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 Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:16 am
Ianna Umbridge Under The Full Moon - Part One
<******** kill! ******** Kill! Lalala!" came the sing-song voice of Coailiann from her crib. She had obviously woken up and wanted attention from her mother - though that wasn't any different than any other day. Coailiann -always- wanted attention, and she did NOT like to be ignored or left alone. That's just the way she was.
The only problem is...it was 6:00am and Ianna was still sleeping. Whoever heard of a child wanting to get up at the crack of dawn? A sleep-logged hand reached out, thumping against the wood of the nightstand to find the digital alarm clock. She hit it - a bit too hard - and yelped.
Silver eyes opened to focus on the numbers and she sighed softly, dragging herself from her bed, wrapping her robe around her, and walking down the long hall into the nursary where Coailiann was.
"Now, little girl, why do you insist upon waking up so early and not letting mommy get the sleep she wants, eh?" Ianna reached in and picked her up, holding her on her hip as she wandered into the kitchen, fifth door to the right, and set up the high chair. She was tired of the main lobby being covered with apples at the end of feedings.
Coailiann struggled a little as she was placed in the high chair and gave a little pout. What WAS with her mother and these medieval restraining prisons? It didn't make sense to her little mind. But! BUT BUT BUT! She was getting APPLES! That made it okay.
"Apple doo dah." she cooed, small, chubby fingers banging on the high-chair tray. Ianna chuckled and looked to her daughter, carefully slicing apples the old fashioned way. She was a bit tired of magic at the moment.
"Yes, Apples..." she murmured, getting distracted by the absolute cuteness of her daughter and narrowly missed her finger.
"Mom?" Matilda's voice filled the kitchen.
"Yes, Matty?" Ianna answered, now re-slicing the apple into smaller pieces.
"Another wand has awakened. It's in Germany...And...Well...You need to go."
Coailiann blinked. Was she not getting apples? Mommy had stopped slicing the apples and had that look on her face that she got before she was called off to leave her alone. Coailiann didn't like that...."Bah?"
Ianna gave a sigh. "Do I have to go now? Can I finish feeding Kay?"
Matilda paused. "You can't go now anyway...It...Can only be found under the full moon. Which...won't rise for a good...3 hours?"
Ianna blinked. "Full moon? Why?"
"It's...A lycan."
"Oh." Ianna said and finished slicing the apples, placing them on the high-chair tray. At least it wasn't the center of the earth, or god forbid, the sun.
~*~
Three hours past and Coailiann had been put through the portal to be with Matilda for the day. Ianna, armed to the teeth...just in case..."Well, ready to lock and load it?" she asked, a teasing humor in her eyes.
Now that she had actually had a few days off from wild goose chases, Ianna was a little bit more willing to go do her missions. Not to mention, Coailiann had calmed down quite a bit and even had a friend. She actually had a way to PUNISH the Sidhe now. Thank god.
"You're entirely too gleeful to have a shotgun right now, Mom."
Ianna smirked. "Oh, I'mma have me some fun huntin' a wolf tonight."
With that said, Ianna was transported to a deserted German fairground...
~*~
Ianna blinked. Wow. This was just creepy. It looked more like a ghost town than anything else...as if the festival had just....disappeared without a trace, leaving the broken down rides and booths to the elements.
"And I'm supposed to walk through a deserted carnival under a full moon, looking for a werewolf wand...?" she peeked around, eyeing a few of the open-mouthed clowns faces. They were seriously freaking the poor woman out.
"Yep."
A sigh. Okay. Where to start? Ianna walked down the packed earth, silver eyes switching back and forth quickly to make sure nothing jumped out at her. Every little creak and moan of the wind or rides made her jump. "God damnit." she muttered, narrowly being missed by a flying ob--BAT?! A ******** BAT?!
Ianna, in a panick, shot at it. The loud bang of her pistol echoing through the grounds, causing a screech of the bat. She missed.
Of course she did. Ianna had terrible aim.
But then...She saw it. A Glint of a silver gemstone...That HAD to be part of the wand, right? Right. She sprinted over to it and pulled it out. It was, ironically, at the edge of the forest, half sticking out of the dirt. "There...that...was easy enough." she muttered. She hadn't even come face to face with a werewolf.
"Take me home, Matty.." she said softly, tucking the wand into her back pocket.
Ianna Umbridge It was that same day that Ianna was in the Wand Shop, carefully logging the finding of the lycan wand in her journal, that it would be found. For once, she would not have to wait forever and a day to find the owner...not that she knew that at the moment.
She was tired, and it was going on 6 pm...close to dinner time. Meaning she would have to cook for both her and Coailiann. Coailiann was easy, however. Pop open some jar of baby food, cut up some apples, and then make her eat them.
Herself, on the other hand...well, she'd have to do a lot more.
Coailiann was currently sitting on her mother's lap, head resting quietly on her shoulder. She was always tired after leaving Matilda's pocket realm, and she was perfectly happy lounging and cuddling with her mother. Quietly.
She had learned that if she was loud, she would have to go back to rice cereal. Blegh. Disinclined D opened the door to the shop, glancing around for any sign that gave times. He hoped it hadn't closed up yet - argh. It was late, he'd been on his way home from a long day at the office, but he was feeling up for a bit of window shopping.
This shop, whatever it was, had drawn his attention time and time again. For whatever reason, he'd decided that today he'd peek in, just to see. There was a retirement party for one of his bosses on the fifth floor next week, and gifts were expected.
The meta-cat man had always had a thing for travel and adventure, so perhaps this place (were those boxes on the shelves?) might have something interesting. Worse came to worse, at least his curiousity would be sated.
Everyday he walked by the shop, but everyday he was too busy to to do more than peer over in the window as he passed. Life was too compact to allow the gentle man much room to maneuver. But today - today, there was something different on the air.
Today just seemed like a good day TO scope out the shop.
Glancing around, he decided to browse quietly. He didn't want to disturb anyone, and the ambience of the shop seemed a bit dim, quiet. Almost like a library, and he surely didn't want to be the cause of a fuss.
Moving over to one of the walls, he looked at the piles of dust and boxes. Strange. But he didn't dare move to open them. This place seemed more like a museum, now that he got a better look at the place.
But that was quite alright with him.
Ianna Umbridge The jingle of the bells interrupted Ianna's train of thought and she lifted her head, looking around the room. The man who had walked in had...that familiar vibe that she got when a wand guardian arrived.
A smile touched her tired lips, "Welcome to Ghosts of the Past, may I help you...D?" A soft smirk grew from her smile. She so loved Matilda's aids sometimes.
"See, Matilda, I know when one comes in. I'm not stupid."
A long silence, as if she were letting someone else speak. "Hmph, You did no such thing." her arms wrapped comfortably around Coailiann, who had fallen asleep.
At least, for now. Disinclined The man blinked, turning at the start of a voice. Oh - so there was a lady here. Well, of course there was - they woudln't leave a shop unattended! He'd just looked over her, and his brain (funky as it liked to be sometimes) just hadn't registered.
The amicable smile that had started forming on his lips paused as she spoke his name. His eyes did a double take over her, trying to figure out how she knew his name. He didn't wear a nametag to work, and his I.D. was in his wallet, which (his hand slid to his pocket to be sure) still in his pants.
She didn't look familar, not at all, but perhaps they'd met at a party or convention? Or - a friend of a friends? Or -
His mind tried hard to figure out how she knew. He didn't want to be rude if he'd forgotten her name, and it wasn't as if she was someone he'd ever DATED before (D wasn't one for the ladies - not really) so how . . .
Telepathic or psychic or whatever? Maybe. Could be. People on Gaia like him, with just about no powers, were very rare. She probably was telepathic or psychic - look at how she talked to nobody physically presant.
Oh - he surely hoped there weren't ghosts in the room.
Looking a bit self-concious, D reached up to rub the back of his neck. His lips finally twisted into a meek, but still genuinely friendly, grin. "I - uh - well, I - I was looking for. . . for something, " he looked around the room, trying to figure out exactly what this place was about. "I was just browsing really."
There. He could talk - really he could. "Just looking for a gift for a friend," he explained further, glancing around the dusty walls and all the boxes.
Well - at least he knew that they had quite a few long boxes in stock. If he ever ran out, of course. Ianna Umbridge Ianna raised a brow. She loved how they acted when she knew their name before they ever stated it. "Thanks, Matilda." she said, smiling sweetly. "No, you're not, D. You see, everyone...or Mostly everyone." she thought back to the people who had entered without a wand.
OR without one available TO own.
"Comes here, because they're pulled here by something or another. Here, touch this book and see what I'm talking about. It's easier for the book to explain it than me."
The minute D had touched the book, the leather covers sprung open, pages flipping madly and causing dust to fly everywhere until it landed, as if turned by magic, on a specific page.
On this page rested a picture of the wand, which now lay beside Ianna - dark wood and a silver gem at the top, a wolf's fang hanging from a piece of leather wrapped around it, as well as fur beneath the orb.
"Lycan. Wand ID 00009. A Soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand. Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck,
Matilda."
"Congratulations, D, you're a daddy." came Ianna's voice, her eyes alight with amusement as she watched for his reaction. Disinclined D all but jumped a foot in the air when the book opened wildly and flipped to a specific page. The shock in his cerulean gaze proved that magic of any sort was still foreign to the man. Surely, he'd lived on Gaia all his life, but he wasone of the rare few that had no magical talant. He couldn't manipulate energies, he couldn't levitate, disappear, make lights glow; he couldn't trasnform into an animal, couldn't see futures or pasts in his dreams, hell, he couldn't even make a good tasting cup of joe!
He worked in a business, was nothing more than a pink-haired peon with a briefcase. He wasn't intimidated by magic, but he didn't often run into it on a daily basis. So now, having entered this shop to look for a friend, he was now being given a wand?
A wand with a wolf tooth and fur? A canine wand? He was supposed to look after it, and become a father!?
No way. No. WAY.
A million thoughts ran through his mind as he stared down at the book. "M-m-me?" He choked out, a strangled sort of sound. D liked children, he really did, but he'd never thought he'd have to play the role of Daddy.
Not like this. "Are you - are you sure that's not a mistake? I mean - I work a nine-to-five job! I - uh - I'm gonna have to find a sitter, and - oh wow. . . " The words dropped from his lips as he looked at the little book, and then over at the wand besides Ianna.
Was this truly what fate had in store for him? Was this . . . wand . . .really going to turn into something great? Something that the book and the woman seemed to expect. Was he even ready for fatherhood? Was this some cruel trick? Some tom-foolery? Were his friends setting him up?
A father.
HIM!?
D looked up at the woman, searching her face, trying to judge whether or not this really was a hoax. And yet, how could it be? The book seemed innocent enough, and it had his name in it and everything! If this was an elaborate hoax, well, he might as well go along with it. Besides, in this day and age, there was a good chance that this was in no means a trick. This was real.
And if that was the case, then this little wand was destined for him.
"This is for real, isn't it?" He quietly asked, the shock draining from his face, only to be replaced by slight confusion. A father? Him?
What on Gaia were the Fates thinking?
Ianna Umbridge The silver haired woman seemed quite amused by the man's reaction, her head resting gently on the sleeping Sidhe's head. Watching his face go several shades lighter ( in her opinion), his eyes widen, and the sincere confusion on his face, was enough to make the slightly-insane woman's day.
"No, it's not a joke. I'm being completely serious when I tell you that you're going to be a father. Nine to five? Not anymore. You have a 12am to 12 am job now. Yes, of course you'll work to support, but you'll be on call twenty four hours a day. No worries, though! The wand won't be a baby for quite some time, it'll give you time to get used to it all."
At least, she hoped it did. The pink-haired man looked positively blown away by the news. Normal, she supposed, seeing the way it was being presented and whatnot. But it was so AMUSING. Disinclined D stared at the woman, as if she spoke some sort of foreign language. This strange lady, tucked away in such a strange shop, was serious. This wasn't a joke, a game - she meant what she said and what she'd said was that this wand was going to become a baby!
HIS baby!
A child.
Father. Daddy. The thoughts whipped and whirled with a torrent of unidentified emotion. A father? A baby? Yeah, work for support but - a single parent?!
The pink haired ex-raver didn't know a damn thing about fatherhood. He could hardly hold down a long-term relationship, much less being placed with responsibility as a father. Still, what was he going to do? Shake his head, deny this lady, and run away?
Yeah, sure, like that was going to go over well. He feared what the woman and the weird, possessed book would do to him if that were the case. Funny how life played such cruel tricks on a person. Here, he'd come in to find a gift for his business partner, and instead would be walking out with a wolf-wand and knowledge of paternity.
Great.
"Can I - Can I see this . . uh . . wand?" His voice was suddenly dry, his tongue like cotton. Was this excitement or fear, anxiety or joy? Why were his emotions tangling like an expired arachnids web?
D decided not to dwell on his feelings, not right now. He was still far too stunned.
Kyrianna Ianna simply smirked at the man and pulled the wand from behind the desk, the long wooden length covered in a silver relief and atop of it what appeared to be werewolf fur and a beautiful silvery crystal ball. Hanging from it was a wolf tooth on a piece of twine.
"Here it is, your child. Whether it be a male or female, I can't answer. However, it's yours. For better or for worse, richer or poorer or...Wait, no that's marriage...Uh...What do you say to a father child joining?" A brow raised and she laughed. Disinclined D stared at the woman, his eyes looking over at the wand she held. It was beautiful, that much he could tell. There was something wild about it, despite its natural look. Simple, elegant in a way, but the natural browns which made up the base of the wand reminded him of trees, of forests.
Well, if this child was going to be a wolf, it only made sense!
The orb placed atop of it seemed reminiscent of luna, of the moon. Again, it was something which would make sense. A werewolf reborn? A werewolf reborn under his guard and protection?
D already felt paternal instinct tug at his heartstrings. As incredible a situation as this was, as awkward a meeting this had begun, there was something right about this day.
"A father-child joining, indeed," he agreed, though his worders were distracted. It wasn't that D wasn't paying attention to Ianna, it was that his attention was solely focused on this wand - this someday-child.
A smile cracked his features, tugging at the corners of his lips as he reached out for the wand. "I promise, I'll - I'll do my best to care for . . it." It. He didn't like calling the wand an it, but if she didn't know what gender it was, D surely didn't know! They'd find out with time, of course.
It would all be right with time.
D was anxious as he studied the beautiful wand. This was now his, his to protect and care for, his to love. Fatherhood? Surely it hadn't been on his agenda, but that was life - c'est la vie. He couldn't deny the joy he was starting to feel, the anxiety laced happiness by being (strangely) chosen for this job.
Father.
It would take sometime to adjust to the word, but be that as it may. There was no getting rid of this wand now, no walking away from the shop and the wolf - not now and not ever.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:43 am
D was stunned. Walking out of the shop, wand in hand, the man replayed everything that had just happened. He'd stopped in looking for a retirement gift for his worker - and he'd walked out dubbed a "father"!
No ******** way.
Seriously. What sort of gods were making fun of him! D wasn't ready to become a father. In fact, he wasn't even ready to be handed a wand that "allegedly" housed a spirit. A werewolf spirit at that! This was ridiculous!
He wasn't ready to become a father. There had to be some mistake, hadn't there? Here he was, 25 years old, single, and living the life of a bachelor in his small, one bedroom apartment. How in the hell was he going to manage? A werewolf child? No way. He didn't have time to raise a baby, and what sort of father would he be anyway?
The man reached a hand up, running pale fingers through his pink hair. His hair type had always been one shade of pink or another, but during his teenage years he almost forgot what shade it had been! How many times had it been dyed, styled, shaved, cut, glued, curled and pasted? How many times had he gone and pierced his ears, eyebrows, nose, lips, and other various body parts? How often did he drink and party, dance all night to the music of the clubs?
Wild and crazy was one way to sum up his teenage raver lifestyle. Work all day, party all night, and live his life under the touch of a neon glowstick. He'd been irresponsible, wild, and completely unpredictable.
That, of course, had been only until he'd graduated with his degree. After school, life smacked him full-fledged in the face. Instead of classes there was now work - a nine-to-fiver with no snowdays. He had to work, even if he didn't want to go. He couldn't skip and couldn't sleep through it - he had to work. He had a boss, he had coworkers, and he had audits. Paperwork instead of homework, rent instead of loans, and sleep instead of partying.
Sure, he cleaned up well, the piercings were put away and the tattoos hidden under a three-piece-suit and tie. But he wasn't ready for a child. This wasn't how he'd raise a family - no no! He needed to find a partner, find a mate nad settle down. He needed help financially, he needed help magically - how was he supposed to raise a werewolf when he was anything but a normal gaian? He had no magical ability. He was a freak of society - he couldn't summon animals, he couldn't float, fly, disappea - he couldn't even speak another language!
What on earth was he going to do?
Staring down at the wand in hand, he chewed nervously on his lower lip. Was that Ianna person even correct in her assumption that this wand was meant for him? What if she made a terrible mistake - what if she . . .
But she couldn't have, could she?
She knew his name, and there was something about this wand; something that seemed to connect. "D, snap out of it, you're being silly," he murmured, looking away from the wand to study his trek home.
He'd have to catch a taxi, he suddenly wasn't feeling up to walking.
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Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:21 am
The man wasn't sure what to think. So he'd been "chosen" to be the guardian over a wand. The pink haired man replayed the conversation he'd held with Ianna over and over - he surely couldn't have abandoned the wand, not after everything she'd said.
The wand was his to protect, to take care of. Apparantly it held the spirit of a lycanthrope, a werewolf, in it. And someday (sooner or later) that spirit would arrive and transform into a child.
His child.
His baby.
"Well, you," he chatted softly, allowing his gaze to drift over to the wand. The globe, which ever reminded him of the moon, seemed to glow briefly, as if attempting to respond. Whether or not it really glowed, though, D couldn't be sure - perhaps it was just the reflection of the lights around them? "I know I haven't been the greatest parent. I hope," what was he trying to do, apologize? "I hope you're not too upset. We're home now, thankfully - and I won't be going on anymore business trips. No more temporary moves, no more packing up and leaving. This is where we'll be from now on."
The man heaved a sigh, turning away from the wolf-fanged wand to stare dumbly at his laptop. "It's where we'll always be."
It wasn't that D didn't like where he lived - he was just overwhelmed. He wasn't like the majority on Gaia. He was just a simple man - pink hair, glasses, pale skin. He had no magic, he had no abilities, he didn't even have blood of animals running through him. He was who he was, and sometimes, D wasn't sure he liked that part of him.
When his firm had sent him to help open another company, he'd felt so sure that promotion was on the way. And yet, when they'd moved and gotten settled, after the new firm was settled in tis ways - the big promotion never came. In fact, after three months, they sent him back to his original office to resume his work there.
Lucky him.
Cheylir had seemed little affected by the move. The dreamy blue fae had only focused more on music and dancing. The wand, his wolf, hadn't seemed to be affected either. But D still worried. Part of the man was glad to be back - glad to be back with all those he knew, with the familiar people, and the familier environments. Out 'there' was no place for Cheylir and his wand - this little niche was their home.
Shaking his head, clearing his thoughts of such dreams, D decided to focus more at the task at hand. Being a chosen 'guardian' it only made sense that he look up a bit about werewolves. When and if his wand decided to make its appearance, he wanted to be sure he knew how to handle a werewolf. Or, at least have an idea of what he might expect.
"Let's see, let's see," he mulled, opening the search engine and typing in the word.
Opening the first page he found, he studied the words carefully.
A werewolf (or lycanthrope) in folklore and mythology is a person who shapeshifts into a wolf, either purposely, by using magic, or after being placed under a curse. The medieval chronicler Gervase of Tilbury associated the transformation with the appearance of the full moon, but this concept was rarely associated with the werewolf until the idea was picked up by modern fiction writers. Most modern references agree that a werewolf can be killed if shot by a silver bullet, although this is more a reflection of fiction's influence than an authentic feature of the folk legends. A werewolf can be killed by complete destruction of heart or brain; silver isn't necessary. Werewolves are sometimes held to become vampires after death.
Well, well, well. So perhaps the moon would have no influence on his future child? It would be interesting to see. Was it merely legend? If it were, though, legend had to begin as truth somewhere. "We'll make sure to keep the silver tucked away, what do'ya say?" D joked, partially to himself, partially to his wand.
"Vampires after death?" D snorted, raising his eyebrows in curiousity. He'd never heard of such a thing, and wouldn't have even put the two together. "I though werewolves and vampires were enemies, not one in the same. Eh, but what do I know, right?" He chatted, shrugging his shoulders only to continue reading.
The name is thought most likely to derive from Old English wer (or were) and wulf. The first part, wer is translated as "man" (as in a male human, not the race of humanity). It has cognates in several Germanic languages including Gothic wair, Old High German wer and Old Norse var. The second half, wulf translates to "wolf" - or in some cases, beast. The two parts joined together then translate to manwolf.
Well that makes sense, D thought with a smirk. It didn't take a genius to figure out putting two-and-two together.
Other sources believe it is derived from warg-wolf, where warg (or later werg and wero) is cognate with Norse "varg" meaning wolf. Vargulf means the kind of wolf that slaughters many of a flock or herd but eats only a bit, which was a serious problem for herders. They had to somehow destroy the individual wolf that had run mad before it destroyed their entire flock or herd.
Now this was something he hadn't heard about! Wolves going mad? Destroying entire flocks of animals? Well, would that have an effect on his future child? Two blue eyes glanced over at the resting wand. Perhaps - would that mean he'd only want to eat meat, be a pure carnivorous being? Or was there more to it.
They would often then hang the wolf's hide in the bedroom of a young infant, believing it to give the baby supernatural powers. Warg by itself was used in Old English for that specific kind of wolf and it was used as well for what would now be called a serial killer.
Great. Now serial killers were getting involved with werewolves? Well, what did he expect, something gentle? Something kind? There was a reason werwolves had such a bad reputation and it wasn't because they picked roses and played games with the elderly!
In Norse mythology, lycanthropes were vicious fighters analogous to the better known berserker, dressed in wolf hides and said to channel the spirits of these animals, enhancing their own power and ferocity in battle; they were immune to pain and killed viciously in battle, like a wild animal. They are both closely associated with Odin.
Odin? Huh - perhaps he'd browse that later. As well as some more information on wolves as an animal. Thus far, everyone seemed to say the same thing - werwolves (be they transformed into the animal itself or not!) were vicious fighters. "You must've been one tough fellow," D broke the silence, though his eyes were still transfixed on the screen.
There are women, so the Armenian belief runs, who in consequence of deadly sins are condemned to pass seven years in the form of a wolf. A spirit comes to such a woman and brings her a wolf's skin. He orders her to put it on, and no sooner has she done this than the most frightful wolfish cravings make their appearance and soon get the upper hand. Her better nature conquered, she makes a meal of her own children, one by one, then of her relatives' children according to the degree of relationship, and finally the children of strangers begin to fall as prey to her. She wanders forth only at night, and doors and locks spring open at her approach. When morning draws near she returns to human form and removes her wolf skin. In these cases the transformation was involuntary or virtually so. But side by side with this belief in involuntary metamorphosis, we find the belief that human beings can change themselves into animals at will and then resume their own form.
Great - great! D didn't feel comfortable with the thought of the changing women devouring her own children. Surely his child, if perhaps he changed again into a wolf someday, wouldn't devour him, would he? Did his little fellow once eat flesh? Did he kill for pleasure or was his transformation purely involuntary?
Questions rolled through D's head -but he continued to read. The more he knew, the less surprised he'd be in the future. And perhaps, some of this information could help him try to piece together clues about his wands past.
Many of the werewolves in European tradition were most innocent and God-fearing persons, who suffered through the witchcraft of others, or simply from an unhappy fate, and who as wolves behaved in a truly touching fashion, fawning upon and protecting their benefactors. In Marie de France's poem Bisclaveret (c. 1200), the nobleman Bisclavret, for reasons not described in the lai, had to transform into a wolf every week. When his treacherous wife stole his clothing, needed to restore his human form, he escaped the king's wolf hunt by imploring the king for mercy, and accompanied the king thereafter. His behavior at court was so gentle and harmless than when his wife and her new husband appeared at court, his attack on them was taken as evidence of reason to hate them, and the truth was revealed.
Ah-ha! There! Harmless wolves. Gentle, kind, and harmless. Not all werewolvse were vicious - perhaps the spirit within his wand was just as gentle? Just as kind?
Whatever the case, the more he read, the more D wanted to discover what made his little wand tick. What would his spirit be like once it came into being? What would it look like when it actually became a tangible being??
Historical legends describe a wide variety of methods for becoming a werewolf. One of the simplest was the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolf skin, probably a substitute for the assumption of an entire animal skin which also is frequently described. In other cases the body is rubbed with a magic salve. To drink water out of the footprint of the animal in question or to drink from certain enchanted streams were also considered effectual modes of accomplishing metamorphosis. Olaus Magnus says that the Livonian werewolves were initiated by draining a cup of specially prepared beer and repeating a set formula. Ralston in his Songs of the Russian People gives the form of incantation still familiar in Russia. It is also said that the seventh son of the seventh son will become werewolf. Another is to be directly bitten by a werewolf, where the saliva enters the blood stream.
Well which was it? Bitten by a wolf? Cursed by a potion? Offered a wolfskin garment? Or was his wand spirit merely the unlucky seventh. . .?
Various methods also existed for removing the beast-shape. The simplest was the act of the enchanter (operating either on himself or on a victim), and another was the removal of the animal belt or skin. To kneel in one spot for a hundred years, to be reproached with being a werewolf, to be saluted with the sign of the cross, or addressed thrice by baptismal name, to be struck three blows on the forehead with a knife, or to have at least three drops of blood drawn have also been mentioned as possible cures. Many European folk tales include throwing an iron object over or at the werewolf, to make it reveal its human form.
Well, whatever the case, at least there were ways to remove 'the beast'. D sat back, staring blankly at his computer screen. THat was a lot to take in, this mind was wrapping around the thought of a werewolf. There were so many different kinds, so many different species - which one would his wand be? And what sort of temperment would they have!
Oh dear.
Rubbing his eyes, D knew that more information would have to be found. Silly facts of legend didn't help him - they were all legend. If a wolf was what his wand indeed held, then wolves would have to researched. Not just the shifters themselves, but the animals.
That D could do. But tomorrow.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:27 pm
Noel-chan Normally, the park would have been filled with children. They would adorn the play structures and trickle down the slides like a permenant addition. And their shouts of glee would fill the air simililar to the barking of dogs. It was as though, in the manner of many children, they were naive enough to think the park belonged to them personally. It was a happy place to be, you could always find children playing there during the day, even in the rain. It was somehow comforting. But not now. The early morning was not theirs to take.
In the misty haze of the park not long after the first light of dawn, a woman sat alone on a bench. A pencil was clutched in her still fingers and a notepad lay beside her, soaked through by the fog. Her clothing was worn and faded, it looked second-hand and cheaply bought, but despite its poor quality had been kept carefully spotless. Her blond hair wasn't anything special either, it was cut very plainly but neatly around her shoulders, she'd probably cut it herself. Under the curtain of soaked hair her eyes were closed.
Disinclined D was a mess. If it wasn't one thing, it was something else - why couldn't his life be easy? Why couldn't the rainclouds that hounded his back suddenly part ways? Why couldn't he find peace and relaxation within such a crazy, crazy world.
First his job had sent him to a new office much farther away. So the pink haired man had moved. After the new office got settled, they'd dismissed his services and sent him back home. Packing and unpacking, only to three months later repack it all, and unpack it at the same place he'd left. It was crazy.
His hours had been doubled - instead of forty hours a week, it was now sixty to seventy. He practically slept at the office, his cubicle becoming something akin to a jail cell. Early hours that ran late into the day - he hardly ever saw the sun anymore.
The job was killing him - but what else could he do? So what if he had a family to raise. . .? He couldn't support them if he couldn't work, so therefor he had no choice.
The job ruled.
Walking through the park, sleep having long since left him, the pink haired many heaved a heavy sigh. This is what growing up had handed him; nothing but restless nights, anxiety and indigestion. He gave up his night life for what? Stability? But stability for who?
Passing quietly through, dressed in his usual suit-and-tie, ready for the day ahead of him (even though the office wasn't officially open for hours anyway) D had hoped to get some fresh air. The wand he brought (as ridiculous as some might think him to be with it) was his companion. He kept the wand with him as much as possible, and with his work schedule, it was rare the two got to take a walk in the park.
He hoped the wand was enjoying it. D was - mostly. The dreaded thoughts of needing to be at the job for another day of work muddled with his emotions.
So caught up on worrying about the job, the man almost walked past the woman on the bench. When he did notice her, D did a double take - was she asleep? Was she alright?
Approaching carefully, D made sure to clear his throat. He didn't want to startle the woman, especially in such a scenario as this! He wasn't a sick psycho and getting maced or struck by lightning (if she were a mage) wasn't something he wanted to experience this early in the day.
"Excuse me - miss - are you- are you alright?" He sounded foolish, or so he thought. But he'd rather be safe and look silly than continue walking without showing concern.
Noel-chan The woman's eyes jerked open and she looked up at him, confusion written clearly on her face. Where? She tore her gaze from him to the sky and groaned. Foggy, it must be early morning.
"Damn", she swore, lurching haphazardly to her feet. She'd fallen asleep in the park again. Another night wasted. Lately, she had been working far over her normal hours on a job she'd only meant to be temporary. But, it wasn't working. She had to eat and the bills kept coming. After many failing attempts to get her first book published, her money had dried up and there was no time for dreams. She'd failed as a writer. And with the amount of time she was working for next to nothing, she felt she'd failed as a person too. If only-- NO, there was no time for such thoughts either.
How much of the day had she wasted? She glanced at the watch on her wrist and cursed again. Perfect, the damn thing had stopped working during the night.
She stretched and walked forward, straight into D, knocking herself flat on the pavement. Only then, did she seem to really notice that he was there. She stared up at him, confused with the confliction between his suit and his oddly-colored hair.
She caught herself staring, smoothed out her expression into a blank mask and strode forward. A slim-fingered hand was raised in front of her to shake and she greeted him calmly, as though nothing were out of the ordinary, "My name is Aris. You are?"
Disinclined
The pink haired man wasn't sure what to make of the woman. She'd stirred when he'd asked about her, had even managed to mutter some sort of cuss, and stared up at him. But what was a bit unnerving was that she then stood and walked into him, knocking herself back. Was she blind? Could she not see or had she merely misjudged the distance between them?
Whatever the case, D's grip around his brown wand tightened, almost protectively. There was weirdo's that surrounded Gaia - whatever was he doing harrassing them? She could be a demoness, for all he knew, or a black-widow. It was early, there was every possibility that she was drunk, drugged up, or hungover. He used to play with that sort of wild life, but that life was about as tangible as the fog surrounding them.
Trying to come to terms with who she might be, and if she needed to be greeted with caution, D managed to stutter out a few words. "I'm - I'm D." He shook her hand gently before sputtering out a few more phrases. "I hope I didn't disturb you. It's just that I guess I'm not used to seeing people asleep this early in the park. Not that I typically wander parks before the sun rises, and it is early so I can surely understand why you might be sleeping, but . . Just wanted to make sure you were alright, really." He finished lamely, realizing he was rambling and deciding it best for both of them if he shut up.
((Continuing as we speak . . ))
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:28 pm
D sat in front of his laptop, Ani DiFranco singing bitter songs of female prowress in the background. Her music always held some strand of anger or bitterness, but D enjoyed the music nonetheless. It always put him in a better mood, especially if his work gave him hell.
This afternoon had been no exception.
"Well, let's see what we can find out about wolves, eh?" Subconsciencly, the pink-haired ex-raver reached over to touch the wand. It hadn't changed since Ianna had handed it over to him. Occassionally it would glow when he touched it, but it was never a guarentee. What spirit was within the confines of the wolf-wand? Was it a baby boy in need of love? Or a baby girl which he could coddle?
Whatever gender, D forever anticipated its arrival. Cheylir, too, might enjoy the company of a sibling since Naia's absence. Another in the family might do them all some good.
There are three species of wolves in the world: the gray wolf (Canis lupus), the red wolf (Canis rufus) and the Ethiopian (or Abyssinian) wolf, (Canis simensis). Some researchers believe the Ethiopian wolf is not a wolf, but actually a jackal.
The gray wolf, Canis lupus, lives in the northern latitudes around the world. There are five subspecies of the gray wolf in North America and seven to 12 in Eurasia. The currently recognized subspecies in North America are:
Canis lupus baileyi, commonly referred to as the Mexican wolf or lobo.
Canis lupus nubilus, referred to as the Great Plains or buffalo wolf.
Canis lupus occidentalis, known as the Rocky Mountain wolf or Mackenzie Valley wolf.
Canis lupus lycaon, commonly referred to as the eastern timber wolf.
Canis lupus arctos, known as the arctic wolf.
"So which one might you be?" D chattered calmly, trying to imagine what his wind-spirit might take after. It wasn't, though, as if his little spirit was going to become a werewolf. That was just what it had been at one time - or so he thought he understood. So 'might be' was inaccurate. 'What it was' was more correct.
It was fun to think about, nonetheless.
Wolves usually live in packs which consist of the adult parents, referred to as the alpha pair, and their offspring of perhaps the last 2 or 3 years. The adult parents are usually unrelated and other unrelated wolves may sometimes join the pack.
Well, that was good to know. At least they were family animals. Perhaps his wand-spirit would desire a close-knit family? With any luck the child would be receptive to the attention D planned.
A Case History of Wolf-Human Encounters in
Alaska and Canada, by Mark McNay, documents
80 cases of wolf-human interactions (aggressive
and nonaggressive) that have occurred in the past
60 years: 36 in Alaska, 41 in Canada and 3 in
Minnesota. Of the 80 cases described, none was
fatal, and only 25 involved unprovoked aggression
by healthy wolves (of these 25 cases, only 13
involved injury to humans). The other 55 cases
consisted of interactions where wolves acted in
self-defense (14), were known or suspected to
have rabies (12) or showed interest but no
aggression (29).
The findings of these reports show the importance
of keeping wolf attacks in perspective. Currently,
there are an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 wolves in
Europe, 60,000 in the former Soviet Union, and
60,000 in North America. From the small number
of documented attacks, it can be concluded that
the vast majority of wolves do not pose any
threat to human safety. A person in wolf country
has a greater chance of being killed by a dog,
lightning, a bee sting or a car collision with a
deer than being injured by a wolf. Most of the
unprovoked attacks by healthy wild wolves that
have occurred were caused by wolves that
became fearless of humans due to habituation.
Nonetheless, like bears and cougars, wolves are
instinctive, wild predators better kept at a
respectful distance.
Ah-ha! So, overall, wolves weren't that agressive. What a common misconception! It only made sense that the animals would attack if provoked, ill, or felt threatened. D had never been afraid of wolves, but then he'd never been put face-to-face with one either.
The animals seemed to be more shy creatures. Curious and intelligent, but overall a fairly coy species. The fact that there was more of a chance he'd be bit by a dog was somehow . . .reassuring. He didn't expect his spirit to be a crazy child, but then again, D wasn't sure what to expect with the wand.
Sure, he had a child that grew from a glass jar filled with kool-aid and glow sticks, but that was . . . different. Somehow. Maybe.
The alpha male and female are dominant, or in charge of the pack. To communicate dominance, the alphas carry their tails high and stand tall. Less dominant wolves exhibit submissive behavior by holding their tails down and often lower their bodies while pawing at the higher ranking wolves.
There are two levels of submissive behavior: active and passive. Active submission is a contact activity in which signs of inferiority are evident such as crouching, muzzle licking and tail tucking. The behaviors typical of active submission are first used by pups to elicit regurgitation in adults. These behaviors are retained into adulthood by subordinate wolves, where they function as a gesture of intimacy and the acceptance of the differentiation of the roles of the wolves that are involved.
Passive submission is shown when a subordinate wolf lays on its side or back, thus exposing the vulnerable ventral side of its chest and abdomen to the more dominant wolf. The subordinate wolf may also abduct its rear leg to allow for anogenital inspection by the dominant wolf. If two wolves have a disagreement, they may show their teeth and growl at each other. Both wolves try to look as fierce as they can. Usually the less dominant wolf, the subordinate one, gives up before a fight begins. To show that it accepts the other wolf's authority, it rolls over on its back. Reactions to this behavior may range from tolerance (the dominant wolf standing over the submissive wolf) to mortal attack, particularly in the case of a trespassing alien wolf. Following the dominance rules usually keeps the wolves in a pack from fighting among themselves and hurting each other.
Wolves convey much with their bodies. If they are angry, they may stick their ears straight up and bare their teeth. A wolf who is suspicious pulls its ears back and squints. Fear is often shown by flattening the ears against the head. A wolf who wants to play dances and bows playfully.
Well wasn't that interesting! They had a very obvious display of communication. They could read each others body languages and even had a heirarchy of dominance and submission. How unique - they were almost like people, in a way. To some you were a rug to be stepped upon, while to others you did the stepping.
Have you ever heard a wolf howl? They're not howling at the moon they are communicating. They call any time of the day, but they are most easily heard in the evening when the wind dies down and wolves are most active. Wolves' vocalizations can be separated into four categories: barking, whimpering, growling, and howling. Sounds created by the wolf may actually be a combination of sounds such as a bark-howl or growl-bark.
Barking is used as a warning. A mother may bark to her pups because she senses danger, or a bark or bark-howl may be used to show aggression in defense of the pack or territory.
Whimpering may be used by a mother to indicate her willingness to nurse her young. It is also used to indicate "I give up" if they are in a submissive position and another wolf is dominating them.
Growling is used as a warning. A wolf may growl at intruding wolves or predators, or to indicate dominance.
Howling is the one form of communication used by wolves that is intended for long distance. A defensive howl is used to keep the pack together and strangers away, to stand their ground and protect young pups who cannot yet travel from danger, and protect kill sites. A social howl is used to locate one another, rally together and possibly just for fun
Well, wolves were obviously intelligent creatures. They had many-a-way to communicate and they didn't howl at the moon. Still, there was something romantic about listening to wolfsong under the full moon. SOmething romantic or horrific, depending if the wolf was a shy, gentle creature or a blood-thirsty killer.
Either way, D was pleased to know that real-wolves weren't vicious man-eaters. In fact, they seemed to be far from it! "That would be society for ya," he chattered, gazing fondly at the still wand. Reaching a hand over, he gently touched the wolf's fang that dangled from around the top of the wand. "Throwing misconceptions and bad images on animals." He thought briefly of stories such as Little Red Riding Hood, and the Three Little Pigs.
Wolves were always the 'bad guy', but that wasn't necessarily the case. In fact, it seemed far from it!
Whatever the case, this little spirit was going to get a lot of love, and a lot of attention. The more he read up about wolves, the more D was curious about what would become of his lycan son or daughter.
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Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 12:00 pm
D came home, arms laden with plastic grocery bags over flowing. What was it with the child laborers now a days? Didn't teenagers know how to properly bag groceries anymore? It hadn't been that long ago when he'd worked at a similar place - a cashier and bagger, with occassional duties to stock the shelves. He'd been fifteen at the time, and as much a punk as any.
Sure, the job only lasted two months before he'd been caught shoplifting and harassing the customers, but it had given him enough cash to party on the weekends and pick up the latest pills or drink.
That had only been a few - five - ten? years ago.
A decade.
The thought hit the man like a ton of bricks. Walking to the kitchen, fate seemed to mock him as the plastic sack ripped, and all of the groceries spilled to the floor. Eggs were cracked, cans of peas and carrots rolled the rest of the way into the kitchen, and a few, partially frozen dinners started melting next to the smushed bread.
Great.
Reaching a hand up, the man rubbed his brow, pushing aside his thick rimmed glasses. What else could go wrong? He'd been late coming in from lunch, his boss had given him a hard time about a few misplaced letters, and Cheylir had gotten in his first fight at the daycare. Now, groceries were spilled upon the floor, and his rent was due in the morning, but his check wasn't coming in until Friday.
"You think this is funny, don't you?" He growled, feeling incredibly highstrung and stressed. Life just wasn't going easy for the man, a sense of lonliness starting to creep upon him. Sure, he had Cheylir, and a wand, and Naia - but part of him wondered if any of them really cared. Cheylir was so wrapped up in his headphones and music, D didn't know much about the little blue fae. And Naia had her heads in the clouds, and tended to keep to her own council.
About the only one he really understood was the wand - and the wand didn't seem to do much of anything.
Kicking aside some of his frozen entree's, he looked over at where the wolf-furred object sat. It used to sit next to the jar Cheylir had risen from, but now it sat alone on the coffee table. Sometimes he'd move it somewhere more comfortable, like the couch or rest it on the edge of the bed when he went off to work. Sometimes he'd even bring it with him - but ever since spilling kool-aid on the wand, he really didn't want to risk hurting it.
Sometimes the wand seemed to glow or radiate when he spoke to it, other times it didn't. Whatever the case, this wand was his, but D occassionally found himself doubting his right to be a parent. The wand hadn't changed since he'd recieved it. There was nothing different - there was no -
"A cloud?" Logic kicked D in the brain, and he found himself staring at something floating above the wand. It was small and dim, but it was there nonetheless. It looked nothing more than a puff, like a wisp of smoke hovering over the moon-like orb that rested on the wands tip. He wasn't just imagining things, was he?
He couldn't be. Reaching up, almost comically, D rubbed at his blue eyes. Nope. It wasn't eyestrain, it surely wasn't his imagination. Forgetting about the mess on the floor, he stepped over the groceries to head over to the wand.
Tentitively, D was afraid to breathe and disturb the little wisp, he reached out to touch the wand. "You're - you're alive?" It sounded almost as lame as he felt. Of course it was alive! Hadn't Ianna said it would come to pass? Hadn't she said that eventually the wolf would become someone - something? Something alive? A child.
His child.
Well, it would be sooner or later.
"How - how long have you been here?" Was it ridiculous for him to be chatting to such a thing? No. The wand responded to his voice and touch before - there was nothing different! It was just that much more tangible, that much more closer to being real.
"Oh baby, I'm sorry! Have you been waiting here long? I didn't know - I was at work, and then I had to drop Naia and Cheylir off - are you alright there?" He felt the words fall from his lips like rain, a sense of panic starting to creep in.
How neglectful a father could he be!
Slowly, cautiously, he reached out to pick up the wand. He held it gingerly in his hands, not wanting to disturb the thin wisp. This was incredible to him - it was one thing for Cheylir to appear out of no where - but this was (to him) almost as close to witnessing birth.
From wand to wisp - one stage was complete - but how long until the wisp grew into something more?
And how fragile was this spirit anyway? Oh no. He'd have to stop back in with Ianna to find out.
"Welcome home, anyway." No more would he keep the wand at home by its lonesome. He wasn't going to let him out of his sight! Now, to only keep Cheylir or Naia from playing with the wisp, or trying something childish on it - like eat it.
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:41 pm
"Well good morning, lil . . . . spirit." D welcomed, reaching over to ever-so-gently pick up the wand. The man was delighted that his wand had finally shown signs of life. Ianna hadn't lied to him (not that he suspected she would have) but D was notorious for his gullibility.
The little wisp-of-a-spirit wavered in its stance, causing D's grin to broaden. "Were you just too shy to come out?" Perhaps it was sickening how much in love he already was in with the little wisp, but for all his rocking-and-raving-and-youthful-irresponsibility, D was nothing more than an overgrown teddy bear. A pushover, D cherished each and everyone of his children.
Not that he had many.
Cheylir was obsessed with music and the little fae hardly seemed to notice any other reality. For a time being, all he had to bond with was his wand - but now that there was life, there was growth!
D was excited. Like an overgrown kid on Christmas, his paternal instinct had kicked in full-force and there was no turning back. He had to protect the little fragile spirit. He had to be gentle with it, make sure it didn't get scared and escape back into the wand.
Part of the man still felt concern over the spirit. Now that it had actually manifested, how did one take care of a . . . wisp. It didn't have eyes to see, did it? Or a mouth, for that matter! There were new questions that D had long since forgotten to ask. Perhaps it was time to stop by the shop and see if Ianna could answer a few of his questions. If not her, then someone had to know!
"Did my baby have a good night?" D crooned, well aware of how sickening his doting had to appear. He didn't care - he was a proud parent, even if his daughter or son wasn't exactly tangible.
The wisp flickered again, in a dispaly D had decided meant happiness. Or sadness. Or perhaps confusion? What did a wavering mean? Eh - his little one had only just shown up the night before. It was a bonding time for spirit and father - D had a lot to learn and knew it would take time to figure out the wisps 'emotions'.
D reached into his pocket, removing his chunky set of keys. Many of them were useless, but he hadn't bothered with removing them from the set. To D, it made him look more important to jingle around an obnoxiously large set. "You're going to work with me, today, yes you are! Aren't you a lucky fellow!"
He'd stop back at the shop afterwards, see if Ianna was around. Besides, he had to show his little one off! Proud as a peacock, the pink haired man started out to persue the morning. It would be their first walk together - hopefully the little spirit wasn't skittish!
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:41 pm
.PRP with Coailiann. D
D finally had managed to make to back to the headquarters. He'd stopped by briefly after first recieving his wand, but soon after had been transferred out of the city. This was the first time he'd been back since his return a week previous!
Pushing his way past the shop, the pink-haired man gave pause in the old, dust-ridden shop. The room was 'creepy' as ever, with dust covered artifacts and various papers and books strewn about the room. It was an odd place, to say the least, but D couldn't have been more fond of it.
This was where he'd stopped in to find a gift for his boss - but instead had walked away with his wand!
"That's right, this is where you came from. . . sort of." He muttered, finding the shop empty. Oh well.
The little wisp extended from its curled up position at the tip of the globe, as if investigating the room. The pale brown spirit didn't investigate long, and quickly returned to (what D liked to call) its resting position.
It floated, but in a lazy sort of manner, half-curled and resting upon the fur-lined crystal.
D continued, pushing his way past the shop into headquarters. What was new in this world of spirits and wands? D could only imagine.
Still, it would be good to introduce his little spirit to others like him. With any luck, Ianna (or someone) would be around.
Besides which, D had a few questions about his new . . . spirit.
Coailiann Ianna wasn't there but Coailiann certainly was. The young sidhe was sitting on the sofa, staring hard at one of her little work books. There was no way in all of hades she would be able to get this right! The English language was just too damned confusing and the poor little girl was about ready to throw the book across the room, damn the consequences. She shook her head as she heard someone enter and turned her eyes towards the door. Pink haired man. With a wisp. Having never seen him before, Kay raised a brow and gave a half hearted wave. It was her hello and until he talked (if he did) she would go back to attempting to perfect the elusive word of Cat. D D wasn't surprised to see the place empty. He really hadn't expected too many to be around. Everyone had their own lives to live, and he was surely no exception. The place wasn't entirely empty, though, and he caught sight of a pale-haired girl sitting upon the sofa.
Pale-hair. Doing a double take, D blatantly stared for a moment, caught off guard Coailiann. Was there something familiar about her? Maybe. Maybe not. No no - whatever he'd questioned disappeared as soon as it came. He hadn't a clue who she was, but could only assume that since she was in the headquarters, than she was . . . .one of them.
Either the child of one of the guardians, or one like his little spirit, perhaps. Either way, D offered an amicable smile, and a little wave back. "Hello there," he started, glancing around the room one more time to make sure he hadn't overlooked someone.
Was the girl really here alone? Sure looked like it.
Well, now what? Did he go over and talk to her or sit tight with his little spirit? "Whatcha' workin' on?" Curiousity won out. Taking a few steps closer, wand in hand, D studied Coailiann and the books on the table.
He was careful not to look too snoopy - some kids were shy and didn't like strangers and some parents could be mightily OVER protective.
D didnt' want to get kicked in the shins or smacked with a purse. Especially since his little spirit was with him. Coailiann When the man greeted her, the young girl said nothing out loud. Her lips were busy trying to sound out words (Which she wasn't doing very well) and her hands were busy attempting t o write out various words of the English language that didn't seem to agree with the child's brain. It should be easy enough! She DID speak it, after all, didn't she? But it was so different!
At his question, Coailiann lifted her head from the work book and locked her green eyes upon the man. Could he not see she was working? Vaguely annoyed (mostly because of frustration at other things...like that stupid word Cat), the little girl harumphed, "English. It sucks."
Well, he managed to get her to speak - but she didn't seem very happy. So disgruntled she was that she forgot her normal manners and didn't offer him a seat or something to eat or drink or...Well, the various other things her mother had taught her to do. D
A pink eyebrow rose questioningly at the girl. English? So she was working on (what he assumed) was schoolwork. Her disgruntled harumph did not go unnoticed, by either spirit OR man. "It's not a very fun subject to learn, I do agree with you there," D complied, shaking his head in sympathy.
Oh, how he remembered his days of education and schooling. Half of it he slept through, while the other half he was too stoned out of his mind to remember much. Ah, his party days, now long since retired. English had never been one of D's strong points though, so he could certainly relate to her frustration.
"There are worse things, though," he continued, glancing down at the table to see if he could spot what she was struggling with. "Like math." Numbers and D were NOT friends. Numbers thought D an idiot, and D was about as delighted to see numbers as he was to see his proctologist.
Paternal instinct (which grew in sickening amounts within D) tugged at him. He couldn't rest unless he offered some sort of assistance - he WAS an adult, afterall, therefor there should be SOMETHING he could do. Right? "So what part of this language is causing you grief?"Coailiann "Everything," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest, "Math I can deal with. But learning English after knowing Gaelic and...." she hissed slightly and promptly glared at the english book. If glares could burst things into fire...(Okay, HER glares) the thing would be as crispy as her mother's cooking. Gaelic and English differed too greatly and the young girl couldn't get her tongue (used to pronouncing siu as "Shh" and various other weird combinations as things other than what they looked like) around the english phonetics.
Coailiann switched into speaking rapid gaelic the way she did when obviously frustrated - several swear words included into the rant before she breathed deeply, "Hate. At least you know how to do it."
Once more the young one switched back to English - not even realizing she switched to Gaelic. D
Gaelic? The girl knew gaelic? It took D a moment to translate the notion, to wrap his brain around the thought. A girl as young as she spoke a language that originated . . . elsewhere. Well, part of D imagined that it must have been natural for her - other children were bilingual, and could easily speak one language or the other and they were much younger that what Coailiann appeared.
It wasn't her age that was surprising - it was merely the choice of language. D hardly understood what Gaelic was much less how to speak it.
Before he had a chance to respond, the blue eyed man stared unblinking at the girl. Some form of jibberish had escaped from her pouting lips, and the man really hadn't a clue as to what she'd muttered. It sounded unlike anything he'd ever heard of before and he couldn't possibly understand what it meant. Spanish, French - okay, fine, D could guess at what was being said. Some words he understood - like mange in French was eat, or taco in Spanish was taco in english! Things like that, yeah, he knew.
But Gaelic?
No way did D have a chance to understand a word that Kay spoke.
Eyes drifting to his little spirit, D could only imagine what his child was thinking. Could the wisp understnad the words? Again, the little wolf-spirit had unravelled and stretched out, as if investigating Coailiann, studying her.
Of course, at her angry snarling of words, the spirit had taken a more reserved seat, keeping half of his wand in between himself and Kay.
There was energy here - but it wasn't a particularly friendly feeling.
"Well, uh," D stammered, offering a lop-sided smile and trying to buy a few minutes to think of SOMETHING to say. "English is just a very harsh sounding language. It's obnoxious, really, but with some time and practice I'm sure you'll get it down."
Coailiann Coailiann didn't understand his surprise at her knowing Gaelic and simply sighed, "It is. Gaelic is very...Musical. Light and soft. English doesn't sound right to me, even if my mother and father speak it. They don't understand what I'm saying anyway, though so..." she cracked a small smile, "Makes it easier to get away with things. And write in my journal." she was calming down and finally remembering her manners.
"Would you like to sit? I'm Coailiann, by the way."
A long pause before she asked something, "I know how babies are made, sort of, but what's an orgasm?" Hey. She was curious - and he was an adult. D D listened contritely as she spoke about her musical language. He could definitly feel for her if she was indeed fluent in another tongue. English really was obnoxious, and it was a shame that it was the only tongue he was fluent in. If Gaelic was musical, than English couldn't carry a tune. But that was the way things worked, wasn't it? "Could be worse - have you ever studied German?" Now THAT was a gutteral langugae. Compared to german, which was about as beautiful in melody as snapping bones, English wasn't too terrible.
As the girl continued to speak, and offered him a seat, D felt the tension in his shoulders start to relax. He hadn't even realized he'd been under pressure or stress! Still, the feeling of relief, of not having to step on tip-toes around the frustrated child, was nice.
Steppling closer to take a seat at the opposite chair, Coailiann's next words stopped him dead in his tracks. Not only did the colour drain in his face, but he totally MISSED his intended seat and fell hard on his a**.
"Ex-Excuse me?" He stammered, eyes wide as plates. "O-O-Orgasm?" He could hardly choke out the word. His grip on his wand had tightened, and he all but hugged his little spirit close.
Jounced out of place by the slight hard landing of his guardian, the nameless spirit slowly untwined, turning to study D in as obvious an irate manner as possible. What was going on with all the energy today!? First it was irate and tension filled, now D was screaming confusion and horror - whatever was his problem this ********. That was all D could think. How the hell did a girl know what an orasm was?! Who used that sort of langauge around a GIRL!?
"Um - well - heh," he stalled, trying desperately to come up with a way out of explaining THIS. "It's uh. . . it's uh. . . "
He couldn't just be honest with her, could he? Oh . . . . "Well, how were you told babies were made?" There. Maybe if he changed the subject, she'd forget all about orgasms.
Yeah, that would be ********. Hands all but shaking, the man didn't bother getting off the floor. Yet.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:15 am
Starting Over. . .
Well, it's me again - though it has been so very long since I've last written. I'm surprised I even bothered pulling this dusty notepad out. I certainly didn't expect to find it crammed under the bed - was that where I threw it last?
Well, book, you're not nearly as full as you once were. I think my last drunken frenzy made me scribble and rip out all the pages Jaish had written. Colaborative notebook - please. Strange how I'm not angry anymore over him leaving. I guess my world, though dimmer than it once was, didn't crumble when he walked out that door. Well, maybe it did, but I'm too blind to notice.
Not sure why I'm writing - guess it's an impulse. Never thought I'd be a journalist, sure as hell didn't think I'd continue writing down thoughts and feelings and ideas after the original inclination left. Two people, sharing souls - - -
But enough about that. Life has been flipped upside down since stubmling upon your last pages. I found a new a job - work for some firm as a lackey. No, I'm not really a lawyer, but I guess you could call me a sort of secretary. My day consists of taking crap from the office, refilling cups of coffee, signing papers, answering the phone nad putting people on hold, filing various things, and overall being the lackey they run around. It's decent money, and that's something I'm going to need.
I've also stumbled upon two children. One came from a lanturn - a glowstick fae child named Cheylir. He's a pleasant lad, albeit I haven't had the oppurtunity to bond with him. He's obsessed with music, and there's really no use prying away my - his - iPod.
On the other hand, I have another child. Not a fae but a . . well. . it came from a wand. It's a wisp now, a pale, neutral coloured spirit. From what I've been told, it's actually the spirit of a werewolf. Can you imagine it? Me, with a werewolf child?
I don't know how I'm going to handle it, but I know things will work out, one way or another. I'm very attached to the spirit, and since it does seem quite knew to the world, it appears very shy. I read up that wolves are shy creatures, so perhaps it's just apart of his personality?
His. Her. Could be a her. In fact, I'm not sure what gender it is yet. It's a floating wisp - very, very adrodgynous really. Never thought I could be so fascinated and ini love with something that looks like steam!
I wish I knew its gender - I hate always referring to the spirit as an 'it' or 'the wand' or 'the spirit'. I did go through some babynames and came across two that I was partial to. If this one is a male, I've decided to name him Faolan. It's Gaelic/Celtic, and had a nice ring to it. I originally had thought it prounounced "FOWL-an" [English - it's obnoxious) but further research says it's pronounced "Phel-an". I suppose I could use either, we'll see which way he prefers.
If it's a girl, I chose the Native American name Tala. Yes. call me an unoriginal b*****d, but both names mean wolf in their respective languages. I just think that that, seeing as the spirit came from that of a werewolf, that it might be more partial to wolves anyway.
Besides - both names are beautiful and I for one would love to have had a name like that. Not a lousy letter. =.= If you want to talk about unoriginal bastards, Journal, then go meet my parents.
But that's neither here nor there.
Faolan or Tala - hmm - perhaps I should take this up with the wisp? Speaking of which, the little one has floated over to my shoulder, and I'd imagine wants some sort of attention.
No more writing for today, Book, maybe I'll hook back up with you later.
Sorry for taking so long to get over him.
My life is more complete with Chyelir and Faolan/Tala. There will be no more worrying about that one. I have better things to fulfill my life. A different sort of affection, a different sort of need and love. I have them now - what else do I really need?
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:00 am
.PRP with Too-Ya in the Gardens. Disinclined The sun was starting to slowly set over the gardens, sprinkling the various plants and flowers with the last of its rays. Long shadows were starting to grow, enveloping the typically peaceful gardens and giving it a darker look.
"It might not be the park," D chattered to his little wisp of a child, "Or a forest, but I do hope you like it."
The pale wisp certainly had seemed interested, or about as interested as D could tell. The little one had perked up as soon as it was taken outside, uncoiling itself from the top of its wand and stretching out, as if to be closer to the world.
Walking it around the garden, D had been giving the little wisp a tour. He highlyg doubted the wisp understood anything he was rambling on about, but the ex-raver couldn't help but treat Faolan/Tala like a newborn. Lots of love, lots of tender care, and exposure to the world. "This is what you'd call roses - they're sharp, I wouldn't touch their stems. But they're very fragrant - very fragrant."
D grinned as the little wisp moved back and forth, as if investigating said-roses. Could it smell? D had no idea, but he hoped it could. Could it even see? Maybe not . . . In fact, the man didn't really know what a wisp could or couldn't do. But it was a learning process, really. Exposing it to the outdoors surely couldn't do the spirit any harm.
Ursah Bunny It was the first time that Sara Two-moons had ever visited the garden. Upon her entrance to the headquarters, she had previously always been asaulted by Kishi and Malen first thing - but for some reason this time the duo weren't there, and more or less empty, Sara thought it was the perfect time to explore. She had found the garden, and was marvelling at it as she strolled along the path, Too-ya-la-kekt cooing contently in her arms. As the sun washed over the botanical spread before her, it seemed to lace everything in gold, causing drops of dew to sparkle like tiny coins amidst the dark shadows of vegetation. The spell of enchantment was broken when a man's voice reached Sara's ears, one that she didn't recognize. She wasn't upset that the silence had been broken, but instead seemed curious as to the owner of the voice, and began to set off in its direction. Disinclined "I bet you're wondering what we do with flowers, isn't that right?" D asked lightly, completely unaware of Sara and Too's presence. He hadn't spotted anyone in the gardens when he had first approached, but then again, he hadn't been paying a particularly close amount of attention.
"Flowers are good for harvesting - you can put them in vases in the home and give colour to rooms. They also smell good, which is a bonus - if you can't smell their fragrence now, then you will when you're older."
To D, it wasn't ridiculous to talk to the spirit. It was a spirit and it would someday take the form of a child. A child he was responsible for educating and caring for. With that in mind, there was no reason why he couldn't coddle the wisp - even if it WASN'T particularly tangible.
"You can also use flowers for decor - they make quite lovely accessories!" D continued, an amused smile crossing his features. "Like this one here," he pointed, reaching down to pick up a collapsed rose. The stem had long-since snapped, and the flower was already beginning the first stages of wilting. But it was still colourful, and the perfume of the rose was still present. "And why wear an accessory, you ask? Because you can look damn fine, that's why!" Removing the broken flower fully, as it was already dying, D placed the rose delicately behind his ear. "See - how do I look, eh? Does it suit me, Faolan . . er. . Tala?"
Part of D wished he had a gender for the spirit. He tried not to use the wisps name too frequently - he really didn't want t confuse it more than it might be.
((Haha - a fashion show in the garden. xD )) Ursah Bunny "I'm not sure that it suits you..." Sara two moons said, breaking the silence to announce her presance. A smile was on her face - it wasn't every day she ran into a man crouched down in the flowers, teaching a wisp how to accessorize. "But a rose broken at the stem floats very well in a clear glass bowl, and looks lovely on a table." The woman stepped forward, crouching down next to the man, and extended a hand forward. "Sara Two-moons" she said, introducing herself. "And Too-ya-la-kekt, my ward here." The blue ghost's arms swayed, reaching like that of an infant. Disinclined D almost jumped when he recieved a reply. It took his brain just one flicker of a moment to realize that it wasn't the wisp - it was someone behind him! For just a second he'd hoped that it had been something else, something more tangible. . .
But Faolan/Tala was just a wisp.
Turning, cheeks highlighted with the most faint flush, D offered Sara a bright grin. "Those are excellent ideas as well," he told his wisp, blue eyes bright. "You don't have to worry about accessorizing 'til your older," he added as a fatherly aftersight.
D hadn't expected company, but was delighted to recieve it. A glance at Too-ya-la-kekt only heightened his delight - this one wasn't a child, nor a wisp, but a spirit-baby. D had yet to really meet one of them - perhaps this spirit could offer his own wisp some company?
Shaking Sara's hand, D continued the introductions. "I'm D and this here is. . Faolan . . or . . Tala." He hesitated but a moment, before shrugging his shoulders. Maybe she'd understand since he couldn't exactly tell what gender Too was.
Taking a moment to further admire the pale blue ghost, D's smile brightened. "And hello to you too," he cooed, paternal instinct gushing out of him like a saturated sponge. He couldn't help it - he was a daddy at heart.
The pale brown wisp had quietly settled atop of its silver tip. Carefully, almost shyly, it seemed to reach out - as if further investigating these new ones.
Ursah Bunny The blue ghost wasn't shy at all, and seemed delighted to find more company like himself. Sara set Too-ya's wand near the brownish wisps, and the ghost happily floated over to examine this "Faolan/Tala". Inside Sara's head the ghost said something like, "BAgah!" - which the woman didn't understand, but she smiled nonetheless, rather enjoying the voice that only she could hear. "I see you are less certain as to the gender than I..." Sara said, watching the two misty children examine each other. "I've been certain since the beginning that Too-ya was a boy... just something I've sensed. Some of the other owners have told me that sometimes the guardians just know." She paused a moment, smiling lopsidedly before adding, "Of course, if I'm wrong I'll be horribly embarassed. I'm still planning on making his nursery gender neutral." Disinclined D grinned, glancing from the dark haired woman to where Too-ya hung around Faolan/Tala. The little wisp stayed close to its wand, but ever so slowly uncoiled for further study. Reaching out, the little brown spirit "greeted" the blue baby ghost.
"I wish I did have some grasp of knowledge on gender - I'm afraid calling the wisp by two names might be confusing." For a brief moment, the man had an image of his future son/daughter, gender confused on top of being a reborn spirit. A little cross dressing boy or a cross dressing girl?
That would be his luck, wouldn't it? Not that D had a problem with gender-confusion - he'd tried on a few skirts back in his younger days more than once!
"Either way, I'll find out soon enough - if not by innate knowledge, than once the little one becomes a tangible baby." D glanced at Too-ya, pleased to see the little blue baby taking an interest in his wisp. The wand that the baby ghost held was bright - were those wings jetting out from it? Possibly - the colours were striking and eye catching, very . . tribal-esque in a way.
Part of D was curious as to what Too-ya had grown from. He didn't dare ask though, still uncertain as to the proper etiquette between guardians and 'the children'.
"I'm still a bit overwhelmed with the thought of having a baby. Heh, I guess I never expected to be a father this soon." Gods, he could only hope he was ready for such a responsibility. Holding down a steady job was hard enough. Cheylir was young but didn't need the tender-care that Faolan/Tala was going to require. Was he ready to play papa?
D had no choice, really. The answer was going to be yes.
Ursah Bunny Sara shifted down into a sitting position, resting her hands on her knees. "I'm certain, D... that we are never given more than we can handle." She offered a light smile, letting her eyes glance once more toward the two spirit beings at play before returning them to the man. "I'm not sure that any of us are ever fully prepared to be parents. I'm single myself, and well..." she chuckled a bit. "I've never considered myself the motherly type. Nonetheless, I must have something... some skill, some instinct, some knowledge that Too-ya-la-kekt will need." She tilted her head slightly to the side in thought. "I find it no coincidence that I, as a native american woman, and an anthropologist and linguist focusing on native american cultures... should for some reason find myself the guardian for such a creature as Too-ya. A thunderbird spirit, so I have been told... a 'mythic creature' of native american legend which is not even well known anymore." She paused, letting D consider what she had said before speaking again. "Perhaps you, D, have something which your child will need. Who are we to say what that is? There is so much out there that is larger than ourself... I didn't believe that... until recently." Disinclined D was thoughtful, contemplating Sara's words. He hadn't ever thought much about the gods or greater beings, though the man supposed that there was much out of his control. Things happened for a reason, and meeting Ianna and being given a wand had to have been fate.
He took some reassurance from her words, and smiled a lopsided grin. "I suppose I never really thought about it like that. I've been too busy to do much thinking anyway, but such is life."
So Too-ya was a . . . thunderbird? What sort of creature was that? D could only imagine lightning and rain and some sort of phoenix mixed all in one. And here he thought a werewolf would be trouble!
"I am glad, nonetheless, that this is the path my life is taking." Two blue eyes danced over to where Too-ya and Faolan/Tala were entertaining each other. "I wouldn't trade my wisp for the world, prepared or not." He didn't want Sara to get the impression he was ungrateful for such a blessing, such an oppurtunity. He adored his little pale wisp, adored it more than he ever thought he could love someone. . . much less a wand and wisp!
((Sorry for the short reply - sudden lack of writing inspiration. O_o; )) Ursah Bunny Sara smiled as the man echoed her exact feelings about Too-ya-la-kekt. Her eyes followed his line of gaze toward the two spirit creatures, and her smile widened as Too-ya let out a particularly audable GA! inside the confines of her mind. The blue ghost was doing a barrel roll in front of the brown wisp, as if trying to show off. Sara grinned. "He does that a lot... I think I'm raising a showoff." Disinclined D couldn't help but chuckel as he watched the blue ghost play. It seemed to have quite the lighthearted sort of nature. To witness a blue ghost barrel roll was quite the experience. "Hey, nothing wrong with desiring a bit of attention."
The little brown wisp seemed to give off an aura of fascination. It had uncurled completely, and was now lightly bobbing up and down, as if approving of the blue wisps antics. The tip of the wisp seemed to curl, the faint spirit attempting to mimic Too-ya's antics.
D's smile widened. He was pleased that the little brown wisp was getting socialized with his fellow peers. "If you don't mind me asking, what was yours like when he was a wisp?"
After watching the (seemingly) sociable blue baby ghost, D wondered if his personality as a wisp had been similar. Faolan/Tala seemed cautious and a bit on the reserved side. Would he grow up to be a wild child as a ghost? Would he open up more with longer exposure? Was it merely a phase or were all wisps cautious and uncertain?
He only hoped Sara didn't mind his prying - besides meeting with Ianna months previous, this was his first oppurtunity to talk to with another guardian.
Ursah Bunny Sara chuckled in return, shaking her head fondly at Too-ya-la-kekt. "He's always been curious, but he certainly has become more animated in recent days. I think he's slowly going more comfortable with his situation, or perhaps with me. Or perhaps its simply because I've been socializing more myself... who is to say." She watched the brown wisp, recalling To-ya's own actions in that stage. "He didn't move as fast... he seemed curious, but more cautious. I think he's starting to think very highly of himself. He's met a lot of wisps recently, as opposed to meeting children before. I suppose it does him well to be around other who are more like himself." Too-ya-la-kekt had stopped his barrel roll, and was now simply floating next to the brown wisp, a whisper away from touching it. Disinclined D watched the blue and brown wisp interact. This had been his little wisps first meeting with another - at least with one who wasn't already a tangible form. The little girl, the one who was fluent in Gaelic and very pouty, she had seemed to intimidate the little wisp. Then again, what did D know? The little wisp hadn't really "met" any others outside of the home before!
"Well, I won't worry too much. I'll chalk up his nature to natural shyness and caution - I'm not really much of an expert when it comes to floating wisps." But who was?
Maybe Ianna. Maybe.
D was quiet for a few moments, watching Faolan/Tala interract with the wisp. The dusty-brown wisp had stilled its curling, hovering a mere breath away from the blue ghost, as if partaking in a "staring" contest.
A sudden flurry by the fountain, a small flock of sparrows bolted from one side of the garden to another, made the little brown wisp "jump". Startled, the wisp quickly lurched back to its position on top of its crystal.
D tried very hard not to laugh. "Poor thing IS a bit jumpy, but I guess the world can be a frightening place."
The man stifled a yawn, stealing a grudging glance at his watch. Cheylir was at home - alone - and D didn't like to keep the little blue fae by himself for long. No, he didn't think the blue one was going to get into trouble, but . . . it was better to be safe than sorry.
Besides, the sun would be gone completely soon, and knowing Cheylir, D doubted he'd bother to turn on the lights. "Well Sara," he grinned, slowly rising to his feet. His bones creaked along the way, further proving his age. Ugh - he was getting more old and decrepit day by day. "It was wonderful meeting you and . . . Too-ya, but I fear it's getting late, and I've another son waiting at home. It seems I should be getting back before it gets too late."
Ursah Bunny Sara tilted her eyes up with the scattering of the sparrows, the coppery orbs finding D. "Yes, of course... it was such a pleasure meeting you and yours." The brown wisp had frightened, and the poor thing had retreated to its wand. The blue ghost cooed a question inside his guardian's head, floating upward as if to have a better vantage. Sara smiled, and bent to retrive Too-ya's staff, taking it once more in her arms like she would a baby. "If I don't see you again before Faolan... eh... Tala... well, whichever... if I don't see you before the dear grows again, best of luck with adjusting to it!" She laughed a bit. "The gods know I'm having an interesting time of it..." The sun had slipped beyond the horizon and the lasts lights of the day were glinting on the tips of vegetation. Even the sparrows, all but one, had retreated to their nightly homes. The last one picked at something on the ground, and then took wing. Sara smiled, and then cooing to the blue ghost floating near her arms, she turned to leave.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:19 am
Welcoming Gifts D looked around the small apartment, trying to figure out how he was going to manage a child. Ever since meeting Sara’s Too-ya, the hopes and fears he felt for Faolan/Tala were ever present. Would he be a good enough father? Would he be able to raise such a dependent being without (in short) royally ******** up?
Gods he hoped so.
It wouldn’t be too long before his little darling wisp would grow again, and before long, D knew that his son or daughter would be tangible. The spirit would be like any infant and newborn – cry, fuss, crawl, need to be fed, burped, changed – the responsibility would be far worse than keeping Faolan/Tala away from the vacuum.
But, he’d decided to care for this spirit, the gods had graced him with such an honor, therefore D would accept it with arms wide open.
Every parent was scared. . . . right?
Shaking his head clear of those thoughts, D grimaced at the sight of his apartment. There was junk cluttered everywhere. Sure, the place was clean, but there wasn’t a lot of room. One bedroom, one bathroom, a little niche for his office, and an open living room-kitchen-diningroom. D had bought the apartment when it was just him – now he had Cheylir’s bed in living room next to the stereo system – so where would his spirit live?
For awhile, D knew that the baby’s room could be in his bedroom. The crib could be set up in the corner, with a changing station – but when and IF his little baby grew afterwards, it was going to be tight. Cheylir and the child could share a bed, he supposed, but they still needed their own room.
Did he have the money to afford something bigger? He’d have to worry about that later. Besides, he thought, if it took months upon months for his little one to become a wisp than it might take months and months before Faolan/Tala grew into a baby ghost.
He had time – no worries. His lease didn’t go up for another few months anyway.
”Well, baby, Daddy bought you a gift!” D crooned, reaching over to delicately pick up the wand. The brown wisp readily uncurled, reaching towards D as if to be closer to him. It was an endearing quality, really, and the pink-haired raver couldn’t help but smile.
”That’s right – just for you, baby. You’ll appreciate it more when you’re older, I promise!” It had been an impulsive buy. D was still settling into the fact that his little spirit had grown. The spirit was still a wisp (and whatever did one buy for a wisp?) but the little one would be grown sooner than later. He’d have to start stocking up nursery furniture, diapers, clothes and toys soon enough so today he’d given it a start.
Reaching into a bag, the man carefully took out a delicate looking stuffed animal. It was brown and grey, and was very much so a wolf. The wolf almost matched the wand and wisps neutral colours, making it a perfect gift for his baby. It was soft, the fabric a type of cashmere, and completely machine washable. He doubted the spirit would soil the plushie anytime soon, but when Faolan/Tala got enough use out of it, D wanted to make sure he could clean it without too much destruction involved.
The little brown wisp reached forward, investigating the newest toy. D smiled, unsure whether or not the little plushie was going to interest the spirit or not, but pleased by the reaction.
Setting the wand down, he carefully placed the wolf besides Faolan/Tala’s orb. “You can cuddle with it, it can keep you warm if I’m not around,” D encouraged, retreating over to the kitchen.
He was going to have to get dinner ready for Cheylir and himself. Argh – the kitchen looked bare. No groceries, but not enough money to dine out. If it wasn’t one thing, it was something else. . . Ugh. Oh well, he couldn’t worry about it now. Opening the freezer, the man decided that he’d have to wing it. There were a few frozen chicken breasts that he’d forgotten to take out this morning – he could heat those up and make some pasta to eat with it.
“Arglebla . .”
D didn’t bother to look – it had to be Cheylir, making up words to some sort of song. “What you listening to today, hmm?” He asked, shutting the freezer door to open the pantry. Just as empty – great.
“Blatha. . .”
Blatha? What sort of song was that! Had to another language. “Nice – sounds . . nice.” Glancing over his shoulder, D did a double take.
Wait a minute. Wait . . . Eyes going wide, D’s brain finally kicked into motion. A glance over at the living room, Cheylir was sitting on his bed, bouncing along to his own music, oblivious to everything.
But if he was over there – then who was . . .
And there it was. “Cooah,” came the answer, though the voice wasn’t so much vocal as it was telepathic. D stared hard at the wand that was now floating over the couch. The little wolf was still flopped upon the furniture, but a darker, much more substantial GHOST was hovering over it.
“F-Faolan!” D gasped, blue eyes wide.
He was here? Now!? THIS SOON!? Oh no – he wasn’t ready! He wasn’t ready to be a papa. Where was he going to sleep? Where was he going to eat? D needed to get sooo much done an sooo much ready. He had to apartment hunt, he had to get a babys room prepared, he had to buy clothing, and food and . . .
The shock and surprised melted away to gushing love and affection as D watched his little one drift down. One pale arm (at least D assumed it was an arm, it looked like one) reached out to touch the little wolf.
“Bliggit!”
D knew it was over. His heart had been had, his heart was completely owned by both Cheylir and Faolan. “Oh, baby,” he crooned, stepping away from the kitchen to get closer to the baby ghost.
That caught Faolan’s attention. The little spirit, clutching protectively to his wand, drifted over to his pink haired guardian. Hovering close, the pale one came to rest in front of D, reaching out with his dusty-brown arms.
”Oh, baby. . . “ If he were any more of a woman he’d choke up with delight. Thankfully, D had enough self-control to not burst into tears. “I take it you liked the gift?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:13 pm
.Who's the Sweetest Transparant Baby in the World??.
Where to start?
I know - Faolan grew. That's right, he's now much more solid, if not fully opaque. It's amazing how quickly he's grown now that we're finally settled. I wonder if that's what the problem was originally? My job, though steady, was still eating my life and sending me all over the place. After various transfers, it looks like I'm finally here to stay.
For good (knock on wood).
I think Faolan knows that, which is why he's chosen to grow. Maybe. Perhaps. I could be making this all up in my head - my parents always told me I had too much imagination!
Now that's he grown a bit, I also have an innate feeling that he IS male. Before I hadn't a clue on the gender, but now that there's more substance to him, I believe that he's really a he. Though like Sara said, with her ghost, she'd look mighty foolish if she were wrong!
Oh well - I'm sure Faolan (or Tala, if my instincts are incorrect) will forgive me for any gender confusion I may place on him. Or her. I'd rather give them a gender than refer to them as an it! Not that he'd understand. . . Or . . well. . maybe he would?
Now I'm not so sure. Maybe I'd better stick to avoiding pronouns from here on out, until I know for certain.
Looks like I'm going to have to get a room ready for the wolf. I must admit - I'm very very excited about this! Nervous as all ********, sure, but overall my joy outweighs the anxiety.
As Sara said, we're all here for a reason, obviously Faolan was given to me just for that sake! Now, do I smother him with canine goods or do I bcak off and stay neutral? I don't want to overwhelm the poor fellow at such a young age!
Oh well.
He seems to love his wolf plushie, for that I'm pleased. He clings onto the wolf as much as he clings onto his wand, so I'm taking that as a good sign.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:35 am
.Faolan Meets Kishi. Disinclined D heaved a heavy sigh, flopped upon one of the empty plush couches that faced the television. The set was turned off, thankfully, and he was covered with two plush animals - the wolf that Faolan loved dearly, and a blue dog-like mozou plush he'd recieved as a gift. The baby ghost had taken a fondness for resting upon D's shoulder, or (when the man was sitting) curling up in his lap or creeping up to settle upon his chest.
It was strange, having a baby ghost wrapped around your person, but to D it was also the most natural thing in the world.
Today though, the pink-haired guardian was utterly exhausted. Work had been hell and he was frantically trying to budget out a baby's room for Faolan. The apartment they had was much too small, but it was the only decent place D could afford~!
So, they'd have to make do. For now, the babies room would be in with D. He'd set the crib up next to the bed, and the changing table on the adjacent wall besides the door. That would give him time to clear out his office and (perhaps) turn it into a childs room. Ugh - he'd have to worry about that later. If it wasn't one thing, it was something else, and today was filled with unnecessary worries.
D's thoughts were heavy - bills, money, his job, his children, future parental worries and anxieties - the list went on and on. So he'd dropped in at the headquarters to get away from the demons that lurked in the shadows at home. Besides, it would do Faolan some good to get to know his brethren. Maybe Sara and her baby ghost would be around. . .
As it was his luck, the place was empty. Figured.
Blowwwww-urlgh! Faolan gurgled in his head, squirming a bit upon D's chest. The wand jabbed into his ribs, but D ignored it. All the bruises were accepted with love and adoration for his growing boy.
"That's right, it IS quiet here. You like the silence?" He muttered softly, peering down his chest at the ghost.
The baby shook his fist and wand in response. CooaAHha!.
ladyumbra A dripping wet Kishi padded down the hallway towards the rec area. She's been in the fountain perhaps a minute when she'd decided that it was far too cold to see if she was a better swimmer now that she was bigger. A large fluffy blue towel was wrapped around the girl held closed in one hand with her other clutching her wand but it didn't prevent puddles of water from forming everywhere she went.
The young succubus walked with unease her steps small and unsure. Though the dailey practise helped she was still unsteady on her feet and likely would be for the next few weeks as she finished adjusting to her body.
Kishi had been planning to dry off on the couch while watching a movie but apparently this new guardian had other plans. The annoyance she felt was mometary before her normal desire to seek out her ghost like kin took over.
" Hello there I'm Kishi and I live here who are you and who is the ghost?" Kishi asked the pink haired man from behind. Disinclined D blinked, shifting his position (carefully~!) to peer behind his shoulder. The question had seemed a bit on the demanding side, but . . . a look proved that the source was nothing but a child. A kid. And from the statement alone, he had to assume she was one of the wand-children.
"Uh - - " His mind grasped for words, even as Faolan made a few baby whines and whimpers from having his position jarred. "It's nice to meet you, Kishi," D remembered his manners before continuing, "I'm D and this little one here is Faolan."
The brown ghost floated up with a curious air, moving over D's shoulder to further study the child. Blarghhh-it! GhoDOAdah. . .
The wolf was particularly talkative today, and responded well to peoples voices. He even responded to the radio and television, D had noticed, though he liked to believe the baby was happiest when with him.
D held onto the two plushies, keeping them from falling to the floor as he pushed himself up in his seat. The girl was dripping wet and he was at a loss of words. Her questions had truly caught him off guard.
"Have a . . . nice . . swim?" Or shower? D really couldn't tell. Wasn't it freezing outside? Maybe she was an ice dragon or some sort of creature reborn with an affinity for the cold. Who knew when it came to these sorts of children.
ladyumbra Kishi smiled " It's nice to meet both of you." That said she gave something between a bow and curtsy ( which she'd seen on t.v) that resultsed in her landing on the floor with a slight *thump*.
At this she laughed even thought she hurt a little. " It was really cold swimming and I was only in for a bit becuase I wanted to see if I swimmed better becuase I'm bigger then when I last was in the fountain."
Kishi gave a sad sigh at that "I guess I'll have to go to a yucky pool with chlorine in it to see if I swim better now." That was a sad thought since the chemical would likely sting her eyes and nose and make swimming no fun at all.
Kishi let her eyes travel from guardian to ghost she'd never seen anyone coloured like Faolan before. The other had all been bright or rich colours that really stood out. Not that this made Falon less than any of the others just different.
" Does Faolan like other people and girls?" she asked before attempting to get up again. The last thing she wanted to do was upset the babyghost becuase it wouldn't like her. Disinclined D followed along with what the girl had to say, eyebrows raising as she hit the floor. But, seeing as she hadn't screamed or cried or thrown a fuss because of it, he had to assume she was all right.
D was slightly surprised by the girls observations with water, but the shock didn't last long. Why wouldn't one swim in this weather? And why wouldn't one choose a fountain as the water source? It made sense - the city didn't have many lakes and streams, so a fountain would do best.
"Well, maybe when the weather gets nicer, you can find a lake or stream," they weren't the cleanest but they were chlorine free, and some of them weren't terribly polluted.
Faolan had jumped, a bit starteled by the girls fall, and ducked down behind D's shoulder. The little ghost, clinging tight to his wand, slowly peeked over his guardian's shoulder. Blurghit aahuho? His "voice" cooed quietly, questioningly.
D glanced from Kishi to Faolan, then back again. It was true that this girl was NOT shy, and she certainly didn't have a problem asking questions. Or talking for that matter! "I uh - he seems to like others all right. He can be a bit shy sometimes, but once he spends some time with them, he seems to like them all right." D wasn't entirely sure, to be hoenst. He'd only ever met a small handful of others and had displayed caution with each meeting.
"I don't think he's ever met any girls, though - so you may be the first." Sure, there was Sara, but Faolan had seemed much more interested in her baby ghost!
ladyumbra Since it appeared to be ok Kishi rose to her feet and grinned at the shy baby ghost. " Don't be scared I'm nice and won't try to hurt you" she promised speaking softly.She'd had to work slowly and quietly in the past so gain Zah's and Too ya's trust so she was used to this slow one step at a time introduction thing."Good afternon I'd don't believe we've met before I'm Malen Kishi's father." Malen said after emerging from the portal. His arms will were filled with white pastic grocery bags and a few brand names lables could be read through the bulging bags. " I'm sorry there was no one here to meet you when your arrived can I get you something or awnser some questions?" Malen had long ago gotten used to the fact that his home was usually occupied by one or more pairs of strangers. Disinclined The baby ghost stayed close to D, but slowly, ever so slowly drifted over his shoulder to further investigate this. . . person. The baby didn't know a whole lot, but he did understand that she was different then the ghost he'd met as a wisp, and she was different than D.
But Kishi had a wand, and Kishi was bright and black all at once! The colours were unusual, and he liked it. Griglah! Boahghle aeooOOoya! He chattered silently to D, shaking his little baby fist and wand in excitement.
One of his hands reached out for Kishi, almost as if he were greeting her!
So fascinated with Kishi, Faolan didn't even notice Malen much less give him a second look.
D watched, a small smile on his features as Kishi spoke soothingly to his son. That was a boy, he silently cheered on Faolan, hoping that his son would find some confidence with age and experience. It had to be an interesting life as a ghost . . .
And then, instead of the three of them, there were four! Doing a double take (portals always confused the very-unmagical D) and his eyes went wide with surprise. "Oh, no, it's quite all right. I mean . . " Maybe he shouldn't have entered when no one was around? Oh dear - but hadn't this place been open to everyone, anytime? Maybe he was just confused, but . . . then again . . .
"Oh I didn't mean to barge in on the place, I'd just brought Faolan in for a visit. He's a bit shy, so I'm just trying to introduce him to more of his . . . kin."
Oh, and then there were manners and introductions! "I'm D, and this here's Faolan," he reached out a hand in greeting, before hesitating and dropping it back to his side. Silly D - Malen had his hands full!
"Did you - did you want any help with that?" He could at least offer.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:36 am
D didn't know where to begin. The store was covered in pastel blues and pinks, whites and yellows. There was a jungle of cribs off to one side, with a small few under the "Discount" section. Ads lined the walls full of happy babies, eyes bright and full of hope and naivetee, and smiling mothers, fathers and fake families. The shop was a mobile wonderland, and entire walls were covered in stuffed animals made of only the softest materials. Baby clothes, toys, gadgets, gizmos and accessories were everywhere.
D couldn't help but feel lost.
Faolan was (seemingly) asleep, twisted around his wand that he clung so desperately to. He'd stopped cooing in D's head on the bus ride over to the mall.
Where do I even begin . . .? Was the first thought to hit D. Followed only by And how will I get this stuff home~!?
He needed to invest in some sort of vehicle. Public transportation was fantastic in the city, but it sucked carrying any bought goods home.
Oh well, it was too late to worry about the little things. Faolan was going to need his own room, or at least the beginning of his own room, no matter what. And D didn't trust waiting too much longer. Who knew when his baby ghost would grow again? It wouldn't do to have a baby and no crib~!
"All right, Cheylir - you hang onto your brother and keep your eyes peeled."
The blue fae, for once, had his headphones off, and gave a nod. "Check!"
D smiled, reaching a hand down to affectionately stroke Cheylir's head. The boy wasn't much of a talker, but D did love him a great deal. He could only hope Cheylir felt some form of affection and fondness back.
Clearing his thoughts, the small family awkwardly headed throughout the baby bonanza.
Cribs were first on the list, and D eventually settled upon a discounted crib. It wasn't painted white like many of the others, and was wooden. A simple design, but it felt sturdy and D liked the "natural wood" look of the crib. It was naturally padded on the bottom and sides, and was one of the few cribs D could figure out how to open. The price wasn't bad either.
Deciding he wanted to stick to an animal theme, he bought Faolan an additional mattress for extra padding in the crib. Instead of being plain white, it was baby-blue zebra striped. D thought it was cute, and Cheylir had agreed.
The little fae made sure that Faolan was not going to be without company. He picked out yet another plushie for Faolan, this time a raggedy-zebra to match the mattress. The fae had told D that his wolfy-brother was going to need to have SOME prey in his life, and that a wolf could eat a zebra. So Faolan should have a zebra to chew on, since the fae also knew babies liked to chew.
Keeping that in mind, D was sure to pick up some teething rings. He feared the day Faolan would start to teethe, and could only HOPE that his boy would have normal teeth. No fangs - NO FANGS!
After the chew toys came other toys. A rattle to make noise, a few pastel blocks made out of soft fabric, and a few childs toys- a three-note xylophone, and a small rainbow ring-set.
Then came the clothes - the outfits were absolutely ADORABLE and D held no holds barred. Every colour of the rainbow was bought, woth footies and matching socks, and matching hats. D fell in love with a blue and white sailor outfit.
Cheylir chose a corduroy jumper with black shoes that had puppies and bones on them, matching socks AND a matching long-sleeved shirt. He thought the boy might appreciate puppies, considering Faolan had a fondness for the wolf plushie to begin with.
Then came the nightlight, as well as a changing station, a napper, a foam bath board, a stroller, and finally a mobile. The mobile was fantasy based - a happy green dragon, a castle, stars, and a unicorn all in pastel rainbow colours.
At the end of the day and a fight to get home(D wound up having to call in a favor from a friend to pick them up in his truck) he returned home and spent a good five hours setting up the room. Stopping only to serve dinner to Cheylir, Faolan's section of the room was finished. Boxes were still scattered everywhere and would need to be brought out to the trash. But, despite the mess, the room was finished. Standing back to admire his work, only then did D realize he'd forgotten to stay colour-gender-blinded. Faolan's room was nothing more than a pastel rainbow - pinks, blues, greens, yellows, and purples.
Well, that could change with time - for now, Faolan would be too little to realize that boys weren't "supposed" to wear pink and purple. Babies ere babies, and D couldn't wait to get his son in a sailor outfit.
"Well, what do you think?" He asked Faolan, the baby ghost floating around the room.
The wolf spirit made a gurgling noise, and was busy investigating the crib. The stuffed plushies were lined against either side of the crib, and Faolan was quick to cuddle between them all. Nestling close, the baby ghost (as far as D was concerned) seemed . . .happy.
"It's all for you, darling," D whispered, pleased to see the little ghost so taken with the crib.
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:50 am
.OMG - The Boy Has . . . . STRIPES!?! D groaned, squirming in his bed and opening one way to stare at the alarm. 3:16 a.m. "Argh~!" Growling, the pink-haired man reached over to bury his head under his pillow.
Was that a baby or a dog howl? Whatever the case, the man hoped upon hope that whoever was neglecting their ward was in need of a good a**-kicking. It was three in the morning and he had work in another three hours~! Couldn't the fates let him get any sleep!?
"Someone take care of it, please," he whispered, barely conscious. Sleep was still tempting the man, a land of dreams and fairies and anti-stress. But the strange howling, the strange noise just wasn't getting an - -
Wait a minute. That wasn't out of his window, the noise was in his -
"Faolan~!" Sitting up in bed like a flash, all sleep was drained from the business man. The lamp next to his bed was turned on, and D flew himself at the crib. Sure enough, wrapped up in a baby-blue blanket, wasn't a ghost but a baby.
A living, squirming, crying baby~! It happened? When had it happened? And how long had been crying~? Or was he howling? D couldn't tell, but it didn't matter.
"Daddy's here, hush you - it's all right. I'm sorry you're upset - ooooh!! Don't be upset~!" Scooping the small, squirming baby in his arms, D felt both excitement and a smidge of fear. It had finally happened.
His baby (which was most obviously a boy) had grown. He was the most beautiful, most precious thing D had ever laid eyes upon~! All the aggravation, all the fear, all the uncertainty melted away when he lookd down in to those golden eyes.
D couldn't help but melt.
Faolan, for his part, quieted as soon as he felt D's arms wrap around him. There, that was much better, now that he had what he wanted. The baby had been used to going his way, doing what he wanted, and instead he'd found himself stuck~! He hadn't been able to get out of the cage, and it had been awfully scary and overall, the little baby had demanded help.
And it had come.
His savior.
Cooing softly, Faolan looked up at D and allowed his pudgy-cheeks to turn into a smile. "Glarbha!"
There. Everything was right again. As it should be.
D nuzzled his son, giving the baby kisses on his forhead. "Now what are you doing up at an hour like this? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" The man prattled, nuzzling his son and admiring how handsome he was.
Dark hair, gold eyes and . . . stripes! D was surprised by the markings that covered his son, never once imagining him with such tribal symbols. Faolan had been a wolf, right? But . . . natural body tatoos?
Wherever had that come from . . . ?
Part of D's mind laughed, while another part blamed the zebra mattress.
A striped wolf, who'd have thought? Oh well - it didn't matter. Faolan was here now, that was all that mattered. D hadn't failed as a guardian, he'd brought his son back from a wand, to a spirit, to now a fully functional baby boy.
Well, now he had real responsibility on his hands. With any luck, his work would give him some maternity leave. He'd call in the morning, right now, he didn't need sleep. Didn't need anything but have his little son cuddled up tight in arms.
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