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 Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:28 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 2:37 am
"Quixana, Courage, Risika, Change," Branyn said nodding at each in turn. He eyed the tall boy that had fallen from seemingly nowhere and paused as Small passed him the boy's name. "And greetings to you Nathan. My name is Branyn and this is Small," he said gesturing towards the stripped chirrel on the banister. "And what's you name?" he said looking down at the daemon between Nathan's feet.
Small snickered as he heard Change and the piglet speak. 'I don't care if your charges are rude and selfish,' she said laughingly. 'Just don't let them get in our way or I'll make them sorry!' she said baring her sharp teeth. Nimbly she lept onto Branyn's shoulder and curled around his neck.
Unaware of this exchange Branyn reached up and scratched Small under the chin. "So, what is the special quest here today?" he said looking at Quixana. As he glanced at him, his eyes registered the sullen girl with the negative attitude. "What's your reason for being rude?" he said with an unimpressed tone. "What's your excuse?" Not waiting for her reply he went on, "I don't tolerate rudeness so if you can't keep a civil tongue I suggest you don't say anything at all. And Quixana, I suggest you don't refer to Risika any differently then you would to anyone else. Boys and girls are good as one another."
'Oh bother,' Small directed at the daemons. 'Here we go again with the manners' she said sarcastically. She grabbed at Branyn's fingers and bit one. He jerked his hand away and she began to admonish him privately.
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Posted: Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:38 pm
((Sorry for the delay, guys! Work and stuff have been lunacy. Keep to the order, though, okay?))
Clearly still slightly thrown by both Risika's reaction and Branyn's reproof, Quixana blinked owlishly and his mobile mouth turned down at the corners. Then, apparantly, he dismissed it all and smiled, once more all sunshine and good nature. "I never said they weren't, Branyn," he replied easily. "At least I don't think I did. Did I?" He glanced at Courage who merely heaved a feline sigh. "Nope, didn't think so." He shrugged and jammed his hands in the pockets of his baggy cargo pants. "Anyway, I'm pleased to meet you all."
As am I, Courage added. Lazily, she stretched and came to her feet, padding over to stand beside her Forgotten. Her golden eyes surveyed the others for a long moment. And I wouldn't worry about us so much, Small. Her upper lip curled back from sharp teeth and she laughed soundlessly. I'm sure both Change and I have been fed recently.
Quixana shot his daemon a disapproving look as he overheard her words. "Courage, please," he sighed. "These are our new friends!" Then he returned his attention to the others and drew his hands out of his pockets again. Clutched in one hand were sheets of paper and he moved to hand them out. "It's a quest. The House wants us to find things for it."
As if that made all the sense in the world. As if a building could feel desire for a mirror, a wreath of braided straw, a wooden spoon, a golden slipper, an iron key, a white feather, and a bit of fur.
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:05 am
Risika took one glance at Nathan and ignored him, turning toward's Branyn.
Replying in a similiarily, bored toned, "It's a pity I don't care what you think. So I guess I will continue on with my rudeness just as you were oh so polite to point out towards me. But oh wait! You were just as equally rude so you really shouldn't say anything either."
She stood with her arm's crossed. Thinking of how the day would be a pain in her a**. She couldn't wait to go home. The thought of spending all day with these people sparked her temper alone.
The girl tuned in to hear the words friend and house as Quixana spoke. She spun around quickly, her hair whipping the air, "We are not friends."
The very thought of her being friends with theses weaklings made her stomach turn. The thought was unbearable. She ignored the remark on searching on behalf of the House. Risika wanted nothing to do with it, but her pride would not be pierced.
"Well, let's get this over. The less time I spend in your company the better."
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 1:20 am
(( Could someone please clarify the post order for me cause the front page says I am after KOOshEEka sweatdrop ))
Branyn turned down the corners of his mouth. Was this boy really older then him? He was certainly taller but obviously had not read too many books if he called Risika a lady and not a fighter. Branyn could quite easily picture her with a dagger in one hand and a cross-bow in the other.
Half-listening to Small's chatter he caught Risika's comment. "Well, you would be an expert," he said surely. Her spark brought a wry smile to his face. Leaving it at that he took a step towards the door.
'You can't be so forward Branyn unless you want to be taken for an a** you know; good intentions or not. I know your direct about things but brutal honesty does not mix well with manners as you should know! You're always telling me how important they are and then you just go off like that and drive me crazy making things difficult!' she said, mentally pausing.
Glancing down at Courage she grinned showing off dozens of needle sharp teeth. 'Yes. Good thing I don't eat things as feline as myself either,' she snickered.
'Now I suppose we're all just going to go in the house and poke around right? I'll keep charge of that paper,' she said now directly speaking to Courage as Quixana held out a leaf of paper. Small held out her hand/paw.
'Hm? Oh sure Small,' Branyn said. It felt like something was tugging him to the door. A strange feeling, like a million threads pulling at his clothes. He wiped his hands on his sage tunic but the feeling did not pass.
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:03 am
(( Marching Orders ShortGreen Yiiei Pika-Bunny kOOshEEkA (Heh, normally I prefer direct tags as the story needs but I want to make sure that everyone has an equal amount of posting time. So we'll do it by post order. *grins* Just this once for you lot.) I think you're looking at the first thing which is just a list of participants in this thread. Me: you lot. I tend to put things in alphabetical order when there is no other order 'cause I view it as inherently more, um... Fair?))
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:10 am
((Nevermind! Shorty beat me to it.))
"Don't pay any mind to her," Nathan replied to Branyn's question of who Impossible was. Perhaps if they didn't know her name, they couldn't pay her any attention! Ah yes, another master plan. Taking the sheet Quixana handed to him Nathan eyed the items. Another set of random items and random people, he knew the drill by now.
Impossible was terrified of the other daemons; her small stature and round stomach didn't help soothe her nerves. If that lion wanted to eat her, he very well could and then things wouldn't be so peachy. Impossible zipped her lips.
Though Quixana was the leader, he surely didn't know how to get things going and by now Nathan was extremely bored. To put an end to this meaningless bickering, for the two were not nearly as important as they thought, Nathan simply stated, "Hey kids, if you're done arguing I thought it might be a nice idea to, you know, actually start this mission." And like Branyn, Nathan felt the pull of the House. Though unlike Branyn, he did not fight it.
Walking up to the door, Impossible at his heel, Nathan placed a hand on the door's handle. Before opening the door, he turned back to the group and asked, "Can we get this show on the road?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:34 pm
"Oh, of course!" Sharing his grin with Branyn and Risika, Quixana promptly turned on his heel and bounded up the steps of the porch. He only barely restrained himself from setting his hand to the doorknob; he would have had to set his hand on Nathan's and he had a feeling that the other boy did not appreciate physical contact, even if it was in a comradely manner. "We should start," he continued, rocking halfway onto the balls of his feet before moving back down again to stand properly.
The House clearly did not bother the eager lad. As his hand reached out absently to pat the doorjamb in a strangely friendly manner, it became clear to the others that he regarded the building as a big, familiar beast - something rather like a too-large dog that slobbered on your feet. The fact that the slobber was occasionally acidic did not seem to faze Quixana.
"I'm not sure which order the items will be in or where we will find them... Exactly, anyway." He grinned sheepishly. "They are somewhere inside and we will find them, though. Even if we have to fight for them." He seemed all too excited at the prospect.
Courage padded up the stairs delicately to join her Forgotten. Quixana, be patient and go slow and careful. They're younger and we don't know what we all can do yet.
"Oh, right." Quixana looked at the others. "Ready?" He paused and considered Risika's obvious reluctance. "The sooner we start, the sooner we're done," he added, hoping it would make her smile or relax or anything.
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Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:17 pm
Immediately Risika felt an urge to slap the boys in her group. They were getting on her nerves and she truly did not want to be anywhere near the house, but she was not one to show her weakness in front of others. So shrugging her shoulders, she walked up to the door and without thinking back she took a step into the House.
She stopped a few steps away from the doorway for the others to join her. Though within in her own mind, she chided herself for getting herself into such a situation and her guardian as well.
Change stood reassuring beside her, keeping his body close to her legs.
- Do not worry so. I am here. -
"Easier said then done." She replied softly to her Daemon. She was terrified, but kept her expression bored as if the situation did not hinder her what so ever. So the girl kept her thoughts on how irritating her group was and how much she wished she was by herself instead with the fools.
Slouching, Risika stuffed her pale hands into the pockets of her baggy jeans and waited. She may be foolish at times, she was stupid enough to continue further without a guide and Quixana and Nathan seem to know something about getting around the house.
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Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:32 pm
(( Thanks! <3
And I have a comment; as far as I recall information cannot be know by a character through mind-reading so perhaps people should not reply to thoughts with thoughts ie. your character cannot know what something tastes like to another unless they tell your character. Just a thought. ))
Treading upon the worn hall carpet Branyn stopped as the others did. The faded maroon weave held dusty flowers with stained petals. It had been a long time since shoes had been left at the front door; if ever. The walls looked little better with patterned paper peeling at the seams. Water-stained plaster sat beneath multiple layers of paint and pattern.
Branyn felt self-concious in the house. It's atmosphere pricked at him like static from the dryer, creating a sense of hyper-realism. He tried not to sneeze as he caught a whiff of mould spoor from the ceiling. Standing straighter, he extended his senses outward. By all appearances he looked calm and collected, though a little more tense in the neck. Nothing seemed out of sorts in the hall.
He grabbed Small's tail between his fingers as she climbed down. The long stroke of fur made him relax a little more.
Small climbed down off Branyn and tucked the note in her cheek-pouch. 'So-', she directed at Courage, 'are we staying in a group of eight or splitting up or what?'.
She eagerly began to vibrate at a barely detectably level. Small could hardly wait to purloin things and her eyes began to dart about the hall, searching for items of interest.
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:58 am
Stepping into the House after everyone and closing the door behind him Nathan waited a good three seconds before he was strolling along. Clapping his hands in a hyped manner he cheered, “C’mon guys! Let’s go find stuff!” His walk was brisk; anyone with short legs would have a hard time keeping up. If Nathan was scared it was surely masked by his need to explore and his impenetrable self confidence.
Stick together, Impossible piped in. Though the question wasn’t directed at her she would ensure- to the best of her ability- that the group stayed together. We don’t know what the House has in mind, she added meekly, hoping her voice would be heard.
“Don’t be such a chicken,” he muttered to Impossible, who was trying her best to keep up with his long gait, “Just because you’re scared doesn’t mean anyone else is.” Had he taken a little time to notice Risika’s reluctance or Branyn's sudden tesion and lack of words he would have realized just how wrong he was. But alas, it was Quixana's familiarity with the house and calm nature that fed Nathan's fearlessness.
Nathan took one last look at the list and neatly folded it into his back pocket, committing the myriad of items to memory. Looking back up he noticed he was in a long long hallway with a multitude of doors. The area was covered in dust and cobwebs, mats with indecipherable words stood at the foot of each door. The handles looked rusted and faulty, not to mention the doors looked like they were going to collapse at any second. "Hey you slow pokes!" he called, "Let's check out these!"
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Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 5:58 pm
It took only a few long strides for Quixana to reach Nathan's side and he tilted his head as he considered the doors. Courage followed behind at a more leisurely pace, almost herding the other two children and their daemons towards where her Forgotten stood. We will stay as a group, she reassured Small and her tone was warm and devoid of any umbrage she could have taken from Small's earlier comments. Quixana trusts the House but it has been known to be unpredictable and I think we would all rather have each other in case of danger.
The doors indeed looked pathetic and appeared to maintain their upright status merely through some inner conviction that they were doors, dammit, and doors stayed in doorjambs. The walls in between them featured worn and peeling wallpaper, layers upon layers of floral and striped and plain. The baseboards showed years of scuffing and scratching. Overall, a less inviting hallway would have been hard to imagine.
Nonetheless, Quixana smiled and soon was pacing down the hall and back, counting. "Thirteen doors, seven on the right and six on the left," he announced, "and they all have mats in front of them. I think the mats all look different myself. None of them have keys hanging out of them or anything, though, so I don't even know if the doors are open. Any ideas which we should pick first?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 2:33 pm
'Alright big C that's probably for the best'. Small said as she darted over to the doors.
'We should open this one!' she said as she lept up at the knob. The door stood as the third down the hall and it was obvious to Branyn why she picked it. The knob was made of clear glass cut into a mock diamond shape. Other then the dull brass plate where one would enter a key, the door didn't look very interesting.
'Small.' he said in that warning kind of tone. 'You're not allowed to take anything other then what's on the list, right? I don't want the house to eat you or me, ok?' Branyn said internally, berating himself for not noticing her jittery excitement before entering the House. Yes, definately capitalize House for this place... One could hardly imagine a less inviting one. He stepped forward to stand beside Courage. She seemed to be the calmest one in the group. He began to wonder why Nathan was so dismissive of his little pigglet. Branyn always thought it was handy to have a daemon that could fit into places smaller then himself. Small was definately nimble.
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Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 10:12 pm
The thought of the doors being locked never crossed Nathan's mind, and because the door Branyn picked happened to be Nathan's favorite number- three, he placed his hand on the handle, turned it, and pushed the door open.
Impossible peeked between Nathan's knees, afraid of whatever could be behind the door. Once nothing seemed to be jumping out at them, she tentatively followed Nathan into the fairly small, very bright room. She began to tremble.
The glare in the room was blinding and instinctively Nathan brought his arm to shade his eyes. Taking a look around he was honestly confused- weren't they in a library? The room looked like a greenhouse- soil for ground and huge glass panes for windows. And, for the first time since entering the house, Nathan gulped. This was weird. Immediately shrugging off the feeling, or at least convincing himself that he had, Nathan scanned the room a couple times and said, "So, does anyone see anything?" With his foot he pushed Impossible as a sign of annoyance, Grow a backbone. See, everything's fine.
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Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:29 pm
Before anyone else could join Nathan in the room he had chosen, an icy breeze tore through the hallway and, with a growl, Courage forced Xana, Branyn, and Small against one wall by the sheer size of her. Her brown-haired Forgotten grimaced and reached up to scratch her behind the ears. "Courage, don't. You'll squash Small."
Suddenly, he paused and looked around. Wait. There should have been more people squished to the wall besides him and Branyn. Where was Risika? Spotting the disappearing back of the girl and her daemon, he frowned. Before he could call out, though, Courage interrupted. Let them go. They're safe. The House will let them pass, I think.
But, Courage, she could get hurt!
No, I think not. See? The front door has opened for them.
Sighing, Xana gave in to a moment of pouting as the two closed the heavy door behind themselves. "Well, guys, there goes Risika," he announced. "I suppose the House thought she was..." He hesitated and it was clear that he was searching his mind for something tactful and chivalrous. "She probably had to get home to her guardian," he finished lamely. "That wind, though..." He wrinkled his nose and pushed Courage out of his way. Then, slowly, he walked a bit further down the hall, eyes fixed on the floor, fingertips resting on the chilled wall.
Suddenly, he stopped and cocked his head like a curious bird. "Hey, guys? This doormat looks a bit... Spotty."
Courage padded over and sniffed. She recoiled abruptly. Blood.
Quixana crouched and stuck a finger in one of the dark spots, making a face as it came away stained red. He wrinkled his nose once more, wetting his upper lip as he considered things. Blood was not a good sign. Maybe the House was giving them an extra-special test?
At least, Annie wasn't around. Nathan and Branyn could protect themselves. Stout knights, brave daemons, and...
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