|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chaoticdivinity Vice Captain
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:05 pm
Aido brightened a little at Linneas' smile and nodded, listening closely as he spoke.
"Mmhm, I remember Pae," she smiled at the thought of the little girl taller and older. Hopefully she hadn't changed too much, if Aido's memory served right the girl had been fairly angelic when they'd last seen eachother, and that was a rarity in itself. "How's she been? Aside from the growing older?"
Found Arya? Eh? Well, that's better than 'I knocked up some girl and this is the result', isn't it?' Kibeth quipped, amused at the shift in Linneas' shadow and the entire conversation in general.
Aido flushed sharply at that particular thought, 'you promised to stay quiet.'
'Oh. I did, didn't I? My deepest apologies, it won't happen again. Really. Continue on.'
"Feien?" she asked, dragging her attention out of her own head and blinking at the unfamilar term, blush fading.
"I've been... on/off busy with family stuff as well," she replied, thinking back on everything that had happened since they'd last spoken. "Aemu got stuck in the hospital for a bit, a while ago, then, after she got out, got drunk and bought a store in Durem with my God-Aunt, Hikari," she chuckled in amusement, remembering her mother's face when the deed had come in the mail. "She found Cheshire, my new brother, there and she's had most of the family in and out of there at some point or another, helping to clean it out."
Her eyes slid to Arya, watching the young girl animately instruct their poor waiter, who took it all in stride (obviously he was used to this sort of thing) and then she looked down to her and Linny's clasped hands. She was more aware of Linny's shadow than she'd been of her own for the past few days. She smiled. It was nice, she felt rooted; less likely to drift off and away from herself....
"And... I haven't been able to Shadow Mance very well lately..." she blinked as that particular bit rather embarassing, previously nearly secret, information slipped out as a murmer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 12:21 am
"A new brother, eh? What's he like?" Linneas asks, the only brothers he remembered Ai had was the winged one with four arms, and the taller one. "And Pae's been acting..." he trails off, unsure of what to say. "She's been acting very differently than when she was younger. It's like nothing ever upsets her, and she has an imaginary friend now. An imaginary friend who she claims keeps saying bad stuff about everything."
Linneas sighs, his free hand rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Things have been changing, I've been feeling tired and having these odd dreams and visions. Have you been having any weird moments lately?" He wouldn't like whatever Aido answered, because if she wasn't having any it meant Linneas needed to see a doctor. But if she was, he'd be worried that it was affecting all the other Tales.
"Ah! Feien! Avi? He brat. Really noisy. Itay says I can't hit him cuz I might squish him." Arya giggled, "Is cuz he only thiiiiiis big." She makes a gesture to show how small the Feien is.
"You haven't been able to Shadow Mance very well lately?" At this bit of information, Linneas felt a little relieved and troubled. It meant that Aido wasn't as prone to getting into any dangers, but at the same it could have something to do with the odd visions and dreams.
Did you just repeat her words with only a slight change in pronouns? Lynn snickered, Ask her what it is her powers can do, exactly.
"You be quiet!" Linneas mentally hissed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chaoticdivinity Vice Captain
|
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 8:21 am
"He's fine, happy as a little one can be, I suppose. He does seem to have a thing for paper, and keeps trying to hoard all the paper in the house into his room..." Aido replied, scratching at her cheek with one finger as she mulled over her newest brother. "Aemu says that just means he was destined to be a Luaier, because if any of us were 'normal' something would be off in the universe, but getting my maps back is sometimes annoying..."
At Linny's description of Pae she straighens a little, brow furrowing. "That sounds... odd," she pursed her lips, "are you sure her 'imaginary friend' is imaginary?" she asked, checking two knowledge bases as the idea that someone couldn't be upset by anything, coupled with an evil sounding 'imaginary' friend... well, it set off warning bells in her head.
But Kibeth wasn't talking and nothing immediately popped into her head so she rubbed her temple with one hand and squeezed Linny's hand with the other.
"Weird moments?" Aido repeated before nodding, "yeah... some- well, yes." She managed, feeling the usual tightening of her stomach that came with admitting problems.
She shifts her gaze to Arya and smiled, "so tiny. Maybe that's why he's whiney?"
The waiter returned at that point, carrying Arya's order and placing it in front of the Passenger.
Aido's eyes flit to Linny, then made a bee-line for the table, and she nodded in affirmation.
It seemed like that should be the end of it, because her stomach was beginning to actually hurt from twisting in on itself.
But thinking about visions and dreams had her thinking about the dream from months ago. In a small moment of clarity, she realized that pussyfooting around this huge hole in herself wouldn't make it go away or get better. With that realization comes the startling urge to share, to cease to be alone with her problems, and before she could stamp it out she was breathing in air for breath to speak with.
"Something happened and now I just... can't. It feels like someone chopped off my hands, or my feet, a long time ago, and now I can't feel the way I used to-" because Shadowmancing it so much of her that she can't describe what not is like, "and it just..." Aido seemed to crumple around the edges, mask of 'okay' slipping, her shoulders hunching, eyes distant and lost, even though she was still staring at the tablecloth....
But she didn't finish her sentence, as her sense of self-consciousness snapped back to the front of her mind. Instead she bit her lip and shook her head, straigtening her posture and trying her best to collect herself again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:39 pm
"I'd like to think it's an imaginary friend, if it was real, then I think that would be more troubling," Linneas sighed confused.
Linneas felt his heart break for Aido, his childhood friend and perhaps the only one he's gotten to know so well. He knew he wouldn't be able to understand what it felt like, he could try but he doubted if he'd even come close. Opting not to voice this, fearing Aido might take it as pity. He just wanted to hold her and tell her things would be alright, that he was there to help if he could and he would. He opened his mouth to speak but the words died on his lips. Instead he returns the squeeze, and smiled at her reassuringly.
I'm here. Was all he seemed capable of saying, though not with words but with the warmth of his smile, the tenderness of his touch.
Lynn wanted to retch.
Arya was completely ignorant of what was going on, and happily dug into her food. Messily devouring it like some half-starved dog. She wasn't really starving, she just liked to make a mess whenever she ate. Especially when they were out in public.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chaoticdivinity Vice Captain
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:11 pm
It's so strange, Aido reflected breifly, feeling her eyes water as she caught Linny's warm expression. Linneas was the only one who could ever reduce her to tears like this and he did it just by making her feel like she wasn't alone!
She chuckled quietly at herself, reaching up with her free hand to wipe at her eyes and do her best to blink back the tears before they could get out of hand.
"Thank you," she murmured, trying to smile and let Linny know how much the gesture meant to her.
But she could feel how her mouth was betraying her, too watery at this point to cooperate.
Giving up the Tale wiped a last, furious time at her eyes and stood up, tugging gently on their clasped hands to try and get Linny to follow her lead.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:30 pm
Linneas free hand had dug for his handkerchief from his pockets, instinctively drawing the small white cloth to offer to Ai. Gods why does it seem like he made her cry whenever they were together? He'd hit himself if he could but he was certain Ai would think it was downright strange.
Lynn groaned at how unbelieveably naive Linneas was being. You. Are. An idiot.
The Tale ignored the voice and allowed Ai to pull him along, Arya momentarily forgotten. He pressed the kerchief to Aido's other hand, nudging that she use it instead her skin.
Arya watched with curious eyes as the adults stood to leave. She wasn't really concerned about being left alone, she knew she could fend for herself. Besides, it wasn't like her itay Linneas to just bail. They'll be back, she just knew it and continued to eat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chaoticdivinity Vice Captain
|
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:56 pm
Aido took the handkerchief with a small nod of thanks, brushing against her still damp cheeks.
She actually didn't lead them that far away-no more than about ten feet- still within sight if Arya looked up to try and find them. Even though her thoughts weren't actively on the Passenger, it was simply not in Aido to abandon anyone.
Cheeks a little dryer she dropped Linny's hand for a moment, feeling the strangest twinge in the depths of her gut as she lost contact. It passed in a moment as she threw her arms around Linny in the embrace she knew she wouldn't have been able to manage with him sitting in his chair.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:50 pm
The older Tale wondered what Ai was doing, and why she suddenly let go of his hand. Should he reach out and lace his fingers with hers the way he had seen some people do? Should her ask her what was going on in her mind? Should- the rest of his thoughts were lost as Ai was suddenly embracing him.
He looked down at the younger Tale before he returned the hug, half-scooping her into his arms. He held her, not too tightly, still recalling that night in the shop. She was always so strong, Aido was, and yet she was so small in his arms. So fragile, so delicate, he wanted to be able to protect her, to be strong for her. But was he?
No, you're not. And until you shape up, you'll never be anything more than a sniveling coward. Lynn sneered.
The Tale winced at the voice's words, I didn't ask for your opinion.
"It's alright Ai, it's going to be alright..." Linneas knew he shouldn't be making promises he wasn't certain he could keep. But it just seemed like the right thing to say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
chaoticdivinity Vice Captain
|
Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:39 am
Aido's feet almost left the ground as Linneas returned the embrace. She didn't fight it; instead she curled up against him a little, pressing her head against his chest.
Ignorant of her friend's inner conversation she was silent for a few moments, listening to the steady thump of Linneas' heart. She relaxed a bit, loosening perpetually coiled muscles, and, taking a few, steadying breaths, she simply avoiding thinking for a few minutes.
When he spoke again she blinked and reflexively made a quite sound (whether it was a laugh or a muffled sob or what was entirely up for interpretation) either way it shook her body momentarily before she contained it.
"You know, when you say it, I can almost believe it," she murmured lightly, tilting her head in idle contemplation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
