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 Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:30 am
Jay was once again sat in the restaurant he had been when he had first met a small group of orb owners, though this time Merethist sat across from him, grown up and happily ordering a whole range of sweet treats to eat. Jay couldn't help a smile that flickered across his face as he placed his order, sipping at his coffee thankfully. It seemed an age since that time when he had first made friends, both he and Merethist had children of their own.
"Jay! Guess what I found the other day!" Merethist said, breaking his inner monologue. The blonde looked up with a smile. "What, Mere?" He asked curiously as Merethist started digging in his bag, pulling out a whole array of things he had hidden since he had been an Orb. "Is that a rabbit's foot?" He asked, pointing to a strange keychain. Merethist nodded, grinning. "Yeah! and there are mints, ribbons and other things I got given!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:58 pm
Carmaic followed Sterling indoors, grateful to be out of the unforgiving sunlight. Sterling was meeting a blind date, and so they would not be sitting together. Carmaic was there to act as Sterling's wingman, as Sterling put it. It was his job, basically, to watch for Sterling's signal once the girl showed up and interfere if necessary. The signal was for Sterling to tug on his left earlobe. Sterling sat at the counter, where he could watch the door. Carmaic seated himself after a fashion. Being a corsea, it wasn't exactly easy to sit, but he'd had a very long time to practice and perfect the skill. He was in the corner farthest from the windows and their hateful sunlight. From this point, he could also see the whole restaurant.
His attention was caught at once by a very beautiful...something with long hair the color of a pale rose sitting across the table from a young man. He wasn't entirely sure if the pink-haired figure was male or female based on form or posture, or even demeanor, though the rummaging through a bag was a distinctly feminine trait. What caught his eye, more than anything else, was a distinct sense that he was looking at another of the orb born in the final stage of its growth, when one no longer trails ribbons. He frowned and looked back at Sterling while arranging his borrowed raincoat to better conceal his ribbons. In instances like this, he missed the desert garb he had experienced with his first human companion. It covered far more skin.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:31 pm
Merethist all at once felt his senses flooded by a distinctly....unhuman aura. He shifted bright pink eyes around to try and spot the source, not even paying attention to the sweet parfait that was set on the table before him by a maid. Jay was already munching demurely on some fries. "Ay..." Merethist murmured, his gaze finally picking out the source of the aura. Jay broke his gaze away from his plate, a french fry dangling from his lips. He tugged it away. "What is it?" He asked, blinking as Merethist rose from his seat.
"I'll be back, Ay." He said, sidling out from his seat to walk over to the person who was obviously still in adolescence. "Hello, can I sit down?" He asked brightly, his plate of parfait held in one hand. Signalling he was happy enough to barge in on strangers. Jay blinked as he watched Merethist, looking a little concerned. The other had not lost his ability to be innocently forward.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:16 pm
Carmaic blinked, appreciative to the other non-human for coming over and blocking the sunlight, which was killing his eyes, even though his dark glasses. Drow simply weren't meant for daylight excursions. Surface raiders were insane. Without dislodging the hood pulled up to further shade his face and protect the delicate skin on his ears, he nodded.
"Please," he said, inviting the pink-eyed person to join him. "Your companion may join me, too, if he'll sit between me and the sun."
He was making an effort to be pleasant. Sterling had said it would be good for him to meet other people besides the household staff, and had been distinctly unimpressed when Carmaic pointed out that he had managed to befriend the cats. Carmaic felt that was an achievement of note, but apparently Sterling didn't count cats as persons. He wondered if the cats would like Sterling so much if they knew. He didn't plan to tell them, of course.
"I'm Carmaic Tyrsinth," he said, introducing himself. "Would I be correct in assuming that you're one of the orb born?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:34 pm
Merethist happily sat down when allowed and picked up a fork, cutting off a piece of his parfait. "Would you like some?" He asked with a smile, beckoning Jay over. Jay shrugged and got up, dragging his and Merethist's bags over after he had finished his food. "Hello, sorry if he's been bugging you." He apologised, ignoring the pouting look Merethist sent to him. "I've grown up since I last was in here." He said defiantly, stabbing his fork into the centre of his parfait.
"Oh, yesh I am. My name is Merethist and I have no last name as of yet." Merethist finally answered Carmaic politely. "Your first name sounds like Caramel, it's cute." Merethist was ever the ditz. He wasn't used to company outside of Prince Charming's court, he wasn't used to being aboveground either and the new clothes Jay had given him were far different from his dress. "You aren't fully mature yet, are you?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:59 pm
Carmaic was taken aback when the second person - a human being - came over and referred to Merethist as "he." He had believed that the other orb born, Merethist, was female. Clearly he had drawn some mistaken conclusions, though he couldn't see how, exactly. All evidence pointed to femininity. Ah well. There were strange sorts in all the worlds, and he was not put here to judge. He wouldn't even know how to judge most of the crazies he'd met in his ridiculously long life.
He nodded politely to the human being. "He hasn't been...bugging me. It's a pleasure to meet others like myself."
He wasn't sure how he felt about his name being "cute." It could be worse, he supposed. Sterling had pointed out that it sounded like the name of a chain of movie theatres which was famous all over the East Coast of the United States, though the local cinema was, apparently not of that company.
"I'm...different," Carmaic said, to answer Merethist's question. "I did not finish maturing before I returned to the Underground, where I lived as I am for...some time. I was...reassigned."
There were many pauses as he tried to think how best to put things. How to put things so it wouldn't hurt him to think about it. He was getting better about the whole thing, but it was still difficult sometimes.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:15 pm
Merethist smiled pleasantly at Carmaic, obviously unaware of his gender confusing the other. He dug in at his parfait again, happily munching the treat inbetween snippets of conversation. "You haven't met many yet, right? You should meet Nishi's pets. Lots of them live in this town." Merethist commented with a happy chirp. After the parfait was finished he pushed the plate to the side.
"Caramel." Merethist said, giving the drow a nickname without consent, as was his habit. At least they were full names now. "Who do you live with then? I've never seen a corsea on their own." he asked,m twirling a piece of candyfloss pink hair around his finger. He listened to Carmaic, frowning. "Really? I was only put in an orb cos I was murdered before."
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:27 pm
Carmaic tried not to flinch at the use of an un-asked for nickname. He really wasn't good with people. Among the drow he was held in a level of respect and awe, even fear on occasion. No one gave him nicknames. Even Sterling had not tried shortening his name, and Sterling dared many things. At this thought, he glanced over at Sterling, his charge and companion, who had just stood up to greet a pretty young girl, short and slim with long, dark hair.
"That boy over there, with the unruly hair," he said, nodding toward Sterling. "His name's Sterling. I live with him, courtesy of the Goblin King's eccentricities. I suppose Jareth didn't want me to remain a corsea for the rest of my life. The drow do lead long lives, after all."
He had not ordered anything to eat, and was not hungry. The sunlight was giving him a colossal headache. If he didn't get some darkness soon, he was going to heave up his lunch.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:35 pm
Merethist smiled at Carmaic when the other kicked up no fuss over the nickname, he ordered a milkshake. "Do you want a drink, Caramel?" He asked politely, looking to Jay who seemed to be intrigued with watching Sterling after Carmaic pointed him out. "Well, at least you'll be able to grow up." Jay commented, wondering why he'd dragged Carmaic out, the other looked unwell.
"Are you okay?" Merethist asked, shifting a little to block some more sunlight out for Carmaic. He was aware of drow and their way of life. So the other being out in daylight was a shock to him. It really was. "You should go find shade."
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:39 pm
"No, thank you," he replied, looking as green at thought of eating as someone with dark blue skin could manage. "And no, thank you. Being grown up is a miserable occupation."
"I'm fine," he said. "You're right about the shade, but I have to watch for Sterling. I'm being his...wingman? In case the date he's on goes sour."
He wouldn't even think of asking them to watch for him while he found some darkness and solace in the restroom and the toilet bowl. He thought he would be sick a little, spash his face with cold water. Then he'd be all right. At least, he hoped he would. He didn't want to let Sterling down, should he be needed. He doubted he would be needed. Sterling seemed taken with the girl, but he didn't want to fail his charge
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:59 am
"I have a miserable occupation?" Merethist asked, sounding utterly confused. He was grown up, wasn't he? He cast Jay a confused look, letting it drop when the other shrugged. He finished off his parfait, licking the remnants of it from his spoon. "Jay and I can watch while you go find some shade for a little." He offered, calling a waiter over so he could order cocoa.
Jay snapped out of his reverie and looked at Carmaic. "Sure, we'll watch out while you go feel more comfortable." He offered it again with a mile, keeping an eye on Carmaic's guardian.
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Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:36 am
Carmaic could not conceal the look of utter relief which crossed his face. He would be indebted to these strangers, of course, but there were worse things to be. Sun sickness wasn't a joke to any member of the drow race. Even those odd ones such as himself who spent a great deal of time on the surface. If he kept this up, however, he would either kill himself or become somewhat useful as a surface raider, though he knew for a fact his magic would not work in the sunlight.
"I would appreciate that greatly," he said, trying to to sound as ill or as pathetically grateful as he felt. He had not been brought up to be apologetic about inconveniencing others. At least, not other males. "If he tugs on his left earlobe, he needs an excuse to leave."
With a polite nod he floated into the back section of the place and shut himself in the restroom, which was fortunately one of the old ones where a person had to turn the light on for himself. He did not turn the light on, and instead found the sink easily and ran cold water over his wrists, bringing down his overall temperature, which also helped. At home, in the Underdark, he had come from the north, where it was colder, even though it was below the ground. He had never traveled to the warmer, volcanic regions of the place, and had no interest in doing so.
He stayed in the bathroom no longer than one would if he were using it for its intended purpose because he didn't wish to be rude to Jay and Merethist or slack off in his duties to Sterling. It wasn't that he didn't trust them. Rather, he was very conscientious and preferred to do his own work. He did have to turn the light on to look at himself in the mirror, as mirrors require illumination to work. In the mirror he could see that he was not looking his best, but that he hadn't managed to poison himself with overexposure yet, either.
He returned to Jay and Merethist and thanked them. Then he asked, "How long have you been a coursier?"
He didn't mean to ignore Jay, but he had no idea what to say to a strange human.
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