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 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:32 pm
Noticing the uncomfortable silence that followed his tirade and seeing the slight tremble at the corners of Kyil's lips, he sensed a moment of despair and looked prudently in another direction in case Kyil shed any tears. Seeing his friend take another drink of wine instead, he returned his gaze and got comfortable beside his friend, easing down to sit beside Kyil paying little heed to the squalor he was putting his behind in contact with. He felt the least he could do was share a seat with the drow he had felt he'd wronged.
He felt cheered slightly at Kyil's slurred admission that he might have seen someone else that looked like a Lord strolling down the street. In truth he had felt proud of his purchase, but he'd rather not think that to some what he thought was an advanced form of camoflauge made him look like thief-bait.
Mikaril nodded his head and smiled, genuinely this time. "Don't mention it friend; like I said, it seems as though all my woes pale in comparison to yours. You know..." he brought his knees up to his chest and looked at Kyil with more of the wide-eyed innocence he had thought murdered. "I can stay here with you and wait if you'd like. I wouldn't feel good knowing you were out here unprotected and vulnerable to the rats and.....more dangerous things."
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:50 pm
"Ah. My troubles are nothing Mikaril. Do not think so of them please. I would not wish for you to feel burdened by all of this." Kyil tilted his head forwards a small bit to indicate the House across from them. "I have learned my lesson I am sure...once my Mistress claims me again I will be...good. I will be the best ornament I can possibly be. I will stay in my place and I will make certain I am never tempted to do anything that would displease her. I just need to wait a little longer for her to decide she wants me back..." He paused to look down at his dirty body and the grey coloration of his hair. "I rather hope she won't see me looking like this though. I feel ugly."
Kyil shifted his head to the side again, it was far easier for his wine filled head to move so long as he kept it resting against the wall. His lips curled once again into that usual light smile of his. "I would not dare dream of letting you Mikaril. There is no reason for you to get all dirty here with me. You'll ruin your cloak and it is such a nice color. It suits you very well. Besides, the ruffians of this place have all learned I have nothing worth picking off me anymore. And I have learned how to appease those that want things other then wealth. I do not think any of them will think to kill me so long as I do not give them reason to.
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:35 pm
Mikaril shook his head without losing his smile. "It's too late for me not to worry. I realize now that you are happiest there, and probably did the wrong thing trying to convince you otherwise. I may not like being under a female's thumb, but perhaps your security is to be found there." It still irked him to think that way about his friend, but he had to admit he might have been a bit....intolerant of another way of life. Kyil certainly didn't seem to feel liberated now that he was on his own.
Mikaril reached out and carefully moved the wineskin away from Kyil, his face becoming stern. "Oh yes there is. You're buzzed at the very least, and that triples your chances of having trouble find you. I'm going to stay here with you until the fuzz clears from your head. Then if you like, we can find you a bath house or someplace; your mistress should at least be able to recognize you if-.....when, she comes back to get you. And it always helps keep illness away." He mumbled something about getting new clothes too; nothing as elaborate as what Kyil once had, but just something to keep his butt from touching the filth he walked on and undoubtedly slept in.
Setting both wineskins aside, he leaned back with a sigh and tried not to think about the last thing Kyil had said. He thought he knew what he had meant when he said 'things other than wealth' and he told himself with steely resolve that any such ruffians coming back to take such pleasures with his friend would find no helpess prey tonight.
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:54 pm
The wine loosened Kyils tongue a great deal. Elsewise he'd never had said anything in accordance to himself. A wonderful property when one needed somthing to help them open up. Though somewhere in the back of his head Kyil worried perhaps he had said far far too much as it was.
"It's not so much being...under her thumb.... as you see it Mikaril." Kyil very softly replied. His hazed pink eyes stared across the street at Zari's House. "It's being wanted. Feeling I have a use, that I make her happy in some way. I want to serve. I want to see my Mistress smile at me because something I have done appeals to her. I do enjoy the wealth and the luxury. But I can be happy without any of it. This much I know is true from my time outside her walls. Just talking to you has truely made me feel better. Seeing that by letting you leave I spared you who knew what sort of horrid encounter. That makes me feel something." Kyil lifted a hand and placed it heavily onto his own chest. "I need to make someone happy..."
He hesitated after his murmuring, and blinked at the firmness in Mikarils voice. He did not protest when the wineskin was taking from him. Though he did tilt his head at the insistance that Mikaril stay with him till his head was cleared. "I...would really like a bath. It is one of the few things I miss most really. I'm certain the wine hasn't effected me too much..a buzz...yes...my head does feel like it's buzzing somewhere behind my eyes...." Kyil was uncertain if he caught everything else that was mumbled by Mikaril, and he choose not to ask. If he had heard correctly then surely Mikaril would mention it again later when he felt the desire to.
Kyil glanced across the streeth, and huffed a small sigh as he looked at the steadily darkening House. His Mistress would probably be getting dressed for bed now.... "It seems as if so little time has slipped by. Thank you for speaking with me Mikaril. It has surely helped the day pass quickly."
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:43 pm
Mikaril closed his eyes slowly and pondered. Kyil's words sounded so much like how he had been when he was small; eager to please and make his...superior feel happy, or at least satisfied. And like his mother, Kyil's mistress had turned on him; cast him away and thrown him out with the garbage, much like he had been thrown to his sister to be taught his place. Though he wondered if it was too late to consider that this could be a lesson for Kyil; a lesson in surviving on his own, making his own way and learning to survive in the unforgiving world that he himself had become so accustomed to. He would love to show Kyil that there was more to the outside world and the entire Underdark than garbage and hunger and others who used you for their sick, twisted pleasures.
"Well," he said, hoping that his words were somehow making it over the buzz that Kyil was sure to be hearing inside his brain, "It seems as though we could both benefit from each other at this moment in our lives. For now, let's just stick together. Besides, should your mistress come to her senses and realize what she has lost, she will surely send for you. You don't exactly look like a common drow peasant, even when you're wearing a fine layer of grime. But not until your head is clear; it is never a good idea to be around water deep enough to drown in when you are having trouble with coording your movements."
Mikaril reached behind him and pulled what must have once been a faded poster off of the wall behind him, spread it out on the ground beside him, and gestured for Kyil to sit on it. "No sense sitting in the dirt, and we've got to get a hold of something other than rags for you to wear before you go bathing." He pulled out his coin purse and moved it up and down, testing the weight. He hadn't figured he would have someone else to sustain; he would have to pull off a few jobs before long to keep his purse moderately full. But all that could wait until his friend was fit enough to help himself; it wasn't as though the crowd was going to dry up.
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Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:04 pm
Kyil determined that today certainly would not be the day he was called back. Perhaps tomorrow... This had become his mantra since the day he had first been cast outside by the guards. Maybe Tomorrow. Such a hopeful phrase that, even though he thought it with a little less conviction each day, he still clung to it as a inevitable outcome. Mikaril's visit today did much for his spirits though. He felt, despite the filth and cold, quite content.
Though that contentment sparked at Mikaril's words. His gaze turned to the other with just the smallest glimmer of eagerness. Benefit? from him? Was there perhaps something he could do after all? Kyil's ears fairly tingled with how quickly he felt a eagerness arise in him. "Do you mean...that I might be able to do something for you after all Mikaril? It surely would help pass the time if I had something to do. I would be so very grateful for the opportunity. Whatever you want I can do now." Though he really did not believe Mikaril would ever ask 'anything' of him.
Kyil watched as Mikaril pulled the scrap of poster from the wall and laid it on the walk for him. "You are so kind Mikaril...." He murmured with just a small hitch in his throat. Mikaril did not have to do any of this, Kyil felt so grateful... He shifted himself to sit upon the poaster, and pulled his knees to his chest so he could rest his forehead upon them. "Perhaps I should close my eyes for a bit...though I do not want to seem rude by ignoreing you while you sit here. Why don't you go find yourself a nice place to rest Mikaril? I assure you that I will be fine here. I can do whatever you wish tomorrow. I suppose you are right after all...I do not know many drow with my markings or eyes...Mistress Zari shall surely find me if she wishs for me to be found...."
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:21 pm
The accursed flush creeped into his face once again at Kyil's innocent murmur. Kind.....yeah that's me; Mikaril the Doormat. I could steal the key from underneath me. He swallowed a mouthful of bile and kept it down long enough to nod curtly at Kyil. "I will, but I'll be close by, so don't worry." He turned quickly and vanished deeper into the shadows, hoping that his abrupt exit would not offend his friend. Though he seriously doubted that Kyil would calm the buzz long enough to even think of getting his feelings hurt.
He knew there were no true havens in the world of drow, but when you had to have a place not often searched, the best friend of his profession was the rooftop. He found himself onto the roof of the very building he had pulled the poster off the wall from, and once he had a good solid hold, he crawled over to the edge, lest he be heard by the drow inside the building. He peered over and saw the misshapen blur that was Kyil, probably asleep by now. He positioned himself so that his head was nearest to the edge and the rest of his body was pointed away; he would be able to hear any goings-on below and his odds of rolling over and falling were greatly lessened. Without removing the hood, Mikaril rolled the cape up and used it to cushion his head.
He sighed and let one of his hands dangle off the roof, touching the stale air. He let the bile come then, and his other hand clenched in frustration. What the Hell was the matter with him? He should be glad he was helping his friend, and he knew he was; then why did he feel so twisted inside, as though someone had reached in and turned his insides to bows? Was it because he had been told he was being kind? You're too nice for your own good...... Or because he was going out of his way to look after an ailing friend? You can't rely on others to come to your aid; we all have to make it on our own..... Was it the drow way then to leave friends behind? Was their entire race really that expendable? Or was he just plagued by that nagging voice that he was certain he had banished the day he forsook his quest to find the voice's owner? After all this time, all the things he had accomplished to get this far, was he still pining like the sick at heart little prince who had watched his mentor and only friend disappear into the shadows? Mikaril was certain his brother had let him go as easily and emotionlessly as cutting a bow string; why was it so hard for him to do likewise?
He sighed again, and for the first time in years, a single glistening tear escaped from his eye and drew a warm line down his face. Drow never cry..... the voice spoke, but it seemed weaker and fainter. "Shut up." Mikaril mumbled into his makeshift pillow, and as the line cooled on his face, he slipped into a dark dream where the voice became a pair of hornets who burrowed themselves into his ears, hiding behind the eardrums so that he could not get them out.
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:44 pm
"I shall not." Kyil murmured softly in parting to Mikaril. No, he would not worry because what happened to him simply would. It was a grand manner of ensureing you were not overwhelmed by the events of ones day. Though it did very little for ones own drive.
Kyil allowed his eyes to close, and sleep quickly claimed him in the state he was in. With a satisfied belly and a heavy head, Kyil slept more deeply then he had since he had been turned out. Deep, dreamless, and by the Goddess' favor it was uneventuful. Any predators that may have descended upon Kyil randomly seemed content to let the homeless drow sleep undisturbed.When the next turn of the day came, it was the steadily growing noise of the crowd that wakened Kyil. Ah! His head ached! There was a dull throb behind his eyes that made him wish the world would stay asleep for just a few hours longer. he unfolded himself from the position he had spent the night sleeping in. His body feeling the familar protesting of muscles and throbbing of his numb buttocks. The pain in his head was new, but it was not so great it kept him from riseing. it was just..a pain. Kyil was certain he had felt worse.
Though it was that Mikaril had promised to be back that day, Kyil did not harbor any expectations for the drow to return. It was best not to expect anything from others. Ah no. He was the one that things were expected from. Still, it was not as if he had far to go or things to do. Kyil walked back and forth upon the walkway to work the kinks out of his arms and legs, his pink eyes fixed on the gates across the street.
"Perhaps today..." He murmured to himself, as he often did nowadays. perhaps today his mistress would call for him. Ah! How hopeful he felt! Perhaps Mikaril would return from where ever he had gone, perhaps not. Still..that would be a new thing he could look forwards to now. perhaps a visit or perhaps tody he'd go home. The hopeful drow did nothing to hide the smile upon his face, despite the disapproving scowls of the others that shared the walk with him.
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 9:47 pm
Mikaril still heard the buzzing when he opened one eye and let out a small moan. He rubbed his smarting eyes and carefully stretched out atop the roof to bring life back into his sleep-stiffened limbs without making a load of noise. He heard a few pops and felt a few muscle groups voicing their protest, but his brain replied with a cynical What? You've been through this a hundred times before. When he was certain he could make his way down without pulling a muscle. he used his mixture of hand/foot holds and levitation to ease himself down.
He spotted Kyil with his back toward him. He tried to remember through the cobwebs and lingering buzzes whether or not Kyil had been in that position when he had last seen him. He decided it didn't matter; he hadn't said when he'd be back, and he needed to sneak off for a while to replenish his supply of coin. He had already decided that he was helping Kyil, whether it was considered the drow way or not. He tried to tell himself that it was mutually beneficial; Kyil would be learning how to stay alive and Mikaril would get a partner in crime, thus the potential to rake in more loot. That is, if Kyil would prove compatible. Only way to find that out would be to groom him for the ways of the thief. Which of course started with grooming in general.
He aimed a little higher than he had when he was here last, and before noon he had a rather large heavily embroidered purse full of coins, and a beautiful gold and mithril brooch that by incredible luck had popped right off of the chunky dress that the humanoid had wore, making her look like one of teh sausages he had seen for sale a few streets back. He had gleefully scooped it up, ignoring the unintelligible pig-like squeals of protest the female gave off as he whirled around and vanished into the shadows.
After selling the embroidered pouch and the brooch to two different merchants, Mikaril returned to the pleasure house's street with his pouch considerably more full. He felt a little bad seeing his friend's pitifully hopeful face, but he reminded himself that he did come back, which was more than he could say for Kyil's former mistress. Benefits aside, he felt that Kyil deserved better.
He appeared in front of Kyil with a wink and a slight jingle of money. "All set now; let's find you a bath house. First though, you look a little.......flinchy. Do we need to stop someplace and get you a banisher for wine-overindulgence headaches?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:05 pm
The look Kyil turned upon Mikaril was not of surprise. Rather it was one of pleasent appreciation. He had been absent for a good time, and Kyil had spent every moment doing just as he had done yesterday with Mikaril. Diligently watching and waiting. The day was still young. Perhaps today someone would come and summon him? Yes, today could be the day...
Though now that Mikaril had presented himself, Kyil had a diversion once more to help him pass the time waiting for his mistress. "Ah! Mikaril! You look fine again today. Did you rest well?" He paused to take into consideration the pouch that Mikaril held up for him to see. "It looks as if you have had a very good day so far. I am pleased for you."
Oh! It felt so wonderful to be able to speak so familar like with someone. Reguardless of the disbeliving glances he got from others over the wide openess of his smile. Mikaril's correct observation of his 'flinchyness' brought a wry twist to his smile. "You notice then? I shall be fine though Mikaril. You do not need to waste your coins on me. The ache will fade soon I am sure. Do not waste your thoughts on something so unimportant as a little head pain." Kyil assured Mikaril with a fluttery motion of both his hands.
A bath... Kyils eyes dropped to his tattered and unwholesom appearance. "I would be in debt to you Mikaril if you would be so generouse." He responded with a very heartfult bow of his head.
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:52 pm
Mikaril felt uncomfortable at Kyil's pleasant inquiries; somehow it seemed odd that he would talk so pleasantly, as though they were taking tea at the pleasure house instead of conversing outside. He decided to judt remain mum on the topic of his sleeping well; he figured that the next time he crossed paths with a buzzing insect, he'd probably shriek and run, to say nothing of the dark, sad thoughts that had been his lullaby.
Mikaril's eyebrows shot up as Kyil pooh-poohed his headache. "Are you sure? Wine headaches can really ruin your day if they stick around. Tell you what; we're going to get you some new clothes, and then find that bath house. If your headache isn't gone by the time you're looking more presentable, I buy you a banisher." With that, he turned and began to walk toward the general center of the marketplace.
He had a pretty good idea of where to go from here. Clothes were easy enough to come by, and he thought there'd be enough to splurge on if Kyil saw something mildly or moderately fancy. After all, his mistress would probably expect him to be in finery; some females were known to be airheaded like that. He'd heard of females who had kept dangerous pets and then forgotten about them, then coming back to them months later to find nothing but dried-up husks and throwing a fit because they were dead. It just didn't seem to occur to them that they might not be in the same condition they remembered if they ignored them for too long.
The bath house actually worried him a little more. He didn't know how Kyil would react to a public bathing place after having his own for so long. He hoped that the one he found would have a private area. If not, he could always stick close to Kyil to make sure no daggers found their way toward him. He could always use a bath too, if to just get the extra kinks out from sleeping on a roof.
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Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 11:40 am
Kyil's smile did not even fade a bit as he bobbed his head pleasently in response to Mikaril's words. "Whatever you decide Mikaril. I will be happy to comply." Ah! It felt...so good to have some sembelance of his old life back. He trotted quite happily upon Mikaril's heels. His pink eyes practically shimmering with delight. His Mistress no longer commanded him. He was little more then a tossed aside piece of rubbish. But with Mikaril present he felt a return of something vaugely familar. If he could not serve Mistress Zari, perhaps he could serve Mikaril. At least as long as he cared to have him around. Kyil was certain that if he did his best that Mikaril would not throw him away too quickly...unless he really was too flawed to be worth keeping. That thought dampened his high spirits...but not by much.
As they walked through the market, Kyil's eyes turned to the booths they were passing. Now...this would be something of a test wouldn't it? What would Mikaril prefer for him to wear? Looking at the drow before him he had to take into consideration the man himself. Nothing too flashy? At least something a bit more durable. Mikaril seemed to like some praticality in his own garb. He wore armor after all, and it was quite tasteful. And the hooded cloak to hid his features...
Kyil cast his gaze about the booths. A pair of beautiful red pants caught his eye easily. Trimmed as they were with gold thread his fingers ached to stroke over the material. But the color was very bright and he was not certain if Mikaril would like that color on him. What would he like best?
The next booth had leather garments and he slowed his steps. Something pratical but...still tasteful? Kyil lifted a finger to point, though he did not dare touch the folded items inside. He pointed at a pair of dull black leather pants that were piled together on a table. "Mikaril, would these be to your liking?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:06 pm
Mikaril would probably have flushed to the tips of his ears if he knew that Kyil was considering what he wanted him to wear. Kyil was like a friend to him, not like a doll that he could pick clothes for and dress up anyway he liked. It already boggled him how easily Kyil made others' wishes his own wishes and never complained about anything. He would rather Kyil pick something himself, from his own tastes, to please himself and not anyone around him. If he was to survive on his own for any length of time, that attitude would have to have a restraint on it, or he would find himself pushed around until he met something pointy.
Hearing his friend's sudden inquiry, Mikaril turned and looked at the pile of dull pants Kyil was pointing to, and he crinkled his nose in puzzlement. The selection didn't seem like one Kyil would be particularly drawn to. Unless.....he was trying to please him by wearing something closer to what HE had on that to what he himself was used to. He had after all asked if the clothes would be to HIS liking. As though he was going to ask to borrow them sometime. Poor Kyil; he had gone for so long with someone making his decisions for him.....
Stroking his chin, Mikaril pretended to observe the pants while thinking. He wanted Kyil to have what he wanted, but if he was going to help him survive, it was best that he have an unobtrusive costume, at least until he learned to use the deep shadows as his allies like he did, but even he had a cloak to cover the sameness of his own clothes. Perhaps it would be wiser for Kyil to have at least two separate sets of clothes; one for survival, one for looking presentable if and when his mistress came around, and both could serve as a change of clothes should anyone try to identify them after a botched thieving attempt.
Mikaril cleared his throat and forced a smile at Kyil. "I've been thinking; you seem to like brighter clothes, and I would hate for your mistress to miss you in a crowd for lack of colorful clothing. Why don't YOU pick out an outfit you would like your mistress to find you in, and I'll select a more practical survival outfit for you?" He made a mental note to either find a safe place to store said change of clothes, or to buy Kyil a bag to carry them in. It would be mutually beneficial; he would have his clothes handy, and few things made a suspicious and freshly-robbed person look more foolish than to accost a suspect, search his bag, and find only clothes.
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 8:27 pm
Kyil waited paciently as Mikaril took his time considering the pants that he had pointed out. Had he choosen poorly? Kyil worriedly glanced back at the pants.Perhaps they were too plain? Perhaps he should have picked something that...
Kyils head tilted, a puzzled expression flickering across his features for a moment as Mikaril would speak of his own preference for bright clothing. He had been trying to choose something to please mikaril, but it seemed as if he had somehow gotten it wrong. Still, he did not seem unhappy with him. Well...If he accepted Mikarils decision to choose the cloths for him then he would have a better chance of not dissappointing him. A smile flickered to Kyils face and he bobbed his head quickly. "Ah! Yes that will suit me fine Mikaril. Whatever you select I will be happy to wear."
As for the cloths his istress would like him to wear...Kyil turned about and scanned the booths for the one that had the brightly colored pants in it. "I think there may be something Mistress Zari would appreciate seeing me wear. Shall I go and have the merchant bundle some things up until you come to pay for them Mikaril?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 9:23 pm
Mikaril couldn't fully suppress a sigh at Kyil. Was it so hard for him to choose for himself? He wondered with a hint of amusement if his mistress had chosen EVERYTHING for him: what foods he ate, when he went to bed....and then he thought of silly and extreme ones, like what his allergies were to be or how long or short certain pleasurable parts of him were. Shoving that particular thought out of his ear, Mikaril focused fully on the task of finding a suitable outfit for Kyil.
He knew a few basics. The material had to be fairly tight; loose fabric was a bad idea if you didn't want to get caught. Something sturdy, not easily going to pieces like Kyil's previous clothes. He had contemplated this when Kyil's question caused him to focus on his friend standing in front of him. Eyeballing Kyil's ragged appearance, Mikaril frowned slightly. "Maybe it would be best if you gather up the clothes and bring them straight to me; some of the merchants would undoubtedly be fussy about a ragged, dirty-looking drow handling their merchandise and not having any visible means of paying. That way they would know you're with me."
That said, he turned back to the darker, tougher garments, looking over each one, picking some up, setting some down, and feeling the fabric with his exposed fingertips. He finally selected a set of deep blue pants, a long-sleeved black shirt, and a small cloakless hood to cover Kyil's hair. He also selected a sturdy pair of leather shoes that he hoped were the right size. He had taken an end of one in each hand and twisted it to ensure that it wouldn't make noise when worn and stepped in, and he figured that if Kyil improved, he could always use his share of the gold and buy himself something more decorative.
Folding the items up until they made a compact bundle, Mikaril walked in the general direction of the merchant, while at the same time keeping an eye out for Kyil.
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