt the shards digging beneath his shoulder blades and in between his ribs, holding him suspended within the realm. He didn't make a sound; instead, he watched the blood drip down off of his body, forming a pool of crimson on the ground, below. A reflection had begun to take shape within the blood... a reflection that told a tale. Do you remember how you came here? I can show you... You arrogant scum. You never show me anything; I take from you what I learn, by force. Don't play at being magnanimous. Fair enough. Have it your way. The hooks burned as though red hot, digging deep into his flesh. His blood sizzled as it dripped into the puddle below him. In the reflection he saw sanctuary, but not as it is now. He was asleep in the puddle, his body drifting through dreams and nightmares. Surrounding him were many voices, a chorus... except they all sang the same key. His key. His voice. "Do we have access to these persons?" said one. "Do we have a link to the site?" said another. "She's worried; she's thinking about Him." said a third, watching Blood. "She's worried because the link leads to him. He's in danger. We should move soon." said another, looking out toward the Destination. "We should move soon." said the first, this time out loud. They all got moving. The tunnel was forged, to allow them access to the site. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, April 7th, 2007
11:05 pm	Memeage! Hey Guys, This one's for Mercury, San, or both - you pick and let me know what you picked. Answer the following few, simple questions: 1) What do you think my character's theme song is? 2) what do you think the theme song of my character is when interacting with yours (specify which)? :) Current Music: A Nintendo Wii (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, January 14th, 2007
5:27 am	{San} Action Hero Meme Again, no big surprise... :P especially given his similarity to many Vampires out there in Cam lang. You scored as Batman, the Dark Knight. As the Dark Knight of Gotham, Batman is a vigilante who deals out his own brand of justice to the criminals and corrupt of the city. He follows his own code and is often misunderstood. He has few friends or allies, but finds comfort in his cause. </td> Batman, the Dark Knight 88% Captain Jack Sparrow 67% Maximus 63% Indiana Jones 54% Neo, the "One" 46% Lara Croft 46% The Amazing Spider-Man 38% The Terminator 38% James Bond, Agent 007 38% El Zorro 21% William Wallace 13% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com (Comment on this)
5:26 am	{Mercury} Action Hero meme Not a big surprise here... especially given his similarity to alot of Mages out there in Cam land. :P You scored as Lara Croft. A thrill-seeking, slightly unscrupulous, tough-as-nails archaeologist, Lara Croft travels the world in search of ancient relics perhaps better left hidden. She packs two Colt .45s and has no fear of jumping off buildings, exploring creepy tombs, or taking on evil meglomaniacs bent on world domination. </td> William Wallace 63% Lara Croft 63% Batman, the Dark Knight 58% El Zorro 58% Neo, the "One" 58% Captain Jack Sparrow 54% The Amazing Spider-Man 54% James Bond, Agent 007 54% Maximus 54% Indiana Jones 46% The Terminator 17% Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 created with QuizFarm.com (Comment on this)
3:33 am	{Mercury} Catharsis "Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false, and the false with the true." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "It's not only necessary to know how to go about loving your enemies, but also to go down into the question of why we should love our enemies. I think the first reason that we should love our enemies, and I think this was at the very center of Jesus' thinking, is this: that hate for hate only intensifies the existence of hate and evil in the universe. If I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back and you hit me back and go on, you see, that goes on ad infinitum. It just never ends. Somewhere somebody must have a little sense, and that's the strong person. The strong person is the person who can cut off the chain of hate, the chain of evil." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The painting was worthless. Yes, it could be called a masterwork, an unparalleled piece of craftsmanship... but it wasn't even worth the canvas it was painted on. It was another in a long string of slanders, another piece to add to a growing collection of faithlessness, of exclusivity, of hatred. Another painting of a kindred whose actions painted him unsavory - that made it worthless. How much better is it to paint a man in a growing light than in a fading one? How much better is it to hope for change, and move for change, than to accept decay and embrace the worst qualities of a fundamentally human heart? It was worth it, even when it taxed you to the limit of your will, even when it taxed you to the limits of your soul. It was worth it to remain hopeful. But sometimes, it was just pointless. Sometimes giving of your flesh would only add to the pile of flesh, of soon-to-be-ashes, and change nothing. Sometimes it was pointless to fight the good fight, rather than wait the storm out in silence. There would be other battles to fight. He reached out and splashed the can of turpentine over the canvas, watching the paint run down with the clear liquid, destroying the beauty he had wrought. Beneath the melting paint, a picture of Ruston was fading away. The picture he had envisioned, the future he had hoped for, had faded like a flower in winter. Soon enough, though, it would be spring. Until then, his place lay elsewhere. He began to gather his things. Niarin could keep the haven if she wanted it; he would find other accomodations. He began the necessary paperwork to make his assets mobile and his interests underground. Those whom he cared for would be able to find him, while those he wished to avoid would be unable to track him down. It hurt him to have to do it once again, but catharsis was a periodic necessity amongst Kindred, lest they grow too fond of holding onto old things. The answer to the obvious question was equally obvious. Of course... he would go to his Beloved. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 9th, 2006
12:31 am	OC post - icons ---OOC POST--- Hey all, Okay, so I'd like icons for my PCs on here. Primarily for Mercury and San, although icons for Ki-O and Gregory would be appreciated, too. Mercury: Icons to portray an artist, a lover, a Daeva, a gossip... any of the sides of the fabulously flamboyant character that is Mercury San: Icons to cover insanity, darkness, mystery, the occult, and the abyss... or any of the other sides to San that you can think of. :) I'm going to pillage and plunder some graphics websites, too, but I thought I'd ask you all, first. Happy trails, Luke (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
1:13 pm	A new character - want tie-ins? Name: Ki-shi O'Shea (Ki-O for short) Venue: Awakening Path: Acanthus Order: Free Council (probably - maybe Apostate) Virtue: Faith Vice: Sloth Personality: Even though he lacks any formal training, Ki-O is thought of and treated by many as a priest. When asked about this he simply states that there are many kinds of servitude. He rarely speaks of his past, but those who know understand that his life has treated him harshly. He has taken the pain of his past and forged it into a deep and abiding kindness and sympathy for his fellow man, for in his past pain he finds kinship with those who in the present need it most. Beyond that he is surprisingly cheerful, attempting to bring up the spirits of those around him. When his cheer breaks he reveals a more dour side, often drinking to cover his darker side and bring his cheer back. He lives alone, and when the topic of his bachelorship is brought up he smiles and states that it is an occupational hazard... but that he doesn't mind it, and rather likes it that way. When on a job, he focuses on the task at hand fully, in order to be finished as soon as possible. When focused like this, many find that he has a sharp wit and plenty of common sense, although his principles often bring him into conflict with some other, less-principled individuals. Quotes: "We look to what is old to understand what is yet to be. Look to the past and make it new, lest the lessons we've already learned be lost to the march of time forever." - Ki-O on his lines of research, as they relate to the Free Council mandate "Pain is the world - it defines the human condition. Live as richly as life allows... enjoying the good, learning from the bad, and helping anyone you can along the way." - Ki-O on pain, empathy, and his path in life "Speak with me awhile. Your words will never leave my lips... they will be kept as sacred as the stars, as silent as the dawn." - Ki-O, taking confession "I am where I need to be. The wheel sees to that." - Ki-O, on his tendency to be at the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time Magical Style: Hodgepodge of Amazonian shamanic technique, celtic folk magic, druidry, and technomancy. He takes ancient techniques and rituals and updates them for the modern day, blending the accepted praxes of old with techniques that are decidedly modern. Although his magic is certainly a part of him, he is also rarely seen casting vulgar magic, stating that his place is as a servant and not a master of the wheel of fate. Nimbus: When he casts vulgar magic, Ki-O's nimbus flares as the tinkling of bells, seeming like a tune out of fairy tales. The more powerful the magic, the more compelling the tune. As the music flares, the sky seems to dance, clouds taking on the shapes of dancers or the stars twinkling in tune. For the most powerful magic the earth itself seems to dance, with wind and plants waving and blowing in time with the music. Occupation and Skills (mundane): Ki-O's profession is as a consultant and independent professional in the field of anthropology. He attends to dig sites and consults with the scientists on site, attempting to glean from those sites information and insight that they have missed. Aside from that, he works as curator of a private museum in [venue not yet determined - maybe Houston?]. Occupation and Skills (magical): Magically, Ki-O is skilled in the areas of Fate and Life. The degree of his skill is not a common topic of discussion, but he has demonstrated skills that lead many to believe that he is a Master of either or both. Generally speaking, he is most adept and breaking the ties that bind a person to a destiny or a life they don't want, and mending the wounds of a life of hardship. He shys away from vulgar magic, saying that it stretches the strands of Fate too far for his liking, but will make use of it when his back is pushed against a wall. He has demonstrated some few other skills, but he doesn't tend to speak on the details of his magical training. Timeline (draft): August 1960 - Born in north Dublin, Ireland. September 1971 - Moved with family to the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil May 1978 - Family moved once more to Capetown, South Africa October 31st, 1978 - Ki-O Awakens and takes on his shadow name February 1979 - Guardians of the Veil attempt to recruit March 1979 - Ki-O fails the crimson veil, and is handed to the Free Council by the Guardians to finish his training June 1979 - Ki-O finds a place in the Free Council as a budding scholar, as he enters college in the United States studying Anthropology 1979-1983 - Ki-O pursues an undergraduate degree in Anthropology 1983-1989 - Ki-O pursues a Masters degree and a Doctorate in Anthropology, studying ancient religions, specializing in the cultures of the Amazon and central Africa 1990-1995 - Ki-O travels with various researchers, publishing papers on the similarities and differences of aboriginal and shamanic cultures around the world. 1995-present - Ki-O takes up a position as museum curator and consultant, finding work throughout the world as new sites are found and examined, and tending to friends and acquaintances around the world. Contacts and Connections (what I'm looking for): - Old friends - Guardians who might have tested him - Free Council who might have inducted him and helped him along the way - Research colleagues in the Free Council and the Mysterium - People who have come to him, asking for advice - Teachers for mundane and magical skills (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 21st, 2006
3:24 am	{Mercury} Time to get involved He was working on a new piece. It was an impressionist piece of an old acquaintance, Aurora. She was sitting - actually, lounging would be a better word - on a couch. It had a very French style to it, rich in color and luxurious in emotion. He turned from the painting, his cell phone informing him of a text message. "Court members are being murdered. Will contact soon. If you don't hear from me, tell Kenzie or Rosa." ... a paint brush hit the floor. It was poor form to get involved in someone else's business, but this insanity was going to end. Their merciless dedication to power and their lack of an appreciation for the harm they caused with it would end. Their effortless but ineffectual politicking would end. Their child's play conspiracies would end. It was time to get involved. For the sake of my beloved Miria, for the sake of love and mercy and compassion, for the sake of teaching them a lesson the desparately needed... it was time to get involved. The best way to learn to play chess properly is to lose a few times. It was time to call check mate in eight, and watch the lesson sink in. Sometimes, the highest expression of mercy is tough love. Current Mood: resolute (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, June 17th, 2006
8:41 pm	{San} Slipping Down, Down Into a Nightmare That is Your Life The ceiling tiles weren't aligned. There were little cracks, and shadows crept in between the shafts of light. It was like a frozen lake in the spring time, the cracks dark against the blue lake beneath. Maybe the water would start flowing, soon. Maybe. There was talk of the death of a Mage - Kithira. She was hurt by by Him Whose Time Has Come, and then was killed by the Jester in Chains. There were others, but it wasn't important. The spiderwebs scintillated in the spring time sun, and I reached out for them. The ice broke... the shards drifting down the river. They were slipping away, like so much else. "It's coming soon." A whisper came from behind, and to the left. I turned, and there was no one there. Was I slipping? "Don't run. It's too late to turn away." The shadows were speaking, crying out for vengeance. The Bloody Handed Man was speaking through the ice and snow, through the currents all around. He could smell the cherry blossoms, now, mixed with burning flesh. It was spring time, and they were on fire. I reached out, and touched the ice. It felt like flesh... like blood. It smelled like gun powder. The Dream faded into a Nightmare, and the life of smoke and fire and sulphur replaced the icy river and cherry blossoms. This wouldn't end well. A shot rang out like a clarion call, focusing through the senses to bring the dream back to reality. A pistol from her purse... why was she carrying a pistol at a time like this? Something snapped. No time for thinking - only action. They all screamed for blood. "I'll protect you... I owe you that much." I said. A phrase out of time, but just in time to come true. "Protect her. Show your jagged edge and plunge deep the bloody hand." A red hand passed over my eyes, focusing my vision and clarifying my resolve. There would be blood tonight. Target was four steps distant and fading fast. Focus was down and hurt, but recovering. Allies stayed their hand, or stepped forward to show their bloody hands. The scent of blood, the tang of sweat and fear, grew strong. First move was a feint and a thrust. Thrust struck deep and feint stayed true - two steps back and we all kept up. This one would go to the end of the strip. Allies spoke but were not heard. Target stepped off the strip, and tried to bow out. Not today. The Open Hand and the Crucible snapped shut - the gate was opened and closed, with no time to walk through. Another way would be found. Between any two points A and B, of defined distance apart, there can be defined a midpoint C. Between A and C, and C and B, there are two more midpoints, D and E. Infinity in a line, no matter how short. There stood many guards with many keys, but I held the skeleton key that shut them all down. A shimmering gateway pointed to him, a Compass Rose that led to the Bleeding Heart. In between, a wall. I'd walked through walls before. The webs closed round the wall and grew through the hedges. The leaves wilted and in between there was a Garden Path. Beyond it, the Bleeding Heart who would soon bleed no more. "You'll never get away! You'll never see! Give in! Give in!" They screamed. I tried not to listen but it made so much sense. Let go, and be free. The chains that bind are those you lock around yourself. Inside, it shimmered. The light cast shafts and refracted along the walls, a web of shards, a garden of lines and painted hallways through. I could get lost here, if I had the time. So many reflections, so much potential to see the faceted truth. No more distractions. I have a job to do. He was scared, and he had reason to be. He put down his weapons, thinking I would back down. Mercy is a useful quality only to those who have not yet stepped over the Final Line. It was too late for him. "Kill him. He asked for it. He hurt her... and mocked your promise. Kill him and teach them to be afraid." The Bloody Hand was goading him. "It's time to end this. You're dawdling." The Doctor pressed on. "No more waiting. Make a choice." The Blind Man wanted him to walk a path and no longer stand, waiting for the devil at the crossroads. "San, leave my sanctum. I'll bring Marcus back when he has answered my questions." Raphael said. It was too late. They were already hovering over him, ready to plunge deep their bloody hands. My hand is bloody, too. The rocks shimmered like the sun reflected off a million tiny mirrors. Was it too late to turn back, to go back to the light? ... Yes. I walked away from that a long time ago. It was time to teach them a new lesson, to show them the harsh truth that hides in the shadows. The two stones came together. For a moment the light shimmered in a new dimension, each beam cutting through him and showing him a new side to his own face - to the fearful, injurious countenance he now wore. It would be the last lesson he would ever learn. A pity. The gypsum was now rosy red, flecked inside with blood. I caught a shard of it as it flew out of him, as it tore its way out of him, and put it in my pocket. A memento, perhaps... or a warning. This wasn't something soon to be forgotten. I killed a man today. It was time to go home, the way I came. It was time to end this... Now, later, I only have one question... Why don't I feel bad? I killed a man today. Current Mood: curious Current Music: Akira Yamaoka (3 Comments |Comment on this)