07-22-2013, 01:34 AM
Michael hated the cold.
Even under all of the layers of thick clothing, topped with his massive coat of black - he didn't even know what it was, only that it was supposed to be warm - the chill of Moscow was ever present.
Captain Zokoskev had kept him back late, wanting to go over his plans once more before he started the job. Michael did not like how some of the soldiers hired themselves to the highest bidder, but he endured.
"Get in here and sit down," Tony called from the window. Michael had saved up enough to purchase a house a few blocks from the Moscow river in the Zamoskvoreche. Tony was wary, but Michael insisted on repaying his debt.
He had spent almost a year living on the outskirts of Moscow in near poverty. Tony had hidden himself away after awakening to his talent - chased out of home by authorities hunting for those with the "Sickness" and Michael had only been a burden. He owed the man his life.
"Did you actually do anything today?"
Michael asked as he entered, refusing to take his coat off. Tony sat watching the news - something about a robbery or murder, probably both - with a bottle of cheap vodka in his hand.
He shook his golden curls, his red face sheepish, "I vanished a long time ago, Michael. People like us don't belong here - anywhere."
Michael was sick of hearing that. It was likely fear of the unknown. He knew he was afraid.
"Fine. Teach me then. Tell me how to do something about this damn cold."
Tony laughed, "I'm drunk, man. I might burn down your pretty house."
"You're not drunk, you're lazy. Besides, there's nothing much to burn."
Michael knew the man and his solid bulk could take far more than it had.
Tony scowled. "Bah! You are nearly as strong as I am and you're only a pup."
"Stop making excuses. Whatever strength I might have, I can barely do anything with it,"
he replied.
The older man sighed and sat up straight. "All right then, seize the power, and I'll try and show you a thing or two."
Michael did as he was commanded. He calmed his mind and focused, just like the Aboriginals taught him. The power came rushing through him like a waterfall of ice and fire. He wanted to draw more, he should have been able to, but needles of fiery pain prevent him.
"Easy now, Michael. Don't overdo it, it is dangerous." Tony warned, not for the first time. He seized his own power, Michael could feel it, but it did not seem like he was straining himself. He sat calm and composed.
Tony did something with threads of Fire and Air and the room suddenly became warm."This," he said, threading the pattern deliberately again, "is how you would warm the house. The trick is to temper the Fire with Air. You must make the error of believing that Fire is the key to warmth. You only need a trickle, the Air will circulate the heat."
Michael made to copy him, but Tony swatted him with a thread of Air.
"No! You will burn the house down. For now, you must learn control. Go down to the basement, I have some snow there for you."
"Just what I wanted."
"Melt the snow, turn it to water. Do not allow yourself to use enough heat to evaporate it. When you have mastered that, we will continue."
As Michael made his way towards the basement, the chill returned. "Damn it, Tony. Can't you give me a bit of heat, it is freezing!"
He just laughed. "Only to you, my friend." He shook his head. "Perhaps the threat of freezing will teach you better than I can."
When Michael finally crept into bed, he felt the stark cold more than he had since he had come to this forsaken city.
Edited by Michael Vellas, Jul 25 2013, 07:16 AM.
Even under all of the layers of thick clothing, topped with his massive coat of black - he didn't even know what it was, only that it was supposed to be warm - the chill of Moscow was ever present.
Captain Zokoskev had kept him back late, wanting to go over his plans once more before he started the job. Michael did not like how some of the soldiers hired themselves to the highest bidder, but he endured.
"Get in here and sit down," Tony called from the window. Michael had saved up enough to purchase a house a few blocks from the Moscow river in the Zamoskvoreche. Tony was wary, but Michael insisted on repaying his debt.
He had spent almost a year living on the outskirts of Moscow in near poverty. Tony had hidden himself away after awakening to his talent - chased out of home by authorities hunting for those with the "Sickness" and Michael had only been a burden. He owed the man his life.
"Did you actually do anything today?"
Michael asked as he entered, refusing to take his coat off. Tony sat watching the news - something about a robbery or murder, probably both - with a bottle of cheap vodka in his hand.
He shook his golden curls, his red face sheepish, "I vanished a long time ago, Michael. People like us don't belong here - anywhere."
Michael was sick of hearing that. It was likely fear of the unknown. He knew he was afraid.
"Fine. Teach me then. Tell me how to do something about this damn cold."
Tony laughed, "I'm drunk, man. I might burn down your pretty house."
"You're not drunk, you're lazy. Besides, there's nothing much to burn."
Michael knew the man and his solid bulk could take far more than it had.
Tony scowled. "Bah! You are nearly as strong as I am and you're only a pup."
"Stop making excuses. Whatever strength I might have, I can barely do anything with it,"
he replied.
The older man sighed and sat up straight. "All right then, seize the power, and I'll try and show you a thing or two."
Michael did as he was commanded. He calmed his mind and focused, just like the Aboriginals taught him. The power came rushing through him like a waterfall of ice and fire. He wanted to draw more, he should have been able to, but needles of fiery pain prevent him.
"Easy now, Michael. Don't overdo it, it is dangerous." Tony warned, not for the first time. He seized his own power, Michael could feel it, but it did not seem like he was straining himself. He sat calm and composed.
Tony did something with threads of Fire and Air and the room suddenly became warm."This," he said, threading the pattern deliberately again, "is how you would warm the house. The trick is to temper the Fire with Air. You must make the error of believing that Fire is the key to warmth. You only need a trickle, the Air will circulate the heat."
Michael made to copy him, but Tony swatted him with a thread of Air.
"No! You will burn the house down. For now, you must learn control. Go down to the basement, I have some snow there for you."
"Just what I wanted."
"Melt the snow, turn it to water. Do not allow yourself to use enough heat to evaporate it. When you have mastered that, we will continue."
As Michael made his way towards the basement, the chill returned. "Damn it, Tony. Can't you give me a bit of heat, it is freezing!"
He just laughed. "Only to you, my friend." He shook his head. "Perhaps the threat of freezing will teach you better than I can."
When Michael finally crept into bed, he felt the stark cold more than he had since he had come to this forsaken city.
Edited by Michael Vellas, Jul 25 2013, 07:16 AM.
"She saw a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It shouted of glory and power to come"
"No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."