From Dusk Till Dawn

After fishing out a generous amount of wages, Deandre began walking toward the exit with the saw in hand.  Surprised to see the same grumpy lad from earlier, he sprouted a quick smile.  "You're gunna have to smile more often to get a job here, boyyo," He teased lightly, grinning at Daro.  He made for the exit, entering a growing riot of a crowd.  He peered left and right, trying to size it up.  Seemed to be radicals versus traditionalists.

A voice rang in the air. The old man's ears perked up, looking for it's origin.  Two fair young maidens, he recognized one as Daro's assistant and the other as a passing beauty.  Upon closer inspection, he realized that whenever she began to sing the riotous crowd around them would simmer.  As they crossed the street, he lost them amongst the sea of people.  "Now ya don't see that everyday," He began, hurrying through the crowd.  He was careful to keep the saw out of harm's way until he safely crossed the street.  "Maybe it's the visions of an aging man.."

Deandre waved the saw at the two girls, flashing a smile.  "Hey... uh.  I know how this sounds but.. where did you learn to sing like that?" He asked.  Finally getting a good look at the two, he realized they were young and beautiful.  "Where are my manners?" He removed his poop hat, revealing the moon tattoo on his balding head and bowed toward them.  "My name is Deandre.  With whom am I speaking with?"

Raija was frantic as the fighting got worse, this was unlike anything she'd ever seen before. There may have been a scuffle or spat here and there in school, but never a full out brawl like this. Fear coursed through her body as she gripped onto Farah's sleeves. Her eyes pressed together, she heard an angelic ring throughout the air. The crowd ceasing their activities, entranced by the beautiful vocals flowing to their ears.

"Farah..." She began, but before words could exit her mouth Farah snatched her hand and began to run. Quickly taking this opportunity of peace to make their getaway, Raija grabbed Larry's shirt, taking him with them.

After getting to a safe place, she held her knees and panted. Her hair falling over her face as she bent down, she looked up at Farah with amazement. "Wow, your voice is amazing!" Raija smiled a bit, a single tear spawned from fear dropping down her face.

Her smile immediately broke when another stranger approached her, the tension in the air bringing her on edge. Looking him up and down rapidly, her guard dropped when she saw it was just an old man with a... poop hat? Thinking back, she'd seen this man before. Looking at him as he bowed, he revealed the Dusk tattoo, similar to her and Farah's dawn tattoo. A sharp gasp escaped her lips as she backed into Farah. "Um. Um. Um um um. Sorry." She said holding her chest. "I. I-I-I-I'm Raija."

As Raija, Farah and Larry made it to safety, Farah lay a comforting hand on the girls shoulder as Deandre introduced himself. She had no idea where this confidence had come from, and part of her thought that the world had gone mad, and maybe this was all a dream, and Ewidge Mond was still in effect and maybe she'd wake in darkness. For now, though...

"Hello, Deandre. My name is Farah. I can't help but notice the tattoo. When did you get it?"

Larry smiled softly, looking back at Farah. "You flatter me, I'm not all that young. Larry, of the Mikenzas. Pleased to make your acquaintance."



Larry looked at Raija and raised the bucket of tools in his hand. "Oh, yeah, Daro sent me to find ya. He said he's gonna need you to look after the shop if he's not there."

It was then that the whole area broke out in a brawl, which caused Larry's eyes to widen in shock. Were these his people? The same people who, just a few days ago, would give one another the shift off their back if they truly needed? He started to go and attempt to step in, acting purely off of emotion and instinct. The only thing that stopped him was the beautiful sound of singing. It seemed to ring out like an angelic chorus. He blinked at looked at Farah, whose voice seemed to calm everyone down. Soon Farah pulled Raija along, who in turn, pulled him along as well, urging him to follow.

Once they had gotten away, Larry leaned back against a nearby wall, taking a moment to catch his breath. "What.....the heck......is going on," he groaned. He had never seen the people like this, or anyone, really. He frowned slightly as they were approached by Deandre, but soon was relived of his tension as the elderly man introduced himself. Of course, it soon returned the moment he saw the tattoo. That tattoo.......it's the same as the one I woke up with..... He inched a little closer, letting Raija and Farah speak to the man first, he was also curious about the tattoo. He tugged lightly at his collar, the heat was returning.

Deandre's eyebrows twitched quizzically, noticing Raija's unusual behavior.  "Tattoo?" Deandre asked, positioning the poop hat back upon his head.  "I'm not so sure I know what you kids are talking about, I've never gotten any markings on my skin.  I almost had the chance a long, long time ago..." He said, smiling wistfully.  Immediately he spun into a tale of his youth, "We were young.  She snuck out of school and convinced me to join her.  Such a fire-starter that one, she was always a rebel.  We ran through the fields and came all the way to the ports.  Her uncle was a skilled fisherman trying to pick up a second trade.." He stopped, mulling the thought.  "Why would a fisherman want to become a tattoo artist?" He asked the group, then smiled sheepishly and chuckled.  "Enough about me, I've rambled long enough.  Do you kids have any tattoos?"

Syrus brows furrowed slightly at how cheerful everyone was here it made no sense employment was suppose to make people miserable in exchange for currency poor people were so baffling.
“I thought drinking on the job was only permitted by maids who wear the prettiest of outfits” Syrus stated nodding at both the older men’s advice and seeing Deandre leave.

“Alright then let me try so if I want the job I have to behave like how one of the employees at the mansion does” He muttered before putting on a clearly forced smile. “I know I’ll just channel those nice maids father hires to only come over at midnight and to clean only his room!” He cheered.

As Farah listened to Deandre's story, she began to feel strange. Was this a dream? The first time she leaves the house in ages, she meets a girl with a matching tattoo, she can calm people down with singing, one of her hairclips seemed to be alive and now they meet a man wearing a hat shaped like a....well, it wouldn't do to discuss.

Farah delicately showed her collarbone, where her tattoo was barely visible under the layers of powder she'd used. "Here. You have a tattoo like this one upon your head, good sir. Under your delightful....hat."

She smiled as politely as she could, under the circumstances on the outskirts of a riot. "Does anyone else want to show their tattoos? Because, you can call me crazy, but I think something very peculiar is gong on."

Raija looked around, her scarlet toned hair matching the heat of the atmosphere around her. When Farah's words left her mouth and reached Raija's ears, her heart began to thump. Beads of sweat began to roll down her face, her breathing becoming shallow. She nodded at the figure that was Farah, water blurring her vision. Words tried to escape her mouth, but all that came was air. Taking a deep breath in, she glanced at Larry, then Deandre. She exhaled, trying to keep calm. 'Composure was necessary in these times.' Her mind said to her, but fear was a strong temptress.



Suddenly, a hymn was heard, the hymn of the gods. The noise simmered down to a peep, the eyes of the crowds drawing upwards, the tension completely lifting and a feeling of tranquility filled the air. The sun and moon began to revolve speedily around the world, the days and nights cycling by the minute, then slowly joining together for a solar eclipse. With each revolution, a large whoosh was heard, amazing the crowd even more. Then, very abruptly, everybody dropped. Everybody but 6. Raija, Deandre, Farah, Syrus, Larry, and Cory. Their insignia glowing strong enough to see through any garment, no matter how thick, also accompanied by a burning sensation.

Raija held her arm and grimaced in pain, clenching her eyes together. The darkness of her eyelids brought her solace, maybe it was just a dream. Maybe she'll wake up with fish soup and get dressed to till the farms. Her dream, however, was short-lived. A bright light shone in front of the group, snatching Raija out of her self-made dream. Out of the light came the god's themselves. Dusk and Dawn, right in front of her, taking her breath with their beauty.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Wrath}

Gracefully flying through the air, his smile luring her into his eyes, Dawn reached out and tenderly caressed Raija's face, a message being etched into her mind as soon as physical contact was made. Visual images of words, her eyes turning white. The message read:

"My purest child, the sin of Wrath. Blessed you are with our touch and with it, power. Beware, for one must indulge in their sins to truly grow. Careful, my child, growth can crack the vessel. And denial will crack the world...

7 rotations is your affair, daily is your indulgence. May you succeed, my child."[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Envy}

Dawn went to Farah with a similar message, gently playing with her hair. He rolled his hand down her back, circling her slowly and seductively. It seemed he took a special liking to Farah. Her eyes turning white as he told his message.

"My favorite child, the sin of Envy. Blessed you are with our touch and with it, allure. Beware, for one must indulge in their sins to truly grow. Careful, my child, growth can crack the vessel. And denial will crack the world...

7 rotations is your affair, daily is your indulgence. May you succeed, my child."

Dawn smiled as he left Farah, a very pure smile.[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Pride}

Dawn left off to Syrus, circling him a couple times extremely slowly. He didn't touch Syrus at all, but smiled as he looked straight into his eyes. His eyes turning white as he told his message.

"My callous child, the sin of Pride. Blessed are you with our touch and with it, connection. Beware, for one must indulge in their sins to truly grow. Careful, my child, growth can crack the vessel, and denial will crack the world...

7 rotations is your affair, daily is your indulgence. may you succeed, my child."[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Lust}

Dusk, a beautiful woman, descended first to Deandre. She smiled a seductive smile, holding on to him from behind. Her hands creeping down his chest, she exhaled into his ear, a small giggle escaping her mouth. His eyes turned white.

"My innocent child, the sin of Lust. Blessed are you with our touch and with it, flexibility. Beware, for one must indulge in their sins to truly grow. Careful, my child, growth can crack the vessel, and denial will crack the world...

7 rotations is your affair, daily is your indulgence. May you succeed, my child."[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Greed}

She approached Larry next, embracing him, appearing to be sad. His eyes turned white.

"My poor child, the sin of Greed. Blessed are you with our touch and with it, consumption. Beware, for one must indulge in their since to truly grow, Careful, my child, growth can crack the vessel, and denial will crack the world...

7 rotations is your affair, daily is your indulgence. May you succeed, my child."[/spoiler]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Sloth}

The last was Cory, Dusk left the group and went to him. Twiddling her fingers in her hair, she frowned. His eyes turned white. "My worst child, the sin of Sloth. Blessed are you with our touch and with it, control. Beware, for one must indulge in their sins to truly grow. You, a peculiar one..." She began, adding a bit. "Must choose when to grow. Careful, my child, growth can crack the vessel, and denial will crack the world...


7 rotations is your affair, daily is your indulgence. May you succeed, my child."[/spoiler]
Dusk and Dawn reconvened in the air, a smile coming out of Dawn, a wave from Dusk. "All sins are necessary for the affair. Death for all if our word isn't heeded." They disappeared in a flash of white, just as they came.

Raija's eyes returned to normal when the gods left. She stumbled forward a bit, having to acclimate herself to the real world again. "Wow... The gods themselves..." Raija sighed, only assuming the others saw the same thing. "Guys, what do we do?"