Midgaard City Landfill
The landfill is.. ..well, a dump. This is where all the city's refuse, or
at
least a good portion, of it winds up..to be compacted, stacked, squeezed,
and
crushed into a desirable shape so that it can be in turn sold of for cheap
property. When the trash is covered, it might not be so bad..but right now,
this place really stinks. A few toolsheds and some earth-moving vehicles
are
scattered about, abandoned at the end of the workday. Beware the security
watchman, however..and his junk yard dog.
This part of the dumps isn't the landfill.. it's the area where the
vehicles
are compacted and crushed..veritable mountains of scrapmetal and similar
piles
abound..upon which Es is settled ontop of one. Sitting with her legs
crossed.
Deciding that this isn't a place where she would be bothered.
The cool breeze of the evening flows across the desolate wasteland...or is
that
land of waste?....at any rate, it's a chilly evening. It's obvious fall is
here, with winter just around the corner. The half moon floating high
overhead
shines clearly down to the ground below, unobstructed by any clouds this
night.
It's quiet out here, peaceful....one of the rarer moments for this city
undoubtedly. A drop of water falls upon the seated woman's hand.....
Es-chan feels the drop of water on her hand..she looks up believeing that
rain
is coming..but blinks as she realizes there are no clouds. She doesn't jump
to
any conclusions however as she begins to look about calmly..
Oh, don't worry yourself, young lady. You're alone here. Safe from all of
those multitudes of 'heros' that exist in this town. Not that any could
ever
defeat you. You're leaps and bounds above them in terms of skill and power.
Yes...the ultimate being...one who cou--*CLATTER* A broken headlight
tumbles
off of the old vehicles, spinning like a top on the ground before coming to
rest.....
Unsettling?....perhaps.....are you nervous, miss?.....
Es-chan indeed assures herself of that fact, if any being powerful enough
to
confront her showed up..she SHOULD be able to sense it. And she would know
about such a being by now ne? So she doesn't worry herself overtly..always
being brutally practical. She does blink at that clattering noise..deciding
it
must be that Junkyard dog sniffing about again. It takes -alot- to spook
her.
But she does however, out of being very paranoid in general, keep looking
around with a frown curlin her pouty lips.
The air remains still, despite the sound.....not even the usual insects
that
frequent the area are about. It must be too cold for them tonight....A
single
cloud in the sky makes its way past the brightly shining moon in the sky,
creating a multitude of shadows over the old, bent metal of the vehicles
stacked and strewn about here haphazardly.....they play across the area,
stretching over the ground towards the woman as the cloud continues to
flow.
They overtake her as well finally, dancing across her face, and shrouding
the
immediate area in darkness.
From that darkness a voice speaks......
"Esmerelda....."
Es-chan know realizes she is not alone. Particularly unnerved by the fact
she
did NOT sense this. She slowly begins to rise to her feet upon the pile of
wreckage, settling her arms at her sides as her long coiling emerald locks
fluttering in the breeze.. going the opposite direction of the cloud..she
turns
her exotic gaze up to the creator of this darkness as she narrows her eyes.
Listening to that voice for the moment before questioning, "...what..?"
That concealing little cloud moves along, revealing the moon beneath once
again
and returning its soft glow to the scene. As the shadows slide back from
ground, retreating into the distance, a figure is revealed to be standing
only
a few meters from the woman.....The light travels up the body, revealing
bare
and worn feet, as if they'd not seen protection from the elements for some
time....legs with bruises, horribly large, and badly discolored....cuts and
scars...some looking infected do to lack of treatment....the tatterted,
frayed
ends of a dress come into view...it seems even the fabric has taken a
beating
along with is weaer....the arms...much like the legs...cut...bruised...the
right one even appears to be broken....the bone jutting in an unnatural
position beneath the skin....The dress hangs upon the shoulder by only a
single
strap...the other is torn, with that side only barely managing to stay
up.....finally the face of the injured individual is made known....at first
it's hard to place....it's so horribly beaten...one of the eyes is swollen
shut with the loose filthy bangs of the hair draped over it....the nose
looks to be smashed and out of proper alignment...the lips are cut...the
stains of the blood still present on the chin.....With its one still useful
eye it stares at
Esmerelda...pleadingly....suffering....conveying its pain to her....
And Kim speaks, "Esmerelda......"
Es-chan's eyes at first were indifferent and aloof of whatever this could
be...but as Kim makes her identity known.. those exotic eyes slowly widen
as he
delicate jaw lowers, she stares at this figure..her arms shift outwards
from
her stance as she leans forward just a bit as if that would make a
difference..seeing you standing on the outeredge of the pile of crushed
vehicles..in an incredulous voice she questions, "K..Kim?" an odd volume of
concern from the Dragon..as she witnesses this display of torment...
Kim's voice is soft, and weak...sounding with each word as if it were her
last
breath. She doesn't move...to do so may send her to the ground upon her
uneasy
legs....her lip shakes, trying to keep her composure...to keep her abiility
of
communication alive. A tear falls from her unswollen, reddened eye as she
simply looks at you...filled with hurt....pain...and constant suffering...
"Esmerelda.....i...it hurts......"
Es-chan looks upon you for a moment..her eyes halfhooding in consternation.
Unable to understand this.. she tries her best to wipe the concern from her
features, returning it to that aloof neutral position, but is only
partially
successful. She then begins sauntering towards you in a careful way..
walking
on the crushed metal with soft scrapping noises.. approaching you, she
intones
calmly, "Deary..do tell...who or what did this to you?" she tires to keep
her
tone businesslike..formal, but a small tone of urgency manages to creep
in..
Kim answers, "You did....."
Es-chan pauses, listening to that, her eyes furrow in confusion, she
certainly
never beat you so.. believeing prehaps someone is using her guise.. or you
were
brainwashed..or something. She continues approaching however..those last
few
meters closing quickly.. she reaches out a hand to you, stating, "That
isn't
true deary... I did not do this to you..." she affirms calmly..
Kim continues to speak, still unmoving as you get closer to her....her
tears
refusing to come due to her injuries...though you can tell they're
trying...
"...you've hurt me so much......why, Esmerelda?.....I.....I
don't....understand......why did you do this to me?......"
Es-chan listens to that..her fingers gently begin to touch your wounded
cheek
gingerly, she intones as her features soften, tilting her head to the side,
"..because deary.. you are mine and nobody elses..." leans forward a bit
more,
"..All mine..." her lips curling about those few words lovingly,
savoringly,
and with absolute conviction..
With a sudden and unexpected burst of sound, Kim's body explodes in front
of
you, collapsing into countless tiny particles of mist in the air....What
happened?....Kim has not the control over her power too...The wind picks
up,
carrying the mist past you, trailing the dampened air over your body....but
leaving you untouched with a single drop as it passes.....
Es-chan flinches and jerks back at the explosion..tossing an arm up infront
of
her as the mist rains around her, yet uncannily missing her, she spins
about,
long locks of emerald hair flailing with the motion..as she watches the
mist
go..a grim expression on her face as she knows that Kim knows she can't run
anymore.. Es has only tracked her down..ruined her life over and over.. Es
watches her run away...with a fatalistic view that no matter where Kim
goes..she will follow..
And the woman is alone again......The mist gone....vanished into the night
air.....The moon sitll above, glowing the same as before....and the wind is
calm....still present....Was the girl even here? You couldn't....possibly
have
imagined it.....it was too real.....and it's not as if you have a conscious
to
conjure up such horrific images in your mind. That's a ridiculous notion
indeed.
Es-chan narrows her eyes a bit in consideration of that very fact.. being
one
well aware of the supernatural.. that could not have been a simple
trick-of-the-light. Could it have been Kim? But Kim doesn't know how to use
her powers to that extent...and the fact remains she did not beat Kim so..
An
Illusion ment to trick her? For what purpose? she thinks.. looking for
alternatives as she slowly surveys the hauntingly quiet wasteland..
Yes...who would be attempting to play such a trick upon you? Why would they
want to interrupt your solitude with a display like th--- The loud
shattering
of glass behind you interrupts your thoughts....
Es-chan immediately spins about..the massive repetiour of spells
immediately
sings to her mind as her long mane of emerald locks trail behind the
move..hand
infront of her as if to inflict her will upon the mystical energies of the
immediate world. Eyes narrowed and focused with a predator's gleam..on
edge..
Kim..this time dressed quite normally in her usual jeans, t-shirt, and
jacket,
sits atop a small pile of crushed metal, looking a bit bored. In one hand
she
holds a collection of nuts and bolts gathered from the ground. With the
other
she take one between her fingers, raising her arm back, and sending the
tiny
piece of metal through the remains of the windows on a vehicle a few meters
away. She doesn't seem to have noticed Esmerelda, not taking any interest
off
of her task to look at the woman as she sends more glass shards into the
air
with a crash.
Es-chan blinks incredulously at this.. someone IS playing a game with her
now..
she's sure of it. She scowls as she exclaims, "Stop this foolishness!" the
rage of her words bely how truly unnerved she is becoming, "... This trick
is
pointless!" as she spins around...waving a hand from her in a wide open
gesture, "Where are you?" questioning the perpetrator of this series of
fantasies.
Kim looks up with a *blink* at the screaming Esmerelda, instantly turning
her
nose up in disgust, "Oh great, what are YOU doing here?"
Kim raises her eyebrow at the ranting and raving immediately after, "...."
Es-chan frowns a bit as she realizes this Kim seems to be a bit more...
collected. She then turns to you down bellow.. silently readjusting her
outerjacket and blouse, murmuring just loud enough to hear, "Taking a walk
deary..and why are YOU here anyway?" she questions a bit testily.
Kim says, "Trying to get some time to myself. Obviously I'm unsuccessful."
as
she stands up, dropping the metal pieces on the ground. She slips her hands
into her jacket pockets as she hops off of her seat, turning to look at
you,
"What are you screaming about anyway?"
Es-chan answers that in a hurried tone, "Nothing deary. Now move along
before
I decide that I'm too bored to let you go.." in a threatening way.
Kim says, "Che...why do you always have to be such a bitch?" scratching her
cheek with a finger. o.- "I haven't done anything to you and you have to
start
making threats right away. Doesn't make you very popular you know."
Es-chan waves a hand, "Whatever deary, I am NOT in the mood. Go away before
I
decide you might look prettier with a fins on your forehead." apparently
not in
a friendly mood at all, which is uncommon for her actually, as she tends to
be
even cordial in general..but in this case she would rather see you shuffle
off..
Kim puts her hands behind her head, closes her eyes as she raises her chin
a
bit, speaking with a tone of confidence over your threat, "Eesh. First you
torture me, then you claim to like me, then it's back to stupid threats
again."
She looks down, utterly calm, if not a bit annoyed, "I wish you'd make up
your
mind about these things instead of playing stupid games."
Es-chan hrmphs as she simply turns away from you and begins sauntering to
the
otherside of the junkpile. Walking down the side of the mountain of scrap..
not bothering to argue anymore. . o O (Someone is toying with me..and when
I
find out who...)
Kim speaks again, her voice coming from directly beside Esmerelda. How did
she
move so quickly and without you hearing? She walks along next to you with a
smirk, "So which is it, hot stuff? Do you like me or just like me dead?
Inquiring minds want to know."
Es-chan blinks as she suddenly hears the second number of footfalls as she
reaches the ground...her gaze turns to you again..eyes twitching in shock
for a
moment before flatly stating, "You are not Kim." as Kim couldn't do this
sort
of thing, already a few theories as to the true identity of this creature
rises
as she takes a step away from this 'Kim'...readying herself...
Kim blinks, looking incredibly confused by THAT answer, "Not Kim?" o_o
Kim laughs, "Don't tell me that you're scared of me now, Es." ^_^;
Es-chan comments, "Since when could Kim move that fast.." pointing out the
obvious. Eyes still narrowed, convinced you can't be her.... she would know
if
you could do something like that.. wouldn't she?
Kim says, "Oh please. You're going to doubt me because you didn't see me
coming for once? I think you're just trying to avoid the question."
Kim grins, "Yah, that's it....you're scared."
Es-chan frowns to you as she bites the bait, "I am not deary. I do not fear
you." she flately states, "And if you think your amusing by using Kim's
shape
against me..." she warns..
Kim says, "Using her sha---eesh, you really have lost it."
Kim says, "If I were an imposter would I know about that night we spent
together?" taking a step forward. "....the way you used me...terrorized
me.....played with me to your heart's content...."
Es-chan blinks at that...for a moment buying your story before hissing
between
clenched teeth, "Kim could have told that to anyone by now.. I doubt it is
a
secret.." she states, "You have to try harder than THAT.."
Kim says, "An imposter wouldn't know the fear I felt...running through that
house, trying to escape you......the sense of utter JOY upon reaching that
door.....and the feeling of hopeless....when I found out there was no
escape...."
Kim's voice deepens ever so slightly, taking on a much more serious tone,
as
she continues to step towards you...slowly...stalking....an
almost....frightening figure? Kim? Frightening? Oh hell no... "An imposter
doesn't have the feelings I have inside....the shame...the memories of that
kitchen....where you took from me what can never be replaced...."
Es-chan's expression begins to sink as you state this in astonishing
detail...
could it be some entity has stolen these memories from Kim? But.. WHY? To
what purpose would that be? Just to annoy Es? What being would be THIS
suicidal? However she does take a step back..either she doesn't feel like
being pushed over or is genuinely intimidated by your menace isn't
clear..but
regardless she does begin retreating before you, she questions, "... what
are
you doing?" almost an order.
Kim narrows her eyes...her face becoming outlined with the shadows of the
pile
of wreckage next to her, giving her a darker aura about her....much more
fitting for her low, hateful tone, "Does an imposter have my friends? Those
you've hurt without a second thought for any of them? With each one's pain
you
deliver the same to me....."
Es-chan begins to frown a bit further.. if this IS an imposter.. she's
doing an
incredibly good job.. as Es continues on the retreat, watching your visage
darken and begin to twist into hate. Her own disbelief of you beginning,
VERY
slowly beginning, to melt away into shock and surprise.. listening to your
words..
Kim asks, "An imposter doesn't have this feeling of loneliness inside"
raising
a hand to her chest, "....from losing the one she loved....lost because of
your
SELFISH actions. You heartless bitch....." continually closing in on
you...her
anger and hatred rising with each word. It's pretty clear that these words
are
QUITE sincere, though the question is, will you admit that to yourself?
Es-chan continues backing away until the junkyard itself denys her that
option.
Pressing her back against a side of a massive junkpile..still looking down
to
you.. her expression seems to be hovering between a variety of emotions but
her
calm demeanor barely holds it in check.. looking down upon you with a
measuredly neutral expression..but that is slowly beginning to fray..
Kim closes in still, her pace unchanging despite the fact you've been
forced to
stop, "....And an imposter wouldn't know of your feelings.....your feelings
for
me....the feelings you CLAIM to have...." stopping only a few feet from
you,
staring up at you with a look...of utter DIGUST...of loathing and
distaste....
Es-chan frankly sputters.. words failing her at this moment..shock and
confusion keeping her from saying anything at all as her mouth works
soundlessly..eyes furrowing in confusion at you..even still saying nothing.
Completely at a loss..possibly for the first time you've known this
creature..
Kim smiles calmly, "Love.....is that what you feel,
Esmerelda?....Heh....love...." glancing away a moment, "A word you live
without...." her gaze returns to you, the anger once again present, "You
have
no knowledge of what the word even means. You never will. You're an
abomination in this world....one without feelings for others or yourself!
You
can never understand what it means to truely care for another in such a
way......oh, but hate....heh....now there's a word that's undoubtedly lost
meaning over the years....the pure and complete opposite of love....the
most....the absolute antithesis of positive feelings.....no other word in
the
language even comes close in comparison to the meaning of that
word.....it's a
word you understand, Esmerelda....a word you center your life
around.....it's
what you are and all that you'll ever recieve! Esmerelda, I HATE YOU!!!!"
EXPLODING!! out of existance with a loud crash, echoeing off of the metal,
and
wind spiraling all around you with a low howl, as if carrying the spirit
away; relinquishing as suddenly as it came....leaving you alone....leaving
you in silence.....
Es-chan's locks flutter with the sudden uproarious draft of air.. as her
expression is frozen in a visage of pure shock at the absolute vehemence of
those words. Slowly, ever so slowly she slips down to the ground in a
kneeling
position..hunching over..head lolling down..almost as if a puppet that had
her
strings cut.. making no sound..no noise at all.
A voice cries out, "Esmerelda!"
Es-chan doesn't move or recognize that voice at all..remaining in her
broken
doll position still...her face hidden beneath a curtain of long emerald
locks..
The voice calls again, getting closer, "Esmerelda!"
Es-chan twitches a bit, to prove she's alive, but little more...
THe voice speaks again, gently, as a hand lays upon your shoulder,
"..Esmerelda....are you alright?"
Es-chan shakes a littlebit..her head slowly rises up..a single glittering
eye
is visible between the locks..the emotion not immediately obvious as she
looks
upon this new figure..
A concerned gaze meets your own, looking down at you from a kneeling
position.
The new figure, while partially shrouded in the shadows of the metal, seems
to
be...a young man....yes, definately. He's dressed in loose jeans and a
black
sweater, worn because of the cool breeze outside. His hair is cut short,
and
clearly had been combed neatly recently, though now a bit messy because of
the
breeze. He offers a comforting smile as he sees you look up, "Hey
there....are
you okay?" ......that face........you know that face.......the eyes...the
nose.........this....this isn't a stranger....no....you do know him...the
hair
has been cut...and the voice.....even the voice...it's....it's a little
deeper,
but.....this is Kim!
Es-chan's gaze slowly trails up to you..eyes focusing in disbelief. She
should
be wary, she should be prepared, she knows this can't be real, yet a
floodgate
of emotions have errupted unbidden..unable to stop and think as her jaw is
still dropped..eyes quivering and glittering as if frozen just on the edge
of
tears..
Kim's smile fades as he sees your expression, "Esmerelda....what
happened?...."
his hand rising from your shoulder, softly touching your cheek.
Es-chan can do nothing but stare at you.. those eyes still glittering as
she
slowly..shakingly begins to raise a hand up towards your own face...making
small whimpering noises, unable to say anything...
Kim says, "My poor girl...." his hand moving behind your back, the other as
well, pulling you in a close and caring embrace, raising a hand to softly
stroke the back of your head, whispering to you, "Don't worry...I'm here
now...."
Es-chan should know better, she should know better.. but she can't help
it..as
you pull her into your embrace..eyes glittering and softening..feeling you
hold
her closely.. never before looking so...so..fragile. Looking like a hurt
and
wounded girl in the arms of someone who actually cares..shivering just a
bit..
Kim holds his hand on the back of your head, still whispering in a soft and
caring tone, "I don't know what's gotten you so upset, Es-chan...but I
promise
you we're going to make it better..." leaning back from you slightly to
look at
your face, offering a caring smile, "Okay?..."
Es-chan's expression quivers as she nods very slowly..reluctantly...but
helplessly. Her own hands upon your shoulders....pressing her arms against
you..leaning her head down over your shoulder...eyes still wide and
glittering...
Kim leans forward again, placing a warm kiss upon your cheek, "That's my
Es-chan....."
Kim starts to stand, supporting you to do the same, "Come on...let's get
out of
this place and go home..."
Es-chan begins to stand as well..leaning heavily upon you...still in a
state of
shock, staggering just a bit...
Kim slips an arm around your waist to support you, taking your hand as he
smiles gently. "There we go."
Es-chan leans against you a bit more as you foild an arm about her slender
waist..her own hand hangs limply in your grip as she can't muster the will
to
tighten it..glimmering eyes slowly ...very slowly closing...squeezing out
the
collected moisture that runs down her cheeks in what could be considered...
tears? Resting her head upon his shoulder gently..
Kim frowns... "Es-chan....won't you say something?....You're really
starting to
scare me."
Es-chan murmurs in a broken, soft tone, "..fine... I.. I'm fine..." trying
to
reassure him...
Kim's expression doesn't change much, still looking with great concern at
you.
The evening wind flows over the couple, standing in the darkness of the
late
hours.....After a moment of silence a finger gently touches the bottom of
your
chin, motioning without force to raise your head to look up....
Es-chan slowly begins to look up to him..her exotic eyes opening slowly..
unassumingly..
Kim smiles...with such an expression that Es has likely never seen before
in
her life....an expression of caring and concern....one filled with strong
emotions...none of them negative....for this first time....this person
actually
seems to... "Esmerelda.....everything's going to be okay, I
swear..........I
love you..."
Es-chan emits a little gasp from her throat..as her crystaline eyes glitter
at
those words..another tear runs down from an eye..following the one
proceeding
it. Her lips genuinely curl slowly into a smile as well...a look of
emphemeral
joy crosses her immaculately beautiful features...
A sudden and abrupt punch lands on Esmerelda's gut. Kim's expression
doesn't
change at all, still smiling with that same loving face as her fist is
imbedded
into the woman's stomach.
Es-chan's expression immediately cracks and faulters at the terrible
blow...face jerking for a moment with the impact before she slowly begins
to
fall away..doubling over soundlessly.. eyes almost seeming to crack as they
dim..arms curling slowly about her waist..her lungs slowly bringing in a
gasp
of almost soundless betrayal..
Kim says, "I love you...." a harsh SLAP across the falling woman's face
accompanying the kind words, as well as that still oh so caring face.
Es-chan's head recoils from the slap..the horrible sound rebounds of the
solemn
piles of junk..and she unceremoniously flops onto the ground..slowly
curling up
pitifully..letting out a soft whimper..one hand reaching to her wounded
cheek
slowly as her other arm remains curled around her waist...
Kim's foot comes down hard upon the hand as it reaches for the cheek,
pinning
it to the ground with the heel of her shoe. He laughs as he looks down upon
your crumpled and damaged form, "Wow. That must have hurt a lot, huh
sweety?"
Es-chan's delicate hand is mashed to the ground beneath your heel as she
emits
a small withered cry..convulsing for a moment on the ground...not answering
that..long locks splaying over her face now once more..
Kim grinds the hand into the dirt as if putting out a cigarette as he leans
down, smiling at you, his voice dropping to a soft and gentle whisper, "I
hope
this shows you how much I care about you...."
The foot on the hand stomps down flat as the other shoe makes itself
known...directly in the center of Esmerelda's back....a sickening sound
emits
from the impact.....echoeing in the silence of the junkyard....
Es-chan only manages a pitiful whimper in defense as you mangle her
hand...she
ARCHES her back as you drive the toe into her..face contorted in agony, in
a
soundless scream..drawn only enough air into her lungs to croak
pathetically..
Kim steps back from you, putting his hands into his pockets and
smiling...staring down at you....his expression showing nothing but love
for
you...though concern for your injuries....that's another story. He nods to
you, turning to leave, "I'll see you around, deary....until we meet again."
blowing a kiss over his shoulder, before turning away....and disentigrating
into the air....fading upon a passing breeze.....leaving you...once
again.....alone......
Es-chan crumples back down into a heap..shaking, shuddering....eyes staring
out
blankly.. not really seeing..
You've seen so much tonight....experienced a mixture of emotions you've
never
felt as strongly before.....perhaps the message reached you....perhaps
not......from every direction they begin to roll in....drops of
water....gathering together in a single spot, more and more...rising
up....taking on shape....and forming into Kim....perfectly
normal....standing
over you...staring at your fallen form with emotionless eyes.....
Kim says, "Remember what you've seen tonight, Esmerelda......remember what
you've felt......."
Es-chan remains on the ground, broken... just like the trash all around
her.. a
fitting place indeed for someone like her.. her eyes remain staring,
unseeing..
you know she's still alive by her occassionaly shifting..but no more.. if
she
can hear you at all.. you certainly can't tell...
Kim turns, slipping her hands into the pockets of her jacket, and without
another word....leaves you........alone once again.....
Es-chan continues staring blankly...like a broken record playing the same
melody in her head over and over..as she clings to a single
mantra...slowly..bit by bit... the words in her mind let her stir...as if a
plant being fed water and starting to grow once more after being cut..
filling
her back up again.. a good friend she has known for so long... a friend
that
has whispered things to her and dominated her life. A friend that has never
let her down, just two words . o O (...hate.. you...) as the moon almost
seems
to dim..the shadows from the piles of refuse casting over her fallen form..
as
if planting the seeds once again in shadow..where prehaps soon, that weed
will
grow to full bloom.. beginning a cycle once again..
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