A different brand

[Lovely]

October 19, 2008
2:00 a.m.
continues from: 'Not that way'

Raven was unaware that they had called her brother -she hadn't asked them to and had no intention of letting him know she'd been hurt like this. Or about what had almost happened -again. One good thing about not speaking -she didn't have to explain this to him -or anyone else. Everything seemed to have an ache, throb, or sting -the men who had tried to take the girls had used quite a bit of force. Raven limped, barely on her feet but stubborn, going into the kitchen in search of something -anything that might soothe any part of her.

Sari was pretty banged up herself, but lucky to have nothing broken. Her frame was more sturdy against impact than some others. A benefit of her enhancements, lucky her -she'd had natural mutation which protected her. The tap at the door was not completely unexpected and she took a few limping steps to answer, hoping it was Vara with the supplies they needed. Instead she found a flutter of fading feathers and wings which was familiar -too much like Rave's to be anyone besides her brother. Even before Sari saw his face, she recognised him. "You got the message.." She spoke quietly, looking over her shoulder at the sound of the other girl shuffling around in the kitchen.

Venge pushed his way past her gently with a foul sneer for their situation, not meant to insult the girl at the door. His voice held the throaty chortle of a bird still, whistling and gurgling around his words as his form settled into a wholly human frame. "Where is she? Is she alright?" He spoke quietly, looking out into the room and through the cracks of doorway to the kitchen.

Sari's wings fluttered painfully behind her and her arm lifted to point to the doorway he was already looking towards. "She's not alright, but you know she'd never say so." Her voice was soft still as she closed the door quietly behind him.

Raven's arm was curled to her side, set and in a homemade sling as best as could be managed. She was cut, bruised, swollen in a varied array consistent with resisting and fighting the efforts of their attackers. It wasn't the first time she'd experienced such an unpleasant encounter. At least this time no one had died, though she was left with a lasting reminder of the visit. A mark burned into her inner wrist -a mark that damned a girl who wore it. If she had to, she was going to cut it out of her skin, finding a knife with a sharp enough blade was the problem at the moment. Rave had realized there was nothing that would soothe her pain or the burn in their apartment, so her only comfort was to remove the brand from her wrist and ensure she wasn't thought to be owned like that.

Her pain was something Venge could never overlook, even for something as small as a splinter. It was nearly as if on some level he shared that pain himself. A grim curl of grin narrowed his eyes further as he thought over what little he'd been told. Someone would pay dearly, but first was his sister's comfort to take care of. "Thank you, Sari. I'm sure everyone will come out well." He painted a smile in place as he came into the kitchen and saw the bandages and 'artwork' that adorned her, though he tried to pass off what he could into the pale illusion. "Just stopped by for a cup of sugar and a hug. What's this?"

She froze at the sound of his voice, she'd been too absorbed in her loathing to notice him coming into the apartment. Of course she didn't answer him, looking down at the knife poised in her hand and her wrist, she set the knife down and tried to tuck her arm out of sight, but the pain was obvious in her face as her eyes closed briefly and her jaw tightened. She swallowed the rest down and lifted her gaze to him, tilting her head slightly to one side. Her eyes narrowed a little and she glanced to the other room, then back to him. Her eyes so dark -much like both theirs would be in alter form, stared at him for a moment before she slowly and painfully limped over to hug him with her better arm.

"Incredibly lucky timing, I promise," he consoled quietly, wrapping gently around her. "You shouldn't be walking. Let's get you back down in your chair." The amount of fury boiling in her veins was enough to nearly make him stagger to a seat as well. His eyes grew large a moment, darkened still from his altered form as he adjusted to his land-legs. The golden rims shone sharply as if lit from within. "Are you sure you're 'fine'?" Though she'd said nothing, it was nearly a given that she'd insist she was, no matter what.

[Lovely]

She didn't buy his explanation but she let it go -not one to fuss -especially when it came to him. He was about the only one she'd trust to know how bad off she was -even though she hadn't wanted to tell him in the first place. The subtle leaning to him when he wrapped her in the gentle hug was a sign of how much she wanted and perhaps needed to crumple. Rave nodded slowly to the question of being fine, but then paused and slowly turned her marked wrist for him to see. Even without a single word he'd know, understand how unfine she was. He knew of her previous expereince and how such a mark and attack would devastate her. She held it in and hid it well but he knew her, understood her where others didn't. She gently nudged him towards the hall -in her room she'd feel safer and less exposed, Sari was the only one home and Rave trusted her but that didn't matter at the moment.

"Of course. Come on then. Have you tended to that at all? Cool water at least?" He helped her move only as quickly as she could manage and would have carried her if she'd let him. Pride wouldn't let him get more than an inch toward picking her up from the floor as long as she had any fight whatsoever. The brander would be the first against the wall to meet a brand of his own from Venge's sharp beak and talons, but until he found out who and where... "Sari was with you?"

Rave nodded to his first question and looked back at the knife she'd set down, swallowing hard and curling her fingers into his sleeve to keep from picking it back up and finishing what she'd intended with it. A tremor went through her, filled with pain, exhaustion, and the fight to keep herself going and not mutilate further. Her head was nodding some more to his last question and she glanced toward the common room where Sari was now, though she kept moving slowly into the hall and towards her room.

"She's up and moving, but not very happy either. She can handle herself. You're luckier - you have me," he grinned. "Do you need something from her?"

Her head shook in response -she didn't need anything from Sari once she was assured the other girl was doing okay. Closer to her bedroom door, Rave leaned a little more heavily into him, her eyes fluttering against the pain and her breath coming in a sharp gasp. She was lucky to have him, she needed him even when she was refusing to give in.

"That's a girl. Easy breaths and we'll make it good as new. Don't be upset with them, they know it hurts." He didn't want his sister to be upset with her friends for calling him. He would have been furious if they hadn't. He'd noticed that Vara wasn't doting on her as she normally might and his brow knotted as he helped her in to sit. "Raven, do you know where Vara is?"

She understood his concern and accepted it more than she would from anyone -even the girls. He asked her not to be angry -she wasn't really.. she just hadn't wanted him to see what had been done to her. Part pride, part shame, part knowing him all too well -she didn't want to appear weak, she was ashamed of what had been done and what could have, she knew he would want to make 'them' pay for this. She stiffened at his question of where Vara was, he was her blood.. he was beloved.. she couldn't look at him and lie to his face. Her head sort of tilted, she half shrugged and then nodded slowly.

"She's not here," he stated, affirming what he suspected. He sighed, concerned now for them all. It was very late and even he'd heard the patrols blasting and stomping around the paths most of the night. He hoped she hadn't been brought in, or worse, taken in to a medic center. "Do you know where she is, then?"

Her gaze went to the floor and she nodded again, but also shrugged again.. she knew but couldn't say for sure at this moment. "Supplies.." She whispered the word along with a soft noise much like her bird self would make. Raven didn't talk much, but nods and shrugs wouldn't answer his questions and he knew she could speak when she chose to, there was no avoiding it. "We're hurt.." Her eyes lifted to his face, seeking understanding of what she meant without having to say more.

"Yes, I know," he said gently, looking over her expression for other signs of discomfort. "First things first, we'll see if she gets back with the supplies. It's nearly morning and the patrols have sounded very busy tonight."

Her sigh was gentle but loud enough for him to hear as her gaze dropped and her head tilted down again. She was worried for her friend and hurt bad enough that she could not deny the damage -she felt defeated and tired. "If.." The word was barely there, forlorn sounding as the girl tried to curl into herself despite the aches and sharp pains.

"If... you hadn't done what you'd done, things would be worse. If... anything happens to her, and it won't, I'm not hurt but someone else will be, badly, and very soon. How are your wings?"

She shrugged and looked back up to him, wincing as she adjusted her position again. "I have not changed since.. my arm is broken.. I think it may carry into the shift. I have not tried to shift yet.. saving my strength.."

"Use it now. Let me help," he insisted, reaching for the sling. He would set the arm if it hadn't been. "If it's not set right, you may not fly well, if at all, for months."

She shied only slightly, her mouth turning down into a small pout as he asked her about setting her broken limb. "Set it now.. or change.. first?" She didn't want to lose her flight for that long and now worried that she would.

"Set it now," he grinned. "Just be strong now since it will hurt. Hold this, alright?" Venge reached to place her other hand on his arm to clench tightly as he would feel for the break and put it in place.

[Lovely]

Her fingers curled gently at first and her gaze rose to meet his directly, she nodded -ready for the pain as she took a deep breath and awaited what she knew would come.

His own bones were hollow and light like hers and she could easily snap through them and the surrounding tissue with her grip if she chose, just as he could with strong talons and a menacing hold. He could be just as gentle as he could harmful and felt her arm for the separation. It was slight at least, but enough to be quite uncomfortable. "You'll need a healer, but this will lessen some of the pain. Deep breath and..," Before she could think or react otherwise, he waited for the inhale to pull and snap the spot back in place.

Her fingers dug in and twisted into the cloth of his shirt rather than tear or snap him, her breath rattled out in a gasp at the sharp pain of the break being shifted into place. She made no other noise and one lone tear slipped from her dark eyes in reaction to the blinding moment of pain. There was a slight relief after and she took a few deep breaths, slowly uncurling her fingers from his fabric.

His hand slid around her to hug her closely. "I'm sorry. It will fade soon. Let me help clean up the rest? Will you?" He let the hug go and his attention went to the mark on her hand.

Her head rested to his shoulder for the moment within the hug, but when he let go and his attention turned to the mark on her wrist she tried to turn it from his sight. "It won't go away.." She whispered, shaking her head slightly, her long dark waves shifting over her shoulders.

He shook his head. "No, the pain will, but a brand will always stay unless it's carefully removed. Carefully, and not with a butter knife. Let me see it, Raven."

"They marked me.." She whispered in a voice filled with an emotional anguish he might understand, even as she was trying to hold it back. Her hand trembled as she slowly uncurled her arm and turned it so he could see.

Venge's eyes darkened as he looked over the mark. Whoever had done it had made sure it wasn't healing easily. "You're not for sale and you're not owned. Don't you ever forget that, Raven. No one owns you. No one."

She nodded, licking her lips that suddenly felt so dry, his words hit the mark that didn't show -the one they had attempted to burn deeper into her with the one on her wrist. "Make it go away...?" She looked down to her arm.

The breath he took was chilling. "I don't think I can. Bones and cuts maybe, but burns need someone skilled, someone that knows skin and scars. It can be covered but will need to be healed first, or it needs to be...," he paused. She knew already. "Magic.. .maybe a shaman or a healer. We'll see what supplies Vara brings first. I don't have money for anyone else."

Her eyes closed and she nodded her understanding, pulling her arm back to herself. "She won't have anything that will make it go away." Raven's eyes closed and she took a deep breath. "It makes me want to chew my hand off.."

"No chewing," he warned softly. His own stomach grumbled. No money lately meant not a lot of food, either and he was sadly reminded of that now. He had been planning on an early-morning foraging spree once curfew was over. Iain had some cash to keep them in their apartment, but not much else. Odd jobs were getting odder and harder to find without the taint of corporate corruption to go along with it that made them both lose their appetites. Venge moved his hand over the nauseating pain of that emptiness and sat down next to his sister. "We'll find a way. In the meantime, you'll need to stay here. Can you do that for me?"

"I live here." She said quietly looking at him as he moved next to her. The girls did 'ok' when it came to food and rent money, three working together to make it and trading their skills at times. She nudged him towards the night stand where there was a small plate with strips of meat on it and a bag with mixed seeds. It wasn't a lot but she had enough to share with him, and she hadn't had hardly any appetite herself.

"I can't take that. That's yours and you're injured. You need it for your health. I'll be alright. Just a long night is all. Let me get a cloth to clean this up some, I'm sure it's not as bad as... well, it probably is, but let me try?"

"Eat." She stated quietly, nudging him a little more forcefully this time, despite being tired and in pain. "You can't help me if you starve yourself. We're okay.. it's not the last of what we have." They might not have had a lot but she wasn't going to eat it if he wasn't -she could be quite stubborn when she set her mind to something.

A chortling growl, like a cooing dove on a down note, rattled out as he tried to insist, but the flesh was more than he'd had and the seed wasn't wet or sprouted, or moldy from being in the gutter for weeks. He relented and reached out to pinch a finger-full of each to nibble on. "Alright. Happy?" He muttered around chewing as he stood to find a cloth to wash off the darker marks.

Raven sighed softly at his near pouting but nodded again, closing her eyes for a moment. She looked back at him as he stood, watching him move with a bit of a curious look. "Happy you came."

"Me too. Lay down as best you can, Rave and rest. I'll be right back." He nodded toward the door. With any luck Vara would be back in one piece and hopefully have something to help.

[Lovely]

It wasn't easy to move and lay down, but she did it without complaint, only a hiss of pain before she settled and stared up at the wall. Focusing on the stained plaster to distract her through the wave and ache.

Venge chewed the meat slowly, hoping not to make himself even hungrier by having the nibble. He came out to the front room again, wondering how Sari was faring and how much he hadn't been told, not that she'd say anything Rave hadn't already. "When's Vara due back? Patrol's been heavy tonight," he yawned as the last bits of flesh were swallowed down.

Sari was pacing the front room, looking worried. She turned with a heavy sigh and shook her head. "I thought she'd be back by now.." She closed her eyes and clenched her scraped hands into fists, breaking open some of the sealed scratches.

"Sari, it's bad, but none of your are telling me how bad. That's my sister in there and she's got a taste for blood right now," he needled, pointing to the other room. "What happened out there? Who were they? Where? Before it happens to anyone else, I need to know."

"Maul." She whispered softly, sighing again and starting to pace nervously again. "I think they were his goons.. look at the mark.. I'm pretty sure it's his." Her fingers raked back through her hair and she fought at frustrated tears that threatened. "Where? about three blocks from here.. we were just out for the day, supplies, work, barter..you know.. it was in the middle of the day Venge.. They jumped us and dragged us in the alley.. about ten to fifteen guys.. Why? Heh.. have you taken a look at Vara or Raven...? Beautiful, young, healthy, no visible scars.. and not hanging around a lot of guys. Maul's had his eye on them awhile.. all three of us shot down him and his boys at a party a couple weeks ago.." Maul was known in other sectors where he'd gotten control and had alot of muscle, he was the one to go to if you wanted to buy or sell or arrange a snatch and sell.

Venge’s expression darkened more still. He couldn’t do much about any more than two at a time and Maul was no lightweight on his own. Iain could hold his own against a few, but they’d need more than just themselves. “I’m not sure that accepting their offers would have turned out any better. You need a better watchdog. I can’t be here often enough.”

"We probably need to move.. honestly, how long do you think it will take for them to find us? How are we supposed to get food or work?" Sari nearly punched the wall but turned away and just swung at the air. "I'm so.. everything right now!" Her arms folded around her middle and her head shook sadly.

“One day at a time. They best you one day, you take another route, go another way, find a way. You do what you have to do to survive. Right now, that might be finding a way to be sure they don’t.”

"I've.. we've survived this long, three girls on our own. No men to keep or protect us or abuse us.. But it's just us, Venge.. We can't go up against Maul and his men.. look what happened with us all together.. we got away but not without a cost." She held up her wrist to show the half mark that they had managed to get on her, if it hadn't been for Raven -freaking out- when they branded her, Sari would have had the full mark and Vara would have been dragged into the van. Both she and Vara had poison in their blood, so once they could get a hand free -they used that as a weapon. "Maybe it's time to find a little bit safer place.. not that there's much.. but we've been here long enough to be known if they come looking."

Her key was so quiet in the lock and she moved in almost silently, she'd warned Rase to follow behind and be quiet, her hand was laced with his as she came in. She stood there listening to Sari go on in her frustration, anger, and fear.. Vara knew too well what she was feeling. "If we had a place to go, that would be wise.. we don't have anywhere to go." She spoke quiet, trying not to startle Sari as the words just came out from her thoughts, which reflected Sari's statements.

[Lovely]

Venge felt the air change as the door opened and listened as Vara entered, tipping his head at the curious stranger behind her. The hand clasped in her own told him he was a welcomed guest, not someone forcing his way in behind her. “You could go anywhere you wanted in the world. It wouldn’t be any better, though. Glad you’re alright,” he said, coming closer to Vara to greet her warmly, though wary of the man with her. “I haven’t met your guest. Can I help you with your things? Rave’s in the back and I can just take them back to her to help put them away.”

Rase walked in slowly, taking in the surroundings that seemed light and cheerful compared to what he was used to. The dark-haired man moved strangely and reminded him of the people in front of the med center once the docs were done taking what they needed and poured the patients out in the street. “Pan, like Peter,” Rase smiled, letting lose of Vara’s hand to offer his to Venge.

Sari spun at Vara's voice, the relief washing over her face in an instant, though just as quickly her expression shifted to wary and suspicious of the strange man. "I'm glad you're home.." She watched this Pan guy with a guarded trust, Vara was holding his hand and had brought him in with her. "I didn't know you were bringing a date home.. I would have picked the place up." The apartment was far from messy, kept mostly tidy and clean by he girls, it was a little run down but still much brighter than one might find elsewhere. Their art and decor is what really brought the place to life despite the blemishes of the building.

Vara gave the girl a bit of a smile and she tugged Rase gently into the room, closing the door behind them. "This is Venge, Raven's brother.." She introduced him first as he'd approached them while Sari hung back -not quite glaring. "..and that's Sari.. Raven is resting?" She looked to Venge, knowing he had probably started tending to her. "How is her arm?" She shrugged out of her coat, handing the heavy garment to Venge as it held what supplies she'd been able to lift, in its pockets and lining. She glanced at Sari as the other girl's wings fluttered. "Pan helped me get home safe.. and saved me from a few run ins with the patrol.." She explained how they came across each other in a brief statement, but it was likely enough to appease the others a little.

Venge took the coat and not the offered hand in greeting - who knew where else it had been. The man looked rugged and dank, smelled worse and the name seemed too ‘cute’ for him. “I’ll just get this out of your way. Glad you’re home.” He blew a kiss for Vara and slid away to the back to tend to Rave with whatever he could find in the pockets, being careful of all the contents.

“Friendly bunch,” Rase muttered to himself, taking his hand back and brushing it down his jacket. He unslung the pack from his shoulder, hoping he’d be offered someplace to put it and himself that wasn’t the center of attention. “Sari, nice to meet you.” He tried with the girl at least since this was her home.

Sari watched Venge go off and she exchanged a look with Vara that said she had many questions. With his movement and words Sari's attention turned to their guest. She offered him a slight smile and a nod. "Charmed.. I'm sure." She held out her hand to him where Venge had not. "You'll forgive our manners.. it's late and we've been worried. I'm tired and sore -it makes me a touch cranky."

At least Sari was being somewhat friendly, maybe not warm with open arms but she wasn't trying to toss him out or injure him. Vara watched the two interact -she hoped the girls would like him -since she had the intention of keeping him. Sari's colors were darker tonight, shades of deep purple and blue -reflecting her 'mood', tired, in pain, worried.. dark.. even so -she was beautiful. The wings of a butterfly.. she looked like a fairy.. Vara sighed and tried to stretch a little to keep from getting stiff.

Rase took the other girl’s hand in a brief light grasp, not trying to delve into the images that flowed freely in her forethoughts, though it was usually inevitable. The questions that took form enough for him to ‘see’ made him smile a little. “I don’t want to be a bother. I just wanted to make sure she came home in one piece.“

Sari chuckled ever so softly and gave another small nod of her head, letting go of his hand as she motioned around her. "It's not a bother.. really. Please make yourself comfortable. Thank you for seeing her home.. in one piece. We're quite fond of her." She took a step to move to the side of the room, nodding to Vara in acceptance of his being there. He made the tiny feelers on her hand tingle enough to put a small smile on her face. She eased herself down into a chair that accommodated the wings, sitting sideways to lean into the cushions a little.

[Lovely]

Vara was relieved that Sari wasn't being more sour, they'd all been through quite a bit and being so tired, sore and on edge did have a way of making people unpleasant. She kissed Sari's cheek on the way by. "I'll check on Raven a little later.. let Venge get her settled and rested I hope." She moved past her friend and motioned for Rase to go into the room to the back of the common area.

Rase wasn’t sure staying was a good idea although her friend’s welcome was warmer than the man’s had been. He followed Vara’s lead for now, giving Sari another smile, keeping the thoughts to himself about what he’d seen in her recent memory. The girl was a strong fighter and had a mouth on her when riled, something he’d keep in his own memory just in case. He hadn’t met the other girl yet, but assumed the dark haired girl with them was Raven, the girl at the back, sister to the man he’d just met. “I’m kinda fond of her being in one piece, too.”

Sari chuckled again. "Good.. then we agree to do our best to keep her that way.." Her head tipped against the chair and she closed her eyes for a moment, the long day was starting to win out on her.

Vara reached to lead Rase into her room, even if he only stayed a few minutes to be sure she was settled safely she felt they would be more comfortable in her private space rather than the open room. She dropped down on the end of the bed and bent to pull her boots free, but stopped and grabbed the post of the bed instead. The bruises and scrapes were starting to ache again as the effects of her ink wore off. She bit down on the sound and slowly sat up, leaving her boots on for now. "Thanks for getting me here.." She breathed out a heavy exhale and tried to ignore the pains for now.

“What was that? Let me see. I thought you were feeling better,” he said, watching her carefully now. He didn’t want to talk too loudly, not sure how thick the walls were. It was out of habit to talk quietly when he wasn’t in the club. He dropped his pack on the floor and helped her with the boots.

He bent to help her with her boots and she gave him a smile, not saying much about the pain which had begun to bother her again. She was most concerned with letting the other girl's have the medical supplies she'd stolen for them. They didn't have the same healing ability that she did, though it didn't erase her pain or wounds instantly. Rase had seen her slip and she sighed, reaching with a wince to start taking off the party outfit which was becoming uncomfortable. She wanted something softer or nothing at all against the bruises and scrapes she'd hidden from him thus far. Her fingers reached to brush over his cheek after she'd loosened her top a bit and she smiled. "Thank you." Her toes flexed and curled now that they were free of the boots.

"No need to thank me, just don't pass out on me or I can't help you any more than this," he said, pushing the boots out of the way and watching her start to undo the rest. "If you want me to turn around you'll have to tell me. I'm a little dense sometimes," he winked, not embarrassed.

She slowly pulled the top free of her arms and let it fall to the side. A small smile played over her lips. "Let me know when I'm supposed to make you turn around.. this is new to me.. you could hand me those boxers and tank top.. please?" She pointed to the discarded garments she'd worn the day before.

[Lovely]

He was curious about the garments she asked for and fumbled around with them a little as he handed them to her. "Sorry, not every girl wears boxers. Did he put up a good fight for them?"

"Who?" Her eyebrow arched up and then she shrugged with a soft chuckle. "I don't know I pulled them off a rack at the second hand store in sector 8." Her eyes passed over him and then she pouted a little.

He laughed as she did. "Sorry," he raised an eyebrow as he found himself surprised at his own jealousy and chuckled more. "I'll just... ," he motioned a circle and turned himself around before sticking his foot in his mouth any deeper. "Sector 8's a tough place for a casual shopping trip. Must have been on your way?"

"Had a line on some good ink.. I made a special trip to do some bartering. .. So yeah it was on the way." She chuckled again, shaking her head as she slipped off her skirt and replaced it with the boxers. "Okay." She let him know it was okay to turn around as she pulled the tank top down over her torso. She was eyeing him with a mischievous smile. "If I wanted yours.. would you put up a fight?"

He turned back around to see her lounging more casually and the eyebrow shot up again. "Only if you wanted me to. I've got this whip..," he said, pointing a thumb to the general direction where he'd left his bag, though the way he approached her didn't have anything to do with 'that' whip. "Or I could just give in."

"I'm too tired and sore to fight.. though I'm sure I'd could give you a run." She smiled, patting the bed beside her though he was approaching her anyway. "You could just be nice and give me anything I want.. starting with a kiss.." She reached to gently hook him with one toned leg being careful of the few tender marks on it.

"Mercy, please," he teased, giving in to her demand as he fell into that grasp. What had started on the train was far from finished and never would be completely as far as he was concerned. "Not sure I have the right kind of ink to get you high."

"Funny.. I was thinking you might have exactly what I need." Her arms reached up to wrap around him, bringing him down toward the kiss she desired. "I may have to sample what you have before I can answer that for certain.. it may take me a very long time.. I hope that won't be a problem?" She gave him a pouty look with a bat of her lashes that made her look adorable and sexy all at once.