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 Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:45 am
(Note: this happens post- "one rainy day" after Hadrian and Simon have spoken, possibly even the next day. Anyway sometime after that meeting)
In spite of his plan to "come home for the holidays", Hadrian had so far failed to actually return to the place he considered 'home'. Coming home wasn't as simply and carefree as he had always imagined it would be. Things had changed in his absence. People he knew seemed to no longer be around, and he was honestly a little bit concerned about returning to his mothers house and finding more changes. He was usually quite good at excepting the flow of things, and going with it, but somehow so far he had felt slightly awkward and things weren't coming as naturally as usual.
So he was settled on the lip of an abandoned well, outside the town where his mother lived, putting off his return to work on his idea of a rain shield out of magic.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:57 am
She'd been flying for hours, gathering holly berries and mistletoe to craft a bouquet for Aleric. Arae was beginning to tire, the cold of winter seeping into her wings and making them stiff and difficult to keep flapping. Her gaze swept the landscape below her for a place to rest, and the vibrant orange flash of feienly color drew her attention. She descended in a slow and graceful spiral on the frigid currents of air.
"Hellooooo!" she called out, so as not to startle the male with a sudden landing. "Is there room for another there?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:12 am
Hadrian, who had only so far managed to set a leaf on fire - nothing even remotely umbrella like, found himself glad for the distraction. He waved energetically at the slowly descending feien, "Sure! Plenty of room."
He had a warm, friendly smile on his face by the time she landed, little gusts of wind from her decent tugging at his long hair, pulling wisps of it across his face.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:18 am
The ancient alighted on the edge of the well and folded her wings around her for warmth. Her smile was equally toasty with a gentle edge to it as she dipped her head in greeting.
"A new face I've yet to put a name to. So many of those these days. I am Arae, bonded of Sajhiri Jihaar. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing this fine, if chilly, day?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:26 am
"I'm Hadrian, nice t'meet you." He offered a hand, which felt particularly warm to the touch when compared to the cool winter air.
He wasn't exactly new...really...but he was honestly starting to FEEL like he was. He'd have to make his peace with that, and warmed by Arae's welcoming smile it seemed like that might be a little more possible then he had anticipated.
"Are you alright? I can get something made up to warm you up a bit, if you like."
He grinned just a little wider...like a kid who can't quite help showing off something he's proud of.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:30 am
" A pleasure to meet you, Hadrian. It's been so long since I mingled with other feien, that I've a whole world of new names and faces to learn. I'll do my best to remember yours." She settled on the edge of the well, keeping her wings tight about her.
"Some warmth would be most welcome, thank you." she murmured. "Tis a lovely season, don't you think? There seems to be a great deal of joy in the air, and smiles on faces, despite recent difficulties for our kind."
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:45 am
"I'm pretty well in the same boat as you then." The fire feien said, peering around for a loose pebble in the wall they were perched on. "But...faces and names are really the only thing I DO have a good memory for."
He chuckled quietly at the comment, making it clear this didn't bother him much. After a moment he plucked a good sized pebble from a crack in the wall and held it up triumphantly.
"It is a nice holiday. But," he said as the pebble began to glow with an internal sort of warmth, "I enjoy it more in the middle of the summer."
He set the make shift heater between them.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:51 am
Arae poked her hands out of her closed wings to hold them over the heated stone, relief spreading across her features. "Thank you, Hadrian, this helps a great deal." She rubbed her hands together, grateful to feel them unstiffen a bit.
She pondered his words for a time before offering, "I think I prefer spring the most. It's a time of life and rebirth, and it feels so lovely after the cold of winter. And the smells the air carries are so delicate and soothing."
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:00 pm
The fire Feien tilted his head slightly to the side, and although it was subtle, his expression made it clear that he was pleased to be complimented.
"I really don't mind any season...so much. Its just that I'm not fond of the cold." He shrugged slightly, "And I like the heavy warm feeling of summer. There really ought to be a good large celebration in the middle of the season."
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:12 pm
Arae sat thoughtfully. "I still remember the old rituals. Perhaps they could be adapted for our kind. Lughnasadh would take place around midsummer, a feast and games in honor of the Sun God's passing and the first reapings of the harvest." She rubbed a fingertip across her chin as she thought about it.
"Personally I still prefer Beltane, which is much closer than midsummer."
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:27 pm
He was looking at her with an expression of child-like interest on his face. He'd heard some of the names of rituals like that, but nothing that made them at all familiar.
"What happens on Beltane?" Hadrian asked, leaning forward and watching Arae with wide golden eyes.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:34 pm
Arae grinned in good humor and she chuckled softly. "Well, for feien it would have a touch less impact, but it is the day that humans can set aside their vows to their mates, and may lie with whomever they choose til the dawn. Tis also a time when temporary mates are taken for a year and a day. Mostly it's a celebration of life and passion."
She spent a moment picturing the look on Aleric's face should she ever mention it to him. The rather noble and somewhat staid ancient would likely die of shock at such wild and flagrant physicalities.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:42 pm
Hadrian blinked, and looked to be considering that description. Apparently he was considering it pretty closely, because he looked after a moment almost as if he were blushing.
"Do they...I mean...Humans must not celebrate it anymore? And...feien could take vows couldn't they? I mean I never thought about it before..."
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:46 pm
"Some humans still celebrate it, but a fraction of the numbers that used to. Religions have changed, modesty has been enforced, and spirits are not so free as they once were. It was a festival designed to replenish the species so that there would be a renewal of the population after the common deaths of the winter months. But as feien do not create new feien in the same manner, it would have a bit of a different meaning. Though it would be interesting to have a festival of creating blooms." Arae seemed to find the blushing endearing and she smiled softly.
"But with our current situation as it is, breeding is not open to such, but is controlled by those that took over the shop and in effect, our very existences."
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:58 pm
There was a flickering change in Hadrian's expression, more then just his smile fading. It was something deep down and hidden under flippant cheer and childish wonder, and it was difficult to define.
"That." He said softly, "Seems like it could be called slavery."
His tone sounded as if he were idly pondering that, but he was looking out across the meadow with a little sort of frown.
He had heard the basic story of the shops reorganisation, from a letter from his mother. But it was all rumor and here-say so far. The more he heard about it, the more disconcerting it became, and not only because he had gained a certain distaste for 'government' herarchy from his mother.
"It would be a nice thing to celebrate, Arae." He said finally, looking back and her, smiling again, "You should figure out how to set it up."
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