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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:26 pm
Lucid shrugged lightly.
"I suppose I will start with what has been weighing on your mind." he said, turning back to face the water. "I am first and foremost the protector of all who come to this place. Lyra is no exception to this. I have been working very hard to not only ensure her safety here within the castle, but also outside it. There are hunters after her, and someone is paying a lot of money to have her found. As of yet, she does not recall who might be after her, or she won't tell me, which is making this all the more difficult." He watched another dolphin jump, flip, then collide with the water again in a splash. "Then there is Arjay and his sword. He really wants to be rid of it, yet at the same time, he refuses to allow me to simply destroy the cursed piece of s**t. I am going to have to pick a time when he is not under it's watchful eye, so to speak, and then give the man a serious wake up call." He heaved another small sigh, wishing that such things did not have to rest on his plate. Hiratoshi was proving to be quite a burden even to those not carrying it. "I am simply overwhelmed with sudden duties, Seth. I assure you, there is nothing more to my stress than that. I ask that you please put your worry for me to rest as there is nothing to worry about."
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:31 pm
Seth snorted at that last request, he didn't even attempt to stifle it, knowing that Lucid's mind link with him was far to strong.
"It doesn't please me that you've been listening in on my thoughts, however I cannot simply cease to worry about you. You are the only family I have ever truly had and care for...is it so hard for you to realize tat now that I am older I might actually be of help to you with such matters now. I am a hunter as well." he added softly, wanting to do something to ease the terrible burden that his master carried.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:44 pm
Lucid gave him a sideways glance.
"Has it ever occurred to you that you wear your worry in your eyes whenever you look at me?" he asked quietly, in defense of himself. He didn't have time for dwelling in other people's thoughts. Not when his own were so overwhelming. He gave credit to the fact that he knew Seth better than Seth realized sometimes. Shrugging the offensive statement off then, he nodded in agreement with the hunter part of Seth's words. It was true that Seth was a hunter, and a great one at that. But some small part of Lucid wanted to keep him out of this as much as possible. That part of him said that Seth was still just a kid in Lucid's care, a kid that needed protection from all of the dangers in the world. Lucid figured that there would always be that part of himself that wanted that, even though Seth was no longer a child but a full grown man. "You are my son, adopted or not, and in my own way, I love you. I would rather lose all of my limbs than see you get hurt trying to fight my battles for me. I know you want to help, but it is not your burden to bear, thus you shouldn't have to bear it."
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:51 pm
Seth sighed, and automatically moved to place himself beside Lucid.
"I stand with you...I always have and I always will. And if it were my burden to bear you would try to take as much of it from me as possible, regardless of if you had your own. You raised me...quite well might I add. Is it so hard to believe that I have grown to be like you in that aspect?" he asked quietly. He knew Lucid would always try to shiled him. but he didn't think his father realized how tired or weary he looked, or how much pain and despair showed in his own gaze. Seth knew he would do anything...anything to ease that look of suffering.
"I came home because something called me here...it was you and I'm not leaving. I can help you and I will...regardless of anything else. It would just be easier if you would accept the help." he added quietly.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:07 pm
Lucid sighed heavily, closing his eyes for a moment. Seth was right. If their roles were reversed, he would be trying to help however he could, too. It wasn't fair that he didn't allow his only son to help him in this. When he opened his eyes, he glanced over at Seth, his face carefully guarded.
"Alright, you win. Go find out what you can about whoever is behind those posters you showed me." he said quietly, giving up his fight. "But be careful, Seth, if these people can shell out enough money to make me look poor, they will be hiring the best of the best."
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:20 pm
Seth didn't smile, but he did feel his heart lighten, and was glad for the chance to test his skills as well as prove them to the man he loved as his father. Nodding, he let his arms drop to his sides and met Lucid's gaze with his own.
"I can do that." he said softly, a glint of determination shining in his eyes. Looking up at the sky, he whistled for Talon and smiled when the bird circled above them with a low cry.
"Come on old friend...we are going hunting." Seth's voice had taken on a hard edge laced with fury that someone had dared to threaten someone his father considered family and under his protection. That made them a part of Seth's family. Shifting, the large dragon easily lifted into the air and moved off into the distance.
Talon circled once more, his cry echoing across the night sky.
:He will do all in his power to avoid letting you down, and allowing himself to be seriously hurt he would think of as a disappointment to you. Do not worry so, the last thing you need is another burden to bear. I will watch over him:
With the reassure Talon winged higher into the air and moved off after the dragon demon, knowing that both his and his masters link to Lucid stretched for miles. Lucid would know should one of them become gravely injured.
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Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:28 pm
Lucid smiled, watching as they disappeared into the dark sky. That would not only help him greatly, but it would also give Seth something to take his mind off of the worries that seemed to plague him. And, Lucid thought as he moved toward the castle, it got Seth out of the castle in case dealings with Hiratoshi got ugly. The next order of business was to go find Alustria and chat with her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:19 pm
Ali sat at the bar, sipping on her wine. Gabriel had said that Lucid would meet her here. She had finished her soup, picked up her bowl and walked around the bar to the sink. She was her bowl and returned to her sit. She knew that Lucid had to be a very busy man, she was very patient.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:31 pm
Stepping into the dim neon glow of the lounge area, Lucid surveyed the female sitting placidly at the bar. It occurred to him that his expression was one of exhaustion after the small tiff he had just endured with Seth. He quickly masked this with a neutral expression and strode easily into the lounge, stepping up to the bar and around to stand on the opposite side as the woman.
"I assume you are Alustria?" he said, biting back the urge to call her Ali of the Elf Folk as his demon had. He highly doubted she was an elf, judging by her 'feel', but looking at her it was easy to assume. Gabriel meant no harm, of course, but the nickname was rather amusing. Turning his attention back to the woman, he kept his expression blank.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 6:40 pm
Ali was relieved to see Lucid. There was an air of mystery about him that drew her to him. "Please, call me Ali." her sweet voice asked. She could see the stress in his face. He looked as if he would collapse of exhaustion. "If this is a bad time, we can talk later. I'm not sure if you usually have this many quests, but I assume that to be false from what Gabriel had implied." she offered. Ali did not want to be a burden on anyone, especially someone who had been so kind to her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:07 pm
Lucid put on a slight smile, reaching under the bar for a bottle of bloodwyne. He pulled this and a goblet up, setting both on the counter.
"If it were a bad time, I would not have ventured in here to speak with you." he said shortly, pouring himself some of the dark liquor. "My Pet told me that you wished an audience with me." Lifting the goblet to his lips, he took a sip, watching her over the brim of it through cool, pale blue eyes.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:16 pm
Ali watched the mysterious man carefully. She was not sure what to say. "Yes, I did want to speak with you." she replied taking another sip of her wine. Her lavender eyes meet Lucid pale blue hue, they took her breath for a split second. "I wanted to ask you a favor." she slowly began, unable to move her gaze. "I have no where to go. I just wondered if I could stay here for now. I'm willing to work for my room in board." she continued. Lucid's eyes still holding her captive, as if he were reading her thoughts.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:53 pm
The very idea that Lucid would make any guest work for the right to refuge in his home was laughable. He kept a guarded expression though.
"You are free to stay here so long as you cause me and the other guests no trouble." he said, downing the contents of the goblet.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:09 pm
Ali held back her composure very well. Inside she was excited and thrilled, but her outward appearance was revealing. "Thank you. I will do my best not to cause any trouble." she said. Ali was very quite and observant. She was never one to look for trouble. "What can I do to repay your hospitality?" she questioned. Her father taught her that nothing was ever free and she was not afraid of hard work.
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Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:18 pm
Lucid considered that for a moment, then shrugged lightly.
"Just don't make trouble." he said, then moved away from the bar toward the door. He had felt a slight disturbance somewhere south of the castle, in the mountains, that needed his attention. He usually wouldn't have even cared, but with the threat on Lyra and himself lately, he could take no chances. Before he had even reached the door, he had evaporated into a thin shadow and vanished.
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