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 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:50 am
Althalus couldn't help giggling as he sprawled against a bench in the sidestreets of Durem, fingers instantly pocketing the change he'd managed to pick up. Such idiots! But then, they wouldn't expect it of a child, now would they? Retying his hair back messily with a strip of leather at the nape of his neck, and putting his bandana back on, he folded the thin jacket away into his shoulder bag. Look completely changed, he tucked one sneakered foot up on the bench, leaning back to take out his knife from his belt, and idly begin to pare his nails. He pretended to look at a watch every so often, as if he was waiting for someone; anyone looking for that swindling kid in the garish green jacket would pass right over the idling one on the bench.
You can stop congratulating yourself now, said Stealth with a sarcastic twinge to her voice, wriggling down to sit in the crook of his elbow. Althalus just raised an laughing eyebrow right back at her. He loved coming on trips to Durem.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:00 am
Haze slowly made her way along the streets of Durem, golden eyes critically appraising the selections in the display window. There were certain fashions here in Gaia that she hadn't seen in Silar and she doubted they'd be arriving there anytime soon. She smiled in mild satisfaction as she imagined the envious looks on her friends' faces at her outfits.
Elias was bored, and it was quite evident. His dark brown eyes stared at nothing, mouth hanging slack. He hated accompanying Haze whenever she went shopping. He didn't understand why she needed yet another pair of shoes when they all looked alike. He didn't understand why she needed yet another blouse, shirt or whatchamacallit when she already had one that worked. Had Uninhabited not been around to provide a certain amount of amusement, he'd probably have gone insane (or died, since well, daemons weren't supposed to be separated from their Forgottens for long).
E-li-yaaaaas~ Habi squawked as she tried to jump into his stroller for the nth time. Without much success. She'd always over-estimate the distance and end up either rolling into the street, or worse, soar forward and crash into someone or something. In this case, she ended up smacking into a bench. The same one where Althalus was.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:08 am
Althalus flinched away involuntarily as something fluttered and crashed into the bench beside him. There were creatures a plenty in Gaia, and many people brought their pets out into the busy shopping streets. But couldn't they keep a better hand on them? With a sigh, the boy stretched out his hand to untangle the strange gryphon-looking creature.
And froze, his hand a little way above it. This wasn't a pet, it was someone's daemon....
Withdrawing back quickly, his darkringed eyes darted to look for the daemon's partner. Over there, with that absorbed looking woman, a babe in a stroller....
"Careful there," he said cheerfully to the daemon, the hesitance that had appeared in his body language evaporating into an easy stance and the knife in his hand disappearing back to his belt.
Benches are not good for hitting, Stealth echoed after him with an amused tone, uncamoflaging herself to sit alert and bronzebrown colour on her Forgotten's arm.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:23 am
Haze had long managed to tune out Habi's antics. So long as no one yelled or started cursing, Habi was free to get into whatever accident she wanted. She stopped short of Althalus, debating on whether she'd go into this boutique that sold exotic furs. Granted any animal from Gaia would automatically be considered 'exotic' by her peers in Silar.
Habi okay? Elias asked his daemon with a whimper. He reached out for hodge-podge creature when he saw the bench collide with his daemon (though it was the other way around). He blinked at the older boy and gave him a brief, but suspicious, once-over. When he didn't see anything dangerous about him, he gave him a bright smile.
Habi dizzily got up and slid onto all fours, cawing her reply to all those who could hear her. "Everything spinny~"
Elias looked up at his guardian then at the straps. He wanted to get out of this contraption and hold Habi, but he still couldn't figure out how his guardian managed to free him. He gave a small frustrated cry as he tugged and yanked at the straps.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:31 am
It would be far easier to pick up the disorientated daemon and deliver her back to her soulmate's arms, but Althalus.... just couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he jumped to his feet, one hand going in his pocket, and came over to crouch in front of Elias' stroller.
"Good afternoon," he said solemnly, and then grinned up with a charming smile at Haze.
"And good afternoon to you too, ma'am. May your charge be let free for a while? His daemon seems to have flown into a bench."
Stealth scurried up to his shoulder, staying visible on purpose, and tilted her head with small glittering eyes, keeping watch over Uninhabited.
Sit down, silly. That'll stop the 'everything spinny'.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:43 am
Haze was not completely startled by Althalus. Completely being the operative word. She instinctively pulled the stroller closer to her, practically maneuvering it behind her. She did not relax when saw it was just a boy, it was when he mentioned the word 'daemon' that she slightly lowered her guard. "Good afternoon. If I may ask, what made you think the little accident-prone creature is a daemon?"
She's had her fair share of charmers, there were many charming men and women in Silar. She'd learned never to take things at face value. The same could not be said for Elias though.
The infant gurgled and reached out to him, his eyes staring at the older boy pleadingly to release him from this wheeled prison. "Heeeelp." he garbled.
Habi blinked curiously, scanning her surroundings for the voice instructing her to sit down. It never occured to her to look up where Stealth was on Althalus' shoulder. The small area surrounding her was covered in dust and a small portion of the bench seemed to have suddenly sprouted cobwebs. She squawked nervously, trying once more to stand and only succeeding to make herself even dizzier. "Okie, I try..."
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:53 am
Stealth stared a little at the other daemon. She swore that bench wasn't as old as that, but maybe.... maybe it was something to do with the young ones? She smiled a little.
My name's Stealth, young'un, and I belong to this one here, and she mentally indicated Althalus. And sitting down will help, I promise....
Althalus straightened up, the picture of apology, and swept a somewhat untutored bow. "I am sorry, ma'am, I didn't mean to startle you.... I'm Althalus, and what makes me think yon little one is a daemon is that my daemon told me so." He stood straight again, turning to nod at the little lizard that was looking in the opposite direction from her perch on his shoulder. Looking back again he grinned at Elias, and waggled his fingers at him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:17 am
Haze gave Althalus an appraising look, that much charm from someone so young. Haze wasn't certain if she'd be impressed or thoroughly suspicious. But since he was a Forgotten Document himself, she opted to go with the former.
"A pleasure to meet you, Althalus. Please, call me Haze, ma'am sounds far too formal." And old. She adds silently. "Tell me, Althalus, are you willing to watch over Elias and Uninhabited for a little while? I am aware that my charge doesn't find shopping an enjoyable activity, but my servant is far too busy to watch over him at the moment." Haze wasn't truly going to hand him over to Althalus, she'd trail them to the best of her abilities. She simply wanted to see how an older Forgotten would act around a younger one.
Elias lit up like a Christmas tree at Haze's offer. FINALLY! He'd see more interesting things and have someone older to play with. One who hopefully didn't think shopping was a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Habi finally found where Stealth was and canted her head curiously. At Stealth's words she lowered her rump and kept herself as still as she could, her cobweb tail raised off the ground. "Hiiiii~ I Uninhabited but I called Habi." she chirped cheerfully. "And and and that Elias!" she added proudly, puffing her chest out.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:30 am
"Sure thing, Haze. I'm waiting for my guardian myself, but I can watch him til then, no problem." The oldfashioned manners evaporated into cheerful friendliness, and Althalus nodded. "Can he come out of the stroller? Habi's going to fall over if she's not careful," and he winked.
Habi and Elias, said Stealth, noting the names carefully and winding herself around Althalus' neck. Letting her skin fade to patchwork the colours around her, she looked at the other daemon appraisingly.
"I'm sure we can find some interesting ways to pass the afternoon, huh Elias?" continued Althalus, tilting his scruffy head to fix the baby with bright eyes.
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:45 pm
The Silarian was hesitant, though she did not show it, but careful observation would reveal a stiffness in the way she smiled and the posture of her body was not as graceful as it normally is. "I suppose you are strong enough to carry him, but I would feel much better if you brought the stroller along. In the event your arms tire."
That and following after you would be much easier.
Uninhabited coo'ed in awe as Stealth's skin faded, it reminded her of the green-haired man back home whose shirt changed right before her eyes. How you do that? She asked the other daemon.
Elias nodded excitedly, yes, yes, anything but shopping! His dark brown eyes stared back at the older Forgotten with a relieved glee.
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:10 pm
Like he was going to -carry- a kid about? Fair enough, if he couldn't walk, then the stroller would have to do. But what about the daemon? He glanced back with half a look, and then shook his head, the cheerful grin reappearing.
"Oh, that's no problem at all. I'll take the stroller. Sorry, Elias! Let you free later in a minute, huh? And I just hope I can help you out, and leave you free to do your shopping, -Miss- Haze." The slightest accent was on the title, and his grin twitched before he turned to crouch in front of the stroller again.
"Shall we go for a walk then?"
How d'you make the bench old? retorted Stealth with an amused tone, still watching Uninhabited. 'Cause we're special, see?
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:45 pm
Haze gave a gracious nod of thanks before she disappeared into the boutique. Of course she'd glance out the picture window from time to time, just to see if they were still within sight.
"Yayayayayaa!!!" Elias cheered, reaching out to Althalus. He didn't completely understand what the older boy said, except free and walk. He couldn't walk yet, his crawling skills were average at best. Still, it would enable him to get away from the boring things his guardian wanted to do.
Habi blinked in confusion and surprise, Old? She glanced back over her shoulder; the sight of the cobwebs and dust on the bench didn't seem to mean anything to her. Is not old, just dirty. she cawed cluelessly, but she liked the idea of being special. Quite a bit, given by how she puffed out her chest. Yay we's speshul! She started to skitter around Althalus and Elias, careful not to touch the older Forgotten. She rose on her hind hooves and leaned into the stroller, We's speshul! she declared to Elias.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:20 am
Althalus laughed at Habi's relayed words, and straightened up, one hand on the stroller handle.
"We're very special, Elias and Habi, much more than anyone else," and he gestured at the crowd, though being careful not to draw too much attention to himself. After all, someone might recognise him if he wasn't careful.
"But for the meantime, why don't we go see if we can do something fun, and get a present for your guardian too? D'you think she'd like that?" His other hand went into his pocket, and he pulled out a silver coin, tossing it idly in one hand, the spinning metal catching the afternoon sunlight with bright sparkles.
Stealth took the opportunity to clamber up and drape herself across Althalus' head, skin changing to warm red, her eyes half closing and almost becoming invisible amongst the folds of material.
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:32 pm
Elias gently ruffled Habi's head as he felt the stroller begin to move. He wondered where the older Forgotten was taking him, but he wasn't worried. Althalus was like him, and Fray, and Lysium and Sable. He didn't see any reason to fear them, so it only stands to reason he shouldn't fear Althalus. He gurgled and nodded at the older boy's suggesion, whatever it was he said. The infant was particularly interested in the coin, if only because it was shiney.
"Waaaat?" he cooed, gesturing to the coin with his stubby fingers.
Uninhabited trotted cheerfully beside them, cawing up at Stealth in awe and near worship. Wowzie! You changes colors! 'maaazing!! She had never seen anything or anyone quite like it. The other daemons she'd met didn't have any visible abilities.
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:48 am
Althalus laughed again.
"I don't think she'd just like this coin, kid. Let's get her something pretty, huh?"
He kept moving, and pondered dropping the coin onto Elias' lap for him to play with; but firstly it was his money, and secondly didn't babies swallow stuff? He wasn't going to get into trouble for that, that was for certain.
"I think we'll go..... this way!" He said, turning slightly down a street which had market stalls out the front. One particularly glittering one caught his eye, a jeweller's stand; it was covered in nicknacks, rings, necklaces, silver chains. Hmmm. He pulled the stroller to a halt, folding his arms over the top and peering down at Elias.
"D'you like shiny stuff?"
On his head, Stealth almost visibly preened. The awe in the younger daemon's voice was clear, and she opened a black eye lazily to peek down at the strange-looking creature.
It's easy, she said offhandedly, opening her small mouth in a silent sound, the closest she could get to smiling.
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