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 Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 6:43 pm
 ☼~Ardessa~☼ Well, this boy was certaintly a character, wasn't he? Having the Demi tell Ardessa it was his buisiness alone, she felt a bit taken aback. Not horribly offended, but...Her ears fell back a tad, and she frowned. "Oh, well..Gosh, sorry. As the stranger here, I didn't mean to get you going all defensive. I don't even know why I ended up here, of all places..." She mumbled apologetically, the last part coming out in a mutter. This was...Something to be remembered. It was her first talk with a mortal, wasn't it? She'd never seen one up close. The Escalade leaned foreward, peering, sniffing at Lucien and inspecting him. "You don't seem too different, just...You don't feel...Menacing."Menacing, that was the proper word she felt described her father. He wasn't particularly cruel, but...Scary.He was scary, something this mortal was not, and he was always unpredictable. Catching him glance from tail to tail, she stopped hers from swishing so much and let them lie ruffled in the warm sand. She should've known he'd jump back, but..That was just not on her mind. "By..By what..? Oh! Those..The...The S..." With her rambling, the Escalade had walked off towards the water, not intending on making the male any more uncomfortable at the moment. Her thoughts were scattered like fish, and trying to regroup as such. That's when she saw the bag float up from the water with some bubbles. Leaning towards the item, she looked over at the Demi. "Lose something when you jumped, Suspicious Lucien?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:54 pm
 ♠~Lucien~♠ Oh, dear. He had really done it this time. First, messing up his first impression, appearing to be a truly timid Demi, and now making her feel offended? Maybe self-studying females wasn't the way to go after all. But what choice did he have? Korey was never interested in the idea to begin with, and he was the only actual friend he had in the city.
Instinctively, the Demi backed away a step or two, away from the curious Escalade when she came even closer. He didn't even know how to respond to her comment on his overall impression. Somehow he had lost motivation in getting her interested. But what did get him interested was what Ardessa had said afterward. Aside from her mumbling, which Lucien thought was absolutely adorable, he brought himself back to when he first found the oasis, and how he had lost his belongings and his bearings after his fall.
Following the Escalade's gaze over the clear blue, the Demi gasped when his eyes met the sodden, bulky bag. Without thinking, he leaped into the water, floundering his way towards his precious bag, immediately taking it in his jaws and dragging it back to shore. Although he could care less about his own fur getting wet, Lucien took great care not to get Ardessa's. After all, he did think himself as a gentleman. But, not quite a ladies man, that is.
At that moment, he could say something like, 'M-My bag!' or 'Thank goodness it's alright!' the Demi decided to keep his trap shut and nosed through the soaking brown cloth. Inside, he found an almost-empty canteen, several bundles of cheese and bread, folded cloth, a compass, and other tools of his trade. But what Lucien pulled out of the bag pleased him the most.
"Ahh, I found it! This is why I'm here, Miss Ardessa. Y'see, there's this ancient treasure that was said to be hidden somewhere here on this oasis, and apparently, it's only one of many." The Demi started to pour out his thoughts and memories to the Escalade through his newfound excitement. He then unfolded the damp piece of paper and laid it down on the sand, spending the next few moments staring down at it, muttering to himself.
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Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:33 pm
☼~Ardessa~☼ She rolled her eyes as he took a few more steps back, and huffed at him. What? Does he think I'm going to bite him? Burn him? Good grief..The partial god-Escalade mix of things decided to keep a little distance between her and the timid Lucien. Still standing at the shore as he floundered, she watched with reignited amusement at his rescue mission, and sidestepped to avoid the flurry of droplets. The soggy material drew her attention as he sifted through it, her eyebrows raising again. "You sure came prepared!" She chuckled quietly, watching as he exclaimed and brought out the map. Walking over to the side of the damp paper, she peeked over at it and studied it. "What, exactly, is the treasure you're looking for? Lucien?"Ardessa doubted Lucien was looking for the same thing, as he said it without plural. The gold-and-orange female sat while the explorer examined his map.
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Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 10:43 pm
♠~Lucien~♠ Lucien paused. What was he searching for? Looking up in thought, the Demi dug through his mind, but could not, for the life of him, remember. Even Korey, who had helped him find that very map, seemed as if he had no idea what exactly this treasure was.
"Ah. Well... You know, I never really thought about that. I only know that it's not well-known, which is how I like it, and that there are more." Lucien gave a sheepish, apologetic smile. "I'm not very much help, am I?"
He promptly folded up the map again, carefully placing it inside the wet bag. Well, he was out of ideas. On what to do next, that is. He was here to retrieve the treasure, but he also wanted to help this Escalade get help back at the city. She seemed like she was looking for something, but not the same thing he was. He was faced with choices once again.
"Hm. You know what? Maybe, if you can help me find what I'm looking for here, I can help you find what you're looking for, as well. That, and a place to stay." The last bit he said with a light laugh. It seemed like a crazy idea, but it could work.
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Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:05 am
☼~Ardessa~☼ She laughed, just a little, and stood to stretch like a cat. "No, you're not." Ardessa answered lightly humored, not intending on hurting the Demi's ego. He seemed to be in a good mood. Was everyone down here like that? That'd be..Actually, kind of...Nice. She watched him re-pack the bag, and tilted her head, concerned. "It isn't ruined, is it?"By the sound of it, Lucien treasure-hunting wasn't such a rare event. It would be quite unlucky for his pack to be useless! Of course, Dessa doubted it'd be soggy for too long out in the desert sun. Why should she worry, anyhow? The common's deal, idea made her chuckle. She held her head high, a glint in the blazing eyes. "You'd give me a place to stay, and help me find...These things, if I help you find the little treasure you're after?"The female spoke this as the puzzle pieces in her head fit themselves together, and the fog cleared. She was just missing minor details, right? She knew that there were more than three, at least...Yes, there were six..No, seven...And they could be who knew where. In the Escalade's mind, it'd be wonderful to have someone with experience. This Demi had that, didn't he? It seemed so. And two is better than one, correct? If he agreed, she's get a place to stay the night, and a clueless companion for her journey. Should I tell him the details..? But..What, then, if he takes it back? And declines?All three tails drooped a little at this thought, trailing in the sand. She'd tell him, sooner or later, if this worked out at all and they first found what he looked for.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 2:07 pm
♠~Lucien~♠ Lucien sniffed his soggy burden, then shrugged. It would be fine. After all, it had been in worse conditions than this. Suddenly, the Demi was reminded of all of his past travels, of all the treasures and friends he had found, and also lost. Nostalgia sent a shiver down his spine; Memories were such easy things to make, but are so difficult to forget.
"My stuff'll be fine..." Lucien's voice came out quiet and dreamy, as if his head were in the clouds, which it indeed, was. As he stood there remembering, he started to follow the steady path of palm trees, letting his tail brush the sand. His mind was being pulled back to the time he had first met his best friend Korey in Clearwater, the Glacier Town.
As he lowered his head to sniff at the ground, Lucien could still feel the cold stare Korey had given him the very first time they met. Of course, Korey was part of a band of gypsies at that point, but that didn't stop the Demi from befriending the interesting-looking Lasirus. He couldn't help but realize that Ardessa's and his own meeting was something very similar to this. Maybe, by using the same tactics, he could befriend the Escalade, and possibly more.
"Ah-ha! Found it...!" At the end of the trail of palm trees, the Demi began to dig into the soft, white sand. He could care less if it got into his fur; he could wash it off in the pool anyways. After a good-sized pile of sand had formed behind him, Lucien stopped. Before him was a fairly large chest. Should he open it? What if it was rigged with a trap that could endanger Ardessa's, as well as his?
Ah, it didn't matter now. The Demi's curiosity got the better of him. In moments, he already had the chest unlocked and opened.
"Wait...Where's the treasure? Nothing?" Weird. As Lucien looked around, confused, he didn't notice a black wisp slipped out of the treasure chest and into the sky.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 2:53 pm
☼~Ardessa~☼ "Alright..." Ardessa shrugged at his disconnected voice, guessing he was somewhere else in his mind. She glanced about, and it took her a moment to notice the Demi padding off into the sand, and then she took off after him at a trot. Her gaze scanned the palms that they followed, wondering if anything lived in the trees out here.If there was a treasure he sought, wouldn't something be about to protect it? Hm, or perhaps no one knew of it's presence besides Lucien and his map. The Escalade stood over the ditch and the chest, her eyes lighting as she wondered if it held something precious. Is this why he went out to treasure-hunt? Maybe he liked the feel of anxious excitement when he found things like this. "Well, open it up..."Ardessa urged Lucien on, and stared as he did just that. Her eyes caught the little tendril of what could've been smoke, and a shiver went up her spine, sparking something in her thoughts that made her jolt. "It wasn't empty, it..Something came out.."
What is this? Pandora's Box?!She took a few cautious steps away, craned her head back to look in the sky, and spoke to the Demi. "What do you suppose it was?"
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 4:48 pm
♠~Lucien~♠ The Demi shrugged, his interest in this 'treasure' now lost. He knew he shouldn't have trusted that suspicious-looking merchant he and Korey had bought the treasure map from. But...all merchants these days looked suspicious.
"Hm...really? If anything came out, it's probably just bugs, or a rat..." Lucien's shoulders drooped. He should have known better than to have gotten his hopes up. After all, the least something was known, the least rare it is...right? Sighing, he climbed out of the ditch, leaving the treasure chest. Then he started to make his way towards the pool of water nearby.
"Alright, since we made a deal, I'll take you back to the city and find you a place to stay...If you still want to come, that is." Before beginning to wash himself off, the Demi dropped his bag on the shore, letting the coolness of the water wash away his disappointment. At least he didn't encounter a Mahar or a Cadogre; those creatures were often a doozy to get around.
After splashing around for a bit, Lucien decided to get a move on with their trip; it would take half a day's travel to get back, no stops included. Swinging his bag over his shoulder once more, the Demi waved with his tail to Ardessa, signaling their leave.
"Well, if you have no further business here, I think it's time for us to go." he called, not bothering to dry himself off. It was hot enough as it is. As he started to make his way to the west of the oasis, he looked back to see if the Escalade was following.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:14 pm
☼~Ardessa~☼ "Yeah, I'll come wih you..I still want to..." Ardessa mumbled of-handedly, starting to follow the Demi without watching where she was going. Her head was turned, still glancing back and forth between the leading ,ale and the chest he'd left in the hole. Hearing the water splashing made the female's stare break from the odd thing she kept trying to see, and had her stopping an inch from falling into the oasis. She drank from the water, not knowing how long until they'd get to their next destination, as Lucien washed himself off. The Escalade felt a strange presence, not unlike that of being watched, and turned yet again to view the hole they'd just abandoned. It was hard for her to break her focus, but she recollected her senses when the Demi called to her, already out of the water and with his things over his shoulder once more. "Yes, I'm coming, I'm coming.." Ardessa muttered, catching up easily after one last lap and the water. "So..." she was thinking of something to talk about, and glanced down at the explorer's bag. "You obviously do alot of this, no? What's the most memorable little adventure of yours?" It would be a bit of a walk, she thought, so no reason not to chatter a little to pass the time.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:48 pm
♠~Lucien~♠ As they two began their journey, Ardessa's question called Lucien's mind back to his memories once more. Various memories of his travels flashed before his eyes, but one that stood out the most was one of significant value to the Demi. It was his first--and last-- expedition with his father.
"Hm...I think my most memorable would be the one with my father. He was my role model, and he was the one who taught me the trades of a treasure hunter." Lucien gave a sad smile as he remembered that last adventure with him.
When he was in his early teenage years, Lucien's father took him to the market, and they happened upon a merchant selling treasure maps. They ended up buying a couple, and since he was already willing to learn, his father began to tell him all about his trade as a treasure-hunter: how to pick locks, navigate by stars, and how to cope in difficult situations. He also taught him how to pickpocket.
After about a month or so of lessons, Lucien's father hired a guide and gathered a couple friends before setting off on the young Demi's first adventure. It happened to be in Clearwater, the Glacier Town, where Lucien made friends with Korey. Their real goal was the treasure of Mt. Avalanche.
It took Lucien's team two weeks to get up the mountain: it was as long and perilous journey. They had lost two members to the blistering winds and icy blizzards. On the second week, they ran out of food. It seemed like Hell, but they finally, finally, found the treasure. But Lucien's father was dying of cold and hunger. As father and son opened the chest together, Lucien's father breathed his last, and entrusted his son the contents of the box: The Ring of Fate.
Lucien has been wearing the ring ever since, and has aggressively refused every time he is asked. As the Demi told the details of his story to Ardessa, he couldn't help but wonder if she had her own family she was missing.
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Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:40 pm
☼~Ardessa~☼ Seeing his melancholic expression got the escalade to thinking, and hearing the answer he gave got those thoughts turned to her father. Her features made a face of something unpleasant. After an indignant sniff and pointing her nose upward, she replied. "Father, hn? I'm jealous, he sounds kind. Mine isn't very, er. exactly...He's scary." if he was in awe when he spotted Ardessa, he'd be in for a jolt if he ever glimpsed the father of the Escalade. That brought along memories, memories she grimaced at. Her father wasn't abusive, not that kind of scary, but he had his cruel side that he did sometimes lash out with, sometimes at his children. He was a big creature, he'd have to be. His appearance showed off his obvious control over fire, his tails blazing ferociously as well as his eyes and his chest. Ardessa could remember her mother as well, but nothing as prominent. Her mother had been something sweet, and kind. She hadn't been strong in the least, she'd been a mere mortal. The tale of 1+1=Ardessa was lost to the young Escalade, having never been told that story. In fact, Ardessa couldn't remember ever actually meeting her maternal parent, just remembered viewing her. That was something the Escalade regretted.. Her life hadn't been hard, but it wasn't one of ease. Especially not now...Though, remembering life as something younger made Ardessa smile. She vaguely could reimagine her and her father actually..Actually playing...Jokes passing, her being teased...You know, before 'maturity' came and she was able to view her father in all aspects, not just as the 'loving dad'. Of late, they'd been going over training for the young Escalade, not so much normal battle but over her inherited pyrokinesis. Her tails flicked with that memory, all three blazing at the tips for a few seconds. The braces on her wrists and ankles helped in that, and she'd learned how to use her tails, her paws...She could almost breathe fire, too...It just seared her throat and left a bitter, burnt taste that she dislike, which led to less eager practice there. {Oddly enough, a Devonti and an Archan look like they could make an Escalade mrgreen *is looking through all of them just for the heck of it*}
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:10 pm
♠~Lucien~♠ The Demi sighed again, looking down at his front right paw. Underneath his sandy brown fur was the ring his father had entrusted him. He vacantly wiggled his toes as he walked along a sandy ridge, blinking his eyes against the searing heat of the sun. He had very little experience with desert-travel, making him vulnerable to the harsh rays.
"Oh, I see. Is your father the over-protective type?" Lucien asked, casting a glance over his shoulder. Judging by the look on Ardessa's face, he based his guess off that sour visage. He shrugged. A lot of fathers felt that way about their daughters, especially if they were only child's. Not that he would know.
Telling his story definitely passed some time as they trekked along the desert; the sun had already reached its peak, and was beginning its daily trip back down over the horizon.
"So, Ardessa. Enough about me. How about you? Anything memorable to share?" the Demi asked, bringing a smile back to his face. Surely the Escalade's story would be interesting. At least, it looked like she had an interesting past to speak aloud.
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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:46 pm
☼~Ardessa~☼ "Overprotective? Controlling sounds better.." She corrected him, and followed under the pleasant warmth of the bright orb in the sky. During a quiter period, the Escalde tipped her head up to watch the sun gradually panning over the blue background. She sunk her paws in the sand as she walked, pressuring them down under the granules. The heat sent a little pleasant, calming feeling throughout Ardessa, making her feel sleepy. "Hn? Memorable? Surely nothing as entertaining as your own tale. Mine would include nothing too...Interesting. Rules and procedures are what most of my memories include. Like school. And nothing else." That would be her way of brushing the suggestion off, if he would let her. The Demi had had a pleasant story, and she couldn't quite relate to some of the feelings he'd shown while telling it. Ardessa began to wonder about Lucien, though, and if he had memories of his mother as well. Of course, it wouldn't be polite to bring up any prodding questions, especially if the topic was something he hadn't brought up himself. "Im sorry, Lucien, if I make a quite boring travel partner." She apologized calmly, her voice just cool and elsewhere. The Escalade had distant eyes, thanks to all her wondering.
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:45 pm
♠~Lucien~♠ Lucien detected the vacant expression on Ardessa's face, as well as on her voice. He started to wonder if she was holding back on something. He glanced back at her once more, making sure he hadn't upset her in any way, but shook his head and continued on. He didn't want to pry. After a moment of silence, he heard the Escalade speak again, apologizing this time. Confused, the Demi turned his head completely, looking directly back at Ardessa. She had no reason to apologize. What was her business was her business. "Don't apologize. I understand if you get lost in thought. I do it all the time, heh." With a small laugh, Lucien tried to brighten the situation. As much as he meant what he said, he still felt uncomfortable during long periods of silence. Especially with females. Looking up again, he noticed they had made good time traveling, for they were not far from the city. In fact, the Demi could spot the faint outline of the busy, but lively town he was residing in at the moment. Thinking about it now, he grew anxious. What would Korey think about his new friend? He rarely came back from an expedition empty-handed. Maybe he would tell him that Ardessa herself was the treasure? He shook the thought away. Too cliche. And not to mention, sappy. They haven't even established a serious relationship yet. "Oh. We're just about there. Time sure passed by quickly, huh? Lucien said, his tail slightly wagging. "I can't wait to show you around. Korey'll be so surprised!" The Demi grinned, picking up his pace, but so much as to leave Ardessa behind.
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:50 pm
☼~Ardessa~☼ And easy response to his attempt to brighten the mood, Ardessa gave him a simple smile in return, before following once more with her tails flicking and trailing. So where were they headed? What was his town like? Was it as isolated as the oasis, with sand everywhere? That wouldn't be too bad, the sand was nice. Was Lucien's town big, with lots of residents? Blinking up at the sun, she let her eyes adjust back to the toned-down colors of the landscape. The sun was the brightest object, not to be challenged.The comfortable, perhaps muted colors made being here calm and easy on the eyes. It was nice..... So, would the others be nice, or at least similar to Lucien? Personality wise? Ardessa could remember the personalities and attitudes of those she'd been around before, and had a sudden strike of worry. She wasn't like them, was she? Not too much alike them? That would simply made her presence here a nuisance... "Oh?" She blinked, lost in thought yet again. "I can't wait, either. You would give me a tour, yes? If it's not a bother? You've also mentioned Korey a bit, is that a friend?" Ardessa asked, hoping still her personality wasn't as unpleasant as she thought. (sorry, been busy >.>)
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