Frozen Feelings

[Guest]

A small sigh left the man's lips as he started to finish his daily routine within the Jolly Roger. He started to wipe down the tables first, using a cloth to move the dust off of the surfaces and into the air, making sure that when he was done, the smooth and polished surfaces were nice and clean, with no dust left on them. Just to make sure, he knelt down and slid a finger across, not seeing any lines made each time. There were fifteen tables in the Jolly Roger, you know? So he had to clean fifteen tables, each like this. Each table took five minutes of work, so it took him a lot of time to clean each of these tables. Seventy-five minutes, or an hour and a quarter of work, just to do the tables. Then, Karis would move onto the bar. When he reached the bar, he would start to wipe it; up and down, up and down. There was a good ten minutes of work just on the bar, and when he had finished that, he would wipe his forehead, and look up at the time. This story starts just as Karis finishes his daily closing routine at the Jolly Roger, at approximately seven o'clock at night. Now, the Jolly Roger didn't close until eight, but this hour rarely had any customers, so Karis could relax.

Walking around the bar, the man proceeded to approach the back room and press a fingerprint-activated button on the side wall, and then enter in a code on a keypad that appeared. He smiled softly as the hidden door opened, and before him was the room. He stepped inside, and started to look around; there were guns, other weapons, and everything under the sun that the one known as "walking armory" would possibly need. He laughed at this thought, before turning out of the room and shutting it behind him. His mind then traveled back to thoughts of the past, and the rather short time it had been since he'd been returned back to the world of the living. Well, it is said to be short, but it was a rather long time, a couple of months. But that was also a rather short time, if one compared it to the time that a human spends alive. He'd missed many years of his life, and to come back into this world was a rather interesting experience, to say the least.

His brother, Celesto, had brought him back. And he appreciated that no end, of course. But he never really saw the complete picture of the world. He felt like he was alive, but he didn't feel human, as much as he willed himself to feel that way. In fact, he felt more shadow than human. What was it? The man's mind had always been filled with questions like that, asking himself what it would take to become fully human again. He had the body, and the emotions... but nobody to love. He gave a dry chuckle at this thought. He had Celesto, and Euphemia, but nobody to love. Nobody that he could call his. These thoughts were flooding Karis' mind as he returned to the main room of the cafe, and just sat down in case a customer arrived for a late snack.

Maybe... that was it?

[Guest]

I had been a bit rud, I must of admit. The last time I was in the Jolly Roger, I escaped by climbing out the bathroom window. At the time, things were happening too fast. I wasn’t able to think clearly, and I felt like the world was pressing down on my shoulders. Funny thing is, the last time I felt like this was by my mother. Growing up, she always dreamt of me becoming a doctor, making a profession that would lead me to become wealthy. I felt pressured by her so many times in high school that I use to escape by climbing out my window and down the large tree. I must admit, I’m a bit of a pro at escaping.

I found myself standing outside the small café, staring through the windows like a creep. I found him there, washing the tables and finishing his closing duties. I don’t know why I just stood there for so long, but I couldn’t make myself walk inside. I felt a connection with him instantly, but I had Celes to think about. Why did things like this always happen to me? Honestly, I always find myself in dumb situations. I released a small sigh when I watched him leave the room. Karis was quite attractive really, but I’m always so reserved when it comes to expressing my emotions.

Time took forever it felt like. I kept waiting and waiting for him to return to the front of the Jolly Roger. Finally, there he was. He sat down and waiting for something, but what? My body moved without me telling it, slowly, but it did. Next thing I knew I found myself approaching the blond fellow silent. My eyes never broke contact away from his. I pulled out the chair, and sat down across from him at the table.

“I, I was wondering if you’d like some company for the last bit of work?” I suggested with a faint chuckle and scratched the back of my head out of slight embarrassment.

[Guest]

Hnn? The familiar sound of the door opening caused the man to turn his head slightly, looking over towards the door with a slightly reserved gaze emanating from the blue orbs that melded into his face. He placed a single hand onto the table, waiting to see if anyone approached from the door, but... there was nobody there. Karis couldn't see anyone, and that confused him, for he was sure that the door had opened. He blinked a couple of times, and tilted his head to the side, reaching up a pale hand and rubbing the back of his head. Hm? He shook his head a couple of times and returned his gaze across the table, his eyes met by another pair of blue eyes, and a blue hair-style. That... almost gave him a heart attack. He didn't open his mouth to speak, yet continued to stare with a blank look in his eyes, trying to avoid showing any kind of emotion.

“I, I was wondering if you’d like some company for the last bit of work?” Karis didn't speak. He was, to be quite frank, speechless by the suddenness of this man's offer. Not taking his eyes off of Devorin's face, Karis simply nodded twice, and placed his fingers onto the table, tapping out a small beat for a couple of seconds. He still wasn't sure how he felt about this man. His closeness to Celesto bothered Karis ever-so-slightly, but there was also something else there. He tilted his head to the side, studying the man's face before leaning in closer, finally opening his mouth and speaking in quiet and dulcet tones, the sound of his voice sliding across the table and breaking the silence that was between them.

"Company would be appreciated, yes. I rarely get customers this late at night, when it gets so dark here in North City." He proffered a rather kind smile to Devorin, before leaning back to sit in his seat with a small yawn. He slowly and deliberately stretched out, tilting his head to the side again and closing the blue eyes carefully for but a second. That second passed, and he opened his eyes again, opening his mouth again.

"Is there anything..." A short pause, as Karis thought his next few words over carefully, "That you wanted to talk about, Devorin?" He gave a calm and curious look, wonderment shining in the backs of the blue.

[Guest]

"Is there anything.....That you wanted to talk about, Devorin?"

Of course there were things I wanted to talk about. I opened my mouth to respond but nothing came out. It was like my throat closed itself up and attempted to keep my body from responding. I swear, there are so many times I feel trapped within my own body. This hideous body that I was born into. My right hand slowly rises up and strokes the firm bone on my cheek, as I sat in silences attempting to calm my nerves. My firm gaze couldn’t break away from his curiosity arising. At that moment I was in angry. I couldn't read him, there was something about him I couldn't put my finger on. He was a book of mystery that had many pages to read. Though, growing up I always did enjoy reading a great novel. Especially science fiction. Mermaids and pirates were always amusing, but I think my favorite was Alice in Wonderland. I have always dreamed of going to wonderland for a day, just to get lost from this awful world we call home. Before I knew it, my body just blurted out something I didn't think.

“I just wanted to apologize from bailing earlier. I kind of just left without saying farewell to anyone.” Surprising I didn’t stutter, maybe my body isn’t as helpless as I thought. I lean back in my chair, dropping my right hand from my bone cheek. It was a peaceful night, and I was happy that it was just Karis and I right now. The tables were empty, the room was cleaned, and all there was left was time ticking away. Second by second the hands on the clock went, and it left us to look awkwardly away from his glance. My eyes wonder around the room for a brief moment, before catching the sight of a pair of crystal blue ones looking at me.


“You know, for a guy, you have some really stunning eyes..” My mouth released without my knowledge. I could feel my cheeks burning a bright red, and it was obvious I was blushing. I break the gaze and look towards my hands that were now resting in my lap. Stupid. So stupid. I hate my big fat mouth at times.

[Guest]

His eyes were carefully studying the face of the other man, watching carefully through the glasses as the hand was raised to touch the bone on his cheek. That was a strange bone, really. One that he'd never... understood. He'd never understood it, but it had always entranced him. Just like the hair, the eyes, the makeup. It was always entrancing to this man, even though they'd only met one other time. He felt himself blushing softly, not really noticing it for a good second or too, the color then choosing to fade the moment the other man began to speak once more.

“I just wanted to apologize from bailing earlier. I kind of just left without saying farewell to anyone.” E...to? The man shifted his gaze from the bone to the eyes, staring through the glass for a single second, before blinking in confusion. He left? Oh, that's right. He'd asked to go to the bathroom, and then snuck out through the window. Karis raised a hand to his mouth and laughed softly, tilting his head to the side and giving a kind and sincere smile. His eyes remained closed and kind for a single second, but snapped open suddenly from the next statement that came.

“You know, for a guy, you have some really stunning eyes..”

"..."

BA-THUMP. The sound of his heart making a heavy beat in his chest dropped him from his stupor of kindness. He felt his face going red. Yeah, he was blushing. No hiding it, he was blushing to the maximum. The man in front of him lowered his gaze to his hands, and Karis could only look away too, as if this was now the most awkward moment in the world. But... was it? He slowly turned his head back to Grimm, and gave him a kindly smile again, even with the red on his face framing his features.

"Thanks, Devorin. That... I have rarely received a compliment like that from anyone," He chuckled nervously with the rest of this statement, "Let alone a guy... not that I mind." He looked back over Grimm's features for a half-second, and then spoke once more. "That said... I find that your..." He swallowed, making a loud 'gulp' sound, "Eyes are rather entrancing as well.." He closed his own slightly, taking the glasses off of his face and placing them onto the table with a soft sigh. Had he really just said that?!

[Guest]

I felt defeated as soon as the words escape my lips. I sunk my face down into my palms, awaiting the embarrassment that would arise from the situation. I took a couple of deep breaths thinking of the easiest way to escape. Next thing I knew, my hands were gripping the bottom on my chair, awaiting the moment to flee. I knew he would laugh, who wouldn't? I mean, why would Karis even take a second look at me?

"..." The room was completely silent for what seemed eternity.

"That said... I find that your..." He paused before continuing "Eyes are rather entrancing as well.."

His words flew at me like a ton of breaks, smacking me straight in the face. He actually thought my eyes were entrancing... or was it he was just using it as a cover up? I'm not stupid, I know he's seen my cheek bone, who in this world hadn't? After all, it's just standing there for the world to glare, to judge and to avoid.

"Honestly, that's not what I expected to hear, Karis." My words echoed from my brain and out of my mouth. I gave a faint chuckle before scratching the back of my head with my left hand. "I thought you would for sure say something about this-" I raise my right hand up to my bone cheek and waiting for his response.

My mind was rushing from East to West in a matter of seconds. My heart was beating like a large drum, waiting to escape the chambers keeping it tucked away. Karis was so attractive, my mouth was craving him. All of him. I hate this. I'm so stupid, I kept repeating to myself in a matter of seconds. Why? Why? Why?

[Guest]

The tension hung over them. Karis could feel it building up in the air, but he tried not to make any sudden movements. He was worried, you know. Worried about all of it. Worried that, if he did something wrong here, that man in front of him would call him an idiot, or something stupid. He didn't want to be insulted. He didn't like being insulted... If this man insulted him, he wouldn't be able to take it. With a soft sigh, Karis reached up a hand and scratched the side of his head, blue eyes studying the ground over somewhere. That was a good patch of ground. A very good patch of ground. Gooooooooood gr--

"Honestly, that's not what I expected to hear, Karis." Hnn? His eyes snapped away from the ground, looking back up at Grimm for a few seconds of wonder... What did he mean, not what he expected to hear? That in itself... was not what Karis had expected to hear. Most people appreciated praise of their looks, right? Yeah, that was right. Praise... was key in this world...

"I thought you would for sure say something about this-" A hand motioned to the cheek bone. Oh, that... He shook his head and gave a small laugh. That wasn't anything he had really taken notice of. Not sounding mean, or anything like that, but it wasn't something he cared about. It didn't detract from Devorin's appearance, and it certainly didn't make anything worse about him as a person. It looked more like... a patch. Hiding away scars of the past, almost. That's what it looked like to Karis. The man sighed and stood up, turning away from Grimm for a second, looking over at the wall.

"It's okay... we all have things we're hiding." He reached up to his jacket, and slid it off of his shoulders, placing it onto the table neatly with a soft chuckle. Next came the brown coat, sliding down his form with the undershirt, revealing what would be assumed to be smooth, pale flesh.

Instead, weapons lined his body. A knife here, a pistol there. A bo staff was on one of his inner arms, and one would wonder exactly how Karis carried them all without making any noise. It was strange, to be most certain. With a soft laugh, Karis Krow shook his head and turned blue eyes back towards Grimm with a small smile framing his lips.

"I am covered with weapons. The 'Walking Armory'. These weapons hide my body, you know. Because... I don't even know if it's mine. This is how I look now, but what if I hadn't died? What if I had lived? I... would... could look different." He closed his eyes and pursed his lips a mite, chuckling internally to himself.

[Guest]

I leaned back in my chair after dropping my hand from my cheek. If I was able to be that blunt with that, then I guess I'd be able to talk about almost anything, eh? I thought to myself that I was being childish and that I should just stop over thinking things like I normally do. I just wanted to hear him talk more and more, but the seconds were turning into hours and I began burning for his voice.

"It's okay... we all have things we're hiding." He said as he stood up and appeared to be UNDRESSING himself!?!?! My eyes flashed away, but I couldn't help but continue to stare. He was so entrancing, I had to keep looking.

"I am covered with weapons. The 'Walking Armory'. These weapons hide my body, you know. Because... I don't even know if it's mine. This is how I look now, but what if I hadn't died? What if I had lived? I... would... could look different." My eyes were glaring at his body, and all the weapons lining his flesh like covering. I stared hard and firm, because I was confused. He was hiding his past just as much as I was, yet it was so simple for him to reveal it. Then it hit me, he said something about living and would he look different... That could only mean one thing. The Gate. My eyes snap away and I shook my head and stood up quickly. Before I knew it, I had lunged across the table and embraced him in a tight hug.

"Karis." My voice was calm and collected as I took a step back and scooted a couple feet away. "Wh-what do you mean? Have you seen..." My voice trails off because I couldn't come up with the words to say it.

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