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 Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:51 pm
Reaching up to feel the smooth eyes of his own goggles, Mikaril nodded in agreement with Ssu's warning. He considered himself more accustomed to headwear than most, but that had always been his hood, which compared to the goggles was weightless. That and it didn't wrap around his head like a prematurely-pulled noose and took a few of his white hairs with it whenever it was removed. He would probably need that ready-made excuse before too long, but perhaps he would still find ways to preoccupy himself and distract him away from the new and uncomfortable sensation the goggles promised.
Not needing to see the look on his friend's face, Mikaril wrinkled his nose as Ssu would address his friend thus. He never forgot that were it not for the female, Kyil might be long dead, taking little Mikky with him in his inability to safely bring her into the world, and Mikaril would have been wandering about in a state of grief, finding no more joy in existing and looking for a way to follow his best friend, if he hadn't found the means to do so already. Still, it always irked him that she seemed to ignore how marvelous his friend was. He hadn't let himself get burned half to death by his sister and trick her into burning Kyil's slave papers just to have him once again being addressed as though he had no wishes or desires of his own. Hearing his friend complying by calling Ssu 'mistress' only seemed to make it worse. He knew that Kyil was far from easy around Ssu; everything from the way she seemed just shy of taking his dearest friend, chaining him to a bed and ravaging him to the way she seemed to view Kyil as more of a nursemaid than the one that gave Mikky life made him fidget, more than enough for Mikaril to take notice. He wanted to tell his friend that it was all for the sake of outward appearances, that they must look this way to appease those who constantly had their eyes on their wagon, but at times even he had trouble believeing such a thing.
Even now, as Mikaril tried to find the words to voice his disappointment in what the view outside had shown him, he could see his friend with that all-too-familiar fidget, even as he heard him ask about what he had just seen. He was opening his mouth to answer when Ssu spoke up. Relief washed over Mikaril even as the blush crept all the way up his white ears. Of course; how could he have been so naive? He had been told once about the alternating lights and darks; how else could the surface raiders have done their grisly work? They must truly had arrived at a point in between, where the surface world was rearranging itself in preparation for the change, much like the way Ssu was now, adjusting her goggles and rubbing something onto her skin. Turning to face Kyil, he smiled a little sheepishly. "It looks dull outside, but I forgot that it gets lighter and darker out there. I hope it doesn't happen too fast; I want time to adjust my eyes at least."
Noting Kyil's worried expression, Mikaril walked over to where his dear friend and his daughter were, smiling at the latter. "I bet you'd like to see all the nice flowers, huh? And if you're good, you might get to see some of the circus act! Wouldn't that be fun? I heard there's a dragon here somewhere....." As he spoke, he positioned his hand in front of his chest, visible to Kyil but not to Ssu if she turned around. What troubles you, my friend? Are you worried for our safety?
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:16 pm
Ssussun found Mikaril's words so naive. It was charming in a way. She carried on her preparation to venture outside, utterly ignorant of the troubles the two males alone seemed aware of. By her own opinion, she treated Kyil far better then a houseless male like him deserved. Pretty as he may have been, she had not so much as smacked him yet. Truly she was being lax with them! It was undeniable in her mind that the two males belonged to her now. Mikaril and she were married. No matter what she may have told him, everyone else saw them married and as 'fake' as the marriage was, it was still a marriage. The fact she had 'chosen' Kyil to bare her daughter made him her's as well. Personally she thought she was blessed. Lloth had surely delivered her the best males to suit her purpose. They had a clearly submissive nature, as not a one had acted disrespectful. If she wasn't so concerned with some other female trying to steal her males away she'd have boasted about them!
Ssussun turned from her mirror even as Mikaril approached Kyil. "I am going to go out and fetch one of the others Ril. I'll tell him his task is to get you acquainted with the surface world while we set up. You can't be a proper guard if your startled by things that are abundant and common in this light blasted place." Ssussun turned to blow a small kiss towards Mikaril, before opening the door so she could back out of it.
Kyil kept a eye on Mikky, who seemed to have tired of wearing her blindfold. The little one tugged on the ribbon ends until she managed to pull it off her eyes, though in doing so she had mussed her hair up so it stuck up in the air a bit. Her pretty pink eyes glittered brightly as she looked up at Mikaril. The word 'flowers' did not get as big a reaction as Dragon did, her little lips pursed into a O of excitement.
Kyil dropped his gaze a little as Mikaril signed to him, and he hesitated to speak. As it seemed Ssussun was leaving, he waited for her to close the door behind her so he could speak freely. Or rather sign. He did not want to upset Mikky after all.
Kyil felt...ashamed as he made the hand motions for Mikaril to read.
~I am scared Mikaril. I am scared that something will hurt Mikkyila if she goes outside. I am scared that something out there will hurt you. What if it is not what you hope? What if it disappoints you? Ssussun worries me as well. Now that we are separated at night I can not keep watch to make sure she does not hurt you. I did not carry you from your sisters lair to watch you fall into another females torture room. I am worried that Mikky will not realize or accept that we are her parents and will believe Ssussun's lie about being her mother.~
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Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:44 pm
Mikaril still felt insanely happy that he had not seen the surface world as it was really meant to be seen. His desire to see it felt so....fragile, as though the slightest thing would send his eagerness reeling into the realm of disappointment. No wonder Ssu wanted someone to show him around and make sure that he was to become accustomed to the immediate wonders of this world. He half thought that part of the reason was that deep down, he was still scared as Hell about being in a place that Hael herself had never visited except in her darkest nightmares. What existed out there, he had wondered, that would make someone like her so frightened?
In all honesty, he thought that was what awas troubling poor Kyil as he had asked him what was troubling him so. His friend had doubtless heard the same scary stories as he had regarding the surface world. Perhaps he felt that after all the times he had protected him when his need had been great, he feared of failing his friend in this strange world full of new dangers. Not only that, but now he had a little daughter to protect as well. At least he would be able to stay in the wagon with her at all times, though it pained Mikaril that his friend should be kept inside when a whole new world of wonder awaited him just outside the door, unable to be viewed without the goggles. Perhaps, if he could somehow secure tips or something, he could enlist the help of a surface drow and use his earnings to buy Kyil and Mikky some goggles, and they could just linger outside of the wagon?
Mikaril turned and smiled as Ssu blew him a kiss and left, then turned back to Mikky and ruffled her hair before reading Kyil's response. His smile vanished and was replaced by a frown. Not bothering to hide his fingers now that Ssu was out of the wagon, he signed back. You and Mikky will be safe here in the wagon; the caravan itself has powerful enchantments, and they have been to the surface before, so they have had time to fortify it against whatever could be found out there. I only wish that it wasn't so dangerous and she could roam outside and see things for herself. But who knows; perhaps in time she will be able to venture outside if she wants to; I'm still going to see if I can get both of you some goggles. Mikaril smiled a little as he continued. Do you think Ssu would let anything that could hurt me even get close enough to do so? She seems very protective of us; I don't think she will let any harm come to me. And I will wait and see what the ball of light reveals to me before I let myself be disappointed; at least then if I am, then I will not have a desire to return here again. He sighed as he pondered how best to respond to Kyil's signings about Ssu. I....don't think she is out to hurt me. Yes she is amorous, but I still think that if that was all that there was with her, she would have ravaged me by now. And I can assure you that she has not done so yet, or shown any inclinations of taking me against my will. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen a female that patient. No, I don't think she has torture in mind. I think....I think I fascinate her somehow. Does that make any sort of sense? He shook his head and even scowled as he picked up the pace of his fingers. Don't you worry about that; Ssu may be the protector, but you will always be Mikky's mother, and I will see to it that she remembers. Don't forget, you're the one spending all of this time with her; even if Ssu claimed that she birthed her, Mikky is bound to love you as her mother more than her.
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 3:08 am
Kyil's pink eyes remained set on Mikaril's hand as he quickly replied. Though Ssussun was no longer in the wagon, it was best to use the hand speech to communicate. For one, Mikkyila was just beginning to understand words and though he was sure she would not understand the complex meanings behind their conversation, he as sure she could pick up the emotion behind the words. Adding to that the possibility of someone being able to somehow listen in on their conversation was worrisome enough too. Still, to have Mikaril at least try and calm his nerves was enough to settle his stomach at least.
Kyil closed his eyes for a brief moment and took a deep breath of the strangely scented air. Mikaril was right. He and Mikky would be safe here. They were protected in the wagon. No one would be able to tell they were inside, and if there was a ruckus he could lock her in a inner room at the very least to protect her. Unlike Mikaril he wasn't as unhappy about not letting their baby roam about on the surface land. It was a little mind boggling in truth. How was it that Mikaril could be so excited for this exploration? After all the dangers they had heard about, all the stories of the cruel surface dwellers and the like.... Well...perhaps it was because it was the furthest thing from his sisters House? That could be reason enough to be happy to be in a place as alien as this in compare to that hell.
Why did it bother him as it did to have Mikaril brushing off Ssussun's interests? Well, it wasn't brushing off, it seemed more like defending. No matter how he tried to describe it, it still left him with a sour taste in his mouth and chest. Kyil fixed Mikaril with a carefully controlled gaze. He didn't need to place his own bad feelings on Mikaril's shoulders when he was on the verge of achieving a goal he never thought possible. Carefully he formed a small smile and gave his head a nod. You should go Master. You do not want her to wonder what is taking you so long. Perhaps it is just the strange scent in the air. After all I have been taught, unknown things like this set me on wary edge. It's part of my training to ensure those I watch over stay safe and unharmed after all. I shall keep Mikky safe and distracted until you return. I am sure she will be excited to see what you bring back to us, and hear your stories too. Kyil stood for a moment, then giving in to the impulse, he leaned forwards to hug Mikaril quickly. As he did, he whispered softly to him. "I hope today is everything you have ever dreamed it to be Mikaril."
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:19 pm
Mikaril himself was equally grateful of their carrying on their conversation in hand-sign even as Ssussun was walking further and further from the wagon, though not for the same reason as Kyil. Between the almost bestial amorousness of his parents, the seething jealousy and competitive spirit of his brothers, and the dark and twisted lunacy of his sister, he had grown up in a house frought with emotions. KNowing that no such emotions would be found in their peaceful little wagon, he was not worried about his daughter. But he WAS worried about the walls having ears; too often he had found out that just because a drow was not present, or even remotely close to his position, did not necessarily mean that he or she was unable, by some other means, to hear him as clearly as if he, Mikaril, was whispering in their ear.
He felt himself saddened by the emotion he saw just below the surface of his friend's features, like the ripples in the Glimmersea that suggested something much larger lurking below. He knew that his friend worried constantly for him, especially nowadays with Ssu clamoring for his attention so much. He wished he could put his friend's worries to rest, but he wasn't sure if that was ever possible. So many cares swam in his friend's eyes and made his shoulders droop with the sheer weight; how he wished that he could share them somehow and make his dear friend's load that much lighter! But even as he thought on it, he came to realize with a saddened heart that while in the past his friend had never denied him anything, this may be the one thing that would be refused of him. Still, it would not stop him from doing everything he could to set his friend at ease, little by little if he must.
Determined to start this very moment, Mikaril gave Kyil the most confident smile he could muster as he signed back. I'll bring back something wonderful for the both of you, and just wait; I'm going to work hard and make it so that you both can join us outside whenever you wish. He even attempted a bit of a jest. Besides, I did not drag you along with me just to have you and Mikky stay cooped in a box like captured surface fowl. As he was suddenly hugged by his friend, he returned the hug in earnest, as well as the whisper. I love you. More than anyone else in existence. Please don't ever forget that.
Casting one more loving look at his friend and his little daughter, Mikaril adjusted his goggles and opened the door to step outside, closing it behind him carefully. The first thing he noticed was that the smell that had so caught his attention earlier was now onverwhelming him; as though the very inside of his nose had sprouted rioutous, strong-smelling blossoms and plants. The innoculous silence that he had noticed when he had first opened the door and peeked out was now being shattered all around by strange calls, like little whistles filled with water. The largest of the surface plants fairly thrummed with the sound, the many thousands of leaves perched on thick brown stalks swaying tantalizingly before his eyes like the lure of a cave angler, the stalks themselves too solid to move. Beneath his feet, the strange pointed moss swayed as though in agreement with the mammoth plants, their whispers of 'hush-shush, hush-shush' adding to the ruckus all around.
Peering about through his goggles and stifling the urge to bring his hand up to his nose, Mikaril turned his head to look around even more. The tall plants seemed to go on endlessly, the distance obscured after the first several yards by even more of them. Off to his left, he could see the rest of the caravan, each wagon resting in place like the segments of a beached leviathan. More drow were emerging from their wagons, goggles already in place and arms full of the equipment they would need to set up the complete circus before the searing ball of light cleared the horizon. AS he looked up, he could just barely make out the pinpricks in the sky as they began to vanish one by one, bowing out in favor of the brighter and more imposing part of the day-cycle. Such a shame; at least they spoke of a distant familiarity to Mikaril, like distant cousins of the shimmering lights of the Glimmersea.
He took a step forward, fascinated as every footstep that crushed the green beneath his feet added to the perfume already dancing about in his nose, he suddenly stopped and widened his eyes behind his goggles. There, right in front of him and precaruiously close to a gouge of mud where one of the wagon wheels had tread; a small cluster of flowers grew; they just grew, right out of the dirt! They sat there harmoniously with the whispering greenery, bowing to him in greeting as the fresh air (I never knew fresh air could be so.....smelly) blew down to caress them. Fascinated, Mikaril crouched down in the dirt and green to observe the flowers, his eyes fixed on them as though expecting them to pull themselves out of the ground and address him.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:41 pm
Kyil was left within the wagon. Watching Mikaril with his pink gaze. His dear friends words did sooth his fears a bit, and he swallowed down his insecurities. Kyil closed his eyes, and instead focused his thoughts on something far more important. They were safer here then they had been before. Mikaril would never be in danger of Haellara so long as Ssussun kept him, and Mikkyila was safe as well. Even if somehow his old mistress learned of their situation and suspected the baby was Mikarils... she couldn't touch the girl as Ssussun had claimed her already. Besides. Mikaril was just so happy right now! How could he allow his gloomy fears to get in the way of his Masters joy. With his mind set right, Kyil turned his attention to tending to his daughter. He did have some joy of his own to acknowledge after all.
Ssussun had not wasted her time outside just waiting for Mikaril to follow her. Once she had gotten out into the blasted dawning light, she had quickly looked for one of the males she trusted a little more then the rest. Lesomph...she almost sort of wanted to ask. He was very skilled and she knew he could provide a good source of protection for Mikaril in his exploration. However, she did not know if she trusted the violent male to just take advantage of the opportunity to kill him and blame it on a surfacer. She never could read him properly. She blamed it on the fact he was probably crazy. Elkaun was the first she had come across...unfortunately it seemed like he had already been nabbed by some of the set up crew and was unhappily helping to raise one of the massive sideshow tents. Damn! he would have been a great guide. With his similarities to Kyil in appearance she had hoped Mikaril would have felt more comfortable being himself with a onlooker.
"Lloth damn them." She muttered on her breath, then paused as Elkauns wagon door opened and Sszor stepped down. Ssu lept forwards and grabbed the jester by a sleeve. "Have you been assigned yet?" She quickly asked the wide eyed male. Sszor shook his head a little, causing the bells on his hat to jingle lightly.
"Excellent! I got a job for you." She said with a smile. The mute jester would have to do, and at least he was a good enough of a male to trust with her prec...er... her Mikaril. Ssussun held Sszor by the sleeve as she half dragged him back towards her wagon. She could see that Mikaril had exited, and she quickly called out to him. "Ril! Oh Ril! Don't you go anywhere yet." She firmly demanded with a flipping little wave of her hand. Sszor's pale gray brows furrowed a little over his goggle covered eyes as he looked at Ssussun, and then at Mikaril questioningly
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:06 pm
Though the voices of the beings in the trees (though he was not aware of their name yet) continued to fill his ears, it wasn't until he heard Ssu calling out to him that Mikaril realized that compared to the rest of the sounds of this world, the little cheeps and whistles were actually quiet. He just wasn't used to having as much noise all around him. He looked up from his flowers a little shamefaced, wondering if Ssu might think he was doing somethin as foolish as retching and not as innocent as observing a small cluster of flowers. Seeing another drow walking with her raised his discomfort and he stood up quickly, hoping that none of the too-wet dirt had gotten on his clothes.
He recognized the male as he got closer as one of the ones who had helped when Kyil had had Mikky. At least he wasn't a total stranger, and he knew that here was one of the few that Ssu trusted. So he had already guessed his purpose for being here even before Ssu explained to him that he was to serve as both guide and protector; more the latter than the former, since he wouldn't have been able to answer the many questions that Mikaril had swirling about in his head regarding this new, strange world. Still, he felt better knowing that Sszor would be there to prevent any unfortunate encounters with the locals, and he was certain that there would be such encounters waiting for the tiniest nudge to happen, like a spark on dry tinder.
No sooner had Ssu left to get herself ready for her performance, leaving Sszor with Mikaril, did he find himself set upon by another drow, who recognizing Mikaril, told him where he would be patrolling, making sure that the crowd did not become unruly and assuring that the performers would be safe should they choose to descend from the stage and mingle with the crowds or do little performances to further draw the crowd in; Lesomph in particular loved to do those, and often could be seen walking back to the main tent with a small gathering of females following him. By the time Mikaril had been shown the lay of the land and was familiar with his patrolling area, the circus had been set up and awaited its first customers, who as if on cue began to appear from the woods and paths. Often he found himself trying not to stare as he was passed by humans of various sizes (and smells), dwarves, surface drow, and only about three times, elves. These he could not stare at for very long without feeling his hand reaching for his dagger, and so was relieved when no more came. Apparently a mere circus was too good for most of their sort.
He had immersed himself so much in watching the throng of people that it wasn't until most of them had gone into the main tent for the show that Mikaril noticed how hot he was. A thin trickle of sweat was running down his face using the crease of the goggles over his eyes, and now that he had attention to spare for his surroundings, he could see a marked shine on everything. Looking up, he hissed and brought his head down quickly, cursing as the spots danced before his eyes and his being unable to rub them. The source of the light was so bright that even with the goggles he was unable to even glimpse how big it might have been. It really did seem like a big ball of fire hanging above them all, and he marveled at how the plants did not wither under the obvious heat. Wondering whether or not Sszor had seen him and laughed inwardly at the foolish male looking up at the sun, Mikaril returned his focus to his work, watching the scant few who chose to remain outside, peering at the side tents and sampling the wares. Often his gaze drifted to the main tent, where he could hear cheering and gasps of delight from within. Somewhere in there was Ssu, dancing and performing the same act that had so entranced himself and Kyil, seemingly so long ago. Doubtless the males were going wild, looking at her with hungry eyes, as if she were a circus cake, freshly cooked and honey-kissed. Did she see her audience out there and miss eyes that looked upon her more innocently? Would his very presence in her life make her performance that much harder?
By the time the show ended and the crowd had begun to pool out of the tent and peer at all of the smaller tents and the other performers, Mikaril had taken shelter under one of the large trees, noting the adequate shade that the greenery provided from the sweltering heat. He didn't dare remove any clothing, thinking that he needed every thread between his bare skin and a stray knife. Sszor had come over once with a clay cup full of water; not as a gesture of friendship, he could see, but because the other recognized the need to stay hydrated when one was excessively hot. But as the crowd grew, Mikaril found his eyes drawn to too many carelessly tied purses and the shine of loosely-fitting jewelry. Moving out of the shelter, he walked into the throng of bodies, hands working to deftly pluck a bracelet here and loosen a coin purse there, deftly slipping his gains into his cape and out of sight.
Mikaril blinked suddenly as he withdrew his hand from his cape after gleefully parting a human from their shiny bracelet that he knew would look wonderful as a circlet for Mikky. He was certain he had just caught a glimpse of ebony skin paired with familiar green eyes somewhere in the immediate group of people surrounding him. Knowing that green was not a common color among drow, and knowing of only one drow he had ever seen that had them, Mikaril pushed his way through the crowd, ignoring the protests around him, until he caught sight of what he thought was the drow he had seen. His back was to him as he watched one of the tents where the dragon tamer was wowing the crowd as his small beast coiled around his arm and hissed venomously at the gawking passersby. The hairstyle was certainly the same, and as he drew closer, he fancied that the other even wore the same clothes as he had when they had met. But as soon as he saw the end of a fan sticking out from the folds of the long skirt the other wore, he knew there could be no doubt in his mind. His face broke into a smile as he walked up to the other, opting to simply speak rather than putting a hand on the other's shoulder, not wanting to frighten him. "Anon?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 10:06 pm
Ssussun would have preferred to have been able to stay with Mikaril this day, but she knew that she had already toed the line once by sneaking around with him before coming clean with her mother. It only bothered her for a few moments though, as she was certain that Sszor would not dare allow her Ril to become hurt or lost. Of the other males here, he was a pretty..semi...sorta..trustworthy one?
Sszor, for his part, was happy to oblige. Performing for other drow was fine with him. But here on the surface he hated the gawking of the humans so much. It seemed like Mikaril may have shared some of his agitation. He had seen the straying of the hand when a pair of surface blighters passed. With a silent grin, Sszor made a flippant gesture and signed for Mikaril without taking the time to hide his gestures. Don't be fooled. They are spies from the nearby town sent to watch us. They always come. We watch them, they watch us. He remarked silently and mimicked a amused laugh. Mikaril was terribly amusing wasn't he? From the strange way he seemed so captivated by the very weeds themselves..well..flowers...but Sszor didn't much care for them. The whole day thus far was proving to be one of simple entertainment.
Sszor was able to study Mikaril, and he wondered if perhaps he had been this odd when he had first come to the surface. Of course, he never recalled a moment when he had been so foolish as to try and look at the sun! Hadn't he been warned about it's brightness? The power of the ball of fire was the nightmare story all drow were told from the time of infancy all the way up to adulthood! Sszor shook his head a little and followed Mikaril as he made his way finally to a tree for shade. It was clear to him that the other was getting over heated, so while he rested, Sszor fetched them something to drink. He shared a clay cup with Mikaril, but drank himself straight from a jug. He could sympathize with him a bit, he wore a full body costume with a hat after all. Though, he couldn't help but wonder why Mikaril would be so bundled up on such a hot day. Eventually though, Mikaril seemed to recover, and Sszor found himself walking a typical guards round. how boring! Despite his general disinterest in performing for the crowds, he knew he would have liked the feeling of superiority he got when he stunned the surface dwellers with the intricacies of his illusions. His mind began to wander a bit, and it was only after a human's strong scent made him gag that he realized...Mikaril was gone? Sszor turned around in alarm. He had just darted off! Had he meant to lose him on purpose!? Sszor looked around frantically to find the wayward guard.
The circus was...well... It was a place he had to go. Since Lird had rescued him from the Underdark, his mind had drifted to the strong warrior constantly. He was in his thoughts every night when he stared at the stars. No...not his thoughts. In his very heart. He was heart sick for his presence. Though he knew the drow of the circus would not have anyone present that would remind him of his dear hero, he knew that the clinging scent of the Underdark would bring back that familiar sense. It was terribly odd. Despite all that he endured, Sszin's strongest memory were pleasant ones of being nestled against Lird's strong side in the dark. So here, where the strange deep earth smell still clung to the tents and animals, here he could almost reclaim that feeling.
It wasn't the same of course, and Sszin knew that when he went home the empty ache in his chest was only going to feel all the worse. He just could not stop himself. His green eyes swept through the crowd with less attention paid to the actors then was fair. His mind really was just wrapped up in one thing, until it was he heard that name.
Anon, the name that Lird had dubbed him with when he'd been to shy and scared to speak. Sszin turned, a spark of hope in his green eyes. Lird? Had he come to find him? Had he felt the same way as Sszin did? That hope was quickly dashed, then hidden when he did not spy the tall muscular drow. Instead someone cloaked in a strange green garment was standing before him. Sszin tilted his head, then blinked again. "Ah! You! I remember you." He replied with no small degree of surprise.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 10:24 pm
Ah yes! With the drow in front of him turning around, it was most decidedly the one he had come to know as Anon when last they had met in the Underdark. Looking at him now, Mikaril couldn’t help but notice the almost eager stance as the other turned around, and then its concealment; was he meeting someone here? He must have been out of the Underdark for a while then, to find his kind and make plans to join them at a circus. A good thing then that he had noticed him and not picked his pocket by mistake! What a welcome that would have been for the drow who had befriended him and Kyil! And now he would be able to tell Kyil what had become of their mysterious friend when it came time for him to return to the wagon.
“I remember you as well; you helped Kyil and I get out of Undrek-Thoz when we needed a respite from our escape. It’s good to see you well and away from the Underdark. I assume someone finally had the decency to point out a correct road?” He could still remember how lost the other had been after a malicious, or probably just mischievous drow had given Anon the wrong path to take that would lead him to the surface, thus trapping him below the ground and at the mercy of anyone who would seek to take advantage of him. Although if he remembered correctly, anyone who tried would be hard-pressed with the other’s magic fans and spells and……..Goddess. Clearing his throat, Mikaril smiled happily at the other drow and reached his hand out to shake. “In any case, it’s good to see you again. We made it out too, as you can see. Apparently luck was with us all.”
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 10:50 pm
Goddess. His chest was aching with a pain he'd not felt since the night of his final parting with Lird. Sszin smiled regardless of it, for it made him feel happy enough to see Mikaril. It took him just a few moments, and the others recalling of the event, to bring back all of those memories. The two drow's panicked escape from that horrible House...Sszin found himself casting his green gaze about for the pink eyed male that had accompanied Mikaril. "You did?" He questioned. Well that was good! However... "Where is your companion? Is he well?" Sszin tilted his head to one side and twisted a finger through his hair. "Was the sky too much for him?" He found himself asking. It wasn't a unreasonable thought. Many drow who lived underground suffered the same event, if reversed, as he had when he found himself trapped below.
Sszin's cheeks started to darken at the mere thought of Lird, as Mikaril's question brought his memories to the surface. He glanced downwards, then gestured off towards the edge of the circus. "Would you care to step out of this crush of people? It would be nice to exchange words with you. I am curious to hear about your travels and how you came to be on the surface." He quickly directed the topic from himself at the moment. Not even his father and mother were aware of the circumstances of his escape after all this time.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:04 pm
Oh of course! Mikaril felt his face get a little red as he saw Anon casting his gaze around him and realized that he was looking for Kyil. At the two questions, he smiled, wanting to nod and shake his head at the same time. “Kyil is doing well; at the moment he’s in the wagons with Mikkyila, our daughter.” He blinked at the realization of just how much time had passed since he had seen Anon; he would not have known about their returning to their cave and sharing the bottle of wine, or of Kyil’s agonizing childbirth and their getting Ssu involved with his own minimal foresight. He imagined that he would have a great deal to tell his friend, if he wished to hear it. “The sky is almost too much for ME; this place is frightening, but it has a sort of beauty,” he said, remembering the tiny flowers in the mud.
He nodded and gestured for Anon to follow him. “I know where there’s shelter from this heat and it’s out of the way of the crowds. We can talk there.” He thought for an instant about Sszor, and what he would think to see Mikaril conversing with a total stranger, but he shrugged it off; after all, why shouldn’t he be talking with another? And it wasn’t as though he was talking with an elf or a human; here was a fellow drow, albeit a surface one. For all his protector knew, they could have been going over to converse about the abysmal hygienic habits of humans.
Creating an effective enough wedge through the crowd, Mikaril jostled his way back to the tree he had rested under while waiting for the show to end; or rather he hoped it was the same tree; the strange plants all looked so blasted similar. Turning around, he leaned against the rough surface of the plant and smiled at Anon. “I hope I am not keeping you from any meeting; when I found you, it seemed as though you were wanting to meet someone there. I take it then you have been reunited with your surface family?”
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:28 pm
It was a relief to hear that Kyil was well. The Underdark was such a dangerous and miserable place that he would not have been surprised to hear that something evil had befallen him. No, not surprised but deeply saddened. Such thoughts of the misfortunes that could have befallen them was quickly chased from his mind with the mention of a daughter. It had been a while since they had crossed paths, and Sszin was without question looking stunned. He nodded his head with a numb jerk, then proceeded to follow Mikaril to the trees.
Sszin was accustomed to the heat of the surface, it was what made the Underdark so terrible for him. It was so cold down there! Once they were settled upon the grass, he withdrew one of his battle fans and gave himself a brisk fanning. As the wind disturbed the strands of his hair, small black and purple moths wafted into being around him. With the creation of the small flutter of wind elemental's, Sszin directed them to flutter about himself and Mikaril, thus creating a constant cool breeze in an attempt to help his current company feel more comfortable.
"I am glad you are enjoying the beauty of the surface world. How much of it have you seen?" Sszin gentle questioned Mikaril, then probe the question still nibbling on his mind. "And tell me of this child. How did she come about? You need not worry about delaying me and take your time answering." He replied with a faint smile. "I am here on my own, I have indeed been reunited with my family. In fact our village is just a little ways away from here."
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:51 pm
Had Mikaril known Anon’s thoughts, he might have disagreed at first. Though they were still relatively fine, they had strayed far from what they had chosen to be their way of life. Granted, they were still alive, protected from Haellara and any assassins or mercenaries that she would wish to send after them, and best of all, they had a wonderful daughter whom he was certain neither of them would have given up for anything in the world. And yet his friend still fretted every day, and even now Mikaril wasn’t entirely sure if the birthing would have any lasting effects. Would Kyil be weaker for it for the rest of his life? Had Mikaril really messed his friend up so badly even as they had left another danger behind?
These troubling thoughts seemed to blow away with the wind that Anon sent his way. He smiled as he watched the tiny magical moths flutter about him. How well he remembered those moths and how they had swarmed the soldiers of House Torlyl, giving them time and cover to escape through the gates. Now far from intimidating, they danced about, so docile in appearance that Mikaril reached out with his hand to touch one as it playfully avoided his fingers before vanishing like smoke. “Thank you; that feels good. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a constant, ever-present heat. It gets kind of irritating quickly.”
“Well….” Mikaril cleared his throat, eyed Anon through his thick goggles, and began. He told him of how he and Kyil had sailed back across the Glimmersea, back to the life they had hoped to come back to, and how for the first time in what seemed like forever, they were finally getting back some control over their own lives. He told of the chance visit to the circus, his meeting with Ssussun, and then the celebration that night, with the ‘blessed’ bottle of wine. He told of how Kyil had woken with his stomach on fire, and how he himself had thought to take him to the circus to see if the symptoms could be identified. He spoke of Ssu taking them both in, and the healer’s declaration of the effects of one glass of that wine. He spoke bitterly of the rudeness of the healer, and then with anxiety as he related the choice to stay with the circus, where they would be safe and protected from Haellara and where Kyil would also receive help when the effects of the wine ran their course. He spoke of what had happened when the course was run, and the arrangement made where Ssu had claimed the lot of them as her own, including the newborn female. Lastly he spoke of their decision to come to the surface for a show, and how much he had been dreading and looking forward to it, and his ambition to soon allow his friend and little one to be able to see the wonders that he had already witnessed.
“I admit I haven’t seen very much,” Mikaril finished, “I would really like to see more of the flowers, and the strange creatures that take shelter in these.” He gestured up toward the tree. “I have seen them, like tiny flashes of color, but they never keep still enough for me to see them properly.” He turned back to Anon and smiled. “I’m glad you’re close to home. It may be bright, and it may smell odd, but it’s a very pretty place.”
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 12:07 am
"You are most welcome my brother." Sszin spoke softly after being thanked for the minor convenience of summoning the air elementals. It was only a minor thing, and it seemed to help a bit in aiding Mikaril to relax. This was good, he didn't want the other to pass out from heat exhaustion before he had learned his tale. "The heat is something many others have commented on before. If you stay here for a year or two you could grow to tolerate it just as easily as the rest of us." He assured him.
The tale that was told though...it was nearly unbelievable. Nearly that is. Each refugee that was fortunate enough to make it to his village always had a tale to spin that seemed undeniably hard to swallow. Sszin no longer had that problem, as he too had his own similar tales. All the same, to hear Mikaril speak of fathering a child with Kyil... "The love you must share for each other is undeniable." He murmured with more then a small degree of longing. He knew such a love. His own heart would never let him forget it. He did wonder, if he and Lird had stayed together longer, what would have come of their love? Sszin shook his head a little as he digested the tale of his situation with the circus. Was all of this mere circumstance? He had to wonder. Mikaril had seemed almost receptive to his words before and he had stepped in when the moment was most fortunate. Now, here again they crossed paths. He glanced about himself, then offered his hand towards Mikaril.
"Come with me. Let me show you my home. What you seek is there. I just know it." Sszin softly offered Mikaril.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 12:29 am
When Mikaril had finished, he reached up and wiped his forehead; much as the cooling breeze from Anon’s fan had helped, even in this shade the twice-cursed ball of light made it’s presence known, although he did notice that the heat had lessened a bit. He remembered being told that this was a sign of the day’s end drawing nearer, for just as the stars had winked out at the coming of the light, so must the ball of light dip below the horizon, taking its leave and giving the empty void up above back to the stars. He knew that the circus would continue to be open for a while after the light had dimmed; the better to see the dazzling displays that involved both real and faerie fire, Ssu’s included.
He smiled a little as the mumble reached his ears. His love for Kyil was a deep and precious thing; something that he cherished and protected with his very being. Perhaps it had been the existence of such a feeling within him that had made him even listen to Anon that day as he spoke of his Goddess and her love. He already knew that such a love was possible; his difficulty was believing that such love came from a deity, a being who’s very nature was to stand aloof in the outer planes and watch the misfortunes of those writhing in the mortal world.
He blinked at first at the offered hand, and his very first impulse was to refuse it. While he trusted his friend’s sincerity, he hardly knew this place, and supposing he got separated from him and had trouble finding his way back? He would become lost and wandered through the strange plants forever until he met his end by an elvish arrow. And then there was Sszor, whom he had not seen since they had taken shelter but knew that he was close by, watching his every move. He did not want to bring him to Anon’s home, where he would spy on the place and then take tales to Ssu about where he had been; she might become angry and deny him any spare time outside of the wagon.
And yet……as he looked even longer at the hand, the words Anon had spoken seemed to ring inside of his head. What you seek is there…….what you seek……. what exactly DID he seek? A permanent refuge from the past that haunted him and threatened his every dream? Reassurance that in spite of all the mistakes he had made, all the pain he had caused the one person he cared so much about, that he was in reality doing the best he possibly could by Kyil? Or was it something from even futher back, the tantalizing hints that Anon had given about a love that was strong enough to be given by a deity, one that he had already sampled through his love for Kyil? The one that still seemed too good to be true and as far away from his reach as the ball of light that made his bare skin smell like cured meat?
Thoughts still whirling, all Mikaril trusted himself to do was nod as he reached out and took Anon’s hand. At the very least, he would be able to see more of the surface, and learn what all of these things around him were called.
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