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 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:44 pm
|[FOUND. Pt. I]|Adoption. The 19th day of the First month. Year 1.
When asked about the adoption that day, Meryam, a part-time employee who happened to be the sole employee present at the Center at the hour in question, would only recall a certain oddity about the couple that finally took the monkey child away. They did not seem like two people who were very much in love. But perhaps that was why they had been there to adopt a child - maybe a child would save their failing relationship, maybe a child would fill up the gaps left by the things missing in their lives. That would explain a few things. Though that would hardly explain why they had came here for an adoption. This settlement wasn't exactly the most legit one out there - and folks like these, they usually wanted 'legit' children.
She had watched them the moment they entered - the woman may be old, and not as sharp as she used to be, but she noted all of the little details about people. They were upperclass folks, Meryam had been sure, and childless. The way their steps synced told her that the two have been together for quite some time now, even if they didn't look at each other like lovers anymore there was something akin to mutual acceptance there. They did not look like the types of folks who would visit this center - they looked like the type that'd stroll into the government operated ones. But neither did they look out of place here, in this dimly lit room - there was confidence in the way the man had strutted into the room, and ease in the delicate steps taken by the lady. Instead, it was Meryam who turned uncomfortable - she remember fingering her holy symbol and praying to Un.
The way they walked spoke of purpose and certainty. There was a steely glint in the man's eyes which warned her that they were not folks to be messed with. As she greeted the couple with a toothless smile that showed all of her blackened gum, the old woman wondered what the likes of them would be doing here before she hobbled towards the back and led them to the Jungle to begin a tour.
✖ ✖ ✖
"Incredible. They have Garrion children here."
Failyn's whispered words surprised Bai Li - the two of them have barely spoken since entering the Adoption Centre. She was unhappy to be here for a number of reasons, and he knew every single one of them and thus had accepted her silence as a sign of her brooding. He frowned slightly at her words, gave the unkempt, winged Garrions huddled in the corner a passing glance, and turned away to resume what he had been doing before for they held no interest for him. He measured up the guard that seemed to be stationed in every room in the same passing glance.
"It's an illegal settlement. That much is expected," Bai replied softly, his gaze wandering from child to child. He was a little surprised by the trace of pity in her words, considering her distinct dislike of Garrions in general. But she had grown up in a place like this, so her empathy was understandable.
"Nevertheless..." Fai tore her gaze away with a sigh and her eyes began the same roaming pattern as Bai Li. "Do you think we will find what we need here?"
Bai's brow rose slightly at Fai's words. "'What'? You are sure trying to stay objective about this. Using the term 'it'." The corners of his mouth drew into a slight smile as he looked at her before quickly glancing away. "But I feel like you are asking me another question there - you don't think the Shaman's right. No, I'm not a hundred percent sure... but I've consulted him before, and he had led me to what I wanted then. So, chances are, provided that we had given him the right details, we'll find the one." And then his smile grew wider into a grin. "Besides, think about it - where we are -"
His words were cut off abruptly by Fai's sculpted hand closing over his lips. Her eyes flashed as she glanced at the old, mumbling woman hobbling along before them. "Careful." Her cautiousness was reasonable - their search haven taken them to the heart of the Emipre. While with their disguises and adapted accents, they could consider themselves safe - with all past experiences taken in account, however, it was always better to be safe than sorry. One could never know where - and when - the enemy would be.
The center held a surprising amount of children. Meryam knew most of them despite being a part-time caretaker. Even if she didn't know their names or faces, she knew their type. For convenience, the manager for the place had all of the children categorized by 'personality type' - the angry ones had red, the meek ones blue, the ones with no potential dark brown... She heard the couple whispering behind her, but could not hear any coherent words - her hearing was going with age, too - so she just assumed that they were discussing the type they wanted to adopt. "Purple's really the best color, you know. They are the ones that could be actually assimilated into society..." She counted off the colors and told their meaning to the two trailing behind her, eying the children and pointing out examples. As they passed into the last chamber, she sighed - the list was over. So far, the two haven't shown any interest whatsoever.
"Well, that will conclude-"
"What does white stand for?" Bai's words cut her off abruptly. She sucked on her gum and puckered her lips as she flipped through her memories for an answer - indeed, what did white stand for? Her wrinkles deepened as she turned about the room looking for white, and it was then that she found the child - that monkey child.
And eerily, she was staring at them.
"Ah, her." Meryam breathed out the answer and shook her head. "You don't want her - she's trouble. White's all of the colors combined - the worst case, really."
Bai Li and Failyn exchanged a look at this. How peculiar - the child was perhaps four or five at most, so how much trouble could she be? Her large, watery eyes seemed innocent enough as they stared fixated upon their faces. Her thin, pale face was framed by a thick curtain of bangs. The rest of her hair was unkempt and tangled. Aside from her smudged white dress, she wore a pair of leather flats. She stood there watching them, her hands hanging at her sides. She met their gazes unflinchingly and jutted her chin forward a little. I can see why normal folks would have trouble with this one. Bai Li chuckled inwardly as he gave the little girl a small smile, which seemed to have unnerved her enough to make her turn away and walk to the window. Fai began bustling towards the little girl without a word, and left Bai Li to explain to Meryam that they would indeed like to talk to this little girl.
"Your money, your problems. Just remember, we don't give no refunds," wheezed the old woman as she turned around to leave the room. She frowned when it seemed like her words went unheard, so she repeated them to the two. "No refunds, and don't be unreasonable about it later either." Strange people. She thought as she shook her head and returned to her post at the front desk. If they wanted to finalize the transaction, they'd know where to find her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 3:29 pm
|[FOUND. Pt. II]| ✖ ✖ ✖
The sight of the child was heart breaking. Fai's lips pressed into a thin line as she approached the little girl. They have been running across the two continents for almost a year now from center to center - both legal and illegal, looking for a suitable child. They were to train the child into the ultimate agent for the nobles of the Kingdom. This was the beginning of a story that echoed Failyn's own past, for she had been taken from a center not dissimilar to this one to be trained and then put into the intelligence service of the Kingdom. Her eyes took in the thin, bony figure and the corners of her lips quivered - her mind recalled the Garrion children huddled in the corner from earlier, and she felt a slow smoldering anger from deep within. So many centers were like this, run by cold, calculating businessmen whose sole interest was in the profits. And the color system! It was simply dreadful. How is this any different from slave trading? The thought burned in her mind.
If adoption costs were lower, these centers would be empty by now. Her efforts into producing fake papers were wasted - Meryam never asked to see their papers, and she had serious doubts that the old woman will ask for them when they hand over the gold in exchange for the child.
A hand gently clasped on her shoulder shook her out of her dark thoughts. "Keep that face up and you are going to terrify her. Frankly, you are terrifying me." Bai Li flashed her a brief grin before moving on. Fai sighed, relaxed her face, and followed in his steps.
The little girl didn't turn to look at them as they approached, but from the set of her shoulders and the visible lines along her body, it was easy to see she was listening to every single one of their steps. Now that they were closer, Fai could see the way her flesh clung to her bones. The white robe she wore resembled a pillow case, and hung all too loosely off of her frame. Yellow and blue bruises dotted her skin where it was visible, and Fai was willing to bet there were more under that flimsy cloth covering her torso. There were no scars as far as she could tell, but there was a scabbed cut along the girl's hairline - it was almost completely obscured by her dark curls, but Fai's sharp eyes picked out the wound easily - it was a dark line against the little girl's alabaster flesh.
Already, she was beginning the appraisal.
She glanced at Bai Li, and their gazes met. All of the limbs were there, and from the way the girl had walked away earlier, they could tell that she was light on her feet. "Here, catch." Bai's short command broke the silence around them as he pulled a small doll out of his pockets and tossed to the girl, whose back was still turned to them. She did not move when he first spoke, but Fai watched as the girl's head turn slightly. When the doll was about to hit her, she twisted out of the way and plucked the doll out of the air with thin fingers. Her large eyes were accusing as she stared at Bai Li, and then Fai, and then Bai Li again. She said nothing as she folded her legs beneath her and sat, her sight still on the two adults. Her hands fiddled idly with the doll, her fingers tracing the soft fabric of the doll's dress.
Motor reflexes, check. She was fast. Faster than Fai had expected.
"It's yours if you tell us your name." Bai Li offered as he sat in the similar fashion, folding his legs beneath him as he lowered himself onto the ground. A gentle smile was on his face and the steely look from earlier all but disappeared from his eyes. "I am Bai, and this lady here is named Failyn Varnes." Fai smiled and curtsied a little as the girl's gaze swept to her at the mention of her name. Inwardly, she was beginning to have doubts - was the girl mute?
"I had a doll like that once," Fai spoke in an effort to cajole some words from the little girl. "Her name was Inaiel. But her hair had been light like mine. And I always made her wear clothes for a boy." She stopped talking then, and waited patiently for an answer. She hated to think that the Shaman might be right, but the girl was showing the promising signs - if only she would talk to them! Muteness was one thing, but refusal was another. They needed a child with a spirit that remained wasn't broken by the system, by a sense of abandonment. Children that were broken never spoke.
"Evelyn." The answer came as a surprise - the girl spoke in an even - almost defiant - tone as she spoke. Her hands tightened possessively on the doll as her gaze finally lowered. "Evelyn Stryder."
Fai thought she had caught a wane smile appearing on the girl's face as she beheld the lovely plaything in her hand. The smile vanished as she looked up fearfully, almost expecting Fai and Bai Li to walk forward to snatch the doll out of her hand now that she has given them what they wanted to know. She relaxed a little when neither of them moved, but her back remained tensed.
"You have a name, already."
"I have been adopted, before." A humorless smile darkened the girl's face. It was sad to see the expression on the face of someone so young. "Some people don't like it, but I have to go by something. You don't have to name things you own, because, in the end, they are things... they are easily replaced. I have to go by something." She watched Fai's face carefully, trying to read it. When she saw nothing there, the little girl panicked a little. "I'm okay with a new name, too."
The words came in a flood, unexpectedly. The mannerism in which she spoke was a little adult-like, and Fai wasn't sure if that was a good thing. If she was too jaded about the world already it would be difficult to change that... The little glimmer of desperation in the girl's last words pricked at Fai's conscious. "How old are you? Do you know?"
At this the little girl frowned. ""I don't know. Time doesn't really exist in here."
"What's the first thing that you remember?" Fai immediately regretted her question as she saw the look of foreboding that came over Evelyn's face. But, it was inevitable - they had to find out if her memory was in tact.
"I... I..." Evelyn began stammering. She seemed to be searching wildly for words, but couldn't find any.
"Do you know why you wear the color white?" Prospects dimming, Fai moved on to another subject. It was a sensitive subject, but she wondered if any of the children knew what they colors they wore meant.
"Because..." A torn look came over Evelyn's face as she looked wildly from Fai to Bai Li. She looked to be on the verge of tears, and Fai decided that it was time to leave. The girl's spirit wasn't as whole as she had hoped - she showed signs of repression, and it was only when one has accepted the past can one move on. Her inability to explain her white robe showed acceptance of her circumstances - she seems to have even accepted her undesirability, as someone who has gone from one household to the next. Someone that existed only because of a name, a weak name she was willing to give up any moment in exchange for something else.
They needed someone stronger.
With a sigh, Failyn stood. She signaled for Bai Li that they were leaving. "Looks like your gold was spent on nothing." She muttered to Bai Li as he rose hesitantly, a slightly puzzled expression on his face. Of course, she was referring to the Shaman he had paid to seek out their special child - and they've found nothing. She should have felt smug, but she didn't. She was unhappy - unhappy for the little girl, the children of that place.
They had been three paces away from the door leading into the main greeting chamber when they heard the girl's voice cry out shrilly. "Wait!" Failyn and Bai both turned, simultaneously, and it was then that the little girl ran up in tears, shaking and gasping. Her eyes were blazing feverishly as she spoke rapidly, but succinctly so to make sure all of her words were caught. "My first memory is my mother writing my name on a portrait of our family - my family. I'm not supposed to remember my parents, but I do - they say people don't like children that still cling to their old families, so I try not to say that. I remember my mother and a lyre and flowers, lots of flowers. And dresses. And... a fire that burned my house down. And I wear the color white because-" It was then that a jolt shook the girl's frail frame, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on. "I find things that I'm not supposed to find all of the time - I know where the Garrion children are taken from, I know... things I'm not supposed to know. They gave me a potion once to keep me from speaking about them, but they were duped - the potion isn't as strong as they thought. It provides more an obstacle to speaking the truth, rather than a total blockage. The color white keeps the visitors away from speaking to me, and..." Evelyn stopped speaking here, to take a few gasps. Alarmed, Fai knelt down on the floor and held the little girl's hands.
"Please take me from here," Evelyn whispered as she stared into Fai's eyes, tears streaming down the side of her face. She was obviously in pain, and Fai realized that this must be the 'obstacle' that she spoke of. But Evelyn kept talking, despite the colors draining quickly from her face. "A slave trader comes in three days to take me with him. They are willing to take anything that tops the slaver's price... please. I'm the one you are looking for. The one the Shaman told you that you would find."
Failyn traded a look with Bai, who looked alarmed as well. She had heard that snippet of conversation they had earlier... so she must've been following them, out of sight but stalking in their shadows nevertheless. She was much lighter on her feet than either of them realized if she could trail them undetected.
And with that, she passed the appraisal.
A look of agreement passed between the two as Bai Li looked at the lobby, realizing that the little girl's cry for them to halt earlier might have attracted attention of the old woman there - thankfully that wasn't the case, as the toothless maid continued to sit at the desk and scribble away on some scrap of paper. "I'll go. You clean her up." He took a step, and then he turned back with a wicked smile dancing on his face. "I told you, the gold was worth it." Fai told him to hush, even as she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears, snot, and grime on the little girl's face. She was quite pretty underneath the grime, and for the first time since their encounter, Evelyn smiled the blissful, innocent smile of a child.
"Can we call you Eve?" Fai asked tenderly as she tucked a lock of the girl's dark hair behind her ears. Eve nodded, and so began Year 1 for the three companions.
Word Count: 3000+//
um so yeah. Got a bit carried away. Next time plotting the journal entry before just... writing it. @_@
Broken into 2 posts so it doesn't seem so effing long.
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Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 6:37 pm
|[ETIQUETTES.]|Spring, Year 1. "Now, show me the proper arrangement of silverware on the table for a formal dinner and tell me the use of each fork, spoon, and knife. Also show me the proper position for holding them.
It was the middle of the spring season. The three had traveled slowly across the ocean back to the Kingdom over the course of winter. Failyn and Bai learned much about Evelyn during that time - they realized that the girl could read some and knew enough of two of the minor spoken dialects of their world to be passable in both. She knew the most basic of maths, but almost nothing in sciences and history. She liked dresses, much to Fai's delight and Bai Li's dismay, and toys. She loved the doll that they had first given her at the shelter and play with it almost constantly. Evelyn held a deep love for everything that sparkled - the little girl loved arranging and rearranging Fai's collection of jewels.
She absolutely hated etiquettes.
It was hard for the little girl to sit so still now. By this point, both Failyn and Bai have realized that the only reason Eve had been so quiet and still at the shelter was because she had been hungry and tired. Given enough food and sleep, the little girl could run around all day without ever getting exhausted. She did run around all day, sometimes, with Bai Li when Fai was too busy to pass on her wisdom to the young girl. He helped train her physically, improving her already stunning reflexes with different exercises and routines. Even now, Failyn could tell that Eve wanted to move, to run and prance and jump into one of the routines that Bai Li had told her to practice. The little girl did her best to hide it - one of her tiny palms held the other as her eyes lingered on the pile of cutlery before her. She then looked up at Fai, who smiled patiently, and then looked down again while chewing on her lower lip. Fai resisted admonishing the child for that most un-lady like behavior - baby steps, governess, baby steps.
"This is the salad fork..." The little girl began, speaking in an even tone as she picked the fork out of the small pile. She glanced at Fai again before continuing to the others. The governess watched with an encouraging smile, her mind elsewhere as she listened to Eve's lilting voice speak of the various uses for the instruments arranged in neat order.
Fai wondered if that old woman at the shelter would recognize Eve now if they returned. The day of the adoption seemed like a distant dream now, beneath the flowering pear trees of their open-air garden back at home in the Kingdom. Fai looked the same, though her hair was different [she had dyed it when they went to the Empire]; Eve, on the other hand, has changed greatly. Bai Li had first measured her when they returned, and she was already taller and heavier. The little girl's skin held a healthy glow, and the bruises and cuts were all but healed. She was almost smiling, or pouting, or sticking her tongue out [when Fai couldn't see, of course]. She remained just as skinny, though Fai suspected that would never change. Eve's hair, now much longer and fashioned in lovely curls framing her flushed cheeks, glowed in the light of the afternoon sun. You would never be able to tell that she came from an illegally run adoption center in the Empire, Fai thought with a sense of pride and accomplishment, but then she frowned. That wasn't true - Eve was still shy in the presence of some adults, and when she thought she was alone, a dark and haunted expression would steal into her eyes. The child would be forever marred in some way by the experiences in her early childhood - there was little Fai could do about that, except to make her life now better.
Unsure of why Fai had frowned, Eve reached out and tentatively touched the woman's hands. She knew, from the way that Fai had been staring into space, that the woman had not been frowning at her. "Auntie Fai...?"
Intuitive as ever, Fai thought as she breathed out and smiled gently at Eve. "Well done. Now let's move on to the next topic - ways to eat the food placed before you. After that, you can go find Uncle Bai and do your training with him for today."
"Eating?" Evelyn appeared to be perplexed as Fai brought the subject up, her tiny brows twisting into a frown as she scratched her button nose. "But why? We eat every day. I eat properly - or I would always be hungry... and I'm never hungry, not any more."
Fai laughed, clapping her hands to summon one of the maids to bring before them samples of various foods - teacakes, pastries, slices of ham, a cup of soup, and rolls. "Darling, you eat the same way with your Uncle Bai. While that certainly gets the task done, such a manner of completing said task is only permissible for us in private - or in local eateries. When in the presence of company, there are certain rules to be followed. Now, watch."
Evelyn watched with horror as Fai picked up her knife and fork and began showing her different ways to cut the various types of food. Eating! There are rules to eating! She was flabbergasted. She enjoyed the way that Uncle Bai simply shoved food food into his mouth with the ferocity of a bear while somehow, miraculously, keeping his fineries spotless and stain-free. And that was wrong? Unbelievable. She had to grudgingly admit that there was a certain grace to the way Fai would so carefully cut away at the item before her, an elegance Eve had never been aware of before.
I still like the way Uncle Bai eats better. Eve thought rebelliously as she picked up her knife and fork and mimicked Fai's motion, the corners of her mouth folded determinedly into a semi-scowl that made Fai smile. Who cares how you eat? Grown-ups are so silly.
Word count://1039.
Just Fai/Eve interaction. I always imagined Eve being kind of secretly energetic, so lessons in table manners must've been really tough for her.
Poor thing.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:07 am
|[EVALUATION. Pt. I ]|30th day of the Twelfth Month, Year 6. Capital of the Kingdom The first time Bai Li and Failyn took Evelyn to the Port of Witness was in the middle of the summer in year 2. Since then, they've traveled frequently to the bustling sea-side city. The two adults were heavy-weights in all of the social circles, Evelyn realized after the third year. No matter where they stopped, they were treated well by their hosts and were given shelter for as long as they needed to stay. It took no small maneuvering on Failyn's part, and her abilities to charm others and broker deals fascinated Eve.
Someday, she wanted to be just like Fai.
The port offered many things that their country-side home could not to Eve. It was in the city that the little girl would finally have a chance to encounter children of her age, but it wasn't long before Fai and Bai Li realized that the little girl cared very little for friends. Perhaps they have taught her too well - she certainly interacted well with those of her age, as she seemed to play the role of a little queen bee wherever she went, but Evelyn never tried to actually make friends kind to their knowledge. Maybe the children at the center, the only children she had known in her life before coming to the Kingdom, have left her with too many bleak, painful memories of solitude and exile. When asked about friends, she would tilt her head quizzically and ask why she would need them - after all, she already had Fai and Bai Li. She would turn the question on them and ask then if they had any true friends aside from each other, and the two adults would turn to each other and then look away - they have used too many people in their lives. Despite being well-liked, they too rarely trusted others because of their profession. After that, Fai and Bai Li stopped asking the questions. They worried that the little girl may have grown jaded already, but she seemed genuinely happy and they could ask for nothing more.
The port provided as a revenue for social functions as well as a training ground for other needed skills. During their trips, often Failyn would disguise the three of them and they would sneak to the market and practice more practical skills of stealth and socialization with locals. Eve found it especially amusing to steal from thieves - they would often watch pickpockets in action, dissect their acts, and then walk up to him and rob him blind. Failyn had a particular light touch with her hands, but Bai Li was absolutely amazing in the streets - he could melt away into a crowd anytime he so desired and could face down the toughest hooligans without lifting a finger. He had sharp eyes and a sharper tongue. Eve loved the way the way that menace just rolled off of Bai Li whenever he so desired - if only these people cowering before him knew what a pushover he could be sometimes!!! He was also mean with a knife - most of the thieves and hoods in the city respected him, or at least his name. Eve has only seen Bai draw his blade thrice, and all three times, his opponent was disarmed and pinned to the ground with a blade point pressed at their throats before they could even so much as touch him.
It was then that Eve looked at her two aging companions seated across from her in their carriage and sighed, her cute little lips framing into a pout. How could she ever hope to fill their shoes? She then adjusted the string of pearls hanging around her neck and fidgeted with the ribbon on her dress before settling again.
Their nights in the port were often spent attending parties and soirees. They were on their way to one now, and this was no ordinary party by any means. The mayor of the Port of Witness was hosting the party to honor a particularly high-ranked noble hailing from the capital of the Kingdom as well as his entourage, which included lesser nobles and other big names known in various social circles. All three of them were dressed to impress - even Bai Li, who usually favored wearing his slightly threadbare overcoat everywhere, looked like a true gentleman. Evelyn thought that Fai looked as glamorous as ever, and admired her in the light of the setting sun.
"What's with the pout?" Bai Li asked as he reached across and gave her button-nose a tweak. He grinned as Eve swerved to avoid his hands, but he was still much quicker. His grin grew wider as she stuck her tongue out at him. "I thought that you've been looking forward the party to show off your new dress."
"Mind your manners," Fai cut in before Eve could reply. "Don't do that at the party, please." Her words sounded distant - the reminder was out of habit, as she has said it thousands of times before. It never served to stop the little girl from repeating the action again, but it was enough to keep her from doing it in the company of others.
Resisting the temptation to stick her tongue out again, Evelyn simply half-curtsied in her seated position and replied in her meekest voice, "Yes, milady." The smile that came into Fai's eyes made Eve grin before she turned to Bai Li. "It's not the party - I am looking forward to showing my dress. The color is so lovely." Her fingers grazed past the fuschia colored satin and let a small smile settle in - she so loved the way the dress rustled when she walked, and the feeling of the material under her fingers. The color, however, was her favorite part. It was so vibrant - she had picked the color herself, despite the disapproval from Fai. After all, faded out colors were in this season and Evelyn was going to stick out like a sore thumb - but Evelyn had persisted.
"What is it then?"
"Oh, you know..."
"No, not really. I don't. Why were you pouting?" Bai Li began to frown, genuine worry beginning to show on his face - he wanted the little girl to be happy.
Evelyn decided that it would be too cruel to torment the old man for too long, so she gave a dramatic sigh and batted her eyes, a soulful look in her large eyes as she spoke with a trembling voice, "Boys, or really, in particular, just one boy. You know -"
"Ok, okay, I do know." Bai Li waved his hand in front of him to stop her words - he really didn't need, or want, to hear about anything like this. He pondered to himself as he hurriedly looked out of the window, Really? She's at that age already? But she's only eleven! Because he was looking out of the window though, he missed the exchange of looks and silent words between Fai and Eve.
You are awful, Fai hand-signaled to Evelyn, mirth dancing in her eyes as their corners folded into laugh lines. And I can't believe he fell for it.
He's getting old, Eve signaled back, her fingers flying as she kept her eyes on Bai Li's profile. Or my acting skills are improving. After a second of hesitation, Eve added, And love makes fools of us all...
✖ ✖ ✖ When Fai made sure that Evelyn was well-engrossed in a lively conversation with an elderly man wearing the robes of a scholar, she signaled to Bai Li and the two of them casually wandered out of the ball room into the foyer. It was then that the two hurriedly took off down one of the main hall ways, whispering to each other as they sped away from the party. Their feet made no noise against the soft carpet lining the hallways, and they often would furtively glance back to make sure that they weren't being followed. They weren't truly worried about being followed, but it never hurt to take precautions.
"Hello, Fai. It's been a while."
The soft, baritone voice brought both to a jarring halt. No surprise showed on their faces - though not much else showed there either. Without Eve around, their faces hardened into masks - they looked cold, but Fai still wore her pleasant smile as she curtsied toward one of the shadowing enclaves lining the wall. "Indeed, Lord Thanassen, it's been long since we have last met face to face."
A man emerged from the shadows - Lord Thanassen Eskreven, one of the least well-known members of the ruling council of the Kingdom. He was so not well-known, in fact, that almost no one aside from his agents and the council members knew of his existence. The spymaster was in his mid sixties, but he still moved with a cat-like grace that Fai and Bai Li envied. He had been their master, their teacher - he still was. The true reason they had gone to the Port was to meet with him - it was there that he would ask for a progress report on Evelyn and then test her himself to see if she was fit for service.
"You look just as lovely as I remember," Thanassen spoke with a smile, a sharp glint in his eyes as looked up and down the both of them. "Bai Li, you seem to be catching up with me." The nobleman pointed to his crown of gray wiry hair and gave a humorless chuckle.
"My lord, somethings just can't be helped." Bai Li grunted in reply.
"And you are as stiff as I remember. Come, walk with me, and we will talk on the way. Tell me about this pupil of yours."
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Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:59 pm
|[EVALUATION. Pt. II]|✖ ✖ ✖ It wasn't long before Evelyn noticed the missing presence of her guardians in the ballroom. As she excused herself from the scholarly gentleman she had been speaking with and searched the room in a grid-like pattern, she noticed that both Failyn and Bai Li were gone. "How unlike them... " Normally one or both of them would always be stalking somewhere close to her, and this time - they were lost in this crowd of societal elites. Curious, Evelyn circled the ballroom one more time before leaving for the foyer.
They must be hiding from her.
But for what reason? Evelyn could not quite wrap her mind around the idea as she scuttled around, sniffing the air. The bizarre mix of fragrances used by the ladies and gentlemen present at the affair was nauseating, but Evelyn's steps took her back and forth until she found the particular scent she was seeking - Failyn's perfume. The governess mixed it herself and she wore it everywhere. There was no mistaking it. Beneath it there was a very hint faint scent of the brandy Bai Li carried with him constantly - they must be together then. A broad grin lit up Evelyn's face as she picked up the edge of her gown and began to race down the hall way, her nose raised as she concentrated on the faint whiff of flowers and brandy. Her feet made no noise as they glided over the carpet, carrying her swiftly from the party and into the more abandoned parts of the building.
Her mind churned as she walked - she could not fathom why her two Guardians would leave without taking her with them. In a sense, she was a little hurt. After all, Evelyn had always imagined herself as the center of both of their worlds. It was a little egoistical of her, but they did dote on her so. The linger scent in the air became stronger, and Evelyn knew she was on the right track - but then a fresh breeze robbed everything away and left only the salty tang of the ocean suspended in the hall. An open window...? How strange. Her bright eyes darted about the hallway, seeking movement. Someone had just opened the window then.
She was no longer alone.
Evelyn immediately leaped to the shadows and picked up the corners of her dress to tie them around her waist in a sash-like manner. A grim mask came over her face as her fingers worked the delicate material: it was as good as ruined. She gently removed her string of pearls and tucked it into the folds of her dress before continuing on to remove the other glittery, metallic ornaments adorning her hair. She worked quickly, her senses remaining alert. She didn't expect danger here, but Fai had beaten it into her that it was always better to be safe than sorry... and that danger lurked everywhere. The little girl could not imagine what kind of danger would follow them there, but fear had already kicked into gear. It was then that her ears caught the soft 'fwsh' of movement and she drew back farther still into the shadows, clinging to the wall as her eyes zeroed in on the source.
"Come out, little kitten. Let's play." His words sent chills running down Evelyn's back. The boy was perhaps a few years older than her, but his mannerisms unnerved her. He reminded her of Bai Li, except there was something more sinister about him. His gaze robbed her breath away when it landed on her - he had spotted her with little effort, and with a smirk, he began to walk confidently towards her. Evelyn lowered herself into a crouch, checking to see that her dress's fabric was securely tucked around her waist - it wouldn't do well to trip over her own garment in the middle of a fight, after all. She was a little confused as to what was going on, but confusion was not going to do her any good. She had serious doubts that the boy would answer any of her questions even if she tried to get answers out of him before - before what? Before he captured her? He was not a servant of the house, she could tell that much - he was not coming for her because she had been caught wandering alone in a deserted sector of the manor. A deep calm settled over her as she forced her thoughts away, calling upon the discipline that Bai Li has taught her over the last handful of years. She thought she heard Fai's voice whispering for her to run, but Evelyn had never been much of a flight girl in situations comparable to this - she much preferred to fight. When the youth came close enough in range, she jumped. ✖ ✖ ✖ Fai was cut-off mid sentence by a shrill cry of fury echoing down the hallway. Lord Thanassen signaled for a servant to open the door and see what was going on, a hint of a smile on his face as the woman scurried away. Bai Li and Fai exchanged a look - they kept the alarm out of their faces, but they had recognized the cry. After 5 years, they were all too familiar with that outburst of fury.
"Let me go! You cheating mongrel! If you were a man you'd drop me now and finish this."
The servant opened the door to reveal a lanky youth about fifteen holding a twisting and kicking Eve. There was an arrogant smirk on his face as he held out Eve as far as possible so her hits were all but glancing blows on his torso. There were several forming bruises along his cheekbones and his nose was bleeding profusely. Eve looked to be in better shape, though her hair was as messy as it could be and her lips looked swollen as she kept trying furiously to reach the other with her fists.
"Grandfather, I've brought her." The youth looked at Eve with distaste and dropped her before turning to Lord Thanassen and bowing. "We... had a slight misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding my --!!!" Eve picked herself up and was about to go for the boy again when Fai coughed faintly. The little girl blinked, realized whose company they were in, and all of the fight went out of her just like that. A sweet and docile smile came over her face as she quickly curtsied to Lord Thanassen, then bowed to Bai Li and Failyn. "My lord, Uncle Bai, Auntie Fai - forgive me for my rude behavior. I was not expecting to find myself in the presence of such fine company." At that, she gave the youth a side long glance and narrowed her eyes. His gaze remained stubbornly forward, so Failyn whipped her gaze around to look at the old man and lowered her head as a sign of respect.
"Feisty lass," Thanassen remarked with a chuckle and rose to walk towards the two young ones. Fai and Bai Li rose with him and trailed his steps, exchanging looks once again before looking at Eve. Fai's face remained impassive as ever, but Bai Li was frowning - he wagged a finger at her with a slight shake of her head when she stole a glance at the two of them. "Do something about that nosebleed, won't you? So what's this 'misunderstanding' about?"
"My lord..." Fai began to speak, but Thanassen waved her off as he looked expectantly from his grandson to Evelyn.
"Your honor, I ambushed him because I thought he was one of the bad guys." Eve replied as she tried to smooth out the lines in her dress. "He was following me and I thought that was fishy."
"Incorrect - I was intercepting her." The boy scoffed as he accept a towel from one of the servants to stop the blood flowing from his nose. "No one is supposed to be running around in these parts of the house anyways."
"Sire, if I may speak again - your grandson was certainly not behaving civilly." Eve rebutted, sticking her chin out stubbornly as if daring the boy to challenge her words.
"You do realize that she is only 11, Cedric? Those are not proud battle wounds." Lord Thanassen spoke lightly. The boy named Cedric's face tightened as he bowed to Bai Li.
"Master Li is a master at combat instruction. I am proud to have received these from a star pupil of his."
"I fear I do not deserve such praises, young lord. After all, she was nevertheless captured - there is still much for Evelyn to learn." Bai Li's smile was humorless as his dark eyes bore into Cedric's.
"Enough," Lord Thanassen held up his hand to signal for silence. "We are here because of Evelyn after all - now if you will all excuse us, I would like to talk to the young lady. Alone." He added the last word and placed significant emphasis on it as he looked at Failyn and Bai, and then Cedric. He motioned for them to exit before returning to his seat, a gentle smile settling once again onto his wizened face.
"Evelyn Stryder," he spoke as he beckoned for her to come forward. "I am Lord Thanassen Eskreven. You may call me Grandpa." ✖ ✖ ✖ In their own private suites, Failyn listened attentively as Eve retold her the conversation she had with their Lord, now fondly address by Eve as "Gramps". The conversation itself seemed innocent enough, but Fai still worried. The fight between Eve and Cedric probably did not go over well with the old man, though the woman herself was still fairly amused by its result. "How did you give that poor lad a nose bleed? He must've been at least a head and a half taller than you."
"The first time I fell I stayed on the floor just to see what he'd do - when he bent over to pick me up, I head-butted him." Eve said in a matter-of-fact fashion with a yawn, her eyes fluttering shut as she flopped down amidst her pillows. Fai let the child sleep as she slipped into Bai Li's room, a tight frown on her lips.
"Do you think it went well?" Her voice was all but a whisper as she spoke.
"As well as it could have," Bai responded pensively, dragging a hand through his hair. "He told her his name, and told her to call him gramps. That should enough of a sign for us."
Fai nodded, her sandy curls bouncing against her shoulders as she pursed her lips. "I suppose... I just hate it when he thinks we are failures for not doing something right..."
"You were always seeking his approval... I forgot that. Fai, in all honesty, you don't need that man's approval to know that you've done a swell job raising Eve. Regardless, we will know tomorrow... good night, Fai."
"I hope he will be kind..." Fai whispered before turning back to her shared room with Eve. After all, despite his gentle facade, Lord Thanassen did not like failures and liked to discard them as quickly as possible. She went to sleep troubled, and woke to find Eve gone to break fast with "Grandpa" and a note in her stead written in Lord Thanassen's neat script:
To my dearest student and daughter, Fai,
You and Bai Li have done a spectacular job of raising Evelyn. I may even say that Un had a hand, perhaps, in aiding the two of you in the discovery of such a bright and promising pupil. My operatives at the soiree yesterday evening have returned to me excellent reports on Evelyn, and as much as Cedric hates to admit it, Evelyn will grow to become a fearsome fighter one day.
May I caution you that emotions tend to cloud our judgement. It happens to even the best of us - both you and Bai Li seems extraordinarily attached to this little girl, and after an hour spent with her I could see why. She is a charming child, but remember your mission and your goal - one day you will have to tell her truth of her purpose and she will be parted from you. Never forget that you serve the Kingdom and that your priority always lies in the betterment of the Kingdom and its rulers' interests. Will you be ready to let her go when it is time?
As Evelyn shows much promise, it is time for you to take her to the United Empire and establish her connection and influences there. Money has been added to your bank account to help you facilitate the move. I have a separate account already set up under Eve's name in the Empire and will begin to make monthly deposits there. As always, be cautious and know your enemies.
-- T.E.
Thanassen's note left a bitter taste in Fai's mouth. She was relieved, in a sense, but she felt now all the more pressured. No one felt good leaving the comfort of their own home. How should she explain their move? He was forcing the choice on her.
"She's not going to be too happy to leave her toys behind," Bai Li's voice was gentle as he entered their room, his own note clutched in his fist. Doubtlessly, its contents held more or less the same info as her own.
Forcing a weak chuckle, Fai replied, "No, but she's getting too old for them anyways. I'm going to find our carriage and arrange for the trip back... after all..."
"He's expecting for us to be there at the end of the year."
Fai was already moving out of the door when she suddenly stopped and turned to face her companion. "How are we going to tell her, Bai Li? Will she hate us? For not loving her as we should?"
Bai Li's face became troubled. "I don't know Fai... I don't know."
Word count://Yeeks, 3900+. No more long, unplotted journal entries from me. :c
Really scattered. I think I just ran out of patience towards the end because I didn't know a good way to finish it up. AHHHHHHH. Excuse me for all of the rando's that I threw in. Just made up characters whenever convenient. Will definitely go back when I have time for edits. @_@
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