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 Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 12:12 pm
Alti watched the other's actions in silence, raising his hands to his face and rubbing the skin there in an effort to massage away his feeling of restless fatigue. "M'thanks," he murmured as the other returned. But he felt quite... subdued. The atmosphere wasn't what one would call light. After several moments of silence, Alti spoke, his words rather haltering. "Haar... do you think... something might happened to... Father? I mean..." he broke off, worry evident in his voice. He really didn't want the cause of whatever had happened to have been something circulating his father....
((Pleh... I can't... write... right now.... Dx ))
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:37 pm
Haar grimaced, looking up from his notes. He wasn't really allowed to discuss any details with Alti, but his father was a fire noble...even though Alti wasn't really a part of the fire nation himself. Looking down, the soldier stayed silent for a minute. It was his father though, and it wasn't as if telling him that nothing was wrong with him would allude to what the mission entailed. The young commander looked up, "The fire royalty and nobles are being watched, so I wouldn't worry about your father, I'm sure he's fine," he said slowly before looking down at his notes once more. There was really nothing else to conclude from what he'd found, with a sigh Haar set the pile of papers at the end of his bed before questioning the teen, "Have you been stuck in here since I left?" He asked, curious as to why they would've posted a guard outside their room when he hadn't even been inside. It wasn't as if Alti was going to be targeted, or at least the young man hoped that wouldn't be the case. Gliding a finger across the hilt of his sword, the red-eyed soldier made a mental note to stay in the teen's presence in case that happened.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 2:43 pm
Alti nodded slowly, a wave of reliefe washing over him at the other's words. His father was... fine... or at least, that was what Haar had said... and if the man had said that -- even if he was uncertain -- it meant that the root of the problem wasn't anything to do with Red or Alti... just... something else of national concern that had to do with the Fire royals.....
The pale teen nodded again, a small sigh issuing from between his lips as he did so. "Yeah... I stuck around a bit after you left... and then I heard a couple men talking by the door and when I went to look outside, well... they realised someone else was inside... and asked me some things... nothing bad or anything, but... they wouldn't allow me to leave," he said slowly, then shrugging slightly at his own last words. His look of indifference completely did not match the feelings that had been coursing through his before Haar had returned.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 4:06 pm
Haar winced a bit. Obviously, the fire royals knew that he was staying in this room and if they had found Alti instead... The young man was just about to ask what sort of questions the guard had asked Alti when a sharp knock sounded on the door. Looking up, Haar made a motion to get the door but it swung open before he could even get off of his bed.
"Commander."
Haar's expression fell as he realized just who had barged into the room. "General Fayst, I didn't realize you were in the area," Haar murmured as he stood up, wondering why Cyrus hadn't sent the other general on the mission with him had he been at the festival.
"I just arrived," the older soldier muttered, eying Alti suspiciously with crisp hazel eyes. "And as I was briefed on the...situation, your name came up. Why may I ask are you roomed with a foreigner?" The general spat, glaring down at the much younger soldier. Haar returned the glare, trying to keep his eyes on the other's aged orbs rather than his graying hairline. "Did you come all this way to ask me that? Our country currently doesn't have a king, and you're asking me why I'm sharing a room with a foreigner?! I would have you know he's--"
"He? ...Haar I'll have you know that not all of the generals are happy with the former king's decision about our marital status, but there's some places you have to draw the line." Haar's expression twitched from frustration to full out annoyance.
"And what, general, is that supposed to mean?" It was common knowledge to everyone in the fire nation's army that General Fayst was a stickler of the rules, and would reprimand anyone were they not following them. Everyone also knew that he had been expecting to succeed the former commander since he was the oldest and supposedly most experienced of the generals but instead Haar had been chosen. The younger soldier wasn't sure if the next bit was common knowledge, but Haar sure as heck knew that Fayst didn't like him because of it and was always taking measures to see him demoted...
The older man didn't answer, his face growing red as he tried to keep in an assumingly large amount of rage. Without truly answering, the general muttered something about whatever he meant as being unnatural, making it loud enough for the whole room to hear. Clenching his hand into a fist, the young man tried to calm down. Why in hell was everyone always f**king assuming he was sleeping with a person who he just so happened to be near? Haar already knew the answer, it was because of...Kae, but that had been years ago. Was one, stupid mistake going to haunt him forever? "Fayst, I already sent my theories and findings to Cyrus, so if you have no further questions I'll have to ask you to leave." Younger or not, Haar had more authority than the general and although Fayst may have not agreed with it he would not disobey a direct order lest he be demoted himself.
Without a word, the general dismissed himself, although not before slamming the door closed. Huffing out a growl, Haar glared at the door, hissing out a few choise words before sarcastically spitting out, 'Happy Novias to you, too, Sir~'. Fayst was a brilliant strategist and trainer, but he hated the man when he was like this. "I'd wait a few minutes before leaving if you want to enjoy the rest of the festival, I don't want you meeting up with him in the stairwell," Haar murmured, gritting his teeth. At the start of the winter festival, Novias began in the fire nation. It lasted for several days and really just celebrated the cold season. The whole kingdom lit up as candles and the country's national color was displayed everywhere. There was usually gift-giving too, which was always a hassle since his pay check was nothing to brag about. Still, he somehow managed to always get at least a little something for each of his friends, even if it meant not eating for a few nights. During Novias it wasn't really a problem though, people were more than generous with food. Fayst was not getting a gift from him that year, Haar thought with a frown before stealing a glance at Alti. The soldier knew...Alti probably didn't know much about the holiday...but he'd try to get the teen something.
------
Xel wrapped an arm around the mage's waist, exclaiming to the room, "Happy Novias~!" Peyton glared at the half-breed. "You're not even from the fire kingdom, Xel," he muttered as the earth-ice mix leaned over a pressed a kiss to the blonde's temple. "Oh, you're just being a sour-puss because Haar hasn't given you anything yet," he murmured before receiving a whack to his head.
"Don't you ever kiss me again," Peyton snarled, "I don't care if it's tradition, you're a creep," he muttered, his expression fading as Ceris bent over to peck the boy on the forehead. "Happy Novias." Peyton couldn't exactly yell at Ceris... it was tradition after all. "Happy Novias," he mumbled in a defeated tone, clamping hands over his ears as the two laughed.
[[Well, that turned out longer than I thought it would.]]
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:58 pm
((Ohnoes, what happened to le secrecy? D: By the way, I apologize in advance for my crappy writing. I'm still recovering from being dead, both mentally and physically. 8D;;; ))
"...our country currently doesn't have a king..."
Alti blinked. Everything had seemed to be moving so... slowly. And then this man -- this general -- burst in and... Wait? The Fire Kingdom didn't have a... king? How was that possible?! The separate regions of the Grand Nation were called Kingdoms because they all had kings. How could one... possibly not? And then it struck the boy, like a sinking hit -- the hugely serious dilemma.... and... no king. The king had been... assassinated, then?
But there was more. Haar was being accused for staying with a foreigner when the entirety of the Fire Kingdom was likely to fall into uphieval?! Of course, the possibility that the general was being condescending and rude because it looked like they just might be something more than friends completely flew past the boy -- as far as he was concerned, that wasn't even a possibility, and so it did not occur to him.
And the man had left, at last. Alti's eyes lingered a moment on the doorway where the older man had disapeared before his bright golden orbs slowly slipped onto Haar. He remained silent several moments and then, with a feeling of great apprehension increasing in his gut with every moment, he spoke. "Haar... is... I mean... is your king... dead...?" Alti knew he was an outsider -- knew that despite his being a half blood, despite that he was even of noble descent on both sides.... he knew it would be impossible for him to ever be on the "inside" no matter where he was -- even the Kingdom he grew up in. After all, no one back home would look him in the eye. After everything Allora had confessed, Alti had realised just what those foreign, pittying, distant attitudes meant... that they had all known -- at least somewhat, or guessed, somehow -- what had been kept hidden from Alti for over sixteen years. He knew that the enmity between the Storms and Fire Kingdoms in particular was increasing by the day, for not only had the Kingdoms chosen opposite sides, but... there had always been a rift there, or at least there had been one for a very long time. The Fire natives had never been fond of the Storms people's heavy currents and watery ways.... In short, their principles and kingdom-wide personalities were far too different.....
((Smart one, isn't he.))
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:10 pm
[[very.]]
Haar could've kicked himself. He hadn't meant for that to slip out. He had been so careful not to say more than he should and now he just gave away the entire problem. "I'm not sure," he answered steadily, staring at the door. "I hope to God not, Ruehl isn't ready to take the throne, not now...not when we're on the brink of war," he murmured before turning back to Alti. "You can't tell anyone this," he said slowly, making sure the younger male understood. "I mean no one can know this until we've confirmed things, which might take a while," he explained, sighing, "What a wonderful start to the holiday," he said as he shook his head.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:22 pm
Of... of course it was a secret. When a king went missing, that was... it was more than a big deal. Whatever results occured -- whatever happened because of this -- they would decide the fates and lives of many people. With a king gone -- and like Haar said, with the Kingdom in a state of near civil war -- there would be a great upheaval. Many would grieve, others would only pretend... and many more would use this as a chance to finally break out with fists and magic the battle that had been faught so long with silky words and impenitrable will power. The Kingdom of Death would innevitably choose a side... and any chance of peace that might possibly be scavenged would be ripped to pieces and devoured by figurative voultures.
Alti nodded slowly to the other's words slowly, his golden eyes depressing downwards. He couldn't meet the other's gaze -- he didn't know what responce he could give that could possibly express the feelings coursing through him. He didn't want war, of course -- the Storms people as a whole were generally pacifists and prefured settling things peacefully. Alti had never before encountered a situation of such magnitude. The teen bent forward, his knees drawing up to his chest, head hanging down between them as his arms circled his legs.
"...Haar," he muttered at last, voice slightly muffled by the cloth of his pants. "...do you ever wish things could just... stop...?" he asked slowly, raising his head slightly so that he could raise his golden eyes, though only one orange-gold orb was visible through his curtain of too-long indigo locks. "...I mean... just... wish they could become... simple. A small life would be more pleasing, wouldn't it?" he mumbled slowly, not quite certain of what he himself was saying.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:36 pm
Strong, tanned hands were gripping firmly upon pale, weakened ones -- those strong, dark digits trying in vain to remain steady, to be strong for the one who couldn't be.... But Helios couldn't help it. His hands were shaking so... so violently. For all he was praised as a perfect, strong, fair-minded prince... he was falling to pieces and he couldn't do anything to stop it. His expression was... something else -- intense emotions of fear, worry, hope, defeat, anguish... so many mixed feelings affecting his complection. He raised the pale hands slowly to his lips, his lips pressing gently against the thin, sickly white knuckles he was holding so desperately.
Since birth, it had been like this. The pair was only ever well... as a pair. Midas was having one those unpredicable, terrible fits again... As a mere infant, he had been diagnosed with a weak constitution. It was only four years later that he had gone through his first "fit" -- a mild one, it was true, but it had awoken the royal family to their son's full weakness. What had caused the condition, they did not know... but it happened every now and then -- a time when Midas would simply... stop breathing. Nothing and nobody could help him, then -- no one except Helios. There was something that... happened when the two were together -- something... special. Midas would start breathing again and, though he would be greatly weakened, soon enough he would be well.... Within minutes, seconds, or days of the prince's miracle recovery, the Light Kingdom would be informed of some.... happening. Some tragic event taken place outside their borders. Midas' fits had always been... warnings for the Light royals.
But this time was different -- Helios was there, clinging to his only brother with all the life and hope he had, but the feeling of dispair had descended upon the room. Midas was... well, he seemed alive... somehow... and yet he hadn't taken a single breath since the previous day. Soon enough... if something didn't happen... would their prince die...?
((ohthedrama. Originally not intended to foretell the whatsit of the Fire king (had something else planned), but this works too.))
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:37 pm
Haar pressed a fist into his mattress, flexing his hand several times as he mulled over the boy's question. Of course he wanted a more simple life. He hadn't wanted to even join the military in the first place, but what was an orphan with no relatives to speak of supposed to do? He had to support his sister and himself somehow and that was the only thing he was good at, apparently too good at and he ended up being promoted all the way to commander. He had been lucky though, it was chance that he had even met the previous commander, chance that said soldier had even picked him as an apprentice, and chance yet again that his master had decided to bestow the title of commander on him before he died. He hadn't been ready, he hadn't been ready to take over the army after a man who had been like a father to him had died unexpectedly. He hadn't been ready for a position where he had to decide if they should go to war or not.
"Sometimes..." He started slowly, not looking up, "Sometimes I wish I could just get up and leave everything behind, at least leave my job, leave the capital... I...this is going to sound stupid, but when I would go on missions-- I used to go on them more often when I was younger-- I would think to myself what my future would be like. I never thought I'd be commander. I thought I'd spend a few more years saving money so I could move out into the country, I don't know...just get away from the politics and everything," he murmured, "I want to teach someone everything I know, I want to make little warriors," he said with a hint of a smile, laughing a bit at his own dream. "I don't think I'll live that long though," again... he laughed.
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:49 pm
Alti nodded slowly, a slight smile creeping across his lips -- though Haar wouldn't be able to see it. The immense shock had... disipated slightly, and the atmosphere felt... slower. It almost seemed peaceful, but it was dillusional to think that anything could be peaceful at a time like this, and with the knowledge that Alti had only just received. "That sounds... nice..." he murmured slowly. It was very in synch with his own desire for the fear, for the formalities, the distrust, the enmities... for all those rifts to just disapear -- for the kingdoms to unite.... after all, they were still all under one Nation. Perhaps, in the beginning, they had never been split at all.... Maybe... they had all been one at first. And differences had slowly spread and separated into seven distinct groups.... and now things only grew worse. If that was true, though, there was no proof for it -- no written history of that time.
He glanced up once more at Haar, his golden orbs holding an unexpectedly deep feeling. Usually, despite his masking of his emotions, his expression was so... clean cut -- so decisive and.... one. It was hardly ever multi-fascited -- and though it might not be his true emotion, his face hardly ever showed an expression so complex as the look in that one eye. "I wish... we could be... peaceful. I don't want to have to never see Father again...." he murmured slowly. "I wish the rifts would just get sewn back together, that everything would... heal. When something falls to pieces, you either fix it or throw it away... I don't want everything to be thrown away...." he said, his expression filled with a mellancholly that hardly ever filled that space.
((homg, what happened? Alti? Thinking? DEEPLY??? How did that happen?!? D: ))
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:08 pm
[[Blasphemy.]]
"I wish it was that simple, but what are we supposed to do when we've been having constant raids along our borders?" It was a hypothetical question of course, he didn't expect an answer. "Am I just supposed to sit here when villages are attacked? You saw first-hand what happens everyday," he muttered, meaning the the time they had shot at with ice-tipped arrows. "And I know the majority of the people are fine with us, but there are a few corrupt officials that have been fueling racism for generations, what am I supposed to do about them? In a couple more generations the people won't even like us anymore."
"I want to get away from it all, but even if I did move to some far off village I know I wouldn't really be free," he said, staring down at his sword. "So there's no point in even trying. I think that's why I've never really rebelled against the stupid policies in the militia because I'd die before I could even partake in them, or if I did, I'd be putting someone else's life at risk."
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:22 pm
Again, Alti could only nod slowly in response to the other's words. It was an incredibly... rare occasion for Alti. He felt so... young -- so clueless, so naive -- about the situation... it was... everything was... too much for his contemplation. Haar's thinking surpassed his own by quite a lot. He knew his own thoughts couldn't possibly compare -- knew he didn't have the forsite to see what Haar already knew so well to be true. And that new knowledge pooled into a gathering of dispair in the pit of his stomach. He felt, somehow, as if he had failed -- although who or what he had failed, he did not know. Haar had to think of such heavy matters so often that it must be... normal, now. He knew his position and what would happen if he ran, while Alti could be selfish and childish in thinking only for himself.
"I wish--" he began. But then he stopped. It was... useless to make such futile, helpless wishes... speaking them out loud was worse -- they were such frivolous, empty wishes... there were others who deserved wishes much more readily than Alti did. "--nevermind...." he finished slowly, his voice just as downcast as his eyes. He felt utterly... useless, pointless.... It was one of those moments of self reflection, a time when soft, but impulsive thoughts filled the teen's mind -- thoughts that made no sense, but which held a very special feeling....
If I could save my wishes... would I later spend them on my own selfishness, or give them away?
((and there goes me with my own weird thoughts. I just wanted to say that 'cuz... it'd be an interesting image, don't you think? *shot*))
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:36 pm
"Hey, you can't do that," Haar protested with a grin, "I'm spilling my pointless fantasies to you, you have to at least tell me one of your's," he said, looking up at the teen who looked positively forlorn. "Your's can't be as stupid as mine, at least you have a chance at happiness," the young man murmured, a faint smile still set on his lips.
[[short. paouh4ot34.]]
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Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 7:46 pm
Alti glanced up, his orange orbs meeting the other's darker red gaze. A light flush had risen to his cheeks. He felt... well... he didn't know, really -- happy that Haar was... talking to him... like a friend... that really did make him feel very happy. But also... slightly depressed from his earlier thoughts. And embarrassed because Haar had shared so much and he felt bad for withholding his own self. He glanced away from the other for a moment before his gaze returned to meet the other's. "I... just wish everything could be right. I know it's... childish... but that would be great, wouldn't it? I mean... I really want to... be with my family. My whole family.... I know... my real mother can't really... be with me, but I have Mother -- Allora -- and.... and I have Father, only I don't know how long we will be allowed to... see each other...." he murmured slowly, his words and expression even, though he was obviously quite... worried over this subject. That was clear enough from the expression of pain on his delicate features.
"---I just... I don't know, I wish everything could be right and the world could be happy and I want world peace and I know it sounds stupid, but.... it just... I wish things could be good....." he murmured slowly, his cheeks reddening again. "I just... I guess I can't see very... far... like you can -- maybe because I don't know what it would be like to have a whole... family, but.... that's what I want....."
((Haha, I nearly died writing this.
"Ms. Storms, if you could have anything, what would it be?"
"Oh golly gosh, that's obvious! I want world peace, lolz!♥♥♥"
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 11:37 am
After having been in bed nearly all day, Ceris finally let Peyton walk around without following his every move. The teen was feeling much better, he had the occasional bout of nausea that would leave him barely standing, but otherwise he was okay... Holding up a crystal ornament, the blonde smiled as the glass fragmented bits of light, casting it out in all different directions and colors. It was so pretty that Peyton bought handful of them, one for each of his friends, and an extra one for someone else who deserved a thank you. Although the knight and his mage hadn't told Peyton the details of what had gone on that very morning, he was alert enough to realize that something had happened, something that had gotten Ruehl in trouble and Xel in a more crass mood than usual.
Placing each glass ornament in a box, the blue-eyed boy scribbled little notes along the tops of each before finally placing a little, red bow to complete the look. Peyton figured that Xel and Ceris would like the gifts, but he wasn't sure about the others. Haar could be expensive to shop for, and besides, he had enough daggers to slay an entire battalion. The commander didn't use them very often anyway, and swords were way too costly. Cain seemed to have an appreciation for simple beauty, and Peyton had picked out a glass blown figurine that looked as if the glass had just melted and cooled, giving a water-like appearance to the present.
Staring at the twisted piece that cast bright orange against the ground he had yet to box up, the boy frowned. He wasn't sure about this one... Sealing the box, Peyton shot an apprehensive look up at the sky. He couldn't really afford anything more, so it would have to do.
It wasn't hard to find out where the prince was staying...and where Ruehl was, Malachai had to be somewhere in the vicinity. Giving a few guards extra sweet smiles, the ranger was led right up to the heat manipulator's room. Fumbling with the box in his hand, Peyton knocked softly at the door, hoping that the prince's adopted brother would be awake.
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