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 Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:23 pm
[ a new curiosity ]
march 2010
the durem apartment
night
Mr. Lekabel,
It is my pleasure to inform you that your Raeven guardian application has been reviewed thoroughly and accepted. We believe that, based on the information you provided us, that you are a prime candidate to be a guardian…
He had reread the letter for the third time. Fathle leaned back in his plush office chair, staring blankly ahead of him as he loosely gripped the mail he had received from the Lab between his fingers. He was going to be a guardian. When he had submitted his application, a part of him knew for certain that he would be accepted. Who would turn down such a rich, willing volunteer?
During the first few days of his chaotic resurrection, Fathle had happened to set his eyes upon a creature that defied explanation. It was something he had never seen before. The upper half of the body was fantastical in itself but the lower half… it constituted of ribbons. It accompanied a woman he had been carefully watching. Every now and then the creature seemed to be looking at him, as if it could feel Fathle’s curious stare. For a moment, he had even forgotten why he was following them. He could have satisfied his curiosity at that moment and could have confronted them. However, Fathle held himself back, keeping to the shadows as his body got used to rejoining the living. A part of him knew it was not time. Fathle didn’t realize that he was being too careful until he found that the woman and creature were nowhere to be found.
He did not stay in that small, backwards community that had served as the backdrop to his return. Fathle made every effort to regain his footing in the current world financially, knowing that any quest to search for the woman and the creature could not go unfunded. It took close to a year for Fathle to rebuild himself into a man that was savvy in the entertainment business, gaining much of his profits through his well-known clubs and making a home for himself in the city of Durem. Fathle had thought that finding the creature’s origins would be taxing but it only took a minimal amount of effort. They were called Raevens. The method to create them was part science and part magic; despite himself, Fathle found his interest being more and more piqued at this new curiosity. The next few weeks saw the man’s motivation to find the Raevens being split: they were the key to finding the woman and they were also something that Fathle would enjoy studying just for the sake of scientific inquiry. For Fathle, completing the guardian application was killing two birds with one stone.
Fathle sat up in his chair, breaking his ruminations on the long path he had taken to get to where he was now, and smoothed the official letter from the Lab upon his desk. He wrote down the address and the date of the pick up; it was only a few days away. Fathle made a mental note to himself to remind his assistant to keep that day free as he stood up and turned off the desk lamp. He walked out to the stunted hallway of his apartment and opened the door to his guest bedroom. The furniture still smelled new. Fathle’s red eyes quickly roamed about the modestly decorated room, trying to see it through a stranger’s eyes. In a few days, the room would have a new occupant, and Fathle would no longer have to live alone.
Fathle switched off the light and slowly closed the door, a part of him hoping that the Raeven would find her new home to her liking.
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Posted: Sat Mar 13, 2010 9:25 pm
[ soar ]private R O L E P L A Y
status: completed
l i n k Fathle goes to the Lab to pick up Ekundayo. He meets Alex for the first time.
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Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:19 pm
[ a new home ]
march 2010
the durem apartment
afternoon
She had not said a word during the drive home, and she still kept her silence while they waited for the elevator to reach the sixth floor.
“Come, Ekundayo. It’s not far now,” Fathle said as he offered her his hand. The Raeven looked up at him and when their eyes met, he could feel that particular feeling of calm slowly settle upon his chest again. He had felt it when they had first met, and it seemed to reappear whenever they looked at each other. Fathle wondered if it was her essence that soothed him and seemed to quiet the constant roar of his bloodlust. Ekundayo took his hand, and Fathle carefully grasped hers before leading her across the threshold of her new home.
He pointed out the different areas of the apartment and, in her interest, Ekundayo eventually let go of Fathle hand to float about and run her hands tentatively over his possessions.
“This is my room, Ekundayo. My door is always open to you so please do not hesitate to find me,” Fathle said as he swung upon the door and stood to the side to let Ekundayo stick her head within. As he watched her, he still had to remind himself that though he was gazing upon the face of a woman, the mind behind it was closer to that of a child. A child… Fathle couldn’t help but smile slightly at the irony of it all; who would have thought that a monster like him would be in charge of an innocent.
“And over here, my dear, is your room,” Fathle said as opened a door that was perpendicular to his own. “Please, do not be shy. It is yours to do with as you please.”
Ekundayo floated past Fathle and glanced back at him for approval before standing in the center of the room and turning around. He smiled at her curiosity as she began to touch and look at everything.
“I was not sure exactly what to buy for you, Ekundayo, but I hope you like what you see so far.”
She didn’t seem to be listening to him but finally looked at Fathle.
“It is mine?”
“Yes, my dear. It is yours,” Fathle said, feeling a small kind of relief that she had finally spoken.
Ekundayo raised her eyes to look at him. “I want to go back,” she said with the honesty that only came with children. Fathle was silent before he stepped forward and slowly took her hands within his.
“I know, my dear,” he said quietly. “But this is your new home. I will do anything in my power to make it feel like a home for you.”
The Raeven did not say anything and gazed back at him with a kind of rebellion. As childlike as she may seem, she still exuded the pride of her soul. Fathle brushed back some of her heavy brown bangs with a small smile. What a strange combination of pride, beauty, and innocence.
“However, if I fail to make you happy here, I will take you back.”
“Take me back?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
Fathle pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Yes, Ekundayo. I promise.”
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Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:10 pm
[ a little over half full ]
march 2010
the durem apartment / small park
evening
Ekundayo kept mostly to herself in her room after she thoroughly explored all the interesting aspects of the apartment (the showerhead in the bathroom, for one). However, every now and then, she peered into Fathle’s office; the Raeven watched him work until he lifted his head and gave her a small smile before she retreated again. There was something about her new guardian that made Ekundayo cautious. It wasn’t driven out of fear but out of recognition. The soul she was born from seemed to understand why the red-haired man’s eyes burned like dying coals. In a detached manner, though she did not fully grasp it, Ekundayo knew she was staring into the gaze of another predator.
Whenever she thought about or studied her guardian, Ekundayo couldn’t help but compare him to Alex. The Raeven already missed her. The Lab did not hold anything special for her but it was the first place she could remember and it was where Alex was. This new place had nothing except for this stranger who was now supposed to be her guardian.
There was a knock on her door.
“Shall we go out, Ekundayo? The sun will be setting soon,” Fathle said with a small smile. He was dressed in something casual; the muted colors of his clothes brought out the intensity of his red eyes. She noticed that he was clutching something in his hand. It was a small blue, plastic bucket. A child’s bucket.
“Where?”
“To a small park not far from here. It has a walking path and a little pond,” he said. Fathle’s answer did not mean much to Ekundayo but the apartment was beginning to lose her interest. She took his outstretched hand without a word though her golden eyes lingered upon the bucket.
“Why do you have that?”
Fathle smiled. “It is a secret for now, my dear. I will tell you later.”
Ekundayo peered into the bucket and there were a few slices of white bread. She glanced up at her guardian with a quizzical eye and said nothing else as Fathle led her out of the apartment.
The sun was still hot outside but it was beginning to disappear behind the cityscape of Durem. The sky was smeared with the color of peaches and strawberries, but it was beginning to bruise into a soft purple. Ekundayo felt her mood shift at being outside and could not help the small smile upon her lips. She was not made for walls. She was made for the skies. The Raeven stared up at the wispy clouds overhead. She wanted to touch them someday. Ekundayo had not floated very long next to her guardian until she heard the faint bark of a dog and the laughter of people. They were at a small park and the creators had made a very tame version of nature inside it with manicured trees and bushes. However, it still managed to come off as quaint and pretty.
“Now, I ask for your help, my dear,” Fathle said while he gestured to the small pond with a smile upon his lips. He led Ekundayo toward the edge and dipped a few fingers into the bucket. The minute the sprinkle of bread hit the water, small, colorful shapes immediately swam toward them. The Raeven let go of his hand to lean closer to the edge, her eyes quickly darting about to catch the flash of the delicate fins. How pretty and weightless they looked.
“Fish! They’re so… fat,” Ekundayo said as she tilted her head to the side. Fathle chuckled.
“Indeed, my dear. But they can get fatter still,” he said as he pressed the slices of bread into her hand. Ekundayo cautiously tore a few pieces before throwing them into the water. The fish were scared at the force the bread hit the water but they eventually nibbled at the edges. She did not notice Fathle pull away from her side. The Raeven delighted in watching them gurgle and swarm to where she threw the pieces of bread. She began to float back and forth along the steep shore to watch the hungry school of Koi gape and gasp for more morsels of food. Ekundayo dusted her fingers off after she threw away all the bread and turned to look for her guardian. He was not far away, bending over the ground and carefully picking up stones from the ground. After a short inspection, he would either toss it aside or place it in the small, plastic bucket. Fathle seemed to feel her eyes on him and he smiled at the Raeven.
“Done already?” he asked as he straightened up. Ekundayo nodded, hoping the red-haired man would produce more of the bread. She was disappointed. The Raeven found a long stick and gently poked the surface of the pond. The water bugs skittered away from it nervously while the fish hopefully nibbled at the inedible point.
“Why are you collecting rocks?” she asked while she began to stir up the water, making the Koi flee nervously.
“Another surprise, my dear” Fathle said with that same small smile.
“More fish?” Ekundayo asked hopefully.
“No, not this time, Ekundayo. But we will come back here as often as you like. If you wish it.”
She nodded before peering into the bucket; the Raven saw that he had collected an assortment of rocks that varied in color and size.
“Are you ready to go?” he asked. Ekundayo shook her head and immediately floated back toward the pond, hearing Fathle’s soft chuckle follow her.
By the time the sun had nearly disappeared from the sky and the stars were beginning to dot the darkness, Ekundayo and Fathle had probably walked about the park twice. She was fascinated by the pond and the man-made stream that gently gurgled into it. Under her guardian’s watchful eye, she chased after little frogs and set leafs on the water, watching them shoot out across the surface when she beat her wings before they sank. Boats, the red-head man had called them. Her little boats.
“Are you ready to go now, Ekundayo?”
She shook her head again and Fathle smiled. “I promise. We will come back.”
He reached out for her hand but she pulled back and stretched out her hands to him as if she was asking for alms. Cupped within them were little pebbles.
“I found these for your bucket.”
“You are too good,” Fathle said quietly as he let her carefully pour her collection into the plastic pail. He then took her hand and led Ekundayo back home.
------------------
Ekundayo found out the purpose of the colorful rocks. Fathle set out a small table near her room door and set a glass jar and the bucket on top. He scooped a fistful of the pebbles and filled the small glass jar until it was half full.
If you ever feel unhappy here, take a few pebbles from the jar and put it back in the bucket. When it becomes empty, I will keep my promise and take you back to the Lab. You can also put pebbles into the glass too. But only when you are happy.
He took one rock out of the glass jar and pressed it gently into Ekundayo’s palm before wrapping her fingers around it.
This way, I will always know.
Know?
When you’re happy. When you’re sad. And you will not have to say a word.
Ekundayo kept that small pebble gripped in her hands long after Fathle had said goodnight. She snuck out of her room and saw a weak light still shining underneath his door. Every now and then, a shadow would cross it.
But only when you’re happy…
The Raeven carefully put the pebble in her hand back into the jar, glancing at the door every now and then to make sure she could not hear footsteps growing closer. She picked out a few rocks from the bucket and put it in the jar before biting her bottom lip and taking them back out. Ekundayo repeated this a few times until she was finally satisfied with the level within the glass jar. She closed one eye, tilted her head, and pressed a finger against the cool, smooth side. Pleased, she slipped back into her room, leaving the jar a little over half-full.
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 9:01 pm
[ night is for the lonely hearted ]
march 2010
the durem apartment
evening
The evening is a treacherous mistress. With the calm and peace that follows the cessation of the bustle of the day come unbidden memories. Ekundayo is not here to delight me with her questions or her blunt observations about the world and myself. She sleeps safely in the other room. And here, I am trapped by the past I have worked to leave within the hellish ruins of the cave. I cannot help but vainly wonder if I could be a main source of food for my Raeven. I have lived so many years. I wonder if my emotions have become compiled within my unnatural body, only to stagnate and become a terrible entity all unto itself. What a rich resource I could be for Ekundayo.
I am glad to say she seems to be growing accustomed to me and her new home. Though she does mention the Laboratory every now and then, her longing seems to have diminished in intensity. I have yet to grow acclimated to her eyes. There are moments that I fancy that she can see into my shell and discern the monster that is clothed in expensive clothes and pretty words. I suppose I should feel some sort of anxiety under such intimate scrutiny but all I feel is calm. We are but two sides of the same coin. It is amazing what feelings of empathy that can pass between us without a word spoken. I see my own sadness reflected in her gaze.
As tragic as her past may be, I cannot help but envy her. To have no memory of the past would be a small blessing of a kind. To open my eyes and not have the world filtered through my own tragedies… Even now, my thumb continues to rub the base of my fourth finger. The ring is something of a constant in my mind. Before, its memory only served to agitate me but I have found the next step in the path. All I have to do is find a time to contact her. There is no need to move quickly and a careful plan would be best. I would not have her alerted to the monstrous nature of a Raeven guardian. It will be soon. I am sure she will be happy to see Ekundayo.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 9:00 pm
[ why the caged bird sings ]
april 2010
small park
afternoon
Fathle was true to his word and escorted Ekundayo frequently to the park. However, the fish had grown lazy and content from their constant patronage of bread and soon they no longer swarmed the banks at the sight of shadows across the water. The Raeven was disappointed by the Koi’s decline of enthusiasm but still enjoyed watching their slick gold and silver skins flash underneath the cool water. Fathle watched her carefully and seemed to be attuned to her moods, gently prying her attention to different things so that she was occupied by her curiosity. He helped her catch small frogs that were no bigger than the last section of his pinky finger, smiling as she tried to herd them all of them together. Fathle also showed her how to skip stones across the water. Fathle shared in her pride when Ekundayo finally managed to get her stone to skip four times across the surface of the small pond before disappearing with a small pop of water.
On an especially beautiful afternoon, there was a small vendor selling various knick-knacks and toys for the children. Ekundayo was immediately pulled to the metal cart that sported such various objects that were splashed garishly with color. Fathle watched her browse the different items while the vendor watched the Raeven with equal fervor. Although he understood that the shop keeper was merely curious, something protective flared up in his chest. He moved with the experience of a courtier and soon had the vendor distracted.
“A kite for the lady,” Fathle said, choosing one that was decorated with a print of spring flowers. “Come, Ekundayo. I wish to show you something.”
He shook the kite gently, letting the tightly rolled tail fall toward the ground while he began to unwrap some of the fine string spun tightly around a plastic spool.
“You got one,” Ekundayo said with a small satisfied smile as she floated toward Fathle, her golden eyes watching him with avid curiosity. He smiled and drew her to him.
“For you, my dear. And I will show you how to set it to the sky.”
The wind was steady and gentle so, with little effort, the kite was soon a colorful diamond in the sky.
“It is dancing,” Ekundayo said with a gasp of laughter. When it had first taken to the air, her lips lost her usual reserved, small smile and had opened up, her white teeth flashing in the sun. Fathle watched her tug on the kite string and lead the kite about in the air. A sense of pleasure and contentment stole over him whenever Ekundayo glanced over at him and made sure he had seen the latest spin or dive performed by the kite. After a while, the fantastic unfamiliarity of the Raeven’s new toy eventually dissipated. Fathle sensed her slow lost of interest and took the spool from her and held on to it. She continued her explorations of the small park but her attention would be drawn to the sky every now and then. When their eyes met, he would smile and nod, silently telling her that all was well and he was guarding her new kite.
“Shall we go now, my dear?” he asked as Ekundayo slowly floated toward him. She nodded and took Fathle’s outstretched hand, and he placed the kite spool back into her hands.
“I wish to take you somewhere new. Somewhere that you may feed freely and have your fill.”
“Feed?”
“Yes, Ekundayo. You will understand when I show you.”
“It is another secret?”
Fathle smiled. “Yes, my dear. Another secret.” He gathered her hands in his and pressed an affectionate kiss to them. “Now, perhaps you can help me bring the kite back down to earth so we may be on our way..”
Ekundayo frowned and looked back up at the colorful diamond in the sky before looking at her guardian again.
“Why bring it back down? It should stay.”
“If you bring it back down, Ekundayo, we can set it back up in the sky another day.”
Fathle’s answer did not satisfy the Raeven, and she shook her head. “No, it should stay in the sky.”
Ekundayo looked down at her hands before suddenly throwing them up, giving up the spool of string to the wind. The kite twirled about once at its new found freedom before fluttering off higher toward the clouds. Fathle stopped his instinct to chase after it. Instead, he looked at her profile while her golden eyes followed the kite’s graceful journey. What Fathle found there was longing and a solemn goodbye from a creature whose sole joy was in the air. In that moment, he promised himself that he would help Ekundayo reach the clouds one day.
“Come, my dear.”
Ekundayo grasped Fathle’s hand and he led her out of the park while her eyes continued to search the skies even though the kite had become a small blot in the blue horizon.
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Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 9:47 pm
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Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:40 pm
[ of antiques, blood, and super heroes ]
april 2010
durem apartment
late night/early morning
He did not make a sound as he slipped out of the apartment and locked it behind him. Ekundayo was safely asleep in her room. Fathle had passed by the glass jar outside of her room and was glad to see it was accumulating more pebbles. It felt strange not to have her accompany him but her presence was not necessary for where he was going. Perhaps he would show it to her someday but not at the moment; he was not sure if she was ready to be included in his past. It still held a sway over him and she had already been through her own suffering after surviving the virus. He would not add to her burden indirectly.
At first, the landlady was reluctant to turn a perfectly good apartment on the first floor into a kind of storage facility but Fathle had offered her a monthly sum that she could not turn down. He also told her that he may consider actually living it in off and on just to dissuade her from poking her nose into his belongings by utilizing her masterkey. She was a good woman; she just liked money too much. Thus, Fathle found a perfect place to store all of the antiques and personal items that he had collected over a two year span. The business of antique collecting was a perfect fit for him. He was interested in historical artifacts and their worth, but it also allowed him to search meticulously for his own long lost possessions without raising too many suspicions.
The first floor hallway was quiet. It was absurdly late or extremely early, considering how you looked at the time. Fathle glanced about him, a habit he had not been able to throw away just yet, before he let himself in. The fluorescent lights were soft but only made the entire apartment even more desolate by sharply wrapping around the undecorated surfaces and walls of the rooms. At first glance, it looked like a junk heap of various items that included old-fashioned clothes and items. However, with longer inspection, one could see a kind of order to all of it. Fathle walked amongst his accumulated possessions silently, his pale fingers running over the dusty, ivory keys of a miniature piano that was gilded with what looked like gold. He remembered…. He had placed that in the receiving room. Or had it been in the family room?... The sharp-edged objects eventually gave way to old, soft flowing articles of clothing, the style reminiscent of the 1800s in Europe. Fathle picked up a pair of off-color white women’s gloves. The satin was dirtied in a few spots but it was still elegant. He raised them up to his lips and let the cool fabric brush the sensitive skin and closed his eyes. Fathle liked to think he could smell her perfume still on them, sad and subtle as wilted flowers.
The more logical part of him liked to question why he even made a hobby of finding old sentimental objects. Wasn’t it akin to opening up wounds and placing salt upon them? To see such objects would only illicit memories that only served to be painful when one juxtaposed them against the present reality. It was a sound argument. It was something Fathle himself was struggling to find an answer to. However, it was like reading one’s favorite novel over again. The novel that had a tragic ending but you enjoyed reading the beginning because the plot drew one in so well. This was the only way Fathle could compare his hoarding activities. Seeing the objects brought pain but also refreshed his memories of better times… of times where he was happy and before everything went so very, very wrong.
Fathle continued his slow journey through the haphazardly created paths amongst the dresses and suits. A few became more elaborate as he began to enter the area where he kept all the clothes that belonged in rich parties full of jewels clasped to pale necks and gold-tipped canes. His pale fingers smoothed away the dust that had settled on a particular favorite of his. He had gotten it tailored and even he was impressed with the way the man had managed to compliment the sharp angles of his body. Fathle could not stop himself from gently picking it up to admire it again. However, as he did so, a white, dull object clattered to the ground near his feet. He frowned and bent down to his knees and picked up an old yet beautifully ornate masquerade mask. It only covered half of his face with two well-sized holes for the eyes. The intricate painting on the white surface directed the attention to the eyes. Fathle weighed the object in his hands before pressing it upon his face and carefully tying it firmly around his head. He slipped into the bathroom and turned on the light to study his reflection.
A small, eager worm of an idea slithered in his mind. A mask would be perfect. For a few weeks now, Fathle had absently thought of worst-case scenarios when it came to his eternal thirst. He had made numerous contacts in the Durem medical field but blood bags could still get scarce. In the past, Fathle hunted at night without fear for anyone or himself. But now he had Ekundayo. Killing his victims was not a smart option considering the police would begin to suspect a serial killer in the seedier parts of Durem and Barton, which would only heighten the community’s security. No, Fathle usually let his chosen criminals live with fear in their hearts of his red eyes. However, what if one of them remembered his face? That would only put his charge in danger if the criminal was ever smart enough to find his apartments. But a mask… a disguise could reduce that risk.
Fathle smiled to himself as he thought of comic book heroes and their usually flamboyant or scandalous costumes. He took off the mask and set it back where he had first found it on accident. He was no hero but he would do anything to make sure his curse did not ever touch Ekundayo’s happiness.
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 7:14 pm
[ going once, going twice, sold! ]private R O L E P L A Y
status: complete
l i n k Fathle introduces Ekundayo to the world of the auction house. However, he
does not expect to find another Raeven owner and enter a bidding war with her...
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Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 8:57 pm
[ on love ]
may 2010
durem apartment
late night
She awoke suddenly as if someone had just whispered her name. Ekundayo looked about her room to see a source for the disturbance but saw nothing. Everything was in order. She could hear the ticking of the new grandfather clock out near the kitchen but nothing else was stirring in the apartment. However, Ekundayo could not shake off the acute feeling of distress, a sense of unease that would not allow her to fall back asleep. The Raeven easily floated away from the bed and opened her bedroom door. It was then she felt her unease take on a physical embodiment. It curled around her skin like the morning mist that she had seen at the park. It strengthened and scared her at the same time. Ekundayo had been woken up by an emotion. An emotion strong enough to project toward her room and take her away from her dreams. She turned her golden eyes to Fathle’s door and knew he was awake. Her hand tentatively knocked on the wooden door before his voice softly beckoned her to come inside.
Her guardian was sitting up in bed, the sheets clinging to the legs that were slung over the edge. He looked up at her and offered a small smile.
“Hello, my dear. I didn’t know you were still awake,” Fathle said as he stretched out his hand to her. Ekundayo hesitated at the threshold but slowly floated over to him.
“You woke me up,” she said. Her tone lacked accusation. She was merely stating a fact. Fathle studied her pretty face and then brushed back some of her brown hair.
“I am sorry.”
He didn’t say anything else as he bowed his head and stared at the floorboards between his pale feet, his hands still clasped around Ekundayo’s hand.
“You are sad,” she said with a small frown. While many of the people she had been around let their emotions shift around their person effortlessly, her guardian was always withdrawn. Ekundayo had never felt such a pure and powerful emotion from him before and it unnerved her soul. What could have caused this? It was strong enough to feed her and to seep into her, causing a strange heaviness in her heart.
“Just a bad dream, my dear,” he said softly, “A dream I have not had in many months.”
“A nightmare?”
Fathe looked up at Ekundayo, hesitating slightly. He was tempted to just dismiss it and tuck her back into bed but he was caught in her golden eyes. Fathle didn’t understand why but he felt his old self-defense mechanisms falter under her gaze.
“Yes, I suppose you would call it a nightmare, my dear. I dreamed of someone I knew many years ago. Someone who was taken from me.”
“Maybe you can get someone back,” Ekundayo suggested. Her naïve honesty made a small, sad smile lift Fathle’s lips.
“I’m afraid she has gone somewhere I cannot follow.”
“Why?”
“Many people have asked the same question but there is no answer, my dear,” Fathle said.
Ekundayo frowned. She was going to press him but something told her to say silent. Her guardian wasn’t done speaking.
“She was very important to me… I loved her very much. To dream of her is still painful for me.”
“You loved her?” she asked. Ekundayo immediately regretted asking the question as Fathle lifted his red eyes to look at her. She wondered if he had felt the strange flicker of jealousy that darkened the foreign sadness that had seeped into her. Ekundayo had never really thought of the possibility that there might have been someone else that may have had her guardian’s attention. To be the focus of his constant thoughts and affections as she was now. The Raeven had taken Fathle for granted. It had almost felt like Fathle had been born for the sole purpose of taking care of her, of taking her hand to lead her around Durem, of smiling at her, and of tucking her into bed at night. To realize otherwise caused a strange kind of distress to blossom in Ekundayo’s chest.
“Yes, I loved her,” Fathle said with a small smile. He seemed to understand some of the reason for her question. “Like I love you, my dear.”
He bowed his head over her hand and pressed a small kiss to it.
“As you go on in your life, Ekundayo, you will find that there are different kinds of love. I love you as a father loves his daughter. And I loved the woman in my dreams in another way.”
Fathle patted Ekundayo’s hand before he stood up.
“Come, my dear, I will tuck you back into bed.”
“How did you love her, Faye?”
She wondered if she had made her guardian angry by pushing too much with her questions because he was quiet for a beat longer than she was used to.
“That… I cannot put into words for you, my dear,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Fathle slowly led her back to her room and guided her to the bed. He touched her forehead as he pulled the covers around the Raeven.
“But, one day, Ekundayo, you will understand the love I speak of. One day you will find someone that you will love with your whole being… and then you will understand. Sleep now, my dear. I am sorry for waking you.”
Ekundayo closed her eyes as Fathle leaned in and brushed his lips against her forehead.
“Goodnight, Faye…”
“Goodnight, my dear Ekundayo…”
She watched her guardian quietly close the door behind him before she fell back asleep.
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 10:21 pm
[ you speak pretty ]
june 2010
durem apartment/concert hall
night
The days gently melted together and flowed smoothly for Fathle and Ekundayo. They had a relatively set schedule. He would escort the Raeven to various areas of Durem, exposing her to different aspects of the culture found in Gaia and also the social norms. Ekundayo followed him quietly and soaked in all that he had to tell her even though her favorite place to visit was still the park.
“Do you know, my dear, it has been a little over four months since you first stepped into my home?” Ekundayo looked up at Fathle and he smiled when their gazes caught. She was floating near the coffee table, playing with the new trinket Fathle had bought her. It was one of those balancing toys that was in the shape of an eagle. Ekundayo found it amazing that she could balance the bird on the tip of her finger by keeping it on its beak.
“And are you happy here?” he asked as he sat down near the Raeven. Her golden eyes briefly flicked over toward the glass jar full of colorful pebbles and tiny seashells.
“I am,” she said. “I can’t fit any more in the jar though.”
Fathle laughed. It was a warm sound and she liked to hear it. Ekundayo felt a familiar warm glow blossom inside her chest when he pressed his lips against her forehead.
“Come, it has been close to three days. It is time that you feed,” he said softly.
It had only been a few days since Fathle had first introduced Ekundayo to the Durem orchestra but she knew that it would always be her favorite way to feed or ‘soak’ as she called it. After the finely dressed crowd got over the initial shock of Ekundayo’s half-formed appearance, they seemed to forget everything as the lights in the house dimmed. For some reason, this was her favorite part. Even before the music began, Ekundayo felt like she was becoming part of the crowd. She was no longer the center of attention. And then… then the music. The Raeven could only describe it as swells of weightless emotion. She could still not figure out if the instruments on stage were pressing the feelings into her skin or if they were drawing them out. Either way, Ekundayo happily soaked within the ebbs and flows of the sounds around her and the combined consciousness of the audience.
“Did you like it, my dear?” he asked as he pulled Ekundayo close to his side, giving her his arm. The night had finally brought some relief from the heat even though the humidity of the day still clung stubbornly. Fathle carefully led the Raeven down the stone steps, weaving through the small pockets of elegantly dressed men and women who were going over the musical score.
“Yes, it was wonderful. I love it here,” she said. Fathle smiled.
“Then I shall make sure that we see every musical performance held at this concert hall.”
The rest of their brief walk was held in amiable silence. Ekundayo could hear the low thrum of the crickets and the sound of shifting gravel as cars rolled around to pick up various people.
“Faye…”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Why do you speak different?”
“How do you mean?”
Ekundayo glanced up at Fathle and found that he was watching her with a small, amused smile upon his lips.
“I don’t know. You just… speak pretty.”
“Thank you.”
They paused next to the passenger side of Fathle’s car and he opened it for her. She hesitated before slipping inside.
“I listen and other people sound boring.”
He chuckled. “Perhaps not boring my dear. I suppose I am still a bit archaic when it comes to speech. Modern day slang tends to be much more concise and… blunt.”
“You’re speaking pretty again.”
Fathle smiled as he carefully closed the door and got into the driver’s seat. The concert hall was only ten minutes away from his apartment. That was one of the perks of living close to the downtown area.
“I want to speak pretty too.”
“Then I will have to place you on a regimen of extensive reading.”
“I don’t read good.”
He had to control the impulse to correct her grammar. Instead he smiled and glanced over at her.
“Then we will teach you.” Fathle paused. “How about a tutor, Ekundayo? I would do it myself but I am afraid my business dealings tie up a bit of my time.”
“A tutor?”
“Yes, someone to teach you to read well.”
“And then I’ll speak pretty? Just like you?”
He smiled. “Yes, my dear. Just like me.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 9:33 pm
[under the sun ]open R O L E P L A Y
status: completed
l i n k Fathle and Ekundayo make a brief appearance at the summer beach
event held by the Lab. They meet up with new and old faces.
However, their fun is cut short as a sudden storm hits the shores...
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:43 pm
[ nothing ever stays hidden ]
part 01
august 2010
durem apartment
late afternoon
The strange storm that had hit so suddenly had finally broken and the wind that spilled through Durem’s dusty streets brought a small chill. After a week or so of being cooped up within the safety of the apartment, Fathle and Ekundayo enjoyed a day out in the park. City employees were still trying to clean up the debris that the storm had dumped onto the manicured grass that surrounded the small pond but, thankfully, the unhappy weather system had not marred Ekundayo’s favorite place in the world. A few hours later, they made their way from the cool shade of the small park and lazily ventured onto the blindingly white sidewalks.
“How many people are coming?” the Raeven asked as she swung her guardian’s hand in her own, her spirits soaring at being out in the open and no longer trapped in her room.
“I believe four, my dear. Two men and two women.” Fathle smiled. “Why? Are you nervous, Ekundayo?”
She glanced up at him with her golden eyes and thoughtfully nodded. “Yes”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “There is no reason to be. They will be quite enchanted with you.”
Fathle had been hoping to throw a small dinner party at his home for a few of friends he had managed to keep from one of his clubs. It was more of a polite gathering than a real event for friends. After all, Fathle was their boss and he was sure they would not be able to get too comfortable with that fact ever looming over them. He also thought it would be a nice way for Ekundayo to interact with humans as well; it was one way for her to practice proper decorum. However, the storm had made such a dinner party nearly impossible for the past week but with the weather so nice now, Fathle quickly set a date for the small gathering.
Ekundayo followed Fathle to a small shop that, to her, smelled funny. The owner was a jolly, rotund man that always seemed to be laughing. She immediately took a liking to him. She listened attentively as Fathle explained that the man’s name was Mr. Bennett and his family specialized in food imported from all over the world. Ekundayo eventually slipped away from her guardian to tour the cramped aisles. How many curious things there were… Ekundayo was sure that she could spend the entire day in the small store but still find something new.
“Now, are you going to make sure Mr. Faye here doesn’t set his whole apartment on fire tonight?” Mr. Bennett asked with a wink as he deftly packed away cans and produce in plastic bags. Ekundayo was rather taken aback by this but she could easily see the humor in the man’s eyes. He was joking…. She hoped.
“I’ll try, Mr. Bennett,” Ekundayo shyly. She still wasn’t used to answering humor considering Fathle wasn’t necessarily very playful.
Mr. Bennett’s very belly shook with his laughter. “Good, good. I always worry about your man, Dayo. Thinking that he can cook and all.”
“Now, that’s quite enough, Mr. Bennett. You are going to set the idea that I am an arsonist into my charge’s young, impressionable mind,” Fathle said with a smile.
Ekundayo lingered by the store window waving goodbye to Mr. Bennett before quickly floating next to Fathle, who was weighed down by a few bags.
“What did he mean? Setting the apartment on fire?” she asked, a note of nervousness in her voice.
“I will be cooking for the party tonight, my dear. However, do not worry. I will not set the apartment on fire,” Fathle said with an amused smile. Ekundayo continued the rest of the journey by asking questions about the happy store owner and how Fathle had come to know him. When they had finally got to their floor, Fathle quickly began turning on all his stove tops and filling big pots with water. Ekundayo was fascinated by everything. She had seen her guardian prepare small things in the kitchen but nothing this fancy. Her wings fluttered excitedly as she zoomed to one pot and then back to the cutting board where Fathle was slicing a large chunk of meat into small cubes. Within an hour, the kitchen was filled with a delicious aroma.
“And none too soon,” Fathle said as he dried off his hands and glanced at the kitchen clock. “They should be here soon. Ekundayo, would you like to help me?”
She nodded eagerly and watched as her guardian set out a loaf of bread in front of her.
“Come, let me show you how I would like you cut this..”
He stood behind her and carefully guided Ekundayo’s hand as the knife cut through the crunchy, flaky layer.
“Like this?”
“Yes, perfect, my dear,” Fathle said with a smile as he helped her cut the entire loaf and arrange the fresh slices on a pretty plate. Ekundayo turned her head toward the door at the sound of the bell.
“Is it them?” she asked with anticipation.
Fathle nodded and stretched out his hand to her and led her to the door. Ekundayo was extremely pleased that Fathle’s guests made such a huge fuss over her. She was practically glowing by the time the women had told her how beautiful she was for the third time. She proudly led them back into the kitchen and showcased the newly cooked meal as if she had done all the work, making Fathle smile warmly with amusement.
“She’s so pretty, Mr. Lekabel,” one of the woman said. “You should bring her to the club one day.”
“Faye, may I show them my room?” Ekundayo asked, eager for more attention.
“Yes, of course.”
She led them to the room at the end of the hall and showed off her present from Cordelia and other small trinkets she had found. By the time Ekundayo led them back to the kitchen, one of the men had already broken into the wine.
“I hope you didn’t go through too much trouble, Boss,” he said as he turned to fill a cup for everyone. Ekundayo watched the man’s elbow catch his own full glass and tip it over. She was expecting it to splatter all over the kitchen tiles but it hovered in place for a moment. Ekundayo blinked with confusion and then realized that Fathle’s fingers were around the wine glass. She frowned. How…? Her guardian had been by the stove. And he had just appeared by the cup.
Ekundayo thought the spill had been averted but, to her surprise, Fathle let go of the glass and it finished its fall to the ground. All the guests winced at the sound of shattering glass. The man that had knocked it over quickly got to his knees to clean up his own mess. Only Ekundayo was not interested in the commotion but stared at Fathle with curiosity and confusion.
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:25 am
[ because all the cracks begin to show ]
part 02
august 2010
durem apartment
late night
Ekundayo was beginning to yawn but she didn’t want to go to bed yet. She kept Fathle company in the kitchen as he began to clean up after the guests had left. They had offered to stay and help but he had forced them out of the apartment with a kind goodbye.
“You’re tired, my dear. Go to bed…” Fathle said with a smile as he brushed back some of the Raeven’s hair. She shook her head eagerly.
“I want to help,” she said as she carefully stacked some plates together and placed them in the sink for rinsing. Over the course of the dinner, Ekundayo had realized two things. She had been the only one to see Fathle’s strange behavior with the cup and perhaps her guardian hadn’t wanted anyone to see. Why else would he have let the glass break like that? She had spent most of the dinner pondering about Fathle’s strange behavior and she did not participate in the conversation as much as she would have liked.
She looked up slightly when Fathle placed a small kiss of gratitude upon her soft brown hair before he switched off the kitchen lights. Only the soft glow from a nearby lamp lighted their way toward the closely quartered bedrooms.
“I believe that dinner was a roaring success, my dear,” Fathle said with a smile as he took her hand in his. “What do you believe?”
“Yes. I think so too,” Ekundayo replied a bit slowly as she tried to find an opening to ask the question that was burning the tip of her tongue.
“And didn’t I tell you there was nothing to be nervous about? They were all enchanted by you.”
Fathle opened Ekundayo’s door and led her toward the bed and pulled back the covers.
“Now, I want you to sleep soundly, Ekundayo. Your tutor will be coming in the morning…”
“Faye…” she started, pulling away from her guardian so that he would not distract her. “Why did you let the cup break?”
Ekundayo felt like she had let the question escape from her as air escaped from a balloon. She felt her anxiety grow slowly in her chest while she watched her guardian for a reaction, his eyes catching the dim light in her room and glowing softly.
“I was hoping that would have gone unnoticed,” he finally said.
“I was the only one,” Ekundayo said quickly as if to comfort Fathle. “No one else noticed. You moved… so fast.”
A part of her did wonder if all humans were capable of such a feat but instincts said differently. There was something special about Fathle, and it was secret and hidden.
“Are you angry?” she ventured timidly.
“No, of course not,” Fathle replied quickly, turning toward Ekundayo to pull her to him. “No, I am not angry. I am just surprised you saw. I was also hoping that you hadn’t…”
The Raeven frowned as she pressed forward and placed her forehead against her guardian’s chest.
“I’m sorry…”
He smiled to himself and pulled away from Ekundayo to look down at her open and honest face.
“There is no need to apologize, Ekundayo. You did nothing wrong.”
Fathle led her toward the bed and tucked her in underneath the covers but she reached out to him when he started to pull away. He smiled and lifted the covers and slid in beside her. He had not slept next to her in a while. Ekudanyo smiled and immediately snuggled up to her guardian and enjoyed the weight of Fathle’s arm resting around her tan shoulders.
“Why did you not want me to see?” she asked quietly.
“It is hard to explain,” Fathle began slowly. How could he tell her the motivation behind hiding his dark nature from her? That beneath his doting exterior was a blood thirsty creature… it was something that he had hoped to conceal from Ekundayo for a very long time. But just one mistake had unraveled his plans. “I am not like other humans. In honesty, I am no longer human.”
“You’re not a human?” Ekundayo repeated with puzzlement. She lifted her head to look up at him. “Are you a Raeven?”
Fathle chuckled and shook his head. “No, my heart. I am afraid not.”
“Then what are you, Faye?” she asked and all he could see was bright curiosity in her golden eyes. Fathle knew she was too smart to be lied to and he was not sure if he wanted to lie to her at all when faced with such a direct question.
“I am… what you call a vampire,” Fathle replied quietly. It felt completely surreal to be speaking these words to his charge.
“A vam… pie… er. Vampire. What is that?” Ekundayo asked. Fathle paused before answering her question; he didn’t believe that it was necessary to answer that most people believed vampires to be damned souls worthy of Satan.
“Well, I can see, smell, and hear better than a human. I guess you can say I have super powers,” he said with a small smile.
“Like a super hero? Like… Superman?” Ekundayo asked with a touch of awe in her voice.
Fathle chuckled softly. “Yes, I suppose,” he said, marveling at how much she had learned over the few months she had spent with him. “But perhaps not as grand.”
“Is that why you didn’t want me to see?”
“What do you mean, my dear?”
“You didn’t want me to see because you’re a super hero. Superman keeps his power a secret too.”
Fathle blinked at this rather clever comparison before smiling and gently hugging Ekundayo.
“I am no super hero but yes… I wish to keep my powers a secret. Will you help me keep my powers a secret? I don’t want anyone to know I’m a vampire,” Fathle said truthfully. “It’ll be our secret, Ekundayo.”
She pressed against her guardian and nodded. It felt strange to have Faye ask something of her. Ekundayo was used to doing the asking.
“Yes, Faye. I will keep it a secret,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you, my dear. You are too good for me,” Fathle said quietly. “And now, I believe some sleep is in order.”
He reached down and pulled the blanket around them tightly; Fathle waited for Ekundayo to find a comfortable position before he finally closed his red eyes.
“Faye?”
“Yes, my dear?”
“Will you tell me more about vampires tomorrow?”
“Perhaps. But let us have no more talk of vampires and sleep now, Ekundayo.”
“…Goodnight, Faye.”
“Goodnight, my heart.”
With that, Fathle fell asleep with Ekundayo wrapped safely within his arms.
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Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 11:13 am
[ rp title goes here ]reserved for C H R Y S T A L I
status: ----
l i n k ..........
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