Your Eternal Paradise, My Eternal Hell [Open]

[High's .Valentine.]

Twilight Town. Ahh, such paradise.

Such DAMNATION.

It was his living hell. The constant burning, oh the constant burning of the sun that never sets. The male could hardly stand it. The beating, smoldering, scalding sun...why must it be so cruel to him? The suffering man was wrapped in a full outfit of an Eskimo: big jacket that hanged to his knees, gloves, hood, scarf, sunglasses, boots, long pants...layers. Layers to protect him from this damned, god-forsaken condition. He was burning, he could just feel it.

The town was quaint, despite his silent misery, and though his heavy footfalls were those of a doomed man, the atmosphere of the place was so cheery it was suffocating. How could they be so delighted while he, the Black Mantis, simmer in his heavy layers?

He was drawing attention, with his winter outfit, but the Vampire returned them no acknowledgment.

The Black Mantis merely wished to suffer in silence. Now leave him alone.

[lysander]

Lysander appeared in Twilight Town with the same intention he had when he appeared in any world. He was out to spread his name and increase his fame, with little food in his stomach, and little sleep in his mind. He'd been doing some simple guntricks. The flashy stuff. Flipping, spinning, and occasionally an actually fired round or two. All while he walked about looking for something to catch his fancy to such a point that he knew he would be far more appreciated by the end of it. That was when he saw the goal in mind. Someone who stood out in this place far more than he himself did, and he figured approaching this person would be the perfect strategy.

The silver of his gun flashed sunlight in dancing streamers as he approached the winter-clad eskimo, his busy hands flipping, changing, tapping, catching. He smirked from beneath the brim of his cowboy hat, his red eyes leering at the out of place traveler. "A little warm for snow, isn't it?"[/size]

[Iris|Kairi]

But he wasn't alone. No, there was a girl with him, a short elf with blue hair and huge deep pinky eyes. She was grinning and bouncing along as they walked, her small hand leading the layered doomed, miserable man around town by his gloved hand. It was GLORIOUS! There was no darkness! The sun never sank out of sight... it made her little elf heart glad. It pattered at a quick pace, almost as if it was pounding out a beat to the song in her heart.

It was like her paradise...only..it wasn't as bright as she'd hoped. Maybe this wasn't it. But it was close! If she never found her real "heaven" she could always come back here...

But then there was Luther, who's vampire skin hated the sun. He was already miserable enough in the dark...and she'd vowed to make him happy before herself. That was her mission, and she wouldn't rest until he was happy.

"Luther...aren't you hot? I know you are...Hm. OH! Look!" she said, pointing to a frosty looking shop where kids were eating a cold blue substance. "That'll keep you cool...wanna try some?" she chirped, looking back at him and smiling warmly.

"A little warm for snow isn't it?"

Faye turned around and blinked at the stranger, stepping back in surprise and into Luther. It'd been a while since she'd been out in a place to meet living strangers...

"..He...He doesn't like the sun. We're getting..cold stuff. Want some?"

[lysander]

Lysander smiled down to the small elf girl as he approached, he meant no harm in his demeanor. A little cruelly spirited, but nothing intentionally harmful. It wasn't in his nature to hurt people, he didn't like it, couldn't bring himself to do it, and regretted it when he did. "Hey there. My name's Lysander. Is there anything I can do for either you or the sir here?" He asked, crouching down, to balance on the balls of his feet, his red eyes softening in the presence of the child. She seemed ecitable and innocent, and to actually sincerely love this place. It wasn't often that you ever met someone of that sort.

Looking back over his shoulder, he saw the ice-cream stand, and looked back up to the eskimo man and his counterpart. "I can buy you both some of that ice cream if you like. Would you mind that?" He asked, addressing both the girl and the man she was with.[/size]

[High's .Valentine.]

So flamboyant. Disgusting little twit, go away. Ugh. Need shade.

The Vampire no longer seemed able to think in coherent sentences.

Luther Shiang had not quite comprehended his traveling partner's suggestion, but the Vampire was seeing the other fancily dressed cowboy well enough. The Vampire's tendency to make ridiculous tantrums when baked and burned rose a little when he saw the human, smirking, his hands busy making a fool out of himself.

"Let's go, Faye," he rasped, his throat dry thanks to the several minutes he had been standing in the sun. He was a Vampire, goddamn it, the girl better start treating him like one. Luther knew of Faye's fear of the darkness, but this is ridiculous, dragging him to a world such as this. Had she not promised him happiness? He could see none at the moment.

He could have gone on and on, whining silently in self pity--he'd never voice his miseries, dear no, think of his image--but he gave the human a glare, which he forgot was useless because of the sunglasses.

"Pay no attention to this pauper. He just want our munny." Tugging Faye along, he headed for the shop she had pointed out. Shade, ah shade...

[lysander]

Lysander stood back up smoothly, positioning himself in front of Faye, and Luther as they walked towards the shop. Maintaining his smile and his almost animated way of movement (it was all for the child's trust and comfort) he spoke to them. "Not after your money, no sir. That's not me in the least, though I wouldn't mind it, couldn't bring myself to deny it, but that's not my goal." He walked smoothly backwards almost as if he could sense the things and people behind him, knowing exactly the way things were positioned and how they moved around him. He was definitely more than met the eye.

"I'm just a traveller, sir. Looking for a little food, a little board, a little fame a little fortune. You know, same old tale as everyone out there these days. You just seemed like an interesting group, and I wanted to drop in, say hello. You seemed like nice people, and I apologize for my aggressive introduction." He talked a bit fast with no real room to interrupt or elbow your way past him. A showboater, a salesman. He was extremely good at what he did, and it showed in the careless finesse in which he did it. "So can I buy you that ice cream, and maybe we'll talk about where we're from?"[/size]

[Iris|Kairi]

((Dangit Brezzen, that's the second post of mine you've killed. Give us some times to post dude! ... and CHILD? Rofl~~))

Faye's eyes brightened as he indicated the cold stuff. "Ice...cream?" she asked, already starting to hand over some munny ever so innocently before Luther could even tell her not to. Yet, she didn't get to because she was tugged off to the cold "Sea Salt Ice Cream" place that held air conditioning and shade for her miserable partner. So not to lose her munny, she shoved it into her pocket again and obediently followed Luther.

"Oh! No..I can buy it. I don't want you to waste your munny on us." Faye replied sweetly, now running past Luther and letting go of his hand only long enough to buy three of the ice cream bars. By the time she had them the two guys would be in the shaded, cool building. Passing them out, she re-took Luther's hand gently and licked the blue stuff, her face brightening and grinning. "Wow!!! This is good!" she chirped, then looked up at Luther. "Don't you think so? and how about you, Lysander?" she asked, then blushed.

"Oh...by the way..I'm Faye and this is Luther. He's an important person." she nodded. "Respect him!"

[High's .Valentine.]

Why does she have to hold his hand in public? He doesn't even allow her to hold his hand in private. She's taking advantage of him, wry little devil...

Mumbling to himself as he was tugged along, the other strange clown following behind them no doubt, he took one of the ice cream she bought and stared at it. It looked inedible. It was blue of all things. The only thing he ever had was red. Blue sounds like a horrible color to be ingesting.

But the little elf thought it tasted good.

And why was she wasting her money on the man? He was certainly capable of buying his own stick of blue substance, wasn't he? Absent-mindedly, Luther licked at the blue bar, finding the salty sweet taste slightly similar to the usual liquid he ingests. Salty. And sweet.

"Your clever words do not amuse me." Ah, he could once again speak coherently. The cool ice slid down his throat like midnight skies, oiling his parched voice.

His eyes flickered to an alley across from the store. Cool, cool shade. Leaving the two, he turned and gave Faye a hard look. "Stay with him if you wish, but I am retiring to somewhere less stressful."

Heading for the alley, he continued to lick at the ice cream, refusing to admit that it was a delectable treat.

[Exit Luther...FOR NOW. >:D]

[lysander]

Lysander smiled down at Faye as she ran towards the ice cream stall, taking it from her gladly as she offered, and nodding his thanks. "Thank you very much. It's delicious." He said in reply as he bit off a chunk from a corner, rolling it in his mouth before swallowing it back. He looked back up to the man in the eskimo suit. What a mystery he was. Somewhat anti-social, and yet such an innocent little girl hung around him and admired him what seemed like an ungodly amount. A mystery in and of itself. "Important? I won't forget it."

Lysander nodded softly as Luther spoke, remaining silent under the heated nature of his words, not minding. It happened a lot. It was something one got used to. And besides, it wasn't like he hadn't experienced far worse in his own lifetime. As Luther walked away, Lysander's eyes followed him slowly, before turning back to Faye. "He seems a bit distant compared to most. I am curious though. What makes him such an important person?" Her wanting him to respect Luther had piqued a certain interest. Maybe catching them hadn't been a bad idea. Important people were people that gave him a reputation.[/size]

((Lol, alright alright. And yes, girl. It's not like Lysander knows any better, whether or not I do. :P))

[Iris|Kairi]

((You should look at her profile...>> Little girl isn't quite correct.. XD))

"Because he's the Black Mantis!" she explained, as if he'd know what she was talking about. Faye had never been off of her home world, and barely out of the abusive dark environment she'd been in. She was painfully naive to the outside world around her. She didn't know how things worked, and that everyone didn't know what she thought was common knowledge. She knew better than to blurt out he was a vampire, so she thought The Black Mantis was good enough.

The 'young' woman then started to back out of the store herself, licking the ice cream with a grin. "Hey, I would stay and eat this with you but, I want to go keep him company. He gets kinda grouchy sometimes. But I'll be back soon, Lysander. Then we can talk more?" she asked happily, then turned and started at a quick pace for the alley Luther had ducked into. Wearing a black suit like she was, it wasn't long until she disappeared. Thankfully it wasn't too dark in the alley, only enough to make her slightly uneasy.

((And that's Faye's Temporary exit for the night))

[lysander]

Lysander blinked slowly as sh said the words The Black Mantis, thoughts running through his head as to what it could mean, all of them coming up inconclusive. Something special, that was something he knew, but whether or not it would actually mean anything to him personally was a different story. From the sound of it, that Luther guy had a reputation of his own, and with Lysander's interest in their affairs rising he was quite curious. It was quite likely that they could be of use as far as his own fame went. Everyone could spare a little fame, and Lysander would do his best to chase after what little fortune he could acquire from these two. There was something to be gained. He just knew it, and so he would meet them again.

And as soon as he thought that the little girl ran off to find Luther wherever he'd gone. He nodded as she excused herself, quite politely he could add. Far more polite than a lot of people around and about these days. "Sounds good." Was all he had left to add to the conversation, and when she ran off, he stood up slowly, walking slowly off to the forest, ice cream stick between his teeth. A lot of thinking on the situation to be done. A lot indeed.[/size]

[zerozx]

(Brezzen, I know Lysander from the unfinished and closed (T_T) Music Against the Noise thread)

Unintentionally ease dropping on the conversation of the strange looking trio, a man, about two tables over with his back turned to them, with green eyes, spiked up hair, a purple scarf, and purple cotton clothing with some armor attached to it, had heard the phrase the woman had said, "The Black Mantis". This simple title intrigued Mikami, quite a lot. He got out of his seat, and began walking towards the exit as he saw a familiar face walk away from the store. Lysander, a man who he had a small yet memorable meeting.

He briskly walked out there door, increasing his pace to a slight jog in order to catch up with Lysander. He tapped him on the shoulder and said, "So about this Black Mantis guy.." attempting to acquire some information about him, earnestly getting straight to the point, as always.

[lysander]

Lysander, who had by now started walking towards the forest at his own leisurely pace, strolled on with his eyes closed and face upturned towards the sun. His hands were folded at the base of his neck, making him look quite casual indeed. As if he hadn't just met someone extremely important that he had to inquire into. Opening one eye he glanced out of the corner of it as he sensed someone approach from behind. It was a shape and size that he was slowly starting to recognize. Someone who seemed to be following him through the worlds. An odd guy indeed.

"The eskimo, and his little traveling companion? No idea who they are, aside from the fact that the guy in the big coat is important somehow. The Black Mantis guy... Does kinda make you curious though..." Lysander stretched out his shoulder and yawned softly, returning the back and forth flipping of his gun with nothing better to do.[/size]

[zerozx]

"I see, well if you do meet them once more, it would be appreciated if you could find any information about them, and share it with me. I'm also wondering why that lady was with him, since he seems more independent than anything. Strange, there is probably some history between those two, who knows, in any case, I just need to know why this Black Mantis is so important." Mikami said, giving somewhat of a plea for information to Lysander.

"On to a lighter subject, what brings you to the marvelous Twilight Town? Where are you off to now? I didn't really think I'd see someone like you here, or like them for that matter. Also, that Black Mantis guy seemed to be in pain somehow, with his slow movements and whatnot, until he came into the shop that is, then he seemed to be better. What do you think is wrong with him?" Mikami said, rambling on about this intriguing Black Mantis guy.

[High's .Valentine.]

[Isn't ol' Luther the talk of the day...]

"Nothing is wrong with me," a hiss could be heard behind the two all too curious duo. Talking about him behind his back? A lesson must be taught to these younglings...as soon as he received his second bar of sea blue bliss. His sunglasses off, the 'terrifying' amber eyes watched them with obvious disdain and revolt. Spineless creatures, if they were curious about him, why don't they just come after him?

Apparently, the shade didn't help Luther's temper much.

The trio were not far from the ice cream parlor they had stopped at previously, and though Luther longed to perhaps rip the lips off of these two for even thinking of speaking of him on such a light term, and uttering his title--which he did not understand how to had came to obtain that knowledge--he was aching even more for that cool ice cream store and that one or two lowered degrees.

"Kindly refrain from gossiping about my relationship with the blue haired child," putting the sunglasses back on, Luther didn't stop himself from giving them one less glare before the tinted glass covered those nocturnal eyes. "You men are not housewives with nothing to do."

With those words, Luther began to head back towards the shop, not bothering to look behind him to see if the blue haired 'child' was following him in the first place. Knowing her nature, there was no doubt that she would be merely a few steps behind him.