Topic: A Perturbing Occurence

Duci

Date: 2009-04-05 04:51 EST
Duci had a long Saturday in the office, and despite being tired and sluggish, she somehow ended up at the Red Dragon Inn at the end of it. Finding nearly devoid of life, she was directed downward to the Arena by a patron. Apparently, that was where the life of the party was. She had never seen a duel like this, and she was engrossed in watching Maranya and Aja's duel. It was nice to chat with friends, too.

Toward the end of the event, Aja pointed out that Anubis had mild interest in her. She had not caught what words he directed toward her, but Maranya reinforced her opinion that nothing good could come of it. Maranya suggested she alert Alper to the incident, and she said she would. Since she was already tired, it seemed like a good idea to use that as an excuse to make her getaway while she could.

Returning to her place safely, she immediately phoned Alper after locking up after herself. Fully aware of how late it was, she felt guilty. Nevertheless, she sat down cross legged on her bed, anxiously waiting for Alper to answer.

"Hello?" a groggy Alper answered mid-yawn, still sounding woozy from his alcohol-induced evening.

"Alper" It is Duci."

"Duci" Wh-why're you calling me" It's-It's 4 o'clock in the morning." he groaned.

"I am sorry, but Maranya suggested I let you know what happened. We were down at the Arena and that Slaver, Anubis, apparently set eyes on me," she explained, sounding a little distressed for herself.

Suddenly alert, "What?" Alper asked tersely, wanting to make sure he heard her right. He remembered his last encounter with Anubis and Maranya vividly.

"Exactly."

"Don't...Ugh...Avoid him if you can. I will be back as soon as I possibly can, okay' Just...Try not to be alone at any point. I will tell Xenia to find a suitable bodyguard for you, anlamak?"

"Ja, anlamak." Duci sighed, not liking the urgency in Alper's voice.

"I will call you first thing in the morning. Lock up the place and get some sleep, peki, sevgili?"

"Peki, boss," she murmured before disconnecting.

She pulled off her dress before slipping into bed, clicking the lamp off as she went. Still feeling perturbed about the encounter, she curled up underneath her blankets, eventually drifting into an uneasy, light slumber.

———————————- (Anlamak= understand) (Peki= okay) (Sevgili= darling)

Duci

Date: 2009-04-15 17:36 EST
Although her outward demeanor had shown there was nothing wrong, her nights were all but hell. Hence why she had been staying out later and later this past week.

With Alper out of town, Theodore was in charge. When she had dropped a stack of files for the second time that morning, he demanded she go home and get some rest.

"Maybe it will be easier to sleep while it is light outside," she mumbled to herself as she let herself into the penthouse.

Duci dropped her purse and briefcase on the floor next to the door, kicking the door shut behind her in the process. It was times like this she wished she had someone, or something, to come home to. Maybe it was time to invest in a pet of some sort.

Kicking off her heels, she padded barefoot for the couch, collapsing onto it lengthwise. Settling herself, she picked up the remote and turned on the tv to search for something interesting.

A soap opera's drama filtered through the speakers from all sides softly, purring her to sleep. Absently, she pulled the afhgan from her knees up to her chest. Yawns, rolling onto her side as she lulls into a light slumber.

Light slumber didn't last long, a frown creasing her usually mischevious face. She shifted her position, her brow creasing in discontent. Brow furrowing even more, she tossed and turned as the dream went from bad to worse.

——— It was a little girl's birthday, and there were balloons everywhere. She could hear the laughter of children in the other room. But that wasn't where she was going. Duci heard the little sobs of child. She wound around the hallway to investigate, seeking out the sobs. An arm curled around the post, and she looked under the stairwell.

A small smile curled as she looked at the little boy, squatting down onto her hind haunches to study him.

"Edward honey, what is wrong?" she asked, arms opened up to the little boy. "Come here, baby, tell me about it."

But when the little boy, with his mop of tousled blonde hair, came out, it wasn't him at all. The shadows from beneath the stairwell stretched out, little tendrils snaking forth until she was in darkness. In the last bit of light, she saw the monster, skeletal and looming, open it's maw, canines glistening and sharp. ———-

She woke up screaming, with her heart in her throat.

Duci blinked back fierce tears in the streaming sunlight. With the backs of her hands she wiped her eyes. She had no idea why she kept dreaming of this little boy and the darkness in one form or another. or why t frightened the hell out of her.

This one was different, normally she was protecting him. Still frowning, she pulled the afghan tighter around her, a futile attempt to combat the shivers and cold sweat.

Duci

Date: 2009-04-16 21:36 EST
An hour or two and a steaming hot bath later, Duci felt rejuvenated. Any remnants of her daydream were pushed back into the deepest, darkest recesses of her mind. She wouldn't be able to function otherwise. Escaping from her humble abode, she tumbled down the staircase and for the Bestiary.

It was much warmer today than it had been as of late, and she was thankful to feel the warmth of the sun again. It didn't take long for her to slip through the entrance of the bestiary, eyes alive with excitement as umber rolled along what she could see.

A saleswoman came to greet her, but Duci smiled wantonly, insisting she was only looking for now and that she would find her when she was ready.

"Mrrow," a kitten purred to her left. A cant of her head as she eyed the kitten critically. No, it was too small. She wanted to feel safe. Down she moved for the dogs, but she couldn't find any that she felt a connection with.

The hiss of a panther called her over, and while it let her scritch betwixt her ears, it was not her calling either. A frown as she pressed further into the store. There had to be something.

Out of the corner of her eye, it glowed. She came to a stop, head slowly turning to look at the beautiful beast in its glory. Jaw fell agape as she turned and started down the aisle slowly. The bear watched her warily, but she was nearly gushing.

"Oh, Mez!" she breathed out, the Hungarian name for 'honey' just flowing from her mouth like velvet. This polar bear and she shared a connection, she could feel it.

Tentatively, she held out her hand for Mez to sniff. Deemed well enough, Mez let her pet stroke her big, beautiful, soft head. Some more gushing ensued and the saleswoman returned.

"Ahh, you found your partner, aye?" the woman winked playfully while Duci nodded numbly.

"I-I did," she responded softly. "H-how much for Mez?" Her tone was demanding, almost harsh. This was what she wanted and no one could stop her.

"This way, miss," the saleswoman gestured for the register and Duci obliged, fingers tilting into her coin purse already.

It didn't take long for the exchange to be accomplished, and for her arms to be laden down with fish, a food bowl, some toys and several other items the saleswoman deemed necessary for her 'domestic' pet.

"Oh Mez! You will love the place! I will even let you have one of the guest rooms all to yourself! We will be so happy together!" More gushing as she smiled down at the bear, Mez, who followed obediently beside her.

Mez looked up at her, oblivious to what her master was spewing, but affection warmed her eyes regardless. She knew her master loved her already, and she loved her in turn.

Duci

Date: 2009-04-17 16:45 EST
She climbed the stairs to the balcony apartment stealthily, looking over her shoulder constantly to ensure Mez, who lumbered evenly behind her, was still there. After some shuffling, she opened the door one-handedly, pushing it open with her bum as she back into the apartment.

"Come on, Mez," Duci cooed at the bear, gesturing for her to follow her into the room.

Mez followed Duci into the room, and began to sniff out the master bedroom. Duci grinned and shut the door behind her, locking it, then moving out of the room and for the kitchen.

Unloading her goodies for Mez onto the kitchen counter, she sighed happily. Mez followed her scent down the hallway and was now sniffing around the kitchen.

"Oh, you probably smell the fish," Duci giggled, pivoting for the fridge with the oversized food dish in hand. Grabbing the four cods that were supposed to be for dinner, she dumped them into the food dish then set the dish down for Mez.

Pats her head. "There you go, girl. I'll go to the market later to buy some new ones."

Mez smiled, as well as a bear can, up at Duci before digging in.

She had a huge basin for the water, and moved across the kitchen to set beside her water dispenser, against the plain dinette wall. The basin needed a water source, and she was thankful that she had a purified water system to hook it up to. Crouching, she fiddled with the hoses and water supply, hooking up the basin to it so Mez would always have water.

Rising again, umber swept the kitchen indecisively. Up against the counter again, she sifted through the remainder of her purchases. Some bearnip, shaped like oversized fish, and a large, stuffed baby dragon that apparently Mez favored, as she did pick it out. There was also a large comb and a jar of bear snacks made for cleaning their teeth, also in the shape of fish. Chuckles and opens the jar, picking out one fish and setting it on the counter before storing the jar on top of the fridge.

Toys were then scooped into her arms before she moved for the living room, dumping the toys into a pile beside the couch. Satisfied for the time being, Duci collapsed back onto the couch and turned the TV on again.

Finished with her dinner, bones and all, Mez licked her chops complacently. Onto her hind haunches, she flicks the fish off the counter so she can eat it. Picking up into her maw, she pads for the living room after her master.

Duci smiles at Mez and pats the space on the couch beside her, inviting the bear cub to join her. Mez chews up the fish quickly, and swallows, before climbing onto the oversized couch. She kneads at the couch momentarily, satisfied, then lies down with her head in Duci's lap.

"Oh you are so darling, Mez!" she sighs happily, stroking the cub's face as she flips through the channels.

Duci

Date: 2009-04-22 12:57 EST
She returned from the market late in the eve, a bundle of wrapped fish nestled in the crook of her arm. Hip bumping the door as she unlocked it, Mez rushed her at the entryway.

"Oof!" Duci laughed, leaning against the doorjamb for support so she didn't fall over.

"You naughty little girl!" she exclaimed, reachin down to scritch Mez behind the ears. "Don't worry, I've got food for you, love!"

Careful not to lose the fish all at once to Mez, she shut the door behind her, locking it, before making her way for the kitchen. The fish was set on the counter and carefully unwrapped. Picking out four salmon, she tossed them into the food bowl. After rewrapping the fish, she put them in the fridge before shuffling around to prepare her own meal, some left over stir fry.

With some stir fry in hand and a bottle of wine, she made for the couch. Nestling herself against the couch arm, she flipped on the tv. Mez, still licking her chops, decided to join her, curling up against Duci.

Duci absently stroked Mez, taking turns inbetween eating and drinking. She had half a mind to call up Xenia to join her, but she wasn't sure if it was too late to call on her. A frown formed as she thought about it for a while.

She didn't know how or when, but she fell asleep.

Suddenly, she awoke with a start, screaming. She had no idea what her dream was about, all she remembered was blackness. Gasping for breath she dug her nails into the couch. Mez whined at her side, nudging at Duci with her maw.

"I'm-I'm..." Deep breath. "I'm okay." Duci didn't sound anywhere near convincing, but was comforted by Mez's presence.

When her heart finally stopped beating in her throat, she moved to get up. It was then that she realized her food and wine were all over the floor. Groaning, she rose to fetch the cleaning supplies and set to work.

Duci

Date: 2009-05-05 13:54 EST
It had been the first time in weeks that she had slept long and well. Maybe it was because of her long but successfuly day, perhaps fro her entirely one sided duel, or maybe even the long walk home with Vincent. Either way, after Vinny dropped her off she and she locked up she fell asleep instantly. It was a dreamless sleep, but welcomed with open arms.

She awoke to the sunshine curling through the drapes and Mez nestled comfortably beside her. Amid yawning and stretching, she rolled out of bed. Pulling her satin robe around her, she padded for the drapes and threw them open. Duci heard Mez waking up, and made her way for the kitchen to gather some fresh fish for Mez's breakfast.

Returning back to her bedroom, where Mez was still fighting to get up from the warm, comfy confines of the bed, she only smiled at the cub. "Get up you silly bear, it is a wonderful morning!"

It was indeed, she felt refreshed. Disappearing into her bathroom, she started the shower. While waiting for warm water, she brushed her teeth. She was ready to start another long, tedious day.