i'll be here as long as it takes | alana

[julian conell]

Julian Mercer could not sleep.

His dorm just wasn't conducive to sleep, and the bright screen of his laptop in the otherwise dark room wasn't helping in the least. So, impulsively, he shut the HP laptop and slipped out of the dorm in his blue argyle patterned cotton pajamas and black t-shirt, into the cool night air. The sun had set, but it hadn't been gone for long.

Jude settled against the fountain, sitting on the ground with his back pressed against the wall of the fountain. Once comfortable, he flipped open the laptop, plugging the headphone jack back into the port before hitting play once again.

Sling Blade. A classic, with an underlying creepy factor. Jude's attention remained fixed on the show until a well-meaning tabby crept up to him, purring as it rubbed against his leg.

"Ahhh!" Jude thrust his hand out, sending the cat several feet away. The cat hissed in surprise and displeasure as its body was shifted, as if shoved.

"Sorry, sorry!" Jude offered, as if he could pacify the displaced cat. He pulled the headphones from his ears with one hand, holding his other hand outward toward the cat, the laptop forgotten as it warmed his legs, the movie proceeding. "C'mere..."

[Alana Summers]

The night had fallen upon Argi, leaving a few of the full Chasers to protect the people. Alana had just finished her shift, which meant she could return home. The night air nipped at her skin, trying to make her cold, but the night was simply too warm for that. Alana's hair was pulled back in a pony-tail and her bangs were clipped away. The small and slender lady walked towards the southern section of town. The street lights were the only things that made the features of the city visible. Her legs felt stiff from a long night of watching, and her eyes tired.

Her reddish eyes wandered to her right, noticing the gates of Chaser Academy. It had been long time since Alana had attended the school herself. She paused, staring at the school where meant went to learn the ways of fighting. She walked up to the gate, feeling the cold metal bars. From her position she could see the fountain. She noticed a tabby cat walk behind the fountain, but it didn't come back out. On this night, Alana wished to enter the campus once more in order to be somewhere familiar.

There was a small white light as the woman disappeared and reappeared on the other side of the gate. Her reddish eyes looked around for people who may have noticed. Once the coast was clear, she continued towards the fountain. Her weary mind begged her not to, but she could only guess she would be there for a short time. She immediately stopped when she heard a voice from the other side of the fountain.

Her face turned serious as she stared at the fountain. Her mind prepared itself to go through the movements to summon her scythe, just in case it was needed. Alana dared to speak aloud, despite the fact it would give away her position. "Hello? Is somebody there?" Alana called, her tone neutral and lacking of fear.