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 Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 10:57 pm
.the beginning of the end. Lucien stared down at the body, eyes wide. His empty apartment suddenly felt that much emptier. How had this happened? How could this have come to pass?
The body of the bird, his only companion and true friend was collapsed int he middle of his studio apartment. A few of its glossy black feathers surrounded it, as if cradling its body to guide it to the great beyond.
"Uh. . . Uh. . . " The boy stammered, his skin feeling clammy, the hairs on the back of his neck all on edge.
What had happened? How had he died? Why? Why him!?
Lucien felt like he was going to vomit. Stomach churning, the boy retreated a few steps away from the corpse. What would Shanuh say? The raven had been his only companion, the only one to keep him company. He'd been eating well, or so Lucien had seen. He'd seemed healthy and perky that morning.
So what on earth? The boys eyes burned. No. His friend. His -
"Why are you crying? Why are you sad?" Lucien jumped, jerking to the side as his eyes instantly focused on the sound of the voice. Who the hell was this? How'd this kid get in his apartment!? Did the dark haired one do it!?
Anger suddenly drove away his shock. Opening his mouth to protest, all words died from his lips as two, beautiful - if molting - black wings spread from the childs back.
Lucien stared. Two thin, bony hands pushed away a mop of black and electric pink bangs. Violet eyes stared out at Lucien, dark but highly intelligent. This kid - whoever he was - wasn't just a stupid nitwit. Pale, very pale, his skin held a yellow undertone, as if he suffered from jaundice.
It wouldn't be a surprise considering who this bird was.
A little smile curved his lips - a rare expression for the boy, but existant nonetheless. "It's me, Xaxis," he crooned, his manner strikingly familiar to the stunned Lucien.
Lucien stared. "X-Xacis?" He stammered, letting the name roll off his lips.
Somehow, that made sense.
In all the horrified chaos, somehow - somehow he knew Xaxis.
Xaxis was the raven. Xaxis was the feathered corpse on his floor. And yet - somehow, Lucien felt closer to the creature than ever.
It didn't make sense. What the hell was going on? A million questions ran through his head - but it didn't matter.
Xaxis was here, and that, of course, was that.
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Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:49 pm
Disinclined ((Feel free to jump in and bother Xaxis - he's sick of being inactive. He's aloof, sure, but that doesn't mean he's an island.)) Xaxis sat outside, in the cold, watching the snow fall down, down, down. Lucien was inside the apartment complex, getting ready for work, but the little raven just didn't feel up to going to the store.
It seemed, to him, that everyone was on edge.
It seemed, to him, that everyone was so busy with this holiday cheer crap that they didn't notice the smaller things. Like snow. Everyone complained about it - snow this, slush that - but did anyone ever watch it?
How it fell and drifted? How it slowly danced, its few minutes of life directed entirely by the wind upon which it played? Would it land in his hair and melt? Would it land on a vehicle and freeze? Its fate was small and humble, and yet, nobody watched how it came to rest upon its final fate.
Snowflakes, in his opinion, were pretty.
But nobody, he knew, was going to ask about what he thought.
Nobody would really care.
But, Xaxis was used to flying alone. Sure, back when he'd been completely a Bird, sometimes he remembered flying with others. Sometimes, at night, he remembered flying on the wind just for the sake of flying! Sometimes, at night, he remembered building nests and clucking at other animals and passing people - just for the sake of being obnoxious.
But that, in a way, seemed so far away.
Today, for now, he didn't feel like going into the Birdcage. Today, he felt like it was time for him to leave his Boy to his own devices, and meander elsewhere. Right now, it was sitting on the snow-covered steps of the Shadyside Apartment Complex. But perhaps later he'd go to the park, or just mosey throughout the city.
Some Birds couldn't stand to be away from their companions.
Some Birds needed to be with another ALL. The. time.
But not Xaxis.
As far as the raven was concerned, he didn't need anybody. He liked to be by himself, to appreciate the smaller things in life. Hugging his thing, pastey-white arms around him, the black and pink haired boy nestled closer to his scarft and winter jacket.
Hand-me-downs, all o them, but the little boy didn't care. Lucien had done his best, and had even let Xaxis pick out the boots. Sniffling, the cold causing him to look even more dreary and sickly, Xaxis rested his head on his arms which hugged his knees.
The snow and him were friends. Who needed anyone else?
Syrcaid (( I'm game. :3 )) Rascir left Jenys to nurse his cold. Trudging in shoes too large for him and in all of Jenys' old clothing that day - an old highschool t-shirt under a large knit sweater striped in black and grey, a pair of dark blue sweatpants, two pairs of kneesocks, and a battered old scarf and a pair of old knit mittens (the remnants of an old Christmas present).
Singing as he went, he wandered down the steps of the apartment complex to have some exploration time.Disinclined What was that? Singing? Music? Finding his thoughts distracted, the black haired boy looked over his shoulder at the muffled voice. As the door opened and a bright-haired Guardian walked out, Xaxis couldn't help but stare.
Someone was happy.
And it was almost disgustingly so.
Still - this was that other bird, that one who sometimes was found at the shop. The raven didn't know him - not really - and didn't remember much interraction with the Bunting before. But those memories - those lives lived as a Bird - were fading so very quickly. This was his life now, and the only thing he truly knew wsa that sometimes things got sick.
Heck, a lot of times Xaxis himself was feeling shotty and under the weather, but somehow the little boy wasn't surprised. Still sitting stiffly on the steps, he turned back to stare at the street.
Well - let him sing if he felt so inclined. Xaxis wasn't going to bother telling him to be quiet.
Syrcaid Rascir knew Jenys' cold was nothing dangerous, Jenys explained that he just needed some rest and that it'd be best of Rascir didn't get too close for fear that he might catch his cold, too. There came no tantrum, no complaints and no questions asked from the little buntingboy. Jenys was surprised, all Rascir had wanted was to go outside and play in warm clothes. Pointing feebly at one of his unpacked boxes, Jenys let him have his pick of his own clothing.
By now Jenys was fast asleep in his bed, leaving little Rascir to amuse himself. He hopped down each step with both feet, laughing at how his large shoes made a clopping sound. With each clop he sang "Do Re Mi", unaware that there was anyone at the bottom of the step. Disinclined
Be that as it may. Crossing his arms again, realizing the little bright bird seemed oblivious to everything but the retarded song, he dug himself deeper into his warn jacket and scarf. The snow was settling upon the dark, wool-jacket, and the little boy wanted desperate to shake it off.
He did, sort of, squirming in his seat. His snow-pants were WAY too huge, but Lucien had insisted. He didn't need the kid to catch pneumonia and die thanks to his neglegence. Besides, as far as Lucien was concerned, the little bird was far too feeble and sickly anyway! Who knew what cold weather would do!
Shuffling his wngs underneath the jacket - he was uncomfortable - the boy shook his head and hair, wishing his feathers could fluff up and keep him warm. It was very cold outside, but he didn't want to go in, not yet.
Quiet as ever, he reached out with his gloved hand to pick up a pile of snow.
Cold.
Reaching up, he licked it, and almost smiled.
But it sure was good!
Looking up, he left his mouth open, his pale tongue yearning to catch a few of the falling flakes.
((Heh - wow - two of them in their own little worlds. x3 Rascir with his music, Xaxis with his "I need no one!" attitude. )) Syrcaid (( In this episode, Rascir's gravity bill gets cashed... )) It wasn't until another great leap and a high note that he lost his balance. Being the shoes were too large for him, he fell down the last step as one of the shoes flopped off in the opposite direction.
Luckily, there was something soft and squishy sulking on the last step.Disinclined Cawing (hey - old habits die hard) the little bird found himself pushed off the step, something having fallen on top of him! Being petite and very slight, he'd been pushed off the bottom step and onto the sidewalk covered in snow - something still on him.
Squirming frantically, he tried to push Rascir off him, tangled in his scarf and feeling very wet and violated. He didn't like this whole breaking-others-falls bit - not at all!
"Get off," he grumbled, a bit put off that someone tripped on him. He wasn't angry, just annoyed, and wasn't one to appreciate being startled in such a manner. He wasn't hurt, but a bit shaken. He hadn't expected the other one to fall.
Not bothering to push the other off (he was waiting for Rascir to push himself off, since Xaxis doubted his own "strenghth" - or lack thereof!), he studied the large-shoed boy. "You okay?" He still wore a small frown, but he wasn't mad and any previous irritation was loosing steam fast.
Xaxis was too aloof to bother snarking at another for long.
Syrcaid "Sorry," said Rascir meekly, but coughing out a little laugh.
No one looked seriously hurt as he sat with dirty mittens, muddied knees and bottom looking at Xaxis brooding about. He started laughing again, rubbing at his sore rear end as he got up.
"Shoes too big," he offered in explanation, hopping on one leg rather expertly with his one shoed foot and looking around for the other. There was nothing more uncomfortable than wandering around with one shoe and a wet sock.
Without thought he was singing again, who knows what exactly the words were. As a little boy he couldn't just warble notes about anymore, he had to use words. He was most "talkative" when he was singing, anyway. He hadn't mastered the bit about timing and making the words match up at the end, no one had bothered mentioning that that was how most humans sang.
"I'm Rascir," he said after finding his shoe and sticking his foot in it again.
He invited himself to stand next to Xaxis, looking around at the wintery scene. Where there was color, it looked more vivid against the white. Snow fell gently onto his brightly colored head of hair. He sang mindlessly again, unafraid that anyone else was listening. Disinclined ((Sorry for the delay, Syr! O_o Hopefully I can keep up with this this time.)) The boy stared at the colourful one, watching him hop on one foot as he tried to find his shoe. Who one earth was he? His rich, pommegranite stained eyes focused on him, not exactly amused by the giggles and sing song.
No, Xaxis wasn't as light hearted as this Rascir appeared to be. He wasn't amused by being tripped over, he wasn't entertained by his singing. He (mostly) just wanted to be left alone. People were bothersome, in a way, and Rascir wasn't proving his opinions any differently.
Still, the little raven did have manners, even if he was a bit stuffy and quiet. Reaching one of his long fingers up, he tugged tighter at his scruffy scarf. It was cold, his nose was starting to run, and he wasn't exactly feeling perky or in the greatest health.
He was getting sick.
Again.
"I'm Xaxis," he started softly, voice muffled behind the fabric. Sniffling, he studied the bright haired, dark-skinned guardian. Crossing his arms, he watched with slight agitation as the little one stayed near and continued with his babbling and singing.
"Is that all you do? Sing?" It was part accusation, part question. He wasn't trying to be rude, but he much preferred the silence to squabble.
Syrcaid (( No worries, Dis. :3 You take care of yourself first. )) "Sorry," Rascir smiled cheerily at him then looked at Xaxis' face.
He gave Xaxis an appraising kind of look, cocking his head as though changing the angle would improve things. He laughed ever so softly, almost like the laughter of the wind itself. His voice was evolving to be pitch perfect the more he sang each day, it was involuntary.
"Lucien..." Rascir said finally. "Trixie..." he said after that.
That's all he knew, he didn't even know what or who those words were attached to, but something in Xaxis' face said that to him. Then he remembered that young man who worked alongside Jenys at the shop and how sometimes he'd threaten to eat the little caged mice and hamsters from time to time as he cleaned around them. Rascir liked him, seeing Janys working with him must've meant Lucien was a friend.
But who was Trixie? Where did -that- come from? Nothing was attached to those names, they were just what something inside blurted. He'd done it previously when he was with Jenys a few days back.
He looked nervous and blushed at Xaxis, turning his gaze to his own large shoes. Maybe this wasn't the best time to try to make friends with Xaxis. He didn't look particularly happy and falling on him didn't seem to cheer him. Even singing didn't make him happy! It was incredible to fathom that not even song could ease him, it had always seemed to ease Jenys.
Maybe it was best if he wandered elsewhere... he started for the snowy bit of open field, doing his best to keep his humming quiet. He couldn't help himself! The day was so -lovely-!Disinclined Xaxis studied Rascir, not exactly put off with him, but not sure how to deal with all his light-hearted glory. All he did was hum and sing and dance and play. Xaxis wasn't like that, not at all.
He preffered to do things his own way, at his own discretion. He surely did have a playful streak, but it only came out from time to time. The same with his affections towards his Boy - only now and then, when he felt like it. Xaxis danced to a beat of his own drum, and that was that.
There was no rhyme or reason for his actions, it was merely when the urge arised to do something, there was a good chance he'd do it.
As the little dark skinned Guardian mentioned Lucien and Trixie, one of his eyebrows quirked in question. "That's right," he agreed solemnly, rolling on his feet from heel to toe. "He works with yours sometimes," he explained, shrugging his shoulders weakly.
And that was all to be said about that. It was an obvious statement, it was something that everyone should have known, so there was no more reason to discuss it further. Looking down at the cold snow, the boy shoved his hands deeper in his pockets.
He didn't say anything, but he'd decided that maybe this Rascir kid (weird as he was!) was could be a potential playmate. He hadn't had a chance to get to know anyone else, and his humanity required that he make some allegiances, loose as they might be.
Rascir was a start, even if Xaxis thought him childish and silly.
(Not that Xaxis was any more mature - he just liked to think himself so!)
As the little buntingboy headed down towards the field, like a silent shadow, Xaxis followed, the beginning of the bridge of potential friendship.
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Disinclined generated a random number between
1 and 10 ...
1!
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:17 am
Quest Two: I'll make you sick. . . . or NOT!. The little boy crawled over to where the hamster ran frantically in its plastic ball. The little golden hammy was cute, in an offhanded sort of way. It was small and tucked nicely in Xaxis' hands. He'd named the little hamster Hammy, (how original) and the boy was quite proud of the name. Hearing Lucien and Shanuh say the name made Xaxis giggle, and Jojo had thought the name to be a masterpiece.
How creative of a raven was he!
Reaching over, Xaxis tsked at the little ball of fur. "You're stuck," he admonished, picking up the see-through pink ball. "You're not going to go anywhere if you're stuck in a corner. The walls get in the way!" Hamsters were funny creatures. So nervous when first picked up, so easily startled when asleep, Xaxis had had his fingers bit more than once. But they were cute, with their little whiskers, and shivering, shaking little bodies.
Snatching Hammy out of its electric pink prison, Xaxis cupped the little rodent in his hands. Reaching up, he touched noses with the little animal, a bright grin crossing his face as Hammy's whiskers tickeled his skin. "Just you and me today," he chattered, well aware of how empty the shop was.
Nikel was with Jojo in back, cleaning and replacing the many aquarium filters. That left Xaxis to entertain himself up front with all the animals. Lucien was down the street, picking up some lunch for the two of them. Xaxis didn't mind being alone though. There were all the animal toys to keep him company, and if he grew that desperatley lonely, there was always the animals themselves. Xaxis liked animals. They weren't as fun as Savius or Iamel, of course, but they had their moments.
Unlike his fellow guardians, he could use his magic against the caged beasts and birds. That was fun in its own right, or would be, if he could only get it to work.
Sniffling, the disease-plagued Bird got an idea. "C'mere Hammy, c'mere lil' guy!" He chattered, tightening his hold on the hamster. The golden rodent's beady black eyes stared blankly up at Xaxis, unsure exactly what was being said, and even more unsure if he wanted to know the meaning.
"You gotta hold still," Xaxis quipped, a new light entering his eyes. He'd make this hamster sick - oh yes, yes he would! He could feel it in the air. Today was a good day to focus on magic, to work on transferring his plague to someone else.
Staring down at Hammy, Xaxis was still unclear on how to . . . go about . . . making another creature sick. He'd had many previous attempts to transfer his colds onto others, but it never seemed to work out properly. Focusing on nothing in particular, the little boy thought very hard at Hammy. Sneeze. . . . sneeze. . . . . . your nose tickles. . your throat tickles. . . SNEEZE. Now.
. . . .
. . . . . . . . . NOW.
. . . NOW! NOW!! NOWWWWW!!!! . . . .
Now?
No results.
Biting his lower lip, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. You are feeling very sneezy . . . . SNEEZE!
"Come on," he whined, a flash of doubt and impatience entering the raven's voice. "Why doesn't it work!?"
Hammy didn't know WHAT the black haired child was rambling on about, but it didn't matter - all Hammy wanted was to be returned to his cage! Food sounded nice, and a good grooming.
Xaxis tried a different approach. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine his disease going over to the hamster. If he pretended long enough, would it work?
No.
Maybe he needed to say a magic word? "Open sesame!"
No results.
"Abra Kadabra!"
"Tiddleywinks?"
"Cooties?"
". . . . . you're really not helping me on this, are you?" The bird asked, sulleness entering his voice. His big, pink eyes stared down at the innocent hamster, who had resumed the fight against Xaxis' grip.
Disappointment had won, and the little raven decided that the magical feeling that he'd thought permeated the room was gone. There was nothing magical about the day at all. Wings drooping, the thin boy slumped his shoulders in defeat.
Today, there would be no sneezes.
"Come on," he sighed, slowly resigning to the fact that his magic didn't work. "Let's get you back in the cage. . . ."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 9:06 am
Disinclined ((Lame, lame, lame title, I know. x3 That's what I get for having my sister play the Disney Soundtrack while she was driving us to the mall.)) The black bird ruffled his feathers, shaking them out. It was still cold outside, though a warm front had passed through, keeping temperatures mild and melting some of the ice and snow. It wouldn't last, the slush would freeze over, and winter would strike again - but for now, the little raven was going to enjoy it.
As much as he enjoyed anything.
Still, it was rather difficult to enjoy the afternoon when one was going through a molt. His poor feathers looked more pathetic than usual. They were ruffled and tangled, mostly useless, but weren't quite ready to be plucked and brushed out.
Lucien and he had gotten into a bit of a fight, but Xaxis knew his Boy didn't understand. It HURT to pull out feathers! It was like taking out a chunk of hair with the roots still intact! Some looked loose, sure, but they still weren't ready to be plucked.
So, the boy had trudged outside, away from Shadyside apartment complex. The city was still semi-decorated, their white lights turned on despite the peek of sunshine through the clouds. Making his way down the sidewalk, he splashed through the puddles and kicked up some slush.
His destination was unknown, but Xaxis cared little for particulars. He was out of the house, away from Lucien (sort of - the man was slowly meandering after) and he was free!
He could do whatever he wanted here.
And yet, Xaxis couldn't really think of anything he wanted to do. He wasn't exactly the most playful of children, or the most friendly, or the most open! He existed and observed, much preferring to watch the fools around him, than be labeled one himself.
So for now, he'd keep wandering, occassionally hopping over some of the cracks in the sidewalks.
Lucien was about as "relaxed" as his little bird-friend. Yes, they'd bickered and exchanged a few heated words, but the black haired, ex-prostitute had calmed down easy enough. Sure, he felt a little guilty over the affair, but there was no use crying over spilled milk.
He'd left Xaxis alone, and hadn't offered to help him with his wings. The bird-boy probably knew best anyway. But just because he thought the little raven knew more about feathers than him, it didn't mean he'd let him wander the streets alone.
If he could help it, he liked to at least pretend he was a paternal figure to the boy. Xaxis, for all his aloofness, wasn't invinceable, and had proved to be vulnerable (and a little cautious and shy!) times before.
The boy had worked the city before getting a steady job at the Birdcge, he knew the sort of people that lurked in the allyways. He didn't want Xaxis to have to face them, or get himself in a spot of trouble.
So, Lucien was going to follow. He'd give the raven his space, sure, but he wasn't going to let him wander alone.
Hands shoved deep in his pockets, like a shadow, Lucien followed. He wouldn't interfere or intervene unless instinct told him otherwise.
((OK - kind of lame and pointless, but I'm sick and on medication. That gives me a little leeway for weird/randomness, right? n_~ )) lithle
The woman was on her computer again, and frankly, the Kestrel wanted out. He was adjusting, or trying to adjust, to being closed in, but everything within him screamed against it. He should be free, or at least have the choice of freedom. Sometimes, he'd scream for hours, but she ignored him, so it just made him tired.
He was learning to pick his battles.
Launching off his perch, he flew over to the window, calling once for her attention. She jumped, twisting around in one liquid movement. There was a moment where they simply stared at each other, and he could sense the rise and quick ebb of her anger. She didn't so much mind opening the window, it was leaving it open that she refused.
She no longer tried to finish what she was doing first, a tribute to her side of the comprimise. Instead, she pushed herself up, and slid the window open. Much better.
"I may go out later. The window will be open."Her words were a distant whisper, he was already in the air, enjoying the brush of cold on his feathers. So much better to be loose, to be moving. But what to do? He wasn't hungry, he'd hunted earlier. Maybe he'd just find a nice perch. Somewhere he could watch the flow of life below him.
Gliding along, following the currents, he found himself drawn to a feeling of familiarity. There, below him. One of his own kind, if not in his form. How long had it been since he'd spoken to a kindred? That might be nice. Spiraling downward, he screamed to announce his arrival.
There was a little store, with a banner hung from just above it's doorway. He landed there, folding his wings neatly, and looking down at the boy.
Don't you miss the wind?Disinclined Xaxis recognized the scream of a raptor, and paused in his splashing in puddles to look up. His wings shifted a bit underneath his jacket, cramped and sore and still itching something terribly. But that was how clothing worked, allegedly. And Lucien didn't have time to cut holes for his large ebony wings, and Xaxis had tried once to make clothing comfortable. After that incident, with his good shirt thrown away and Lucien grumbling about ruining clothes, the little raven had given up.
Looking up, he noticed the little kestrel perched on top of a sign. He offered a flicker of a smile, but mostly just stared. Was this one going to be like Calytae or that Rascir person?
He hoped not.
He didn't mind nice people, but sometimes too much singing got obnoxious, and too much activity was just too much.
With any luck, this one wouldn't be too intolerable.
"I do," he agreed, glancing down to stare at one of the cold, slushy puddles. "Sometimes I regret ever having to change. It was nice living alone, with no one telling you what to do, or how to do it." He glanced over at his shoulder, noticing that his Boy had stopped to stare in various store windows.
"You'd best enjoy your freedom while you can."
His monotonous voice was quiet, a smidge wistful. Life certainly wasn't what he'd thought it was going to be.
Sure, it was fun to watch the going-ons of people, but he could've done that and kept his smaller size, and games with the wind.
Like all ravens, and not lost to Xaxis' difference in breeding, he really had enjoyed the wind. Diving, swooping, gliding - now that he was land-locked, it was something he wished he could do again.
lithle Studying Xaxis, he tilted his head to the side slightly, resettling his wings. The words the boy gave were not of the comforting kind. Could he give up the brush of air under his wings, the fierce joy of swooping down on an unsuspecting sparrow? Was he willing to lose it for the dying ember of a girl he'd attached himself to?
He could still see the light she'd once let burn. It was a powerful call. But, so was the wind. Duty could be forgotten under the influence of a great thermal. Death could be relinquished for freedom. But-- power was a sort of freedom to. And he had none of that, riding the winds. To be little more than an equal to the other birds of simular form, to be prey to the bigger hawks, that wasn't his fate either. He was greater. Expecting more.
I will keep my freedom. A language of krees and mild movements, to be read as words, understood as speech. Not as simple as mind to mind, though there was something of that as well. It could only be shared between two of their kind. It is in me. Not the wind. Sharpness could be read in the tense line of feathers, in the angle of his head. Not anger, just insistance. He was not the girl's. He was only following her for a time. Warming himself by the fire she'd once been. Disinclined Xaxis sniffled a bit, reaching up to rub his nose with his arm. He studied the kestrel, the little raptor that he was, and all his sharp movements and his vindictive nature.
The little raven said nothing, the wheels of his mind working. He wasn't going to argue with the Kestrel, as the bird did indeed have a point. But the kestrel wouldn't understand that many old freedom would indeed be lost. He couldn't understand the restrictions that suddenly became law - from bird to man, from animal to beast.
There were changes, small losses, that happened after changing. Differences so subtle that Xaxis couldn't be bothered trying to explain them. He didn't doubt the Kestrel would indeed keep his freedom, but he did know that the Kestrel wouldn't see what he'd lost until it happened.
Xaxis didn't regret growing. He'd said only he almost regretted the change. There was a large different between almost and truth, and the little raven gained so much more by transforming. As it was with everything, sacrifices had to be made to gain. It was just the way of things - there was, as some put it, no such thing as a free lunch.
But as it were, the little boy stared up at the kestrel. "I miss fresh meat," he suddenly admitted, ruffling his wings slightly beneath his wool jacket. They itched - but he could ignore them. "How goes the hunting for you?"
Certainly, the Raven had never hunted in his life. Occassional insects and fruits, but mostly he had learned to feed off those already dead. Fresh meat to Xaxis was road-kill, to animals he'd eaten and picked at for years.
Now, the only meat he'd been served had been slabs of ground beef. Sure, he feasted bettern ow than as a bird, and his food wasn't stale, moldy or cold, but every now and then he wanted nothing more than to circle and find something dead.
To fly high in the sky and search the familiar scent of death, of blood, of meat.
Surely the kestrel could understand that much, couldn't he? They were both carnivores - though the kestrel had been blessed with the ability TO hunt his own prey.
lithle
It was the first time he'd spoken with another since choosing his partner, and the Kestrel was finding it irritatingly difficult. The bird thoughts, and the higher thoughts meshed together awkwardly, and language nearly failed to capture all he wanted to say. Still, it was nice to speak with kindred, so he continued to try.
We are-- His mind stuttered there, roughly fighting to get mixed concepts into singular words, more than death on wings that comes for meat. We are bright death, true death. We are predator of predators. He paused, collecting himself, wings fluffing out a bit. I am as an egg, and you a fledgling. You will fly again soon. Better flight, full flight. We must sacrifice these winds, for the winds we once knew.
There. And that was about all he could say on the matter, words forced into meaning, meanings forced into words. Not talking was better. Better was the sky and the kill. With that thought, he launched himself into the air, circling higher, getting a better view of things.
Everything, spread beneath him. And there, the movement he wanted. A tiny ungraceful flutter. Mind focused, body focused, he dove.
The sparrow didn't have a chance. Caught and killed, sacrifice to the hunger of something larger, more skilled. He could feel the heat of blood, dizzying almost. But he made no move to eat. He wasn't hungry.
Instead, he dropped his prey at the raven's feet. A small bundle of feathers and blood, offered up to the child.
Fresh meat.
Disinclined The raven again, said nothing to the reply. He understood what the bird had to say, again, with the sacrificing of one good for a greater good. Perhaps the kestrel had summed it up best - the winds they once knew.
Xaxis knew who he was, and who he was going to be.
He knew of the death he could cause, knew of the diseases that ran to him like the Pied Piper. Of course, he was very limited in his abilities. They were there, this power that he possessed, but it was very small and slight. As if lost in a fog that had yet to lift. But it would, someday.
Thus far, his abilities consisted of manipulating the power in himself. The colds he caught, the chills, the fevers, the overal miserableness was just part of the plan. One facet of his power, a facet he had little control over.
Disease.
Illness.
Plague.
Pestilence.
It was in him, really. That was his fate, that was what he guarded. The little viruses which sang to him, which ran through his blood and lighted up his soul. Someday he'd grow into that power, into what he knew he should be. Someday, things would be different, even though the child had very little understanding of how it would be.
This was life, was it not?
This was the path he was to follow.
As the Kestrel rose from his perch, Xaxis' magenta gaze looked up to follow his path. Was he leaving? Perpahs, the boy wouldn't be surprised. It wasn't as if he was much of a conversationalist. Still, he'd been pleased to have met the little falcon - he surely was better company than some he'd had the mis?fortune of meeting.
His little eyes watched as the Kestrel circled, nothing more than a small outline in the sky. He wasn't leaving, not really, but he was -
The creature quite suddenly dove. Like a strike of lightening, it killed, and Xaxis instinctively smelled the scent of blood. Death was at hand. When the raptor and its prey returned, the little corpse of the sparrow, still twitching in death throes, laid at his feet, Xaxis could only stare.
For him?
Really?
NO WAY! His eyes widened a bit, before a smile suddenly broke free from his features. He was obviously delighted by the prospect, and he dropped down to his knees to better have at the sparrow.
"Thank you," he muttered, remembering only then he was in a different form, a different state of being. He no longer had to worry about picking at the wounds, or waiting for a larger animal to open up the kill to the succulent, steaming flesh. He could do it himself now.
"Would you like any?" He offered, pushing one of his fingers through the wound of the bird, opening it up like some candy-coated morsel. The good stuff was inside - and it was warm! How long had it been since he'd had a chance to eat warm meat?
Often times the corpses he nibbled were long since dead, soggy, molding and wet. A fine flavor, of course, but the real pot-of-gold was when their bodies were still warm from life.
A succulent treat, and the smile that lighted his face was true.
Lucien was still waiting for his boy. He'd noticed him staring up at some sort of colourful bird. Probably a friend of his or whatever, though Lucien didn't recognize it from one at the shop. Oh well. He'd give the two their space.
But now, seeing the Kestrel return and his boy pick up some dead animal - no way! No no NO. Stomping over a bit, he cleared his throat. "If you're hungry we can pick you up something. There is food at home you know," he almost pleaded.
Sucking the guts out of a little bird. As much as he wanted to be okay with it, Lucien really wasn't.
Xaxis, on the other hand, possessively coveted the dead bird. He turned, the smile draining form his face, a little glower pinning his brows together. "This is ours - I don't want the food at home. I want this." His voice was soft, but there was a endge of a bite to his words.
Lucien wasn't getting this sparrow, and he wasn't going to listen. He'd eat the bird, no matter what. This wasn't just fresh meat, this was the first thing anyone had ever given him!
It was a gift from the Kestrel, end of story. He was going to eat it - and that was that. There was no room for arguing, as much as Lucien might want to try.
lithle Landing carefully on the raven's forearm, the kestrel tore off a piece of the sparrows flesh, gulping it down quickly. He wasn't hungry, but it seemed right that he and the raven should share this thing. That they should be joined by the flesh he had brought down.
I like to hunt. His only response to the thank you. Such graces were beyond him. It was enough that they both savored the meat, together, and allowed that to mean-- something. He wasn't sure quite what. Perhaps only that he could go beyond the instict of a raptor and share his prey.
The human startled him, though he supposed he should have expected it. Even he had his Fire One, though, as he still rode the winds, she couldn't follow him. That Xaxis too should have a companion, was something he should have thought of.
And it wasn't a problem, as long as the human didn't want a portion of the prey. It was only a sparrow, after all. Not much meat to go around.
Instead, the person seemed to want to take the prey away from Xaxis. That wasn't right. Clicking his beak in irritation, he refrained from comment. This was for the Raven to deal with, not him. Disinclined Xaxis was pleased that the kestrel would share. Another plank added to their slowly growing bridge of friendship. This was his first friend, really, other then the sing-songy one. But that bridge was small, and not quite fully developed. Still, it was a start - one of the two attempts had to work, hadn't they?
And yet, before he could even bother with gutting the sparrow, of fishing out some of its tender innerds and slurping them up, Lucien still insisted.
Insisted on taking it away, on not allowing him to eat.
That was wrong in Xaxis' head. He chose Lucien to grow with, not to be inhibited by queasiness. Whyever Lucien was throwing a fit now, Xaxis couldn't understand. Did he not want him to have friends? Did he not want him to share the bloody bird?
He used to eat carrion before - so why was this such a big deal?
Feeling a bit bolder, especially with the Kestrel's agitation known, Xaxis was ready to fight. Aloof and placid as he could be, the raven wasn't necessarily gentle or harmless.
There was bite behind him, though it be carefully hidden. It wasn't often his feathers were ruffled enough to make him bite, but there was good reason why he shouldn't be poked and prodded.
Lucien, on the other hand, didn't want to see his child eating a dead animal. This wasn't a movie, this wasn't a story of make believe, this was real.
He could see the blood stainig Xaxis' pale hands, and he felt his stomach churn. Lucien wasn't a queasy man, but he surely didn't like the thought of Xaxis eating raw meat. Birds weren't eaten like this. Years of morality, of animal rights, of humanity ran through him. He was trained not to like watching defenseless animals die, and even more so he was trained not to watch a child (sans wings or not!) EAT a newly killed bird.
Who knew how sick he could get? What if the sparrow had fleas or ticks or worms or lice? What if it was sickly and diseased? Then what!? "Xaxis, please, I really - I really don't think you should."
He wasn't used to fighting with his child, so it certainly was something new.
Xaxis was a good kid, so he'd learned. A bit different, sometimes, a bit quiet - but overall they got along. So why all the fuss now?
The raven didn't budge. Pulling his fingers out of the little body, he reached a hand up to lick at the warm blood. It was still hot, but it would quickly cool. The sparrow was small and didn't generate much heat for long after death, and it being winter didn't help the process.
He wanted to eat it now, before it got cold.
But Xaxis wasn't going to fight. Not with talons bared and wings spread. Oh no - he'd fight his war with a different tool. A tool called stubborness, a tool called apathy, a tool called 'I don't ******** care'.
Turning a deaf ear upon Lucien, with the Kestrel still perched upon his forearm, he very carefully headed back down the street. "I never learned how to hunt, not really," he explained to the raptor, wistfulness entering his voice.
"I could only feast on the remains others left behind. But sometimes I'd pretend!" He confided, memories of his previous life distant but there. It seemed so long ago, being a raven, circling over a carcass on the side of the road or allyway.
They couldn't hunt for themselves, but they surely were good at cleaning up after others. Death was always around, somewhere. Death was what kept the raven fed.
Lucien stared. He hadn't just been completely ignored, had he? Ugh. Part of the man felt sick - his boy had just LICKED sparrow blood! SPARROW BLOOD!
And now - now what? Did he berate the child? Did he take away with sparrow by force? Did he let him know who was in control and that he wasn't to be disobeyed?
Lucien gaped, not sure what to do. Who was the one in control?
Part of him really wasn't sure. lithle
If all were predators, there would be no prey. The reply was almost distracted, half the Kestrel's attention was on Lucien. He was getting annoyed. Hopefully the woman wouldn't be nearly so foolish. But she had struck him as practical, and meat was meat.
What sort of fool would try to take him from his prey?
Half streaching his wings, he snatched another bit of the sparrow, more to make a point to the man then out of hunger. See, it was good to eat. No reason for all the noise and panic.
I could chase him off for you, if you like. His talons, which held so carefully to the Raven's forearm, could do plenty of damage in a dive. Sure, he was small, but he could do his part. He could be dangerous.
Disinclined Xaxis kept his back turned to Lucien, wings puffed out a bit as if challenging the boy, HIS Boy, to actually do something. Stupid mortal. The sparrow was fresh meat, and more than that, it had been a gift. An offering from the kestrel, who needed not to hunt. This was their prize, and prizes (in his mind) shouldn't be taken away or revoked.
This was their's to share, truly, so Lucien just needed to back away.
Xaxis, who'd figured he'd be let alone, glanced down at the sparrow, reaching up to take a taste of the open wounds. The blood was still warm, sweet on his tongue. The familiar feeling, the sensation, changed only by his new stage of life.
It was heavenly, really. Nipping carefully, coming away with a mouthful of feathers and some stringy meat, the sight could easily be described as disturbing. Sparrows weren't meant to be devoured by human-looking boys - even those with wings.
When the kestrel offered to cut his Boy, Xaxis, licking his lips (blood still smearing his face), shook his head in denial. "That won't be necessary," he explained amicably, already forgetting about Lucien's big-to-do over the meat. "He just doesn't know what he's - "
That was it. Lucien, having gotten over his initial shock to Xaxis display of childhood stubborness and dominance, squared out his shoulders and glared.
No.
If this kid, this raven, was his responsibility, than this kid was going to LEARN exactly who was making money for them to survive. He didn't HAVE to feed the boy, he didn't HAVE to keep him in the apartment (regardless of what he feared Shanuh might do), and he certainly didn't HAVE to take any lip from this child!
Winged death child that he claimed to be, Lucien still paid the rent, and therefor, Lucien made the rules.
Part of the boy felt strange thinking that way (hadn't his foster-family abused that line?) but it was true. Stalking up to Xaxis, he thought nothing of the Kestrel and reached out to grab the boys shoulder, jerking him to a stop.
"Eat the god damned bird if you want, like hell if I care if you get sick and die, but we're going home." His eyes pinned. "NOW." He put on his most intimidating display (which really wasn't all that intimidating) and hoped upon hope that Xaxis would go without a fight.
He didn't release his shoulder, and from his vice-like-grip, he surely had no intention. "Tell your friend goodnight, and lets go."
God - he was turning into a parent, wasn't he? s**t.
Xaxis was horrified. What? Go home? Lucien couldn't make him go home - he was still playing! He wasn't done eating the sparrow, and the kestrel and him were only just getting to know each other!
Flapping his wings a bit, startled by being restrained, the little raven tried to jerk out of Lucien's grasp. Even though he was a tall boy, he surely was very thin and very weak. Fighting wasn't in his nature - though he could taunt, tease, and occassionally even give the appearance of being intimidating. Otherwise, he was a beanpole of a child, and Lucien (despite being just as thin) was still taller AND bigger.
"I don't want to go!" He snapped, all but dropping the sparrow in his moment of panic and fury.
This was unbelievable! Who did Lucien think he was!?
Lucien gave a snort, reaching his free hand over to grab Xaxis by the ear. "Come on," he pressured, "I said we're going!" Just let him try to squirm. He wasn't going to get far with his ear pinched.
Abusive? Hardly.
But the dark-haired boy wasn't going to stand for his bird to throw a tantrum. lithle Nature and instinct told the Kestrel to attack, to extend claws and hurt the man who was taking away his friend. He launched himself into the air, circling the fight below him, looking for a good angle for getting at the man's scalp.
But the Raven had told him not to. Had requested that he let things work themselves out. This hadn't been exactly what he'd been expecting.
But there would be other sparrows, on other days. He'd let this be. Fly back to Lithle. Later, later, they would hunt together again. He didn't want to intrude on the battle of another.
((And that's done. Yay!))
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:46 am
Disinclined ((Just a fun RP I had promised Lithle months ago. Please don't post unless invited!)) The little raven sat on what he had claimed as his perch in front of the Shadyside Apartment Complex. His territory was on the cold cement stairs in front of the entrance, to guard the complex with his sullen pout. The black and magenta haired boy liked to watch the cars drive past, to stare disdainfully at those in skirts and suits, all the busy body's of the world.
He didn't have anything against the people, at least no more than he did anyone else.
They were interesting, in a boring sort of way, and it was fun to make up games about the strangers. Maybe that one was an alien? Or perhaps he was on his way to save his wife from a burning building? Maybe that little girl was going to get a new kitten? Or perhaps that little boy was going to rob the grocery store down the street?
His imagination was starting to run away with him. For as quiet and aloof as he was, the little raven was quite the thinker. He loved to pretend, to imagine, at least when he was by himself. His shadow didn't make very good company, and despite having the option of going to the Birdcage, there was some company Xaxis preferred more than others.
Today was not a Shanuh day. Or a Nikel, JoJo or Kirwan day.
He didn't want to stay alone, but he surely didn't want to sit around the shop with them. Lucien would be there, working, and Xaxis was starting to grow bored with the bird-toys.
So this overcast day, with the hint of spring on the polluted air, the little raven was ready persure his afternoon of people-watching. Of course, the key word was being ready. There was only one flaw to the course of his afternoon, and one flaw he hadn't learned to handle.
His wings.
His large, black-feathered pinions were looking particularly raggedy. The feathers were tangled and looked a wreck, while a few threatened to pinch off any moment. Despite their horrible looks, the worst thing about his spring-time-molt was the fact that it itched!
Uncomfortably, the little raven squirmed in his seat, reaching a bony arm behind himself in an attempt to ease his discomfort. It didn't work. Not really. As a bird he could easily fix such a problem - as a child, it became unbearble and there was very little for him to do.
Giving up on his feeble attempt, the little raven heaved a sigh. Shoulders slumping, wings still twitching, he gave up. Oh well. He'd dealt with a bad molt before, he'd be able to deal with this sort of irritation again. Lucien would brush his wings for him later, perhaps.
The only problem with that was the fact that Lucien still had another five hours of work.
lithle The day was perfect, and Savius had been up early (for him) to hunt and explore. He'd gotten the usual scolding from Lithle as he slipped out the door, but that was good too. It meant she was feeling, and he'd come to think of it as his own personal duty to keep her from slipping into apathy. Jer'ain certainly didn't do much to help on that front.
But now, he was satiated and happily tired. Fresh squirrel meat filled his tummy and Fen carried another one between his jaws in case he should get hungry again. For his part, Fen looked quite content with himself, huge gray furred head held high with ugly pride, blood staining his muzzle. Despite his initial objections, Savius loved the dog more than he wanted to admit.
His return walk brought him quickly back to the apartments, using side streets and the dark avenues between buildings. Savius wasn't afraid of much, not with his trusty wooden swords at his side and Fen at his feet. It'd be good to get home, torment the kittens and talk to Jer'ain.
There, the apartments. And on the steps. On the steps was Xaxis, looking particularly pathetic, his wings slumped. And molting. He remembered the boy from when he was still in bird form, and the vain attempts he'd made to help him with his huge wings. Well, now he could do some real good.
"You look terrible!" Disinclined Put off by discomfort and slight agitation, the the molten winged raven glanced miserably at his friend. His oily, black wings spread slightly, as if trying to hide the fact that they were indeed pathetic looking. "Thanks," he agreed smartly, a trace of childhood sarcasm lacing his voice.
Still, not wanting to turn his sharp taloned friend against him, he proved his good nature with a pale smile. "When don't I look awful?" He teased, poking a bit of fun at himself. He was in good spirits, despite his itching wings, and his overall lack of health. He was feeling better than he had in weeks, and his attitude allowed a sliver of childhood sunshine to shine through.
Two pink eyes traveled over Savius before settling on the giant dog. Xaxis was impressed by the size and mass which made up Fen, though fear over the hound wasn't present. Why should a dog scare him?
Instinct told him that he had no need to feel fear, even though logic wanted to scream he hadn't a chance if the beast attacked. "When'd you get a dog?"
Was that, perchance, a twinge of jealousy? A dog? Lucien didn't have any pets, and Xaxis figured (even if he asked) the answer would be no. Sure, there was a good chance the little raven was probably allergic to such an animal, but the bird didn't care. It was the fact that he'd be denied, and this raven, for all his quiet, aloof-and-sickly ways, was just as selfish as any child.
There was a need for want, a need to have, and a desire to be just as cool as his friends.
Iamel had glowsticks, Diacyn had attitude, and Savius had swords-and-beast - Xaxis wanted all of that too!
((If he seems a bit off - I"m trying to push his more child-like side. x3 )) lithle Savius wasn't much effected by sarcasm, he was being raised by Lithle after all. If he let a little thing like that touch him, he'd spend all his time nursing a bruised ego. Better to ignore such minor jabs, and stride ever forward. Or... at least as far forward as the steps.
"You wouldn't look awful if your wings weren't so messy." He replied, taking a seat on the step next to Xaxis and giving those huge black masses of feathers a thoughtful look. Yes... he could do something to help. Poor Xaxis... it must be hard, trying to take care of so much with just little human hands and none of the proper twisting a bird could do.
For his part, Fen settled at the foot of the steps, his huge head resting at his paws, his attention on the street. He wasn't a dog to sleep on the job, oh no. Sure, he might lay down, but he'd be up again at the first hint of danger.
"That's Fen." Savius explained, his voice taking on a touch of fondness, "Lithle brought him in to guard me. I don't need that so much, but I like him anyway." Disinclined Xaxis wasn't at all offended by the raptors bluntness. If the black haired bird hadn't been naturally patient, he'd learned it with time. Things didn't rile or upset Xaxis as easily as some of his peers, but whether that was learned jadedness or just an easy temperment one couldn't say. Whatever the case, he'd treat Savius with the same amount of patience as he did everything else.
"I do what I can," he explained, spreading his wings to show their full girth. They were obnoxiously large, in his opinion, and he just couldn't reach all the feathers. Reaching over, he tugged at the edges of his feathers, tugging lightly only to gain a fistful of down. "See? An' Lucien doesn't do it right."
He wasn't whining, merely stating a fact. Lucien didn't know how to properly preen his wings, but that was no fault of the humans. Xaxis didn't blame him, not one bit.
Heaving a sigh, his pink eyes focued back on the resting Fen. He was still amazed by the dogs prowress - he was huge. Xaxis wanted a dog that big. He wanted a dog just like Fen, even though Fen didn't have the same feel as an ordinary dog. Fen was different, Fen was . . . special.
"He looks like a good dog," the boy explained, eyes lighting up with a moments childhood delight. "He could eat anything or anyone, I bet. I'd like to see that."
Childhood visions of Savius with his swords drawn in a moment of attack, coloured wings spread, with the giant dog-beast devouring children and babies and schoolteachers.
lithle "Yeah, I know. Your wings are too big, that's the problem." If he had been just a bit older, he might of tsked openly at the boy, but that required a sort of 'maternal' nature that he had but did not yet understand. Scooting upward a sit, he moved over so that he was sitting behind Xaxis, giving him a much better view of the other boys wings. Well, he certainly had his work cut out for him. "Hold still. I can do this better now that I'm bigger."
Fen, aware of the attention, twisted to look at Xaxis, panting a bit, and showing is teeth in a wide doggy grin. Oh yes, there was something special about him, but it was dilute, so twisted through his veins and his being that it was hard to catch. The dogs of war... didn't they say something like that?
"Mostly, he catches squirrels. We're not allowed to chase kids anymore." It'd only been one girl, and Savius still maintained that she looked particularly squirrelish, scampering about, and being generally irritating. And it wasn't as if Fen had actually hurt her, just knocked her down. Scared her a bit. "Lithle says she'll have me put down."
He grinned proudly, remembering that fight. Oh he'd got her worked into a real frenzy. Near hate in her gaze and in her words, and that was good, because hate was just love rewritten, and he'd done so well to awaken it. Disinclined Xaxis waited patiently for Savius to fiddle with his tangled mass of black feathers. The wings weren't terrible to look at, but they surely were a mess! They were dry and lacked the typical glossiness a healthy bird might have. A good portion of his feathers were hanging on by one or two roots, ready to fall off at any moment. The rest were unbrushed and unruly, the barbs ripped and tattered. Xaxis tried his best to keep his wings in good tact, but they were so big and he could only reach so far. . .
It was hard work, especially for one so small and sick!
Slouched in front of Savius, Xaxis grinned as his friend chatted fondly about his dog. He sounded pleased that the dog had chased a child - what a sight would that have been! "She'd have you put down?" He asked, voice sounding slightly surprised. A little giggle, followed by a sniffle and one bony wrist wiping away excess drip. "I'd like to see her try!"
Who would win? Savius, of course! Destruction ran hot through his veins, just as disease and pestilence ran through his own. They were all untouchable, in a way, whether they fully realize it or not. Xaxis figured Fen would defend Savius if he ever get in a tight spot - but then again - Savius was far too cool to ever get in a 'tight spot'.
The kestrel child was a predator, and predators were raised to win.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:50 am
The Nozomi "Shaunuh? Xaxis?" Iamels voice carried through the small pet store as he moves inside. Bells jangled and the boy was curious...he hadn'tbeen here for quite some time. The sparkly, purple jeans were still in place, with the same odd shirts, the jewelry and the weird hair, but he was less bouncy, less psycho then before.
There was also an ebony toddler latched onto his hand. The dark child was pressed against his brothers jeans, shuffling after him, inside. Two yellow eyes were pressed directly in front of them, wary and on the areas around them. The other eye, narrower, sharper, rolled up to his brother.
"Annnnyone? Is anyone here?" Disinclined Xaxis was staring intently at one of the various cages. Inside sat a small ball python, half of its threadlike body tangled around a twig, the rest of it staring lidlessly back. Both bird and beast seemed to be in contest with one another - who would win? Who would conquer?
"Over here," Xaxis called out, voice half-breaking from lack of use. He'd been staring at the snake all afternoon, intent on . . . something. It wasn't necessarily to stare down the snake, but something else. Something greater, something bigger.
"He - he hasn't sneezed yet but - but just wait. Soon." The boy with the magenta bangs half-explained, not bothering to look over at Iamel. He could sense another life there, but it didn't concern Xaxis. Not at the moment. The typically quiet boy was on a mission and he wasn't going to break for anything.
Well, almost anything. There were a few people and things that could persuade the raven otherwise.
The Nozomi Iamel just looked at the raven curiously, head tilting to the side to watch his friend. Kian, uninterested in the on goings of snakes and weird wing-boys, just released Iamels tight grip. The toddler shifted away, little sneakers squeaking on the polished floor of the pet store.
"Do snakes sneeze?" The woodpecker hopped up to his friend, shoulder to shoulder, nose pressing against the glass cage. "Do they have noses? I thought they had snouts. Is that the ame thing?" Disinclined Xaxis shrugged his shoulders, a few loose feathers falling delicately to the ground. He hadn't really thought about whether or not snakes had noses - they had snouts, and they smelled through their tongues, but . . .but . . . "I - I don't know, really," he softly admitted, eyes locked on the snake. "But I guess it's the same thing." If worse came to worse, Xaxis mulled, he'd take a cough too. Something. Anything.
The python didn't care to be under the scrutiny of now, not one, but two beasts of death. There was something strange about them, something that caused even the python to grow wary. Death, but not death - no better than Shanuh, but different in turn. A thin sheet of glass was the only thing that seperated him from them and the snake much preferred to keep it that way.
With a condescending sneer that came in the form of a flicking tongue, it didn't take long for the python to slowly retreat back into its coils. There was comfort within his own warmth - within the knowledge that his heart still beat, within the knowledge that his body was not quite yet dead.
Xaxis grimaced. ". . . . ********." Well that didn't go over very well at all, now, did it?
Disappointed that he couldn't spread his disease, the raven looked over at his friend. "So much for that."
The Nozomi Iamel ducked down to pick up a few of those scattered feathers and tucked them behind his ear or in his ponytail. "Maybe he's ticklish?" The boy offered up his taller friend, rocking back and forth on his heels. "Snakes have nerves, right? Maybe he's just ticklish and needs some prodding."
Another nod and Iamel reached for the top of the cage, to pry it away and reach for the animal. He had only opened it a scotch when he heard Kian hiss, somewhere in the pet store. Eh. Kid brothers.
"Dax grew," He grunted conversationally as he pried open the top. Disinclined "So soon?" The raven's voice was laced in dry sarcasm as he shook his head at the thought. Dax was one of the obnoxious ones - too hyperactive and weird for Xaxis' much more jaded and relaxed tastes. The raven, for all his quiet charm and shyness, much preferred the company of those who were more wild than himself, but not so crazy they were hard to handle. Dax, from what Xaxis had seen of the bird, was just . . . .weird.
"I almost thought somethin' was wrong with him." He continued, eyes lighting as he watched Iamel pry at the snakes cage. Perhaps his friend was onto something? If they could only get out the snake, at the very least they could try to perform acts of magic upon them.
Who knew? Maybe Iamel had a better handle of his magic than himself and they could make the snake go boom. Or - or maybe it was just the glass that had gotten in the way? Whatever the case, it was time to get the animal out.
Tugging at the top of the cage, Xaxis started to help. Shanuh wouldn't mind if they lost a snake - nope nope nope! "Anyway, I guess I should say congratulations." The more the merrier, right?
Right.
Maybe the little kingfisher calmed down with his growth? It wouldn't be surprising. He himself, from the soft recollections of his past as a raven, he'd been much more bold and cocky. Now he was subdued, but Xaxis blamed that on constantly being under the weather and sick as a dog.
The Nozomi "Mmhmm. I think he's happy that he finally got out of the winged body." The woodpecker grinned, glancing over at Xaxis. "Something IS wrong with him. he's a weird little bugger. Shiniee says he's crazy. But I like him. He listens to me and doesn't try to hurt the other li'l kids. Anymore." He amended quickly, a grin pulling further on his lips.
"Did you ever think anything was wrong with me, too?" Iamel finally was able to push the glass open, laughing in his triumph. "I'm still short and stubby and I don't feel like I should be. My skin itches, sometimes, and I have to wriggle to make it stop sometimes."
Another nod and he shifted up, peering into the cage. "HEeeeeere, snakey snakey snake.... Heeeeeere we're coming. Don't bite us. We'll eat you if you bite us."
And his little hand reached in. Disinclined Xaxis tilted his head, contemplating Iamel's question, but only for a moment. Had he thought the woodpecker strange and weird. . .? "Nah," he shook his head, blowing a few wisps of bangs out of his face. "You weren't ever crazy-weird like Dax is. Was. Will be." It was one thing to be crazy, and quite another thing to be weird - but to Xaxis, crazy-weird was just too much.
"Let's just hope he doesn't continue to take up nesting in your hair!" The raven giggled, a rare sound, lips twisting up in to a half-hearted grin of amusement. He couldn't quite picture what Dax might look like, so the image of another guardian curled up in Iamel's short, wild-but-bright hair was unusual. Still, the thought was entertaining, regardless of the absurdity of it.
The python all but quivered as the giant grubby hand reached in to pull him away from his safety. They'd breeched the glass! The python wanted to bite but didn't dare; whatever poisen ran through the veins of his soon-to-be-captors, the snake didn't want to taste. The python struggled to stay attached to the limb in its cage, but was nothing compared to the child.
What fate fell upon him this afternoon? None could say.
Xaxis flapped his wings in excitement, standing on tip-toes to get a better look down into the cage. "That's right - you got it!" Now the snake was in trouble. What could they do with it? What would Iamel want to do with it? Blow it up? Stomp on it? Dissect it alive? Oh the possibilities seemed endless! Stick it in a microwave? Would it melt like a toy soldier? It almost felt like plastic.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:55 am
.Pissy Little Birdie Boy - Quest 1 Anger/Sadness Xaxis crossed his arms and huffed. "I'm not going!," there was no doubt in Xaxis' mind that his decision was right, and Lucien was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong wrong.
"Christ," Lucien growled, reaching his hands up to rub the bridge of his nose. "I'm not leaving you here alone. You go to the shop everday - why don't you want to go today?" Lucien just didn't have time for this. His 'kid' was acting up today, and the runaway had no idea why. Children was so ******** frustrating, and Xaxis was no exception.
The little raven glared up at Lucien, his entire stance defiant. The typically placid boy was in a mood to fight, and Lucien was going to feel the brunt end of his childish stubborness. "Because! I want to stay here today. . . I'll be okay by myself, really I will!" The little raven was not in a mood to deal with seven hours of the shop.
Sure, he loved to see Shanuh and Nikel and Jojo and Kirwan, but - but - but not today. Xaxis just didn't want to have to pull himself out of his little cot and get dressed. He didn't want to have walk down the block and curl up in Shanuh's desk-chair. He didn't want to have to listen to the parrots warbling, the dogs barking, and the overall ruckous that made up the shop.
Sure, he might run into a few of his friends like Savius or Iamel, but chances weren't likely. He hadn't seen his friends in ages. If they were even still his friends.
"I'm not going," Xaxis whispered, a pout carving his pale lips into a frown.
Lucien just about it had it. Would there be no compromise? Why, of all days, did Xaxis have to throw an uproar over routine today? He had to be at the shop in fifteen minutes and there was no way he was oging to leave the boy to his own devices. Not here, in the complex. He wasn't going to ask Jenys to babysit, and Jojo - well - there was something about the landlord that creeped Lucien out.
No, Xaxis was not going to stay in the house all day by himself. Sick or not, he was tagging along, even if he needed to be carried out kicking and screaming. "Xaxis," Lucien started, irritation and annoyance lacing his words. "Get. Up. I know you're probably not feeling well, but you can rest and relax at the shop." Besides, Lucien thought, when was Xaxis NOT feeling sick? This was no different than any other day - the boy was always running some sort of fever, some sort of cold, some sort of cough and illness.
Today, the lad didn't look any worse for wear than the days previous, there for, he was going. "I'll even let you wear your jammies, how about that?"
See? COMPROMISE! That would work, right?
Xaxis continued to glare. There would be no compromise, at least not today! "NO!" A flash of anger, rarely seen within the little child. Yes, he was throwing a temper tantrum but today he just didn't care! Didn't Lucien understand that it was cold in the shop? That he wasn't up to dealing with animals, customers, Shanuh or anyone for that matter? Today he wanted to be left alone. "I can take care of myself!" He snapped, words bitter. "I'm not helpless, you know! I know how to use the microwave, I know how to make macaroni and cheese!!" The little bird spread his wings, working himself in a fit.
Lucien always treated him like some sort of ragdoll. Like he was nothing but an attachment, an acessory. They never played games together. They weren't like father-son, they were more like stranger-and-stranger!. Lucien was hardly old enough to be a father, much less a guardian of death. Xaxis wanted independence - Iamel was allowed to watch others, Iamel could go wherever he pleased. Savius too - Savius had Fen to take care of him, and other siblings.
Was Xaxis jealous of his friends companions? Maybe a little, though he'd never admit it.
"I'm NOT going to burn the place down," Xaxis continued to explain, wings spread fully in his irritable display. "You can trust me! Let me stay home, Lucien, PLEASE! I don't WANT to go. I don't WANT to be around the shop, I don't FEEL good and I want to STAY. IN. BED!"
The anger that pumped through his veins felt good, in a strange way. It surpassed his hurt feelings, surpassed his nausea and sickness. The emotion reached the surface, for once, instead of being swept away by apathy.
There would be no changing the little birds mind. Not today. Not today.
Lucien lost it. No, he wasn't keeping a sick bird in his house! Not alone. If Lucien could afford to take a day off, he would. Great. But he couldn't - he'd taken a few days off the week before when Xaxis really HAD been sick and suffering a horrible fever.
So it came down to having to be a responsible parent and play the bad-guy. Fine. He'd do it, if only for Xaxis' sake. He wanted Xaxis with him at the shop so he could be there for him - so he could take care of him during breaks, so he could keep an eye on his health.
Would Xaxis understand this? Probably not. Was this going to be one helluva bad day? Guarenteed.
Though Xaxis was something special, Lucien wasn't intdimated by the raven. He was still bigger than the boy, and that would prove a great advantage. "Come on, you, we're going." Reaching over, he scooped up the thin-framed child. "And don't try to fight!" He warned.
Xaxis was appalled by his sudden change in position. Scooped up like some sort of baby?? He wasn't that little! He was - he was - he was Xaxis! Flapping his wings wildly, the little boy did the first thing that came to mind - FIGHT.
Pushing, squirming, pulling, squabbling incoherent words of frustration and annoyance. "Let me go! LET ME GOOOOO~! I'm NOT going. Let me stay home! PELASE! PLEASE, Lucien!"
Well s**t. Xaxis tried despeartely to grab hold of the doorframe as Lucien passed underneath, but it was of no avail. He wasn't going to win this fight, not today. "Lucien~" He whined, voice suddenly cracking, his anger starting to give way to defeat.
"Lucien, please," he begged, despseration leaking out of the raven. "Lucien - I don't - I don't - I don't feel good. I want - I want to stay in bed, I want - I want - " What did Xaxis want?
Freedom? Independence? A day of feeling as healthy as possible?
The door of the apartment clicked close, and Xaxis knew that this was a battle he'd lost.
The sting of bitterness pierced his heart, and the raven crumpled in Lucien's arms.
Now he was cold. Now he was stuck wearing his pajama's all day. No warm bed, no comfortable environment, no silence. Just . . .the shop. His home away from home.
It surprised Xaxis to find a sting of tears blurr his vision. Oh, what did it matter? The anger that had flowed so strongly in his veins had quickly betrayed him and transformed to tears.
Silently, the little bird sobbed, resting his head against Lucien's shoulders. "I don't want to go," he whined, choking out another quiet sob. The tears came harder when the little raven realized that he was too weak to fight. He wasn't nearly as strong as his friends - even Iamel could probably beat him in battle!
Succumbing to exhaustion from his fight, and feeling far too overwhelmed by the world AND his feelings, Xaxis cried all the way down to the shop. He hated to cry, but it wasn't often he worked himself up to such anger.
Lucien felt horrible. He was a terrible parent, he knew it. It had never been his intention to be a parent in the first place. His own troubled upbringing - being abandoned by the parents who were supposed to have cared for him, of being switched around from foster home to foster home, and finally settling with a family who couldn't accept him as a person?
Yeah. There were reasons he wasn't as affectionate as some of the other companions out there. There were reasons he struggled when it came to raising Xaxis right - how did one raise a child anyway?
With gifts? With offerings of love and toys? Lucien tried - he really did. He worried when Xaxis grew too ill, he hated the fact that he didn't have a lot of money to spend on the boy, and even more, he hated that he had to work all day and everyday just to make ends meet.
Xaxis was aloof and shy, and Lucien had a hell of a time trying to get the boy interested in things. Were children usually this difficult? Possibly - but Lucien DID care about Xaxis. Had he asked for such a responsibility? Not really. But Xaxis was his to care for, and how Lucien tried.
It broke his heart to hear the boys sobs. "Come on now," he murmured, shifting Xaxis into a more comfortable position in his arms. He was light - either he had hollow bones or was just that thin, Lucien couldn't be certain.
"It's a short shift today - just a few hours. I'll take you out to lunch, I promise, and we'll get a blanket to wrap you up in in the office." Weak reassurances, perhaps, but it was the best Lucien could do.
He loved Xaxis, he really did, but parental instinct was not something that came easy to the boy. But at least he tried - he really, truly tried.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:05 am
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:10 am
The Nozomi Since his SHiniee had left, Iamel had taken it upon himself to be the new 'man of the house', so to speak. He took care of the kids twice as much as he used to, he was learning to cook and he would take a few kids out every so often so they weren't cramped in the increasingly smaller house.
He missed his Shiniee, but he wasn't going to let it ruin him, like it had Cat b***h. he was a strong boy! When Shiniee got back and realized how well he'd taken care of everything, he'd be so proud!
Because he WAS coming back.
This train of thought in his head, Iamel had two 'kids' with him today - the calmer ones. Kian was with him again, walking beside him with an akward sort of gait and Katura was behind held in his arms. Luckily, the small cat-being was light and not too squirmy, sucking at his pacifier and keeping his tail curled around Iamels wrist.
"Time to get you guys new shoes. Katura needs them and you, Kian, wore yours out."
The comment earned him a dirty look from the three eyed child and Iamel just grinned, one hand moving down to touch the dark boys head. Just in case. Just in case.
Katura, in his silver-haired serenity, just kicked his feet with a giggle. Disinclined Xaxis had left the shop, despite Lucien's over-protective warnings and threats. The raven hated to be caged and everyday was the same-old same-old. Lucien went to work, and Xaxis had to follow. For hours he'd kill time at the Birdcage, playing with the animals, hanging around Shanuh (or whoever happened to be running the store that day) and maybe going out to lunch with Lucien on break.
It got old after awhile.
In fact, it was old the first week Xaxis had been exposed to it.
Today, the little bird was out wandering the streets. He wasn't getting into trouble or mischief, but Xaxis wasn't bold enough to do such things. Instead, he looked for road-kill [the only time he ever got to savor the tasty bits of decayed flesh] and shiney things.
Hands shoved deep in his tattered pant pockets, the raven loped casually down the street. Maybe he'd go see if Savius was around, or Rascir - the pretty bird was always singing. Not much of a conversationalist, but at least it was someone to be with.
Turning down another street, the little bird glanced up and did a double - triple - take! That looked like - that couldn't be - that was, "IAMEL!"
The raven half-spread his wings in surprise - who were those baby-things with him? Children? Wait, wait - didn't Iamel have TONS of baby-things and brothers and sisters at his house? His surprise quickly vanished as the raven ran across the road, bridging the distance between him and his vibrant-coloured friend.
Iamel was full of colour, life and shiney tings.
Xaxis tended to be dark, sick, and quiet - but it worked out, some how. Iamel was one of the few Xaxis looked upon AS a friend.
Blowing back a few strands of hair, the raven eyed the kitty-thing in Iamel's arms, as well as the three-eyed Patrick-mini. "Stuck with kids today, huh?"
Well that was a shame. How could you play with babies around? You couldn't - but that was just as well. This was one of the first times Xaxis had ever been exposed to tiny-children. He'd seen them from a distance, but mini-humans were always kind of . . .weird.
At least in his humble opinion.
The Nozomi Iamels head jerked up when he heard the others voice, a grin tugging at his lips. Xaxis, although a raptor, was somehow more approachable then Savius and Diacyn at times. At least, once you got past the quietness and the aloof outlook - but being hyper and bouncy had a tendancy to do that. Diacyn liked to kill things - violently - and do lots and lots of physical activity but due to his metabolism, while Iamel was hyper and active often...it didn't last for long.
And with Savius he just kept trying t be JUST as intresting..otherwise the other would get bored. He didn't want to BORE someone!
Xaxis wasn't boring or really active or anything like that - he was semi-normal. Like Iamel. ....okay, as normal as Iamel could be at times.
"Xaxis! Hey!" While he was happy to see his friend, the hyperactive, squeaking little boy who the other usually saw had been replaced by an older facade... He was grinning and looked terribly pleased to see the other, but he wasn't bouncing (baby in his hands) or diving at him (baby in hand, toddler at side).
"Not really stuck.. Catbitch is tweaking out really bad and these two are some of the better brats. You've met Kian before... He's an alien. Used to kill people. Started a revolution. And this.." The silver haired, dark skinned boy was hoisted up, a grin wide on Iamels face, "This is Katura. He's the newest. He's Shiniees biological baby. He has a sister at home, but she screams." Disinclined Xaxis' face twisted into something akin to a grimace as Iamel told him about the screamer. Loud noises hurt his ears smoetimes, and could be obnoxious. Making things crash or blow up or scream were fun when HE (or his friends) were the cause. "Do you make her scream? Or does Catbitch do it or does she just scream to . . . scream?" Xaxis could only hope that Iamel or Catbitch were the cause - it was no fun to scream just to scream!
"I remember Alien," he stated, offering a little smile at the three-eyed menace. The fact that he USED to kill people made him all right in Xaxis' eyes. The raven didn't care about revolutions or past lives, not really, but he DID terribly approve of inflicting death. Killers were just plain cool.
Leaning in a little closer, for further investigation, he studied the kitty-boy. "He looks like Catbitch with the tail," Xaxis stated neutrally. He didn't have anything against Mordread, persay, but if Iamel said his name was Catbitch, than so be it.
"Lucien doesn't have any babies - are they hard to take care of? What do they do anyway?" Xaxis looked up curiously at his friend, offering a grin. "Everytime I pass 'em in the street, or they come into the shop, they don't seem to do a whole lot of anything."
Taking care of kids didn't sound very appealing to the raven, but who knew? Iamel did it enough - maybe there was something more to it that Xaxis didn't know about. Maybe it was a parent thing.
The Nozomi "She screams because she's hungry or tired or poopy or anything not fun. And she wriggles a lot. She likes to move. I don't like her so much." His own voice took on a tone of distaste, head shaking. "She looks more like Catbitch when Katura does - he just looks like Shiniee, really, if you ignore the tail and the ears. And she WHINES like Catbitch. It's driving me insane. I want Shiniee back."
His brief rant over, Iamel went dark, giving the other a crooked grin. "Sorry. Didn't mean to go off on you like that or anything." Kian was creeping over to the dark haired, snot-nosed little bird... He smelled like Iamel. Mel seemed to like him so....
the alien glowered a little, but his hand rose, fingers flexing into a fist several times. Iamel almost ******** beamed.
"That's how he says hi without talking. Means you're approved. Congrats!"
Kian glared at his sibling but Iamel ignored him, returning the grin. "They're not hard if they're the good kind? Katura just likes to be held and Kian... well there's an adult in Kians head. So he doesn't really count, y'know? But if they're not screaming or flailing or pooping, they're kind of fun. They wriggle and make noise and they look at you like you're the coolest person ever." Iamel only got that from babies... it's why he liked them. Disinclined Xaxis gave a small, lop-sided smile. "Well, Katura's cool than - since he doesn't look lots like Catbitch and looks lots like your Shiniee." The impression he recieved from Iamel was that the girl was stupid and Catbitchy and obnoxious.
If that was the case, than his friend didn't have to tolerate babies like that. Stupid babies like Catbitch. Hmph.
Xaxis listened to his friend rant, and fluffed out his wing feathers a bit. Poor Iamel - it had to be tough to not have his Shiniee. "He'll come back." They always came back, didn't they? Xaxis himself wasn't particularly close with Lucien, but it would upset him if the blonde abandoned him and left.
And if he didn't want Lucien to leave and they weren't all that close, than he could only imagine how his bright-haired friend had to feel! Patrick was Iamel's SHINIEE - so to lose him had to be tough.
Stupid Shiniee. If Xaxis had his way, he'd kick him in the shins. Or groin. Or both.
The little raven was surprised at Kian's sudden hand motion but was pleased nonetheless. He flapped his wings a bit, loosing more than a couple feathers. He was . . .approved? Babies approved of people?
Weeeeird. But at least he was in! Had Xaxis known he was going to be judged he would have . . . well. . . done nothing differnetly. But at least he passed - it did his heart good to know that someone had approved of him.
Looking from the Alien and the PatrickCatbitch Kid, Xaxis felt a little grin cross his lips. Babies. They were small and little and were probably fun to throw around or stomp on. But besides the violence, besides thinking of them as props - they were kind of cute.
Katura DID wriggle and squiggle. Did they smile too? Xaxis wanted to make one smile!
It could be fun. "I wanna be the coolest person ever," Xaxis admitted nonchalantly, lopsided grin crossing his pale lips. He wasn't very cool, and he knew it. Savius and Diacyn were cool. Shanuh, Nikel and Jojo were 'cool'. But . . . but Xaxis?
Not really. He was too sick to be cool.
Maybe babies would be a good thing to have around? He'd have to talk to Lucien. Depending on this afternoon, maybe he could get a baby too!
The Nozomi Oh yes. >> The girl was amazingly stupid and while Iamel had warmed up to Catbitch quite a lot since he had first met him, he was still catbitch. The woodpecker caught the others comforting words, glancing back up with a faint smile. "That's what I said too," Voice quiet, "But it's been almost three weeks and he's still not..."
Iamel stopped himself. No being SAD. It was too WEIRD to feel SAD and alone. Especiall with a friend there. Time to be happy - the brats were watching SO!
"Here." Iamel shifted, offering the little kitten-thing over to Xaxis. "Hold Katura. Put your arm under his butt, and your hand on his back. Hold him to your chest and don't be afraid to squeeze a little, okay? He's not gonna break."
That was how Iamel started teaching the other to hold a baby. "If he squirms, let him a little. He's getting comfie. Just a little, though. He's a baby and not too smart. he could fall. I like death but if THIS one died, I'd have to be grumbly."
Kian snickerd. "Fall, ca'thing." Disinclined Xaxis blinked, surprised to find himself with a . . . with a baby! Him? Hold a tiny-human-Catbitch-thing? No. Way.
The sickly raven did as he was told, feeling more than a little awkward. He made sure to hold onto Katura tight, but not enough to cause pain. Just enough to keep the boy steady. Hand under butt - check. And hand on back - 'nother check!
"No breaking the baby - got it," he muttered, still looking rather surprised by this sudden new experience.
Wow. If only Shanuh or Lucien were here! He was holding a baby - Holding a baby and NOT killing it. "I won't kill 'im, I promise," Xaxis gave his word to his friend, magenta eyes bright. He wouldn't make it so Iamel would have to grumble - then they might not be friends, and Xaxis didn't want that!
"Like this, right?" He asked, his ruffled wings spreading for balance. The baby wasn't too heavy, but Xaxis wasn't a very big raven. And holding squirming, living-things that weren't meant to be eaten didn't happen everyday.
It was weird. . . but kind of . . nice, too.
How warm the little baby was! And squishy - he didn't think babies were supposed to be squishy. But that only proved that babies WOULD be fun to stomp upon . . . if you dropped them, would they bounce?
Maybe.
He'd have to try it out - just not with one of Iamel's!
The Nozomi He grinned a little bit, glancing towards a bench only a few steps away. "I trust you... Let's go sit down, kay? It's easier there." The woodpecker was still grinning as he picked up Kian and nudged his friend gently over to the bench.
"See?? You're doing it. I knew you could." There was an immense sound of trust in the technicolor boys voice, plopping Kian on his lap happily. "Want me to get a picture? I carry a camera in the baby bag."
Yeah. Someone wasn't a freaking soccer mom.
Katura squeaked and squirmed just a little as he was passed, fingers fisting into Xaxis' shirt. His mouth went and latched onto the others collar, gumming and sucking until it was wet and Katura was content. Disinclined Xaxis was strangely . . . . . happy, by this new baby-holding-sensation. It was a little human, much smaller than him, and was very much alive. It wasn't like holding an animal. The animals at Shanuh's shop were always stiff and unruly. They didn't settle, they didn't really cuddle, and they sometimes bit.
Moving carefully over to the bench, the pasty raven giggled as Katura made baby-noises and did baby-things. He felt his shirt pulled and tugged upon, and soon felt the warmth of baby-drool on a spot near his neck.
Oh well.
It was baby drool! He could handle that, he could be cool 'bout it. "A picture? Really?!" Xaxis all but squeaked - he hadn't had a picture taken of him since christmas! And the film that Lucien had used was still sitting in the kitchen, waiting to be developed.
"I want a picture of us - that way I can show Lucien and Shanuh since they won't believe me." Oh, how exciting! A picture~! Proof that he was good with babies. See? He could be just like Iamel too.
Babies. He wanted babies. They wriggled and made goofy noises and were squishy. What fun they could be, what FUN!
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:57 am
Quest One Continued - Happy Happy Joy Joy
Book Thing -
I get bored sometimes so Lucien gave me a notebook to draw, and colour, and write in. Don't know what to with it, least not really, but I'm bored so I'm gonna write. Maybe I'll write secrets in here, since no one is s'posed to see it. Maybe I'll get a lock for it too - so no one can read what I'm writing.
That's kind of cool - a book of secrets. SECRETS! SECRETS!!!!
See? I can scribble all sorts of things in this page and no one but ME gets to see!
I got to hold a baby the other day - and it was warm! Very warm, and kind of sticky. They drool, I guess, but I want to tell Lucien that I want a baby! We should have them - Iamel has tons of babies and he seems to like them all right. They were squishy to hold, and I think they'd be fun to play with. I mean, if you got mad at 'em or got sick of 'em you could just throw them on the ground and stomp 'em.
That would be really fun too - stomping babies!
Iamel didn't want me to stomp his though, so I'd have to do it to babies that aren't Iamel's. Maybe Savius has a few . . . No, those would be his Dad's. I bet the she-he'd cut me to pieces if I stomped them.
Well, okay, maybe no baby stomping today, but I'd like to try it. . . . someday.
Oh~! Oh~! I forgot to tell you what Lucien got me! He took me to this store that had all SORTS of different clothes on racks and hangers. And he actually let me go through and pick out stuff to wear. He said we needed some new clothes, and instead of just handing me old sweaters and jackets and his clothes that are usually far too big, I got to pick out my wardrobe!
It was exciting. I got all sorts of super cool things - I got a headband that jingles, some shirts and pants that have dangly straps (like I've seen Iamel and Savius wear but are still too big for me, and a bunch of scarves!
I like scarves. They're see-through and super, duper SOFT. Lucien didn't know what I was going to do with them, and I don't even know what to do with them, but I think I'm gonna wear 'em. Some of them are really long and really drapey.
I like soft.
I . . . I really, really, really REALLY do.
And scarves. Scarves are fun to hold and run around - cause they follow you. They're wispy.
And I like babies too. Maybe I can see more of Iamel's babies. He said - He said he'd help me get one too! Maybe I should just buy one and give it to Lucien as a present? Surprise him?
That would be fun. Guess I should go looking into that.
Well, Book Thing, don't let anybody read you!
Your my Book Thing of Secrets!
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Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:35 pm
So I'm writing in this thing again. Book. Booklet.
I think I need to get preened again. My wings itch - but then again, my wings always itch. S'no fun, not really. I hate being sick.
I'm always sick, and I wish I wasn't. I'm always down with colds and flus and today I can't breathe very good and I can't seem to eat anything. Lucien won't let me look for roadkill, and insists I slurp down chicken noodle soup.
It tastes like s**t.
Seriously.
I don't mind eating chicken, even if I am a bird - but the soup itself is just . . .gross.
Lucien made me eat it anyway, said it might help me feel better. But he's like me - we both know I'm not going to feel any better so I don't know what he's talking about.
My fate is to be sick forever. But that's all right. Maybe I can make other people sick too. I don't mind not being healthy, but it makes it hard to feel up to socializing and talking when you have a scratchy throat, or no voice at all! Or you just feel so gross and icky that you don't want to go out and play.
It's not fun being me sometimes, but that's all right. . .
I wanna see Savius and Iamel again.
Sometimes I see Rascir, since he lives in our apartment. I should go visit him again too. He's colourful and kind of weird, but that's okay. Weird is good.
Argh~! My wings! I may have big wings, but they do me absolutely no good! Always getting in the way, always falling apart. I wish I had little wings like Iamel. His at least are manageable.
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Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:32 am
Xaxis tossed and turned in his bed, struggling to find comfort in sleep. Sadly, Morpheus was avoiding him, and no rest seemed to be in sight.
Sweat dripped down his brow while chills wracked his small frame. The flu? Sure felt like it. He'd felt fine all afternoon, but while preparing for bed, his condition had changed dramatically.
A whimper escaped his dry, cracked lips. His stomach was twisted in knots, sour, and his limbs hurt. He was used to aches and pains of disease, but tonight the pain was unbearable.
Coughing, the boy faught to breathe, lung oozing with phlegem. The congestion in his chest and nose caused the raven to rattle with coughs and weezes, the fight wasting what little energy the boy had left.
Where did the kleenex go? Where was the bottle of water? Leaning over his bed, the raven shut his eyes as his stomach lurched - oi god, he was going to sick.
Did he have energy to make it to the bathroom? Did he have -
Oh god . . The pain!
His throbbing wings contracted, the muscles tightening involuntarily. His skin seemed to tingle along the base of his wings, until suddenly the tingling turned into a horrendous sort of burning.
Back arching, the raven tried to bite down on the scream that threatened to overwhelm him. His body was changing. His skin ripped open as much larger, much stronger wings pushed through the older set. Feathers fell everywhere as the boy writhed at the edge of his bed. Bones growing at an alarming rate, pushing through skin that was growing as quickly as it was being replaced. Muscles twisted, pulled and tightened - bones felt as if they were being ripped out.
How much longer? What was happening? Xaxis' thoughts were nothing but a blurr - all he could feel was PAIN.
And then it was over. As quickly as it had begun, the pain diminished.
It was terrible. Horrible. The smell of blood was thick in the room, his clothes were in tatters around him. The raven could hardly see, eyes temporarly blinded by the agony of growth. Naked, sweating and bleeding, the raven was mildly surprised to find himself on the floor.
"X-Xaxis. .. ?" The voice was soft, hardly audible.
The raven weakly looked up at Lucien, a small whimper escaping his lips.
"I . . hurt," he whispered, body trembling.
Xaxis still felt sick, even though he was thankful for the pain to have gone.
The fever had heightened, and he felt confused, absolutely exhausted. He hadn't the strength or energy to pull himself to his bed, so he just lay his cheek against the cool floor.
His body shivered, but he hadn't the energy to pull down a blanket.
All he wanted to do was sleep. Sleep and forget about what happened, forget about teh sting in his shoulders, the pain in his muscles and bones.
For a brief moment, Xaxis wanted nothing more than to curl up in a hole and die.
Thankfully, Lucien wouldn't let that happen. Moving closer, the boy was shocked to find his little raven-child was now . . . very tall, and very skinny.
"Come on," he encouraged, reaching down to try to pick up the raven. He couldn't accomplish it on his own, not anymore. The raven was too tall (though he still felt fairly light). Thankfully, Xaxis managed to push himself back on to the bed, flopping down the moment the majority of his body had made it.
Some of the bed sheets were stained with blood and sweat, but since Xaxis didn't seem to care, (and was too fragile to move) Lucien dug up a new blanket. Wrapping it around the raven, he gently tucked him in, not sure what to do or say.
Xaxis looked older than he did. Fantastic.
"I'll pick you up some clothes tomorrow - we'll go shopping," he murmured, but the raven was all ready asleep.
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