Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Dec 31, 2012 13:14:52 GMT -5
The jungles were lush and balmy, a canopy of greenery overhead shielding Edward from the bright sunlight – not that it would have bothered him, seeing as he didn’t have retinas for it to burn out. He was glad of the shade, however, as it made it easier for him to see. Well… spy. The stream ran for some miles, into the gods knew where, but it rippled out into a clear, cool lagoon in the basin at the top of an incline. And water nymphs played there. Edward knew, because he lurked here a lot to spy on them.
It had been a slow few days; Edward had been caught in one of his depressions for a day or two, only just having dragged himself out of it. And what better way to ensure that he was his normal, mischievous self than by a little harmless peeking? The ghost lounged in the boughs of a weeping willow, the aged trunk visible through his abdomen, his handsome face lit up with glee. He peered through the vines into the lagoon to watch the nymphs as they played; the curve of their bodies, their giggles and their games.
The only problem was that Edward could rarely get away with just watching. It was no surprise that, soon enough, he popped up in the middle of the lagoon with a joyous smile on his face. “Good afternoon ladies!” He began with a flourish. “I hate to interrupt you, but I couldn’t help notice that not a one of you has brought a stitch of clothing. I’d like to offer my services in this department. I make a great wrap. A good shield, too!” He laughed as they went scattering, Edward sweeping away to sprawl on the riverbank. They’d be back.
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Post by Malus Grimm on Dec 31, 2012 16:22:32 GMT -5
"He's dead you say?" The voice that spoke was soft, gentle and almost angelic. Whoever he had been speaking too responded with a quiet growl. "No, I believe you." He said after a moment. The man stopped somewhere short of a stream, only yards away from the bank. "I thought you said he was here." He looked down at the ground, his sharp blue eyes gazing expectantly at his companion. An abnormally small cat glanced back up at him, stark yellow eyes wide. Another small growl erupted - it was clear it had come from the cat.
"I said I believe you didn't I?" He mumbled, scooping the cat off the ground and setting it upon his shoulder. The cat curled around Grimm's neck, it's head resting on the white cotton shirt he was wear (which somehow managed to stay completely clean despite the jungle). He continued walking, following the bank of the stream in silence.
After a little while, the cat growled again, softer this time. "Up here?" Grimm questioned, pointing ahead towards the encroaching shoreline of the stream. It seemed to be a lagoon. "Okay, you can run along now." He said slowly, leaning his head against the cat gently. The small creature had no body warmth, but still seemed so soft against his cheek. The cat jumped off Grimm's shoulder, disappearing before it's feet even landed on the ground of the jungle. The Reaper continued following the bank, until his eyes found a man laying on the riverbank.
"It's a nice day to go for a swim." Grimm said cautiously after a moment.
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Dec 31, 2012 16:42:48 GMT -5
Edward stretched out comfortably on the riverbank, pretending he could feel the warmth of the grass under him, or the tickle of the curious blooming flowers that sprung up from the riverbank. His eyes were closed, his arms tucked under his head, and he breathed out a relaxed, contented sigh. Edward didn’t need to breathe anymore, but he couldn’t break the habit. Today was going to be a good day, he thought.
Then a soft voice spoke, and the ghost’s black eyes snapped open. He first saw Grimm upside down, peering over at him a few feet away. At first Edward didn’t know what to make of the stranger, but then it hit him; that rolling, seemingly omniscient presence, and he disappeared nearly instantly, melting away into the air.
“I can’t actually swim,” he managed, having materialised on the other bank across the lagoon. “I suppose it doesn’t matter now though…” He tried to sound as friendly and joking as possible, but there was something off about his usually jovial tone. He was frightened of the stranger; more frightened than he had been since he had died. There was something terrible about him – something cold and all knowing, and worse, Edward felt drawn to him. Drawn in a way that gave him the feeling that this man was meant to take him somewhere – somewhere he didn’t want to go.
“Please don’t make me leave,” he said blankly a moment later. “I don’t know who you are, but please. I don’t want to.”
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Post by Malus Grimm on Dec 31, 2012 17:02:56 GMT -5
Grimm wasn't surprised when the ghost vanished into thin air. It wasn't an uncommon reaction - especially not with ghosts. Unlike dying humans, they seemed more aware of what he was, and what he was doing there. Grimm slid his hands into the pockets of his loose black slacks. He dug his feet into the cool Earth, turning to face Edward as he reappeared on the other side of the water.
"I know that," Grimm replied, smiling awkwardly. He still couldn't get it right. It was something he'd been working on for quite some time, probably thousands of years by now, but it was still slightly crooked and awkward. He pulled a pale hand from his pockets, rubbing the back of his head and the smile faded. Grimm didn't need to be some celestial being to tell that Edward was obviously afraid of him.
"I'm not here to make you leave." He replied finally. "What's your name?" Grimm asked after a moment. The Reaper plodded down onto the riverbank, leaning back on his hands. He kept his sharp blue eyes on Edward the ghost across the lagoon. Whoever he was - he had obviously gotten lost. Either a Reaper hadn't done their job, or in the flux of souls, he got pushed about and left behind. Regardless, he was Grimm's responsibility now.
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Dec 31, 2012 17:27:45 GMT -5
Edward lingered nervously on the other side of the river, frowning a little and watching Grimm as if he thought he was going to chase him or something. The smile was a touch off-putting, but Edward returned it just as awkwardly, his fists clenched and his feet slightly apart. He was ready to disappear again at any moment. “You… you’re not?” He asked, not sounding entirely trusting, but he released a deep sigh and rubbed at the back of his neck.
“Good. I’m not ready,” he mumbled, some of the spark returning to his eyes, but he didn’t make any move towards the Reaper. He watched as Grimm sat himself down across the river and plonked himself down on the other side. “Edward,” he said after a moment. “My name’s Edward Sharpe. But please don’t ask me to tell you anything else about myself, because I don’t remember.” He laughed quietly.
“What about you? Who are you? …What are you?” The frown returned to his features, just for a second. “I feel like I should know you.”
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Post by Malus Grimm on Dec 31, 2012 17:42:09 GMT -5
"Nope, I'm not." Grimm assured him gently, the awkward smile playing across his face briefly. "I know you're not, that's why I'm not going to make you leave." He chuckled, relieved that the ghost had seemed to relax a little.
"Edward Sharpe." Grimm repeated slowly. "You don't remember anything? At all?" His sharp blue eyes widened a fraction. The Reaper sat up, crossing his legs under his body. He ran a hand through his dark tangle of hair, his brow twisting in thought. This ghost had definitely gotten lost - it at least explained why he wouldn't remember anything. Poor soul. After a moment, Grimm sighed, glancing back across the lagoon at Edward.
"You can call me Malus Grimm. Or just Grimm." He paused. "You should, I'm the one who is supposed to help you find your peace, but it's very clear you're not ready yet." Grimm said slowly. He stared at the ghost. "I help other people like you, find their peace. I think your kind calls me the Angel of Death, or the Grim Reaper." He explained gently. The Reaper looked up towards the sky, glancing at the bright sun that leaked through the canopy of trees. "Do you like apples?" He asked, finally returning his gaze to the ghost.
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Dec 31, 2012 17:52:19 GMT -5
All of the tension seemed to drain out of Edward when the stranger confirmed that he wasn’t going to make him go away, and while he made no move towards him, he did relax back into his usual cheerful self. “Nope, I don’t remember anything,” he confirmed, shaking his head. “I don’t want to, I don’t think. I dunno…” He rubbed at one of the scars that peeked through his dark shirt where the buttons were gone and shook his head. “Whenever I think about it, I feel all… off. It’s better not remembering, I think. It might be something bad.”
Letting his hand drop, Edward couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh at Grimm’s name – it was a pleasant sound, filling the air around the lagoon. “Grimm? You’re a Grim Reaper named Grimm… that… yeah, that’s grim,” he murmured, looking amused and sitting up a little. He seemed a bit awkward at first, but being dead had opened up all kinds of doors for Edward. The presence of someone like Grimm was almost reassuring, after two years of nothing.
“Apples?” He repeated, thinking for a moment and shrugging. “I don’t know. I can’t remember what they taste like, and I can’t eat now. Are they good?”
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Post by Malus Grimm on Dec 31, 2012 17:59:17 GMT -5
"I see." Grimm murmured as Edward spoke of remembering. How peculiar. He stared at the ghost, recalling a human he had passed on recently. It was somewhat of a similar situation, that ghost couldn't remember because something horrible had happened to them. They had been murdered. Perhaps it was the same, or something different. It was difficult to surprise the Reaper, humans had done it all before. Whatever it was that had happened to Edward Sharpe probably wouldn't be all that shocking.
"Yeah it is a little, isn't it?" Grimm laughed, the awkward smile gracing his thin boyish face again. "Though, I don't usually tell people my name, or at least the name I gave myself." He said, finally stretching his legs out from under his body. He arched his back, his arms reaching out giving a few cracking noises as he stretched.
"Apples." Grimm repeated, getting to his feet. "I love them. They are sweet." He glanced around the lagoon, his eyes following the line of bushes and trees, before returning to the clear water of the lagoon. "So Edward Sharpe, what are you doing at a lagoon if you can't swim?" He inquired.
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Dec 31, 2012 18:10:51 GMT -5
Edward was more than willing to leave off the subject of his past, glancing around the lagoon and watching a small leaf float away downstream. “You don’t?” He asked. “What makes me so special? Y’know, besides the fact that I am obviously charming and handsome and all that.” Grinning, the ghost ran a hand through his dark hair and glanced across the river to Grimm, feeling more comfortable by now. It didn’t even occur to him that the reaper might be lying. He didn’t give the impression of being a liar.
“Sweet? I think I’d probably like them,” he murmured, clambering to his feet and echoing Grimm’s gesture, stretching languidly. “I am hunting water nymphs,” he told him proudly. “They come here to play, and they’re beautiful. You should see them. Skittish, though. They ran away when I tried to, ah, help protect their honour. A monster came and attacked them, you see. Stole all of their clothes and the like. One of them nearly drowned, it was awful.” The story slid out easily, accompanied by a charming smile.
“And what are you doing here? Or… did you come here specifically to find me?” A shred of his former suspicion returned, but he no longer felt threatened by Grimm. Now he was simply curious.
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Post by Malus Grimm on Dec 31, 2012 18:51:10 GMT -5
Grimm laughed at Edward's comment, the awkward smile growing to a small grin. "No not really," He finally answered after a moment. "I'm sure you can imagine how some people would react to learning my name." His grin faded though as the words fell from his lips. It really made his job difficult at times, humans and their emotions... their fear. He almost felt empathetic towards them.
"Water nymphs hm?" Grimm's crooked smile returned. "And a monster? You must be a very brave ghost, fighting off a monster to protect the honour of water nymphs." The Reaper chuckled as Edward told his tale. He moved slowly, towards the edge of the water, his toes digging into the earth. The water barely licked his toes as it shifted and Grimm glanced up at Edward.
"I came here for you." He answered honestly, with a shrug. "A friend of mine told me there was a dead man walking around here." Grimm added. "I wanted to meet you."
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Dec 31, 2012 20:25:53 GMT -5
“I’m not sure,” Edward admitted with a smile and a gentle shrug. “What’s in a name, huh? If you told them you were the Grim Reaper, now, that might be different.” He peered off down the river and gave an almost lamenting sigh. The water nymphs probably wouldn’t be back, not with all the ruckus they had caused. “Mm? Oh yes, Grimm, I am the bravest of ghosts,” he bragged, watching as he headed to the edge of the river. He didn’t wear shoes, Edward realised.
“A friend of yours? Another Reaper?” He asked, sounding confused and thinking for a second before fading away and appearing, sat down, next to Grimm. “Nobody ever wanted to meet me before. It’s nice to meet you.” He grinned. “Maybe when those nymphs come back you’ll be able to see me in action, all protecting them and earning eternal gratitude and so on. It’s a hard life, being so incredible.”
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Post by Malus Grimm on Jan 2, 2013 13:03:01 GMT -5
"I guess you're right," Grimm shrugged. "You're the human, so you're supposed to know why people would be afraid of it." He said with a little laugh. Grimm's toes sank further into the dirt in the water, though it seemed the dirt didn't dirty his skin. While his feet were untouched by the earth, his pants were not as lucky. His blue eyes gazed into the water thoughtfully, before he glanced up realizing Edward was speaking again.
"Hm? Oh no, not another Reaper." He answered. But then Edward was gone. Well, not really gone. He reappeared at his side. Grimm sat down, still at the edge of the water. "A keeper." He added, looking sideways at the ghost. "They tell me where ghosts are, and collect souls for me." Grimm explained gently. "They helped me. But enough about that." The Reaper paused, looking back out to the lagoon.
After a moment, Grimm reached out putting his hand on Edward. The Reaper's face seemed distant and detached. A wave of heaviness overcame the man, his mind being overloaded with memories of a blazing city, an unrelenting rage, and so much pain. Grimm's hand fell away from the ghost, his demeanor no different than it had been only moments ago, prior to knowing what Edward Sharpe was. "Really? Why do you think that is Edward Sharpe?" Grimm questioned with a crooked smile. "I hope so, I've not met anyone incredible yet."
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Jan 2, 2013 14:48:38 GMT -5
“People are afraid of death. You can’t blame ‘em. Nobody wants to let go.” Edward shrugged his shoulders and smiled, listening carefully as Grimm explained about his friend, his eyebrows raising. “A keeper,” he repeated, looking a touch suspicious. “Why didn’t they collect my soul?” He asked, though he didn’t push the matter too much. He liked Grimm, he decided, and he was happy to let the subject bounce along onto something different.
When he thought about something different, however, he didn’t expect the Reaper to reach out and touch him. And what he really didn’t expect was to feel it. Edward flinched in surprise but he didn’t dare move, carefully watching Grimm’s expression drain of all emotion, whether faked or otherwise. He, of course, had no idea what was happening, but by the time his new friend came back to himself the ghost was fighting not to hyperventilate (not that he could, without needing to breathe).
“You… you touched me,” he mumbled, completely forgetting the thread of conversation they’d been perusing. He reached out and tentatively put a hand on Grimm’s shoulder, flinching again when he felt the material of the other man’s shirt. “And I can touch you too!?” His eyes lit up, Edward letting out a sudden shout of excitement, lurching to his knees. He reached out to touch Grimm’s face; his hair, his cheek, his lips, unable to believe it. “Haha! How can…!”
He gave up trying to talk after that, hugging the Reaper tightly with a broad grin on his face.
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Post by Malus Grimm on Jan 6, 2013 16:21:23 GMT -5
"Of course they are, they have something to lose when they die." Grimm paused, smiling awkwardly. "I suppose I can't fully grasp it, being that I've lived so long and I have absolutely nothing to lose in my entire time around." He shrugged his shoulders lightly. "You mean right now? Or before...when you died?" Grimm fiddled with his pant leg, playing with a loose thread. "Well, right now because you're lost. But if you're talking about why no one collected you when you died, probably the same reason. You got lost." He glanced up at the ghost, smiling again. "Not to worry, you're not lost anymore. I've found you." He said gently, reassuring the ghost.
"Yes, I did Edward Sharpe." Grimm responded, an air of nonchalance lingering around his tone. The Reaper wasn't all that surprised as Edward reached for him and touched him back. It wasn't an unusual occurrence with ghosts. They usually had grown accustomed to being unable to touch anything in the realm of the living. "Yes, you can." He smiled crookedly, sitting still as the man lurched up. He patiently allowed Edward to touch anywhere.
However, what happened next was not something that had happened often, in fact it was rather rare. Edward hugged him. Grimm's sharp azure eyes widened and he awkwardly hugged the ghost back, patting him on the back. "Are you okay?" He questioned quietly, bewildered by the hug.
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Edward Sharpe
Commoner
[M:-100]
I'll sleep when I'm dead... Oh, wait.
Posts: 17
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Post by Edward Sharpe on Jan 7, 2013 12:35:19 GMT -5
“Nothing? Everyone has something to lose,” Edward said, scoffing, but he was far too distracted by the realisation that he could touch Grimm to care much about death and losing things. “I don’t care no more if I’m lost, this is amazing!” He laughed, embracing Grimm for a few moments longer before sitting back, caring nothing for how seemingly awkward the Reaper was. Everything he did appeared awkward, and Edward got the idea that it must just be part of his personality.
He rubbed at his eyes, still smiling brightly. “I think so, yeah,” he murmured, raking a hand through his messy hair, though it didn’t do much to neaten it up. “Thank you,” he said after a short moment of silence, the ghost seeming to relax back into himself. He sank back onto the bank, his eyes still devouring Grimm, as if trying to work out if what had happened was real. “Sorry, I must’ve gotten carried away.” He rubbed at the back of his head.
“It’s been two years since I could touch anything… I think. I mean, I think it’s been two years.” He shook his head. “Can I touch other ghosts? Or is it just you?”
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