ROLEPLAY HQ - vacuuming-mothballs

The not-human's days often consciously started with the digitized ringing that came from the door alarm of the small coffee shop, a reminder to bring himself back into reality in order to rattle off an order of some sort. Truthfully speaking, changing up that order was perhaps the only thing breaking up the monotonous routine that permeated his existence. Not that he was brought down by it by any means, simply frustrated at the lack of change in both his local vicinity and in society as a whole. If anything he'd seen it distill down to what it was over decades, though he only realized it after seeing two generations of the same family repeat the same exact life choices. That and when he realized most places' door alarms had a distinct electric crackling that would not stop bugging him until he'd destroyed two or three of them. It was his small protest against the wave of advancement that humankind pushed ever forward, not that he cared beyond his annoyance. No, he was simply satisfied with watching, considering he had all the time in the world. Of course, he had his plans, but there was no reason to chase them so doggedly, and if anything, he enjoyed the scenic stroll through life. A soft clink of a mug grounded him in reality even more, and he brightened his face into a practiced smile at the faceless worker. They of course, returned it in courtesy, also setting down a rolled newspaper next to the mug, saying something about an interesting story in the paper he might like to check out. The words registered in his mind, and he raised an eyebrow slightly, wondering what they could have meant. 'Probably some murder that was particularly gruesome...Morbid one, this generation.' Minute disgust aside, he filed a reminder below his surface thoughts to read the paper. It too, might prove interesting. For now, he would take a sip of his latest caffeinated creation: a cup filled with only espresso and topped with a tower of whipped cream.

16:12

Bitter liquid filtered through a sweet sieve didn't really produce anything grand, but it was different, and that was a comfortable feeling in a remarkably predictable world. Once he was through drinking and cloud-gazing, the not-human finally filtered through enough of the surface thoughts to get to his reminder, and unfurled the paper, skimming directly past the brutish sports column plastered over three quarters of the front page. In fact, he skimmed so quickly that he almost didn't catch the 'interesting' article on the bottom corner of the second page. The headline seemed to come out of a tabloid, but tabloid titles didn't show up in proper press. 'Local murder victim alive after twelve years, detained in asylum and labelled a moth woman.' Worth a double or triple read for sure, and most certainly out of the ordinary.

16:12

He wondered what this might mean, another not-human in his world, and gears that had not turned in generations began to turn. For the first time in many years, he deviated from his daily track, and grabbed his satchel that had been looped around the back of the chair he was in. The repeated query of 'Sir!' went in one ear and out the other, overwritten by thoughts of wondrous possibilities that this new not-human could bring. Not one person he passed by could match the determined powerwalking that the not-human was displaying as he walked street by street towards the asylum, because they were still stuck in their routines. That and they were trying to comprehend how one could walk so fluidly wearing a waistcoat and oxfords.

16:12

@Kars

If there were words to describe death, then perhaps she would have kept it in the shadows. She would have hid the words under her tongue and maybe she would have stayed at the bottom of the damn ocean where she belonged. That's where he told her she belonged afterall. But when she nearly choked to death had it not been for the disturbed sailor on the new found living gasp of breath, she would've suffered all over again. He had nearly dropped her when he recognized her face, skin pale from the cold sea and red hair clinging to her like tentacles on a spine. He never hoisted her so quickly, taking her as fast as he could to the nearest hospital, but god bless those poor doctors that had revived whatever it was this woman was. The moths that had come from her lungs like they were disturbed, the screaming and the chaos that take over that operating room. And now here she was, white padded walls and staring down at what looked to be a moth nest. Even she didn't understand it. They spoke to her in little whispers when they rested on her ears, as if they understood her. They listened to her words, they conversed with her. More fuckin' affectively than any doctor could. She paused, looking up at the nest again. If it wasn't her face that had scared them enough, it was the different kind of moths that flew from the nest each and every morning. Like oddly colorful vomit. Gross. She leaned her head on her hand, careful not to crush the now new companion. This one was green all over, blue stripes in it's wings. "..You still don't have an answer for me.." Looking back at the doctor she shook her head. "Told you, don't know." @Âlter ))

Some amount of time later, he managed to arrive at the gates of the asylum, mind now caught up in thoughts of what this 'moth woman' may look like. Earlier giddiness had now faded into intrigue and contemplation. Was this person also like him? Did it happen to be a faked death gone wrong? The latter presented a set of unfortunate possibilities, most of which led to being captured. Not a fate he would like to be subject to. Another scenario was that this one was new, and didn't know how to be not-human, too used to being not-not-human. The creaking of that front gate distracted him from his rather rusted mind. The not-human was walking proof that despite the fact the he himself did not happen to age past a certain point, his mind still overloaded with experiences that he struggled to remember and forget. So, he distracted himself by seeking out clues about himself and other not-humans. The first obstacle in his path was a man in a brown suit, looking to be some form of higher-up here, blithering on about idiots on private property to the person following him before curtly greeting Zora. The man was of no importance to Zora, and neither was his impudence. So, naturally, Zora responded to the rude greeting with a practiced smile borne from his excitement, explaining that he wasn't a thrill seeker, but rather a professor from a nearby university. The words weren't necessarily false, he was currently practicing as a professor, but one of history. However, his identification didn't list his department, only his status and the academic status as a faculty member. Brown-Suit quickly straightened himself and softened his manner of speech, addressing him under the moniker of 'Doctor Markov', and escorting him into the building. The blithering continued, of course, but at least it was informative blithering. Hopefully his patience would pay off, eventually. @Kars

The man in front of Mariam was getting frustrated when she rather stare blankly at a little bug with funky wings rather than answer his damn questions. But Mariam, she was amused. She would let him ramble until the very thirty minutes were up and then she'd be able to talk to those little friends as much as she wanted to until lunchtime. Speaking of lunch, these damn things were buzzing around wanting some damn suits to eat. One kept nagging her, saying the one down the hall had a very tasty suit. "..How are you alive?" That caught her attention and she looked up, shrugging her shoulders as another landed on the front of her nose. It's larger than some of the others though it's not the first large one there. She moved her hand, lifting the wing halfway to be able to look at the man in front of her. "I was murdered. I can tell you who he is, but he's.. He's weird." She spoke quickly, words bending like they'd snap and the way her leg bounced wildly created her feeling of anxiety and made it much more powerful than it was. She could hear everything, and so could the little friends that nibbled at their own nest. "..Please, can I have some space?" @Âlter ))

After a few more minutes of exchanging useless information with Brown-Suit, 'Markov' realized that the human liked to walk incredibly slowly. They were still making progress, sure, considering the number of moths he'd seen flitting about increased from one to three, but it wasn't quick enough for his tastes. Besides, after hearing the human mention a faint smell of charcoal, the not-human had decided that he didn't want questions thrown his way, deciding to increase his pace. His natural smell wasn't something he could get rid of, and while he could normally explain away things in other circumstances, he didn't want to take any sort of chance.

16:07

Once his walking became more brisk, Brown-Suit shook his head and gave a final plea about a teaching position at the university. "Sure, I'll put in a good word with my superior. They may want someone with experience dealing with the unknown. You'll be a historic addition." Once more, he forced a small smile that didn't quite go up to his eyes, but it placated the human, which is what mattered. As the moths became more and more prevalent, he allowed them to land on him, not minding the small passengers he ferried. Brown-Suit on the other hand, swatted and brushed them off of him, complaining about the exterminator not being available.

16:08

Once Brown-Suit had brought him to the door of the room, the not-human looked through whatever small viewing window the door provided. Though, a hand on his shoulder turned the wiry not-man towards Brown-Suit, looking much more grave than before. Normally, Zora wouldn't tolerate this, but the look on the shorter man intrigued him, so he wasn't cut off and pushed away. "...Before you go in, you must realize that this individual is no longer human."

16:08

"An interesting opinion." The not-human smiled genuinely for the first time as he turned back toward the door and turned the knob, stopping the man from speaking any further. "You must have figured out what being 'human' means. You'll have to explain it to me another day." With that, he pushed through the door and into the moth's nest.

16:08

@Kars

The other man had left by now, being too frustrated with her fruitless opinions and other answers that could make him so incredibly famous. It amused her but bored her at once aswell. But when the door opened, it seemed that her face didn't change. But the moths, they knew. Their whispers became angry little zaps and buzzes of discomfort that they were not the only ones who had something and although they didn't attack the two at the door, they flew around and most ventured back to their nests around the room. There was one at every corner, hung up in expandable cocoons. "Well you've managed to do one thing, scare the absolute shit out of them." Damn, she needed a cigarette. But did they make the same cigarettes twelve years later? She paused, lost in thought for so long she didn't pay attention to the two at the door. She narrowed her eyes. Though she didn't recognize either of them, the moths knew something she didn't and they were going absolutely crazy. The one from before, the one with painted fall colors and abnormally large, resumed now on top of her head. "..What do you want? Your reporter sucked." @Âlter ))

Of the two beings, the not-human would be the only one to step fully into the room, closing the door behind him gently. Once he turned back towards the recently not-dead woman, his blue eyes flicked to different points in the room, settling on the security camera nestled in one of the corners for a moment. A soft smile appeared briefly on his face when he heard her speak, nodding in understanding at the moths' actions. "It's only natural, they are rather delicate creatures. I would imagine that their self-preservation is much stronger than mine, given their lifespan." The not-human didn't speak for a minute or so, continuing to observe the environment that had been created inside this cell of hers. Finishing his internal deliberations, he nodded to no one in particular and turned to face her directly. "To answer your question, life has become rather boring, and I think you might be the key to making it not boring." The not-human punctuated his soft speech with a toothless smirk at her and her pet head-moth. "That, and I think you'd rather be almost anywhere but here, miss...?" Clearly, this was his way of offering her a way out of becoming someone's experiment, but he was being exceptionally vague about the means. But, he didn't seem in too much of a rush, considering his attitude.

14:05

@Kars

"..Sofron. They insist on calling me by my first name to make me feel 'welcome'.." She says, bending her fingers in a way to express the stupidity of most of the staff. The big moth now has taken flight and is now crawling all over Zora like some sort of clingy pet. Seeing the moth do this makes her smile a tiny bit, but it seems that's what he's for now is it? She looks up at him, trying to pin point if she's seen his face anywhere but he just comes up as a blank space in the back of her brain. Nothing, do the little winged friends know? She turned to the nest though the buzzing comes up as nothing, no, just irritated little insects who sense a threat. Maybe he was dangerous? No, then the big one would be setting off this god for saken SCREAM in the back of her head that had her requesting doses of morphine for the pain. No, he's not the danger. "..Who are you? You've caused a disturbance if you can't tell already.." @Âlter

The not-man gave a bow of his head at her introduction, before placing his hands casually in his pockets. He began to walk the room in an orbit centered around her, smiling at the moth that was crawling all over him all the while. "To answer your question would involve a story much like yours." Every once in a while, he would pause to inspect the various nests scattered around the cell. He tried not to disturb the moths further, displaying a gentle nature, at least when it came to the small beings. "Beyond that I can only tell you my name when we leave this place, at least the one I would have you know me by, not-human." That label was spoken as matter-of-fact, as if recognizing a kindred spirit or long lost comrade. It was spoken with a small amount of endearment, and simultaneously as a title. As he ended that sentence, he stopped and faced her, giving her his full attention for what he was going to say and do. As he looked at her and smirked using the mask he always wore, the iris of his left eye faded into a pale, milky white, the pupil bleeding out into his sclera and painting it black. Then, just as it happened, the eye was back to looking human with a blink. "As for causing a disturbance, I apologize. I cannot control what I am, being above many by nature." As was before, he stated this as a fact, without a hint of arrogance. The not-human sounded detached, though, perhaps as a result of something he hadn't mentioned quite yet.

15:56

@Kars

Mariam perhaps should've listened more to the pink moth buried in the nest and hiding away from them, but he didn't lie. He didn't feel real, it felt like some sort of painting in front of her. Then again, her question remained at what he was and how he was able to get through the security. Did he pose as a news paper reporter or something? She straightened in her seat, visibly uncomfortable and slightly worried when she slowly started piecing everything together again. Was he going to kill her or attempt to? He didn't look like the man that took her life twelve years ago but then he was probably dead somewhere in a ditch or so she hoped. She awkwardly scratched her scalp beneath her hair before adjusting herself upward and then staring back at him. "If you're coming to me for some sort of a genie thing then uh.. You came to the wrong place, friend."

@Âlter )

The woman's comment about genies seemed to amuse the not-human, drawing a laugh from him causing his posture to relax. At this point he would stand across from her, placing himself between the moth queen and the door. To her, it might look like he was cornering him, but he was actually placing his back to the window to make sure outsiders weren't reading his lips. "No, no, I'm not here for any magical wishes, only a practical one. Though, it may come to a sum total of three wishes, so I suppose this is like dealing with a genie." He still was smiling, flicking his eyes around at the various nests once more, his eyes betraying his curiosity for them and her. "I only want to know how you came to be, and if you might want to take a long walk. I don't encounter someone who isn't quite human too often, especially nowadays, Ms. Sofron." Truth be told, self-introspection had told him that he was an ageless being that liked to meddle in the lives of those he thought interesting. And, indeed, it seemed like the not-man in front of her was offering some amount of adventure, away from everything else. A part of him knew that she was not informed or old enough to help him get anywhere close to his memories, but this new not-human was better than nothing.

13:47

@Kars

There was the sound of clicking heels down the hallway, the small flap of cash that she dumped into a security guard's hand and continued on toward the door. Did she say anything? No, she didn't need to. But the whispers around town and the local paper though she never read it had her hands folded and now very interested in figuring out what this woman could do for her. Would she do her a favor? Probably not, just make her uncomfortable and so on. She smirked to herself at that little thought. She stood at the door, though she seemed a bit irritated at the figure covering the door. "Bastard.."

"..You're not human either?" She asked, eyebrows raising slightly at the mention of him not being entirely human. She tilted her head, legs swinging back and forth from the chair as she thought about it for a long while. She wasn't use to hearing that, especially when she exactly came back to life. And a long walk? She furrowed her brows. "Though I dare say it, are you suggesting that we escape?" Oddly enough Mariam looks tired, dark circles smoothed underneath her eyelids and trying their best to hide behind her freckles. She's exhausted, perhaps she's been kept awake by her 'friends'. Speaking of which, she looked over, the nest turning some sort of sickly green. "Uh oh." @Âlter

The not-human's smile became a bit more warm, though his eyes showed a hint of pity at the situation. Her simple question held a complicated answer, and he allowed her to ponder that answer before he responded. "Yes and no, to be honest. I am much like you in the sense that I walk and talk like a human, but I am fundamentally different. In my mind, my sensibilities have been shaped by many lifetimes of living, and have grown past what humans can achieve in one." Her next question was answered by Zora rocking his head back and forth while looking up at the ceiling with a soft grimace. "It's a matter of perspective, really. In this instance, you could call this opportunity a 'call to adventure', and I am your mentor." When the nests began to turn the sickly, rotting color, his look turned a bit more serious, before turning back towards the door to see if Brown-Suit was doing anything. There he made eye contact with Ai, who he gave a soft smile to. "Hello there."

06:23

@Kars

"Move aside." Ai said, reaching out to jiggle the doorknob. Why was it locked? She looked back at the two, veins popping up in her head as she realized of the moths decision to actually lock it. Mariam smirked, though Ai was furious. She continued trying to open the door, and though she was trying to act professional and perhaps not get her ass kicked by the bastards of security, she raised her foot and started hurriedly smacking the door with the base of her heel. She's FUMING. "Open the FUCKING door!" @Âlter

The not-man seemed a bit taken aback at her progressing emotions, given that he didn't know what she was here for. Though, that surprise quickly turned to amusement as she repeatedly assaulted the door with her foot. Zora gave a quick look back at Mariam, and then at the rest of the moth nests. "I think you should pack your things, if our new friend has anything to say, we'll probably not want to stay too long. Speaking of which...." Without missing a beat, the man reached over and unlocked the door, hoping to have Ai spill through into the moth-woman's nest. Zora thought it might be rather funny to see the angry woman lose her cool even further than she already had. Once he did open the door, however, Mariam might see two slits open at the base of the not-human's neck, spilling out fine particles of some substance into the air just behind his head. The not-human, while he was having a good time embarrassing the new woman, wasn't about to underestimate her. "I'm afraid I've not been able to make your acquaintance before today. I am Zora, and it's quite the pleasure." This pleasantry was directed more towards Mariam, but this new woman should also learn his name, considering her presence here. Something in Zora told him he would be meeting this woman more than once. @Kars

Mariam noticed, however the more obvious threat had to be something to deal with an angry woman and a familiar face that looks like she'll pop a vein just looking at them. A bit older than what Mariam looked like, though she seemed a bit ahead of him with the moth nest. She stood slowly, eyes and limbs stretching outward before she stood and stared at the woman at the door. As if he'd help her she looked at him, eyes widening slightly at the lady who was losing her mind. But this could also be her escape. She cleared her throat. "So uh... Would this be the time it would be best to get out of here and far away from here?" She asked, turning to him. The moths are buzzing, almost crowded the doorway in variants both big and small. They were acting like bees with a false queen, anger toward the woman who was still screaming me from the doorway. @Âlter

Seeing that his comedic ploy had not bore fruit, Zora sighed, a bit disappointed at the situation that was quickly devolving. But, he picked himself up mentally and stretched his legs a bit, going up on his toes and bouncing for a quick second. The suggestion by Mariam was something he was waiting for, especially considering he feared that she may not want to leave this place for one reason or another. "Quite correct, Ms. Sofron...moreso than you think," he said cryptically, turning back towards the screaming woman hanging back by the door. It seemed that the not-human was quite content with ignoring whatever Ai was speaking about, seeing her as someone who wasn't a threat, merely playing at one. "Unfortunately, that also means that you've overstayed your welcome, ma'am, and I'll have to ask you to step aside." Now, Zora raised his arm, pointing a finger lazily at Ai, and making a circular motion with it, causing a reaction from the churning cloud behind him. A stream of the particles rushed out from it, catching the woman gently around the waist and pinning her against the wall across the hall from the room. With that, he not-man walked out of the room, obviously expecting Mariam to follow him. @Kars

"HEY!" She shouted, hurriedly trying to pull herself from the grip of these so called particles that had gripped her to the wall like a jacket on a tall pole. She watched as Mariam stood from her seat, though when she went to snap at her aswell she was silenced by what looked like the same moth webbing that hung around the room. Now muffled screams.

Mariam was now standing, eyes sunken from the days she didn't rest as she now walked past the absolutely furious new bitch that was stuck on the wall. By now the alarms in the asylum were set off. Loud, blaring red light that was both uncomfortable and irritating. The moths were screaming still, wings vibrating in agony of the sound and the situation.

MSS "So...Where do we go?"

12:46

@Âlter

Waltzing past the other woman who was now taken care of, Zora didn't skip a beat, walking right down the hall of the place casually. The man in the brown suit was quivering down on the ground as the security was trying to calm down the other residents, who were raising a riot about the alarm signal, much like Mariam's moths. "Hopefully I can get us through to the airport, though security is tight these days. Questions for later..." The not-human made an effort to cover their tracks, a streak of gray whipping around the hall, smashing the cameras as he went. Zora seemed to direct the ash like a conductor, his fingers flowing here and there with practiced ease. All the while, the not-man's raven hair had been spotted with grey, though it seemed involuntary. @Kars

Mariam followed, though when she looked at the security they quivered and mad dashed. She had to run to keep up, being she had a trail of angry and scared moths and also having to run as fast. She looked at the woman screaming and shuddered, having one single pinch of his shirt so that she wouldn't fall behind. She hated physical touch, lord knows the heart attacks she had given the damn doctors when they had to do exams.

((@Kars It seems your partner for this RP has left the server. Would you like us to archive this RP?))

((Yes please