|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
 Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:18 am
 What had happened to his old friend?
Something had seemed remarkably odd about Hyacinthus' behavior when he saw the man, for the first time in a year, at the forest where Texas and Vangelis were meeting and greeting some other fauns. The way he remembered Hyacinthus behaving when they were younger didn't match up with the way he only glanced at the sky and everywhere but the children he probably would have squealed about a year ago.
While seeing him return was definitely a punch in the gut to Texas, who had put all of his emotions behind him until seeing Cinthy unearthed them again, his absolutely strange behavior distracted Texas from the pain entirely, replacing it with a disturbed thought of wondering what exactly the hell happened that made his best friend and old obsession disappear for a year.
And, admittedly, finally facing Hyacinthus in the face and being able to say to himself that he was, indeed, no longer in love with Hyacinthus would be some nice closure on that part of his life.
So, he kept an eye out. When he saw Eboraria Floros on the beach, he almost too excitedly ran up to her, Vangelis trailing behind, quickly asking if it was at all possible to locate Hyacinthus because the two of them really needed to talk. Eboraria had seemed all too excited to find some way to get Hyacinthus out of the house, and even started talking a bit about how she might've killed him if she weren't his brother; some of the things she was saying made Texas even more concerned than he had been originally. That only made him even more eager to meet up with Hyacinthus, and so, Eboraria told of a place where he might be able to intercept him...
These falls, near Aura Nin Mountain. Apparently, Hyacinthus really loved the beach that was close to the falls, finding the most interesting rocks there to expand his almost excessive collection of jewelry. It was one of the only ways he was guaranteed to leave the house, and so, after getting a likely time that Cinthy would show up, Texas lied in wait for the time. When it came close, Texas requested that Magnus watch Vangelis, a request he oddly enough accepted. If he wasn't so determined, Texas would be a little bit baffled, but he was too concerned about finding Hyacinthus.
And now there he was, waiting for the very pink male adorned in more jewelry than the average jewelry box could hold to show up to collect his precious materials. And then he would pounce, a bit like a information-gathering tiger.
(( Note: Brief control of Ebby approved by Persephone13 for the sake of this starting post. ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:05 pm
 Hyacinthus wouldn't be outside until the wee hours of the morning, when the sky was darkest and the air was coolest. It was his routine. Wake up after the moon sets, come back just after the sun peaks over the trees. Sleep after breakfast, wake up mid-morning. Sleep when the sun is highest, wake up against mid-afternoon. Nap late, wake up for dinner. Crawl into bed, start everything over again. Days used to slip away as quickly as water through a sieve early on. He'd wake up unable to remember what time it was when he went to bed, unable to figure out what time it was now that he was awake. Punctuating the day with many naps helped him keep track of time.
His mellon lit the way through the dense clusters of towering trees, their crowns so thick that he could barely see the stars. He knew that he was more than halfway to his favorite spot when he saw the hypnotic, mystifying glow of Silme Pond off in the distance. It must have been a full moon this time, or maybe something close to it. The glow seemed to come and go, the pond being its darkest during a new moon. That was usually when he chose to not go as far mostly because he knew that he got lost easily in the darkness.
At last, he felt the white sand between his toes as it stuck to his feet. Out of the large basket on his arm, he pulled the thick mat he had made from dried grasses and slender branches. He had even sewn in various pieces of cloth to make it a little more comfortable; the scraps came from some of the clothes his parents left behind. He didn't have as much jewelry on as usual, not even enough to make an array of jingles as he moved. Sitting down, he set out all of his tools of the trade and some half-finished projects. Right now, he was working on yet another jewelry box. He must have had five by now.
Not all of the stuff he made was for him. He still liked making things for his sister, which is what this was in particular. It needed to be larger than all the others he had so she could use it for something other than jewelry because he knew that was the sort of thing she'd do. She always found different uses for a lot of things.
Still glowing brightly, his mellon settled down in its usual place to let him work. He still had a handful of stones and shells left before he needed to start looking for more. For now, he could relax. Under his breath, he hummed a tune that floated up from the recesses of his memory. To someone watching, he was the picture of his old self. A childish smile came to his lips.
During this part of the day--when he was completely alone--he was happiest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 7:59 pm
Texas nearly fell asleep waiting for Hyacinthus to show his face at the pond, growing bored with waiting for someone that it began to seem would never come. So, he fell asleep in his hiding spot within the bushes. Really, it was only when he heard some humming pierce through the quiet air that the demonic's eyes popped open and he jerked up excitedly, hoping to see that Hyacinthus was actually there.
And he was. The Pae'il let out a sigh of relief. Eboraria had been right, and that strange teenager had shown up after all. But now what? He seemed, oddly enough, like a normal person again. He was happy, innocent, and playing with jewelry, but he wasn't a walking jewelry box, either. What good would interrupting him now do if he was actually in a decent mood?
Still, this may've been his only chance to get to talk to Cinthy again. He should take advantage of it. The demonic straightened out and brushed off the leaves and sands he had littered on him thanks to sleeping in the sands. Then, after taking in a large, silent breath and letting it out, the demonic started forward towards the unrequited love and the friend he lost so long ago, ready to confront and figure out what exactly the hell had happened here.
Texas Pete wasn't about to turn back. Instead of shouting when he was at hearing distance for the faerie, he came in closer so he could block Hyacinthus' main exit if the boy tried to bolt as soon as he heard his old friend's voice. Then, he announced, "Cinthy," to get the teenager's attention, not saying a thing else until he was sure the man's eyes were on him and him alone.
This needed to be fixed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 2:59 pm
He froze mid-gesture hearing the other pae'il called him. Keeping his gaze off the man, no muscle in his body visibly moved; he was waiting for Texas Pete to leave either out of boredom or frustration. When the pae'il had shattered the silence of the surroundings, he also shattered Hyacinthus' good mood.
After five minutes or so, it became clear that the visitor wasn't going anywhere as much as the fae hoped he would leave him alone. No such luck. He'd have to start coming here at a different time or just go to a different place entirely. So much for solitude.
He glanced up at the other's face briefly, not even long enough for them to make eye contact. With an exasperated sigh, he went back to his work. "Can I help you?" he asked humorlessly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 3:19 pm
Perhaps fortunately, or unfortunately in this case, Texas could be a very persistent man when he wanted to know what was going on with someone else, and so he simply stood there while Hyacinthus turned himself into some kind of pink-painted marble stone statue. He didn't even become bothered when the fae didn't bother to do much besides give him an over-the-shoulder sort of glance and sighed in a manner that clearly hinted he should go.
The pink fae sounded so flat now. Even the plainest of Hyacinthus' sentences used to have some kind of emotion behind them, and the emotion certainly wasn't the nervousness he had been showing when around his sister or the utter monotone he seemed to be showing Texas now. "Hyacinthus Floros," Texas had never used Hyacinthus' full name for anything, except possibly a couple times in writing, "something's wrong."
He paused only momentarily before persisting. "And don't give me some snarky remark that it's me. Hyacinthus, we need to talk, because whatever it is is eating you alive." He crossed his arms stubbornly, showing that he would not take a 'no' for an answer. "Because there's no way you could have naturally gone from a lovely, maturing young boy to a nervous loner who doesn't want to do anything but stay in a little tiny jewelry box." That was a strong thing to say, but from the way Eboraria sounded, he needed to say something severe to get to the boy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 3:40 pm
What bothered him the most was that Texas Pete was being so patronizing. It reminded him of Eboraria. No, worse than that. It reminded him of his parents. All the talk about not giving a 'snarky remark' and trying to preempt everything he said as if the young fae was that predictable. He liked to believe that he was never that two-dimensional or vapid, even in his search for the highest beauty. There was nothing wrong with aesthetics, right? It was like finding good art. The difference is that he would be looking for it in the world around him. And now here was the demon pae, lecturing him about the way things were.
"Of course there's something wrong." He didn't meet Texas' eyes. "My parents left without any real explanation other than they didn't love each other anymore. They said that they thought we could take care of ourselves and that we didn't need them anymore." His gaze was uninviting when he looked up. "But then again, I remember saying that we'd be friends forever." For a moment, his features softened as he turned back to his work. "People lie all the time. My parents weren't any difference, as much as I had wished that they were."
"I can still make a few things for your family if you want." Whatever would make Texas leave him alone. "If you stay here, I could give you some of the stuff I've made. Maybe Esmee and Aysu would like it. Criofan or Magnus can give the stuff to someone they like and pretend it's theirs. I'm just disappointed that I've completely lost the necklace I gave Jazz. That was a good one."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 4:07 pm
Texas shook his head. No, he didn't want to have Hyacinthus make him jewelry. That wasn't what he was there for. "Cinthy..." The demon mumbled to himself, with a sigh. The faerie actually seemed to be aware that something was wrong, but it didn't seem to be helping him at all. Perhaps that really wasn't the whole problem here.
"No, I don't want jewelry." This time, he chose to sit down, though he still didn't move from his position blocking the easiest escape path. It wasn't that easy to get Texas to give up or move away. "Even if the vain creature Magnus seems to be falling for would probably appreciate jewelry," said Texas quietly, with a chuckle to himself, before he turned his attention back to the matter at hand. "Cinthy, if that was your only problem, why do you refuse to talk to me?"
The demonic sounded a lot less stern this time, instead sounding more concerned for Hyacinthus' sake than much else. Texas couldn't stand seeing his old friend like this, and even if he was being pushed away, he was still determined and wanted to find some actual answers as to what the problem was... or perhaps some actual way to fix it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:06 pm
He sneered with an expression that Texas would remember, the one that graced his face when he saw something he thought was ugly or saw an outfit that offended his sense of style. "If you understood me even half as much as you did, you wouldn't be asking me that." Saying that would probably hurt Tex. Now that they were talking, he remembered how much the demon pae cared about him. Something like that would probably hurt, but anything else would be a lie.
"Maybe we were friends for a bit. But I was always more like a doll, wasn't I?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:02 pm
...That stung. Just a little. Actually, it stung a lot, but Hyacinthus' stubbornness in this situation wasn't exactly helping. Now he was asking questions and putting words in Texas' mouth. Always more like a doll? What the hell did that mean?! No, Hyacinthus wasn't a doll! If anything, Texas was a bit beyond overprotective, but he never pictured the boy as a doll. ...At least, he never thought he did. The demonic quirked a brow, though it was hard to tell if he was confused at the statement or now confused at his own thoughts.
Then, he shook his head. "Excuse me?" He didn't want to sound irritated, so he took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. It was true that he always got more emotional when it came to Hyacinthus, but the faerie shouldn't have that effect on him anymore. He was steady. He needed to stay calm... even if his remarks were grating. The demonic quietly counted to five in his head and then continued. "Cinthy, if you were my doll, I would have grown out of you eventually. Why do you think I'm here? I still care about you." He paused. "Even if you don't care about me or anything but your jewelry anymore."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:41 pm
Finished with the box, Hyacinthus walked toward the sandy area so he could collect more trinkets and shiny things. "Well," he said just loud enough for him to hear. "I thought that you had grown out of me. I wanted a friend. After a while, you became my keeper. There were a lot of things I didn't tell you." The sand felt so good and so cool between his toes. "I heard that some man named Raken, a demon pae who was much older than me and a lot stronger. I heard that he wanted Jazz. You know what I wanted?" He met his friend's eyes. "I wanted to do something to make him go away. Anything that would make it easier for me to be with Jazz." He shrugged off the thought. "But all of that is past me now. I still see Jazz from time to time, but I feel nothing like I did before."
"I didn't tell you these things because you'd be upset. It'd be like upsetting one of my mothers. I don't remember a time where I ever felt like your equal, and I was fine with that when we were little. I wanted a leader then." He still wanted a leader, or maybe a follower. His parents had left behind books on Greek love and pederasty. While other people would find pederasty to be a bad choice, he rather liked the idea. He knew that eventually, he wanted that sort of romance with someone. He didn't know if that someone was going to be male or female, though. It made things a little more confusing. "But right now, I want a friend. You're still acting like a leader, trying to herd me in one direction or another. I won't do it."
The sky was gorgeous tonight. He broke his mind from the conversation just long enough to look up and admire the vast array of stars. No matter how many pae'il appeared with those markings, all of them were vapid and insubstantial imitations of the glorious night sky. Who could ever faithfully mimic that glittering spray?
"You think you know me well? How about this. Who told you that I would be here and when I would come?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:02 pm
What was Hyacinthus implying? Yes, it was true that Texas did become overprotective and a bit of a keeper he supposed; he had been immature, and frankly, Texas Pete wouldn't deny his ridiculous behavior. But what was this? Was he trying to say he was never really friends with Texas at all? A friend, not a leader; was he pushing him away because the boy wanted nothing to do with Texas' type anymore?
Wow, he really was pushing away all help. When Hyacinthus looked away, Texas bit his lip and glared daggers at the ground, before straightening himself out when Hyacinthus turned back to him and offered a question. The demonic sighed. "Eboraria. Who else was I supposed to ask?" Texas's voice was starting to verge on desperate, but he was attempting to keep the shakiness out of his tone. He would not let himself become emotional. Hyacinthus couldn't do that to him. He couldn't do that to him. He was over this. "You had been missing for ages, over a year at this point. I looked near the Headquarters. I looked near the Tiki Bar since Jazz is there a lot, and I knew you liked her even if I wished otherwise. I honestly don't know where she lives but I searched the whole beach and never found you. I looked in the Fae Clearing, the forests, near the city... Eventually, Magnus told me to give up and you were gone forever. That happens sometimes to Pae'il; I've seen it. I didn't want to believe it, but eventually, it sunk in and I stopped looking.
"Why did I never look here in all of my searching? This place didn't always exist, and when I had pulled myself together and determined to go on in life without the person I had considered my best friend... this place didn't even exist yet. And I was certain you were gone. Forever." Texas slumped his shoulders and glanced at the ground. Hyacinthus could take it or leave it, but that was his elongated answer to the faerie's question. While he was definitely a little dejected now, it was nice to actually say this all to Hyacinthus himself--perhaps nicer than Texas had expected. Sure, he had talked about it vaguely with others and Magnus knew Texas' problems all too well, but it was a relief, in some sense, to be saying these things to Hyacinthus' face.
Hey, maybe this was the interaction he was looking for in any case.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:43 am
Hyacinthus stiffened. "I didn't know that," he said in a soft, bewildered tone. "I guess that I wanted to stay hidden a lot better than I had thought." Sitting down on the sand, he kept his back to the other pae. "But I thought that maybe somehow my friends would find me. They'd come looking for me because it's what friends do when they care enough. They'd see what had happened, tell me it's okay because that happens all the time, and we'd go live with them.
"Ebby and I would go live with Jazz and eat the rich cooking at the Tiki Bar. I'd make jewelry for her so she'd be less upset about being single. Maybe she'd want me to start being her boyfriend too, and that would be perfect because she and Ebby would get along great. It'd be one happy family. Or I'd go live with Tristen and all the people in his family. There are so many of them that we'd have the sort of family we always wanted but could never have. It'd completely make up for the loss. It'd be perfect."
He sighed deeply. "Or I'd live with you. I could make all sorts of crafts for the people in your family. I'd look after the younger ones whenever they came along, and it'd be better than what I had before. One big happy family." He swallowed hard. "But no one ever found me. I just assumed that everyone had forgotten. Or maybe they had moved on. Everyone is older now. I'm older too. I'm not charming anymore, so they don't need me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:42 pm
Hyacinthus stiffened. This was new. It seemed what Texas was saying was getting through to him; admittedly, it was a large weight off his shoulders to know that perhaps this wasn't as desparing and hopeless as it would have seen. Hyacinthus' end hadn't been all that great either, from the sounds of it. It seemed that Texas hadn't been the only one who felt like he was abandoned and left alone after all.
This was good. This was progress. Texas shook his head though Hyacinthus couldn't really see him with his back turned, and scooted a little closer to the faerie that was starting to sound more saddened than irritable. "That's rubbish. Sure, you've gotten older, and everyone else too, including myself, but that doesn't mean people don't want you around." He offered a smile. "If I didn't want you around, Cinthy, I would have never attempted to find you again."
Sure, Hyacinthus could be a little irritating, especially with his assumptions, pushing away, and his over-obsession with the material, but Hyacinthus was still his friend. And Texas hated losing a friend; the chance to gain a friendship back as well as some closure was one that was rarely presented. "Nobody says you have to stay living alone with your sister. The door's always open at my house... for you and her." Especially now that his older siblings were leaving. Soon enough, Texas would be the oldest left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 12:57 pm
As pleasant as the offer sounded, that was what he had hoped before. His feelings were a little different now. "I like where I'm living. I don't know if I can explain why. I like being out here without anyone else, and I like living away from everyone. Maybe Eboraria should live with you. I think she'd be a better guest than me." More than anything, he was afraid that Texas would leave him after they started to living together. He was getting comparatively better, but he was still an almost intolerable roommate between his convoluted schedule, his small pallet, and his terrible mood swings.
"Just because I start living with you doesn't mean that I'll just go back to the way I was," he said sharply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Codebreaking Conversationalist
|
Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:33 pm
Hyacinthus had certainly changed. Living out alone didn't seem like something he would have been very attracted to before; Cinthy was the type who had surrounded himself with many people and loved hanging around anyone who showed him the slightest bit of affection. Of course, he was older... and so was Texas, admittedly. The sharp statement took him off balance for a few moments--sudden mood swing much?--but Texas quickly recovered. "I'm not the same person either, Cinthy."
A lot had changed about Texas while Hyacinthus was gone... and admittedly, a lot of the changing was actually because Hyacinthus was gone. Texas learned to live without him and grew into a stronger person because of it. "But if you wish to keep living out there, it's not my place to stop you," though he wished Hyacinthus would come back to where more people could find him, it was his life, and at least they were talking. "But just remember what I said."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
