|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 3:28 am
Siddie nodded, giving Fai a bright smile. Minipets were one of her favorite subjects; she liked when other creeple shared her interest.
At his change of subject, her smile faded just a little. "I don't know many horsemen, no," she answered. Her feelings about horsemen were a complex subject, all mixed up with terror and unease and a lingering dread of the touch of Insanity. She had been on that field trip, been among the group that witnessed the explosion that annihilated the Isles. She had enjoyed her stay with the clans of War and Death, but she had seen some disturbing things, even before the Isles had vanished forever in a blossom of fire. Afterward, she had buried the memories and tried not to think too hard about that awful day, but she remembered too clearly the strange, dark place her mind had gone to in the wake of the tragedy. Her memories and associations related to the Four Clans were inextricably tied up with that horror and misery. "Some are not as, ah, approachable as you," she hedged, and without knowing quite why, added, "sir."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 8:31 am
"Yes, I am sure," Fai agreed with a slight smile and a nod. "I do not find that surprising in the least," he admitted. "You see, to us of the horsemen, you students--well, I believe we have mixed feelings. Of course when you place four completely different cultures together you have no choice but to have mixed feelings. I can only speak for myself, I believe--and to some extent the Famine Clan. Although I am sure there are even mixed feelings among my own kind."
He gently patted Precious's largest head as he put his thoughts together. "I am very appreciative of the lengths you scarelings went to to save our isles. Regardless of the outcome, I will never forget the things you did that I could not," he said quietly. "You see, I was not even on the isles when that time came. I... truly, and often, wish that I had been."
His black eyes stared forward silently, emotions swirling in their depths. "But we do not understand you," he said finally. "And often, far more often than I would like to admit, we do not try to. To us--who have lived long, long lives, we find you young and... forgive me, naive. While to you, I am certain, Horsemen are old and, I am sure, hardheaded and lacking flexibility." He smiled when he said that, clearly amused--and somewhat in agreement of his own evaluation. Both of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:17 am
Siddie picked Clove up and cuddled it against her chest as she listened to Fai. He wished he'd been there, to die with the rest of them? She couldn't understand that, and she wasn't sure she wanted to. There was nothing she could say to that that wouldn't sound somehow disrespectful, so she remained silent.
"We are young," she said, when he finally spoke again. "It's something we can't really help. Some of us have seen a lot of terrible things, though." She peeked sideways at him, her mouth pulled down in a somber expression. "I think, sometimes, we could use some advice from our elders." A trace of humor sneaked into her tone, in spite of the seriousness of the conversation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:11 am
"I will not argue with that," he said with a smile as he looked at her. "I also feel that sometimes we could use a perspective that is not so... elderly," he added with amusement. "Tell me, my dear, would you be willing to discuss such things with me now and then?"
It was a tentative friendship offered, and he was certain that they both knew it. But he had often felt that he needed to learn about his new home--regardless of how much he wished he could return to his old one. He was Famine. He was sober, now. He would adapt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:50 pm
There was only the tiniest of hesitations before Siddie nodded, giving Fai a smile that was mostly genuine. She wasn't entirely sure she trusted Horsemen - but certainly, like Halloweeners, they couldn't be all the same. And the Horsemen had lost everything, and if the rest of Halloween didn't accept them, they would remain alone. She could help, maybe, a little, by being friendly to Fai, and maybe she'd learn some things, too. "May I offer you tea, sometime?" she asked tentatively.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:59 pm
"My dear, as an alchemist of Famine, I would love a chat over tea," Fai said with a smile. "Do they have many blends here? Several of our own were lost--I've done what I could with that I have, but several of my favorite tea plants take some time to grow--and I only had a few of the seeds when I came. Do you have providers or do you create your own blends?" he asked--she had now found one of his favorite subjects.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:29 pm
"I buy from the tea shop down in town," Siddie said, smiling a little sheepishly. "I'm afraid I have the most awful green thumb. Plants never wither properly for me, so I leave that to the creeple who know what they're doing. I like all kinds of teas," she chirped. "I've had lessons in brewing and serving the black teas; I like scream tea too, but I can never get the proper effect when I try to make it - it whines more than shrieks. Perhaps you could teach me a little, I would imagine you know more than I," she added.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2013 3:34 pm
"I will teach you a few things," Fai said. "But perhaps you could take me to this tea store of yours sometime so I can see what is popular in Halloween--it will give me a better idea what I'm working with. And it does sound quite fascinating," he said, looking enthused. "Ah, but I can't," he said, frowning as he remembered. "I'm afraid the horsemen are... in a bit of a bind at the moment."
It was Medea's fault, not that he would ever say such out loud. He should have known running around in a strange outfit would get him in trouble. "Ah well, we will work with what we have!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 3:34 am
"Oh, I would like that," Siddie answered, smiling. But her smile faded as he went on to say that he couldn't. She paused a moment, wondering if it would be rude to ask why. She settled for, "I can go to the store and make sure I have what you need. Do you have any specific requests?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 7:48 pm
"Ah, just a selection of the more popular blends will be nice," Fai said with a smile. "If that would be possible. If you like, of course, I am working on a small, humble place of my own--to share with my apprentice in the Lost Clan Reserve--I am sure she would enjoy sampling this world's tea as well, if you would be interested in visiting?" he asked. "Of course, if you find this uncomfortable I would be happy to meet you here."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:25 am
"I can do that," Siddie answered, smiling. Again, there was the tiniest of hesitations before she replied to his other question, almost imperceptible. "I wouldn't mind visiting," she decided, "if it wouldn't bother you or your apprentice. I don't wish to impose." The delicate dance of etiquette was familiar to Siddie; the invitation had been extended, but if it had been for politeness's sake, he could easily use his apprentice as an equally polite excuse to retract it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 7:21 am
"My dear, my apprentice is newly brought to Halloween," Fai said with a smile. "I am barely acquainted with your ways, and I have been here for several months--I am sure she would adore having someone explain how things work here, if only in briefly. We of Famine are curious people," he said, his voice showing that he was being perfectly honest.
"We seek to learn new thing and meet new people at all times. I think you and a pleasant chat over tea would be a lovely way of doing both."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 2:18 pm
Siddie's posture relaxed just slightly. As far as she could tell, Fai was sincere; Siddie didn't trust horsemen, nor did she trust her own ability to read their intentions, but this one seemed to be genuinely interested in talking to her and sharing tea, odd as that might seem. They, too, were just creeple, she reminded herself - even if they were much older, more powerful creeple than she.
She nodded respectfully to Fai. "Then I'll be sure to get down to town and purchase a nice selection," she said. "When would be a good time for tea?" Clove chirped, and she scratched behind its ear. "Oh! Should I leave Clove at home when I visit?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 3:23 pm
"No, no, of course you can bring it," Fai said. "I doubt there will be any problems as long as you keep it with you," he added. "And you can explain this idea of minipets as fashion to my apprentice. I'm sure she will find it interesting as well," he said. "I really should get going, now," he added, glancing at the moon. "I need to check on my flower garden."
In the middle of the night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
