The mage and the snake :: At the Compound
From the main thread
Aletea
The gardens of the compound were very well cared for, and Dacian was entirely to blame for that. Well, that's what Hadrian would say about, it anyway. Dacian himself was quite pleased with the effect, and his bustling around the garden made quite the interesting sight.
Afterall, noone would expect someone who had managed to achieve what the mages had done, would be so happy to simply garden. But that's the way it was - in fact, the first child even avoided the garden simply because all the cheerfullness that Dacian displayed there bothered him. Ahneta called Ismet solitary; Dacian called him anit-social.
So Dacian was alone in the garden today, as always, before he caught sight of someone.
Afterall, noone would expect someone who had managed to achieve what the mages had done, would be so happy to simply garden. But that's the way it was - in fact, the first child even avoided the garden simply because all the cheerfullness that Dacian displayed there bothered him. Ahneta called Ismet solitary; Dacian called him anit-social.
So Dacian was alone in the garden today, as always, before he caught sight of someone.
Ary Keeyara
Arianna found herself wandering around the compound aimlessly on this warm, spring day. It had been a few days since she had been told about the place. While it was extremely strange to be suddenly asked by a stranger to be a guardian she hadn't been too startled by it. After all, she had already had 3 similar situations take place. She was already the guardian of two boy toddlers and a strange gyrfalcon. So, she had excepted the request without a problem. However, she had been careful to become as informed as she could in the short meeting-after all, each of these adoptions tended to be extremely different and needed to be handled with care.
She soon realized she had ended up in the gardens. Putting a hand to her face slightly to keep the wind from blowing her brow and white locks in her face, she couldn't help but smile. All of the plants looked healthy, well nurutred, and happy if the later could be used towards flora. She could even hear the joyful chirps of birds and the buzz of bees going about their searches for food.
Blinking her violet eyes slightly at the angle of the sun, she turned her head to see the mage she had met before, the one who had come to explain the whole thing to her. It seemed he had seen her as well, by the direction of his gaze. Dropping her hands to her side from where they had been clasped behind her back, she made her way over to him, the corner of her lips turning upwards slightly.
She soon realized she had ended up in the gardens. Putting a hand to her face slightly to keep the wind from blowing her brow and white locks in her face, she couldn't help but smile. All of the plants looked healthy, well nurutred, and happy if the later could be used towards flora. She could even hear the joyful chirps of birds and the buzz of bees going about their searches for food.
Blinking her violet eyes slightly at the angle of the sun, she turned her head to see the mage she had met before, the one who had come to explain the whole thing to her. It seemed he had seen her as well, by the direction of his gaze. Dropping her hands to her side from where they had been clasped behind her back, she made her way over to him, the corner of her lips turning upwards slightly.
Aletea
Dacian had felt some surprise at initially seeing Arianna, but then reminded himself that not everyone was like this fellow mages: some people did enjoy greenery. When she had reached him, he didn't have to smile at her; he was already smiling.
Briefly, he wondered what would happen when she met the other two - she knew about them of course, but they had both been convienently 'busy' when he had brought any of the guardians around. Though in Ahneta's case, she actually had been busy. He wasn't too certain about Hadrian, though...
"Good afternoon! Are you enjoying the compound?"
These plants were remarkably similar to the ones in his original realm, which was something that he and the others had already begun speculating on. It seemed that their realm had to be physically similar to wherever they went, or they couldn't even have established a link.
Briefly, he wondered what would happen when she met the other two - she knew about them of course, but they had both been convienently 'busy' when he had brought any of the guardians around. Though in Ahneta's case, she actually had been busy. He wasn't too certain about Hadrian, though...
"Good afternoon! Are you enjoying the compound?"
These plants were remarkably similar to the ones in his original realm, which was something that he and the others had already begun speculating on. It seemed that their realm had to be physically similar to wherever they went, or they couldn't even have established a link.
Ary Keeyara
Ari was one of those who enjoyed greenary quite a bit. As a matter of fact, she had a sort of cortyard in the center area of her home where she did her best to cultivate a large variety of plants. However, Ari had always been far better with animals then with plants, perhaps due to her shapeshifting race, so it wasn't near as wonderful as what was found here at the compound.
She gave a quiet, but delighted nod. "Very much, thank you," She murmured in a very pleasent tone. While Ari wasn't always as comfortable with someone she had just met as with friends, she treated them in the same friendly manner. That was just her way, "It's so beautiful out there...I could never get my garden like this."
She gave a quiet, but delighted nod. "Very much, thank you," She murmured in a very pleasent tone. While Ari wasn't always as comfortable with someone she had just met as with friends, she treated them in the same friendly manner. That was just her way, "It's so beautiful out there...I could never get my garden like this."
Aletea
"Well, this is where I spend the majority of my free time. The others would very happily let this all go wild...so I feel that it's as much my duty as something fun."
Which wasn't neccessarily a bad thing, since enjoying your duty meant that it was likely done more often and with more enthusiasm.
"I really hope one of these Souls we're turning out has an affinity for plants. Sooner or later, this place will get to be too much for just me."
Not just because it would inevitably grow more, but because his time would be taken up more by other things as the Souls were born and grew older. A slight chuckle escaped his lips then, as he added something onto that.
"Ismet, the first child - he doesn't seem to like the gardens very much. Though he liked the park we took him to once, so I don't really understand why..." It was simple, really, though Dacian would neer look at it like this. Ismet liked wild nature, but hated spending time in some controlled bit of land like this.
Which wasn't neccessarily a bad thing, since enjoying your duty meant that it was likely done more often and with more enthusiasm.
"I really hope one of these Souls we're turning out has an affinity for plants. Sooner or later, this place will get to be too much for just me."
Not just because it would inevitably grow more, but because his time would be taken up more by other things as the Souls were born and grew older. A slight chuckle escaped his lips then, as he added something onto that.
"Ismet, the first child - he doesn't seem to like the gardens very much. Though he liked the park we took him to once, so I don't really understand why..." It was simple, really, though Dacian would neer look at it like this. Ismet liked wild nature, but hated spending time in some controlled bit of land like this.
Ary Keeyara
"It's a very enjoyable hobby...and it can be very rewarding," Ari agreed. His statement, however, almost made her wonder what the others liked then. Perhaps they all had their own special tasks that they enjoyed, such as Dacian.
She lifted her curled fingers to her lips to hide a small giggle, "Well, I do believe someone will come around who likes them. I can't imagine no one else will. It is a shame that Ismet doesn't..." She glanced to the side slightly, her gaze trailing along some hedges near by, "Mm...you know if you ever need I hand I could lend one. If you don't think I'd simply get in the way, that is." She looked back at him and grinned sheepishly.
She lifted her curled fingers to her lips to hide a small giggle, "Well, I do believe someone will come around who likes them. I can't imagine no one else will. It is a shame that Ismet doesn't..." She glanced to the side slightly, her gaze trailing along some hedges near by, "Mm...you know if you ever need I hand I could lend one. If you don't think I'd simply get in the way, that is." She looked back at him and grinned sheepishly.
Baniru
Baniru had decided to take a stroll around the compound, curious what kinds of things lay in other places- especially places in various locked doors. Unable to get into those, however, lead to finding another beautiful sight; a well kept garden, flowers blooming around greenery that looked somewhat peculiar.
There were two people who seemed to be doing something together... squinting her only eye left, (the other covered up by a delicate silk eyepatch) Baniru realized that just maybe she needed to get some sort of monocle unless her vision improved. Either thing was never going to happen.
"Excuse me!" she called out, noticing that there were two others conversing, "Am I interrupting anything?"
There were two people who seemed to be doing something together... squinting her only eye left, (the other covered up by a delicate silk eyepatch) Baniru realized that just maybe she needed to get some sort of monocle unless her vision improved. Either thing was never going to happen.
"Excuse me!" she called out, noticing that there were two others conversing, "Am I interrupting anything?"
Aletea
Dacian had to agree with Ari's statement, and his nod reflected that. It was rewarding, even if he never really thought about it in terms like that; he just knew that he liked it.
"You would?" A broad grin grew from the smile on the mages face, "That would be nice. So long as it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, of course..."
It would certainly be much easier accepting volunteer garden-work, then trying to wrangle some deal with a gardener. And of course, dealing with the fact that Ahneta would have a fit if he suggested they bring someone in who was compelely unrelated to their work - and Hadrien wouldn't help him, that was for sure.
EDIT:
A moment later, Dacian heard someone and turned - oh, another guardian! Well, he supposed he should get used to running into various people out in the garden. "Good afternoon!"
"And of course not," was his greeting with a smile.
"You would?" A broad grin grew from the smile on the mages face, "That would be nice. So long as it wouldn't be too much trouble for you, of course..."
It would certainly be much easier accepting volunteer garden-work, then trying to wrangle some deal with a gardener. And of course, dealing with the fact that Ahneta would have a fit if he suggested they bring someone in who was compelely unrelated to their work - and Hadrien wouldn't help him, that was for sure.
EDIT:
A moment later, Dacian heard someone and turned - oh, another guardian! Well, he supposed he should get used to running into various people out in the garden. "Good afternoon!"
"And of course not," was his greeting with a smile.
Ary Keeyara
"Oh, no no. I'm sure it'd be fine. I love being out in the fresh air and working around in gardens...I have one of my own, after all," Ari said with a bright smile, a small pink tint showing in her cheeks. Obviously she was more then willing to help out if he wanted her too. It would be a lot of fun, working in such an extravagent garden such as this when she was needed.
She blinked a little in surprise as Baniru came over to them, not from her appearance but instead because Ari had failed to notice her until she had spoken. But the small parting in her lips smoothed back out to its usual smile and she shook her head, "Oh no! You're not interupting at all."
She blinked a little in surprise as Baniru came over to them, not from her appearance but instead because Ari had failed to notice her until she had spoken. But the small parting in her lips smoothed back out to its usual smile and she shook her head, "Oh no! You're not interupting at all."
Baniru
She smiled sheepishly at Dacian, feeling a little awkward at having come in at the middle of their conversation. There was a strong, sincere glow about him though, which made her feel more at ease.
Baniru turned her neck so hard to look at Arianna that she nearly gave herself whiplash, stumbling over.
"This is your garden Dacien...?"
"Oh, er- hello. Heh-ahem. So... my name is Baniru."
The woman slowly put out a hand for a handshake, thinking hard: This was what you did in social situations like this, right? She had already met Dacian, so he didn't need it.
Baniru turned her neck so hard to look at Arianna that she nearly gave herself whiplash, stumbling over.
"This is your garden Dacien...?"
"Oh, er- hello. Heh-ahem. So... my name is Baniru."
The woman slowly put out a hand for a handshake, thinking hard: This was what you did in social situations like this, right? She had already met Dacian, so he didn't need it.
Aletea
"Yes, this is my garden. Hadrian has his 'labs' (of course, they're more geared towards magical then scientific things, you understand), and Ahneta - well, I'm not exactly sure what she does."
Dacian paused then, his brow crinkling up in an almost comical manner as he thought about it. He knew that he could find her in her rooms, but she had an entire suite. Always locked, of course, but really! What could she possibly be doing there all day? Though she was gone quite a bit as well...
It was then that the mage caught sight of a familiar, blue-skinned little boy - who was just outside the gardens actually, and seemed to have decided to turn tail and go the other way upon noticing them.
"Ismet ~ come over here and meet some people! You should be more social."
It was with a grumpy expression, that the first child made his way into the gardens and over to them.
Dacian paused then, his brow crinkling up in an almost comical manner as he thought about it. He knew that he could find her in her rooms, but she had an entire suite. Always locked, of course, but really! What could she possibly be doing there all day? Though she was gone quite a bit as well...
It was then that the mage caught sight of a familiar, blue-skinned little boy - who was just outside the gardens actually, and seemed to have decided to turn tail and go the other way upon noticing them.
"Ismet ~ come over here and meet some people! You should be more social."
It was with a grumpy expression, that the first child made his way into the gardens and over to them.
Ary Keeyara
Ari shook Baniru's hand without hesitation, not seeming too uncomfortable about the situation at all. "It's nice to meet you! I'm Arianna. You may call me Ari, if you like." She then turned her attention to Dacian as he spoke, which was only polite after all, listening to what he had to say about the other two mages she hadn't yet seen. Well, if they didn't have such open hobbies...perhaps they were more reserved people.
When a brightly colored, scaley skinned boy came into view Ari's eyes rounded ever so slightly in curiousity. Oh! So this was Ismet, was it? She refrained from commenting on how cute he was or something along those lines...somehow he didn't seem the type to want that sort of attention. She couldn't, however, keep herself from smiling in admiration, "Hello there."
When a brightly colored, scaley skinned boy came into view Ari's eyes rounded ever so slightly in curiousity. Oh! So this was Ismet, was it? She refrained from commenting on how cute he was or something along those lines...somehow he didn't seem the type to want that sort of attention. She couldn't, however, keep herself from smiling in admiration, "Hello there."
Baniru
Baniru smiled at how Ari greeted her head on, and how Dacian was kind enough to talk to her as well. Most of the time, you just don't find that kind of amiability in the world these days.
"Ari it is," she said back, before politely turning to listen to Dacian as well. There were others like him? If he had told her this before, she must had been too preoccupied with her own little world...
They all sounded like good people, though the other mages seemed to be a little less enthusiastic about socializing than he was. But who could blame them? Bani was a bit of an antisocialist herself.
Coming out of her musings, she noticed that all attention was turned somewhere- a blue skinned, white headed... boy? Yes, boy.
"Ismet?" she looked down upon him, nearly having to stop a giggle from the expression he wore, "Nice to meet you."
"Ari it is," she said back, before politely turning to listen to Dacian as well. There were others like him? If he had told her this before, she must had been too preoccupied with her own little world...
They all sounded like good people, though the other mages seemed to be a little less enthusiastic about socializing than he was. But who could blame them? Bani was a bit of an antisocialist herself.
Coming out of her musings, she noticed that all attention was turned somewhere- a blue skinned, white headed... boy? Yes, boy.
"Ismet?" she looked down upon him, nearly having to stop a giggle from the expression he wore, "Nice to meet you."
Aletea
Ismet just gave a half-smile and a muttered hello to the the two women, before fixing a slightly irritated glare on Dacian. The little snake would have been very happy if he had managed to get away - but no, the sole socialite of his three guardians just had to spot him.
"Did you want something?" And it went without saying, of course, that there was another part to that : or did you just want to torment me?
Dacian dismissed this with a cheerful wave of his hand, and a wry comment to the two women, "I think he's prematurely entering that sulky teenager state," and then turning his gaze back to Ismet, "Be social. That's why I called you over."
That caused a glare from said-sulky child, but he didn't say anything.
"Anyway, how are you two settling in?"
"Did you want something?" And it went without saying, of course, that there was another part to that : or did you just want to torment me?
Dacian dismissed this with a cheerful wave of his hand, and a wry comment to the two women, "I think he's prematurely entering that sulky teenager state," and then turning his gaze back to Ismet, "Be social. That's why I called you over."
That caused a glare from said-sulky child, but he didn't say anything.
"Anyway, how are you two settling in?"
Ary Keeyara
Ari refrained from laughing, knowing Ismet would not appreciate it. He already looked unhappy enough. Instead she focused on Dacian's question, which was a pleasent one for conversation purposes, "Oh, I'm doing quite well. It's nice to get to move around a new place, you know? I don't normally go around to areas I haven't been before...so it's nice to look around the compound and such." She hadn't left her house...and though she had been told she could stay here, she didn't think she could. She loved her home and she had other charges to look after as well.
Baniru
What a funny boy, she thought with a snicker, Very cute, though. I bet he hears that often.
Snapping out of her line of thought, she plunged into the current question while Ari had just finished talking about her own story.
"Ah, you rarely go places?" Baniru said with a hint of sadness, shifting and looking the other woman over, "Perhaps someday you can travel around with me. I have a home, but I rarely stay in it for long... it's much more fun experiencing things that are new! Though I do think this adoption will force me to settle down for a bit."
She smiled, then turned back to Dacian with a wink.
"What about you, do you ever go traveling?"
Snapping out of her line of thought, she plunged into the current question while Ari had just finished talking about her own story.
"Ah, you rarely go places?" Baniru said with a hint of sadness, shifting and looking the other woman over, "Perhaps someday you can travel around with me. I have a home, but I rarely stay in it for long... it's much more fun experiencing things that are new! Though I do think this adoption will force me to settle down for a bit."
She smiled, then turned back to Dacian with a wink.
"What about you, do you ever go traveling?"
Aletea
Dacian couldn't resist the chuckle that escaped at the comment about travelling. They had already traveled from another world, so he supposed they could be considered well-traveled...
"Well, I think the peak of travelling was when we first came here. But since then, I haven't been travelling very much, except when it's to take Ismet places."
Which he did quite a bit of, since Ahneta usually was busy with whatever she did, and Hadrien didn't care much for going out. Though he would run out to do some quick shopping for Ismet, which the child seemed to prefer for some strange reason. Dacian certainly didn't understand it; who wouldn't enjoy shopping with him? So what if he took a few hours for a few items?
"Ahneta travels."
Tha was about the extent that Ismet participated in this conversation, his arms folded across his chest.
"Well, I think the peak of travelling was when we first came here. But since then, I haven't been travelling very much, except when it's to take Ismet places."
Which he did quite a bit of, since Ahneta usually was busy with whatever she did, and Hadrien didn't care much for going out. Though he would run out to do some quick shopping for Ismet, which the child seemed to prefer for some strange reason. Dacian certainly didn't understand it; who wouldn't enjoy shopping with him? So what if he took a few hours for a few items?
"Ahneta travels."
Tha was about the extent that Ismet participated in this conversation, his arms folded across his chest.
Ary Keeyara
"Well, I suppose I'm just so busy it's hard to find time to take long trips," Ari said with a sheepish smile. She did take small visitis to see Nicki...but he didn't live too far and the place was very familiar. That didn't really count, did it? At Baniru's offer she seemed rather flattered, "Oh! Why thank you, that sounds nice. Perhaps I could someday."
And she couldn't help but laugh a little at Decian, "Yes, I think you've all outdone us on the traveling bit."
And she couldn't help but laugh a little at Decian, "Yes, I think you've all outdone us on the traveling bit."
Baniru
Baniru internally slapped herself. Right, right! Of course Dacian had traveled... far more than they had, in fact.
"That's right... eheh," she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, "Ahneta? Is Ahneta another mage companion of yours, Dacian?"
She turned to Ari for a moment, before pretending to lean on her shoulder. Baniru felt very comfortable around these people, which, for her, was a first.
"That's right... eheh," she rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, "Ahneta? Is Ahneta another mage companion of yours, Dacian?"
She turned to Ari for a moment, before pretending to lean on her shoulder. Baniru felt very comfortable around these people, which, for her, was a first.
Aletea
"Yes - Ahneta and Hadrian are the ones I work with."
That statement from Dacian was followed by a murmur 'oh' from Ismet. The little boy had just remembered something, it seemed.
"Dacian, Hadrian said to find you and one of the guardians.." he trailed off for a moment, before rembering "I think 'Arianna'. That Soul is about to grow, apparently, and he figured you two might want to be there."
That statement from Dacian was followed by a murmur 'oh' from Ismet. The little boy had just remembered something, it seemed.
"Dacian, Hadrian said to find you and one of the guardians.." he trailed off for a moment, before rembering "I think 'Arianna'. That Soul is about to grow, apparently, and he figured you two might want to be there."
Ary Keeyara
Ari didn't seem to mind at all at Baniru's signs of warming up to her. As for leaning on her shoulder, many of her friends had taken a habit of that before. She didn't complain about it and was usually the shortest of any group so it was comfortable, she guessed.
As she listened to Dacian, she thought the comment in its meaning was a little stiff, even if his nature was far from it. She wondered if he and the other two mages were friends. She hoped so. It was always a little awkward working around someone that you weren't at least on good terms with.
She blinked at Ismet as he said her name, looking rather surprised. She felt a wave of excitement move through her body, "O-oh! Really?"
As she listened to Dacian, she thought the comment in its meaning was a little stiff, even if his nature was far from it. She wondered if he and the other two mages were friends. She hoped so. It was always a little awkward working around someone that you weren't at least on good terms with.
She blinked at Ismet as he said her name, looking rather surprised. She felt a wave of excitement move through her body, "O-oh! Really?"
Baniru
Bani shrugged, grinning, "Wow, already a soul is being born... and it's yours! That's pretty exciting."
The woman bowed a little to them both, a nervous habit, before winking.
"Guess I should go so you two can go up and take a look see, eh? I'd think it rude to have a stranger coming in on the birth of a child... in any shape or form."
Looking off to the side, she stretched and gave a yawn, before continuing, "It was nice meeting you both, Dacian- and Ari."
Baniru began her stroll off towards other parts of the garden, and eventually the rest of the compound. She gave a slight wave with her back turned to the two adults, before calling out, "I hope we meet again, sometime!"
The woman bowed a little to them both, a nervous habit, before winking.
"Guess I should go so you two can go up and take a look see, eh? I'd think it rude to have a stranger coming in on the birth of a child... in any shape or form."
Looking off to the side, she stretched and gave a yawn, before continuing, "It was nice meeting you both, Dacian- and Ari."
Baniru began her stroll off towards other parts of the garden, and eventually the rest of the compound. She gave a slight wave with her back turned to the two adults, before calling out, "I hope we meet again, sometime!"
... End ...
