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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:14 pm
Once Jethrow had turned his back, Luke high-tailed it back to his room. He quickly bathed, washed up, and got himself in order. Now his attire for the Festival was much less attractive than his sister's fiery robes. His were an ice blue, though the bottoms looked to be based upon the pants of a samurai, and the top, well... there wasn't really a top. Just a dark blue sash, with small silver and gold medallions sewn into it. And as the eldest sibling, he had to wear a band around his head that held a large sapphire, marking him as the heir to their nonexistent kingdom. Man... How he hated wearing this... He looked like a dork....
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:24 pm
Jethrow had managed to collect his brother, his students, and the dragon, who had to be re-introduced to everyone so they would know that he was still Searan. The group walked down to the lawn of the castle, where servants had set up for Luke and Lunora's ceremony. They all sort of stood to the side. Jethrow and Anya had seen the ceremony a few times, but nobody else had, and nobody else knew what to expect.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 7:37 pm
Luke had helped with the preparations some, setting up the fire pit and the pot his sister would be skating death's blade on. Once everyone was there, Luke got onto the stage and cleared his throat. He hoped this was the only time people have to actually look at his outfit.
"I welcome you to the Summer Fire Festival, one and all! We have many attractions this year, but best of all, my sister will be performing a traditional dance of her bloodline! Until then, please partake in my sister's and my cultural festivities!" he announced in a loud voice that seemed to reach every person. And as he spoke the last words, fireworks were shot into the sky, marking the opening of the festival.
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 8:35 pm
"Lost in this world of love and war."  Demetri stood off to the side, only vaguely listening as Luke explained the festival. He saw a few people from the town coming up the hill, having been invited to the festivities as well. He heard the wolf demon say that his sister would be doing a special dance, and he looked up, before catching himself. He reminded himself that now that he wasn't a sadistic, evil wizard, he didn't need to have the same attachments he'd had when that was his mindset. I wonder if her outfit will be as... Odd as Luke's, he thought to himself, eying the traditional garb that the demon sibling wore. It was a little odd, but he thought it was nice that the two of them had strong traditional bonds with their heritage. If everything were as it seemed, life would be a dream.  Anya smiled a little as the fireworks went off, looking up at them. She remembered the last time they'd had this festival, and she'd enjoyed it very much. Especially mingling with the townspeople; they were absolutely intriguing to the faerie-demon. However, unlike the previous year, she didn't go dashing around, saying hi to all her favorite villagers. After all, it would be rather... Mean to just leave Searan standing there. Anya had made the crack decision when Searan revealed his human form to her that she wouldn't treat him any differently, in theory. Of course, she would pet his head anymore... Or tug his ears... That would just be weird. However, when she spotted the old storyteller from the town, she couldn't help but grin broadly and walk over, saying hi and giving him a gentle hug. There is much to learn in this world. To learn it, you must realize you know nothing.  Jethrow watched as Anya ran off, and took that opportunity to walk up to Searan's side. "I'm sure she'd love to introduce you to Brom," he said quietly to the dragon/butterfly/human, nodding towards the storyteller before he left Searan, seeking out Luke, instead. When he found the wolf demon, he smiled reassuringly. "The fireworks were even better than before," he said with a bit of a chuckle. "This year should go off without a hitch, even with the additional rites that Lunora has. I am but a dragon.  Searan watched the fireworks in awe. He knew what they were, since Anya had quickly explained what they were on their way down to the festival, but it still amazed him. Though, they didn't strike him as very fiery. The townspeople started to come up the hill, and he almost wanted to run. Surely, a few of them would recognize him from his escapades in the town, but he hoped they wouldn't say anything. When Anya ran to the side of Brom, Searan could almost feel himself pale. He'd spent most of that time in the town with the storyteller, but once Jethrow had told him to go over, he saw that he had no choice. As he walked over, the old man looked up, eying Searan, but he just smiled slightly, and asked Anya to introduce them. Thank god, he thought to himself.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:17 pm
Luke looked to Jethrow as the wizard approached him. Yet the wolf only smiled and nodded. "Lunora made sure they were the good stuff this year. She hated last year's." he said, siting down on a bench. "I don't doubt the peace at the festival, but what bugs me is that I have to wear this embarrassing outfit until the festival has ended." he said, shaking his head some.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:11 pm
"Lost in this world of love and war." Slightly bored, Demetri wandered the outskirts of the festival. People from the town would occasionally ask him how he'd come to the castle, talk stories about Anya and Jethrow, and laugh happily as he explained he was Jethrow's younger brother. After a particularly unpleasant conversation with a woman who had pinched his cheeks, the wizard found himself hiding behind a cluster of trees, watching as everyone else seemed to enjoy themselves. He sighed heavily, turning to face the darkness of the forest and leaned against the tree he hid behind. Long strands of his black hair fell over his face as he looked down. Why do I feel so depressed? he asked himself, staring out at the forest again. If everything were as it seemed, life would be a dream. Anya watched what looked like a silent conversation between the storyteller and Searan as he walked over. "It's good to see you, Brom," she said quietly, catching the attention of the old man, who smiled and said the sane to Anya. "Anything interesting happen in town lately?" she asked, smiling as the old man started to tell her about all the happenings of the townspeople she'd come to know by name. At each story, she reflected the proper emotion, be it shock, congratulations, sadness, etc. Throughout the stories, though, she couldn't help but notice just how much older the man looked. Her mind wandered a little, and she caught the eyes of a few villagers here and there who were also looking older, strained, worried... There is much to learn in this world. To learn it, you must realize you know nothing. Jethrow nodded, laughing a little at Luke's comment. "You only find it embarrassing because you aren't used to such an outfit. You just have to get comfortable in it," he reassured Luke. "Plus, nobody seems to be paying attention to the costume, but to the fact that it's unusual around here. It amazes the people here." With a shrug, Jethrow crossed his arms and surveyed the people enjoying the festival. "So, Lunora's rite of passage, hm?" I am but a dragon. Searan stood there with Anya and Brom, listening to the stories without really listening to them. In the shadows of the forest, he caught sight of movement, and excusing himself from the conversation, he walked over. After silently sneaking among the branches, he found himself face-to-face with a rather sad looking Demetri. Another unfamiliar feeling rose up in Searan's throat, and with some thought, he decided it was bitterness. After all, it had been Demetri who had created him and caused him to go through this recent transformation. For as hard as the hybrid tried, Searan found he could hold off the scowl that crossed his features. "Why are you skulking out here?" he asked, though he'd intended on asking if the wizard was alright.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:36 pm
Luke nodded some, getting up and stretching. "Her rite is difficult. It's just like how our mother did it. My sister will dance a specially made jar in the middle of a burning inferno. She will have to keep the flames away from her skin and the edge of her skirt, but also give a daring and soul-touching dance in the process." the demon spoke, looking to the pile of logs hidden by some shadows in awaiting for the event. "And I feel she shall touch every soul of whoever lays eyes on her." he smiled, then going back to the stage.
He hopped onto a tall pole and cleared his throat as a spotlight appeared on him. His voice, again reaching everyone, called out. "People of the Fire Festival! This is with the greatest honor that I may summon my sister to do our mother's traditional dance of passage! Let her music into your souls, and her soul into your hearts!" he said, motioning to the pile of logs which suddenly were consumed in a large fire.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 5:49 pm
"Lost in this world of love and war." Demetri opened his mouth to reply to Searan, but heard Luke announce that Lunora would be doing some special dance. He looked over his shoulder in time to see a bunch of flames pop up. Without a word to the hybrid, he started to head back towards the crowded festival, his eyes on the leaping flames. He could hear Anya talking to Searan a little behind him, and he caught Jethrow's mischevious wink at some point, but he just kept going until he reached the outskirts of the crowd. Being tall, he was able to see over the heads of the people in front of him, and he crossed his arms, watching the flames with intensity.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:01 pm
The flames danced around the logs feverishly, lapping at what it could. The fox was on the pot, keeling and hidden by a cloak, which the ends caught fire. The fox rose to her feet, swirling the burning cloth from her person as it burned to nothing above her head.
Her form was glistening as the fire revealed her every curve and decoration as she began to sway and twirl, tapping on her tambourine and the bells around her waist jingling. The edge of her crimson skirt was just tantalizing centimeters from the flames as she continued her dance, eyes ever closed, yet hitting every mark perfectly. And since Demetri was so tall, he could see every sway, every twist, every bead of glistening sweat running down her body as she danced, her long red braid whipping about in perfect time.
As the song ended, the fox waved her hand, in perfect time with her dance, and the flames extinguished themselves, the smoke forming int a fox before disappearing.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:19 pm
"Lost in this world of love and war." Demetri was frozen where he stood, watching every move that the fox demon made. Though he was aware that there was a crowd of hundreds standing before him, he couldn't seem to see anything but blackness between he and Lunora. Every movement that brought her closer to the fire made him hold his breath; every recovery caused him to sigh in relief. The smokey fox was bored into his eyes even after it disappeared and he didn't look away from Lunora. He almost strained his eyes to be able to capture her entire form in his vision at once. He wasn't sure where he should focus; her face, flushed from the effort yet still as severe as before? Or her eyes, dangerous and enticing as ever?Lower? To the perfect curves of her sides? Her feet, gracefully balancing on the ceremonial jar? Her hair, still gliding its last few inches through the air? Demetri couldn't bring himself to blink, fearing that the singular movement required to bring his eyelids down would be in the very moment that Lunora disappeared from her perch, and he'd miss her graceful departure. He felt as though it was he, not her, standing amongst high flames. His skin crawled as though he were on fire, and he wanted it to stop, but there was no way. He could feel a single drop of sweat slide down the back of his neck, and watched as, as though in time, a single bead did the same along the side of Lunora's face. First passed her temple, then drawing itself along her cheekbone, and finally slowing down at her jaw. Demetri could picture himself, his tapered white fingers, tracing the trail that the little droplet had taken, and... He pulled himself from the image. It would do him no good to think that way. Still concentrating on the girl's face, he slowly began to walk, stopping when he found himself standing in a straight line towards her. He wanted to be what she saw when she opened her eyes; and not only did he desire to be the first thing she saw when her eyes opened this once, he wanted to be the first thing again and again. Demetri wanted to be around her, talk with her, be who she ran to when things were wrong. He wanted to be the child she'd confided in, yet the man who would devote himself to her in a heartbeat. He wished he could go back in time to when she'd cried in her room, not for her tears, but so that he could stand up to his full height and wipe those tears away. He wanted to have been there and kissed her forehead, telling her it would all be okay. He wanted to hold her, and let her cry, and let her know she would always be safe with him. He wanted to see a smile come across her beautiful face for no reason at all, other than because she felt the same as he did. He wanted her to love him and desire him with all the intensity that he felt towards her, the beautiful fox demon who had burned out his heart.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:29 pm
Lunora sighed some as the applause roared around her. She smiled and gracefully got down into the ashes of the fire, walking out with the assistance of her brother who congratulated her. Though the first thing she had seen was Demetri. Why had he been standing there? She shrugged it off as her brother sat her down and went to get her something to drink.
She wiped the sweat from her forehead as she got back to her feet and stretched out her long, lean figure, resting off the difficult rite.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:41 pm
"Lost in this world of love and war." Demetri shook himself after Lunora disappeared, her brother helping her. He blinked steadily a few times, sighing deeply and running a hand through his hair. So that was what Jethrow and Anya had been talking about. He started to weave through the dispersing crowd, not hearing a singe thing except the rapid beating of his pulse in his ears. He was intending to head to the castle, but he felt a hand clamp on his arm, and he looked up, glaring at his older brother, who was now dragging him along, back towards the pile of ashes that had been a fire Lunora had danced with. "What the hell?" he hissed, but Jethrow just told him to hurry up, before Luke got back, and shoved the younger wizard out of the shadows. He managed to catch himself before he fell, and he found that he was face to face with Lunora, who was stretched out on a bench, clearly waiting for her brother. Demetri stood there for a moment, unsure of what to say. He looked over his shoulder, searching for Jethrow, but the wizard had disappeared.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:53 pm
Lunora looked to Demetri as he stumbled out of the shadows. She got off the bench and to her feet as she watched the wizard. "Nervous about something, Demetri?" she asked, a bit playfully. She could smell the nervousness about his person. But what was it for? Maybe he met a girl? Or he did something stupid... Who knows.
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:59 pm
"Lost in this world of love and war." At the sound of Lunora's voice, Demetri stiffened, and he watched as she got up. "No, why would I be?" he said quickly, intending to sound angry, or harsh, but it came out like a lie. An obvious lie. He scanned the area, and threw out a quick mind check. Evidently, Jethrow had tracked down Luke... Was he trying to stall him? Why the hell...? It struck Demetri. Jethrow was trying to be a 'good' older brother and give Demetri a chance to talk to Lunora. Of course, that was just about the worst thing in the world for Demetri. Instantly he felt jittery. He rubbed the back of his neck slowly, and looked pretty much everywhere but at Lunora. "Er, uh, that dance...was...was really something," he said lamely.
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Riding_The_Stars Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 7:03 pm
Lunora just watched him stumble over himself. She just shook her head. "It was nothing really." she said, sitting back down on the bench. She was still in her outfit as she grabbed a towel and wiped her face and neck some, glancing at Demetri.
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