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 Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:15 pm
You Can't Spell Practice Without Failure.
Having been summoned for the position of Lady Estratus' assistant, Jin-Ho travels to the Palace of the Mages to prove himself worthy of the title. After proving himself, Lady Sage took him on as her assistant.
Now is the beginning of a long road for Jin-Ho Kyon.Call And AnswerAfter learning of a lady in need of an assistant, Jin Ho -after having obtained housing within - seeks audience with The Lady Estratus within the walls of Northern Base.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:18 pm
"Conflict of Interest" "You, sir! In the Eastern garb! Come, young man!" The strange voice called to Jin-Ho; the voice of a small, hunched older gentleman at a makeshift stall. The market was so lively, it was surprising that Jin-Ho had heard the man at all. "Do not be shy! I have some valuable treasures up for purchase! Why do you not take a look?"
His enthusiasm was unwavering.
Wary of the time, Jin-Ho tried to excuse himself, but he man wouldn't have it. "Come now, come now! You must not rush your life away, you only live once!"
"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but if I do not hurry, I will be late for an opportunity for housing..." Clutching his parchments, he turned to leave when the man called out once more, "But my! What a lovely pad you have there! Surely you must need as beautiful a utencile for such a beautiful papers!" he pulled out a long, wooden box; placing a finger over his lips in a hush, as if to be telling a secret. "This is a special brush I have here, and she is only for you, young man! She is free of charge!"
Free...? Why would someone want to give away such a lovely brush?
The day was moving without him... Jin-Ho agreed and took the brush, unable to argue with the man any further. At least he was getting a free brush, and it seemed like a good one. Lucky for him! Without any questioning, Jin-Ho nodded to the man and took off towards the Northern Base. The setback had held him up for far too long, he was now late...
...
Scribbles covered the faded parchment laying on the table before Jin-Ho. How had he not noticed that the dark, black ink on the tip never ran dry? Did the curious man who sold it to him know what exactly it was? The man must not have, or he probably wouldn't have been so eager to give it up. Then again, he said it was only for Jin-Ho. Did the man know who he was? Did he know he was going to go see Lady Estratus? Who was this man, and was he ever going to see him again? And why was he so eager to give up this Plague?
Jin-Ho surely hadn't been able to tell at first glance; it just looked like a delicately decorated brush that he took in hopes of a good appearance for the Lady Estratus. Though, then again, the beast of a Plague, Sloane, seemed interested in this piece of work. Maybe that had a little to do with his getting hired. Other than the Plague cursing it, what in the world was so special about the brush? It must have been something for Sloane to be so interested. Maybe the beast had a crush on it? The man in town had called it a she, did it have a gender? Was it really a girl? How had the man been able to tell? No, that couldn't be it. Items were usually refered to in the feminine form when spoken about. There was no way that this brush, this inanimate object, even had a gender.
Gender...
Unconciously, Jin-Ho had written "Lady Sage Estratus" neatly and clearly on the page before dropping the brush. His Lady was so strong and beautiful... a small blush crept across his face as he hoped he would be good enough... strong enough to be by her side and protect her...
"I will prove myself capable... I must..." Gently picking the brush back up, he held it close, examining it thoroughly. The wood was dark, though it smelled of Cedar... to his knowledge, the bark of a Cedar tree was light... Maybe that had something to do with the Plague that it carried. The Sword Plague had great interest in this piece of wood and hair. What could have attracted him to it so much? It was, indeed, an beautiful brush, but what other than the Plague it had was so interesting?
The orange glow of the candle sitting next to his arm shone against the gold and purple of the tapestries and off-white of the walls around him. He had been given such a spectacular room... much too big for his taste. Jin-Ho had asked for a smaller one, but they had told him that the only smaller quarters belonged to servants and that this room was specifically chosen by the Lady for him. He couldn't argue with that, but... why such an extravegant room? It wasn't like he, himself, were a Lord or anything of the sort. He just wanted to be, well, normal. He hadn't the slightest clue that becoming the Lady's apprentice would give him such a high status.
The skin on his arm tightened, causing Jin-Ho to look down. The scar that had formed from his healing stretched as he looked it over, a small smile spread as he thought of that moment. That very moment where he had impressed his Lady. He would be useful at her side... surely Sloane felt the same way about it. If his Lady always had a healer nearby, the Plague would most certainly feel a bit more comfortable, right? Though... maybe the Plague would feel threatened by another presence in Lady Sage's daily life?
Jin-Ho shook his head, quickly rubbing his eyes in frustration. "Lady Estratus, not Lady Sage." He couldn't believe he had just called her in the informal... another blush. Luckily it had been a thought and not spoken aloud... and not around his Lady. Such rude and reckless behavior...
There was no way she would ever allow him to refer to her by her first name. That was a luxery carried only by family, friends and... and lovers. No... no, no, no. That will never happen. Being a mere assistant, Jin-Ho would never be allowed such a relationship with his Lady. It was wrong, frowned upon. He would surely be sent back to the East... Banned from the Northern continent... okay, maybe a bit of an overreaction. He knew it would never be. He knew that his Lady wouldn't ever love a spineless mess such as him, and perhaps she already has someone. Jin-Ho slapped his head, regretting such a thought to even cross his mind.
He was tired, that must have been it. It was late in the evening; almost midnight, even. It was time for Jin-Ho to retire, that's all. He gently layed the brush down on the paper, allowing it to rest, as well. It had been a long day, an occpation was acquired, and it was time for a break. Sleep would set his mind right, and maybe he would be able to figure all of this mess out. Leaning over, he sofly blew out the candle and made his way towards his large, canopied bed.
Jin-Ho had some questions for the Lady Estratus in the morning.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:20 pm
A Fire by Any Other NameAn accident causes an abrupt end to a meeting for Jin-Ho to catch up on what he's missed, leaving Lady Estratus bed-ridden and some "quality time" for Jin-Ho and Sloane.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:22 pm
"If I Apologized"
Staring wordlessly at the door that had just been slammed in his face, Jin-Ho held his brush tightly in his hand at his side. Well, that was a funny way to thank him. Sure, he might have been a bit rude, but there was no reason to kick him out unceremoniously. Bringing his brush up to chest level to look it over, he sighed, turned around and started on his way. He hadn't noticed how far they had run... it was his first time to The Lady's own quarters. Much farther into the castle than his room, at least, further to the other side. By this point, the halls were illuminated only by the light of candles lined down the walls, sounds from the outside seeping in through the slender windows.
Jin-Ho flexed his fingers, the numb sensation finally disapating; a symptom of the process that he hadn't told Lady Estratus about. Most likely, it wouldn't have stopped her from having him proceed, but he didn't want her to worry at any point, if she even would. Lifting his brush, he gently tucked her behind his ear, his footsteps echoing along the curved hallway. Even though things had turned out the way that they had, it wasn't a bad night altogether. The Lady liked his work, the night was lovely and he gained a little more trust from her Ladyship. Granted, he had angered Sloane even more than before, but he knew what it was that made him so hateful towards Jin-Ho. Would there be any way to smooth the friction between himself and that beastly Plague? If there wasn't, well, his new position was about to get very awkward, very quickly.
The fact that the two of them didn't get along really worried Jin-Ho. For all he knew, Sloane could convince Lady Estratus to get rid of him, but that would put them in the position of finding a new scribe, as well. A long and painful task. With things the way they were now, finding a replacement would be too big a hastle and they'd have to keep him.
It wasn't long before Jin-Ho had reached his own hallway, the huge door to his room in sight. It was almost a relief to see; he was finally in his safe haven. He would finally be able to have some time to himself. Maybe even do as his tutor commanded; make himself a staff. The thought of his own magical weapon excited him. He had blades for protection, but he had never been able to learn how to use them magically, and he had always wanted a staff. Not that he ever knew that he was going to have such an important role in life or actually learn how to use magic, really. It was always a thought he had entertained, even as a child. Something about having a staff seemed neat.
Like you were important or something.
Now that he had a reason to make one, Jin-Ho was almost giddy. In his head, it was a little hard to decide on how it would look, but he was sure that once he started carving, the shape would come naturally. Or he hoped, at least. Grabbing his knife, he sheathed it and strapped it to his belt. He decided it would be best to leave his brush inside, seeing as he wouldn't need it while outside. Finding supplies, like wood, would potentially be the most important step in order to make his weapon. Once it was finished, he would probably need her for writing runes or symbols on it, but that would be done after coming back inside. Jin-Ho gently placed his brush on the table next to his paper and books, careful not to bend any bristles or get any "ink" on anything important.
Once again making his way down the halls of the castle, Jin-Ho felt pleased with himself. Things were looking up and it seemed that he was settling in just fine, aside from the little... "bump" between himself and Sloane, but hopefully that could be fixed. Who knows, maybe once his brush grew, or whatever it would do, Sloane would be a little more easy towards Jin-Ho. If not, well, then there wasn't much that he could do to fix it.
The cold outside air hit him hard as Jin-Ho opened the enormous main doors at the front of the castle, the sky overcast with a few small flakes falling here and there. It wasn't terrible weather, thankfully, but he would have prefered a warmer, sunnier day. It would still be several hours until dusk, so freezing wasn't too huge a threat. Plunging himself through the invisible wall of cold to the outside, he closed the door and headed down the steps. Snow had piled itself on any and every surface, making it slightly difficult to tell whether you were going to step on solid ground or into a deep pile of white fluff. No matter how long he had been there, this much snow was still an interesting sight. If he were still a child, he would have been completely ecstatic, making snow-angels and having snowball fights with his friends. His childhood home wouldn't bear nearly this much snow, even in the coldest of Winter. Picking up a hunk of frozen liquid, Jin-Ho smiled, nearly wishing to be a child with his sister and friends again.
Jin-Ho tossed the snowball as far as he could, watching as it seemingly disappeared into the rest of the white. He had to wonder how deep the snow was, but with time going, he had to find himself some wood and get busy. Clutching the knife at his side, he took a step into the deep snow and headed towards the nearest thicket, his legs dragging through the deep layers underneath. He trudged, crossing the yard towards the thick of the trees, examining tree branches, both those that have fallen and those still attached, trying to find the perfect staff. This weather made choosing hard, seeing as a lot of the trees were moist or rotted, having been exposed to so much water all the time. On his way, he picked up any dry twigs and otherwise unusable branches. Making this staff would be best done outside, so a fire was a good idea for warmth and to dry off any chosen switches.
Higher up in one of the trees, Jin-Ho thought he had saw the perfect piece; nice, thick and protected from the snow by higher branches. He pulled out his knife, carving out a chunk of the tree bark. It would be a better idea to start the fire, then come back for the branch so that it wouldn't get wet once he was ready to set it down and then start it. With the inner wood of the tree showing through the stab in the bark, he headed further into the woods, looking for a dry place to ignite the pyre.
Luckily, it wasn't long before he found a spot far enough as to not be touched by the snow. Laying down whatever dry wood he had been able to get ahold of, Jin-Ho preceeded to ingite using the flint he kept on him at all times. Before long, he had a nice fire going and could now go back for that branch.
Finding the tree a second time was actually a bit more difficult than Jin-Ho had thought it would be, but he wasn't lost for too terribly long. Once he found the gash in the tree's flesh, he glanced up, looking for the branch he had spotted earlier. Once it was in his sights, he pulled out his knife once more, using it to climb up. With each stab, he would pull himself up, using the other hand to grab what bark had jutted out so far to hold him up long enough for him to get another jab at the wood. It was tiring, but it had been efficient. Pulling himself up to the closest branch, Jin-Ho allowed himself to rest for a moment, his arms aching slightly. Luckily, the tingly numb feeling from earlier had gone away completely, making the task slightly easier. Now that he was on this branch, climbing the rest would be much less laborious as each was within reach of another. Jin-Ho drew in his legs, leveling himself as he stood. He reached for the branch above him; the one that had caught his eye. Chipping away at an angle, cutting it off of the tree proved problematic as he thought. The branch fell, getting caught on the one that Jin-Ho currently occupied.
With a little more than a trick, Jin-Ho made it down with both himself and the branch in tact. All of this effort for a piece of wood? It would certainly be worth it in the long-run, but that didn't keep him from mentally complaining.
Thankfully, the fire hadn't died out before he returned. Feeding it a few more dry branches from the pile he had made, Jin-Ho unsheathed his blade, slowly and carefully whiddling away layer after layer of wood, shaping it as best as he could. It wouldn't be perfect, but he wanted it to be easy on the eyes and effective. He had learned how to carve when he was young, but hadn't put much practice into it since then. He still knew enough to be able to make it look good, adding a few intricate details here and there.
It was a time consuming task, taking several hours of concentration and patience. Jin-Ho held up his creation, quite content with how it had turned out. The top had a bit of a jagged design to it, thinning out as it decended, a long, snake-like spiral following down it's length. He had carved out a few intricate designs here and there, mostly along the handle and following the curve of the spiral. Runes and symbols along both tips would be painted a bright color, standing out against the dark mohogany of the wood. Once home, he would proceed to add any decorative items, such as beads or jewels, along the snake and dangling off cords that he would attach.
All in all, he was very proud of his work.
Trudging back to the castle, it was obvious that the sun had began to go down as the temperature was already much cooler and the wind much harsher. Jin-Ho would have to start a fire immediately, wishing he had worn a thicker coat.
Once in his room, Jin-Ho placed the staff next to his bed to be finished in the morning. For now, he wanted to write and rest. Creating such a tool took a lot out of him. He sat at his desk, his brush exactly where he had left it. He stared curiously at the paper that he had placed it on, noticing a strange pattern where the ink seemed to have run off of the brush. It almost looked like a skull, the black paint shaping in a strange way with two circles where it didn't go. That was strange...
Jin-Ho moved the paper to the corner of his desk, he would worry about it later. Right now, all he wanted to do was write to his sister, and then sleep.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:23 pm
Experience Teaches FoolsOn his way to his tutoring, Jin-Ho comes across a couple of younger boys; a Plague and his Grimm.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:31 pm
"Structure"
Despite how long the day had been, it felt as if only a few minutes had passed since bidding young mister Georgie and his Plague goodbye. The sun had long set since their lesson with his master, and it was certainly interesting to have another couple sets of ears present.
Jin-Ho gently gripped the handle of his brush, a momentary pause in his writing. Now that he was taking lessons to improve on his magic, most of his work was done at night upon returning, leaving him little room for relaxation. His work was not difficult, at least in his eyes, but it was surely enough to keep him up with strange hours. Still, this did little to bother him now that he had his own life with his own work.
A quick glance was given to the staff he had constructed, propped up against the wall on the opposite side of his grand room. Aramoth had told Georgie to make his own staff today. Would he actually do it? Jin-Ho wouldn't put it past the boy if he decided against it since it was unlikely he would find himself under the same master again. Who knew if the two were even still in the area, let alone interested in continuing study.
They were trying to learn from a book, but they seemed more into their own thing rather than Aramoth's teachings. It was as if they were there just because the invitation was extended.
Hopefully they would meet again.
The night was passing quickly and Jin-Ho still had plenty of work left. He shook the remaining thoughts from his head as he set back to his writings. He was here to work and become useful, and while magics were a big part of this, his job was the bigger issue at hand. He needed these papers done before the Sun could rise.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:34 pm
Paper for the PoorHaving a case of cabin fever, Jin-Ho decides to explore the castle, only to find a lost Chauhn, endlessly exploring the castle in search for kindling.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:35 pm
The Long Road AheadTired from a long day of practice, Jin-Ho travels back to the Northern base, running into a miss Maiya, nearly freezing, on the path.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:36 pm
"Nothing Lasts Forever"
The young messanger and Jin-Ho had parted ways as soon as they had hit the castle gounds, Jin-Ho heading towards his own room and the boy staying in the front lobby. Normally, when called, Jin-Ho would have gone straight to his Lady, but having just come from practice, not counting his little distraction, he didn't have his brush on him. Practices were the only times he didn't have it on him, just out of trying to be careful. If something were to happen to it, he didn't know what he would have done.
Not only was it his main tool, but it was also soon to be a constant companion. At least, if Sloane was any indication. So far as Jin-Ho knew, Sloane didn't leave The Lady's side unless necissarry.
There was a lot going on; people running around, making sure that everything was secure, a lot of shouting back and forth, and generally just a lot of movement. It was a bit odd, to be honest. Sure, it was normal for large amounts of activity, but this was much different. The air was a lot more tense, people were frightened and worked through fear. They wanted to be prepared in case of another attack. The Obscuvos were getting more and more daring... It was concluded that Lady Estratus was their current target, and everyone living in the castle did what they could to tighten any type of security they could.
Shouldering his staff and bag, Jin-Ho made his way down the hall to his own quarters; the halls dimly lit by the setting sun and the candles lining the walls. The gold hue turned the dark purple tapestries into interesting shades against the light brick walls that they decorated. Now that he was out of the main hall, it almost seemed peaceful.
If only it could stay peaceful...
Shock ran through Jin-Ho as he stood in the thresh-hold of his room; papers were strewn everywhere and his brush was gone. Did someone... did someone just go through his stuff and steal his Plague? He couldn't help but think it, considering how wanted Plagues were now-a-days.
Jin-Ho squinted as he noticed small scribbles on one of the closer sheets of paper, taking a step forward and picking it up. Whatever writing was incoherant, but it was accompanied by small doodles; hearts, skulls, stars and just plain scribbles. And... were those hand prints? They were so tiny... would someone have taken the time to sit down and put so much detail into it?
The markings completely covered each page, leaving almost no white. How odd... who would do this? Or even have the time, considering that they must have been there for his little brush...?
Stacking each page neatly on top of the other, Jin-Ho began noticing little marks all over the floor, as well as his table. Whoever did this sure didn't care about how expensive this room was... He would have to clean it later. How were these doodles so tiny? He surely had never seen a brush small enough to do make this kind of detail, and he had bought many in his time. And so many colors... this was insanity. Was he losing his mind?
No, that wasn't it. It couldn't have been it. They were right in front of him, in his hands and on his table. All of it dry, too.
Jin-Ho sighed, opening his bottom drawer to put the scrapped paper inside. He then opened the top one to see how much paper he had left, staring incredulously as he saw that the top sheet was also covered in the same small markings. Who in the hell would do this?
A rustle in the paper caused him to jump.
Something was in his drawer? It was probably just a bug that had tried to escape the cold. Delightful. Jin-Ho stuck his hand in the drawer and pulled out the stack of papers. Nothing strange... until he pulled it open further. A little light in the back of the drawer, glowing faintly in the shadow of the desk. Jin-Ho reached his hand in, gently cupping the little ball of light into his hands, only to see that it wasn't just a little ball; it was a body. A brightly colored body.
Just as soon as it had been grabbed, as if on cue, it began to wiggle and try to fight its way out. Jin-Ho opened his hands, his eyes widened in surprise as he saw the brightest little Plague he had ever seen.
Was this... Blaithe?
The little Phasmas stared up at him; her face only adorning a mouth and a large, magenta star. Reaching up, it grabbed its red hat and smiled up at him. "Oji!"
Jin-Ho couldn't think. This had to be Blaithe! But... how long?
"...Blaithe?" Jin-Ho pulled his hands closer to his face, she was so tiny! She couldn't have been more than an inch tall! And she was so bright... every single color in the spectrum must have been on her outfit. And those tiny braids... "How long have you been here?"
Blaithe smiled, her fingers working quickly on his hands, leaving intricate little doodles and markings wherever she pleased. "Since you left me!"
Left... Jin-Ho snapped back into reality, glancing out of the windows on the far side of the room. It was getting late. Much too late. He had to meet Lady Estratus and Sloane! Holding Blaithe closely, he bolted out of his room, stopping only to grab his staff. Surely The Lady would be happy about this.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:37 pm
An Ink of High QualityA sudden meeting with The Lady Estratus pulls Jin-Ho from his evening out, where he shows off his finally-grown Blaithe!
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:38 pm
"It's Been A While"
"One of his other students found him."
It was another cold day, that was for sure. With each breath, Jin-Ho watched huffs of white escape his lips against the clear, blue sky. Despite the sun being out, it did little to warm the cold air of the North.
Like always, Blaithe was left at the castle, but now grown, Jin-Ho had intrusted her with Sloane, rather than leave her alone in the room. At first, she apposed to parting with her Grimm, but as soon as Sloane was mentioned, she was more than willing to stay. Jin-Ho almost wished that she could have accompanied him, but he had no idea what Aramoth thought of the walking, talking Plagues.
As he trekked through, from path to grass to brush, the trees began to thicken, but cleared not long after.
There was the familiar smoke peaking over the next thicket; Aramoth's cabin. The man had always preferred living away from others, at least, away from big cities and towns. It never made much sense to Jin-Ho, considering just how much Aramoth enjoyed the company of others. Maybe he just liked the quiet of nature. Understandable. Today was a lovely, peaceful day.
Despite how gorgeous the day was, something was off. It became more and more obvious as he drew closer to the home of his tutor. There were voices; some familiar, some not. Quickening his pace, Jin-ho cleared the thick brush and trees. Six or seven people, seven upon closer inspection, were huddled to one side of the cabin. He recognized one of them, Edmond, as a fellow student. Each face was sober, even almost sad. Had these other men known Aramoth?
It was obvious, now.
"Edmond...!" Jin-Ho called, his pace quick but steady as he drew closer. The boy, just a year or two younger than himself, turned his head, taken by surprise. He had been crying, the swelling and red around his eyes and the runny nose sure signs. "Edmond, what happened? Is he...?"
The boy nodded, his mouth opening slightly, as if to say something, but closed before he could get a word out. As he choked up, Jin-Ho figured he must have been closer to Aramoth than the other students.
Or, maybe, he was just weak hearted.
"Edmond had been the one to find him," one of the unfamiliar voices called. Jin-Ho turned, it was the voice of a fellow mage, his staff cradeled in his arm. "It seems that Sir Aramoth had been ill for some time. Edmond came in for a lesson early this morning and found him on the floor, reaching for the pot in his hearth."
Jin-Ho cast a glance back to Edmond. He, himself, almost couldn't believe it. "He.. never let any of his students know..." Jin-Ho had been unable to tell that the man was sick... Aramoth had a strong soul.
"That's the smoke you're seeing, in case you were wondering."
Jin-Ho froze. The smoke? From his chimney? There was no way the body could have fit properly, and the smoke could have spread... Before Jin-Ho could object, Edmond spoke up, his voice still thick, "It's what he would have wanted..."
Shoulders slumped, Jin-Ho glanced back up toward the billowing smoke. It was once a welcoming sign, but now... it was near heart breaking. At this point, he was glad that he had left Blaithe at North Base. Despite her inability to spread, she surely would have not been welcomed by this party.
"Did he know...?"
The mage stared at him, a cross look on his face. "Did he know what? That he was cursed with the Plague? Of course, you fool!"
Jin-Ho raised a hand in protest, his expression remaining calm. "That today was to be his last day." One could only imagine how hard it must have been for the poor man. Maybe this was why he preferred being away from society.
To keep away from others had he or they fell ill.
Edmond, behind the rest of the group, began to lose it. He was not upset because of Aramoth's death, as it seemed at first, but because he feared for his own life. Jin-Ho listened as his younger companion began to spew nonsense about how he might have gotten infected and it was all the old man's fault for not telling them of his illness.
It sickened Jin-Ho.
He, as a Grimm, could not contract the Plague. Maybe that was why he was able to remain so calm. But this man, Edmond... he had something to fear. He could not blame him for that.
"You're fine, Edmond," Jin-Ho announced, his expression harder than what was usual. "You have nothing to fear, just go home."
Edmond's bloodshot eyes flared as he slowly pushed through to get to Jin-Ho. "You..." he snarled, "You haven't even been here in weeks!" He stepped closer, his face contorting in pure rage. "YOU... didn't have to be near him! You are the one with nothing to worry about!"
Jin-Ho took a step forward, as well, brows furrowed in frustration. This man, to Jin-Ho's knowledge, did not possess a tinct, but he was obviously healthy. He did not have the kind of soul that Aramoth had possessed, and if he were sick, it would have been more apparent.
"You have nothing to fear, you're as healthy as you were when you first started being taught here. Go home."
Edmond's eyes, still red, nervously glanced between Jin-Ho, the other mage and the billowing smoke. Turning, as if to walk away, he took one step before forcing himself around, his fist connecting with Jin-Ho's cheekbone. In response, the people behind the offender quickly lept forward, latching onto Edmond's arms and held him back as the mage caught Jin-Ho. "I HAVE TO GO HOME TO MY FAMILY! WHAT FAMILY HAVE YOU GOT, FOREIGNER?!"
Jin-Ho, frozen in shock, could only stare at the man that had just assaulted him. Never, even as a child, had anyone raised a hand to him. He nodded at his fellow mage, lifting himself up and straightening his outfit before offering him a silent "thank you."
"I," Jin-Ho said, his voice strong and angry, "return back to Northern Base." He stood tall and proud, his eyes glaring into the boy's. "I have the risk of everyone there in my hands, now."
Before a reply could be made, he turned back toward the castle as Edmond stared back. The boy's face had gone quickly from anger to shock.
From this point on, it looked as if Jin-Ho would be teaching himself.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:39 pm
The Practicality of a PageAfter running into Chauhn for the first time since Blaithe had grown, friendships and future plans are made.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:41 pm
Troupe de Panymium[ORP]
Everything seemed to be going fine on this festive night, but it wasn't as everyone thought...
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:42 pm
"Sleeping Sun"
What a terrible night.
Such a lovely festival, torn to shreds in mere moments. Nobody had been prepared for that horror, and what a horror it was. The image of that poor bell woman clung to the front of Jin-Ho's mind; a reminder of how cruel the enemy is.
How fearful others are of this... gift. This potentially wonderful gift that they have recieved. Jin-Ho carefully laid the hat down on the desk, the Excito inside still huddled together in comfort. The golden girl had fallen asleep, the two silver boys cradeling her and Blaithe tucked carefully between them all. Her skin was a bit more dim than usual, but for some reason, it didn't strike Jin-Ho as very odd. She seemed to be sleeping, just as the other three were.
His family was growing.
Jin-Ho's gaze shifted from the tiny bodies nestled to the hat they lay hidden in. He could only hope that Adal was now back with Georgie and that all was well. They didn't have much time when they had talked, and he hoped for another meeting, soon. He wondered how much Adal could be missing his hat right now.
Sitting down, Jin-Ho reclined back into his chair, his arms holding up his head as he stared at the ceiling. Night had already fallen, the still, dark black of the sky could be seen from his high windows. The only light was the glow of candles on the corner of his desk and on his nightstand. He couldn't help but wonder about some of the individuals that he had encountered just a few hours prior. Was Miss Felicity and Claudia okay? Though he had known about her previously, it was Jin-Ho's first time meeting Beatrix (if you could call it that), was she holding up? The preacher, the Lord, that poor woman who had gotten sick... all of which coincidentally carried Plagues of their own. He really hadn't considered just how common these beings were.
And then those poor little bell Excito...
So very few were saved, most slaughtered or crushed in the chaos. Just thinking about it, the images still burned into his mind, almost sickened Jin-Ho.
Hopefully those that had been saved would be well taken care of. He watched as the three bells in their cozy nest slept peacefully. These ones, he knew, would be fine. Jin-Ho had seen Chauhn and Sloane rescue a handful or two each, all potentially going to good homes.
He thought of how these ones came to be. They had no Grimms, yet they grew right before everyone's eyes. Were these the "stunted Plagues" he had heard about? They would never grow beyond Excito, having no rightful guardian? From the looks of it, all three were Servos, so they had the possibility of becoming useful. Had they have been able to grow, they could heal the infection, so maybe they could still learn to an extent?
A small chime demanded Jin-Ho's attention; one had woken up and was now staring at him with wide, silvery eyes. It was the one that had nearly been stepped on, his clothing slightly dirty and worn. He hadn't said anything, but he gently laid Blaithe aside, still asleep, and was now standing on the table next to Jin-Ho's hand.
"What can I do for you, little one?" Jin-Ho asked, lowering down so that they were level with eachother. A smile had appeared on the man's face before he had realized it.
The bell, face still set, mimicked Jin-Ho. He kneeled down, but of course, was still eye level with the man.
"Are you going to care for us?"
Jin-Ho didn't falter, only lifting his hand for the bell to climb onto. They were smart, even for only having been born hours ago. "Of course I am. You're now part of my family!" he cooed, his other hand motioning toward the bundle that still lie asleep in the hat, but mostly directed toward Blaithe. "You are no longer in danger here. You're among friends."
A smile had now replaced the stern look on the bell as relief struck. He was definitely a fighter, that was for sure.
It joyed Jin-Ho to know that they, at least, felt safe in his possession. Blaithe was also probably a comfort for them, as well. Though much smaller, Jin-Ho could only wonder if they would, in the end, look up to her.
"How would you guys like names? I can't just refer to you all as "the bells," now can I?"
The boy stared up in awe, unsure of how to answer. Letting out a small laugh, Jin-Ho set the boy down next to the hat and gently nudged the others awake. Blaithe's light came back as soon as she had become conscious, just as her Grimm had figured.
"What's going on, Oji?"
With a nod, the Ismisian extended a finger out to each Excito. "You all need names, now don't you?"
Each cast a glance to the other, smiles spreading in their excitement. There were to be owned, named and cared for! Jin-Ho thought for a moment, his finger resting under the delicate hand of the golden bell. "You, I think, will be "Eve."" Waiting only a moment for reaction, he smiled and moved on to the next; the silver bell he had purchased for Blaithe. "You're Cain, and that leaves you," he paused as he turned toward the last, "Abel."
Jin-Ho didn't know why he had chosen these names, really. All from religious stories shared with him as a child. None of them really held any meaning toward the respective Plagues he had just named, but he liked how they all sounded. The Excito themselves didn't seem to mind, each grinning at each other about their new handles.
Lifting Abel into the hat, Jin-Ho gave goodnight wishes as he took the hat and relocated it to the nightstand next to his bed.
This, he hoped, was the best they could ask for.
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Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 10:43 pm
An Act of KindnessRunning a couple of errands turns into a small get-together. Is there a new friendship growing?
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