In Memoriam

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Content Warning: Dubcon minnie gets turned into a whore

Being back in the Stronghold was...odd to say in the least. She had not felt the need to step foot into this awful place. Looking around made her uncomfortable. How could a place to perfect on the outside be so rotten on the inside? It made no sense, but then, she had not returned that evening in order to ponder why such a place was so deceptive. The Stronghold was a place of bad memories and a bleak past, but this evening was not about her. She was here to celebrate Ferrah’s birthday, nothing more. That, at least, made it easier for her to push down the unpleasant emotions bubbling in her gut as she made her way down the filthy side streets of her childhood. This is for Ferrah, she reminded herself. Only for Ferrah.

There was a reason she was here, beyond commemorating Ferrah. She had done that every year since her aunt died but this? This was the first time she had the courage to come to the Stronghold itself to do it. Her plan was simple: go to their old meeting place with her paints and burn incense while she painted another, newer portrait of her aunt. It was a tradition of her own making. A time to cry, to relive, to remember, and perhaps, remind herself that she was not forgetting her aunt’s face, that the portraits weren’t starting to look different. As much as he wanted to be anywhere else but here, she refused to turn around. Ferrah did not raise a coward.

That was what she repeated to herself as she approached the one place Ferrah had always told her to go to should they ever be separated, stomach twisting with dread. It felt wrong, knowing no one would be looking out for her or even concerned where she might be now but...that was the world, wasn’t it? Full of cold, uncaring people who wanted to hurt her? The cynical voice in her head certainly agreed, even as she herself strove to find beauty in everything. It was foolish. It was the reason she’d been so afraid to come here, but this was for Ferrah.

She could be brave.

It took her only a moment to shake off her bag and set up the small vigil. The incense was lit and then she took a seat, closed her eyes for a moment and opened them to the blank canvas she intended to fill with the paints sitting by her side.

For you, Ferrah.

Posted 07-22-2021, 06:58 PM

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TAG Minnow Nadir
NOTES N/A

His entire body felt like it was on fire — and not in a good way.

Anger pulsates through his body like an unchained beast, just barely contained beneath the surface as he stalks through the winding streets of the city slums. The noise around him feels too much for him to handle, all of his senses currently overwhelmed as agitation marks every step he takes. It wasn’t long since North had been called into Alejandro’s office for a supposed chat, even if it didn’t exactly end up that way. His body had long since healed whatever wounds had been left behind by the other Infected, but his mindset hasn’t changed. He’s angry, hungry — and that’s never a good combination for him to have.

North had chosen to head to the city slums because he knew exactly what he needed to cool his temper and help him get over his anger, but he didn’t realize how much he loathed the place until he had set foot in it. It led the Major to begin wandering through the back alleys, the places not many people went except for those that didn’t want to be found. The darkness soothes him and as voices slowly begin to fade and drown out, North begins to feel his heartbeat slow to a steady pace once more. But it isn’t long until his attention is caught by something unusual: an overwhelmingly potent scent of… Something. It’s not close, but like a dog, he follows the scent out of curiosity.

The scent finally becomes obvious as North enters a broken down building, hazy smoke filling the air as it drifts up lazily from the tip of incense. North is quiet as he enters the building — quieter still, when he realizes someone else is in there. His eyes train themselves to the small woman sitting on the ground in front of what appeared to be some kind of altar or something; North didn’t know what it was, and he didn’t care. At that moment all he knows is he was currently standing in a desolate building with a human, far from anyone else, and in that moment something snaps in his head and he wants nothing more than to take his bad mood out on the girl in front of him.

He takes a step. And then another. Quiet, like a tiger.

He doesn’t make a sound until he almost already upon her, and then suddenly he leans forward and muses aloud: “Far from home, aren’t you?” He doesn’t know where her home is, but it doesn’t matter. It was currently just the two of them.

Posted 07-22-2021, 07:34 PM

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For many moments, all was calm.

Minnow sat in peaceful stillness as she breathed in the sweet incense and calmed the voice in her head telling her to leave this place. She was not a coward. She could handle any of the vagrants that might inexplicably come across her little memorial. In her bag, she concealed a blade. One, she was more than capable of using, thanks to the careful tutoring of her late aunt. Of course, she had never had an issue in the many years she had come to perform this little ritual, and she did not expect to now. No one ever came to this place. That was why Ferrah had chosen it.

And if she couldn’t trust Ferrah’s judgment in death, could she truly trust anyone?

Looking down at the blank canvas, Minnow looked to her homemade paints and began with the black she would use to create the night sky. Ferrah had always loved the night, even with the beasts that lingered within, both mortal and otherwise. The night was cool and calm, and though it concealed those who would seek to hurt her, there was nothing quite like the beauty of the night sky. It was what she intended to replicate as she set to work painting. It was easy to lose herself as she moved on to creating her aunt’s visage on the canvas. Though she was alone, she felt less on edge when consumed by her art.

What a mistake that was.

‘Far from home, aren’t you?’

Terrified to hear a voice despite being certain she’d not heard anyone approach, Minnow threw her canvas forward in shock. She did not scream and instead, scrambled to her bag to wield the knife she had brought with her, facing the stranger with hard, angry blue eyes as she backed herself protectively into the corner. She held the blade out in front of her in a way that suggested she would begin slashing to kill were this man to come any closer to her. It was the only warning he would get. As sweet as many said she was, Minnow was not afraid to hurt someone if she had to. Such were the demands of a world like this.

“None of your business,” she said flatly, staring this stranger down with the full intention of looking for the best place to cut him. Most people knew to mind their business this was wrong. She needed to get out of here. Perhaps her voice was not as intimidating as others, but her threats were not idle. He was blocked the way out but she would do what she had to in order to circumvent him and return to the safety of the junkyard. “Don’t care who you are. Get out before I have to hurt you.”

Posted 07-22-2021, 09:05 PM

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TAG Minnow Nadir
NOTES N/A

The kitten has claws, does she?

North doesn't flinch or outwardly react to the glimmer of a blade being drawn on him, far too used to humans mustering up what little defense they have to try and fight back against him. Guns, knives, brass knuckles — he's had all of them aimed in his direction at one point or another, and it no longer phased him. On the contrary, it was rather amusing to see the fragile little thing standing her ground against him, smart enough to turn her back to a corner with him completely in her vision. The corners of his mouth itch to twitch upwards into a grin — a mocking gesture that would show he wasn't afraid of her — but instead he keeps his face neutral. Unconcerned. She amuses him for the time being.

But it doesn't completely wash away the heated anger boiling beneath the surface of his skin. His eyes meet hers as she defiantly states it wasn't any of his business; even if, as Military, it really was of his concern what the people of Stronghold got up to. Especially those skulking around in the slums.

North was all for harassing the woman a little bit to release his anger, then he'd let her go. But before he even had a chance to make up his mind on how this little rendezvous of theirs would proceed, the woman makes a mistake — a far greater mistake even than the brandishing of a weapon. She threatens him. Commands him. Orders him to leave before she would attack. His eyes flash angrily, dark now as his mood once more shifts in a more sour direction. No one ordered him around — his ego still bruised from the man that could — especially not some frail little human that didn't know who she was threatening.

“Well, that's not very nice of you, is it?” he snarls, daring to take a step in her direction. Pushing her boundaries, just to see how close he could get before she would snap. “Here I was, worried for your safety, and you have the audacity to threaten me,” he sighs now as he speaks, almost as if thoroughly disappointed in her choice of reaction. But he's not, not entirely at least. A part of him knows he'd enjoy this much more than if she were to cower in a corner and not fight back. Such prey was always dull for a predator that preferred to play with his food first.

His gaze sharpens, and a smile spreads across his lips.

“Unfortunately for you, I'm not exactly in the best of moods right now, and I think I'm going to have to call you on your bluff. Just for fun.” Another step forward. Another threat for her safety. He grins, a dare — and although he portrays a nonchalant man that wholly believes she wouldn't actually attack him, his entire body was actually poised for a fight.

Posted 07-22-2021, 11:12 PM

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Most people would have shown some reaction to having a blade drawn on them. This man did not and that was disconcerting. Did he lack fear or did he believe she wasn’t capable of handling herself? Was she being underestimated? Another woman might have been offended, but Minnow did not care. She was fine with being overlooked and underestimated. It allowed her into places most would not be permitted and beyond that, allowed her to best people like him.

Could he not see she knew how to wield the blade in her hand? Or maybe he thought himself to be better than her? She couldn’t tell, but then, she would have no time to try and ascertain the answers.

When he snarled, her grip on the handle tightened and when he stepped forward, she braced herself against the wall, brows furrowing with concern. She did not believe a word he said and she was far less inclined to remain near him when he smiled in a way she did not like. Her knuckles had turned white from how tightly she was holding the handle now, though she refused to show her panic.

“No one cares about my safety around here.” She retorted, narrowing her eyes. “And nice girls die first.” Her aunt had been nice and where had that gotten her? Shot in the street like a dog.

“And I won’t die here.” She didn’t like his grin or his taunting. She didn’t like how he seemed to think she wouldn’t attack him. Was that what he wanted? To be stabbed? What kind of insanity was that? Really, it didn’t matter because she had quickly decided he was entirely too close and if he would not heed her warning, then she had no choice but to turn her threat into a promise.

Without a word, she pressed her heel into the corner and used the bracing of the wall to push off of her foot and lunge at him. In that same motion she turned the blade in her hand towards his chest, intending to slash him right across his midsection. Her intent wasn’t to kill, though she wouldn’t have been particularly distraught if this one died. No, she only meant to create an opening big enough to allow her to disappear into the darkness as she was accustomed to. Whatever she left behind here could stay.

Ferrah would understand.

Posted 07-25-2021, 05:24 PM

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TAG Minnow Nadir
NOTES N/A

Her discomfort with his presence and her lack of trust isn't unusual for the rats that liked to scurry around the slums of Stronghold. Still, it never got old for him. He was more used to having people from the Military or rich civilians surround him, and they were all usually arrogant with a chip on their shoulder. Seeing a small human cornered in front of him — with just enough courage to make this interesting — promised North a fun enough time that he should be able to get his mind off the thing that had drawn him out here in the first place: rage.

She wouldn't die here, would she? Famous last words. North laughs in response, lips parting as he prepares to mock her yet again — but she's suddenly on the move, and while he's prepared for such a response, it's still surprising to him. Far too many humans had a bark but no bite.

But here this woman was confident enough that she dared to try and attack him. The audacity of it all is almost lost on him as he finds himself impressed by her going on the offensive. Almost. Ice blue eyes watch the blade as it shimmers in the dull light, flashing through the air on a crash course with his chest. Time seems to slow to a crawl, the woman's heartbeat pounding in his ears — he stays where he is, almost as if waiting for the blow to come. But at the very last second he's on the move, ducking back just enough that the tip of the blade barely makes a scratch along the surface of his shirt.

It's supernatural, inhuman — nothing mortal could move that fast. Another second passes before North's left hand suddenly lunges out and snatches the woman's neck, using the momentum of his grab to continue forward and shove her against the wall she had just launched herself from, pinning her there by her throat. His other hand snatches her wrist midair and matches the momentum of his other hand to pin her wrist against the offending wall as well.

“Bad move,” he tsks, shaking his head almost as if disappointed by her. “Looks like you're going to die here after all,” he muses, a dangerous edge to his words, even if they're not true — not yet, at least. North wasn't sure what exactly he was going to do with her yet, but the smug grin on his lips made it clear he was very pleased with their current predicament. Just to add another layer of fear to his threat, he slowly begins to lift his hands, dragging her further and further up the wall until she's just barely able to stand on the tips of her toes.

Posted 08-02-2021, 12:49 AM

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She couldn’t explain how it happened or why but in an instant that didn’t even seem real, she had gone from slicing at his chest to being pinned against the wall by her throat. She hardly had comprehended that the attack that should have hit didn’t. He moved at a speed she couldn’t process, but trying to understand how he had done it was far less important in the moment than the fact that he had. She was alone here in the worst part of the stronghold with someone who had bested her.

She understood she was in danger now.

And though her wrist was pinned against the wall as well, she struggled. Ferrah had not raised a coward. She was terrified and it showed in her eyes but she refused to freeze like prey. She wriggled as best she could in his grasp, despite the fact that it was doing nothing. She only stopped when she felt her body being lifted. Her eyes widened as she struggled to balance on the tip of toes.

The grin on his face irritated her enough to push her to writhe against the way she was pinned, in spite of the slight discomfort she felt. His words infuriated her, but all the same, she took them seriously. Her body tensed, bracing for what she assumed would be her death but when it did not immediately come she began to struggle again. There were a vast number of horrible things that could be done to her now that she was at his mercy but she refused to make it easy for him.

For a moment, she wondered what he was waiting for. She had little to steal unless he cared for knocked over incense and homemade paints. The knife, she supposed, he could have taken, though he had not done even that. What did he want? The fact that she didn’t know and that she could see little to lose in doing so, made her bold. “If you’re going to kill me then do it.” She refused to be toyed with if she could at all help it. If she were going to die then she wanted her death to be quick so that she might join her aunt...wherever she was. Of course, the voice in her head that told her she shouldn’t have come here in the first place also told her that this wasn’t going to be quick at all, though all the same she hoped it was wrong.

“I’m not afraid of death.”

Posted 08-30-2021, 08:15 PM

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