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 Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:01 am
Smerdle
Smerdle's Apartment, Barton Town, Gaia
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 9:41pm GST
"And I have to buy your invitations, why?" Smerdle asked as she watched Chucky chase his Heineken with the ear of an old chocolate Easter bunny. Ick. That couldn't taste good.
"'Cause you can't throw me a bachelor party. I have to get Sam to do it and you know how that's going to turn out."
"I could totally throw your party. You didn't even ask me!"
"No, you can't. There'll be strippers, and your fancy, girly uterus can't be around my bachelor party strippers."
"Have I told you today that you're GROSS?" Smerdle said, slapping Chucky on the shoulder. She sat down on the coffee table and grabbed a piece of bunny for herself. "Why doesn't Helen want to pick them out?"
"She told me she wants me to 'prove that I want this marriage.' I think she's trying to whip me."
"Is it working?"
"No. I got you to do it for me, didn't I? No one's whipped here."
Smerdle sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll get your stupid invitations. But they'll have lots of elderly women on them, okay?"
"No, no, no, no, no."
"Elderly female hairless house cats?"
"No-ho! If you're going to go with an animal, pick something suitably wild and African."
"Fine. Wild and African it is," Smerdle said, smirking. She got up and headed toward the hall. "Are you staying here again tonight?"
"Yeah." He jostled his beer. "I'd better not drive home."
"Try and keep it down, I've got an audition tomorrow." Smerdle started back to the kitchen to get a cup of tea. "Good night then." Chucky waved over the back of the sofa. The kind of invitations I get are the least of your problems, Smerdle thought.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:07 am
Quin
The Palace, Miirks, Guaxa
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 7:19pm GuST
Quincy Pellas was an important man. As a child, he had been a prodigy, composing a series of symphonies, solving a seemingly impossible higher math theorem, and making great strides in the speech patterns of Dall's Porpoise, all before the age of eleven. He had been the royal family's head scientist for twelve years now and when elected, had been the youngest person to hold the position. He was important and had helped many people. These were the things Quin repeated to himself when everyone else was ignoring him.
The lab, where Quin spent the majority of his day, was deserted. It was dinnertime and the other researchers were presumably in their quarters with their families. Quin crossed the room and ran a hand over his meticulous notes. They wouldn't give him the cold shoulder for long. He now knew the one thing that would win him respect, the one thing that would change the way people thought about him forever. Quin Pellas knew what was wrong with the queen.
"It's a rare blood disorder," he explained to Nan over dinner. Nan Birrin was a weathered old woman who had been Quin's nanny when he was young. He looked to her as a parental figure, and after all these years, she was one of the only people that was willing to keep Quin's secrets.
"Can you cure it?" Nan asked, digging her fork into a pile of mashed potatoes.
"No." Quin sighed. "But I can arrange it so that she appears healthy for the rest of her natural life."
"So, do it. What do you need me for, honey?"
"I need you to find me blood. Lots of it. She needs a transfusion every couple of months. Her body has essentially given up creating and maintaining the blood she has. I can create a filtration system, but even the best filter will leave the blood old after a while." Quin got up and began rinsing his dish in the laboratory sink. "My biggest problem is that she has an extremely rare blood type. I'm not sure we could test enough people to find as many rotating donors as we would need without alerting the Peasants."
Nan lowered her head and stared at her plate, her eyes suddenly vacant. "Gaia," she said under her breath.
"What?"
"It may be nothing, but I've got something that might be able to help." Nan got up abruptly and reached up to kiss Quin on the cheek. "You take care tonight and don't make any plans. I'll meet you back here tomorrow at 10pm." And with that, she turned and shuffled out of the lab.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:08 am
Nan
The Palace, Miirks, Guaxa
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 | 8:37pm GuST
Nan bolted down the hall as fast as her cane would take her. Quin needed her. Gaia was the answer to this mess, she just knew it.
In her own way, Nan was as much of an outcast as Quin. She spent her days alone in her room, performing minor magical spectacles. It was amazing that the guards hadn't forbidden her spells with all the times she had set fire to her kitchen.
A couple of months ago, however, she had stumbled upon something big. Huge even. After failing at yet another teleportation spell, Nan had become so disgusted that she had started throwing all of her open bottles into the closet. When the last ingredient had been flung, a pale blue light had come shooting out of the doorway, making Nan squint at its brightness. She had peered into the closet, and through the light she had seen people. They wandered around and bought things, just like the people here did. There were a few subtle differences, but they didn't trouble Nan. She had decided then and there that this place was her new obsession.
Now, finally, Nan had figured out why she had stumbled on this 'Gaia.' She picked up a bottle of water and her potion satchel and stepped through the closet door. Yes, she was an outcast. The only difference between her and Quin was that she didn't care.
If there was something she could do to help Quin and her queen, then she was going to do it, consequences be damned.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:11 am
Nan
An Alley, Barton Town, Gaia
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 | 8:45am GST
Nan emerged in the same dingy alley as always, careful to step out of the portal when no one was looking. It was daytime in Gaia, a fact that didn't disturb Nan as much as it used to. The air between Guaxa and Gaia was chilly and smelled stale, but it was better to linger in it than reveal the doorway to her barely stable planet. Nan gathered her dark cloak close and pulled up her hood. She reached into her satchel and dipped her fingertips in one of her vials. Dotting both eyelids with the mixture, she looked around. There it was.
The Stationery Store was one of the most unassuming buildings on the block. And yet, through the glaze of one of Nan's accidental brews, it was revealed to be so much more. Something resided there, something with great powers that could possibly assist Nan in helping the queen. If her need was strong enough, Nan hoped this book, this Tome, would take pity on the royal family and give them the help they required.
Now to find a willing accomplice.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:14 am
Smerdle
Outside the Stationery Store, Barton Town, Gaia
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 | 9:19am GST
Smerdle strolled quickly down the sidewalk, one hand in her pants pocket, guarding her money. She had grown up in a suburb, and although she knew Barton was safe, she was always twitchy in the big city. On top of that, her morning audition had gone terribly and she needed a distraction. Unbeknownst to Smerdle, one was on the way.
She looked up just in time to save herself from plowing into a stoop-shouldered old woman standing at the mouth of an alley. The alley was strange, very dark for the middle of the day and tinged a pale blue, but before Smerdle could comment on it, the old woman had grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to face the other way. The woman stared into her eyes and Smerdle squirmed.
"Can I help you?" Smerdle said.
"Do you need paper?" the woman replied, raising an eyebrow. Her voice was deep and scratchy like she was getting over a cold.
"Um..." Smerdle tried to think of any pressing paper needs as the woman's fingers dug into her arms. "Sure! Invitations," she said shakily.
"Ah! I have the perfect place for you!" The woman moved one arm to put it around Smerdle's shoulder. "I know of a wonderful deal! A talking book! It gives you fifty percent off if you mention blood."
"Fifty?" A book that liked talking about blood? Smerdle tried to inch away, a scarily overenthusiastic smile on her face. "That's great!"
"Maybe it's fifteen. Either way, a good deal!" The woman let go and stepped back toward the alley. "Remember," she started.
"Blood, yeah, I got it," Smerdle mumbled as she made a beeline for the Stationery Store. She turned around at the door and waved at the woman, other hand checking her pocket. Wouldn't want a crazy homeless woman thinking I wasn't taking her seriously, Smerdle thought as she turned back to face the shop's well-worn door.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:15 am
The Stationery Store
Barton Town, Gaia
Huni hobbled down the stairs, her entire body ached due to her new regimen to get herself into (relative) shape. She groaned with each step she took, and Linneas greeted her with a glass of fresh coffee.
"Oh thank you, sweetie." Huni winced as she flopped down onto one of the armchairs and accepted the drink.
Smerdle looked up at the Stationery Store's sign and thought about the crazy old woman standing a few short feet behind her. This was as good a place as any to find Chucky's wedding invitations. It looked... homey.
Smerdle pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Hey, is anyone here?"
It took an insane amount of effort on Huni's part to raise her hand, thankfully it didn't hurt to talk.
"I am, but barely." she chuckled, "Are you looking for something in particular?" she asked the woman.
Linneas tilted his head to the side at Smerdle's arrival, there was something special about this woman. He could feel it. Casually, his golden eyes wandered towards the Study.
"Oh, hi," Smerdle said, waving back. She looked around, glancing at Linneas before addressing Huni. "I was just wondering if you sold wedding invitations. I'm looking for some unconventional ones." Smerdle thought about what she had just said and her eyes snapped back to Linneas. "Not dirty-unconventional or anything." She smiled nervously.
"You're free to look around, and if you have any questions, you can ask Linny." Huni said as she pointed to her son. She would have shown Smerdle around herself, but her body was not cooperating with her.
Linneas walked up to the woman with a bright smile, "This way, I think you'll like this..." he grinned and led Smerdle to the Study. Thankfully his mother was facing away from the door to the mysterious room.
"Thanks!" Smerdle said, trailing after Linneas. "Is your mother okay?" she asked, smiling at the boy.
Smerdle looked at the door of the Study. What a weird place to keep invitations!
"Uh huh, mommy's fine. She's just tired from working on those machines that make you run and pedal and stuff." Linneas explained as he opened the door to the Study wider. "I heped her with the button pushing and getting her a towel and water." he added proudly.
The Study was pleased at Linneas, the Tale had been much more cooperative than his Author had been. The boy could spot potential Authors when they first arrive, unlike the Gaian who would rather keep the Study locked up and sealed.
"Well, that's good," Smerdle said. "Not that she's in pain, but the exercise thing." She smiled again.
She entered the Study and started looking around. This room was pretty weird, but in a good way. "I guess I'll find you if I have any questions," Smerdle said. She noticed a large book surrounded by some papers. This must be where they kept the listings of special papers they had to order from outside. She took a step towards it.
Linny giggled quietly as Smerdle approached the Tome, he was wondering if he should stay inside to watch another Tale being written or if he should go outside to keep his mommy company. In the end, he opted to stay and watch.
The Tome's cover opened just as Smerdle took a step towards it, it was wasting no time with this one. There seemed to be an... outside influence for this part. A pen rolled out from the Tome, it was old, heavy and decorated with barbs that looked a lot less threatening than they really were.
Whoa! Smerdle jumped back a bit and peered at the Tome. A book that could move on its own? She wasn't sure she wanted to see wedding invitation samples that badly. But that crazy lady in the alley had mentioned talking books, so maybe this was the one? She had written it off as a strange rant at the time, but in Smerdle's mind, moving was only a small step under talking. She approached the table and poked at the pen, steeling herself in case the Tome decided to move again.
As the woman poked at the writing instrument, the Tome decided it was time to up the weirdness a notch. Making sure that its pages was in view of Smerdle, words began to form:
"How did you know it was me?"
Yup. First moving, now 'talking.' Definite weirdness. Thinking back to her conversation with the old woman, Smerdle picked up the pen and shrugged.
Leaning over the Tome, careful not to touch it, she wrote,
"It's in your blood."
She looked at the words and nodded, satisfied with her response.
As Smerdle finished writing her response, the barbs of the pen suddenly grew razor sharp and seemingly dug into her hands. There was a strange pulsating sensation, almost as if the pen itself was drawing out her blood to replace the ink that has been used. But the amount the pen seemed to be taking was much more than what Smerdle had used to write with.
The vampiric pen wasn't about to risk being released as finger-thick tendrils shot out from the writing instrument and wrapped around Smerdle's hand.
The Study was changing, the walls shifted and morphed into a wide landscape, the floor dissolved into an earthy ground, it was as if the entire Study had been transported elsewhere. Linneas was no where to be found, for where he stood was a woman. She was staring at Smerdle, as if she knew what was going on, as if she had planned all this.
But once the pen was finally filled, it dropped from Smerdle's hand and rolled towards the woman. Then everything seemed to blur together. Once Smerdle blinks and rubs her eyes to clear her vision, she'll find herself back at the Study, in front of the Tome. The pen would be gone without a trace, no marks would be visible on her hand. And seated atop the writing table, was an almost equine boy. Almost, for his skin was spotted, and his neck was extraordinarily long. He was a giraffe?
Smerdle's eyes grew wide and she let out a startled shout as the pen bit into her hand. She shook it, but the pen only dug in further. Oddly enough, there was no pain, but Smerdle was about to scream for help anyway. She opened her mouth when suddenly, the Study melted away and she had more to think about than a blood-sucking pen.
She was outside! There were trees everywhere and it smelled like a pine forest. Smerdle turned to look for the shopkeeper's son, but a tall and handsome woman stood in his place, a knowing and slightly sad expression in her eyes.
"What's going on?" Smerdle said, voice shaking. The woman didn't answer, but Smerdle could feel her pen-manacle drop away. Smerdle closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them, everything would be explained.
After a short while she heard some rustling and deciding she had kept them closed long enough, she opened her eyes and looked around. Shopkeeper's son, check. Weird room with all the paintings, check. Giraffe kid, check. Giraffe kid?!?
Smerdle stared at the boy sitting on the desk with a dumbfounded expression on her face. He smiled and waved.
"Hi hi!" He jumped off of the table and ran over to hug her leg.
Linneas grinned at the sight of the new Tale, "Hiya! I'm Linny." he introduced, "And I thinks we should go outside where the other stuff are." he suggested and opened the door, but before he exited he glanced back, "Don't forget his tome." he adds, gesturing to the smaller book that had appeared with Sylvester.
Sylvester let go of Smerdle and followed after Linny. "Hi, I'm Sy'vester," he said quickly, ducking his head. He looked back and forth between the two people, then clumsily ran back to Smerdle and stood there, holding her hand. "C'mon!" he said, looking up at her.
Smerdle looked down at what she assumed was her new responsibility and chuckled to herself. Picking up Sylvester's smaller tome, she led him out of the room after Linneas, the invitations she came for forgotten for the time being.
"Don't think I didn't hear you go inside the Study, Linny." Huni remarked, still embossed on the armchair. "Can you ask her to come over here, I can't move my legs..." she groaned. She could actually stand up and walk to Smerdle but it hurt too much.
Linneas looked a little sheepish at his mother's statement, and looked to Smerdle pleadingly.
Smerdle let go of Sylvester's hand and said, "Stay here, I guess. Don't do anything bad."
Anything bad! Well, he hadn't planned on it! Sylvester nodded and sat on the floor, watching Smerdle as she crossed the room.
Smerdle walked over to Huni, a slightly overwhelmed expression plastered to her face. "That room is very bizarre. But I guess he's mine, right? I mean, I wanted to buy giraffe wedding invitations." She glanced at Sylvester. "Long story."
"Yes, he certainly is yours. My boy Linny is a Tale, so is your newly born slash written baby. I don't know what they are exactly, just that they're alive and are indeed children that need to be cared for. If it's not too much trouble, could you keep his origin a secret? I wouldn't want people to think this shop sells children." Huni sighed, but with a small smile.
While the two women talked, Linneas turned his attention to Sylvester.
"You have a long name." Linneas told the other Tale, "Lotsa syllables too."
"Oh yeah, definitely," Smerdle agreed. She didn't want to burden this poor woman with anti-black-market-baby groups picketing outside or anything. "I'll try my best to keep him from killing himself." Smerdle winced. "What I mean is, I'll take good care of him." Even though the last thing she wanted was a child, she kind of felt a bond with the kid.
Sylvester flicked his ears toward the older Tale before turning his head. "Ya, long." He nodded. "What's a 'syllable?'" Feeling like he should say something so the boy would know Sylvester wasn't just being rude he said, "Your name's nice." He looked down at his hands. "I should call myself summin shorter, huh?" he said to himself.
"We should probably get going, kid," Smerdle said. She opened the door and held it for Sylvester, who hopped up and followed his Author.
"Bye!" he said, waving at Linny.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:17 am
Sylvester
Outside the Stationery Store, Barton Town, Gaia
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 | 10:30am GST
"Sylvester, don't cross the street without me," Smerdle said.
Sylvester skipped a few more steps to the corner and turned around, bouncing on the balls of his feet. It was all very exciting, this 'being alive' business. He felt like he had places to go and people to see, even though he had never seen what anywhere else was like and the only two people he knew were Mama and that nice boy he had just met. That boy had said he had a long name.
"Hey, Mama," Sylvester said. Smerdle looked a little surprised, her eyes widening.
"What?" she replied, regaining her composure. She shook her head and smiled, leading him across the street.
Sylvester laughed. "Ma, Ma, Ma! Linny said my name was long." He hopped onto the curb and started walking backwards so he could look at Smerdle while they talked. He tripped a bit with each step.
"Don't do that," Smerdle said, turning him around by the shoulders. "So what about your name being long? I don't think I can change it. It's what you call yourself, right?"
"Yuh-huh! You can change it! Go on!"
"Moe."
"Moe?" Sylvester looked up. Smerdle was smiling, which he took to mean that she wasn't being serious about this. A pout spread across his face. "C'mon, Mama!"
"What's wrong with Sylvester?"
He looked at the ground. "Long."
"We could call you 'Vesser.'"
He frowned. "Sounds like a snake." Sylvester stumbled slightly as an image of an angry, spitting cobra popped into his head. Whoa, new animal. This learning stuff was weird.
"Okay. Just Syl, then."
"Syl." Yeah, that was okay. "You can call me that. But if anyone asks, you tol' me they had to call me my whole name."
"Yup." Smerdle stopped. "Well, we're here." She picked him up and sat him on her hip. From this vantage point he could see through the window above the door. There were stairs.
"Upstairs?" he asked.
"Yes sir." Smerdle opened the door with a shiny key and carried him up the stairs, setting him down on the landing. She pulled out another key and opened another, plainer door. "This is it. This is where we live," she said, motioning for him to go inside.
He walked past her and into his new house. He didn't see many toys, but it would do just fine.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:21 am
Chucky
Smerdle's Apartment, Barton Town, Gaia
Wednesday, April 27th, 2005 | 7:26pm GST
Women suck. Chucky kicked at the top step as he approached Smerdle's door. He would have kicked it open if it hadn't been open already. Okay, not really.
"Hey, kid? Are you in here?" He heard laughter coming from the living room. It sounded like a child's laughter. "Smerdle, what's going on in..."
Chucky rounded the corner and stopped suddenly when he saw Smerdle and some weird toddler sitting on the floor, watching television. His mouth fell open.
"Who are you?" he exclaimed, pointing at the miniature, bipedal, giraffe... thing.
"Don't be rude, Chucky. He's your wedding invitations."
What the hell? "Smerdle? Can I talk to you for a second?"
Smerdle nodded but didn't get up.
"Over here?"
She sighed, a bit dramatically he thought, given the complete oddness of the situation, but rose to join him halfway across the room. The weird kid waved at him, then turned back to the TV.
"Are you insane?!"
"I might be. You wouldn't believe some of the s**t I've seen today." She held out her hand. "A pen manacle," she mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Are you going to keep it?"
"'He.' Sylvester's a 'he.' And yes, I'm going to keep him."
"Where did he come from?"
She hesitated a second before she answered. "I found him." She wasn't looking at him and she was TOTALLY LYING. Jeez, what a bad liar. Normally, he would have called her on it, but he was feeling patient today. "You should meet him," she continued. "I'm sure he'll have a million things to talk to you about too."
"He can talk?"
"Yeah. You wouldn't think it since regular giraffes can't."
"Maybe they just never tried."
"Don't be stupid." She turned away and called the kid. "Sylvester!" The boy hopped to his feet immediately, like he had been waiting for Smerdle to call him.
"Hi, I'm Sylvester! Whatcher name?"
"I'm Chucky. You'll see me around a lot." He extended his hand and the boy grabbed it and held on, smiling.
"Shake, Syl," Smerdle prompted out of the corner of her mouth. They shook and Chucky stood up straight again.
"I'm getting a Coke," he said. "Do you want anything?" He tousled Sylvester's hair. I guess he's kind of cute.
"Sure, sure," Sylvester replied excitedly. "C'mon, Mama."
Chucky headed for the kitchen, but not before witnessing Smerdle wince at her new title. Who knew that talking giraffes could take your mind off of whiny fiancees?
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:22 am
Sylvester
Arett's Market, Barton Town, Gaia
Thursday, April 28th, 2005 | 11:12am GST
It was a beautiful day in Barton Town; the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But inside Arett's Market, Sylvester was pouting. He and Smerdle were standing in the meat section.
"Hamburger is good!" Smerdle coaxed. "I don't know a single kid who doesn't love hamburgers."
"Meat's gross. I'm made of meat." Sylvester wasn't sure how he knew this, but he did and it was gross. "I want leaves." He crossed his arms over his chest.
"Okay, fine." Smerdle walked down the aisle and Sylvester had no choice but to follow her. He had only said he wanted leaves because it was the first thing that popped into his head and now he was curious to see how a store would sell them.
"Here you go. Leaves." She picked up a green leafy ball and held it out to him. He leaned over and sniffed it.
"That's good. Take that one," he said. "I had crackers last night with Chucky. Those were good."
"Well, you can't live on lettuce and crackers. Let's go smell some fruit and see if you want any of it."
"Okay."
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:24 am
Quin
Outside Arett's Market, Barton Town, Gaia
Thursday, April 28th, 2005 | 11:31am GST
Quin was uncomfortable. This Gaia was loud and dirty. There was a reason why Quin never left the palace and now he knew what it was. He coughed.
"When can we leave?" he asked, trying to keep his voice stern. He was a grown man and he was going to act like it even if he felt like new layers of grime were settling on him with each passing moment.
"Soon, darling. Stop acting like a big baby," Nan grumbled.
Quin would have snapped back a reply if two figures hadn't exited the store just as he opened his mouth to speak. The child matched Nan's description, but could he really be...
"It's him," she said, confirming his thoughts.
"But... he's a child," Quin whispered.
"That's what I said, isn't it? He can still do what's needed. I'm sure of it."
Quin wasn't so sure, but he kept his disbelief to himself. "How will we know if he's found a match?"
"We'll know, Quincy," Nan said, smirking a bit. "I'm sure of that too."
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:24 am
Sylvester
Smerdle's Apartment, Barton Town, Gaia
Friday, May 6th, 2005 | 9:47pm GST
Sylvester sat in front of the television, mesmerized as usual, sipping his apple juice. The past week had been very fun and he had learned a lot. Mama had read him stories and he had gone on auditions with her. She told him that he helped her not to be nervous, but he thought he could help her more if he was actually allowed in the room with her. Waiting rooms were all right -- people called him cute and gave him candy, which he saved for Uncle Chucky -- but he knew that if they would let him audition too, they could get checks for acting instead of what Mama called 'temp jobs.' Those jobs happened late at night while Sylvester was asleep and Mama was always tired the next day. Syl wondered if there were monsters involved. He thought monsters were pretty sweet.
Maybe the coolest thing he had seen all week was the movie he and Mama had gone to yesterday. It had to do with space and there were a bunch of cool characters in it. The best character had nail polish and a big furry white coat. And boots! He had asked Mama if he could have a coat and boots and she had told him it was too hot for that. He didn't have any black nail polish either. Oh well.
Right now, something Mama called Gaia's Next Top Model was on TV. It was kind of interesting. A bunch of ladies were eating and fighting and posing in waterfalls. One of them had really cool hair. Actually, it was kind of like his own hair, if he spiked it up a little. Sylvester turned around to make sure Smerdle wasn't in the room before he dumped the rest of his juice on his hair and started fashioning it into a mohawk.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:25 am
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:27 am
Smerdle
Smerdle's Apartment, Barton Town, Gaia
Friday, May 13th, 2005 | 2:43pm GST
"Yes, I'll be there. Thank you for calling." Smerdle's phony smile faded from her face before the phone hit the cradle.
"Who was that?" Chucky asked, taking the television off a courtesy-mute. He and Sylvester sat on the couch watching Dora the Explorer.
"Jake Keegan of the Gaian Charity Commission," Smerdle said in a fake, businesslike voice. "They recently checked their records and came up with no recent activity for Feed the Orphans. They've requested a meeting with me on Monday to discuss this discrepancy." She sighed. "How did we come up with such a stupid name for a fake charity? They're going to kick us out. Where are we going to go?"
Sylvester spoke without turning around. "Don't be sad, Mama. We can live in a tent like Sawyer on Lost."
"Yeah Syl. Thanks. Can I talk to you, Chucky?" Smerdle was surprised when he got up without rolling his eyes. "Can you watch Sylvester on Monday?" she whispered.
"What time?"
"What do you mean 'what time?' You run a pawn shop, Chucky, and you can close it whenever you like! Just close it!"
"I'm getting fitted for my wedding s**t on Monday. And I can't reschedule," he said over her scoff. "I have to stay on Helen's good side or she'll call this whole thing off."
"What do you care? You hate her!"
"Don't push it, Smer."
"Take Syl with you."
"Don't. Push it."
Smerdle turned to leave the room. "Get out of here then."
"I'll call my niece. She's a good kid."
"Whatever."
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:28 am
Tybalt had been antsy for days and days. After his incident in the bookstore and his subsequent promise to Inle, he had begun to learn how to read. He was learning quickly; it would be awhile before he was ready for War and Peace, but he was hardly bad at it. The little pirate had been such a good student that Inle thought he deserved a break, which was the reason for their visit to the shop.
The little bell tinkled merrily, as always, as the pair walked in. Inle moved towards a chair while Tybalt looked around, presumably for something to get into. The lack of people in the shop would have bored him had he not been on a mission to find more shinies to put in his treasure chest, although he certainly wasn't adverse to a little "friendly" competition like the one he had had with Lance. Then again, he wouldn't mind having Vidya there to hunt with, either. With a sigh, he started poking around the shop's aisles, waiting to find something that would merit his attention.
Smerdle rushed down the street, Sylvester clinging to her back, receiving the most precarious piggy-back ride of his short life. She had good news about her house search and wanted to share it with Chucky.
"Mama, mama, mama. Put me down," Sylvester said. "I'm gonna barf."
Smerdle jogged to a halt, the fear of giraffe-vomit on her hat outweighing her excitement over her good news. "Okay," she said, lowering Sylvester to the ground. "Feel better?"
"Yep."
"Can we get going again?" she asked, motioning down the street.
"I don't wanna run anymore."
"Well, I can't just leave you here," Smerdle began.
Sylvester pointed up, indicating that they were standing right outside the Stationery Store.
"Good idea," Smerdle said. "Nobody'll hurt you in there. I think. I'll be back in a little while." And with that, she was off again, running down the block.
Sylvester smiled and pushed open the door. The last time he had been here hadn't been that awful. "Hello?"
Woman and Tale both turned towards the sound of the door opening, and the small voice that followed. They bore identical curious expressions, and glanced at each other briefly before looking back towards this newcomer.
"Hi there," Inle said slowly. "Are you lost, kiddo?"
Tybalt, meanwhile, was examing this newcomer as he did to everyone else he met. In his short life, he had seen all sorts of Tales; Khia was a shapeshifting dogfoxboything, Vidya had blue skin and white wings, and that damnable Lance looked like an overgrown lizard. However, he had never seen a Tale--if this child was indeed a Tale--quite like this one, with his long neck and short mane. "What're YOU 'sposed to be?" he asked with Tybalt-like tact.
"Mama had stuff to do. She was running and..." he bounced up and down as he thought about being jostled, "...and I didn't feel good. I feel okay now," he explained brightly. He didn't want this lady to think he had a bad mama. "I came from here and now I'm back," he finished quickly and breathlessly, in true Sylvester style.
Turning toward the brightly colored Tale, Sylvester smiled shyly. His ears lowered and he clasped his hands behind his back. He was a little boy as far as he knew! But somehow Sylvester thought that wasn't what this other kid meant. "Mama says I'm like a giraffe," he mumbled. "An animal. She showed me one on TV. I don't got hooves and I've got two legs. And I talk. And stand up and stuff." He didn't know what else to say, so he stopped.
Well, that explained everything, because people were constantly dropping kids off at the shop! Inle sighed; as long as the kid didn't get sick while she was around, she could care less what other mothers did with their kids. He was a Tale, at least, which answered one of her questions. "I see...well, we'll be here for awhile, so at least you won't be alone. I'm Inle, and that rude parrot over there--" here she pointed at Tybalt, who totally ignored her "--is Tybalt. He's a Tale too."
Hmm. This boy didn't seem too bad so far, not like that mouthy, attitude-wielding kid with black wings. He was...nice. Almost subservient in his posture, and nonthreatening in every way. Tybalt relaxed a bit, the feathers he had unconsciously fluffed smoothing once more. "'Hoy," he greeted the other boy, his tone almost amicable.
Sylvester nodded at Inle, but stayed near the door. He didn't want to mess the store up. "Hi, I'm Sylvester," he said, head still lowered.
Inle breathed a mental sigh of relief as Tybalt seemed to not immediately hate this Tale as much as he had the last one he met. "It's nice to meet you, Sylvester. I don't think I've ever seen a Tale...quite like you. And so polite, too." Must be nice, she thought to herself, to have a son that doesn't beat people up upon meeting them.
He was almost TOO nice, Tybalt decided. There must be something wrong with him, something he was overlooking. His claws clicked noisily on the hard floor of the store as he approached the other boy, looking up at him; his eyes were merely speculative now, and no longer distrustful. "You've gotta long neck," he said after a moment of inspection. "'sit hurt t'keep yer head up?"
Sylvester's eyes widened a bit as Tybalt crossed the room. Those claws looked sharp. "Um, it doesn't hurt yet," he answered. He had never been asked so many questions about himself in such a short amount of time. Suddenly yearning for a television or something else that wouldn't ask him about himself, he searched for something to say. Taking a cue from the short time he had spent with Viddy, he decided a compliment would do since he had liked receiving them so much. "Your wings are cool. They're not on your head, like the others." He stood up a bit straighter. "Your claws are scary, though," he said without thinking. His hands flew around and would have covered his mouth if he could have reached it at that moment. Instead, he clasped them in front of him and started wringing them.
Inle noticed the change in Sylvester's stance and shifted to the edge of her seat, ready to spring and snatch Tybalt up should he prove to be too much for the other boy. Sylvester was a good deal bigger than Tybalt, but he didn't look to be as scrappy as the pirate was.
She had little to worry about, however, as Tybalt paused his inspection upon being complimented. He couldn't help but preen a bit, his ego being nicely stroked by this odd-looking Tale. "Thank'ee," he said, a proud, content smile flittering over his lips, the wings being complimented shifting a bit as if they knew they were being talked about. "On me head?" He puzzled over this for a moment, before realization dawned on him. "Like Videe? Y'know Videe? She's me first mate!" he babbled happily. He looked down at his feet at the mention of his claws, allowing one to tap repeatedly on the floor. "Aye, they're sharp," he said, a niggling in his mind reminding him of his dream. Tybalt looked back up, deciding not to ponder it further. "Yer neck's kinna neat. Bet it comes in handy, aye?"
"Yep, I met Viddy n' Jiro at a party. They both had wings on their heads." He was a little confused at what Tybalt meant by 'first mate,' but he decided she was just a friend and left it at that. Oh, wait! She had mentioned a 'Cap'n' with feathers. That must be Tybalt. He'd find out what all that meant later. For now...
"I can see on top of counters and stuff. All the other times, it's annoying." Throughout this conversation, Sylvester had calmed visibly. He smiled. "Nice to meetcha." He looked around. "What do you do here when there're no parties?"
Jiro? Tybalt didn't know a Jiro, but he knew Videe and that was all that mattered. The two Tales had that in common, at least. And Sylvester's neck WAS useful, it seemed...too useful for him to just dismiss as something interesting. "'S'nice, yes. 'N I dunno about parties, but me 'n Videe look fer treasure. Th' store's fulla shiny stuff!" Tybalt quieted, looking up at the giraffe, that speculative gleam back in his eye. "Y'should come with us, yer long neck'd come in handy, I bet."
"Well, yeah sure," Sylvester said. It would be like an episode of Double Dare. Cool! "What kinda stuff do you find?" Smerdle probably wouldn't like it very much if he brought home a table or something from the shop.
Excellent! Sylvester might be a little too big to go trawling through cabinets with himself and Vidya, but he would make for a wonderful lookout! "We've foun' lotsa stuff! Inna cabinet we foun' shiny jewels 'n coins--" Tybalt-speak for marbles and buttons "--'n we foun' sheets 'o silver onna shelf!" Silver PAPER, that is. "'N we fight monssers, too, like hoards'a bugs 'n big stupid dragons!"
The monsters sounded pretty cool too, as long as none of them fought with him personally. "Yeah! I can help carry the treasure so you and Viddy can find more! You've never been hurt or nothin, have you?"
Tybalt blinked at the tall child in front of him. He just got invited to go treasure hunting and all he wanted to do was help carry it? He didn't want to help look for it, or fight bad guys for it, or adventure or anything? Hmm...well, something was better than nothing, he supposed. "Err, nope, never been hurt!" The time in the basement with the chupacabra didn't count, because no one actually got hurt. Grounded and scolded, yes, but not hurt. "We do th' hurtin'!" He paused for a moment, reflecting on that before amending the statement. "I do th' hurtin' ackshly. Videe got mad when I hurt the dumb dragon, but she helped kill th' bugs." He nodded sagely, idly hoping the boy didn't think any less of Vidya for it.
"Good, good." He didn't have much of a reaction to the bug stomping, because he didn't think much of bugs. As long as no Tales got hurt... for some reason, the thought of him being responsible for someone when they were hurt made him very nervous. "When d'you do this stuff?" Sylvester had never been out at night and he wasn't sure he would like that either.
When? This boy was full of silly questions! "Well we don' PLAN it, I guess..." he trailed off, wondering what Sylvester was after. "It jus' happens when it happens, y'can't plan fer it."
"Okay. That sounds fun." He thought it was a little strange, with his whole life revolving around Smerdle's scatterbrained idea of planning. He thought everyone was like that. "What else do you like to do?" He suddenly felt like watching TV and playing around the house weren't very adventurous at all.
"Oh, lossa stuff. I like 'splorin' outside n'round th' house, 'n findin' new things t'see, 'n goin' where 'm not 'sposed to, cuz there's funner things there." He smiled, feeling strangely at ease with Sylvester, not caring, for once, that the boy might use this knowledge against him one day. "What d'you do fer fun?" What's good for the goose might as well be good for the gan--er, parrot.
"Nothin as cool as you!" Sylvester said excitedly. "Go to the movies, play with my toys, go places with Mama," he continued, counting off his boring activities on his fingers.
As if she had been called, the door opened and Smerdle entered. "I got some groceries..." Seeing Inle and Tybalt, she stopped talking for a second. "Oh, I didn't realize anyone would be here. Although, I should have. This is a store." The last part she had mumbled to herself. "Sorry if he caused any trouble," she said to no one in particular, motioning to Sylvester with the hand that wasn't holding the grocery bag. "And sorry you had to watch him," she said to Inle. She had thought that scary big book would keep him company. But she wasn't supposed to talk about that anymore.
Movies? Tybalt had never been to a movie before, but he had always wanted to go. "Nono, movies're cool!" He imagined so, anyway, and resolved to go to one. Someday. Eventually. Maybe.
Tybalt looked up at the door as it opened, as did Inle, who grinned faintly. "Oh, not at all. We were here anyway. Sylvester's nice, for a boy Tale; he's probably the first of his gender that Tybalt hasn't wanted to beat up." Inle was kind of proud at that fact; it meant her son was growing up a bit, and learning to tolerate others. Or so she thought.
Yeah, the movies he had seen were pretty cool, he thought. "I guess so." He looked up at Smerdle. "We aren't goin?" he asked.
"No. You can keep talking." She eyed the Study and sat down as far away from it as she could.
"So, was Tybalt born here too?" she asked Inle. "I haven't met anyone who doesn't at least tolerate Sylvester. He's so... malleable. I guess that room makes all kinds of kids," she said, smiling.
Born...that was a different way of putting it. Inle always thought that the kids were just created by the Tome and the Study, but born sounded...right, somehow. "It really does," she replied. "The kids that I've seen range from human-looking to completely oddball." She gestured at the anthropomorphic pair. "Cases in point, right? And it's good that he can get along with people. Some of the parents and kids I've met here are...well. Let's just say that a Tome that sprouts kids isn't the half of it." Inle was hardly a gossip, but even she had to admit that some of the people that passed through the shop's doors had to be seen to be believed.
Tybalt didn't know what the word mall-ya-bull meant, but he liked Sylvester alright. He was no Vidya, but he wasn't Lance or Olivia, either.
Sylvester had certainly met more Tales than Smerdle had, but she had seen a few at the party and they were all a little weird. "I wonder what they're here for," she mused aloud.
"Well, you can come over to see Sylvester whenever you want," she said to Tybalt. "I have a feeling we're going to be between houses soon, but I'm sure we'll be back in here after we move."
Sylvester leaned over and whispered as quietly as he could. "Maybe there're some places near my house where you aren't supposed to go." The only place he'd actually been forbidden was the roof, but Sylvester thought Tybalt was way craftier than he himself was. He would think of something.
Inle shrugged. Although she had often wondered the same thing, it wasn't what the question that was foremost on her mind when she thought of her feathery son. "Who's to say? I'm sure we'll all find out eventually, probably. Hopefully...maybe. What I want to know is HOW they get here. I mean, yeah, there's the Study and the Tome, but there's got to be more to it than that. Where do they come from? Does the Tome just randomly pick a baby out of thin air whenever someone writes in it?" She smiled at the invitation, feeling a bit relieved; Tybalt didn't have many people he could truly call friends, but it seemed like he was quickly gaining one more. "The same to the both of you. It isn't often we get visitors, and I'm sure Tybalt would love to have him over."
Tybalt perked up at this. Places you weren't supposed to go were a challenge in that you had to go to them without getting caught, and the pirate was ALWAYS up for a challenge. "Y'find th' best stuff in ferbiddin' spots," he confided to the giraffe.
"True. When I first met Sylvester..." Smerdle glanced at the Study, but didn't finish her thought. "Well, I'm sure it's a weird experience for everybody." She smiled and reached for her grocery bag. "We should get going," she said loud enough so Sylvester could hear. "I'd give you our phone number, but we're going to be moving soon and I'm not sure we're keeping the phone." Smerdle sighed. "Sorry to leave so abruptly, but I've got eggs in here." She shook the bag. "It was nice meeting you two," she said cheerfully.
Sylvester looked up at his Author and back down at Tybalt. "I gotta go," he said. "Don't do any fun stuff without me." Remembering what Tybalt said about fun things not being planned, he added, "Or, um, well, if some fun stuff happens, 'member to tell me about it later." Sylvester waved goodbye and followed Smerdle out of the shop.
Inle nodded in complete understanding, recalling her own introduction to Tybalt; the crashing waves and the sound of steel on steel probably hadn't happened to every other Author. "Oh, likewise! And I'm sure we'll see each other soon. The shop has its ways of bringing people together," she said with a chuckle.
Tybalt emitted a bark of laughter. "Ok! We gotta do fun stuff t'gether sometime! Bye!" He waved at the retreating form of his new crewmate, content at the day's accomplishments. After searching the store for more shinies to stea--er, procure--he and Inle went home as well.
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 10:30 am
Mallory
Smerdle's Apartment, Barton Town, Gaia
Monday, May 16th, 2005 | 1:32pm GST
"Just make sure he eats if he's hungry and have some fun with him," Smerdle said. Sylvester sat in front of the television, paying the adults in the room no attention until he was called over. "This is Mallory," Smerdle explained to her son. "She's going to be watching you for a few hours."
"Aw, how cute. He's, like, a giraffe," Mallory enthused. "I'm, like, one-sixteenth cat. I can, like, see in the dark, for sure!"
Smerdle smiled briefly. "That's great. Anyway, I don't have a cell phone, so if anything bad happens, call your uncle. I doubt I'll be home until at least six or seven."
"Sure thing, Mrs. Smerdle," Mallory said.
"I'm not married."
"Okay then!" Mallory smiled and kneeled down in front of Sylvester.
"Chucky's my uncle too, so that, like, makes us cousins!"
Sylvester looked a little confused. "Cool," he said softly.
"See you later, Mallory," Smerdle said. "And thanks for doing this on such short notice."
"Anytime, Mrs. Smerdle."
"Bye, Mama," Sylvester said.
"Bye." Smerdle shut the door behind her, leaving Mallory and Sylvester alone in the apartment.
"Whatcha watchin'?" Mallory asked, taking the giraffe's hand and leading him back over to the sofa.
"One Life to Live," he explained. "Jessica's got another person living inside her that talks to her and makes her do bad things."
"'Kay," Mallory said, not understanding a word of what he was saying, but nodding nonetheless. "Wanna see something really awesome?" She didn't wait for an answer, just crossed the room and rummaged in her bag for her laptop. When she had the computer and power cord in hand, she came back and set it up in front of the Tale.
"This," she plopped down next to him, "is Veronica Mars. It's only, like, the coolest show on television."
"But that's a computer."
Mallory tilted her head to the side. "Just watch, little dude."
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