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InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on January 24, 2018 at 21:58

Two weeks, fourteen day and more hours than Orion would like to count, that had been how long it had been since he had seen or hear from Sariah. She told him to heal and that was what he had mostly tried to focus on but the fall out of having to deal with Elijah’s pack who wouldn’t bow was making his life difficult to say the least. Despite the added stress broken bones were now healed and the deep lacerations were now nothing but puckered scars. There was still a slight limp to his step but you had to be looking pretty closely to see it. The Therian however was lucky since if he had been human he would have died and even if he had survived he would have been stuck on bed rest in some hospital for at least a month in need of physical therapy after.

There were many positives with his speedy recovered but it meant he had very little time to think of things with Sariah which was probably for the best but the more he tried not to think of her the more she came to mind. Of course that lead him to his latest idea which did have him calling her but instead of it being for personal reasons he took the professional approach unsure of she had taken enough time to consider things. Besides if he claimed it was for the city an Ambassador business she was more likely to give him an audience.

Even though Sariah thought he hadn’t been listening prior to facing Elijah, he really had been which was why he wanted to find another way to deal with the remaining stubborn pack. Maybe some of them did deserve to die but that wasn’t his call to make and he didn’t want to shed anymore blood in a city which had a very unsteady peace. On top of that he was trying his best to keep the full force of the other factions from coming down on him and those Therians who were innocent in the matters at hand. Elijah had been far from innocent but Orion needed a way to sort this before more innocents suffered. That was where Sariah and The Organization came into play, Project X was probably the only thing that was going to safe him and those under him.

Krystal had jested that Orion only wanted to see Sariah again which was true but this time there was far more to it. Wearing a pair of white jeans, a gray cotton shirt, paired with a black blazer and polished black oxfords. His style was often a mix of business casual especially when it was business he was meant to meet about. Checking the Timex tactical watch, a gift from his son on his last birthday. He still had a small amount of time before his meeting was set and surely he shouldn’t care so much about his appearance but he needed Sariah to believe he was fine and for the most part he was.

Making sure he had his wallet, phone and keys he headed out of his house to the bronze Hyundai Elantra waiting in the drive, it was far from fancy but he wasn’t a man who cared about health or excess and it served it’s purpose. Getting in he started the engine and began the familiar drive towards The Organization’s headquarters the radio playing 80s rock on low since he wasn’t playing much if any attention to it anyway. He turned up the volume as a traffic update came over the radio and small groan left his lips since it would add a bit to drive, traffic slowing exactly where the report said.

By the time he pulled into the parking lot he had only a few minutes to spare which made him feel like as if he were rushing as he turned off the engine and quickly exited the car, closing and locking the door behind him. The therian made quick work of the distance between the lot and the building, his long legs eating up the distance as he pushed the main door of the building looking far more clam than he felt inside. Orion had to mentally talk himself down as he glanced at his watch, he still wasn’t late so it was fine he could relax, being late was a pet peeve of his and so he tried to always be early. His crystalline eyes moved to the main desk and a small sigh of relief left him at seeing Sariah already waiting since it was the first time he wasn’t going to have an issue with gaining entrance.

A small smile pulled at his lips at seeing Sariah, she looked well and he had to remind himself this was business, sure it was a bit more as well but business first. “Sorry if I kept you waiting Miss Holloway, traffic was worse than anticipated.” Honestly he didn’t know why he continued the formal greetings when he was sure everyone had already caught onto the fact that there was more between them than what met the eyes.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Sariah Amelie Holloway ~Admin~ on January 26, 2018 at 8:36

Sariah wasn't exactly the most patient of people, or rather, she didn't like the feeling of waiting, not because she expected people to run to her every whim like some, but because she often didn't know what to do when she was waiting, it wasn't like she could simply just go away and come back later. Of course that feeling of nerves in the pit of her stomach did nothing to help her either, she felt the strange urge to pace up and down the office entrance floor but she refrained knowing that there were enough awkward behaviors she gave off around Orion to add to the portfolio of embarrassment already.

Instead she pulled out her phone and opened her emails scanning through them slowly, a lot of people told Sariah she was a workaholic and she guessed they were right, though right now her eyes were looking at the words on the screen but not really taking them in, her mind instead thinking about Orion, she had 2 full weeks to think over where she stood and she thought she knew what she wanted to say but she knew the instant he walked through that door anything she had planned was going to fly away like a bird. Much to her relief however, all of that would need to wait because project X was the reason for this visit and she wasn't going to allow herself to be distracted from it.

She had spotting his frame approaching before he had spotted her, reaching into the pockets of her smart looking black and white striped dress she left her phone at rest before running a hand through her ponytail to smooth it into place. Sariah wasn't normally one of those girls who fussed a lot about her looks, she did after all wear glasses and tie her hair back out of her face because it annoyed her most days but part of her wanted to make a little more effort than usual today, which made her curse herself for acting like a young teenager trying to impress their first crush at school.

Rolling her eyes at her own thoughts she stepped forward to meet Orion halfway in the hall, as she did so her eyes naturally trailed over him to search for any signs that his healing hadn't been anything but smooth, after 2 weeks she expected most everything to be as it should, with perhaps a few lingering affects on balance. Much to her relief she noted that he looked well, in fact it seemed like he had made an effort to look the part too. The blonde bit gently on her lip and shook her head, now probably wasn't the best time to be thinking about how handsome he looked. "Mr Valkyrie, you're looking a lot more upright than the last time I saw you" she spoke and then mentally cursed herself for the double meaning that statement could probably have to those listening in.

Looking around for a moment she pulled herself together, despite the pull in her that wanted to throw her arms around him glad that he had healed and made a full recovery she instead offered out the visitor badge she had prepared for him "Full clearance for once" she teased with a half smirk before turning to head towards the door that headed down to the labs "I'll warn you before we step inside that there are going to be a lot of people at the organization invested in whatever happens today, hope you came prepared for a bit of a crowd" admittedly a lot of them were there just to get their own dig on the rumors about the human and therian ambassador but she figured that was probably best left quiet. 

Stepping through the door the blonde retrieved her usual lab coat from the rack and slipped it on over her shoulders, she then scanned the rack trying to figure out which one would fit Orion. After a little deliberation she choose one and took it down before offering it out to him "Did you need anything before we get started?" she asked meeting his eyes for a moment, as she did so she felt a little lurch in the pit of her chest which she did her best to hide, she hated how just his very presence seemed to send her into a nervous wreck and she hated even more that she couldn't even hide it because there was only so much you could do to control your natural reactions.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on January 28, 2018 at 15:17

It had been driven into Orion since birth that if you weren’t early then you were late. Which why he was always early except for today and leave it to him to be late on a day they actually had a scheduled meeting. Despite him being barely on time she seemed to have had a bit of anxiety. That probably stemmed from the eyes he could feel watching his ever move as he drew closer to Sariah. Apparently those of The Organization didn’t get enough drama in their reality tv shows, they looked to the real life people before them which was a bit frustrating to the Kitsune since he was a private person for the most part. That and he was born at a time when your business was your own and no one was going around tweeting it, favoriting it or reposting it. The age of technology had really changed the game and not for the better in his opinion.

The Kitsune noticed the subtle eye roll but he wasn’t sure if that was due to him or something else and now was far from the time to ask. When they were behind closed doors if he remembered then he would ask. The observant look in her eyes told him that she was assessing his physical health, he wouldn’t be running a marathon or be able to hold his own very well should another challenger arise but he was better than he had been. The scars around his throat were pale and almost unnoticeable now which was good since while it had been healing that was the one he knew was most painful for his children to see. As Sariah bit down on her lip he had to shift his focus or he was going to think about her lips and the brief moments of her lips against his. Orion almost made a comment about ice baths and laying in a tub but that would cause the rumor mill to go into overdrive. He has of course not been upright for other reasons than most would jump to. “I’m feeling much more upright and much more lively than the last time as well.”

Taking the offered badge he clipped it to the left breast pocket of his blazer so it was easily seen by security should anyone ask. It wasn’t the first time he was being entrusted with confidential information and he was well aware of how all this worked. Maybe not necessarily how it worked at the Organization but at other places. “Well don’t I feel special today.” The Alpha Kitsune couldn’t help but jest but he did feel like the alliance was taking a step in the right direction. Following where she leads he listened as she spoke and a knowing smile curved his lips, “Is that what’s causing everyone to gather?” Orion was sure that many were there for the reason Sariah stated but others were there for another episode of the Awkward Sariah and Orion show. The Therian was sure there would be many great episodes to come, but this might just be the best one yet, it was the episode Sariah and Orion Attempt to Keep it Professional. Since he was living it, he was sure it was going to be a doozy.

Mild amusement danced across his features as Sariah quickly and confidently retrieved her own lab coat and slide it on before seeming to have a moment of thought. Orion waited and licked his lips before squeezing them together in an attempt to hide his humorous smile. Taking the offered lab coat he pulled it on and it was a perfect fit, “Should I be worried you already know my size?” He inquired in a low barely audible tone of voice. “No, I haven’t a need for anything. I think it’s about time we give them what they’re waiting for.” It was a poor choice of words and he realized that after they had left his lips but he gave no physical indication of embarrassment or the likes. Being able to smell and almost feel Sariah’s nervousness made him want to reach out and take her hand for reassurance, to hold her but he knew those might not be welcomed actions whether they were at the Organization HQ or not. “Let’s get this show on the road before you throw up or pass out.” He said in a teasing tone trying to find someway to ease her nerves.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Sariah Amelie Holloway ~Admin~ on January 29, 2018 at 21:14

Sariah had never been the most subtle person when it came to her physical movements, in fact anyone who half knew her could pick up on most of her tells, the way she would push up her glasses when she was nervous or the twitch she got when she was angry, it was frustrating but she guessed it meant she could say a lot without having to find words, something she struggled to do without making herself sound insane for the most part. Orion however she found much harder to read, he was good at covering up his emotions and he was much better than her at the whole professional facade they had to keep up. “I’m glad” she answered clasping her hands together to make a soft clapping sound, she twitched a little in response to the muttering but shook it off with a gentle smile, that was a story she was going to keep soundly to herself.

Sariah chuckled gently in response to his comment and she shrugged with a slightly sarcastic ring to her voice “It really is amazing the wonders I can achieve when I have warning” she smirked a little, she was teasing of course but it was becoming a bit of a habit for them to meet in the lobby with the receptionist looking a little like a rabbit in the headlights, she supposed a therianthrope alpha had that effect. As they moved towards the door she heard his words and briefly peered over her shoulder at the people who were watching them as though they were some royal couple out on a public appearance, she frowned a little for a few seconds before letting it go, she didn’t owe her story to anyone. “It’s one of them I’m sure” she answered truthfully in a slightly hushed tone as to not have everyone listening in.

Most of the organization employees had their own lab coats, it seemed easier than having to try and find one in your size every time you came to the rack, Sariah had gotten her named stitched into the inside of hers but other than that, it looked pretty much like the others. After handing him the coat she narrowed her eyes debating her judgement before nodding softly, it was a perfect fit for him. Sariah laughed softly in response to his words but spoke a little louder than he had “My best friend in high school was a bit of a fashion obsessor and I’m a quick study” she admitted with a shrug, Sariah picked up all sorts of strange talents from the people around her, it was a lot of fun for her to learn new things.

What they were waiting for, the blonde fell silent upon those words pressing her lips together for a moment, of course he hadn’t meant it like that at all but the double meaning hung in the air just a little longer than was comfortable before it shifted, his next words causing her to shake her head a little a hint of a smile on her lips “Is it that obvious?” she asked almost rhetorically as she lead the way down the hall and through a various set of security measures designed to keep intruders out. The little crowd that had been following mostly dissipated as they moved forward and they realized their presence was a little in your face.

Reaching the room which had the letter X on the screen outside she walked over to the entry pad and pressed her finger against the reader whilst she turned to face Orion for a moment, her look was a sincere one, glad that he was okay and glad that he had called on her for this task “I have to admit I was a little surprised you called” she spoke it just as the door opened and she waited for him to step inside before following him through the door.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on January 31, 2018 at 6:02

It was odd to see someone so open in their facial reactions since Orion had learned to read body language and expressions during the same time period he had learned to fight. It was a skill which helped when determining if a vampire was a rogue or when they were just trying to live their lives the only way they could. Taking blood after all wasn’t the problem, murdering people for sport or food was the problem. Learning micro expressions and knowing how to read someone meant that you also learned to suppress those same expressions and mannerisms. At times Orion wished that he could show a little more emotion but the last things Therian’s wanted was an emotional Alpha. So Orion made sure what he was feeling wasn’t always on display though sometimes it was hard to hide it or he just didn’t want to. Currently he didn’t feel like adding fuel to the already building fire of rumors and stipulation. “You may be one of the very few with that outlook I’m sad to say.” There was a lot of rebuilding that still needed to be done within his faction but he needed to handle one situation at a time.

A genuine smile pulled at his lips, “Maybe I just find pleasure in catching you off guard when you haven’t had time to over analyze the situation.” Of course, he also knew it was not a position she liked to be in since it caused her to become a bit flustered but it cute. The receptionist was probably glad not to have to deal with him at all today since he was beginning to think Sariah might start tacking a fee onto his visits for therapy for those who had to work in reception. Truly it wasn’t his fault they just tended to catch him at the worst possible time. Though maybe if the receptionists relayed that info on to others they would stop staring and following his every move every time he came in. It would after all be nice not to have so many prying eyes and ears. “One of the top five? Or one of the top ten?” He mused trying to lighten the mood and get the blonde to relax a bit.

Coats, blazers, jackets and the likes were all items he had worn, a lab coat was not on that list. Chemistry had not been his strongest subject and science was something he had passed but not really excelled in so there was no need for a lab coat in those days. Orion had the feeling it was going to be a day of many firsts for all of them though and a lab coat was going to one of the smaller things to mark off the list. Glancing towards her his brow raised at her comment since it was another piece of the puzzle to put away for another time.

Realizing the awkward tension he had caused to fall between them the Kitsune cleared his throat and glanced over Sariah’s shoulder need to look anywhere but directly at her for the moment. Of course, as she spoke his eyes immediately returned to her expressive features. “About as obvious as those who were following us.” He had the feeling that not all of them had clearance for he was going to be shown or someone had told them to get back to work. Whatever the reasoning behind the dissipation was, he was grateful for it.

The gratitude was short lived as they arrived at their destination a less than subtle X on the screen but it wasn’t like it was in danger of being stumbled upon with such extensive security and being within The Organization HQ. The expression on Sariah’s face as she turned to look at him stopped him in his tracks and he could hear her speaking but it took his brain a moment to catch up which was not something he had experienced since high school. “You told me to find a better way and you ask me to give you time. What you didn’t tell me to do was fall off the edge of the earth so I figured I finally owed you that call.” He admitted as he stepped through the door towards a project a month ago he didn’t have the clearance to even fully hear about and now he was going to see it in person. The idea of anything that could hold someone with supernatural strength intrigued him far more than he had admitted up to this point. 

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Sariah Amelie Holloway ~Admin~ on February 5, 2018 at 18:10

A frown crossed the blonde’s expression in response to his words for a moment before a look of realization set in, she supposed that the other alphas probably wouldn’t have been too happy with Orion’s decision to let in a brand new person into the pack, she hadn’t met them herself but even she could imagine that at least one of them would oppose such a decision, after all it had caused all kinds of fall out, most of it pretty bad and still ongoing. “I guess there’s a never a decision in life that will please everyone” she answered candidly, she made questionable decisions all the time, including this very tricky and hard to navigate alliance “Can’t say it’s been plain sailing with the privy council for me either, sometimes I think people would rather see you fail” she nodded slightly, especially when you were a woman in a position of power.

Sariah purposely pulled a stern look in response to his words but an amused smile managed to escape it’s way through her serious demeanor “You wouldn’t be the only one” she answered and shrugged a little, she was an overthinker she supposed, knowledge was her form of power and when it was taken away from her she felt a little lost and worn down. Sariah was generally good at holding herself and if she rehearsed enough she could even work with public speaking, but catch her off guard and her mind would take over, spewing the first things that came to mind “Sometimes I think the office has a game where they try to make me say stupid things” she admitted with a voice just above a whisper.

“Definitely top ten” she answered with an amused grin “Like maybe a strong lucky seven” she added with a laugh “Though seven has never really been a lucky number for me, when I was little I lost on the spelling bee to a seven world letter and I’ve hated it since” she laughed gently realizing she was rambling to fill the time that they spent putting on their lab coats. Sariah naturally tended to look like she drowned in hers thanks to the fact she was slender and small but she also looked somewhat in her element, at her core she was a scientist, she always would be one.

Sariah laughed softly shaking her head a little, of course she looked like a nervous wreck, who wouldn’t when so much seemed to be riding on the next few hours “Well it’s only the fruition of 2 years worth of work paired with this totally not awkward thing” she raised her finger to point between the both of them and then gave a half smile “Nothing to be worried about right?” she didn’t sound all the convinced, if she was honest she was still confused and a little worried about it all but she was sure she would cope, as she did in most situations.

Sariah nodded in response to his words, he was right, she had very purposely made the decision not to close the door on him and while she had needed time to right her mind, she knew that it would be far from the last time she saw the therianthrope ambassador. “You know I thought about it for a while though right?” she had been very angry with the way he had handled the whole situation with Elijah, part of her still was, but the other part had eventually realized that any fear she had of the decisions he would make was far outweighed by the feeling of panic she had experienced when she was faced with the very real possibility of losing him.

There wasn’t time to say much more as the door to the room opened and a few waiting scientists stood looking proud as the two of them stepped into the room. Centered in it were three of the ten cells they had been working on, they were for the most part made from a fortified glass with small vents at the top. Through the vents they were able to pump different substances capable of inhibility many different supernatural abilities. “The cells themselves are designed to be universal but we’ve also implemented the ability for species specific preventative measures if necessary” just like that her vulnerable side was masked and the professional in her took over sweeping her arm out to invite Orion to investigate on his own accord.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on February 13, 2018 at 2:35

Orion wasn’t a man to dwell on his short comings or mistakes, you didn’t learn if you didn’t accept what you had done, learn from it and move on. To stay stuck in the past taught you nothing other than you had the inability to move on. Yes it had been a huge risk to allow Tansy in and he should have spoken with the other Alpha’s but that couldn’t be changed and he would do it again ten times over. “I’ve learned to stop trying to please everyone a long time ago which tends to get me into positions such as this.” There was a bit of a chuckle to his voice even though he did take it all very seriously. “Failing is easy Sariah, succeeding and making a better future, that’s hard but I believe it can be done. For every one person who only wishes to see your failure there are at least five silently urging you on. Some just don’t have the confidence to be as vocal as others, they’re the ones who look to you for strength.” There would always be those on both sides of the fence but you only wanted to listen to the positive side that was for sure.

It was always rather endearing when she tried to be stern with him when he teased her, it caused his smile to increase. “If it helps you do always cause me to forget my very well thought out talking points and tends to cause me to go off on tangents or make me forget what I even intended to say.” He felt no shame in admitting as much. Orion was not a forgetful or easy man to throw off track but Sariah seemed to achieve it so easily that it was almost frightening. “Given your smart mouth I doubt any of it’s actually stupid.” He said in a hushed whisper of support giving her a supportive smile as well.

A deep and rumbling chuckle left him which a stark contrast to his previous whisperings but he couldn’t help it. “Strong seven huh?” It was amazing how something as simple as a number could call forth a memory for Sariah and he did love to hear her little stories. “Sometimes you have to create your own luck and find your own lucky number. Can’t say seven has ever been much of a number that’s stood out to me.” Orion was about to enter Sariah’s world and he was all too aware of that and maybe inside he was a bit nervous but he was hiding it to the best of his abilities.

This was a huge deal, not just for Sariah and the human faction but for the city as a whole, they just didn’t realize it yet. More hours than Orion could even imagine had gone into this project because those working on it believed so strongly that it was necessary and Orion couldn’t disagree with that feeling, peace was a hard to forge but easy to break. “Totally not awkward seemed an adequate description if there ever was one. Everything’s already been set into motion, no need to worry now the chips will fall where they may.” Nothing could change what happened and whether it was a good or bad outcome it at least gave them something to work on and a starting point of sorts.

A small nod of his head was the only reaction he could think to give, the idea of being shut out by her was a rather terrifying one if he were being honest. Sariah was the one person he had shared more with than any other in this city in an emotional way. She knew more about him than he was comfortable telling must but he felt comfortable telling her. “Until this point it was more of a worst case scenario sort of thing in my head than a reality I wanted to face.” Sure he had a plan on how he would have handled that but it wasn’t a very good one and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stick to it.

Pride radiated on the faces of those in lab coats before him but he could smell the very faint scent of nervousness. If their positions were switched Orion surely would have been nervous as well knowing the hard work that you had spent years on would be tested, examined and in the end judged. Walking towards the cells he listened as Sariah spoke while taking in the design and the thick fortified glass. Reaching out he ran his hand over the cool glass, the idea that something which seemed as simple as glass, even the fortified kind could hold a supernatural was mind boggling. “Preventative measures such as wolfsbane or silver for Therianthropes, daystar for vampires.” It was the only thing he could think of that would weakened a therian enough not to transform and a kitsune’s tails were nearly unstoppable so they only way to negate them was to make sure they couldn’t use them.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Sariah Amelie Holloway ~Admin~ on February 19, 2018 at 23:18

Sariah returned the chuckle he made in regards to the decisions he made “Maybe one day I’ll get there too” she answered and shrugged a little, she was getting better at pushing forth her beliefs and agenda but it was still hard to infiltrate the council when they predated her and already had close relationships and opinions. His words of advice rang true to her, all she had ever wanted to do when she joined the organization was make the world a better place, especially in a city where there was a lot of us and them between the supernatural and the humans, of course she had her own personal reasons too, namely her best friend from high school’s death but regardless she was committed to the cause “That’s a very optimistic way to see it” she responded with a genuine smile, perhaps if she could retain that outlook herself then the things she was doing would feel more impactful.

Orion had a way of breaking through her serious demeanor with ease, the little things he did that tugged at her emotions the way she shouldn’t let him and yet she did because silently she did enjoy his little attempts at making her smile. She couldn’t help the smile that returned in response to his words, the very thought of being able to break any of Orion’s calm and collected impression was a feat to her. Running her hand through her hair she laughed “Well then I guess we both bring out the fools in each other” she admitted as she looked up at him for a moment, she wasn’t ashamed of the person she was around him and she hoped he wasn’t either. Sariah smirked a little as he spoke his words of encouragement, of course she was smart in an academic sense but when it came to social situations that was a whole different ball came “You’ve yet to see me drunk” she answered in the same hushed tone and winked before shaking her head a little.

It was lighthearted conversation, not touching the depths of all the things they had been through the past few weeks, it was almost impossible not to blurt out all the things that stirred around in her mind, the questions about how this could ever work, her need to understand his go it alone mentality and how they moved forward to a place where being two leaders of city factions could ever work in any kind of relationship. Tucking a wisp of hair that had escaped behind her ear she forced herself to focus on the topic in question “Twenty Four” she answered almost out of place since some silence had fallen over them “Twenty Four is my lucky number” she clarified and smiled softly.

Orion didn’t really know the first thing about what was hinging for her on project X, it had been her initiative, one that had taken months of negotiation and discussion to even get the signs off from the council to begin. Throughout the project there had been times when she wanted to just give up, from setback after setback it seemed like there wouldn’t be an end to the journey they were taking and often it made her wonder if what they were trying to achieve was even possible. Then had come the breakthroughs that finally took steps forward, enough to spur the team morale and to keep the work going until they had eventually made the final product. Of course they had limited exposure to real tests but they had paid some of the more willing members of Evermore’s supernatural population to try it and she had yet to see someone break the glass. “Thanks but I don’t think it’s gonna help this jittery feeling at all” she laughed and bounced on her toes fidgeting a little.

The worst case, Sariah had to think about walking away from, whatever it was that was developing between them for the sake of her own sanity, part of her was worried that he would never fully open up to her in the name of her safety, the problem was that the moment this became more than just a mutual crush it became a partnership and Sariah didn’t do well with relationships, she tended to suspect the worst in people and Orion had given her reason to doubt him which made things all the more precarious for her. “We can take it one step at a time” she answered with a gentle nod, he had taken the first step by calling her for help with this, the least she could do was meet him halfway.

Watching as Orion inspected the cells holding her breath as she did so, when he spoke she nodded gently but quickly followed it up “The glass is fortified with a certain chemical known and tested to inhibit many supernatural abilities, mostly those that come from the mind” she answered and tilted her head a little gauging his reactions “It’s non toxic and safe otherwise, we’re had many overnight and week long trials to prove that much” she added, the safety of those in the cells was always something at the forefront of her mind “As for the additional reinforcements” she collected two of the beakers from the bench and made her way over to Orion. “We found that from tests that we’re able to use chemical balance to make the effects of say, daystar or wolfsbane not exact pain but have the same effect on weakening the supernatural” she glanced down for a moment before she reached and took hold of his arm, she looked up at him for a moment trying to communicate that he could trust her.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on March 12, 2018 at 1:48

“It took years to come to that realization and some days I still try to least please the important people in my life with my choices but it doesn’t always work that way.” He stated calmly hinting at the fact that he take her opinions into account but he couldn’t always do as she wanted. It would be faster easier if he could and there wouldn’t be an ever growing rift between them but the past was not a force that could be changed. As she spoke of him having an optimistic view on something he almost laughed. “It’s just fact, even if the whole world seems to be against you there will always be those who understand and silently want you to succeed because you’re doing what they couldn’t. The motivations, believes and willingness to go all in are what makes men, women and armies follow one person or belief. You never know how many people you’ve affected or inspired until a single moment of truth. You have the internal strength to achieve anything you want if you keep at it, your stubborn and that’s a good thing…sometimes.” He mused softly with humor dancing in his eyes.

For some reason it was hard to keep thing professional and focused around Sariah but Orion didn’t really mind since she gave him a sense of ease even in drastic and dire situations. Maybe he did act like a teenage boy around her at times but he regretted nothing about it. “I think we bring out who we truly are. The world might see me as the gruff and calculating Therian Ambassador but I don’t want you to see me that way, it’s not all I am.” He admitted having never needed someone to see him as more than the façade he showed, until Sariah. After the night the night she blinded him he really had nothing to hide from her, she had seen his vulnerability and hadn’t made him feel weak for it, she had helped him when she could have left. That alone had spoken volumes for the sort of person she was. “Well you’ve seen me delirious so I’m feeling a bit cheated.” He said winking over at her.

Sure things were about to get serious and they weren’t going to be the people they truly were for a time, they were going to have to be the serious Ambassadors instead of just Orion and Sariah so this precious few minutes of ease would have to be enough for the time being. “Fifteen had been mine since high school, it was the number on my basketball jersey.” He responded back in a simple manner since it seemed rude to merely listen when she was willing to open up with even small details. One he made sure he would remember.   

It seemed unlikely much was going to help Sariah to shake her nervousness but she had said she’d been working on and focusing on this project for years which meant this was a huge deal for her. All of her work was being show cased and assessed, a project she had obviously placed her all into since she didn’t seem the sort of woman to give anything less. Orion had the feeling that was why she was so unsure about him and everything that had the potential to grow between them, she gave everything her all and somewhere along the lines some else hadn’t. He was sure that made her question him a lot especially after his fight with Elijah, one he hadn’t tried to find a better outcome for. “I’ll happily accept one step at a time.” Since even at that pace you were still moving forward and that was all he was asking for, a chance.

Listening as so spoke and explained the cells before him he was in awe, not being a man of science he would have thought the idea of what she and the Organization had created as science fiction instead of science. To a degree the abilities of almost all supernaturals came from their mind and mental state requiring focus. The change of a Therian was all mental since you had to will yourself to do so, it wasn’t a magical change as many believed. “It still doesn’t seem real to me.” Though it felt plenty real beneath his palm as he was tempted to want to test it. The problem with that was the simple and unknown fact that he was mildly claustrophobic and the idea of being locked in one of the cells caused fear to prickle at the base of his skull. As she spoke of them being nontoxic and safe a small sigh of relief left him, “Not to sound rude or offensive I just didn’t expect that step to have been taken and tested.” He really wasn’t trying to be rude but many times when it came to the safety of a species short cuts were taken which could be detrimental to others with inventions and devices such as this. That fact alone cause his fondness for the human Ambassador to grow since he was sure not everyone would have taken such steps or shared concerns over those matters.

Despite his careful inspection of the cells his ears were focused on exactly what Sariah was saying since it was important to him if he was going to place any species him own or other wise into cells like this. It would of course be a final alternative in his mind, used only when no other solution could be found. Looking at the beakers she brought over he listened carefully with his head slightly tilted. “You found a way to weaken without the unnecessary and painful natural effects?” There was disbelief in his tone, not because he didn’t believe she could do it but because of the simple fact that the Organization had. The affects of both daystar and wolfsbane were excruciating for the species they were a weakness to because they didn’t just weaken, they caused agony beyond any form of measurement. Both had been used as a form of torture for vampires and therians for centuries. The moment her hand rested on his arm his jaw clenched from the effort not to wrap his arms around her waist and hug her tight since she had no idea how something so small could mean so much to him.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Sariah Amelie Holloway ~Admin~ on March 20, 2018 at 16:29

His hint at what he was trying to get across wasn’t lost on her and she nodded softly in response, she understood that because of who they were they weren’t always going to see eye to eye and that much she could handle. What she had to question was to what degree that would affect whatever it was that they both kept trying to deny was between them and whether she would simply be setting herself up for heartbreak down the line, Sariah wasn’t the kind of person who did things half heartedly, she gave things her everything and that left her hurt more often than it didn’t. Sariah laughed softly when he called her stubborn, she was, sometimes so much so that she couldn’t let things go “Guilty” she responded in an amused tone “But you’re right, sometimes you’re so focused on those who try to tear you down you don’t realize they’re the minority” she nodded softly, she had a whole organization behind her.

Playing the part was easier said than done, especially when things were tense between her and Orion. They hadn’t really spoken since that night and both of them had spilled many things about themselves that opened a thousand more questions and yet she had to pretend like none of them phased her and Sariah wasn’t exactly reliable when it came to playing things off. His words showed a little of the vulnerability he was willing to offer, she met his eyes for a moment catching the sincerity in his cyan hues “I don’t” she confirmed with a gentle nod “You are..” she searched for the words she wanted to say “Nothing like the way I imagined you would be” she answered candidly, though the way she said it conveyed that it was by no means a bad thing.

Sariah laughed a little shaking her head at the very notion “Believe me those two things are not even in the same plain of existence” sure he had been in pain and confused but he still managed to keep his walls in tact for the most part but Sariah was pretty much an open book most days, let alone when she had a few drinks and the little filter she had turned off. “Basketball?” she spoke it rhetorically in somewhat of a surprised tone before tilting her head a little as she looked at him “I bet you made a hot jock” she commented without much thought before she followed it up trying to fix her rather upfront statement “Not that you’re not hot now, I think you’re pretty handsome” she coughed a little as she went quiet her cheeks a little flushed.

To her luck that conversation was cut short as they finally made their way into the lab. Her nerves when it came to Orion were somewhat minimized when compared with this being the very day they make a judgement on project X. It wasn’t just her work hinging on this project and all the people lingering the lab hanging on every movement and word the therian ambassador made were a reminder of that this was years of teamwork and strategy. “It wouldn’t to me if I hadn’t lived and breathed the science of the supernatural for the past few years” she answered without a beat in response to his reactions her eyes remaining on him as she tried to figure out what he was thinking.

Seeing his sigh of relief Sariah nodded a little, a lot of the other species held the opinion that the humans were mad scientists trying to mess with things beyond their understanding, she was determined to change that opinion and in a small way remind the supernatural that they are no better than the humans were. “The last thing I ever want to do is hurt someone” she answered without hesitation to his words, perhaps the science might be lost on him but she was sure that her intentions would get through to him, she had shown him parts of herself to him that almost no one knew, she hoped her word meant enough to him now. They were interrupted momentarily by one of the lead scientists speaking up from their nervous daze “You should have seen her go up against the board for the 8 month extension” the man’s eyes were proud, proud of everything they had achieved to date, especially without sacrificing any morals in the process.

As Sariah looked up at Orion she could see the disbelief in his eyes, almost unable to comprehend how it was even possible, she knew it well because that had been where she stood 2 years ago but with hard work and some of the most intelligent minds on the planet they had made breakthrough by breakthrough until today. Taking a breath Sariah guided Orion over to one of the basins by his arm and then after a moment she took the first beaker containing the counteraction serum and poured it over his arm, she then took wolfsbane from the second beaker and looked up at him for a moment, confidence dazzling in her eyes “You should feel a little extra weight in your arm, that’s the natural hindrance of the herb, but it won’t burn to the touch” she explained before pressing the herb gently against his skin not breaking eye contact as she did so.

InactivePermalink Reply by ✓ Orion Valkyrie ~Admin~ on March 23, 2018 at 17:03

There was so much more Orion wanted to say and he wished that their conversation on a personal level didn’t have to end so abruptly but he had been the one how decided on a professional meeting so he shouldn’t get annoyed or upset when it turned to such. The problem was it is annoy him because he didn’t know when they would able to continue as Sariah and Orion opposed to the Human and Therian Ambassador. It was incredibly hard to bit his tongue when she spoke of him being nothing like she had imagined though he did tend to have that effect on people. In truth she was nothing like he had imagined she would be either. Most assumed the Ambassador for the Organization would be a warrior, a fighter for their cause and yet it was Sariah, which wasn’t an insult since she was fighter in her own way. Orion had seen the heart of fire she possessed the first night they met but she wasn’t a woman who sought war or to harm, she sought peace and understand and that was exactly what the city needed.

The words Orion wished to speak stuck in his throat now that they were within ear shot of others. Though he longed to let her know he thought she was beautiful in more than just the physical way, twice she had helped him because that was who she was, never one to stand for the suffering of others. Sariah fought against injustice that those in a war believed were necessary means and she reached out to other species in order work on restoring a healing city she was amazing in so many ways and yet she didn’t seem to see it as being anything more than herself.

His normally icy blue eyes began to fill with warmth as he looked around him at not just everything within the room but the people as well, all of which has made this possible. It may have been Sariah’s brain child but it took a team of extraordinary people to bring it all together and pull it off, people who believed in what they were doing and the cause they were fighting for. Detainment was something most supernaturals had never really thought of or put much faith in due to the fact that without the correct science the only way to weaken and detain most supernatural species was cause them agony and distress. Orion knew this unfortunately from personal experience when it came to vampires. There was a reason his family name was spoken with reverence and fear by vampires but he had seen what wolfsbane and silver could do to a Therian when they had received the bodies of one of his brothers back as a message. “In the world I was brought up in this was never enough a thought. It would have been more like the idea of flying cars from Back to the Future, an impossibility.” Not that his family had ever done much with science other than calculating the right amount of daystar and such to use.

When Sariah had told him of Project X this wasn’t what he expected and for that he was grateful. Though he wasn’t really sure what he had been expecting. “I’ve hurt people in the past because it was seen as necessary in times of war and that was what we were at but I don’t want to continue following that path.” That was why he had come to Sariah in the first place, he knew better ways now and he needed to see that through, no species was barbarians and the only way to change that mindset in others was to show them they had changed. Elijah was the last act of blood and violence he intended to make but in that situation he had known any other way would only breed problems later on. “I want myself and my species to be seen for what we are, not what we’ve been in the past.”

As the other scientist spoke up Orion’s gaze fell on them taking in those words and the true meaning of them. No Organization would want to give such extensions especially when it was due to the comfort of their detainees who were often seen as less than people. Not to Sariah though, she understood every life had mean and a purpose and though some of them may be monsters or merely just do monstrous acts they still held a soul and a bit of humanity or at least the concept of it. Most supernatural species were part human and many were raised as human until they changed natural or were changed but many forgot that part. It was hard not to reach out and wrap Sariah in a crushing hug since she was one of the few humans he had ever met who would go to such extents.

Still trying to wrap his mind around it all he followed as Sariah guided him much in the way she had the night she had blinded him. Like with that night he held no fear over what was to come or what she might do because he trusted her. Maybe he trusted her because she trusted him or maybe it was because he knew what was in her heart and the type of person she was. If it were anyone else trying to give him this demonstration he had no doubt he would be pulling his arm away afraid of the outcome but he had trusted her with his life was hanging in the balance so there was no reason not to now. “I believe in you.” He said softly giving his consent as she poured the liquid over his arm, it wasn’t uncomfortable but it did fell a bit odd. The wolfsbane he knew on sight and remained still the look in her eyes putting him at ease though he could tell some of the other scientists were holding their breath. Maybe a small part of him still expected a mild burning but when that reaction never came his eyes seemed to sparkle in realization. His arm did feel heavy and as he moved to lift it took much more effort and was a slower process. There was no way any Therian could break out of anything in this state since it was like trying to move through a viscous liquid. “This is amazing and yet completely disconcerting to experience.” He replied as his lifted his hand slowly towards his face to look at it a chuckle somehow slipping through his lips.

HumanPermalink Reply by ✓ Sariah Amelie Holloway ~Admin~ on March 31, 2018 at 21:38

The look shared between them spoke more than the words they had said, it told her that no matter how much she told herself it was better to move forward and put back up the walls that kept the idea of letting someone in at bay, the therian ambassador had gotten under her skin. Orion was complicated, his morals laid in a grey area and she knew this wouldn’t be the only time they clashed on what calls should be made but she also admired his ever present strength, even at his physically weakest Orion had held on, he was a fighter, a protector to those who needed him and he spurred her to want to be stronger herself, to lead with confidence the way he did. The blonde however kept quiet allowing her professional demeanor to take over at they entered the lab, breaking eye contact as she did so as she took a deep breath ready to face up to the fate of project X.

Sariah could understand his level of surprise, it almost sounded impossible to be able to counteract the powers the supernatural had, most of them were far stronger than humans in many ways. In most part the humans had little to fear from the supernatural, especially in Evermore city where there was a current strive for peace but Sariah wasn’t satisfied with leaving her people defenseless against people who could do the ‘impossible’, that was where her technology development plan had come into play, giving humans a fighting chance against rogue supernatural who sought them harm. Sariah also knew how ingrained kill or be killed was set into the minds of the supernatural, with no solution in the past, it was the only option left to most, she had to slowly introduce the idea to those who would listen and there was still a long way to go “Just twenty years the idea of the internet was but a mere whisper” she answered with a gentle smile “Nowadays the impossible becomes possible very quickly” she nodded gently, Sariah had grown up with rapid change, it was as natural as the day and night to her.

Sariah had gone up against the council on multiple occasions for the sake of her own humanity, there were some who didn’t care for the way that project X was achieved and others that saw it from her standpoint, Sariah was a empathetic person, she hated to see people in pain, in another life she would have probably been a doctor so that she could help to relieve people’s pain. Sariah’s expression showed admiration as he spoke of his willingness to change, after their last conversation on the topic she hadn’t been expecting it, part of her even wondered if he only asked to meet to get her time. “Everyone deserves a second chance” she answered with a gentle and defined nod of her head “We can’t change the past, but we can certainly try and change the future” she smiled gently, Sariah hoped for a better one, one where the city wasn’t living in fear of a relapse into war.

Of course there was a little doubt in her mind as she lead Orion over to the basin, but she had all the confidence she could in what her and her team had achieved. Her eyes remained on him as the liquid was poured and then followed by the wolfsbane. She could see the amazement in his gaze as he realized the success of the test and she couldn’t help the delighted smile that crossed her expression as she felt the tension in the air shift a little. “With an airborne wolfsbane or daystar formula we should be able to keep just the right level of comfort for our visitors while ensuring security” she affirmed with a gentle nod as she set down the beakers her eyes moving to the scientists in the room who looked relieved and then back to Orion. “We’re still working on counteraction measures for other supernatural abilities” she confirmed being as honest as she could be about the realisticness of what they were doing.

With a smile Sariah jerked her head to the side a little “Do feel free to ask our scientists or me any questions you have about the cells” she prompted as she stepped backwards and towards the middle of the room leaning her hand against one of the desks to keep herself steady “Once you have all the information you need I’d love to get a statement from you in my office” of course she wanted to say far more than that but she knew with all eyes on them it was better to be discreet.

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