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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 25, 2003 20:42:28 GMT -4
"I'm just a bit tired," she admitted softly. "I have been running myself to the point of exhaustion at home - helping to run things." Her eyes slowly closed of their own accord and she drifted off to sleep. It was a peaceful sleep... or so she thought.
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 26, 2003 0:04:45 GMT -4
As she slept, she slipped in and out of disconnected dreams. Dreams where the most common element was the gaze of the watchful eyes of Jason Wyngarde. Sometimes they were a comfort. Sometimes, they made her afraid.
In her dreams he watched her.
In reality he watched her, too.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 26, 2003 0:11:53 GMT -4
The flames of the Phoenix extended ever so slightly - but were controlled just enough not to set the room ablaze. They danced over the restless sleeping form of Christine. She gasped once - nearly waking - before returning to her dreams.
Her eyes closed tightly and she whimpered, struggling in the depths of a nightmare. She tried to reach out with her fledging psychic rapport for Kurt's mind - if only to have it offer her some form of comfort.
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 27, 2003 16:37:41 GMT -4
It started with a loud whipcrack of sound. Christine sat side-saddle atop a powerful Arabian horse in what looked like some African jungle. She held an antique-looking Winchester rifle in her hand - the barrel of which was still billowing smoke from her gunshot.
"Another masterful shot, milady", said a voice from over her right shoulder. She looked at its owner. He was a large, bearded man who now rode his own horse close to hers and gave her a laugh and a gentle pat on her back.
"A credit to your own teaching, Master Leland", said another voice gently and filled with pride to her left. It was Jason Wyngarde, and he now rode close to her and gave her a smile. She did not see the smile, however, because she focused on the eyes - with the gaze she both longed for and somehow feared. "You did well, my beloved", he said to her.
From not far behind them came a third voice. When she heard it Christine felt uncomfortable. Inexplicably closed in. Disconnected. Surrounded by the three figures she felt like the owner of the voice was somehow looking right through her. She held out her hand to Jason and he took it. "Why don't we show her the trophy?", said Emma Frost.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 27, 2003 17:13:11 GMT -4
'Trophy? What did I shoot?' Christine thought, mentally trembling. She thought she hated using guns. 'That hussy better get her hands off him,' she thought as her eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Perhaps you should, provided you can keep your hands to yourself, madam," Christine said, her voice dripping with ice. She did not like the other woman - not one little bit.
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 27, 2003 21:18:09 GMT -4
The man called Leland spurred his horse and rode ahead of them. His excitement at seeing the object of their hunt was palpable.
He was a large man and he blocked their view as he turned and with an excited smile told Christine, "Bloody smart hit, girl!"
They dismounted and tied up their horses as the group of bushmen who were their guides gathered around the corpse. They talked loudly to each other, with much excitement in their voices.
As Christine and her two companions drew closer to the group, Leland turned his imposing bulk toward them to welcome them and lead them into the circle of men and display what they were excitedly working on.
There was a tremendous amount of blood. It showed on the leaves of the surrounding branches and it covered the men as they removed the skin from the carcass they could only see a glimpse of. "The great beast gave a right sporting run of it, but he wasn't too quick for you, lass", said Leland.
Jason placed his arm around her waist and walked proudly nearer the circle with her.
The men parted and she saw the exposed flesh of the wretched creature for the first time. It looked like a bear...or a gorilla.... and the group of bloody and excited bushmen shouted at her as they showed her the trophy.... a great pelt of thick blue fur....
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 27, 2003 21:22:28 GMT -4
OOC:  Hank? 'So much blood,' Christine thought, clinging closer to Jason. She shivered and buried her face in his shoulder. "Jason, can we return to camp - the blood unsettles my stomach..." A tiny voice within her screamed as she recognized who it had been. Outside of the dream, her breath was coming in short quick pants, and she was shaking. Tears streaked down her cheeks. |
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 27, 2003 23:59:16 GMT -4
OOC: "great beast" - in the words of Harry Leland. You decide. And now this....
"Of course, my love. You must be tired", said Jason as he took her arm and began to lead her away.
For a moment, Emma caught caught Christine's eye. A look of smugness crossed her face as she fell to Jason's other side and took his other arm.
"Coming, Harry?", Emma asked.
"Aye!", Harry Leland laughed. "Oh what a day!", he said excitedly. "That last one gave you more of a fight than the ones before it. Still, some impressive trophies to show his Lordship."
Christine looked to see what Leland was talking about. In one hand he held what looked like the hooked and bloodied claws of some prehistoric beast. A Raptor, perhaps. In the other, he held a pair of odd bonelike wings. Beyond him, she now saw their bodies as well. Blood covered the ground.
"Sebastian will be very proud", said Emma.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 28, 2003 0:06:26 GMT -4
OOC: Is it wrong for me to like that?
Christine smiled faintly. "Jason? When did Milord say he wanted us to join him? It's been ages since I last saw him." She blushed as he held her close. 'I don't think I like that other female at all,' she thought.
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 28, 2003 0:26:30 GMT -4
OOC: Merry Christmas!  Yes, it probably is...but that's Mastermind's plan after all...."That's the thing about Mr. Shaw", Jason told her. "Your benefactor is a busy man. But he should be here soon." He smiled. Once again his eyes held her captive. "After all", he added, "How else am I to ask for your hand in marriage?" They had reached their horses and Jason moved behind her to help her mount. As he did, she noticed a brand in the horse's flesh. It was a trident surrounded by fire.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 28, 2003 0:40:48 GMT -4
'Marriage?!' a tiny voice shrieked within her. 'You're sixteen, for pity's sake! You're too young to marry!!! Besides, what's that beaux of yours going to say - the German one!!??' It was Phoenix, irate at hearing Jason's comment. She had been silent but now found herself very vocal in her opinions. 'And what's with the trident? Christine, get out of this now! It's not safe for you to be here!'
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 28, 2003 0:59:23 GMT -4
She awoke suddenly in the last room she had seen. Nothing had changed, except that now she knew that the voice she had heard earlier was Harry Leland. Jason sat close, his eyes mesmerizing her.
"If you feel strong enough, we should see you home", he told her.
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Post by Christine MacTaggart on Dec 28, 2003 7:41:56 GMT -4
"Yes, I think I should be getting home," she whispered softly. She still felt rather ill from her nightmare but wasn't about to tell him that. 'I don't think I should tell anyone about it... especially not Dr McCoy,' she thought with a mental shudder.
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Post by Mastermind on Dec 28, 2003 15:12:45 GMT -4
Jason led her through the building, a richly appointed establishment that exuded power and money. They were not disturbed, but it was clear that the numerous staff were ready to respond to the most trivial request.
As they left the building and entered the street, Christine noticed that the location wasn't marked as being anything in particular. It was just another building in a row of buildings. The kind of place that if you didn't know it was there, you didn't belong.
Learning the location of her home, Jason walked her there, made sure she was okay, and bid her goodnight.
In her mind, his eyes would watch her for hours after he was gone.
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Hank?
Yes, it probably is...but that's Mastermind's plan after all....