Welcome to the Family, 'Dear'|Maelstrom
Oct 23, 2011 4:15:48 GMT -5
Post by Northen Light36 on Oct 23, 2011 4:15:48 GMT -5
Acqua shivered and half stirred with a moan of sleepy protest at the sudden chill. Cold nights made old scars and bone breaks ache, an unwelcome reminder of how the life of a merc could age a body early. "Mat, stop stealing the blanket," she muttered, reaching out to snatch the blankets back - only to realise that one, the blankets were still firmly wrapped around her and two, Mat wasn't home tonight. He'd had to leave to pay the Humontis guild a visit. Lillian was in the room, but she was 'camping' on the floor and curled up in Acqua's old bedroll.
Puzzled, she opened one eye then yelped in surprise and fright as the man standing by the bed lunged forward to wrap his fingers around – then through – her throat. Acqua squealed, mostly due to the shock of the sudden cold the ghost's hands sent through her.
“It's a great pity my lord doesn't allow his children to complete their business tonight,” the ghost snarled. “A flithy little, half breed bastard, sleeping in my bed. Claiming my name.” The ghost scowled and lashed out at Acqua, his hand passing harmlessly through her face.
Cold, shaken and still struggling to get her wits about her, Acqua flinched. “I don't know you spirit. Get out.”
“I'll go nowhere, you worthless little bitch,” the spirit snarled. “You may have whored yourself into my son's good graces, but your filthy kind has no place in the House of Melissan.”
Acqua swallowed hard as she noted the shape of the ghost's eyes, nose and jaw. “You're... Amaro's father...”
“Not quite as stupid as you look then,” Philip sneered. “And yet still incapable of managing something as basic as babybane.” He glanced at Lillian in disgust and kicked out at the child, causing her to wake up with a cry at the startling cold.
“Leave her alone!” Acqua scrambled out of bed. “You're dead and this isn't your home. Get out!”
“Do you think it's your home?” Philip laughed. “Stupid little whore. Look around you, girl. There's nothing here but the relics of my family. Symbols of the power Amaro was too weak to hold onto and to cowardly to face now. So he shoves one more unwanted burden inside it's walls and flees.”
“Amaro isn't weak!” Acqua snarled, snatching up Lillian. “And he hasn't fled from anything!”
“And yet, he never comes to you. The 'sister' he claims to care for, and he never sees you until you force yourself upon him and his new life.” Philip smiled at Acqua's slight flinch. “The child he wanted to leave to rot in Flux. The ungrateful little street rat who infuriates him constantly. The brat he only supports now out of guilt for your sister's death. The selfish pest who drove his actual brother away.”
“That's not true...” Acqua murmured, but her voice lacked conviction as the ghost echoed her own uncertainties and doubts.
“Oh? Does he love you, child?” Philip smiled. “Then why isn't he with you? Why do neither of your brothers visit unless they have to? Why are you all alone tonight? You're a burden, girl, and no one wants you. Why would they? Who would possibly care for a spiteful, twisted little whore like you? Even your cat-beast friend hasn't come to see you, nor felt you worthy to know that her children are also your brother's. Half breed bastards as they are, they still have more worth then you. And everyone else has known it. You're just a semi-useful way to care for them.”
Acqua glared at Philip, but the tears on her face betrayed how his words – echoing her own deep rooted doubts – cut deeply at her heart. Could he be telling the truth about Bas and Pas? No! Vortai or Amaro would have told me... Wouldn't they? “Go away,” she whispered.
“You'd be doing everyone a favour if you crawled back where you belong, in the muck and flith of Flux,” Philip continued as if she hadn't spoken. “Even your blood-traitor father felt nothing but shame at his daughter, the whore and thief.” He smirked as Acqua stepped backwards, pale and teary. "Yes. Run. Run back to where you belong, little bitch. No one will miss you, anymore then they have the other times you've fled and freed them from the burden you present."
Puzzled, she opened one eye then yelped in surprise and fright as the man standing by the bed lunged forward to wrap his fingers around – then through – her throat. Acqua squealed, mostly due to the shock of the sudden cold the ghost's hands sent through her.
“It's a great pity my lord doesn't allow his children to complete their business tonight,” the ghost snarled. “A flithy little, half breed bastard, sleeping in my bed. Claiming my name.” The ghost scowled and lashed out at Acqua, his hand passing harmlessly through her face.
Cold, shaken and still struggling to get her wits about her, Acqua flinched. “I don't know you spirit. Get out.”
“I'll go nowhere, you worthless little bitch,” the spirit snarled. “You may have whored yourself into my son's good graces, but your filthy kind has no place in the House of Melissan.”
Acqua swallowed hard as she noted the shape of the ghost's eyes, nose and jaw. “You're... Amaro's father...”
“Not quite as stupid as you look then,” Philip sneered. “And yet still incapable of managing something as basic as babybane.” He glanced at Lillian in disgust and kicked out at the child, causing her to wake up with a cry at the startling cold.
“Leave her alone!” Acqua scrambled out of bed. “You're dead and this isn't your home. Get out!”
“Do you think it's your home?” Philip laughed. “Stupid little whore. Look around you, girl. There's nothing here but the relics of my family. Symbols of the power Amaro was too weak to hold onto and to cowardly to face now. So he shoves one more unwanted burden inside it's walls and flees.”
“Amaro isn't weak!” Acqua snarled, snatching up Lillian. “And he hasn't fled from anything!”
“And yet, he never comes to you. The 'sister' he claims to care for, and he never sees you until you force yourself upon him and his new life.” Philip smiled at Acqua's slight flinch. “The child he wanted to leave to rot in Flux. The ungrateful little street rat who infuriates him constantly. The brat he only supports now out of guilt for your sister's death. The selfish pest who drove his actual brother away.”
“That's not true...” Acqua murmured, but her voice lacked conviction as the ghost echoed her own uncertainties and doubts.
“Oh? Does he love you, child?” Philip smiled. “Then why isn't he with you? Why do neither of your brothers visit unless they have to? Why are you all alone tonight? You're a burden, girl, and no one wants you. Why would they? Who would possibly care for a spiteful, twisted little whore like you? Even your cat-beast friend hasn't come to see you, nor felt you worthy to know that her children are also your brother's. Half breed bastards as they are, they still have more worth then you. And everyone else has known it. You're just a semi-useful way to care for them.”
Acqua glared at Philip, but the tears on her face betrayed how his words – echoing her own deep rooted doubts – cut deeply at her heart. Could he be telling the truth about Bas and Pas? No! Vortai or Amaro would have told me... Wouldn't they? “Go away,” she whispered.
“You'd be doing everyone a favour if you crawled back where you belong, in the muck and flith of Flux,” Philip continued as if she hadn't spoken. “Even your blood-traitor father felt nothing but shame at his daughter, the whore and thief.” He smirked as Acqua stepped backwards, pale and teary. "Yes. Run. Run back to where you belong, little bitch. No one will miss you, anymore then they have the other times you've fled and freed them from the burden you present."
