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 Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 4:03 pm
Wendell sighed softly as he sat on the mattress on the floor. Invidia was nestled next to him and his book of poetry was in his lap. He had tried to write a new poem for three days now and writer's block was attacking him. He hated this, of course the suffering could be used to prompt more poetry. If only the words would come to him.
Invidia was enjoying herself as she was alone with Wendell while he tried to write his poetry. Sometimes he read it to her. It was always filled with loneliness, saddness, and usually mentioned suicide. For some reason it made her feel all warm inside, like those were things people should feel. There had also been a funeral that day so the presence of death always made the dark little orb happier.
Downstairs Wendell's parents were tidying up the main room after the body had been buried. The fall muscular form of his father was putting chairs away while the plump woman who was his mother was cleaning up the left over dishes. Both seemed far too happy to be working where they were.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 10:09 am
Korea had not been comfortable with the idea of going to a high school student's house. It seemed to her that a twenty year old had no business associating with people so much younger. Like she was asking for trouble. Ewan had laughed at her concerns and told her not to be stupid. He'd followed up with, "And I mean, don't do anything stupid, like have sex with a minor. 'Cause that's called statutory rape and it's illegal pretty much everywhere."
Korea had cracked up at his advice and felt better. She liked Wendell fairly well, and Fiero had kept at her and kept at her to go until finally she had given in. He had grown since the Future Business Owners conference. He was taller and more lithe, and his youthful pale skin had darkened to a deep tan with the coming of spring. Most interestingly, his amber eyes had darkened to garnet, which actually flattered him well, though it was an unusual coloration. His personality had developed, too, and he had become more mature, but still prone to boastfulness and brashness. It was a lot like living with a teenage boy in many respects.
At any rate, Korea found herself at the door to a funeral home with her hand poised to knock and Fiero floating behind her. He was of a height with her now when he floated. He looked around with interest and remarked to Korea, "There are dead things here."
Korea agreed softly, "There ought to be. How do you know that?"
"I just do," he said. "It's the same way I can tell Invidia's here, too, but she's upstairs. Are you going to knock?"
Korea's knuckles rapped twice on the door and the pair waited.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:03 am
A plump yet strong looking woman with greying blonde hair answered the door. She smiled merrily at the two. "Good morning! Can I help you..?" Then she blinked at Fiero. Suddenly a grand smile broke out on her face. "You must be Korea and Fiero! Oh how lovely to meet you dear!!" Thus Korea then Fiero suffers the almighty hug of happy motherness. She shuffled the two in and up to the second floor where the Van de Burg's made their home.
It was quite cherry considering Wendell's attitude. Pictures of family members and a very somber looking blonde boy decorated most of the available shelves. An older looking and black haired version of the blonde boy also decorated the place. "Oh I'm just so happy Wendell made a friend at the conference!! He needs more friends you know? Would you like something to eat or drink? And he met this interesting fellow he says Invidia will become. Quite facinating it is! His father and I can't wait to see what our little boy gets to take care of! Here's you some cookies dear. I'll go get Wendell just make yourselves at home! Weeeendeeeeeeeell" All of this was said rather fast as she bustled about then called up a flight of stairs.
Wendell blinked as he heard his mother's voice and came down stairs. He saw Korea in the grips of the over loving horror that was his mother. "Don't worry mom, she's just here to hangout. Come on up stairs, Korea." He motioned to her to follow him, if she wanted to get out of recieving a sweater or more food that is. Once they were in his room he flopped down onto his bed. The entire room was painted black with glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. Black light pictures were painted on some walls. A small desk held a computer and some bookcases had various poetry and music books as well as hand written journals. "Sorry about that. She likes new people."
Invidia seemed to sense Fiero entering the room but she stayed were she was. The heart inside her glowed a bit.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:43 pm
Korea shrugged. "No worries. My dad's a bit like that. If he notices a person, that is. He gets obsessive about his work. Your mom seems nice."
Fiero nodded his assent. "Not many people are that pleased to see me once they realize I'm not human. Even fewer hug me."
"That's because you don't wear clothes," Korea muttered. It was clearly something of an old argument.
"Ewan says I'm doing the world a service by not wearing clothes," was Fiero's retort.
"Ewan's gay! I'm not having this argument right now. We're where you wanted to go. Take advantage." Finally able to return her attention to Wendell she asked, "What's new and exciting?"
Fiero listened to their conversation, but did not join it at once. His attention was focused on Invidia. In a more subdued voice than the one he used when speaking with Korea he greeted her.
"I brought you something. Well, technically Korea brought it in her purse, but I chose it," he told Invidia.
Korea, now in the habit of listening at least in part to anything Fiero said, was already reaching for her purse to hand him the gift he'd chosen - and wrapped - for Invidia. He'd been insistant on wrapping it, even though Invidia lacked hands with which to unwrap it. It wasn't a spectacular wrapping job, but it was about what one would expect from a teenage boy.
He placed the parcel wrapped in silver giftwrap in front of Invidia and explained that it was a gift for her, and that he was only unwrapping it because she hadn't hands. When he was done divesting the thing of its shiny silver covering he had exposed a black silk handkerchief with a red drop of blood embroidered on one corner.
"You shouldn't come to someone else's house empty-handed," he said with a shrug, totally unashamed by the scene he probably created with his gift. He hadn't much shame.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:58 pm
"Clothing is merely a way to force you into the detriment of conformity and destroy your true self." Wendell felt the need to say something since Fiero seemed so content being naked while Korea demanded he get dressed. Not that he'd run around naked but hey, to each their own. At Korea's question he shrugged. "Not a whole lot. Just trying to write my poetry. I've had writer's block for three days and I know I have a poem brewing in my head. I just can't make it come out."
Invidia slowly rolled toward the strange present. She wasn't use to recieving gifts. The shiney paper seemed to intrigue her then she was presented with the black hankerchief. The drop of blood seemed to stir something within her as the heart spun wildly. She slowly rolled on top of the hankerchief. Suddenly a wave of pain, saddness, and betrayl imminated from her. Despite being an orb, she still had those horrible memories from the past. Blood, screams, pain, and the lingering feeling of death.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:08 pm
Fiero just can't win. lol.
Korea couldn't really relate, as she had given up on poetry after eighth grade, but she was sorry he was having difficulties.
"Sorry about the writer's block. How did Clara like her song?" Previous experience with English majors and writers had taught her not to offer to help with writer's block. It was just a way to get people mad at you.
Fiero watched Invidia's reaction from the corner of his eyes as he listened to Korea and Wendell converse. His gift seemed to have had the opposite effect. He'd noticed that most people liked receiving gifts, and he'd thought that the handkerchief would suit Invidia, but apparently he'd only managed to remind her of something unpleasant. He would keep trying, because that was his nature, but he would have to be more creative, he decided.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:18 pm
Wendell shrugged and placed his journal down, a blank sheet of paper staring back at him. "Such is the life of an artist. Forever surrounded by inspiration but like the fox and the grapes it is so tantilizingly out of reach."
He actually smirked a bit at the mention of Clara. "She was ever so happy to hear it, as usual. You could give her a dead squirrl and she'd think you put so much love and thought into it. She's kinda crazy that way." He took a cookie from the plate Korea had been stuck with and munched on it. "Mom will be up soon with more food. Just nod and say thank you. I give it to Max when he comes by."
Invidia calmed down after a bit. She rolled about on the dark fabric, as if in contemplation. Then she rolled over to Wendell and bumped him.
Wendell blinked and looked down at his orb. "Yes, V?"
The small orb rolled across him to the paper and rolled about on it. Then she rolled over to Fiero. Turning to "face" the boy again, she stopped to see if he got it.
Wendell blinked for a few moments then nodded. "Ok, I'll write him a poem for you."
Invidia's heart swirled a bit then stopped. Wendell had understood her. How lovely! She rolled back over to him and nested on the hankie.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:38 pm
Fiero blanched under his tan. It had not occurred to him that he would end up with a poem out of this. He'd simply been trying to show Invidia that the world didn't have to be a bad place. He decided, however, that now was not the time to say so. Another thing he'd learned from Ewan (who had been the one to teach him about not arriving empty-handed) was that you cannot attach conditions to gifts. Once they're given, they're given and the receiver takes from them whatever he or she chooses.
"You don't have to do that," he said.
Korea smiled and helped herself to a cookie. She waved the tray in front of Fiero, who grabbed a handful. He ate and ate and never seemed to gain any weight. It was disgusting, and if he wasn't so charming she'd've liked to resent him for it at the very least. But he was charming, and she was a sucker.
"The cookies are good," Fiero added around a mouthful of cookie. "And more food would be welcome."
"He's like a vacuum cleaner for organic materials," Korea said in an aside. "I'm glad she liked it, but I'm certain it had more to do with the quality and thoughtfulness of the gift than her innate ability to see the best in things."
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 6:57 pm
"It's what Invidia wants so it's what Invidia gets. Sorry Fiero." Wendell settled down and began to write. At least on request he didn't have writer's block. He thought about how Invidia and Fiero had interacted in the few times they had been together and began to write. Once he was finished, he recited the poem.
An orb swallowed by the night,
A boy bathed in morning's light.
Each alone but never apart,
They share something deep within their heart
One holds fear, saddness, and pain,
while the other has only joy to gain.
Each bares the other a gift,
so that their connection will not drift.
One gift of fabric, the other in word,
One to touch and one to be heard.
Though one is confused, difficult to feel
The boy will know when her joy is real.
With the finishing touch of on the poem, he ripped it out of the journal and handed it to Feiro. "There ya go."
Invindia rolled about a bit before rolling back over to her hankie. She twirled about until it was bunched up around her then darkened as she fell into a restful slumber.
Not a few minutes later Wendell's mother knocked on the door. "Ok lovies! I brought you all some fresh brownies, apple slices, and hot chocolate. You just let me know if you need anything else ok?" She patted Fiero on the head and tottered on out.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:55 pm
It's cute!
Fiero blushed listening to a poem written for him at someone's request being recited aloud. He had been under the impression that in any relationship it was the masculine party who was supposed to give gifts of poetry. Of course, as Korea had pointed out earlier, his main male role model was same-sex oriented. Fiero wondered if that made his advice any less valid, and decided that it didn't.
He took the poem and thought for a moment that if he had a jacket or something with pockets he might have a place to put it. Lacking such facilities, he slid it into the outside pocket of Korea's purse. She'd told him repeatedly that women didn't like having guys messing with their purses, but it had never really sunk in. He'd liked the poem, and he didn't want to lose it.
"Thanks," he said, swallowing a massive mouthful of cookie to make room for brownies.
Korea cradled her hot chocolate carefully, balancing it on her knee. She waited several moments before bringing it cautiously to her lips. Using the temperature of the mug against her lower lip as a gauge she decided that it wasn't too hot to drink and took a sip.
"Your mom's a good cook," she remarked. "And I'm impressed: not many people can be creative on demand, and fewer can do a good job at it when they do so.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:18 pm
"Mom loves to cook. I think it's the Netherlands in her, I'm forever too skinny because I won't eat meat. She complains loudly about it a the dinner table." He smirked a bit, imagining his mother still attempting to get him to eat like a proper boy. Not five minutes later his mother was back with some juice and a bowl full of animal crackers.
Wendell glanced at the sleeping orb as Korea spoke of his ability to create on demand. Yeah, it wasn't often he could do that. "Like I said, Invidia is like a muse to me. When I'm doing something because she demands it, the words just drip from my brain like crimson blood from a fresh wound. It's nice at times. I just wish I knew what she was really. Like Feiro, what will she be?" He glanced at the orb again, thoughtfullness creasing his brow.But Invidia was suddenly not asleep any more. She glowed a bright purple all of a sudden. The heart inside her orb seemed to swell and fill the glass as it shook under a mighty pressure. Then the sound came. It was soft at first, almost grating like a fly in your ear; then it grew louder and louder. The scretch filled the room, Wendell grabbed his ears as he watched his orb. Then it exploded in a burst of black smoke. The scretching stopped at the explosion. The smoke slowly cleared and a dark purple figure floated in the place Invidia had once sat. The hankie was in her hand. She glanced at everyone with bright pink eyes but remanded silent. From down stairs, Wendell's mother called up. "Goodness! Are you children alright? What was that noise?" But Wendell couldn't hear her, his ears were still ringing and his eyes were fixed on the creature his orb had become. What was she? Why did she make that noise when she grew?
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:50 pm
Fiero watched with interest as Invidia underwent a similarly startling change to that which he had experienced several months before. The sound of the explosion left his ears ringing, but a decisive head shake took care of it. Korea didn't look as though she had been so lucky. Her eyes were wide and her pupils dilated. He seemed to recall that wasn't a good reaction for human beings to have. However, his first concern was for the person who was most like him.
"Hey," he said, smiling. "What's up?"
It was, upon reflection, among the stupidest things he could have said, but he had been caught off-guard. He felt obliged to say something. Now he kind of wished he hadn't said anything. She probably had a great deal she wanted to say to Wendell without him and Korea. He'd had so much he wanted to tell Korea at first.
'Korea," he said very softly, floating close to her. He didn't get to finish his sentance because he heard Mrs. van der Berg's call up the stairs. He didn't think any of the humans present were in any shape to answer, so he floated past Korea and called down the stairs, "Invidia's grown."
Again, not what he had intended to do, but at least he was showing some sort of maturity, from his point of view.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 7:59 pm
Mrs. Van de Burg trotted up the stairs, wiping the flour from her hands. "Oh my! So she did! And what a loud noise that was! Ha ha! Why I believe I know the answer my dear Wendell has been looking for!"
Wendell blinked as he finally recovered himself and stood up. He looked at Invidia for a moment then turned to his mother. "What...what do you mean mother?"
The plump woman had a twinkle in her eye. She trotted over to Wendell's bookcase and pulled a book of mythology out. Pulling her son closer to Korea she showed them both a picture of a creature up in a tree near a graveyard. "Why she's a banshee lovey! Oh I should have known of course considering where we work! You see, they hang around places because people are going to die. So what better home than a furneral home! Ha ha! And what a lovely little Banshee she is! Oh but don't let her talk though, as you heard she won't be choir girl by any means. But perhaps you can teach her sign language. OH! My meatloaf!! Must run lovies!" With that she trotted back down the stairs and continued cooking.
Wendell just blinked as he looked at the book then looked at Invidia. She was a banshee? And she couldn't talk? At first he had always though muses were great speakers who's words inspired the heights of artistic ability. But basically Invidia would have to be mute or cause pain.....wait....a mute muse....how truly heart rendering. Maybe she really was a muse for his art.
Invidia just blinked at Fiero, unsure of what to do. She knew she couldn't speak back to him less she hurt Wendell again. What was it those humans did to greet each other. Oh yes. She lifted her hand and waved. She was more surprised at his dumpy mother's realization of what she was but then again banshees weren't hard to figure out.
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:15 pm
Korea's ears were still in a deep, aching state of pain, but she was recovering. Automatically, she waved back at Invidia. She'd kind of registered what Wendell's mother told him about Invidia. A banshee. She knew very little about fantasy creatures, but she seemed to recall banshees were some kind of Celtic or Gaelic myth. It explained a lot about what she'd observed of Invidia.
"You can't talk," he said wonderingly.
Korea was shaking her head, trying to discourage Fiero from pursuing that train of thought any further. The emo boy and his banshee hardly needed more depressing things to occupy their thoughts.
"Can you read or write?" It didn't occur to him that it would be difficult to teach someone who was forced to be mute to read. Or, it would be difficult to determine whether she could read or not, since she couldn't read aloud. "That could help."
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Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 8:24 pm
Invidia shook her head "no" that she couldn't talk. Her dark hair was wild about her face and seemed to take on a life of it's own as she moved her head. Sshe wouldn't talk unless it was to defend herself or to repay an unkindness. To his other question she once agian shook her head "no".
Despite her memories of her past life, skills were something she hadn't carried over. Each body was new and she had to master it before she could do anything. She floated over to the older creature and just looked at him for amoment. He seemed generally concerned about her, but it could just be a trick to hurt her later.
Wendell gave his head one more shake to free himself from the ringing then looked to the elf his banshee seemed to be examining. "Don't worry Feiro, I'll teach her sign language. Then she can at least speak without making our ears bleed. Are you ok, Korea?" He looked to the girl next to him with his one green eye. He hadn't expected to be gifted with a headache from his orb exploding. Maybe from his music but not from his orb. He wondered briefly how Clara and Max's orb would grow.
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