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 Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:10 pm
Anya winced as she closed the den door behind her, taking care to make sure that except for the almost inaudible click of the latch, that it was silent. She hesitated as she stepped into the room, bobbing her head almost frantically as if to make up for any misdemeanor.
"Anna, isn't it? The cook?" the voice was throaty, and full of life as the Mistress looked up from what looked like different types of invitation cards. "Be quick Anna, whatever it is. The steward just informed me of the cutbacks the Master has arranged on everything except for financing the the defenses around this estate." Anya peeked up from under her bowed head and saw the heavy scowl that marred the fine features.
"Mistress." she began, keeping her voice neutral and trying to strengthen it. She was the cook, after all. She wasn't just a simple serf who worked in the kitchens. She had to try to draw some strength from that "I have been met by a guard who wishes me to relay the news that our food cart has gone missing." she let it out, all out as if speaking of it terribly quickly would lessen the impact of the words. "Our cart that was to arrive today never showed, and it appears it might have been attacked by bandits."
The heavy silence that punctuated her words unnerved Anya enough that she dared to look up. The Mistress' face was one of thought, not of immediate anger and so the cook took solace in this, trying to still herself so as not to draw attention.
"These attacks... are growing in frequency." she began with a frown. "I don't understand if it is our guards who are growing lax or the bandits who are growing fierce."
It was not her place to speak, so she simply looked at the ground, hesitating. And yet... "If it pleases you..." she began, stopping to see if she would be interrupted. The silence that met her words was approval enough to have her speak. "The guard has suggested that perhaps the great houses should rally for another shipment... " it was not as if money was the concern to them, the way it was for the rest of the people. "Perhaps... perhaps?"
The mistress sighed. "Anna." she rebuked. "You know nothing of the financial manners of this House. Simply deal with the fact that you have a set amount of supplies for the food and i will deal with the rest with the steward."
Anna bobbed again in a bow and a curtsy, taking this for a dismissal. She walked towards the door, keeping her head bowed. It had not gone that badly, had it? A simple rebuke. Perhaps the day was looking up.
Perhaps.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 12:48 am
Syrin’s eyes grew in delight and he surged forward to go to the window as the adults talked their heavy talk. With eager little hands he traced the melting ice, pausing only for a moment when he found it cold. But cold or no it amused him and he patted his small palms against the pane, making blocky little prints of clear amid the slush.
Feyd’s gazed flickered between Adalei and Elliot. He remembered the name they had told him in the Room, though he had never spoken it. Seeing how the… ice fairy reacted he wasn’t sure he ever would want to. Letting his eyes drop to Syrin, now dragging his fingers experimentally about, Feyd frowned worriedly. He didn’t want his other Self to leave, not yet. "And if he never remembers?"
When ice gone, his fingers sopping and cold, Syrin looked up at Elliot, eyes and bright as the youth’s were distant. “Can I do that?” he wanted to know. “Will you teach me?”Grondax Grondax made his way into Kensington to collect his dues from the small herbal business he had funneled supplies to. After collecting the bars of metal into a briefcase he made his way toward the theater. Approaching the theater he knocked on the door. It took a moment, but the door soon opened a crack. A young man with sandy blond hair filled the space, glancing warily over Grondax and the streets beyond. “Has the rioting stopped?” he murmured, more to himself than anyone. Not waiting for an answer he looked the new arrival over and stepped back a pace, swinging the door wider. “You’re here to see Master Raither then?” Again, it was a rhetorical question. The young man, who’s name was Lutis, had already deduced this from Grondax’s very appearance, his dress, his stance. Here was a Marsalles man, and therefore he must want a Raither.
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 3:13 pm
Aaric Feyd’s gazed flickered between Adalei and Elliot. He remembered the name they had told him in the Room, though he had never spoken it. Seeing how the… ice fairy reacted he wasn’t sure he ever would want to. Letting his eyes drop to Syrin, now dragging his fingers experimentally about, Feyd frowned worriedly. He didn’t want his other Self to leave, not yet. "And if he never remembers?"
When ice gone, his fingers sopping and cold, Syrin looked up at Elliot, eyes and bright as the youth’s were distant. “Can I do that?” he wanted to know. “Will you teach me?”
As Elliot chatted with Syrin, the two masters continued sharing words together. "Oh, your little boy will remember things on his own, for sure" Adalei said. "He may need your help at times, because it's a struggle to recover an Actor's memories once they've started living on this side. But if he couldn't remember anything at all, then..." Adalei shrugged. "An Actor without his memories might be just as weak as a human... Or worse. An Actor without his identity might be more like a pet than a person; he'll need his master to give him commands for every little thing he does. It's best to let them have a little freedom, but it's best to achieve some kind of balance."
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Posted: Wed Sep 09, 2009 4:40 pm
Aaric It took a moment, but the door soon opened a crack. A young man with sandy blond hair filled the space, glancing warily over Grondax and the streets beyond. “Has the rioting stopped?” he murmured, more to himself than anyone. Not waiting for an answer he looked the new arrival over and stepped back a pace, swinging the door wider. “You’re here to see Master Raither then?” Again, it was a rhetorical question. The young man, who’s name was Lutis, had already deduced this from Grondax’s very appearance, his dress, his stance. Here was a Marsalles man, and therefore he must want a Raither. Grondax looked through the small crack in the door and slowly adjusted his collar. He then picked up his pocket watch and looked at the time before steadily looking back at the stage hand. "Yes," Grondax intoned sternly, "I believe your master is expecting me. I have a matter to attend to for which he is uniquely qualified. Please, direct me to him."
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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 5:15 am
Anya hurried towards the main door of the estate, her feet silent against the worn marble. She glanced back, wondering if she was supposed to tell the steward how the meeting had gone: but it didn't matter now. She had abided by her side of the agreement to the Lieutenant, and now it was his turn to help her find her children. She wondered if he was still here. If he had tired and had gone home, or if he was true to his words and he was still waiting outside. She had not taken as much time as she had expected, and it gone smoothly. There were no new arrangements needed, no new plan that had to be formed. She was free now to leave the estate and see if her children had gone far.
With another absent shake of her head, she pulled at the large main doors, letting out a small grunt. It was harder to open these without the proper leverage, and strong as she might be, she was still a small(ish) woman.
Pulling her weight back, she opened the left side and slipped through before it could crash close behind her, looking around for the Lieutenant. She was back. She had no plans, but how hard could it be? Mothers instinct should stand for something.
They could not have gotten too far so early. She was positive (positive!) that if she just made her way to the noisiest happenings in the main districts, she would find her children.
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:12 am
Valerius blinked a few moments, adjusting once more to the outdoor light. There he was, standing on the stoop again, still waiting for Madam Wilkes to return.
Had it all been a dream? Surely not. He hardly ever dreamed, and when he did, it was certainly not about men in strange rooms with ghosts around the ceiling...
A small weight in his arms shifted, and he resisted the urge to jump. The child, still tucked awkwardly in his arms, had decided to nibble on one of his shirt buttons and was stretching in such a way that Valerius had to adjust his grip to keep the little boy from sliding onto the floor.
It had been real, hadn't it? But how much of it was real? He looked at the boy trying to eat his clothes. He certainly didn't look like he was a guardian of anyone's Underworld. Valerius frowned, gently tugging his button out of the baby's mouth. The child promptly latched onto his sleeve instead. What on earth had been that man's purpose?
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:34 am
Saint-Cinq The child promptly latched onto his sleeve instead. What on earth had been that man's purpose?
Anya stepped out the main doors of the estate and felt something inside her chest ease once she saw the form standing by the stoop. So the man hadn't left her alone, he hadn't decided to pursue some other group of ruffians. She smiled then, feeling... confident. Yes. One thing had been complete. Now with this man, surely she was going to complete the other. Surely she'd find her children now.
"I apologize for taking so long." she called out, hurrying her steps so that she could reach him quickly. "But the Mistress has stated that she will deal with the issue." she frowned then, remembering how she had been berated for trying to solve a problem that was above her station.
No. She'd forget about that for now. There was no point on focusing on the little annoyances.
"But I am here now, and if... if you would not mind seeking my children with me still." her words were fumbled as she paused, frowning as she arrived next to him to see the odd way his sleeve was being tugged. Had the lieutenant picked something up? Or was he holding onto something that was causing his shirt to bunch up in that manner?
What the...
She peeked over, and her eyes widened.
What...?
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 10:12 pm
Kael gave out a very deep sigh as he came to the realization, Alyson needed a diaper, and before she did something to ruin her clothes. He shook his head a couple times before he took Alyson into a different room where he examined and dug through a variety of closets and chests of clothing. He shook his head again and gave out a cold laugh as he managed to find a chest, a small one though, that had children clothes, and swaddling diaper clothes.
Now that was found, he took it out and moved himself and Alyson to another room where he collected whatever what her could and gave the two of them a sip of water. This was a stepping stone into the next room where he set down in a chair before a table. He set Alyson on a table and began undressing her to put the diaper onto her.
The hardest of all part was here...How do you put a diaper on...when you've never even seen it done? He looked at the diaper like a strange origami project.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:29 am
Once inside, Eli stood in the center of the tidy stable, collecting his thoughts. Lyra had meandered to the crude bench that stretched one wall and was arranging the already perfect feathers. Eli had become, alas, quite the obsessive perfectionist. Once he noticed what his Other was doing, inspiration struck. "Why, Lyra... d'ya wanna learn how'da make a dream catcher?" Now that she was a bit older, Eli couldn't think of any harm in teaching her a thing or two.
Lyra's eyes brightened as she looked up from her task. "I'd love to, Eli Indigo!" she exclaimed, grasping his arm in excitement.
The young man winced at his full name. He wasn't used to hearing it. "Lyra, yew c'n call me by jus' Eli. Puttin' Indigo on th'end is somethin' yew do fer strangers er people yew really, really respect." Well, hopefully that was plain enough.
Lyra's quizzical expression proved that it wasn't as she replied, "But I really, really respect you."
He grinned, squeezing her into a hug. "Yeah, but we know each other too well fer such fermalidies."
After a pause, Lyra pushed that thought aside for later and insisted Eli show her how to make that dream catcher; so, as light filtered through the holes in the rudimentary canvas walls, the pair settled down on the dirt floor admist small, insignificant scrappings of leather and unidentified bird feathers. Mutt continued to sit by the art on the end wall of the stables, sniffing about and the like.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:56 am
Grondax Grondax looked through the small crack in the door and slowly adjusted his collar. He then picked up his pocket watch and looked at the time before steadily looking back at the stage hand. "Yes," Grondax intoned sternly, "I believe your master is expecting me. I have a matter to attend to for which he is uniquely qualified. Please, direct me to him." Lutis raised his brow languidly at the little business the Marsalles man made with his watch, but he said nothing. Instead he stepped back to let the man into the grand foyer. "Follow me," he intoned, setting off. From the foyer he lead Grondax through another door and into a side hall where the plush carpets and marble became simple, polished wood. By this it was clear they were leaving the main theater for the complex was large and that area was only needed for the productions the rest of theater live happened else where. The walk was uneventful, halls of wood and doors, save once when they happened upon a young boy who was busily cleaning a window. At his feet were a few planks and tacks, it appeared the window had been boarded up for the riot. "Emil," called Lutis as they passed. "Go find Feyd." Pass a door and at the end of a hall, they entered a handsome office dominated by a heavy mahogany desk. Lutis motioned Grondax into one of the chairs before the desk. "Please have a seat. Master Raither will be here shortly." Chiaku Elliot ruffled Syrin's hair with one hand, letting the boy feel the coldness of his fingers. "It's a bit of talent reserved for frost fairies." He winked. "I'm sure there will be many things you'll be able to do that I can't. Each one of us is unique. You've gotta figure out the thing that you--and only you--can do." He gave the younger Actor an excited smile, then leaned close to whisper in his ear. "When you figure it out, promise you'll show me first before anyone else, Ok?"
As Elliot chatted with Syrin, the two masters continued sharing words together. "Oh, your little boy will remember things on his own, for sure" Adalei said. "He may need your help at times, because it's a struggle to recover an Actor's memories once they've started living on this side. But if he couldn't remember anything at all, then..." Adalei shrugged. "An Actor without his memories might be just as weak as a human... Or worse. An Actor without his identity might be more like a pet than a person; he'll need his master to give him commands for every little thing he does. It's best to let them have a little freedom, but it's best to achieve some kind of balance."
If Syrin had been disappointed that he couldn't learn the trick that disappointment had passed. Now he was all aglow, his little face beaming excitedly as he made his pact with Elliot. "I promise," he said with all the earnestness of a child. He hoped he would figure it out soon, this something that only he could do.
It seemed to be the trend though, that Feyd's conversations were never so happy. "He will never be a pet," vowed Feyd. He could not want that for his other Self, he wouldn't let that happen nor would he let him become... a monster? Or whatever it was that Actors became when they become themselves completely. Feyd had seen the look in Elliot's eyes change when his name was mentioned. It had been... chilling, though the moment had passed and now he whispered with happy Syrin. Regarding the two Feyd's expression set resolutely. "I will do my best."
Abruptly he lifted his head. Beyond the walls of the storage room he heard a call: his name.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:14 am
ikshiva "But I am here now, and if... if you would not mind seeking my children with me still." her words were fumbled as she paused, frowning as she arrived next to him to see the odd way his sleeve was being tugged.
He tried to proceed with business as usual, nevermind that the child was edging its way out of his grasp and seeming to enjoy the texture of Valerius' belt. "As stated, Madam Wilkes, I consider it a privilege to work with you in the seeking of your children. If your Mistress is well at ease, then let us be off."
Walking around with this little one was going to be more of a challenge than he had thought...
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:13 am
Saint-Cinq "As stated, Madam Wilkes, I consider it a privilege to work with you in the seeking of your children. If your Mistress is well at ease, then let us be off."
Was that a child? Anya tilted her head and tried to pay attention to the words. All she managed to get from them was that the man was still willing to help her. Which was a good thing, really: she wouldn't be able to do this alone. Especially if her children had managed to make it to some of the more dangerous areas outside the estates. She nodded, torn now as she watched the pale haired child. He was a bit unusual looking, and she hadn't seen the little mite with the lieutenant before. Perhaps someone had come by, and had dropped off their own child. Perhaps the man had found the little boy on the Estate. Except...
Well. Was he teething drastically? Her lips quirked into a smile as she nodded her head, reaching inside her many pockets as she looked for something to give the little boy. She had no doubt that a child would barely make a dent into clothing or other accessories, but surely it could not be good for the teeth? Her eldest had come down with a bad infection in the mouth after teething on old leather.
"Thank you sir." she murmured, pausing as she realized her pockets were still empty. This would not do: besides, selfishly, she wanted the guard's attention on her own children, not distracted by the mite in his arms. If he was not paying attention properly, then she would only be taking half a guard with her on this expedition.
"If you would not mind, sir, would you like to accompany me back to the kitchens first? Perhaps we have some strips of cinnamon bark, or hard bread to give the child." there was amusement in her expression, uncontrolled amusement as a mother. "Something to teeth on, if that is what is required?"
She wouldn't ask: although the question was scripted on her face. She couldn't risk angering him, and it wasn't any of her business what the lieutenant did.
But it was very curious. A child, now? From when? Surely she had not taken that long.
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 6:47 am
Event for Ikshiva!! .:: [ . EVENT FOR ANYA . ] ::.  As Anya turned a corner towards the kitchen, the familiar corridor before her was swept into darkness, the air suffocatingly stale. The end of the hall seemed to stretch towards an infinite abyss.
A hooded woman crouched over a tattered rug thrown across the floor, a single candle burning bright nearby. She seemed to be concentrating on a set of cards that lay in straight lines before her. These did not seem like normal playing cards, but instead had illustrations of various symbols and unfamiliar images.
"Come here, mistress," she said, her voice somehow strong and commanding despite her hunched, sickly form. "The cards show that your fate will soon take a new course. Why don't you take a look...?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 7:28 am
ikshiva "If you would not mind, sir, would you like to accompany me back to the kitchens first? Perhaps we have some strips of cinnamon bark, or hard bread to give the child." there was amusement in her expression, uncontrolled amusement as a mother. "Something to teeth on, if that is what is required?"
Having a child in these times as a single man was either evidence of being a widower, an orphan catcher, or a man who'd visited a tavern and was now stuck with the result of his indiscretion. He could hardly see any of those things as being likely enough for him to pretend naturally, and usually when nothing fits, people assume the worst.
He wrested the small piece of paper in his pocket away from the little boy's grasp and tucked it deeper into his jacket. For some reason, his heart had sped up when he'd seen it getting closer to that small mouth. Perhaps the child was hungry? He couldn't ask for food from this house, surely not after the disaster with the supplies cart, so that meant another night trying to scrounge for what he could, this time for two people instead of his usual one.
So intent on trying to get the paper away from the boy (who had settled back into mouthing his cuff placidly) Valerius wasn't watching when Anya made the turn past the corner. To him, accustomed to wide spaces or the familiar layout of his shop's attic, the house looked like a maze, a dozen paths sprawling out before him. He could track her down (probably), but he might run into an angry lord or lady, who would be none too pleased that he had wandered into their house as well as lost their food.
Valerius' stomach growled. He couldn't handle being in the kitchens anyway. His duty was to inform those of the house of their loss and find Anya's children, not beg for scraps from an already hurting family. Though, he had to admit, if they could spare the cinnamon bark, he'd much appreciate it. So he waited in the foyer, trying to get his child to sit still.
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Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2009 9:15 am
Kale finally figured out the diaper after much, much trial and error. He got the rest of Alyson's clothing back on before he picked her back up into his arms. He glanced around at everything he had before he sighed and had a thought. There was no toys here for a child, but the theater might have something that'd work.
If he could smile, Kale didn't show it as the thought came to him. He shook his head clear and was out of the church and through his hidden byways through the city. It didn't take him too long, he'd lived and snuck through this city his whole life, he knew the quickest and stealthiest ways from the bone yard out to other areas, even the theater.
He then gave a brief sigh before he moved up to the door and knocked. He had a few pouches of somewhat fresh fruit and veggies hidden on his person that he was planning to use to barter with for toys from the Theater master. What was his name again? Oh yes, Feyd.
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