Ethereal Withdrawals [Arte]

by **Arcana** August 15th 2013, 6:16 pm

His muscles screamed in protest, but it wasn't as if Sean could really to tell them to shut up. His Half-Titan form was what gave him the needed speed to reach the strange place, and with much more haste than his rather slow Full form. He had been running for nearly twenty minutes now, and his muscles had begun to ache horribly only fifteen minutes ago, which meant that he had to find a town soon; or deal with painful backlashes. He was after all physical, and physical beings of his nature could tire out, which was a pain in the ass when he thought about it. There was a city that sprawled ahead of him, only a few more minutes of running and he could try to feed.

These feedings had become constant almost, which had grown annoying to the young Titan, but he needed the Nether if he wanted to keep moving. Ever since he made contact with that strange individual, Sean could feel himself change in so many ways, but most of all his mind seemed to always go back to him. His breaths grew painful, as he zoomed along the highway at speeds that made him a nearly imperceptible blur to those without the ability to track something going at his speed, and he was sure there were a few looks going his way. His cells cried out for that sweet dark energy, and it also cried for something else entirely. Damn that man to the seven hell dimensions.

Sean was addicted, and he could not help it. The bastard had him when they first touched, as if somehow his essence had grabbed hold of Sean's. Instead of trying to make a clean break like a sane person, Sean had tried to destroy all connections that he had with his human weakness, and that had also ended up destroying everything that Sean had once held dear. Only a few more seconds, and he had passed the city limits and next would be finding a source. Any living being produced Nether, all of them; as long as they were as finite as they were. Humans, animals and even plants gave off such energy. However, when they died was when this energy was the greatest and was usually enough to sate his appetite. Food no longer held the same appeal to him, when he could taste the sweet nectar of a beings death.

All of the fear, as well as everything with it came with the energy, and it was made even better. The diminutive male sucked into an alleyway and leaned against a hard wall, and he could feel them wrack his body like spasms. It was akin to a withdrawal, and yet he was not sure what he needed. His body tightened up, and his fingers were clenched around tight lumps of his hair, as his teeth bit hard into his lower lip. All he could do was curl into a ball, his body seeming to seize, yet sitting perfectly still as he let out pitiful whimpering sounds. He felt weak and consciousness seemed to faded, as he fell to the side seemingly comatose. His body simply lay there, until what looked like a young man walked upon the glassy eyes Titan.

Any normal citizen walking upon what looked like a dead body, and that was how the poor guy felt seeing the young man. However, the markings creeped him out somewhat. Sean's ragged looked khaki colored shorts, with frayed edge, and his ratty graphic tee made him look like a homeless person of some kind. He took a breath in to call for help, but something happened before the gangly young man could do so. Tendrils of red edged black energy lashed out at him, and ran through his body like so many sewing needles, as his mouth filled with blood. The glass was gone from Sean's eyes, and in their place was liquid silver.

His words were garbled, as the blood seemed to drown them away in an instant, yet the pain did draw a few tears from that poor fools eyes. His blood stained the concrete, and the Nether poured from his corpse like a mist, which slowly made its way into Sean's mouth as he breathed in deeply. He could feel a manner of strength return to him, and the spasms passed for now.

'Damn him.....da.” Sean began to dry heave for a moment, before wiping the spittle from the corner of his mouth. This could not go on for much longer, his body was destroying itself. The body fell to the ground, smothered in its own blood, as the eyes glassed over.

by **Artemis** August 15th 2013, 7:37 pm

Artemis had discovered one of the most peculiar things while flying. She saw a boy running along side the metal beetles people drive in. She racked her brains, trying to remember what they where called. Were they called cars? Artemis remembered Salone mentioning some name that began with 'C' and cars sounded right, but she was certain. Either way this interested her and she turned around, flying above the boy. Speaking of the boy, this guy was fast. Nothing she couldn't keep up with but compared to what seemed to be the human average he was speeding. Was he like Salone and others she had met in the pass? Well that answer was obvious but she wondered what else he could do. The only way to find out was to follow this man.

Artemis had followed the man into the city, which it became harder to keep him in sight because she had to watch out for buildings and signs, but it wasn't anything to terribly hard for her. The boy had ran into an alley way and Artemis perched herself on the railing of a fire escape. The boy had curled up into a ball on the ground, seemingly in pain. She looked at him with even greater interest, did all normal humans feel pain with their powers? But even then with this boys obvious state of pain people just walked by the alleyway, either not noticing the boy out just flat out ignoring him.

That was until one man noticed the boy and approached him. After looking over the boy he looked like he was about to call for help. However before a single word could be uttered something unusual happened. Black, red trimmed tentacles erupted from the boys body, piercing in several places before he could speak, killing him quickly. Artemis was happy she hadn't been noticed yet, that wasn't in natural in any sense of the word. Then black mist flowed from the man's body and was breathed in by the boy, who never left is sitting ball-like position. The man's body fell to the ground while the boy seemed to have a slight breathing problem. The interaction was interesting to say the least. It had reminded her of back when she lived in the wild. She had been under the impression that tactics like these where abandoned by 'modern' society, but apparently not.

Artemis couldn't take her curiosity any longer and dropped from her perch. Soaring down the alley way in a tight spiral she quickly descended in front of boy. With a rapid fluttering of wings she slowed herself down, some of her feathers flying away from her and onto the surrounding area. She shifted in the air, but ended up standing in front of the boy. She locked her mud brown eyes on the boy, who was still balled up. "Survival of the fittest, I thought that it didn't exist outside the wild. Thank you from proving me wrong. It's a shame what happened to that man but you had a clever trap." said Artemis walking over the boy and resting the back of her hand on the boy's forehead. She didn't have any idea why she was doing it or what it accomplished in doing so but she had seen Penny do it on multiple occasions and she knew what she was doing.

by **Arcana** August 16th 2013, 1:54 am

Sean stayed curled up for a moment, focusing on the Nether that had been consumed, as if he were trying to make sure that he took in every last bit of it, as if it would be able to escape his body. That however was not the case, so it was mostly his mind trying to overcome its weakness. His teeth grinded together for a moment, as anger mounted, and faded away. Even if he wanted to, he could not be angry with that magnificent bastard. It was Sean's own luck for being born this way, and perhaps a twist of fate that this guy had such undeniably powerful energy. It had been the case that Sean was ever drawn to life energy since his becoming a Titan, but never this much.

Granted Aether was a rare commodity within the mortal plane, this was even better than the feel of Aether, yet the withdrawals were even worst. His nails drew indention’s within the soft flesh of his leg, and he didn't even really notice the strange female appear until she spoke. She spoke of survival of the fittest, and how it lost its meaning within civilized society. However, the smartest and best looking still got by, and the less desirable usually did not. Granted there were the exceptions, but looks could get you much. His silver orbs opened widely, sclera looking slightly bloodshot as they peered through fingers to the new individual in front of him.

”Trap? I guess you could call it that, but what keeps me from doing the same to you?” His question was pointed, perhaps a means of getting the strange female to back away from him. What caught him off guard was her resting her hand against his forehead, as if he were sick or something along those lines. What the hell was she thinking? Sean raised a hand in protest, hoping to swat away the hand, 'And I warn you to keep your hands off of me, that is if you want to keep them.” He added sourly, as Nether sparked off of him threateningly, as if warning the wild child that he could kill her.

by **Artemis** August 16th 2013, 11:58 am

"You won't for two reasons." said Artemis, shrinking her hand away from the boy when he swatted her hand away. "The first reason is because a trap looses it's effectiveness once it's known. If you where going to try and kill me I would be expecting it and act accordingly. Once that happened you wouldn't be able to keep up with me. Especially if you where at your top speed when you where running to this city. If you couldn't run any faster then that you would never catch me." Artemis paused for a moment and looked the boy older. Maybe he was a bit older then she thought. He also had the strangest silver eyes. If they weren't so blood shot she would think they were... damn what was the word.

She racked her brain for a while longer and eventually came to the word attractive. Yes... attractive sounded like the right word, although she wasn't one hundred percent sure what that word meant. Unaware how much time she spent thinking about what was the correct word she continued. "And the second reason is an even simpler reason. If you where going to try and kill me you would of already done so."

by **Arcana** August 16th 2013, 4:19 pm

Sean found himself slightly amused, perhaps with this girls mannerisms or the fact she presumed too much.”If I wanted to kill you has yet to be seen. I could easily change my mind, its that easy.” Sean stated flatly, one hand pressing against the ground as he attempted to push himself to his feet, the Nether not likely to last long. He needed Aether, or something akin to it, similar to that energy that Zell let off when he last was around Sean. Sadly, one could not find someone to buy it off of like common street drugs, and his body still felt the need for it. This was the pain of addiction wasn't it?

”As for how fast I run, that only applies if you had the time to actually run away. If I wanted you dead, I would have cut off every exit already, though who says I haven't already.” It was true that Sean had lined the entire alleyway, from ground to wall in a minute amount of Nether. If he wanted to capture her, all it would take was a thought and they would be caught in a nice little trap; however he was sure that she had no idea about that. The most she would feel was the dark sensation that so much Nether could produce. That was granted that she could not smell it, which would perhaps give the girl a clue as to what was happening.

Sean noticed that something about this girl was strange, not like so many humans that he knew of. There was to start off with, her strange choice in clothing; which looked more akin to a wild person that those “civilized” fools. Perhaps there was something different about her, especially if she could claim to move faster than Sean, which was no small feat within itself. Was she a metahumn or something more than that? Perhaps a wildling from a different plane or an animal that had taken human shape, learning its language and attempting to emulate the species. It was one of those things, but he could not quite place it.

'So what are you? Human, metahuman or.....something more?”

by **Artemis** August 16th 2013, 5:53 pm

"Well Wild Eyes if you did change your mind, I would have to go for your throat and if you last display says anything I would say neither off us would walk away from that." said Artemis. She plopped down on the ground in front of the boy, sitting casually. Looked directly at the boy, he seemed sure of himself. There was a strange scent flowing off of him. It smell surrounded the alleyway and Artemis knew it wasn't the natural smell. However she remained calm and collected, despite the unnatural smell.

She only smiled at the boy, who probably thought he set another perfect trap. That is if the smell was related to the boys' power. The tentacles earlier didn't smell but then again, neither did the alleyway until recently. It seemed like he wanted to poke her for information, who knew for what reason though. Maybe he wanted to distract her, taking her for another prey he could easily capture. Maybe he was honestly wondering on who she was. It would make sense considering when she shifted in front of her friends for the first time they were surprised. "I am Human, maybe I am a 'Metahuman.' I don't know all the phrases 'modern' humans use. Either way can you stop stinking up the place. My nose can be sensitive at times and I don't feel like a fight right now."

by **Arcana** August 18th 2013, 9:55 pm

She knew little of what he was capable of, and Sean could forgive her ignorance, one that so many beings on Earth seemed to have. Most human's outright denied magic, and the mages that knew of it were little consequence, unless they had the blood for it. He would have to keep a calm expression, devoid of any expression, in case whatever this woman said about ripping his throat out held any grain of truth. Sean was proud, and powerful, but he was not a fool. If he could avoid unnecessary confrontation with a more powerful force, then by all means he would.

She did not know what she was though and that added only more curiosity to Sean. Who was this woman, and more importantly, what the hell was she? Sean stood to his feet, or attempted to, with moderate success. He had to lean against the wall, but for the most part he was out of that pathetic position, and looking the girl in the eyes, though she was slightly taller than him. Then again, when was someone not taller than Sean when they hit puberty? ”So the predator has no taste for a fight?” He let the Nether fade away, a sly smirk forming over his lips.

He could feel the predatory intent from her, but then again perhaps it was just from one predator to another. 'Whatever it is, you don't seem to enjoy the presence of Nether, but then again who does enjoy death. It hangs around everything mortal, yet they are blissfully unaware of it.” Now all that remained of the dark energy was what wreathed his shadow, as if it could jump out at any moment to slay the woman if he so wished, some of it forming over the corpse; that of his victim.

”If you had no intentions of fighting me, what was it? I'm sure you were fully aware, or have an inkling of my power from what I did to that poor fool. What could you possibly want from me? Are you.....curious?” He wouldn't kill her, not yet at any rate.

by **Artemis** August 19th 2013, 12:42 am

"Not at the moment, although things can change quickly." Said Artemis. She stood up along side the boy. Damn he was short. "Hmm... so that is what smell is called... my pack always called it rotten flesh." She looked over the boy again now that he was standing. Well kinda standing, he was leaning on the wall. For someone trying to work himself up he just seemed kinda weak. But at least the smell started to dissipate, it wouldn't disappear right away but at least it wasn't as strong as it was.

"I was flying saw someone running faster then normal humans, I was interested." said Artemis. "So I turned around, followed you here and now we are here."

by **Arcana** August 22nd 2013, 6:17 pm

So she followed him simply because he could run fast? ”Tt's called Nether, and you may not feel it, but you reek of it.” Sean noted fingers absently twitching, Nether seeming to spark from the digits. He could feel a small amount of Nether coming from this woman, another being that would die one day. If he did not kill her, there was something that would claim that flame of hers. Would it be poison, a knife or old age itself? No matter what it was, that was the destiny of all finite beings; to die. Sean however had another fate, one that would transcend the very notion of death itself. ”So what now? Are you going to continue to follow me around like a lost pup?” He took a step forward. ”I don't plan on sticking around for too long though, I have places to be.”

by **Artemis** August 22nd 2013, 8:06 pm

Finally the boy started to move again and it was interesting. He didn't seem to be going anywhere to fast. "You seem more like a lost pup then I do." said Artemis. She easily walked back up to the boy. "You look like you are barely standing. Even if I offered to help somehow you would probably turn the help down." Artemis walked round the boy, looking him over. "For someone who had such a brilliant trap you seem very sick."

by **Arcana** September 1st 2013, 3:23 am

”Calling me lost would suggest I do not know where I am going.” He said as the dizziness passed, and his balances returned to him. If only he had that life energy, the killing would not be necessary, and his humanity would not continue to rakes its claws into his soul. He didn't want to kill the girl, it would be a pointless death that would feed an endless hunger, one that perhaps had no end to it. ”Who is to say I was not sick to begin with? Addiction is a terrible thing, though you don't seem like you would have any idea about that, would you?” Sean questioned flexing his fingers, forming tight fists as he made sure his body was working.

by **Artemis** September 4th 2013, 5:05 pm

Artemis walked around the boy some more before pulling herself up onto a small wall near by. She sat there and continued to look at the boy. "Well then where are you going if you are not lost? I doubt it's very far in your condition." The boy had made a fist but let it go, was his body not working right? Or was he just debating on when to attack her. "So pup do you have a name? Or whatever 'modern' humans call it?" The boy mentioned something called addiction. She had no idea what it was. "I am not used to that word, Ad-dac-on?" She continued to say the new word over and over, turning it around in her mouth, saying it different ways to match how the boy just said it.

by **Arcana** September 5th 2013, 5:13 pm

The girl was mocking him, but perhaps he was asking for it, seeing as he mocked a child of the wild as he did. There was either a certain simplicity about her, or she was mocking him with each question and action. ”I do have a name...its Sean.” he let out a sigh, as more of the dark mist came from his mouth and saturated the air. It was light, but the concrete beneath him was becoming black with decay and cracking slightly, though that was mostly because his energy was running amok, and concrete had no life force to resist his power. She was truly wild, if she did not understand addiction, a curse that humans constantly had ”Add....ic...tion. And be happy you aren't use to it.”

by **Artemis** September 9th 2013, 6:35 pm

"Sean... that is a weird name." said Artemis. "Well Sean, care to explain what addition is?" Artemis pushed herself off the wall and walked back over to the boy. He still didn't seem one hundred percent but he did look a bit better, although not by much. He let out another puff of that foul smell smoke and Artemis cringed. "I thought you weren't going to do that any more."

by **Arcana** September 12th 2013, 8:15 pm

So his name was weird, was it? ”Once again, it addiction, not addition, though I doubt you know what addition is either.” He reaction to his expelling more of his Nether annoyed him, perhaps since she acted like someone would react to another person expelling waste in front of them. ”As I said, addiction is a terrible thing. Its like.... a hunger that will never be satisfied, no matter how much you consume. In fact, the more you consume, the more you need to until you end up destroying yourself, but you do it because fulfilling that hunger is the most blissful thing you will ever feel.” If she understood what he said or not, did not matter. ”And I cannot stop it, like you cannot stop pissing when your bladder is full.” he added with a wry smirk. ”Now I have other places to be, and someone i'm expecting. So unless you have something else you want to...ask.” Part of him found the inquiries entertaining, and at the same time annoying.

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