Shay was often out at night, or early mornings, when there was an almost unbearable chill to the air. This time was no different. She had bundled up in a thick coat, gloves, and a red rose themed scarf as she headed out with her father. It was not at all uncommon for Shay to stray from Klaus as he went about his nightly business. She was fine, always near him, or near enough to not be afraid.
That night, Shay had wandered into the large park at the center of the city. There were quite a few people around, but there always was on Manta Carlos. There was a lonely beauty to the night in winter. She could hear the rustle of dying leaves, the occasional murmur of late night lovers.
It was death. Cold. Solitude. Winter felt like her. She stopped walking, shoved her hands in the long pockets of her oversized jacket, and looked skyward. A trail of breath rose from her mouth and nose. She imagined it could have looked picturesque. Something beautiful and thoughtful, if this were a picture or a painting.
It had begun to snow. Light, white specks drifting and settling in her hair and on her collar. She huffed out some laughter, kept in the real moment only by the stinging nip at her nose.
♠♠♠
To say that it loathed the snow and the cold would be an understatement, under any other circumstances Vapor would not be caught outside in the stuff. Today though it was willing to risk it as Vapor needed some time away from home, and therefore had dressed a littler differently. It still wore the same type of suit they always did but this time the smoke creature also had on a pair of black leather gloves and a black over coat with the collar pulled up to block as much of this accursed snow as possible.
As it walked through the park though most people seemed not to pay it much mind and this was a good thing because the weather had put it in a rather foul mood.
“Blasted falling water crystals” Vapor muttered to itself as it made its' way along the path. “I will never see how anyone could call you beautiful.”
If anyone had gathered the nerve to actually look at the thing then they would probably have seen that whatever 'exposed skin', or even its' hair for that matter, that the snow landed on it immediately started to sizzle and bubble a little bit. It was nothing that would endanger Vapors' existence but it was rather annoying and slightly painful. The things it did to appear more human would one day be the end of it.
Then there was this blasted note! Someone had left an anonymous note in its' mail box asking Vapor to be here at around this time, and to say that their curiosity had gotten the better of them was not untrue. If it was a pleasant surprise then all was well, if not then it would just be another person that Vapor Von Rauch would have to take care of.
Pulling out the note Vapor looked around the park wondering who could have sent it, that was until it spotted a familiar face.
Of course, it thought to itself. Why wouldn't it be her?
Smiling the creature waited to make sure that Shay had not seen it yet and then began to float above the ground slightly and silently floated up behind Shay before holding the note out over her shoulder.
“I believe this is yours?” it said, trying to sound as charming as possible. “It is not often I go out in the winter weather, anonymous summons or not.”
As it walked through the park though most people seemed not to pay it much mind and this was a good thing because the weather had put it in a rather foul mood.
“Blasted falling water crystals” Vapor muttered to itself as it made its' way along the path. “I will never see how anyone could call you beautiful.”
If anyone had gathered the nerve to actually look at the thing then they would probably have seen that whatever 'exposed skin', or even its' hair for that matter, that the snow landed on it immediately started to sizzle and bubble a little bit. It was nothing that would endanger Vapors' existence but it was rather annoying and slightly painful. The things it did to appear more human would one day be the end of it.
Then there was this blasted note! Someone had left an anonymous note in its' mail box asking Vapor to be here at around this time, and to say that their curiosity had gotten the better of them was not untrue. If it was a pleasant surprise then all was well, if not then it would just be another person that Vapor Von Rauch would have to take care of.
Pulling out the note Vapor looked around the park wondering who could have sent it, that was until it spotted a familiar face.
Of course, it thought to itself. Why wouldn't it be her?
Smiling the creature waited to make sure that Shay had not seen it yet and then began to float above the ground slightly and silently floated up behind Shay before holding the note out over her shoulder.
“I believe this is yours?” it said, trying to sound as charming as possible. “It is not often I go out in the winter weather, anonymous summons or not.”
Shay tensed when Vapor snuck up behind her and wrapped an arm around her person so she could see the note. It only took a second for recognition to relax her muscles. She looked over her shoulder at him. It hadn't occurred to Shay that Vapor would be in pain surrounded by snow. A young, stupid mistake that had her letting out a string of unladylike curses once she realized it.
"Shit. I hadn't thought about the snow." The young girl peered around in the dark and took Vapor's hand to pull him to a pine tree. She worked to wiggle the snow free of its needles along the lower branches and took off her scarf to make a makeshift umbrella of sorts. She pushed him inside, dusting away any loose snow on the ground.
"Better?" she asked, offering him a guilty smile and plopping down on the snow right outside his homemade shelter. Shay looked up at the sky again. The park was one of the best places in the city limits where one could look up and see the stars, but even so, all Shay saw was inky blackness. Barely a speck of light to be found among it all. Her smile fell, and her eyes intensified while she searched for something.
"Oh, I shouldn't have called you out in the snow. I don't even have something worthwhile to show you; I just thought it looked pretty, and I knew I'd be out here a good long while." She glanced at Vapor, "Papa is working, and sad beauty like this shouldn't be seen alone, even if that's more appropriate.
"You've lived a long time. How many times have you stopped and just stared at all the beauty? I think you find most of it in the dark places like the night sky, the mountains, or the ocean. There's magic in places like that. Scary, wonderful magic." Shay was rambling now, but she didn't care.
"You know when you go deep into the ocean at night, and you dip under the surface? You probably haven't experienced that 'cause you don't like water. Let me tell you; it's worth it. Terrifying, lonely, but somehow serene. Like all time stops and you can barely see past your hand. Anything could be out there with you. You're so small, but it's only a little scary."
Animatedly, Shay spoke with her hands to illustrate her point, never once actually stopping and staring at him as she did so.
"I remember once at night, I was at the beach, and I was just walking through the shallow water, and I guess I hit one of those sandbanks that dip downward because before I knew it, I lost my footing. I was completely in the water, and I had no idea which direction was which.
"For a few seconds I was so panicked I thought my life would flash before my eyes like all those books and movies tell you, but, it didn't. I focused on the muted sounds, and this weird calm came over me. It was the second time I ever felt like I belonged in the world. Everything just made sense; all the puzzle pieces came together. I don't know if that was because I was drowning or what. I just had this clarity. I had to calm down, find my footing, and kick up. So I did.
"Then I was back on that beach, and the emptiness was back, and I was too young to understand why. I wanted to reach out and touch it. Touch all the things and go all the places I wasn't supposed to. Suicidal kid."
Shay quieted and breathed out, finally meeting Vapor's eyes. Coming back to the moment at hand. "I shouldn't have asked you to come. I wasn't thinking."
♠♠♠
Vapor couldn't help but put on a smile when Shay started to freak out out the snow, it was a minor thing to it but to see someone worry was interesting. This is what they would called concern it guessed, though it was very rare to see someone show it in regards to the smoke creature.
It went along with the young girl to the tree and waited patiently while she created the shelter for them underneath its' branches, not saying a word till she asked it if things were better.
“I am fine Lady Shay” It said smiling. “This snow is no more then a minor inconvenience.”
It had been about to ask more about why she had summoned it but that information seemed to flow freely from her mouth. It listened while she told her stories, about the beauty in the dark places, thinking about it as well. When Shay had finished Vapor walked over and knelt beside her, letting the snow hit his skin and sizzle, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Yes I have in fact lived a rather long time and I know what you are talking about, at least I think I do.” It said, looking at her, though the eyes looked as if they were lost someplace far away. “Actually it reminds me of some of my very first memories.”
Taking its' hand back Vapor continued to stayed crouched beside Shay while it continued talking.
“When I first came to be most of what I remembered was watching humanity in the day light, floating far above them in the sky. They were boring and rather dull creatures that went about from place to place pretending to like each other and just seemed to go about marching their way into an eventual grave. I would go someplace to rest when the light in the sky went away, as it would seem they did as well, to think upon what I had seen and was actually about to give humanity a pass focusing on a different species. That was until one night before I was to retire, something caught my attention.”
It paused only for a moment before going on.
“It was during the night when I saw humanity's true face. It was then that they usually uptight looking folks let loose. They would drink, laugh, fight. Then there were those that the rest of society had given up on, it was during these times that they flourished. The acts I witnessed during these times, they were the polar opposite of what happened when the world had been filled with light. I did not have a word for it at the time but it was beauty, pure and simple. No acts, no pretending, it was humans being human to each other in every way shape and form.
“So I watched, I learned so many things. I started to rest during the day and every night brought new surprises and new things for me to learn. I grew quickly, picking up the language as I went. I wanted to dive into this, well I guess you could say culture, head first as the expression goes. I have lived for over 200 years and even to this day I find beauty in the darkest of places, and sometimes even in the rarest of individuals.”
It turned to look at Shay and smiled.
“Individuals such as yourself Lady Shay.”
It went along with the young girl to the tree and waited patiently while she created the shelter for them underneath its' branches, not saying a word till she asked it if things were better.
“I am fine Lady Shay” It said smiling. “This snow is no more then a minor inconvenience.”
It had been about to ask more about why she had summoned it but that information seemed to flow freely from her mouth. It listened while she told her stories, about the beauty in the dark places, thinking about it as well. When Shay had finished Vapor walked over and knelt beside her, letting the snow hit his skin and sizzle, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Yes I have in fact lived a rather long time and I know what you are talking about, at least I think I do.” It said, looking at her, though the eyes looked as if they were lost someplace far away. “Actually it reminds me of some of my very first memories.”
Taking its' hand back Vapor continued to stayed crouched beside Shay while it continued talking.
“When I first came to be most of what I remembered was watching humanity in the day light, floating far above them in the sky. They were boring and rather dull creatures that went about from place to place pretending to like each other and just seemed to go about marching their way into an eventual grave. I would go someplace to rest when the light in the sky went away, as it would seem they did as well, to think upon what I had seen and was actually about to give humanity a pass focusing on a different species. That was until one night before I was to retire, something caught my attention.”
It paused only for a moment before going on.
“It was during the night when I saw humanity's true face. It was then that they usually uptight looking folks let loose. They would drink, laugh, fight. Then there were those that the rest of society had given up on, it was during these times that they flourished. The acts I witnessed during these times, they were the polar opposite of what happened when the world had been filled with light. I did not have a word for it at the time but it was beauty, pure and simple. No acts, no pretending, it was humans being human to each other in every way shape and form.
“So I watched, I learned so many things. I started to rest during the day and every night brought new surprises and new things for me to learn. I grew quickly, picking up the language as I went. I wanted to dive into this, well I guess you could say culture, head first as the expression goes. I have lived for over 200 years and even to this day I find beauty in the darkest of places, and sometimes even in the rarest of individuals.”
It turned to look at Shay and smiled.
“Individuals such as yourself Lady Shay.”
"I know, I know," the girl huffed when Vapor told her he was fine. "But I don't want you to keep being in pain just because you can handle it." If there were things Shay could help someone with, she would do them. This wasn't a big inconvenience, and it was her fault.
Shay nearly protested when Vapor got up and walked to her so he could crouch and touch her. She remained silent, feeling the moment was too important to nag at him for hurting himself just to be nearer. He could have beckoned her closer.
Shay watched his eyes as he spoke, apparently lost in his thoughts as he reminisced. It was around this time that Shay wondered if Vapor felt more than he let on. If he maybe just didn't realize it, or was lying about it. There was a longing in his voice when he spoke about finding the underbelly of society.
Eroshay's face heated when he proclaimed her to be special. She rubbed at one of her ears in the hopes to ebb away her blush and looked anywhere but at Vapor. The snow, the sky, the lights. "I don't know about that. I'm just human," she said with a strenuous smile. "A hundred years and you won't remember me. But I'm glad I get to spend tonight with you either way."
She paused, peering around and stood, dusting her knees off. She held out her hand to Vapor. "C'mon. I want to show you something."
Shay hadn't known why she asked Vapor here in the first place, but she knew now. If he grabbed her hand, Eroshay would lead him off down the snow-covered sidewalks. The lamplights were hung with lights, each catching the night in such a way as to show each particle of snow that clung to the air. She pointed most of them out to him.
"You should come out during winter more. It's an annoyance, sure, but look. Look at all of this. Even when people are around, there's this silence to the air. It feels like being home to me. Isn't it something to behold?"
The girl couldn't stop smiling as she stared at all the decorations. The expression lit up her face in a way it normally wasn't, safe for silent moments like these or the heat of battle and blood.
♠♠♠
Vapor couldn't help but smile a bit when Shay proclaimed that she was just human, though it doubted the sincerity of her claim. No one on this island was 'just human'.
"You are more then simply 'just human' Lady Shay. Much more, and I doubt I will forget you for a long time." it stopped though and watched her get to her feet. "Though that seems to be a discussion for another time."
Getting up it took hold of Shay's hand, allowing her to lead it where ever it was she was going to take it. It trusted this human more then most currently as she had always been open with it, never one leading it into a trap. That said though its trust was a very fragile thing and could be broken very easily.
At this point in time though, in this place, it doubted that would happen. It was all too, well, peaceful. While the quiet life was not always its specialty it could admit that in times like this it could beneficial.
"yes, it is something indeed." It said, looking about as Shay indicated. "Maybe I have been hiding myself away during the winter. Too worried about all the falling water crystals and what people might do..."
It paused for a second while it looked around, still holding Lady Shay's hand.
"Yes, I think I will go out more during the winter." It looked at Shay and smiled again. "You are as wise as you are beautiful Lady Shay."
While Vapor might not have actually had any sense of what it beautiful or not, it had studied what humans typically would consider so and felt that its statement contained no falsehoods.
"You are more then simply 'just human' Lady Shay. Much more, and I doubt I will forget you for a long time." it stopped though and watched her get to her feet. "Though that seems to be a discussion for another time."
Getting up it took hold of Shay's hand, allowing her to lead it where ever it was she was going to take it. It trusted this human more then most currently as she had always been open with it, never one leading it into a trap. That said though its trust was a very fragile thing and could be broken very easily.
At this point in time though, in this place, it doubted that would happen. It was all too, well, peaceful. While the quiet life was not always its specialty it could admit that in times like this it could beneficial.
"yes, it is something indeed." It said, looking about as Shay indicated. "Maybe I have been hiding myself away during the winter. Too worried about all the falling water crystals and what people might do..."
It paused for a second while it looked around, still holding Lady Shay's hand.
"Yes, I think I will go out more during the winter." It looked at Shay and smiled again. "You are as wise as you are beautiful Lady Shay."
While Vapor might not have actually had any sense of what it beautiful or not, it had studied what humans typically would consider so and felt that its statement contained no falsehoods.
Sorry it is so short! Still in vacation mode but had a horrid day and needed to write a bit to get in a better mood! I promise I will do better next time!
Shay felt strange. The sensation of tears threatened her, but they never came. She was happy. Shay was happy, and she was fucking terrified. She released his hand and spun a few times, again looking up to the darkened sky, laughing.
"I wonder if you're ever actually living if you're not doing the things that might destroy you?" Shay paused, stopped moving and looked at him again, thoughtful. "You know the thing about humans, mortals, actually, that most of the big "monsters" can't understand? We're small and fragile, but we bounce back, and we push so far past our limits. We shouldn't be able to do half this shit.
"When you're powerful, it's hard to imagine yourself without it. Terrifying, even. But when you've always been powerless... facing things bigger than you. It's just another day."
Shay paused, stuck her tongue out to catch a snowflake. It was easier talking out loud, but even with that excuse Shay wasn't entirely certain why this was the advice she gave, but it was nonetheless.
"There is a terrifying strength in feeling nothing. In selfishness, apathy." A pause, thoughtful, and Shay looked to him. A piece of darkness among all this light. "But you'll never push past your limits looking out only for yourself. You have to fight for something. You have to love something so much, that you might give everything up for it.
"It'll have the power to ruin you, and that's fucking terrifying, but also, it'll give you the strength to overcome almost anything. Magic is belief, you know? And love and hope and all that light bullshit, those things are some of the strongest stuff in the world. It's cliche, but true."
Shay stopped talking, thinking of all the things she'd have died for, worse than died for. Given it all up. Fought when she had nothing left to give. Let them leave. Let them hurt her. There was no guide to all this, but there really should have been. Maybe one day, Shay would write a book.
"I don't know where you're going, or why, but I'm supposed to help you get there. Being a Reaper means dealing with death, and death isn't always physical. It's change too." She stared at him with meaning. "Where are you going, Vapor?"
♠♠♠
Vapor simply watched as Shay spun around in the snow, that smile it had still plastered on its face. As she did this the smoke monster bent down and picked up some of the snow, letting if fall between the fingers of its gloved hand as it listened to Shay speak.
"I have noticed that about humans, or as you say all mortals, their particular brand of stubbornness." It paused and looked about once more before turning its attention back to Shay. "Again, one of the many factors that drew my attention for better or worse. It was a trait that I, well, admired I guess you could say."
Again the speech seemed a little practiced, but it did not hold any lies.
"As to the difference between feeling something and feeling nothing, I would not know sadly." It let the last of the snow fall from its graps and dusted off its hands. "I have plenty to fight for, but something or someone like that?"
It just shrugged, it couldn't say if it had it in them or not. If it was going to be honest about it as well it probably did not care, part of that no feeling issue already mentioned. It seemed to have an answer of some sort for everything that Shay was talking about, always with that practiced smile. At least that was until she asked it where it was going...
"I am, I" Vapor paused for a second, its face going completely blanket as it contemplated this. "I honestly do not know. Most times I go where the wind carries me, or to places that catch my eye for one reason or another. There was never a greater plan involved."
The smoke monster stuck its hands into the jacket pockets and kicked at the snow at its feet.
"I am only even on this island because I got careless and was caught, even being here was an accident of sorts." It sighed and looked at Shay, its expression not changing a bit. "I can not say what is going to happen, where I will be, or what will happen at any given point. I just am, and I do what I do."
"I have noticed that about humans, or as you say all mortals, their particular brand of stubbornness." It paused and looked about once more before turning its attention back to Shay. "Again, one of the many factors that drew my attention for better or worse. It was a trait that I, well, admired I guess you could say."
Again the speech seemed a little practiced, but it did not hold any lies.
"As to the difference between feeling something and feeling nothing, I would not know sadly." It let the last of the snow fall from its graps and dusted off its hands. "I have plenty to fight for, but something or someone like that?"
It just shrugged, it couldn't say if it had it in them or not. If it was going to be honest about it as well it probably did not care, part of that no feeling issue already mentioned. It seemed to have an answer of some sort for everything that Shay was talking about, always with that practiced smile. At least that was until she asked it where it was going...
"I am, I" Vapor paused for a second, its face going completely blanket as it contemplated this. "I honestly do not know. Most times I go where the wind carries me, or to places that catch my eye for one reason or another. There was never a greater plan involved."
The smoke monster stuck its hands into the jacket pockets and kicked at the snow at its feet.
"I am only even on this island because I got careless and was caught, even being here was an accident of sorts." It sighed and looked at Shay, its expression not changing a bit. "I can not say what is going to happen, where I will be, or what will happen at any given point. I just am, and I do what I do."
"Not physically," Shay corrected as Vapor told her he just went where the wind took him. She stopped turning to stare at him, before approaching slowly and reaching up to cup his face, stare into his eyes with the wisdom of someone far older than she was.
Shay tried to urge him to bend until their foreheads touched and she could hold his face. She'd close her eyes, hone in on magic and intuition. Shay smiled secretively, but with all the innocent happiness of a child unable to lie.
"Yeah. You do have something worth fighting for. Or, you will. And you'll have a place to be. Don't know where it is, but I feel it. It's not far, but... there's still... something to break through."
Shay opened her eyes and pulled back, grinning, happy, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. Magic. Magic was here. Shay could feel it. Magic and hope. There was hope in this darkness. She breathed out shakily, trying to contain her emotions.
Shay rubbed her covered hands together before hugging herself and looking to one of the lamp posts. "When you get there... Um.... Well... you won't need me anymore."
♠♠♠
Vapor allowed itself to be moved, bending down and pressing its forehead against Shays, though it said nothing as this happened. Nor did it speak when Shay started talking about its future and the like. She sounded so sure but it remained doubtful. It had been 200 years and nothing of the sort has ever happened to it.
"If you say so Lady Shay, but I remain doubtful." It said, standing back up straight and looking about a bit. "Though I do have to say there is one thing wrong with your prediction though."
It reached down and took her hand, giving it a light squeeze as it did, and smiled at her once more.
"I do not think you will be rid of my that easily."
"If you say so Lady Shay, but I remain doubtful." It said, standing back up straight and looking about a bit. "Though I do have to say there is one thing wrong with your prediction though."
It reached down and took her hand, giving it a light squeeze as it did, and smiled at her once more.
"I do not think you will be rid of my that easily."
Short I know, but I feel like we are wrapping it up almost. Maybe another post or two of them walking in the snow etc?