A Rose and its Clippers

[Sai]

Sai nodded, then stood. He collected the book and the papers and tucked them under his arm while his free hand lifted the hat to his head and slipped it back on. He looked to the woman, then down to her hand. A moment passed, but he lowered his hand and shook politely. "I'm sure I will..." he said simply, though how much this meant was yet to be determined.

He turned from the woman now, going to the door. However, he paused there, then looked over his shoulder. "Be mindful of the darkness, General Beatrix..." he warned as kindly as he could. "I know currently I would have no feelings on the matter one way or another... but I also know in another life, I would have been devastated to hear that you met the same fate I have..."

Not another word passed his lips. He stepped through the door and out into the hall. He walked along, asking as to Lilith's whereabouts from various Soldiers, all of which pointed him toward the cargo hold, as they had for Abigail. He made his way there, passing Lady Agrias without really a word to her.

He entered the cargo hold, looking around. Spotting them was easy with all the commotion. Walking up, he looked at the group with a raised eyebrow. "Problems?" he asked, then looked to Lilith, who was clearly hungry. He rolled up his sleeve and offered it, not seeming to care. "A temporary fix, if nothing else..." he said to Abigail, explaining his action.

"Anyway... Lilith..." he would say to the vampire, whether or not she drank. "General Beatrix wishes to speak with you once you're able..."

[Lilith]

Lilith sprang on the bare arm, breaking the grasp of her helpers, she dug her fangs into the bare flesh much more ferociously than last time.
she drank for quite a long time she must have drained a lot of blood.
she stood back up and flexed her body and licked her lips as her eyes returned to their usual crimson.
she looked around to see Abigail and the two soldiers, she looked a bit shocked.
"oh crap... I didn't hurt anyone did I?"

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]Be mindful of the darkness... She nodded her head to Sai and smiled. "Thank you, Gentle Nobody, for such kind words...I have been attempting to tell myself just that of late, but to no avail." And as he left the room she sat down, but was given no room between to rest, as a panicked knock soon boomed on her door.

She grumbled under her breath and assumed this should be Lilith, and tucked back a strand of hair before standing up and walking to greet.

When she opened the door she stared directly at Private Ria Maye.

"Oh, hello, Private Maye. What can I do for you? Is everything all right? You look flustered; why don't you come in and sit down. There is a bowl of cold water and a wash cloth on the table beside my vanity over there. Soak your face."

She smiled, stepping out of the way for Ria to cross the threshold. "Have you seen a Miss Lilith? I'm awaiting her arrival here."[/glow]

[The Alexandrian Army]

Ria panted, standing straight up the moment the general opened the door, saluting her and holding her breath to seem alright, "General Beatrix!" she spoke strongly, showing the woman great respect, "Your assistance is most needed, we don't know what to do..."

Private Maye calmed down, to be less alarming, "Miss Agrias Oaks woke up, and since, she has been working around the ship pulling on large pieces of debris and wood-- She finished cleaning and re-patching and painting the hallway of the Medic wing and main deck-- all in just two hours nonstop! Almost all by herself!" she took a breath before continuing, "Private Maara Kinley is with her right now, we were able to convince her to take a five minute break, and you know what she said?? She said "as you wish," and we weren't commanding her at all! We believe something is wrong with her...she's so distant."

The woman reached up to rub a little at her helm, trying to remember what else, " We tried to find the doctor, but I think she is busy... some said they saw her head to Lilith's whereabouts ... at the Cargo Hold, I think. What are your orders, General Beatrix?"

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Things... tended to happen rather quickly for poor Abigail. One moment, she was dealing with an emergancy and the next, everything was a-okay again! She sighed, shaking her head a little to Lilith as she came around.

"No, sweetheart, you didn't hurt a soul... Though, I still want to get you down to the Medical wing so we can come up with a strategy for when something like this happens again..." She blinked then, looking over to Sai after he spoke. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head a bit. "But, it looks like you've got other things to deal with right now. When you're done, get some rest, please? Tomorrow, we'll talk... about this and that slap you gave me..." she rubbed her cheek a little, then shrugged, nodding to everyone as she passed.

She sighed, wanting nothing more than to get to bed... however, on her way to her quarters, she stopped and looked to Maara who was standing at Agrias' quarters... She blinked and walked over. "What's going on h-" she started, but stopped as soon as she realized the knight was out and about. She gasped, then pushed her way past the soldier and went to her.

"Agrias??" she asked, reaching up to wave a hand in front of her face. "What are you doing up right now?? Sweetheart, you need your rest!" She reached down to shut the water off and pulled a little at the soaked woman's arm, getting a bit wet herself.

"Come on... let's get you to bed..."

[Sai]

Sai nodded once more, then rolled his sleeve back up. His vision was somewhat blurry from lack of oxygen reaching his brain through the bloodstream, but he wouldn't show it. He knew the power of perception, and so long as the vampire perceived him as a viable food source, she would continue to come to him rather than attack others. Last thing this ship needed, with three holy knights itching to prove themselves, was an out of control vampire.

He didn't field dress it right now. There was too much on his mind. He watched as Abigail left, then looked to Lilith. "General Beatrix is in her suite near the front of the ship. I suggest getting through your interview quickly, then following the White Mage's orders..." With that, he turned away from her and walked out into the hall.

Without anyone around to see it, he stumbled into the wall, gripping at a lighting fixture. He took a breath, then stood up and checked his pulse. He was obviously still living, but operating heavy machinery would not be the most ideal thing to do at the moment. Good thing he was going to the lab to do some computer work...

He made his way there, fumbling every once in a while, though never in the presence of anyone that would report his odd, almost intoxicated-looking stroll. He finally got there, and opened the door.

"Daphne?" he asked, spotting the woman the second he looked up. He held a hand to his head, the dizziness getting to him before he made his way in and flopped into a chair. The book he had been carrying was dropped unceremoniously onto the nearby desk and he shook his head a little. The arm that had been bitten fell to his side, a few trickles of crimson dripping from his fingertips.

"Oh... right..." he muttered, noticing his injury. "I should address that..."

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix listened until she heard Agrias' name.

"She is awake!?" The general moved back over to her desk and sat down, spinning her chair to aim the wall behind, where above nailed in was a portrait of the queen. She pulled out the iPod from her breast pocket and whispered "Show me Agrias," before the girl's image appeared on-screen.

She was...fully-clothed, yet showering, her arm being grabbed by Abby. It didn't seem as if the knight was too into resisting, so Beatrix merely said "Oh..." and turned back around, glancing into the window and then up to Ria.

"Lady Abigail is with Miss Agrias currently, Private Maye; you may go back and act as support for the good white mage."

And when the soldier left the room she turned back to the iPod, and obsessively watched Agrias, confused at her forlorn expression.[/glow]

[Agrias Oaks]

The knight blew a soft warm breath against the icy waters, releasing a bit of mist as she breathed out before breathing in again, the contrast was that vast. She did not shiver, nor she did complain when the water was turned off. Her eyes slowly rolled to meet with the White Mage's blue hues, blinking once, looking rather exhausted. . .

"Sleep..?" she would ask, after the woman raised her concerns ,"Nay, there is much to be done..."

When she was pulled out of the shower, she continued to drip, her body cold, yet it did not shiver- so disconnected, she was. She dully followed and allowed Abigail to drag her to her room, where she would be dried, and changed to a warm set of white pajamas. Whenever she looked into the mirror, she would stare for moments on end, looking disgusted by what she saw.

"... I thank you, Lady Abigail... " she whispered, reaching up grab at her arm, looking feminine for once. She pulled her stare away to watch the mage and give her a soft smile, "...though this is all unessesary... many others, I'm sure, need your assistance more than I... and you need your own rest, dear friend..."

Agrias was about to reach over, but paused before letting her own hand dropped numbly to her side once more, " Please... worry not for this simple knight. I will go to bed, as you ordered. Please, care of yourself first. "

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]As she watched, Beatrix frowned, staring deeply into her sad love's eyes. As the woman was put into her bed the general looked quickly across the room where Agrias' usually brilliantly-shining aura glowing about her armor had gone out. She raised and eyebrow and gazed back into the iPod.

She knew the stubborness of her compatriot--her confidant--and understood that Agrias would sleep naught.

A thought soon came to her, and she felt like a drug-user for it and shook her head, disgusted. The dark powers in her told her to compel the woman to sleep, if not for herself, then for Beatrix' selfish need to see her rested. She conjured a ball of black light--unsure how that was possible--and let it fly, where it disappeared, most likely diving into Lady Agrias' mind.

Sleep, Lady Agrias, Beatrix willed, gazing into the iPod to survey her dark spell's effect. Sleep now and wash away your sorrows in sleep...rest, my love.[/glow]

[Agrias Oaks]

"Ugn...!" Agrias seemed to complain a moment, before remaining quiet, holding gently at her head. Slowly, she wobbled over to the bed, her eyes distant again, wide open, seeming like full moons. She didn't seem at all there anymore, as she crawled tiredly into the bed, almost as if commanded... forced.

When over the pillow, her body collapsed and she fell onto the soft cushion underneath, her eyes trying to catch up with the actions, and her mind already jumping QUICKLY to REM sleep. Her eyes began to slowly close, as they didn't even have time to properly close in the begining.

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]Good, thought Beatrix before turning off the iPod and returning it to her pocket. When she remembered that Private Maye was still in the room she looked distantly over to her and waved her hand to send her away.

"You may go now, Private. And please forget what you just saw. A polite order, but an order all the same."[/glow]

[The Alexandrian Army]

Ria stood there, baffled at Beatrix' actions... the darkness was slowly growing within the General again, and it was worrisome. Still, the Tuscan haired woman had nothing to fear, for the one who saw was one of her most loyal of Alexandrian Soldiers. Private Maye saluted the General, "Saw what, My Captain?" she would ask, before turning to leave.

'Hup two three four...' the soldier marched, returning again to her Scout duties about the ship... It had been a rather eventful night in the end.

[The Alexandrian Army]

Daphne was lost in her work for a while, the "tap tap tap tap" of her computer the loudest sound in the room next to the engine's fan. She was surfing through files on all records of known sightings, possessions, and locations of any form of HeartSteele. She fell on only one result, and saved it for later, when Sai showed up.

Not a hacker by nature, Daphne Winters normally wouldn't delve this deep into her work without authorization. At the start of her career in using computers--which was some time after they left Alexandria--she had grown fond of cracking, simply for the fun of it, but never abused her privelages and prowess.

"Daphne?"

Sai? the woman thought, and turned in her seat, and almost fell over, but held herself on the spinning chair by quickly grabbing the desk. She shot up and moved hastily over to the man, and grinned--a rare sight unless she was mocking someone due to stupidity or stumbled upon something fantastic--happy to see him. Of course that soon faded when she saw the man bleeding.

"Oh my, a-are you all right?" she said, truly concerned for the man. "You need to be healed..."

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix nodded to Ria as she left and stood up, walking over to the armor splayed across the middle of the floor. Kneeling, she picked the pieces up indivually and moved them over to a chair nearby, and stacked them neatly. She knelt before the chair and rested her hand on the cold metal, and thought to herself, confused at why this holy armor no longer glowed.

When she stood up she walked over to her bed, exhausted, and just lay above the covers on her back, pulling some freshly tossed rose petals close to her, basking in the comfort until Lilith arrived. Until then, she would doze. The cool bed was refreshing, to say the least, and the feeling of landing on a bed that had been made previously was exciting. She loved doing this each night.

Unstrapping her eyepatch, she took it off and set it aside, her scarred right eye still unable to open, the long vertical streak cut deep from forehead to cheek. The ages-old battle with the mighty Iron-Tail Frately. Her first-ever true battle injury.

She rubbed her face in the petals and smiled. She took a handful and tossed them into the air, where they, like the black sphere of energy, disappeared, moving to Agrias' room, where they would appear above the knight's bed, duplicate to a thousand, and bathe her in their velvet touch and sweet scent.

"Goodnight, Lady Agrias."[/glow]

[Lilith]

Lilith listened to Sai and Abigail's words.
"okay then... thanks, both of you"
she ran out the door and found Beatrix's room and knocked at the door, she wasn't nervous in the slightest, she could easily best any soldier on the ship and be more than a match for some of the 'characters' as well, she was the fastest the stealthiest and her senses were perfect.
"I've got this in the bag..."
she grinned to herself in anticipation.