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 Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2013 3:02 pm
Snuggled carefully within Cyril’s large cloak, Blaithe watched as bowls were set down and relished the warmth that seemed to ooze from within. She relaxed, pleased with the situation and couldn’t help but give her new friend a large smile as he voiced his contentment. However, his compliments and request for her voice made her flicker in surprise, and it wasn’t long before her glow brightened like the blush of a newborn baby. Hero, as always, was less than pleased and would have rolled his eyes had he a pair.
”O-oh,” she stammered, pulling his cloak closer as a sort of embrace while fighting the urge to cover her face. She’d never encountered such a flatterer in her existence, no matter how short it actually was, and didn’t quite know how to think anymore. Her smile felt very silly despite how genuine it was, her insides fluttering wildly. ”I-I’m afraid I’ve no tales to tell…” she said, garnishing the statement with a flustered giggle. His movement, leaning closer than before, made her pull his cloak even further up to cover her childish grin – she didn’t know if the Caedos had intended it or not but she was certainly taken by his charm.
Jin Ho was actually grateful for Darius’ stoic disposition – it kept him from becoming curious of every little twitch; a habit he had been trying to kick since the incident. He was getting better at keeping silent, but he still couldn’t shake the momentary wonder during first meetings. Darius was an interesting character, but he made it easy to focus.
The mage watched with curiosity as the spoon was offered to the Caedos, his brows instinctively rising as he watched Cyril dip his finger in and feed from his finger. Blaithe had never once asked for food, nor had he ever seen her show an interest. He’d never really seen an Excito eat, save for Clurie and his vice of burnt paper. It was somehow captivating, especially with the apparent lack of a physical mouth.
”I have hoped for a while now that things would settle, but I worry that it is not the case. I am glad, however,” he said, expression softening by a fraction, ”that there are Grimm pairs that are capable of maintaining healthy relationships.
Again, his expression faltered, ”I have not been as great an example, but I am making up for it.”
Blaithe had also become taken by Cyril’s display of take, her smile growing at his pleasure. ”No, I am fine… Thank you for your kindness, though,” she sputtered, offering a small bow – a habit she had picked up from Min Ho during their stay. Hero merely shook his head, attention refusing to separate from the two.
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Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2013 10:01 pm
Cyril did not seem to notice Hero's displeasure. Really, he hardly seemed to notice the feline plague at all -- not for any lack of attention, or by ignoring the other, but because he was utterly focused on Blaithe. So charming and sweet the little thing seemed! And so small, she was, a fact that never stopped taking his attention. A jewel, she was, tiny precious thing! He bowed when she did, his grin widening.
"My goodness, such pretty manners," he marveled. "I have never seen anything so charming, I am certain of that. Do you not have stories, dear one? You could tell me a shopping list and I would listen quite readily."
Darius lifted his eyebrow at Cyril -- take it easy -- as he raised his spoon again, tearing off a chunk of bread and wetting it with the remainder of the soup. He left the moist bit near the plague, letting him choose whether he wanted to nibble further or not.
"And, Hero, certainly you could refute this!" Cyril continued. "Your sweet friend, she cannot possibly be so without song as she claims."
Darius, meanwhile, dipped his spoon back into his stew, watching the deep color pool into its curve, and took a bite before replying to Jin-Ho. Something in the man's speech seemed to draw him back into silence -- not an awkward silence, but a thinking one. His brow did not furrow, but there was something in his bright eyes that expressed displeasure.
That things were dangerous, he knew well. He had grown to loathe Gadu, and although his sacrifice and injury were not nearly as apparent as Jin-Ho's, they had certainly done their damage. But it was not that that bothered him.
Grimm pairs that are capable of maintaining healthy relationships, the man said.
Darius had seen other plagues. Some displayed proudly, some skittering like mice. Bright faces, dark faces; strange, eyeless faces. He was aware, as Cyril was, that plagues existed, that they had their own lives and their own Grimms.
"Is that a rarity?" Darius said, his tone considering. "Healthy relationships."
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:07 am
Perhaps that was what bothered Hero. He was ignored – pushed aside for the company of a regular Plague and not some mere stunted. Granted, he wouldn’t have preferred the quick-tongued blade whose charm and wit dripped like a drooling hound at the sight of a steak. If it weren’t how easily he spewed the cat would have thought it was all merely for show, though at the same time it could just as well be practiced. His cheesy charisma scratched at Hero’s ears, only aggravating him further. And worse of all, his beloved Blaithe was falling for it. There was no way that it was genuine, at least in Hero’s eyes, with how thickly the Caedos laid it on. These damn bladed plagues…
”If she does not wish to speak then do not force her,” the cat said plainly, hardly even bothering to hide the disdain in his voice.
Blaithe flinched, turning to face Hero for all of that one moment. She had never heard him bite and needless to say it was quite startling. Even Jin Ho couldn’t help but allow his attention to drift, expression hardening.
With muted surprise on his face, Jin Ho looked back to Darius. His soberness was enough to calm the former scribe once more, but he couldn’t help the sour feeling in his gut. ”These are hard times,” he said, looking down to his own bowl and scooping in a mouthful of stew. Perhaps he had said too much, taking a moment to gather his thoughts and a quick, passing glance toward Blaithe. ”Every Grimm I have ever chanced across has their own troubles… it sometimes passes to their companion.”
Still reeling from Hero’s abrupt change in tone, her Grimm’s words caused her to sink into the silky fabric more. Her glow had lessened, along with her smile, and somehow this had become a less than welcoming atmosphere. She still appreciated Cyril’s flattery and overall cheery disposition, but the air didn’t feel quite as relaxed – almost as if they weren’t even in the warm tent anymore. Fumbling with the blade’s cape, she held it close and breathed in his scent.
”P-perhaps I would do better with a prompt,” she suggested. ”I’m afraid… from the top of my head I have nothing to say, but maybe if the question was narrowed down into specifics?” Peeking her head back out, Blaithe tried to offer Cyril a smile to make up for losing the other.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 8:36 pm
As Hero spoke, Cyril inclined his head slightly and looked at him with an expression of deep interest, the look on his face strangely disjointed from the stunted's actual reply. There was no look of hurt or surprise, and the smile on the dagger's face did not even waver. Was he simply too stupid to pick up Hero's meaning?
"How very right you are," cooed Cyril pleasantly. "For if she is forced, that sweet voice may waver, and I could not bear to have caused it. No -- when Blaithe finds me a tale to tell, I shall be all the more intrigued to hear it, but you are only too right to suggest as you do, my good man."
Darius, too, did not seem moved by the outburst, instead eating steadily. That Cyril was good to take care of himself seemed a given to the man. That others might be annoyed by him was only just as natural. He kept his attention on the man across the table and on his stew, and both he found plenty more interesting than the plagues' conversation.
He nodded once at Jin-Ho's reply, but his eyes were still thoughtful. There was another pause before the man spoke, as though gathering the words from some distant corner of himself.
"A shame," said Darius. His eyes scanned the table, fixing on the tiny plague swathed in Cyril's cloak, her glow so steady and bright, her features so small and delicate. He could lose her in his pocket, the trinket. But Jin-Ho seemed to have done his job, although there was much that seemed to run as an undercurrent in the man's voice.
Darius' eyes narrowed just slightly in focus.
Was she scarred...?
"... but perhaps unavoidable," he said in his quiet, rumbling voice. He looked back up at Jin-Ho. "Same as parents and children."
Cyril laughed then, the sweet-smoky sound of it reaching Darius' ears. He blinked languidly at Blaithe, drumming his fingers on his cheek in thought.
"A prompt! Allow me to think of one, my dear lady. Perhaps -- you could tell me of something you favor. A talent, or a view, or a possession of yours?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:05 pm
Cyril’s exuberance helped ease Blaithe’s nerves, even if just a little. Hero had returned to his silent brooding, looking away from the entire group with his ears pinned back and his arms crossed. The Phasmas did her best to keep the smile delicately painted on her face; it was easy to fake it for now due to the lack of apparent eyes, and for that she was grateful. Her feline friend, however, itched at the back of her mind with his startling outburst.
”Well…” Blaithe said, shimmying herself out from beneath his cloak. With her size it was impossible to hand it back to him and from Hero’s current mood she figured it was best to leave it there until Cyril felt the need to snatch it back. She did, however, push it out of the way as it covered a decent portion of the paper before them; she didn’t ask her companions to move, she just needed the silken cloth out of the way, and once it was delicately pushed aside she silently began working.
The brush’s movements were quick and practiced, though what she did wasn’t immediately apparent. Initially it appeared to be a disorganized hodgepodge of black smudges haphazardly strewn about the portion of parchment between the three Excito, but soon colors were added and detail began to form. Her work was fast – almost startlingly so – and within moments it was becoming apparent that it was Cyril she was scribbling onto the page. With his fingers pressed against his chest, legs together in a formal fashion and his ever present, dashing smile, his portrait was finished in less than five minutes, fully colored. There was little depth, but the overall work was stylized and accurate to the minutest detail. As always, Hero offered his compliments but for once they were short and quiet, and he still refused to pass a glance to their guests.
Jin Ho watched idly, listening to his human companion as the familiar sight of his Plague scribbling about filled him with silent pride. While there was a time where her activities were slow and seemingly forced, it was heartwarming to see that his poor Blaithe was getting back into the groove of her own pastime.
The former scribe let out a sullen chuckle, adjusting his knuckle under his chin. ”You should have seen her when she was younger…” he said, his voice muted when he turned to glance toward Darius. He was careful with his volume, unwilling to accidentally allow Blaithe to overhear. ”Her first days, she was so excitable; exactly like a young child. Do to unfortunate events, however…” Jin Ho’s voice trailed off, eyes wandering back to the bright speck who snuggled back beneath the warmth of Cyril’s cape. ”I fear I made her mature too quickly.”
With the shortest of silent moments, the pause was enough to give thought. Jin Ho glanced toward the opening of the tent, eyeing the people in passing and judging the color of the sky. While it felt so short, time was not kind and had passed so quickly. Good conversation and company generally sped the passage of time, and as the saying goes, time flies. Blaithe was still distracted, having just finished her quick but well-made portrait of Cyril, but with a quick tap of his nail against the wooden bench Jin Ho was quick to snatch Hero's attention -- and by extension, Blaithe's.
"I hate to part so suddenly, but we have a ways to travel before nightfall," he explained, reaching his arm out for Blaithe and Hero to take. The feline seemed relieved at such news, and his quickness to snatch her from beneath their 'companion's' cape made it more than obvious. He carried her into their Grimm's hand without giving the blade a second glance. Blaithe didn't fight but she was equally disappointed as Hero was happy to get away. With a timid wave, she tried her best to smile at Cyrl as she was carried away. "We wish you well, and safe journeys. Perhaps we will meet again, someday," Jin Ho said, giving one final glance as he stood and turned, offered a bow and made leave. Blaithe kept her attention on Cyril until they were no longer in the tent.
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:00 am
"What is this? A talent? I say, my goodness, a talent to be sure! Darius, my good man, do you see this?" Cyril said as Blaithe began to draw, leaning forward to better see her work. His serrated smile shrunk into an expression of wonder, and his always-slanted eyes rounded to show how impressed he was. He put both ghostly hands on the table as he leaned, and made a soft 'oooooooohhhh' noise as she continued. For the first time, it seemed the plague might be speechless.
"Mm." Darius inclined his head just slightly, his eyes finding the tiny white plague on the table top, who commanded art and color from her little hands. His gaze held no pity or sympathy in it. Life was life. Nobody got a free pass in times like these.
Cyril, too, would have to grow...
"She is fine now, I see," was all he said.
"May I keep this, little one?" Cyril spoke, passing his hand close to the portrait. He noted that the trio was meaning to leave, and he pulled his cloak back over his shoulders, his smile blossoming anew on his face. "Such a work of lovely art, if only you had drawn yourself and I would have something with which to remember you! We shall meet again, shan't we? I say, we must, for I have not shown you any of MY talents, and you have been such a beauty in sharing such a gem as this -- be well, beautiful one! I shall find you!"
Darius half-stood as Jin Ho did, bowing his head in farewell. His stony face relaxed inasmuch as it ever did, and there was an earnestness to his goodbye: "Be safe."
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