|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:12 am
Mas D'aun slowly walked alongside a isle of books. His blue eyes flickered over the spines. Taking in their markers as he moved along. Once in a while he lifted a hand and brushed his fingertips over one books spine, then he continued onwards.Micarreth followed his brother with a slight frown upon his face. He held one book in his arms already, his finger tips dug into it's cover hard enough to dimple the leather. From time to time he paused to glance over his shoulder, then he would fuss with his crimson scarf. Ever since he had taken up wearing a new uniform he had become exceptionally conscious about it's condition and whether or not his items could be seen from the outside."Mica don't dwadle." Mas softly coaxed his brother along."I wouldn't dwadle if you would just make up your mind and pick a damn book already." Micarreth responded sharply. His amber eyes cut a scathing glare for his elder sibling.Mas allowed only a faint smile to pull at his lips. "This is not like picking out a pair of socks Mica. I need to make certain I select the right books. I don't want to make needless return trips."Micarreth shook his head and glared down at the book in his arms. "If you hadn't actually picked a good school of magic I'd tell you that it's all needless anyways. When are you actually going to learn to cast something useful? You waste all your time reading and writing and I haven't seen you cast a single spell!"Mas choose to ignore the string of slights. Hooking a finger over the top of a book, he slid it from it's tightly packed space and turned the cover open. "Just because you do not see the magic being cast does not mean it is not being used. Magic isn't all flare and sparkles Mica." Mas flipped a few more pages, then closed the book and handed it over to the black and red garbed boy. "Here. Take these back to my room. Since your being childish your being distracting."Micarreths face burned slightly at his brothers rebuke, though he did snatch the second book away. "You promised now. I do this stupid delivery for you and you'll find the spell I want right?" He aggressively demanded from Mas. With a small nod of Mas's head, a grin finally broke out on Mica's lips, and he turned to run down the hall."Gah! Mica! No... running..." Mica had turned a corner, heedless of Mas' words. Mas shook his head, and sighed softly to himself. "Mica...you really need to slow down..."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 10:59 am
Chewing on his lower lip, Tal gazed at teh short list he held in his hand. He'd managed to find most of the books he wanted to cross reference, but the last one still eluded him, he couldn't seem to remember where he had last seen it. Drat if only people would put books back in their proper places, the lazy slaves that were employed to keep this place organised should be whipped to an inch of their lives...
Just then Tal heard a familiar voice, moving through the isles of books, he soon spotted his favourite little assassin wandering after another Drow, this one looking much older. His curiosity piqued, Tal followed carefully, traveling isles parallel to the pair, trying to listen into their conversation.
It was obvious the other Drow was a mage, but what was Mica doing with him? Tal began to wonder if Mica was seeking someway of getting back at him, or if he was trying to tamper with the spels Tal had placed on teh rings. He heard some reference to a promised spell and then Mica was gone. Bother.. What is that little viper plotting now?
Tal decided there was only one way to be certain and that was to try the direct approach. With Mica just gone round the corner, Tal stepped forward and looked about as if searching for something before turning to Mas. "Odd I could have sworn I heard him... Tell me you don't happen to know a man by the name of Micarreth do you? I was certain I heard his voice a moment ago. We're acquaintances and I had hoped to speak with him..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 12:52 pm
Micarreths footsteps had barely faded when a stranger stepped around the corner. Mas had turned back to his browsing, so he only glanced at him from the corner of his pale blue eye. Normally Mas would assume the other drow was there doing the same thing as himself. Both men were garbed in robes. Both men had a clean and manicured look about them. Obviously they were mages and this was a library. Nothing strange at all about that.
What was strange was the fact the mage addressed him. Oh no. Talking to him was not the odd thing. It was the matter of how he choose to talk to him. Mas D'aun's fingers paused where he had been trailing them when his attention turned fully to this other mage. Had this mage only just heard Mica's voice, and come looking for him, then he would have come and asked indirectly about Micarreth. A description would have been given rather then a name outright. Unless he assumed already that he and Micarreth knew each other. It was odd, that was granted. But not suspicious enough to make Mas concerned. What did make Mas suspicious was the bold admittance of aquaintiship. Micarreth hardly struck Mas as the sort to make friends of any calibur. Why, Micarreth barely got along with him at times!
Mas pursed his glossed lips in through for a moment, then withdrew his manicured fingers from their outstretched position. "I do know Micarreth. He is running a errend for me. What sort of business do you have with him?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:51 pm
Taliesin studied teh other mage carefully, mulling over his next step carefully, yet realising too long a delay would be suspicious. Why would Mica be running an errand for another mage? One thing Tal had learned was that Mica only acted when he saw a personal gain and given the assassins recent encounters with Tal, he found it hard Mica would want anything to do with mages. And now something was tickling the back of his memory, but he couldn't pin down what...
"Oh nothing urgent, he did a small job for me, that's all. When I realised how lacking he was in even teh most basic elements of magic I offered to teach him a few tricks. Might I ask what your association with Micarreth is?"
Tal had to be careful here and chose to be honest, after all Mica might have told this Drow everything, in which case Lying would be obvious and right now Tal had no reason to lie anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:20 pm
Mas D'aun could not hide the minor surprise he felt. His eyes widened just a fraction upon hearing that this mage was one that Micarreth had struck a deal with. Learning magic? Micarreth? The boy hardly had enough respect for mages on a whole, so why was he bothering to learn what he termed was a 'weakling skill'?
"A small job...did he now...?" Mas shifted his gaze to look off in the direction Micarreth had run while lifting a hand to press his manicured fingertips to his lips in thought. "You must... be very generouse to offer lessons to that one..." There had to be something more here. Mas' mind clicked and whirled with the various ideas that flickered into being. Definatly an exchange of sorts. But why? Micarreth couldn't possibly have anything this other drow could want...or did he?
Mas D'aun's gaze turned searching as he looked back upon Tal. A slip of a answer tempted his tongue when the other questioned his association with Micarreth. Well then...if he had to ask then he did not know now did he?
"My association with Micarreth is quite personal. I have to say I am a bit curious. What sort of lessons are you teaching him?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:37 pm
Mas' reaction told Tal a lot, mainly that this mage knew little if anything about Tal's dealings with Mica. For a moment it crossed Tal's mind that the reason Mica wanted the ring was to use it against this mage, but then why was Mica talking about a promised spell? Something dislodged from the back of his mind and Tal remembered Mica asking about enchantments and seeming disappointed when Tal said he lacked an aptitude for them. Was that why Mica was with this mage? To get access to the spells Tal couldn't provide him?
Tal considered this option quietly but then his otherwise stoic expression twitch at teh mention of a 'personal' connection. Immediately Tal wondered if Mica was playing this mage the same way he had manipulated Tal. This had an... interesting possibility to it. Still something was there lurking under teh surface of his memory that Tal just couldn't get a hold of.
"What, lessons? Oh I'm teaching him how to be an assassin, well how to be a much better one anyway. Also a few basics in spellcraft and using magical items. Really there things the boy should have learned years ago regardless of his profession. By the way, my name is Taliesin D'bren"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:08 pm
This other mage worried Mas. He had no idea whom he was. He had no idea why Micarreth was having dealings with him. mas was concerned of saying too much, but at the same time if he did not say enough the mage might leave. Then he'd have to get the details from Mica, and that boy had been going out of his way lately to be secretive.
"Assassin? No no...Micarreth is training to be...." Mas began to shake his head, and started to correct the other drow. Then he paused. His blue eyes narrowing just slightly as a frown graced his lips. micarreth was supposed to be trained as a warrior. Or so he had said to the Weapons Master of the house. Obviously the boy really was up to something.
Was Micarreth going to kill him?
The thought was unsettling. If he was learning magic from another, it could be so he could be prepared to take him out. What if his attitude towards magic was all a farce? Meant only to mislead Mas until he was ready to strike? Goddess! What if he was going to kill Mother!?
The other drow introduced himself with a name that he was nat familar with. Mas could not just give him his name! If they were working together to kill him....
"Tryde Viztra." He responded with a slightly distracted air. The names were those plucked from his own classmates. Tryde being a bossy b*****d of a drow that seemed capable of producing better results with his training then Mas, and Viztra actually being the name of a remarkably pretty boy that Mas had been admireing the rear view of since their very first day in classes.
"An...assassin you say.... I don't suppose he's mentioned why he would choose such a profession to you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:23 pm
Well now. That was interesting. Tal started to wonder just how well this Drow knew Mica after all, he was beginning to discount any notion that Mica was plotting with him against Tal. for one he hadn't batted an eyelid when Tal introduced himself and secondly he didn't even know Mica was an assassin. Perhaps Mica was again keeping up a pretense of being a thief? In which case Tal just ruined his cover. For some reason that thought brought a small smile to Tal's lips.
Tal rattled the name 'Tryde Viztra' around in his head for a moment, but nothing poped up. He knew of a Tryde but he was pretty sure Viztra wasn't his family name. Regardless, this Drow seemed slightly concerned by the news that Mica was really an assassin, perhaps that could be of use to him.
"No actually I'm not sure that he ever mentioned it. I just assumed it was an order from his mother or that he simply had a calling to that profession. For someone with a very personal relationship with little Mica, I'm surprised you didn't know he was an assassin. What exactly is your relation ship to him?" Tal moved a little closer to the other Drow, intentionally crowding his personal space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:01 pm
Mas lifted his fingers to his hair, and began to drag them through the long length of it as he mulled over Tal's information. His assumptions could not be further from the truth. Barrith simply was not capable of making such dscions. With Quavvira gone there was no one besides himself that could make any descions for the House.
"No...no I am certain Matron Barrith never ordered anything of the sort... I am going to have to pin that boy down later and---"
Mas paused fussing with his hair, and his words halted in his throat as he came to notice just how close Tal had moved himself. The nearness was...uncomfortable. Though not in a way that one would initially think. Tal was quite...handsome after all. With Mas' attention focused on how near, and hence getting such a wonderful look at the other mage. He could not fight the furious heat that started to burn in his cheeks.
He almost wanted to take advantage of how close tal was. -He- was the one imposeing himself so close. It wouldonly serve him right if mas reached forwards to press his lips to the other drows lips. Ah! But he'd had such thoughts before, and mas honestly was not one to act upon them. Instead he started to shift himself backwards. Edgeing away in an attempt to put a little air between them before they accidently touched.
"My...relationship with Micarreth?" Perhaps he ought not have said a false name after all? Well...perhaps if he came up with another excuse? He fumbled for a moment for a realistic reason for the two to be about each other. Childhood friends? With such a age difference it would not be believeable. A oweed debt? Hardly. Micarreth was too impetuouse. Lovers? Ah...Micarreth would throw a fit...but...
"We are....well, let's just say Micarreth and I have seen each other in various private situations."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:19 pm
Tal noticed the way Mas retreated, he felt uncomfortable, a slight smile crossed Tal's lips, he could feel teh advantage slip his way. Tal knew of the Matrons feeble mindedness, he was probing to see how much this other mage knew. Obviously he knew something of House Barrith, but little of Mica, Tal was leaning more in favour of this mage being duped by Mica the same way Tal once was. The mage practically said as much when he implied a romantic relationship, yet there was something amiss.
"So you're going at it with Mica, too? Interesting, I wonder just how many men he has on the go at once? I never realised he was so randy?" Again Tal took a step closer, closing in on Mas and smiling into his eyes. "So what did the little pretty boy want in exchange for sharing your bed? He always comes with a price..." Tal suspected that any relationship was implied and that Mica was leading Mas along in much the same way he had tempted Tal. He was curious to see what Mica might be trying to get out of this other mage.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 6:44 pm
Mas continued to back away slowly. This other mage seemed quiet persistant in his desire to encrouch upon Mas. It worried him. Yet he did not completely lose himself. It was not as if the mage were a female after all.
In an effort to pull some control of the situation to himself, Mas lifted a hand, fingers flat and spread, and attempted to press his palm to Tal's chest lightly. His pale blue eyes set themselves upon Tal's own when he responded. "You? You and Mica are together?" This was not something he really had expected. As far as he could tell, Mica's wandering eyes had only pointed towards the female servants and slaves of the house. he'd never seen him pay much heed to any males. And Mas was certain, given the tight body suits the servants had to wear, that if Mica was interested in men he'd definatly have been looking.
This was something different then what he had thought. It had to be. If... AH!! A light flickered on within Mas's eyes. So bright that it curled his lips upwards and he needed to bite upon his tongue to keep from laughing.
Micarreth was bedding this mage in order to learn magic! That is what it was! Oooho! He should have guessed that immediatly! Mas took his other hand, and with a flicker and flare of his wrist he pressed his fingers to his forehead, closed his eyes, and began to chuckle softly.
"Oh ho ho ho.... Oh...that deplorable scamp. I swear.... I will have to hit him for this I am certain..." Mas enjoyed a few more moments of soft laughter before he returned his gaze back to Tal.
"Hmmm. Well I believe I have figured you out, and as such I feel that I might have to start over again. My name is not Tryde Viztra. I do not apologize for the falsehood though. My name is Mas D'aun Barrith."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:43 am
Rather than be stopped, Tal actually pressed forward a little against the hand, he had no reason to shy away from teh contact and besides if the hand was pressed against his chest it couldn't hold a dagger or cast a spell. Tal was a little thrown by the sudden smile and chuckling, this was not what he had expected, he had hoped to make Mica's other plaything jealous and perhaps give away more than he should. Perhaps he simply say the odd humour in it that Tal did?
When Mas revealed his real name things became clear, immediately that thought rattling about in his memory poped free like a cork. Of course! Mica's brother! Tal actually took a step back as he frowned at teh other mage, now that he looked for it he could even make out a slight family resemblance, he certainly shared some of Mica's more redeeming qualities. Well so much for making him jealous, but at the same time an odd weight seemed to life off him. Had Tal been feeling a little jealous himself? Damn it, he hated that boy.
Figured him out? Tal could only assume that Mas was taking him at his word that Tal and Mica were intimate, Mas really didn't know his brother that well.. Or perhaps Mas realised Mica had been playing on Tal's affections? It mattered little, either Mas realised the truth or he believed an embarrassing lie about Mica, that Tal was happy to leave alone.
Although that also raised other questions, mainly the fact that Mica had never spoken fondly of his brother to Tal, quite teh opposite actually, so why was he now helping Mas? "Well... Not what I had originally assumed... I am a little surprised though. Mas has always spoken poorly of you, so what was he doing with you here?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:37 pm
Mas had not expected the other mage to press up against his hand, so needless to say he found the mage still excpetionally close. For a stranger that was uncomfortable. Yet...as a male. Well... Mas's common sense and 'other' sense were currently at odds. Thankfully the other mage, Tal, stepped away with the revelation of Mas' true identity.
Micarreth...the boy played stupid games. Flirting so with someone that he could not possibly find attractive? Once the truth was revealed Mas rather hoped his brother was wise enough to have some sort of magical protections in place. Drow did not make the most kind of lovers, doubly so when they have found out that their sexual interest had been abused. Had it been he in that position...Mas had tot ake a moment to consider what he would do to a male that had exploited him. Something highly unpleasent for the other but satisfying for himself he supposed.
Tal called to question why the brothers had been in the library together, and mas once more allowed a small smile to flicker to his lips. "This does not surprise me. Micarreth has a bothersom low opinion of mages in general." Mas brushed his fingers over the cuffs of his robes as he spoke. "I blame his youth for such misguided beliefs. Though I suspect his low opinion of me stems more from my preference of company then my practice of magic."
Mas turned his head a little to one side so his hair shifted over a shoulder. His eyes fixed themselves back upon the books on the shelf as he easily chatted with Tal. "Micarreth has this silly little fondness of his scarf. Damn prideful little whelp. He likes the flare of red, he says it reminds him of blood of all things. But he says it is too bright. I think I understand why now. Red isn't a color that fades into the shadows easily. He wish's for me to enchant it so it will change color for him. I promised to look into a spell of that sort if he took my books to my room and stopped at a wizarding shop to pick up a package I have been waiting for...." Mas paused looking at the books on the shelf to glance back at Tal. "How long has it been that you have known my brother? And just how...close...would you two be at this point?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:39 pm
That all seemed to go with Tal's opinion of Mica, the boy certainly seemed the short to go to such lengths to maintain his image. Tal now turned his attention to how he could best make use of this meeting. Perhaps Mas could be of some use to him, there was an expression he had heard once, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, an absurd notion carried by surface creatures but it gave him an idea.
I've only known him for a short time. Like I said he did a small job for me and now I intend on teaching him some magic. He has potential that I intend to explore and polish and of course us for my own ends. As for how close, I've seen him without his pants on if that's what you mean?" Tal smirked darkly at that, turning his attention from Mas for a moment Tal cast a brief incantation then turned his staff horizontally. Realising it teh staff hung in midair at just the right height for Tal to use it as a seat, sitting comfortably as he leaned his back against teh book shelves.
"Of course he only dropped them because I had spelled his loins to reduce them in size, he probably hasn't been that small since the day he was brought into the world." Tal hoped to win Mas over, by making it clear Tal wasn't allied too closely to Mica and hoped the story was as amusing to Mas as it was to Tal. It still brought a large smile to Tal's lips every time he thought about that day in the back of the inn.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:42 pm
Tal made himself comfortable as they spoke, and Mas returned to his searching of the books. It was easy enough to keep track of the conversation while scanning the bindings for more books that would prove useful to his study.
"You must have a great deal of interest in my brother." Mas amiably chatted with the other mage. he paused and fingered a slender book from the shelf so he could open and examin it. "To be willing to put so much effort into furthering his skills. He can be quite trying you know." Mas closed the book gently and returned it back to it's place on the shelf. He paused in his searching to cast a glance over at Tal. Shrunken nether regions? That was amuseing! Once again another smile flickered so easily over Mas' lips.
"Oh ho! So that is why he's been chasing the slaves around lately. I thought it was odd that he would spend so much time feeling up bottoms rather then playing with his daggers. Silly little boy...." Mas shook his head in vauge amusement at the entier situation. Mica really did let his ego rule him didn't he?
Once again he flickered over the books, his step shifting himself down to the next case. "You do know he is not inclined towards men right? I'd just hate it if he ended up getting himself killed over something so trivial as leading one on."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
