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 Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:13 pm
Gabriel would not have allowed the conversation to travel into sad sack territory, even if it had run into the field screaming. He much preferred 'mentally ill' to 'sad sack', anyway. It seemed, though, that they had both learned something in this very brief encounter. Of course he still had no idea how to differentiate between classes and social standings without the words he had been taught.
Well, he had weeded out "pussies," so anything was possible, he guessed.
He watched Annielie give Edgar the bag and only smiled and nodded in reaction to her apology. They'd learned things, hadn't they? She might as well have asked, though. He wasn't about to tell her.
"The words are one in the same. My grandfather was less frightening, I have to say, and the poor woman is barely five feet tall and can't walk long without assistance. Never before has an elderly woman been so terrifying. I see something similar in your eyes, hm? Family is the most important thing, so on and so forth."
Edgar took the bag, hoping for something he could eat as well, but at least there was something for his bunny friend. He pulled a flower from the bag and offered it to Almond, who had since lost some of her attention in him. He'd fix that!
"Almond, look~"
Morai, meanwhile, realized that he had to amend his teaching style. He put his tongue back in his mouth and blew a good snort, then blew another, but diverted this one through his lips. He achieved a fairly average angry deer-sound, but when closed lips met air, they vibrated rather pleasantly. He added his tongue again, and blew another deerberry. See? That was all!
Were deerberries perhaps a skill that only certain Guardians had? My, wouldn't that make him special!
"I apologize ahead of time for anything he teaches her."
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Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 6:27 pm
And 'sad sap' territory was successfully avoided; pass Go, wave, collect $200, laugh. "My eyes show that I'm actually a terrifying old woman?" Annelie asked facetiously. "Oh dear, my disguise is slipping." And blushing, but that was as common to her as blinking. It was a wonder that she didn't live life in a constant state of rosy cheeks. Or sharing a resemblance to to a raspberry, though speaking of raspberries.... "Yana tried to bring home garden snakes a few times, nudging them along like a mother would a child. When I said No, she brought home a rock and tried to play tag with it." She quirked an eyebrow at Gabriel and chuckled. "Trust me... nothing he teaches her would be out of the 'ordinary.'" And as if on cue, Yana succeeded -- partially -- in making the Strange New Sound. She had watched Morai very, very closely. So closely that she was mere inches from his face. And then she mimicked him as best as she could, started to honk, and then closed her lips. PPPT--hrrnnkk. OH JOY. The young guardian gave a vertical leap into the air and then twisted about, bounding off once hooves hit ground. PBBTHRNK!Meanwhile Almond wasn't just giving the boy her attention, but her entire mind, body, soul, and anything else that a rabbit could have. She followed the flower like a hound on a scent, and practically launched herself back into his lap. It's a miracle she didn't just try to tackle him to the ground and smother him then and there.
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Posted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 4:35 pm
Gabriel laughed and shook his head.
"I'm sorry, but I don't find you particularly frightening. Your Guardian, however... she's... she's rather unique herself, hm?" He turned to watch the deer-interaction as Annelie explained Yana's antics. It was nice to meet someone else who had a brilliantly awkward Guardian. Most he met were regal, or angry. Even just slightly reasonable.
"So I must ask, where is it you reside in Palisade, on a normal day?" he asked, wanting more to have an actual friendly conversation than being truly curious as to where she lived. It wasn't around his home, he assumed. It was just so rare that someone was willing to talk to him in either town, to truly sit down and converse. "I haven't heard of your employers, or, admittedly, of your surname. That isn't saying much, though. I've only just returned, and it had been years before then. They say the family estate is haunted, actually. Every so often we get children peeking, although less so now that we're painting."
"What color is it going to be?" Edgar asked, although he was entirely focused on Almond otherwise. He had a bunny. In his lap. He was slowly realizing that rabbits eating was the cutest and also most bizarre action in the world. He'd need to start trying to ply rabbits with dandelions from now on. Maybe he could have one too!
"It's been blue and white," and red "-- but we're going for cream this time. Easier to maintain. Staffing will be harder."
"You can take maids from Manou."
"I... don't think Manou would like that much."
"She has so many, though!"
"That she does..."
Was this conversation offensive? Probably not, he assumed. A person could have a lot of printers, apprentices, dancers, builders... they were just occupations.
Morai, meanwhile, was actually startled by the honk and nearly fell over, resolving instead to lunge in a circle and skip with Yana, yelling rather than blowing deerberries. Yes, congratulations, little one!
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Posted: Thu Sep 12, 2013 6:04 pm
Annelie looked at him, brows slightly raised, as she processed the question. "...You mean during a day off?" A small, private chuckle escaped her at such a concept. A day off. Ha. She didn't get many of those. Eventually she gave a small shrug, as if almost apologizing, or being at least a tad embarrassed, "...western Palisade, just over the river. ...It's not too bad, really. There are worse parts." She looked back over the field at Yana and Morai's antics., supressing a laugh as the buck almost toppled over. Now that the little deer had seemed to nearly perfect the raspberry noises, she was leaping everywhere. Every. Where. All over. Walking was no longer an option, not when one could practically frolick. OH. OR SPRING. Yana was good at springing; jumping straight up in the air like a child's toy. She demonstrated out of the blue for Morai, bleating as she cleared at least 3 feet. Annelie turned away and returned to the more low energy conversation. "I am not surprised you don't know my surname, though don't tell Mrs. Davies you don't know her!" The woman was all about climbing the ladder. She'd probably be affronted on every account if she had missed being known to a high class family, as Annie suspected Gabriel to be. "In respect though.... I don't know your family name either, though I can guess where your home resides." She laughed. If she was offended by what later he and Edgar spoke of, she didn't show it (and she wasn't, in truth). "I'm sure you'll have no troubles staffing, once things are done though." Rabbits were indeed bizarre, and on more than one account. But Almond didn't care, and the boy didn't seem to either. She was just happy to be munching on dandelions, and getting pieces all over the child's lap. Yes, being a rabbit was good... * oh god forgive my horrible writing.
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Posted: Fri Sep 13, 2013 11:50 am
Morai watched, stunned. He couldn't even jump like that when he didn't weigh Way Too Much! He threw himself in circles in appreciation, heaving his head to and fro.
"Honestly, that's very refreshing," Gabriel laughed, "It's one of those names that ends conversations and draws forth rather pressing questions. It's much more enjoyable to have no one know you, and considering the younger generation is... well, is my age, I find fewer people having any idea." He gestured dismissively and nodded. Really, it was nice to meet people who heard his name and kept on smiling, as opposed to the older people. Indeed, a certain memory sparked another laugh.
"I cleared out a tavern once, actually."
He turned to Edgar as the boy rolled over onto his back, trying to coax Almond onto his stomach. She looked heavy, and comfy...
"What does Missus Davies look like, if I may ask?" he posed then, inclining his head, "It's best to not make new enemies, and always more pleasant to make someone happy than offend them. Of course, if I mistake her I can simply say that I'm from across the river and have only heard her name." it might have sounded like flirting to anyone else, but Gabriel didn't... flirt. He didn't court. He had no desire for either. At least not yet.
"Morai's having so much fun, I'd try to steal you from the Davies if I was less polite," he said, although his expression spoke of snark, "At the very least, I would very much like to see you again. It's rare that Morai makes such good friends, and I'm afraid his dear Riven lives here in Oldcastle. Granted, if you'll be here a while, they could still have an... uh. A deer playdate."
Edgar looked up at the pair then, effectively upside-down.
"Can I come?"
"That would be up to Miss Annelie," Gabriel nodded.
"Miss Annelie, I rather like your rabbit..."
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Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:17 am
The more and more Gabriel spoke of his family name's reputation -- or infamy --, the more and more Annelie began to wonder what the hell had truly happened. What was connected to the name 'Blithe'? Why was it such a big deal that it cleared a tavern? She wasn't about to ask, but a little note was secured in her memory to at least look it up once back in Palisade. But with that being said, she didn't find herself to be worried while in Gabriel's company. Quite the contrary, he had so far proven to be a nice gentleman, and it was refreshing to just talk to someone instead of being ordered around or stumbling over words like she was slow in the head. She suddenly laughed at the mental image of him running into her employer. Mrs. Davies would be all sorts of every emotion, to say the least. Or so Annelie imagined. "She's a little shorter than I am, but not much older. Pretty, with brown hair, and she almost always weathers this feathered hat. The one's bedecked in those white...egret? feathers. I'm not sure why. But regardless of the state of her hair accessories, your plan sounds like it will work effectively on her." Almond, who was clambering onto Edgar's stomach much like a cat would, caught the woman's eye for a moment. But instead of making a comment along the lines of the rabbit being an attention seeking blob, she found herself blushing, and even playing with the split-second thought of NOT working for the Davies anymore. "If you were less polite..." she laughed and mused. "If I am ever fired by the Davies, I'll know where to seek out new employment. But yes," she looked out to the two deer, "a little...deer playdate could work. I believe we are here for a week or so..." A smile was afterwards cast down to Edgar, and she tilted her head as if to see him better in his upside-down state and covered in Bunny. "I can see that," she laughed. "Almond goes where I go, usually. So she'll be there, if you wish to see her again." Yana meanwhile had completely turned tracks from jumping to mimicking Morai once more as he went in circles and thrashed his head about. That is until she got bored of EVERYTHING and bumped him in the side before taking off to run. Running was the best thing ever! So was chase! She pipped at the older Guardian before shooting off towards Annelie and the person she was talking to.
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Posted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 8:13 pm
Gabriel smiled and nodded. At least she would consider him were she to lose her employment. That was better than nothing. He would much prefer to work with people whose company he enjoyed, rather than random folks seeking pay. He had always wanted to know the servants and maids they'd had as children, but his father had forbidden it. He knew that he could not run an entire estate alone now, and he would very much like to be able to hold a conversation with the people who worked the grounds. He'd probably just have to learn then as he went.
"Thank you," Edgar smiled broadly.
"I'll keep her in mind," Gabriel nodded then. Would a deer play date mean dropping Morai off and entertaining himself with his hosts? Spending the time with their servant would be much more pleasant, he imagined. There were no extra rules of propriety with people not blinded by money. Perhaps he could go in plainclothes? "What would be a good time for a visit, and where? Considering you laughed at the idea of 'time off'..."
Morai, meanwhile, felt unable to follow the sprightly Guardian that bounded toward their Chosen. Chest heaving, all he could do was bellow in warning.
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Posted: Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:36 am
Why was Big Guardian shouting warnings? thought Yana as she sped towards her Chosen. The young deer shot a look over her shoulder, perplexed, yet still moving. She really couldn't figure it out until Annelie -- who had also heard Morai and looked up from her conversation just in time -- yelled her name. OH RIGHT, because she was on a collision course. That made sense now. Panic never really reached Yana's brain, even though her Chosen's voice had been ripe with it, and the little golden deer leaped right over Almond and Edgar. Perfect execution! Cleared with ease! She posed when she landed, tail and ears up in excitement... Until she caught the eye of Annie, and everything melted. "Yana, honestly!" Annie hissed, arms crossed over her chest, brows furrowed. She didn't scream or yell though. She never did. She just stared, and the deer decided that that was much worse than being yelled at. "Go an apologize," she told the deer, and then hurriedly bent down to Edgar and Almond, her face instantly worried and apologetic. "Are you alright?" Annie knew that physically everyone was fine. Yana was...not the smartest, but the woman had actual faith in the deer's abilities. She just didn't know what Edgar would be feeling. .....Almond however looked completely unaware that anything had happened at all. The rabbit was still in the exact same spot on the boy's chest, still chewing flowers, and Annie didn't even think she had moved an ear when Yana flew over. Almond just really didn't give a s**t. "I am so sorry," she shot to Gabriel. She was certain he'd change his mind about deer playdates now. Great. s**t. Meanwhile, though, Yana was doing as she was told and had picked her way over to the boy and rabbit. She snuffled softly at his hair, his ears, and his shirt, then to between Almond's ears. She was very sorry indeed. But they didn't seem hurt! She knew she'd clear them....
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Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:38 am
Edgar instinctively shrank back as the yearling bounded close and gave a strangled yelp as she sailed over him. He sat them, his expression one of shock, and barely noticed the woman who came to him. The boy turned slowly, eyes wide as saucers, and clutched Almond to his chest.
"... woooah!"
Gabriel chuckled and shook his head. He'd leaped to his feet as Yana's course became clear, but he had remained a few steps away lest he make the situation worse. Luckily, it didn't seem as if Edgar was phased.
Morai arrived as Yana did, and the boy was smothered in snuffles and soft nibblings as the Guardians respectively apologized and checked to make sure he wasn't dead. Edgar laughed hysterically, tickled by whiskers. Glad to see that the Little One was not bleeding from anywhere important, Morai turned to Yana and gently knocked her head with his.
It was okay, bu if you did that again he might have to chase you away.
"No harm done," Gabriel responded then, giving a soft smile. "You certainly have your hands full, don't you?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:59 pm
Annelie's hand seemed to have become permanently attached to the front of her face, for all the better to hide her shame with. The other had become attached to her hip. "Full, overflowing, flooding any and all potential opportunities more efficiently than the plague." She gave a long sigh, head shaking. "...I am so sorry." Yana didn't seem to be fairing better than her Chosen anymore either. The older Guardian's warning made the cocky little deer more fully realize her... mistake, even though the boy himself was laughing hysterically and Almond was just continuing to Not Give A s**t. Large ears pinned themselves back and the young creature shuffled herself to Annie's skirts, where she proceeded to hide herself. ... Or well... her head. The doe's gilded bottom stuck out like none other.
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Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 6:30 pm
Gabriel shook his head softly. Ah, he well remembered the days of Morai's youth, and the constant sound of shattering glass and tumbling statuettes.
"Perhaps she'll grow out of it? perhaps.... not. Look, she has a sense of shame yet. That's better than I can say for my boy."
Morai had gone to retrieve his helmet after a curious glance at his new friend. She seemed to be tired! It wouldn't be right to force her to continue playing. He nibbled gently at what he had no idea was a skull, and his Chosen simply stood to assist. He plopped the vestment on Morai's head and nodded to Edgar.
"Come, Edgar. Let Almond go. We should make it to the bakery soon, non?"
The boy slowly turned to sadness, and then perked right back up again. He gave the rabbit one last rub and a kiss between the ears and he stood, bowing to Annelie softly.
"It was a pleasure to meet you."
Gabriel nodded and smiled, lifting to boy to place him on Morai's back.
"I'm sorry to leave so soon. It was indeed a pleasure. Look for Blithe or Beauchene. You are always welcome, for... ah."
Morai turned to Gabriel, then scrunched and relaxed his nose.
"Tea and whatever it is deer do in their free time."
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Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 6:18 pm
At last Annelie allowed herself a small chuckle, and in the end could only really shrug. "I suppose." Yana was.... Yana, and while the exuberant Guardian wasn't always easy or uh, intelligent, the woman loved her all the same. She glanced down at the hiding deer-butt beneath her skirts before nodding to Gabriel, and giving an awkward bow to Edgar, "And meeting you was a gift, Little Lord." She then looked again to Gabriel and bowed her head. "Pleasure was all mine. I'll remember the names; I doubt Yana would let me forget. And if you're ever feeling brave, look for Davies." At the sound of her name, Yana poked her head out the back of Annie's skirts and peered around the woman's ankles. Searching for Morai's eye contact, she wiggled her tail and gave a peeping sound, sunny disposition already having returned. Now she was in an awesome dress fort!
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Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2013 11:31 am
"Oho, be careful what you challenge me to. I'm sadly lacking in social boundaries," Gabriel teased. If this girl did not come to find him, he would certainly come to find her. She put him at ease, and she was showing signs of a sense of humor. It was hard to draw that out of people.
Edgar meanwhile beamed up at Annelie, absolutely glad to have been called a Little Lord. He had nearly forgotten giving up Almond. Nearly.
Morai caught Yana's eyes as she emerged and stretched out his nostrils. It seemed like they were going now...! Yes, she'd have to come for deer tea some time, and he could show her his garden! He wondered if she could leap over the bushes out back...
Gabriel watched the deer "communicate" and arched a brow. Yana and stairs? Oh boy.
"Come, Morai. Say goodbye."
The Guardian wandered over to his new friend and nibbled gently at the fur on her neck before nosing her and turning to head off with his Chosen. He gave one glance back, at the same time Edgar turned to gaze longingly at his bunny-friend.
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