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 Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:08 pm
[The Night Before.] Long days.
It seemed like a pleasant distraction from her obvious issue of time slipping through her fingers like nothing more than sand. Ah, like the days of her childhood. Days didn't fly by, they took it upon themselves to stay awhile, maybe even dance with her imagination. Yes, she wasn't above thinking about the past. Not in the least. She still regretted things she'd done, still wished she could turn back time and fix them... Still give herself advice about what to do and what not to do.
But alas. None of this would ever be possible. There she stood behind the register of her store, staring at the computer screen. As soon as that little clock changed to nine, they'd be free to go.
"Ugh. It's always when you're watching that time decides to creep."
She mumbled and glanced to her co-worker. He simply nodded and continued writing stuff down for closing. It hadn't been the same since Adam left. They'd not only been good friends, but both had been there the longest by three years. Unfortunately, he'd been promoted and had to move on... Leaving Cindy behind.
He had been like family to her. Or really, unlike family. Cindy had moved out and not told anyone where she lived. Not even her Father. It hurt, but she knew he'd accidentally (Or maybe not accidentally) let it slip to those moochers. That step-family of hers... That had sucked the life out of their generosity. Made Cindy realize that no matter how much you try, people just won't change. That good things happen to bad people and vice versa. And finally, that the kind-hearted are always taken advantage of if they don't hide the fact.
"Ah, finally nine! Lets close this hell hole down!"
She shouted, ran over to the gates, and slammed them shut. It took them about fifteen minutes to do what needed to be done. Vaccuming, counting the registers, straightening the shelves. It was all programmed into her head.
"See you later, Mike!" She shouted as they parted ways in the parking lot, strolling over to her white Oldsmobile. She unlocked the door and sighed as she sat down in the seat. "At least I have you." Her fingers stroked the steering wheel cover. This was the last thing Dad had given her before she left. Before she went into hiding is more like it. Boy, did she miss him. The Father that always welcomed her with open arms. Told her that it was her home too, and she shouldn't let them drive her out. Unfortunately, that's just what she did.
The drive home wasn't a quiet one. Cindy always had her stereo blaring. It kept her mind on better things... Or at least things she considered better. She thought about a world where she actually had the power to make things better or worse. A world where she could stand up for herself. The non-existent world that haunted her mind and made her yearn for more. If only fairy tales could be true.
If it was one thing she loved when driving, it was the back roads. Covered in lush foliage. Her imagination ran wild to what could be out there. Friend or foe, good or bad. Such an enjoyable experience.
Until she returned to her apartment. It definitely wasn't the Paris Suite, but it was officially home. She parked the car, grabbed her purse, and ascended the stairs. At least it was on the top floor. A cliche fumbling for keys ensued as she stood at her door, finally managing to grab the right one. Here it was. Her legacy. Her one room apartment. All she could really afford with her minimum wage pay.
She tossed her purse any old place and trotted over to her computer. For the longest time, she kept it in her room. But when she realized there was no risk of someone else hopping on it like at her old house, she moved it to the living room for more space. Surprisingly, she felt like she had all the room in the world now. Her room had been small and cramped... So all this seemed like a luxury. As the computer went to main screen, she opened up the internet and quickly flipped on the TV. Ah, Sci-Fi. One of her favorite channels next to the late night Lifetime programs. Television for women who hate men. How true Dad's words had been.
For awhile, she was content with frequenting her usual sites. A forum here and there, and even a little Youtube. But.. Her mind turned more to the supernatural. She looked up ghosts, mythical animals, and anything else that hadn't been proven truth. It was definitely an enjoyable pass-time... Though she did scare herself to the point of no sleep every so often.
That was one of her biggest problems with living alone. Back when she lived with people and this happened, she'd always be able to convince herself that she was safe. But now...
She looked at the door and quietly moved over to bolt it. The curtains were already closed, so no stressing about that. "Why...?" She questioned to herself. "Through all these hardships..." She paused and looked at her feet. "Won't good things come my way?"
"Because you're not different. You're not special. Why would the world waste its blessings on one who's done nothing for themselves?" She began answering her own questions with more. "Your parents were the generous ones. You were only dragged along for the ride." It was surprising, how harsh she was with herself.
An exasperated sigh was released from her mouth. "I wish above all things, more than riches, more than good health... That something amazing would happen to me..." That was when her conversation ended. She moved back to her computer chair and continued surfing, until she eventually got tired. No need to move to her room. Crashing on the couch was perfectly alright. And so she did.
The end of a long day. Though, one thing that plagued her mind was, if today was such a long day, what was waiting for her tomorrow? Surely time had a reason for delay...
Surely...
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 7:04 pm
[The Yearning Change.]
The day after.
Her eyes open and shut over and over again until she finally realized the quiet afternoon was whispering in her ear to wake up. She'd left the TV on last night. A generic horror movie about killer bugs played across the screen with terrible CGI and blood effects. She only gave it a second of her time before letting out a sigh and reaching for the remote that hid itself under the cushions.
The TV was soon turned to the weather station as Cindy stood up from her makeshift bed and walked over to the area she'd specified as the kitchen. There was a small wall separating it from the living room. Oh, what she'd give for bacon and eggs right now. Unfortunately, she'd have to settle for a bagel.
Too bad she didn't have to work today. Work was about the only thing that kept her from becoming a couch potato and sinking into the furniture to spread her roots.
"What should I do today?" Her question echoed through the empty house, which gave her no answer. "Why don't you go out to the park and watch children play?" Her eyebrow raised at her own suggestion. "Yeah, remind myself of my sheltered youth. Sounds like a real good plan."
As she finished decorating her bagel with cream cheese, she tossed everything back where it belonged and moved to her computer chair.
"...A weather advisory warning is in effect. There is a 90% chance of hail as the evening continues on..."
Cindy's ears perked at this information. Hail? In the summer? Then again, weirder things had happened. That was when she got the notion to take a peek outside. Standing up and moving over to the window that sat next to the door, she lifted up the curtains. Rain and thunder. And plenty of it.
"... Wow." But obviously, it still wasn't out of the normal. Crazy weather was a given around these parts.
Her arms folded as she continued watching a little longer. "looks like my options have been cut in half."
...
The day turned to night fairly quickly, since she wasn't exactly an early riser. For awhile, she simply continued her usual activities. Internet, video games, and the occasional pause for some TV.
Until the power went out.
"s**t, s**t s**t!" She screamed as she stumbled out of her seat and felt her way back into her room for some candles. Luckily, she loved candles and inscence. So there was always some handy.
Alright. Found a candle... Now where was that blasted lighter? Her hand continued searching over her jewelery that had been left sitting out, her PSP, and a few other nic-nacks until she finally found it.
The flame was a more than welcome guest as she sat it on the wick and looked around. She lit a few more for good measure and sighed. "I hate being alone in the dark..." She confessed to herself.
What now? She could lay awake in bed, fearing that the boogyman might leak out of the cracks... Or...
She trotted back out of her room and looked towards the window. Yes. It was storming...
But a nice drive through the countryside might ease her worries. Or kill her. One of the two. She looked back at her dark and empty house, then out towards the weather once again.
"Well, why not?" She could name a hundred reasons to why not, but none of that seemed to matter now that she was on her own. It'd only take a few minutes.
With that thought, she sat the candles in a safe place where they wouldn't catch fire and ran out into the rain and hail with only her jacket hood as protection. She jumped into her car and started it up, taking a few minutes to carefully choose the music she'd be using on her little journey.
"Across the floor in the hand of where we drove the drill.
a cautious ear to the mouth of your confession.
think of all the things we put him through,
in the face of his god would he tell the truth?"
The singer forced out in a quick pace as she pulled out of her parking spot and drove off. Cindy would occasionally join into the song when she wasn't trying her damndest to see where she was going. Here it was. Her favorite road to drive on. Because of how hidden it was. How dark it was. There was definitely less rainfall down this way because of all the rain.
"slowly discarded were the remains of his lonely youth...
among the alley where the dwellers scare to notice.
picture a young boy in pieces and streets with leveled malfunctions,
no name to be called redeemer.
We'll fix him restore him! with the love is no other.
think of all the things you did before,
write them in a letter that says reborn!"
She sang out with the stereo. Her eyes wary of her surroundings. How familiar the street was, and yet so different tonight. She passed it off as the rain.
Then, something caught her eye in the rear view mirror. Something red had shot down onto the street behind her. Without a moment's hesitation, she slammed on the breaks, VERY lucky that she didn't hydroplane.
"What in GOD'S name?" She yelled over the voice of the singer who continued on as if nothing was said. She threw on her flood lights and almost leaped out of the car. What had that been? Were her eyes deceiving her? Or was she finally going insane? She ran back on the road and looked around. The same red caught the corner of her eye. Laying over on a patch of grass was something... Strange. Something she hadn't seen before.
Something unbelievable, she realized as she moved closer. She stood there for what seemed like forever, staring down at the object before her.
An egg.
But this was no ordinary egg. Which was made obvious by the wings that hovered around it... And that beautiful scarlet crystal that sat in the middle. She slowly knelt down next to it. Her fingers lightly passing over the shell. She could contemplate what it was later, right now she was getting soaked and hailed upon. Cindy's arms carefully scooped up the little egg and held it close, which was when she realized it smelled distinctly... Burnt. Like ashes that rained from a large fire.
Before even getting into the car, she carefully took off her jacket and sat it in the passenger seat, the egg quickly following.
CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH.
Was the sound that came from directly behind the car. Cindy froze in shock and looked to her right. A large tree now lay where she stood just seconds ago. Her mouth let out a gasp before she even thought about stopping it. "Oh.. G-god." She whispered out and jumped in the car, buckling up the egg and herself, then driving off as quick as she could away from this disaster waiting to happen.
She ran up the stairs and into her apartment before anyone could see her and question what was wrapped up under her jacket, because right now she wasn't thinking too clearly.
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:50 pm
[The Yearning Change.] Part II, Discoveries of a world once imagined...Cindy wasted no time as she tossed the water logged jacket onto the floor and gently sat the egg on her couch. She looked like a drenched hooker, what with her eye liner running down her cheeks. Jogging into her bathroom, she grabbed two towels. One for herself, and one for her guest.
She placed her towel on the arm of the couch and began drying off the egg. "What could you be?" She asked the egg as she paced back and fourth on her cheap carpeting. Finally satisfied to know that it was dry, she placed it on the couch once again, except this time, she wrapped it up in blankets.
Not expecting a response from it anytime soon, she tossed off most of her clothing and proceeded to use the other towel for herself. She didn't bother putting more clothes on since she knew no one was gonna barge in. Another lovely aspect of living alone. And she seriously doubted the egg would care.
But gosh, she couldn't get over the fact that her years of pleading seemed to be over! Whatever God existed had heard her desire for something amazing, and had answered with... A crashing tree.
She'd forgotten... IF she hadn't moved when she did, both her and that egg would be squished. Her blue eyes turned back to it. And with a smile, she sat down next to it. "Maybe you're a dragon..." Her finger slowly but surely moved to one of the hovering wings, giving it a small poke then immediately pulling back. It gave a few quick flaps then stopped. Her eyes widened. Either this was the best trick she'd ever seen, or she really had gone bonkers.
"Not... Dragon.." A voice eminated from the eggs general direction. "Ashe..."
"Ash?" Cindy repeated and lifted up the egg, blanket and all. She laid back on the couch and sat the egg on her stomach, fingers once again gracing the shell. Now she really was crazy. An egg was talking to her.
There was... A wise air about it, though. Like it had seen more than she could possibly see in two lifetimes.
"You.. Will you listen?"
Cindy raised an eyebrow. "Listening is one of my specialties." Which wasn't a lie in the least. She could never speak her mind, so she was usually left to listen to the minds of others.
"Please, a name."
This one deserved a head tilt. At first, she thought it wanted her name. But after thinking, she was sure it wanted a name.
She was silent for a moment, her eyes staring into the crystal that stuck out from the shell. The wise aura... The more she felt it, seemed... Somewhat distorted. Distorted wiseness...
Her mind suddenly shot back to an English report she was assigned. The man she thought of had been described of having a strange sense of knowledge. "Aesop." She whispered out.
The little wings gave another flap of what appeared to be excitement.
"Aesop... Yes."
The voice replied. She hadn't even thought about gender. But, whatever floated it's boat. Her mind slowly distracted itself again with previously asked questions. What was this? What was an ash, besides the obvious answer of residue left by fire.
Her thoughts were broken in half as the lights flickered back on. The TV returned with the booming weatherman's voice. She winced from the sudden abundance of light and sighed. "Well. The lights could've stayed off for awhile longer. I don't mind so much now."
She lifted up the leg above her and stared at it. And, from what she could tell, it stared back. "I said I'd listen to you... But will you listen to me?"
"I... Listen..."
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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:24 pm
[RP Encounter.][ORP] Learning of Eggs
Cindy meets Mireille and finds out that she's not the only one who's been 'gifted' with these strange eggs. Some questions are answered, but even more are created.
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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:55 pm
[ G.r.o.w.t.h. xxxQ.u.e.s.t. ]
The circumstances surrounding the discovery of Aesop's egg are strange. What could this mysterious egg possibly want or need? Try to find two items that you think Aesop might have an interest in. Maybe if you finding something to his liking, he might be coaxed out of his jewel encrusted shell.
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Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:26 am
[In Seeking Comfort from the Familiar Stranger.] It had been a few days since Cindy had met Mireille, the woman who she discovered also had one of these... Eggs. Or at least, something quite similar.
And ever since then, the egg didn't leave her side. She took it everywhere she went. Even when she took a shower. It was a bit creepy... But in a sense, it was comforting. To know that she wasn't alone in the wide world anymore. No. She didn't know what the egg held, or what the creature inside it meant to do. But somehow, she was almost sure it didn't mean her harm. Blind faith? Perhaps.
But one thing the egg did was listen. She could tell it anything and still feel like there was an audience listening to her every word. And the more time passed, the more that feeling grew. And the more... Active the egg became. It would sometimes move by itself.. And she could even hear little sounds from the inside.
It was amazing. She'd reached for the phone so many times to give Mir a call. To tell her what her egg had done today. And even question how hers was doing. But, once she'd looked at the card for the number, she realized that she sounded more like a Mother than a concerned soul. A Mother. Right. If there was one thing that disgusted her, it was children. Always crying when she was trying to have a nice meal... Messing up her store after she'd just cleaned it.
Being a Mother... Never really appealed to her anyways. She hadn't exactly had the best experiences with the Mother-figures in her life... And the thought of turning out like them frightened her beyond belief. To either be completely neglectful... Or to scare a child to the point of silence. She didn't want that to happen. And the best way to do that was to not have children.
She shook her mind of this as she felt the egg move in her lap. There she sat as usual at the computer, her eyes moving from the screen to the egg, who was wrapped up in a small red blanket with black fuzzy cats. "Were you getting tired of my silence?" She asked with a small smile. The egg gave a few flaps from it's wings. "Is it strange to be afraid of a mistake you're almost certain you wouldn't make?" She didn't expect an answer, and didn't exactly give time for one. "I've seen people do it time and time again. They say that they'd learned from their parents mistakes, then go off and do the same thing without another thought..."
"Do you think my doubt is a good thing? Or does it simply prove that my fate is sealed?" Cindy lifted the egg in the air and couldn't help but smile. At this point, they both knew that silence was the best answer to that question. "I suppose, the best way to find out is to see what you think when you hatch. Whatever you might be~"
This idea seemed to spark a small thought in her mind. "You know, I haven't gotten anything prepared for when you hatch... Since it's kinda hard to buy things for an unknown creature... Is there anything you'd want?" The egg had spoken to her before, at least she was pretty sure it did. So, if it really did want anything, it'd tell her, right?
The egg gave some large flaps in response, almost big enough to lift itself up a little. "Woah! I guess that was a yes!" She gave a giggle, wrapping it back up in the blanket. It had definitely been with her for a long time. A Christmas present from her late grandmother. The blanket had a unique material, and felt nice to the touch. Plus, it combined two of her favorite things. The color red, and black cats.
"T-this..." It finally managed to say. It seemed like the more time passed, the less the egg was able to speak. Quite... Odd. "The blanket? Well then, it's yours." She spared no second thought about it. And honestly didn't blame it. It was a warm blanket, and she didn't get to use it that much anyways.
Cindy stayed quiet for a few more moments before getting an idea. "Tell you what. Lets take a quick browse through my clutter of a room and see if you want anything there. You find anything? It's yours."
The egg didn't seem to argue. In fact, the idea might've even made it somewhat joyful. With a shrug at that thought, Cindy carried the egg off into her ransacked room.
She looked around and finally decided to sit it on the bed. "Lemme know if you see anything that appeals." She commented and glanced around herself. So many things in her room. Nic-nacks of just about every animal and soda cans galore. Then there were all kinds of stuffed animals, a few weapons here and there, and she'd even gotten some books on a small nightstand.
Those books. Some of them she'd had since she was only 2 years old. The stories about the animals with human traits, discovering the things we were destined to find out. She moved over to the shelf and dug through them for a moment. Eventually, she'd found her favorite. It had all different pictures of animals, beautifully done to the point where they almost seemed alive. Nice and thick, with the smell of old paper. But, she'd kept it preserved enough to where it looked new. Treasury of Stories was the title.
"My Dad used to read me one of these stories every night before I went to bed." Cindy commented, reminiscing about the past she'd left behind. Or tried to leave behind. The egg seemed to perk up at this piece of information. "Funny, I used to wanna be a vet because of all the wonderful stories I heard about animals. So I could help the furry friends who helped me form an imagination." There was a sigh. "Obviously, that didn't happen."
She looked over at the egg, who gave a few more of those big flaps. "I take it this would be something you like as well?" She questioned, eyebrow raised with a little smirk.
"You've got good taste." With that, she carried the book over and laid it next to the egg, then kicked off her shoes and curled up in the bed along with it.
"I'm excited. To see what you are..." She whispered, her face softening. "So please, don't keep me waiting, Aesop." It was one of the few times she used his name. Her eyes stared into the crystal as her late night habits seemed to wear on her.
Before she decided to fall asleep, she went around and turned off all the lights in her little apartment. It felt weird to be walking off to bed after all the times she just slumped over on the couch... But nice as well. After all the lights were off, she hopped into the already turned down bed. And the egg found an immediate spot in her arms.
She laid there for half an hour before speaking again. "Don't... Keep me waiting.." Cindy whispered, and reluctantly drifted off to sleep.
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Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:28 pm
[The Birth of Change.]
The next day came along without much warning. Cindy woke up with a big yawn and rubbed her eyes. She felt like a truck hit her. "ughh..." She moaned and sat up.
Though, she could already tell that something was amiss. Her eyes quickly went to her egg.
"W-what?" She questioned. The wings had disappeared. Oh no! What had happened. She quickly picked it up and stared. Obviously, it wasn't dead. She felt it going crazy inside. Which meant only one thing...
It was about to hatch.
She almost jumped at the idea. Where should she go for this? The living room! Good idea!
Her feet touched the floor and she was off, almost stumbling a few times. If there was one thing she shouldn't do, it was jump up right after she awoke in the morning. She'd grabbed the blanket the egg was usually wrapped in and wrapped it around the bottom of the egg, sitting it and the contents on the floor. This would be best. So there was no risk of it falling off of something.
Cindy was shaking out of excitement now. All the waiting was for this moment. What was in there? What would pop out of the egg and greet her (or rip her face off)? She sat down indian style in front of it and watched, her eyes wide and curious.
The first thing to happen was the jewel disappearing. It seemed to have been pulled back into the egg. With it gone, there was a little peep hole. Dare she? Yep. She dared.
Her face slowly moved closer to the egg. Not right up against it... But close enough to where she could see if there was any movement on the inside. And that was when there was a loud CRACK. There was a large one forming around the whole egg, starting at the place where the jewel used to be.
Ashes leaked out of the crack as it continued, making the smell stronger and stronger. As the shell was pushed off, deep red eyes met Cindy's.
It was... A boy?!
There sat a naked boy in the remaining bottom of the eggshell. Red eyes, white hair, pointy ears. Completely naked except for the necklace with the red jewel that had once accented the outside and an earring.
Cindy sat there. Dumbfounded. Her lips were moving, but no sound was coming out of them. There was a naked child sitting in front of her on the living room floor. CHILDREN DON'T HATCH FROM EGGS!
Aesop stared at her for the longest time, his head tilting in one direction. "M-mother?" He questioned to her, his voice sounding so... Practiced for a child who was just... Er... Hatched.
Cindy's eyes could've sunk into the back of her head from that. "M-M-M-Mother?" She managed to spit out as she looked like she was about to have a heart attack.
Aesop managed to wobble to a stand and take a few small steps toward her. His tiny hand reached up and touched her cheek. She stared down at him in awe. How? What? Why?
It didn't seem to matter when he gave her a soft smile. Those big red eyes, that had the ability to scare many, looked at her so gently. As if being eternally grateful.
"I... Don't understand any of this..." She let out in a whisper, gently taking his little hand away from her cheek and holding it. "But... I did tell you that I'd take care of you."
Her mind was racing. She was too young to be a mother. This wasn't what she expected. What would she do.
"It all... Doesn't matter." She stood up, lifting him with her. Aesop looked curious now. It was a look she'd learn to be quite familiar with as time passed. "We'll get you cleaned up and dressed, then ask questions later."
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:08 pm
[RP Encounter.]
[PRP] Sitting in the Sun
Cindy goes to the park hoping for a quiet afternoon with her cherished and mysterious egg, but ends up with an exciting day of chatting with a man. Oh, and he also has an egg, by the way.
~~~~~~~
[PRP] Holy Hole in a Doughnut!After Aesop's egg hatches, Cindy rushes over to Mir's house only to discover that she has the same quandary. Boys hatching from eggs?! Not as preposterous as it sounds!
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Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:14 pm
[A Story Forever Unheard.]
Part I, The mind of Othello...
It was cold.
A strange feeling for the guardian of winter to experience. As he lay in the snow with the red so graciously flowing from the wound in his chest, it mingled. The color of the hot scarlet passionately kissing the frozen water. The knowledge, it didn't matter. It hadn't saved him from a fate too cruel. The heart and the mind... What nasty tricks they'd played on each other.
Othello had been his name. And he had been, at first, a wise Seelie who took it upon himself to acquire the knowledge of the world... To help others learn from it. Caring blue eyes. Beautiful locks of white hair that danced with the wind. Truly a creature of majesty. To be blessed with both astonishing radiance and unlimited intelligence.
Something had to give.
Dear Othello. So brilliant... And yet, so incredibly blind. You only see the things you wish to see. Perhaps if you weren't so ignorant to the ways of the world, you would've seen everything coming.
You see, while a wise fae, Othello's experiences with the world itself were limited. Reading was his specialty, and not experiencing. Knowledge is useless without eyes to absorb the impact of the words you speak. He was kept in the courts. Never getting a chance to, or actually needing to leave. He saw nothing. Only the letters so neatly written in the tomes of the past.
Destiny, however, provides the means of escape... Or further entrapment.
Curiosity linked arm in arm with fate, for the tragedies that befell the being everyone assumed to be perfection.
A canary in a cage can only chirp so long before it looks out the window and realizes it wants so much more.
This. This was the case.
Othello could only stand to be stuck in the courts for so long before he too longed to see the world in all it's supposed glory. To witness what humans had done with their world. To watch. To observe. Learn and teach.
He snuck out and away. To the world of the humans. Cloaked in magic, he walked among them. His eyes wide, ready to take in whatever was thrown. Like a starving dog, ready to devour whatever scrap of food offered.
He bit off more than he could ever chew.
Disease, famine, pain... Hate, murder... SIN.
The cruelties of life, not available through children's stories. He watched helplessly as countless people died on the streets from the plague, while others sat in their castles and watched. Listened as kings executed the innocent. Watched as children were abandoned by their parents because they hadn't the money to support them.
And try as he might to tell them... To help them... They either ignored his words completely or... Took their pain out on him.
He returned to the courts many years later. His eyes were no longer the soft, caring ones that graced all who looked upon them... But cold as the frost that slaughtered flowers in winter.
He tried... Tried to tell them of the ultimate suffering man went through. Tried to tell them that the pain humans went through was due to their own kind. That they didn't deserve the help Seelie's so generously offered them. And yet, his knowledge was greeted with the same rejection. Perhaps even moreso. Seeing that their prized scholar had been spoiled, they assigned him a role fit for the mute.
A keeper of the frost. A guardian of the winter. It was a job only for those who were numb to life. Who felt no remorse for doing what had to be done...
Father winter.
He was given a clear white crystal, which helped him to access the powers needed for an otherwise draining job.
And for countless years, he did just as he was assigned. Not feeling. Not caring. In truth, his heart had become the essence of winter itself.
But in secret. In his subconscious... Othello realized he longed for so much more. To be heard. To hear. To be listened to... And even to listen. For the snow's silence was deafening.
To be continued...
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 8:47 pm
[Days of Crashing Sunlight.] Ever since her experiences on the day of Aesop's birth, Cindy had watched the child do just about nothing but read. He had, of course, read the book that she'd given him time and time again, but he didn't stop there. Any book she had on her shelves were fair game. Books on animals, science, art. Anything.
Not that she minded. But one cannot live on books alone. Then again, one could not live on the computer alone, either.
It was a quiet, cloudy day. The birds chirped, but it was more of a complaint to the sun for hiding. Cindy was, as usual, lounging around in front of her computer. And Aesop was sitting on the sofa wrapped up in his blanket, reading yet another book. This time it was her book on Tarot cards.
Cindy broke the concentration from her computer monitor to look at the boy. For the longest time, she just watched.
Until the doorbell rang. Cindy's head immediately shot to the door, wondering who might be standing outside of it. And honestly, that thought made her nervous.
Aesop looked up from his book to the door, then looked at Cindy. "Are you going to see who's there?" He asked out of curiosity. He thought it was customary to answer the door when someone rang that little electric bell.
Her eyes blinked a few times, as if she'd just come back from la-la land. "O-oh yeah." Were her only words as she stood up and trotted over to the door. Since her peephole was broken, she cracked the door first. "Delivery for... Cindy Wright?" The man in the brown suit questioned. "Ohh! Yeah, that's me!" She swung the door open with a smile. That must be Aesop's clothes. "Alright. Just need you to sign here." He handed her the little electronic clipboard and waited for her to finish signing before handing over the package.
"Thank you sir!" She said as he left and shut the door.
The sender's address confirmed her suspicions. Her feet took her back to the desk she spent so much time in front of. "Now where's that.. A-hah." Her box cutter had been laying under the vast amounts of paper. She cut the tape and tossed the sharp cutter back on the desk, sitting the box next to Aesop. "It's for you."
Aesop looked up from his book at her, then over at the box. He kept his place in the book with the bookmark she'd given him and tossed the little pieces of bubblewrap aside. Curiously, he held the shirt up and looked at it. The utter lack of color stirred up deja vu. Though, he had to admit to himself, it fit him. Without wasting any time, he tossed off the huge shirt and threw on the ensemble he'd been gifted with.
"Like 'em?" She asked. They'd had to take his measurements before she ordered them, and she made sure they were a little baggy for some growth. But otherwise, they looked perfect on him.
"It's very comfortable." He commented with a nod. "Thank you Mothe- I mean Cindy."
He looked away from his clothes up to her eyes, afraid that he'd slipped up big time. Cindy raised an eyebrow. "W-whats wrong?"
Aesop's fingers twiddled for a moment. "Well... I thought you didn't like me calling you Mother.."
Didn't like him calling her Mother? What'd he... Wait. She remembered the day he hatched. She'd thrown a fit over that little word. Oh, she felt like an a** now.
With a big sigh, Cindy scooped the boy up and sat down with him on the sofa, pushing the box off. "Aesop, I want you to call me whatever feels right to you. I was just freaked because I wasn't expecting a sweet little boy to pop out of an egg in my livingroom." She gave a giggle at her choice of words.
Aesop didn't speak immediately after being assured. He simply thought while he sat on her lap. "... What was your mother like?"
Now there was a question she wish she'd never have to answer. That was the bad thing about children. Curious as hell, and they didn't mind asking. "Well..." She started out, eyes averting his. "I can't honestly say I know. She left me when I was little, and the only communication I get from her is a letter with money every once in awhile..." She could tell him about her step mother... But in all honesty, she didn't want to recall any of it. She didn't want to face the past. Didn't want to think about what could've been. None of it.
Aesop could see the hurt in her eyes at the discussion. How could someone rightfully abandon their child like that. Another instance of deja vu hit the boy. He'd thought the same thing once before. Only, the feeling was so much stronger.
"Anyways." Cindy interrupted the boy's thoughts rather abruptly. "I try not to think about the past anymore. Being sad over things you can't help... Its a waste of energy."
Aesop's eyes met hers as she spoke. But... What if you didn't know what was bothering you? Should you keep trying to find out, or are you better not knowing?
"C'mon, lets go get some pizza."
Well... He supposed all that would have to wait for another day. "Thank you, Mother."
Aesop spoke as she sat him on the ground. She said nothing but smiled at him as they walked out the door. For now, he would simply enjoy the present.
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Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:47 am
[Unreadable.]
There was something she wasn't telling him.
Aesop knew this after the first few days he'd been with Cindy. Every time there was a noise close to the door, she would look up from whatever she was doing. Eyes, full of fear. What, or who, could do that to a person?
There was still so much he didn't know. So much his eyes couldn't see in front of him. Children are bound to find out sometime. The world spares no one. Not even the most gifted of it's inhabitants.
"I'm off to work Aesop. I'll be sure to bring you something good home, so don't spoil your appetite." Cindy said as she stood in the doorway, a smile on her lips. "And don't open the door for anyone, you hear me? Anyone." Her eyes grew serious for those few seconds spent spewing out those words.
Aesop quickly gave a nod and went back to watching the strange contraption called a television. Today, he was watching the Discovery Channel. The title was even exciting to him. Today's program was about the Rain Forest and the exotic life it held.
However, as Cindy shut and locked the door, he had to wonder why she strained herself so much telling him never to open it while she wasn't present. He rubbed his chin at these thoughts.
That's when the commercials came on. How he hated these senseless things. So, with disgust combined with curiosity, he decided to explore the house in hopes of finding something to do while the advertisements were on.
And wouldn't you know, the first place he checked was Cindy's room. By now it was pretty safe to say that half of it was his, too. Since he used it just as much, if not more than she did. He looked across the bookshelf and in the nightstands before realizing there was one place he hadn't checked.
Under the bed.
As he reached this epiphany, his eyes widened like a kid in a candy store. What wonders could the darkness of the underworld hold?!
At first, there was nothing too special to see. Lost or discarded undergarments, crumpled up sketch paper, some wires from either a computer or a game console... But what was this?
A shoe box doused with black paint. And in big, red letters "UNREADABLE". Unreadable? What did that mean? He raised a brow. Telling a bookworm that something us unreadable is like telling a thirsty dog not to drink. Without a second thought in his mind, he opened up the box and looked inside.
There sat a book. A... Strange book. With nails driven into the spine, and eyes glued onto the front. under the eyes were two tear drops that had been cut out of text. "What... Is this?" He opened to the first page and figured it out. Someone, most likely Cindy, had written in and over this book.
He flipped through it quietly. There was a story, but it wasn't a pleasant one.
The book was originally about Schizophrenia. He could tell that by what little text was left. He, however, did not bother to read what the book had originally been about.. Because it probably would've bugged him how some of the pages were missing. Either way, the second story was about how love created a monster in one's self, and once the love was over... The monster was set free. There were a lot of incoherent sentences thrown into the mix that wouldn't make sense to anyone but the writer... But the end was quite basically, instead of finding love again, being satisfied with the monster you created. Because it was the most beautiful thing that the individual had ever made.
This wasn't the only thing in the shoe box. There were a bunch of photographs. He picked up a few, surprised to see Cindy in a lot of them... Along with some other people. But the one picture that caught his attention was the one with a 3 year old girl with bright blonde hair and big blue eyes, staring up at him as if he was God. This girl...
He'd seen her somewhere before.
She brought out emotions that he'd never experienced before. Lonliness, self-pity, and overall... A severe sadness and longing.
Now that he thought about it... Unreadable was the perfect title for this box. Because no matter how much he looked, he couldn't quite understand the contents.
One last thing was in the box. Tucked at the very bottom. It was a folded up piece of notebook paper... But in reality, it was so much more than just that.
"Dear World,
I write this letter not in hopes that you'll receive it, or that you'll learn to understand this child more. I write it for more selfish reasons. To speak the unspeakable. For truth is a dangerous concept upon deaf ears.
To you, the World that reads not my mind but sees only actions, I hold nothing but the upmost contempt. I feel nothing for the ignorant. No pity. No mercy. At some point, you must stop blaming fate and begin blaming your own goddamn self for the actions that not only damage yourself, but the others around you.
Christina, my step-sister. You harlot. You selfish pig. If hands from above did not reach down to cover my mouth, I'd do everything in my power to destroy the generosity you don't deserve. You destroyed my home. Brought filth upon my floor and everything I might hold dear. Thrice did you reject the help of the ones who love you for the man who wrecked not only yours, but your children's lives.
Step-Mother. Your baggy eyes bleed insanity. Scream at the meek and make them mute. Preach your bible verses and make sure you drive them in with the right sized hammer..."
Aesop couldn't believe what he was reading. Had... Had Cindy really written this? The Cindy he knew was full of caring... With soft blue eyes and a smile. He looked through the note carefully, looking at the different names it listed... When one caught his eye. The very last one.
"Mother, however an improper label for you that is. For all you put me through... All those birthdays and graduations missed. For all the times I achieved something without you there... While you were too busy doing something or too afraid to dial my number, I have only one thing to say to you...
I always loved you... And wish you did the same."
The boy, who still couldn't quite grasp everything, sat there quietly and continued to read the last line. It was no wonder that his conversation with her a few days back made her sad...
That was when something strange happened. water began spilling out of Aesop's red eyes. If he'd known, he would've never brought it up. Had he made her feel this bad with all his questions about her family?
He mentioned nothing about the box when Cindy got home. Everything had been returned to its rightful place under her bed. When she asked him why his eyes were bloodshot, he simply told her that he'd tripped and fallen on his face.
It was good to know she cared about him. To make sure that all of his owwies were dead and gone before she left him alone. Unfortunately, from the moment he read that note on, his eyes held pity whenever she spoke to him. He may not have realized it...
But she did.
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Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:12 am
[RP Encounter.] [PRP] A Budding Friendship
Aesop and Julien meet yet again in order to do the thing they've been planning since they befriended - A puppet show.
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:50 pm
[ G.r.o.w.t.h. xxxQ.u.e.s.t. ]
Aesop just keeps getting bigger and bigger! Not only is he getting taller and more used to the strangeness of the world, but he is also beginning to come into his power. What kind of special ability does he find within himself and how does he react to it?
Note: Please just choose ONE special ability for Aesop to practice with. It can be anything from flying to fry cooking, but please remember that this is a new ability and won't be mastered on the first go. If your child doesn't have a specific special power, please state why in your RP. Any questions you have, pm Ivy.
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:15 pm
[ The World so Damned. ]
Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!
That was the sound that came from just outside the door of the apartment, followed by slamming car doors, footsteps, and a twirling of the knob, and a pounding of the door.
"Aesop! Let me in! Hurry!!" Came an almost crying voice from the other side of the door. It was Cindy, and something was terribly wrong.
Aesop had been all but absorbed into his Shakespeare before the loud car noise caught him off guard. "What was-" He was promptly interrupted by Cindy's pleas. He almost flung the book back and ran to the door. "M-mother?!" He asked. Now there were other loud footsteps approaching the door.
"Here you are. You little b***h. I can't believe you had the balls to do that..." The next voice was feminine, but there was a furious yet sadistic tone to it. Then, the sound of a punch echoed through even the metal door. Then a thud of something... Or someone hitting the ground. Aesop knew what these sounds were all thanks to Television... But he was in no way proud of it.
As soon as he flung the door open, there Cindy was, on the ground with a black eye. She stared up at her attacker, who was surprisingly taller than she was. This woman had shorter hair, and a bigger gut. Though the color very much resembled Cindy's.
"I'm sure you realize we've been lookin' for you. We didn't much appreciate you leaving those notes for us to find. I especially didn't like where you called all of us sluts..." That's when the woman noticed the child. "Well well, who's the slut now?" She grinned as she examined the now wide-eyed child in the doorway before giving Cindy a swift kick to the side, causing her to shriek in pain. It's too bad she wasn't smarter, because she would've realize the lapse of time and Aesop's features made it impossible for her to be the real Mother.
"Stop!" Aesop implored with little tears falling out of his eyes. He didn't even realize it was happening. But every time he saw Cindy cringe, it felt like his insides twisted up.
"Hard to believe a girl like you even got some. Who'd you do it with? An albino?"
"G-go back inside, Aesop..." Cindy whispered out, keeping her eyes closed. She shouldn't have come back home... She shouldn't have told him to open the door. He didn't need to hear this... He was only a child..
"Even gave him a weird name. I wouldn't expect any less of you. There was always something about you that rubbed me the wrong way... How you always just sat in your room quietly. Like you were plottin' something. Guess you really were, huh?" Another kick, another shriek... But this one was a little duller.
"Stop hurting her!" The boy cried out and tried to run over to Cindy, but was promptly stopped by a hand grasping the back of his jacket. "Listen, you b*****d child. This ain't any of your business. So listen to your mommy and go inside."
Aesop stared up at the woman with horror reflecting in his eyes. This cruelty... He thought it only existed in fairy tales. Why was this happening? Cindy hadn't done anything to deserve this!
... At least, that was what he thought.
"No! I don't want you to hurt her anymore!" It seemed like one of the few times Aesop showed passion. "You are nothing but a foul-mouthed brute!"
"Yep Cindy. He's your son. Listen to the fancy way he speaks. And how he doesn't know when to shut up." That was when she promptly tossed Aesop aside like a rag doll and went after the injured Cindy once more. The poor boy landed on the hard concrete outside of their apartment, receiving a little skid across his arm, but not much more.
This time it was a kick to the arm, which gave a little cracking sound. This time, Cindy screamed. Aesop was able to get up just fine, but froze at the scream. He looked at his mother, laying there with tears falling from her eyes and pain coursing through her body, made obvious in her twitching and breathing. "N-no..."
A flashback...
There sat a little girl in a blizzard, shivering, crying... So cold it was painful. A once unfamiliar feeling of pity.. Of loss of what to do...
Aesop's necklace gave a little glow as he reached for the woman's hand... His blood felt like it had dropped to below zero as it continued to course through his veins, through his hands, and finally to her.
"What the...!" She called as a chill went up the tips of her fingers and through her arm from the child touching her. She slapped him away and promptly backed up, a shiver going up her spine from the child's cold touch. Aesop had been pushed back onto his bum and sat up, looking at her with almost dull eyes.
"You.. You really are a freak!" She shouted as she stared at the boy. And from there, she ran back to her junker of a car and sped off.
He sat there for a minute as the car disappeared into the distance.. Not exactly sure of what just transpired.
"Aesop..." Cindy's now slightly hoarse voice called. She thought about asking what he did, or how exactly he did it... But decided all that could wait for later. Her words were short, and right now she'd rather not speak unless she had to. "T-thank you..."
That was when he remembered. "Mother!" He called and ran over to her. What should he do? What could he do? A feeling of utter helplessness was his next experience... He couldn't pick her up or carry her inside. Couldn't properly treat her wounds... He..
He couldn't do anything to help...
All these familiar feelings... He wanted to scream and cry at the same time.
"G-gimme a second... I'll be able to get up..." Cindy told him, hoping to quell some of his worries. She made no attempt to move yet... Afraid of how much it was going to hurt.
"Mother... Who was that?" Aesop asked through his now obvious tears.
"Aesop..." Her pause made it clear that what she was about to tell him might not be something he wanted to hear. "That... Was everything that's wrong in this world..." Her own eyes began filling up with tears, both from pain and sadness.
"This place we live in... Is so cruel. Children grow while their parents completely disregard them. And in the end, they become that..."
There was a short pause as she looked down at her most likely broken arm.
"The truth is your friend... It will make you realize things that, while you may not want to know, help you along. For her, the truth is an unwanted burden. Ignorance... Ignorance will be the death of those who embrace it..."
Aesop watched her wide-eyed. This side of her... He'd only seen it in that box. To hear it being poured out to him.. It was a bit shocking.
"Don't let it get you, Aesop... I want someone to restore my faith... And... I'm hoping that someone will be you..."
She was speaking of ignorance as if it was a monster... And maybe, from her eyes, it was. "I won't, Mother..."
"Good..." Now it was time to stand. She raised up off the ground, her eyes widening as each twinge of pain mounted the scale of unbearable pain. Her arm falling limp to her side. "Oh God..." She spat out and bit her lip.
Aesop carefully followed her, looking like he was ready to catch her if she fell on her way inside. He knew that if she did fell, it would be impossible for him to do anything... But that didn't mean he couldn't try.
Cindy plopped down on the couch as Aesop closed the door. She looked over at him momentarily before reaching for the phone. Her first call? 911.
Aesop curled up on the couch next to her promptly after the door was shut. He'd realized so many things about himself from such a short but dramatic experience... About how Toulouse was right about the powers... About how something he couldn't remember was eating him on the inside...
But most of all... About how he wouldn't know what to do if he lost the person who meant the most to him. He picked up the crystal on his necklace and looked into it deeply, his pools of crimson matching it in color.
I won't let this happen again...
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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:27 am
[ A Story Forever Unheard. ] Part II, The Heart of Othello...The snow holds no feelings.
No sympathy for the creatures who dare to stumble out at the wrong time. It was fate. And he was told to deal with it.
That was why it was necessary to cut off communication with that horrid little thing called a heart. Or else guilt and pity would be eminent. Pity for who? That was debatable. Self-pity was so easy to drown in. And with all the mistakes he'd made, it was like a narcotic.
Moreover, something to distract him from carrying out his task. Helping the seasons move along... Granting death to those overdue and a chance for rebirth in spring. From his perspective, however, things were a little more dark than that.
Othello...
The lessons you learned were lessons too late.
And for that, you knew what must be done.
It was early December on that day where fate spoke out. He had seen the humans readying themselves for that holiday which they deemed 'Christmas'. A blizzard was in the making. He let the cold flow through his fingers and into the wind, the crystal giving a little glow as his footsteps disappeared behind him.
When he saw something... Out of the corner of his frigid eyes. A bundle of purple laying next to a tree.
"Daddy..."
Called a meek, raspy voice from the small package. He approached, if only to see what this was.
He should've known... It was a human.
He stared at the small child for a few minutes longer.
Nature taking it's course...
He thought as he was about to continue, his feet ready to move for him.
"Daddy?" A twinge of hope sparked in the girls voice as she looked up. She'd obviously been out in this weather for awhile. The color was almost drained from her cheeks that weren't hidden by the big purple hood.
But this was definitely not her Father. She stared up at the tall, pure looking figure before her, blue eyes glancing at his own.
"... Are you an angel?" She whispered, teeth almost chattering as she spoke.
Othello froze at the question and looked back at the tiny, blonde-haired girl. She could see him? How? He was usually invisible to those eyes in this state...
"No angel am I... And no heaven I return to." He called to her in a voice as cold as the snow. He didn't see a reason to hold back from an almost guaranteed corpse. After all... It had been so long since he'd been addressed in any spoken language.
"Then... Could you pretend to be an angel? 'Cause..." She paused as she hugged herself and shivered a little. "'Cause I really wanna find my way back to Daddy... And he always said that angels help people with that stuff..."
The child's logic both confounded and intrigued old Father Winter. He turned back around and approached the girl. This child. There was something about her... Something completely different from those he'd seen before. How she looked at him. Her blue eyes, while resembling, completely opposite of his own. No fear or anger pointed in his direction. Simply... Innocence.
It was something Othello couldn't quite ignore. His pale hand was offered down to her in a gentle manner.
"If for only once, a plea I shall hear..." His voice echoed through the blizzard.
The girl smiled and happily took the cold hand as it was offered to her. So small compared to him... And yet, so warm. As if he himself had just been touched by an angel.
After a short time of walking and trying to find what the girl sought out, she paused. "I dunno... How long I can keep going.." She managed to say. Her bodies temperature had continued to drop. He felt it with each degree.
"If... If I die... Could you stay an angel a little longer and take me to heaven?"
To those words, Othello had no response. But instead of just standing there, he lifted the girl off the snow covered ground and into his arms. He told her that he would help. and he would be damned if even his words meant nothing.
After a few more long moments of nothing but silence, the small voice spoke up again. "Why are your eyes so sad?"
The question hit Othello like a ton of bricks. Perhaps... And just perhaps... He realized that in this story, he was ultimately the villain if the girl ended up dying. He'd fallen for the trap his heart set. Unwanted feelings, regrets, guilt. It filled him above anything else during these seconds that crawled by with an intent to torture.
His life had been a waste. For once, he didn't deny the truth to his parched lips. All of those words scribbled down mechanically on parchment. They weighed nothing in comparison to the true needs of this world too cruel. Advice that fell on deaf ears was knowledge wasted. Which was what landed him this responsibility. For winter required no words.
Only action...
Before he had a chance to answer her question, he heard a masculine voice off in the distance. Calling a name that seemed to peek the girl's interest. "Daddy?!" She returned the call, and footsteps could be heard.
Othello immediately placed the girl down and backed up a few paces until the blizzard covered his being. He wasn't sure anymore of how invisible he was to humanity anymore.
"Oh God honey!" The man cried out as he scooped the little girl into his arms and hugged her as if she would fly away. "I was worried sick! Where did you run off to?" There were almost tears in his eyes, from what Othello could see. "I dunno daddy... I got lost, but an angel helped me just like you said!"
The man looked down at his daughter for a moment, about to pass it off as childish imagination, but took a look around just in case. "Well, c'mon. Lets get you inside. You're freezing!"
Othello thought that was the end... But he was proven wrong as he heard a "Thank you!" shouted out from that little voice that reached out and touched him.
And that was when realization came to be.
He didn't want this. Didn't want to deliver cold death for the rest of his existence. That little bit of warmth he'd experienced with that small girl in his arms... The love that dripped off of her very being... And the childish innocence it cradled. He'd saved that with his actions, not words.
She spoke of him to her father with such an appreciative tone.. So grateful. But the thing that crawled under his skin the most was the fact that he had been compared to a saint in that child's heart.
Which was why... This couldn't continue.
His job was death. He wanted life. But to turn his back on what he was assigned would ultimately lead to termination.
You know what you must do... Dear Othello...
"I shan't claim that I'm worthy of anything other than what I have... But to live... No, to exist like this after what I experienced would be blasphemy."
You know... What you must do.
"To you, I offer all I am, in hopes that perhaps... This body and soul will be taken and reborn just as everything else is..."
Othello...
"For one chance to feel as I just did... Warm... Loved... Appreciated..."
As he called out to whatever entity opened its ears to the blizzard's harsh wind, he took the crystal in his hand. Ice emerged from the tip, forming a sharp, stake like object.
"Let me be free..."
With those words whispered into the wind, his heart met with the ice it had been thought to contain for so long. Father Winter met with the snow-covered ground, an imprint of his being immediately formed.
And just as the crimson mingled with the frozen water that surrounded, so did the crystal. It's pure white forever stained.
And with that last breath, the wind subsided, and the snow fell peacefully.
Jack Frost was dead at his own cold hands.
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