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 Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:51 pm
Speaking to Cabbages
Roleplay with ShortGreenWith a soft grunt, Kova managed to lift the large cabbage from the step in front of the shop and back in through the door, her tail pushing hard to keep it from swinging shut on her. Then, with a complicated sort of dance, she slid more fully into Twilight Designs, protecting both tail and cabbage from the sudden closing of the door. She beamed, clearly pleased with herself as she held the plant. "Well, leafy-puss," she announced. "This is where I work. It's usually quiet on a Monday so I figured you could come in and hang out with me and see what I do. Isn't everything in here so pretty?"
Even as she spoke, she padded further into the store and moved the cabbage around as if she were showing it the various bits of jewelry in the cases. "Mr. Athan and Miss Reyna are really good with this and have great taste. Maybe you'll get to meet them."
For a moment, Kova paused and squinted around her. Finally, she settled on the heavy, wooden table that sat beside the case which was her usual haunt. The glass case held her favorite pieces - tanzanite and gold and amethyst and an unusually carved bit of opal. Using her elbow, she managed to push aside the bottle of glass-cleaner that sat on it and gently lowered the plant to its temporary home. "There you go, leafy-puss," she cooed. "You can see everything from there." Fondly, she stroked one broad green leaf.
Athan pushed open the door with one elbow as he lugged in two boxes, one stacked upon the other, just as Kova had settled in with her cabbage. He paused in the door frame before offering the woman a small smile.
"Miss Kova, would you mind holding the door open for a moment?" he asked as he shuffled his grip on the load he carried to keep from dropping them.
"Oh, yes! Of course!" Giving her cabbage a final, cheerful pat, Kova skipped over to oblige. She held it wide and was careful to stand out of his way so he could move through easily. "How are you today, Mr. Athan? Is that new shipment?"
"Indeed it is, my dear. I went and picked it up directly this morning. Saves the trouble of dealing with careless postal workers," he stated with a bit of a smirk as he moved to set the boxes upon Reyna's desk.
He paused briefly before opening them as he took note of the vegetable that was sitting on the table. Interesting, yet strange. But ought he be surprised? In his shop, no. Not at all.
"May I ask what the uh," he trailed off as he frowned a bit in thought as he identified what it was exactly, "... cabbage is for?"
"Oh." Kova's face immediatly lit with one of her usual mega-watt grins and she allowed the door to swing shut. "It's mine," she explained. She crossed back to pat the leaves gently and then shifted it a bit, fiddling with the placement on the table. The leaves rustled quietly. She looked up, brown eyes bright. "I got it from a lab and I have to take care of it because it'll probably turn into something. I think it might turn into a kid. Or a cat or a dog or I don't know. Things here on Gaia are always turning into other things, aren't they?"
She paused and tilted her head, studying the cabbage. "It doesn't have a name yet, though," she sighed. "You can't tell if a cabbage is a boy or a girl."
Athan knew right off the bat that he truly did not have a place to judge as he had come to Gaia with the knowledge that there was an abundance of people -- an abundance of people he could essentially pawn his Shadows off on. Truly, it was a bit more detailed and technical than that, but a cabbage? What was the universe coming to!?
With as serious a face as he could muster Athan swallowed back the urge to laugh (giggle really, but he wasn't the sort to allow such a thing) as he nodded, intently listening to Kova's explanation.
"Well then, uh. Congratulations!" he answered, unsure of what else to say in response.
"Thank you." Judging from Kova's warm smile, it was the right thing to say. Stepping around the case and abandoning her cabbage, Kova held out her hands in an offer of continued help. "I'm glad you came in today, though, Mr. Athan. I was just telling it that I hoped it could meet you. You and Miss Reyna or, oh, Mystic!"
"Well," Athan began as he turned back towards his boxes as he retrieved a box cutter out of Reyna's desk, "I dare say you'll be in luck. The both of them should be in this afternoon. Though seeing as they'll be here in the middle of the day, I should think it might be difficult to spot Mystic."
He carefully opened the first box as he thought over his own words. Silly. Shadows are always difficult to spot. They were made of darkness, after all. He needed coffee. That must be it. Or perhaps the cabbage had thrown him off. It was hard to tell.
Kova nodded and, somehow already attuned to her employer's needs, moved to retrieve a little crinkly packet from the pocket of her cargo-skirt. "But I can usually kind of feel him. I don't know." Whether that was strictly true or not, Kova seemed content with the notion that she just might see him later and get to introduce her cabbage. She held up the packet. "I got coffee on my way in. It's... I think the guy at the shop called it Arabian Crack?"
His normally stoic features quirked in a bemused smile at the name of the coffee. "That sounds.... delightful," he replied as he pulled the first of his newly acquired treasures from one of the assortment of packages contained with the boxes he had brought in. "I definitely could appreciate a cup."
He stopped mid motion as he eyed Kova, small smile still in place. "You can feel his presence? That is impressive. You must have some sort of sensitivity to magic, then. Most people cannot sense a Shadow unless bonded to one."
"Oh, really?" Kova looked at her boss with wide, dark eyes, completely innocent. "Well," she finally ammended as she wandered over to again aimlessly pet her cabbage, the packet of coffee in her other hand, "maybe feel is wrong? I don't know. Maybe it's just 'cause I really like him or something. Or because I'm around him so much. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to."
"There isn't necessarily a wrong or right about it," Athan remarked with a quiet chuckle as he quietly admired a large, polished piece of lapis lazuli, "Though I definitely agree that it is a ... feeling. One that is very nearly impossible to explain."
"Like bein' in deep space," Kova suggested. "You just have to kind of... Feel it." She disappeared into the back room to start the coffee machine percolating and then, almost as if she feared to allow her cabbage out of her sight, she came back to lean in the doorway, once more in full view of both Athan and vegetable. "D'you think I'm crazy to feel shadows and talk to cabbages?" she asked suddenly.
Athan couldn't quite relate to being in deep space, as he had never come across the desire to traverse the heavens. He was far too deeply rooted in the physical earth from which he came and preferred it that way. He could only assume it was similar to passing through what he called 'the twilight' between dimensions.
He sputtered a bit indignantly as he put down the package of gems he was sorting through. "Crazy?" he spoke up, "My dear, if you are crazy for feeling the presence of Shadows and talking to cabbages, I must be utterly mad for creating aforementioned shadow creatures."
He shook his head as though in disbelief that Kova could even concoct such an idea in her head. Crazy? Hardly! If anything, it was the world in which they lived that was positively wrought with insanity.
"And for the record, I have seen far stranger things in my lifetime. I should like to think that you may consider your sanity still quite intact for speaking to your cabbage," he added on with a smirk.
"I told you he was so very nice." This was directed at the cabbage. Athan, on the other hand, was suddenly the receipient of fewer words and more actions as Kova crossed the space between them in a few strides and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you."
Athan froze, eyes wide as he gingerly patted Kova on the back in an effort to reciprocate the rather endearing hug. Even so, it caught him a bit off guard, and being the loner that he had become (and perhaps just working with Reyna much too often), he was rather unaccustomed to the close contact. This lent for a rather sweet, yet awkward moment.
He cleared his throat and took a step away from Kova. "Well," he murmured as he moved to take a seat in Reyna's chair behind the desk, "It's nothing short of the truth."
"I still wanna say thanks, though." Kova giggled, lifting her hands to push back tumbled bits of leaf-green hair. "It's nice when people say it. Oh! I have to finish the coffee." Shooting another brilliant smile his way, she again disappeared into the back room. Coffee wasn't technically in her job description but, just as cookies appeared along with her at regular frequencies, she had adopted it as her right.
Athan simply smiled and went back to sorting through the different packages he had laid out. One in particular stood out from all the rest as it was contained within a velvety pouch. He reached out and touched the surface of the bag, seemingly tracing the features of the stone before opening the pouch and withdrawing the prize within.
"And I wonder," he muttered quietly under his breath as he quietly admired the carved surface of the amazingly large opal in his hand.
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 4:01 pm
A Bright, Leafy Spot Amidst Darkness
Athan discovers a cabbage growing within his garden.
Athan sat quietly at the counter within his kitchen as he picked at his breakfast and sipped at his tea. It was Sunday, which meant that Twilight Designs was closed for the day and he was free to do whatever he pleased. For the time being he was content to simply sit and do nothing. Later on, he knew he would likely trudge down into his study and press onwards with his various tasks, but for now he was content to just sit.
There was a weariness about him, a deep-rooted exhaustion that settled heavy in the pit of his stomach and deep within his bones. It ached to breath, to move, and in truth, to simply live. He let his eyes slide shut as he held his tea cup in both hands to lend them a little warmth. He was so very tired, but he was not allowed to rest just yet. There were still stones that ought to be found and Shadows to release. It was that knowledge that kept him moving forward despite his desire to simply give up.
He couldn't give up. He had made a promise, but he wasn't certain whether or not that memory was truly a memory or simply a dream. He had promised himself he would keep going until he was physically incapable of doing so any longer. Or had he promised... someone else..?
A frown graced his features, and it ached as much as the rest of him did. He could not afford to allow himself to think along that path. That was not a distraction he could afford, but a burden he would bear regardless.
With a sigh he sat his cup of tea upon the counter before shifting slightly to rest his face in his hands. "She'la auhn fre, na," he whispered under his breath, so quietly spoken it was barely audible even to himself.
I miss you.
Athan let out a shaky sigh before pushing away from the counter-top with enough force to topple over the bar stool he had been sitting on. It fell to the floor with enough force that the noise reverberated throughout the house. He swallowed thickly and stormed off out of the kitchen in an angry rush.
Yes, he was angry – at himself, at the so-called friend that had caused him this pain, and at the love he had lost. It was a feeling that was so twisted, so knotted up inside of him that he hardly knew how to cope with it. It was like a deep, black, poisonous cancer that kept coming back just when he thought he had control of it.
He pushed through a pair of doors that creaked in protest as they opened for what seemed to be the first time in centuries. Through the doors was a small beaten path which lead to what once was a beautiful garden. All that was left were broken stems, gnarled vines, and a decaying tree. It had been as vibrant and breathtaking as an artist's palette, alive with so many colors.
Now everything was black, brown, and gray.
A pained noise escaped past him despite his best efforts to contain himself as he fell to his knees amidst the ruin and decay. He couldn't fix this. It broke his heart that he couldn't fix it. He could no longer breath life into the earth and gently coax forth spring in the middle of winter. The very gift he had been born with had been stolen from him, and for what? Darkness. A deep, all-consuming darkness to aid him in his impossible quest.
He held his head in his hands and stared blankly at the debris strewn ground. It was covered in layers of leaves and weeds. They were the only thing that thrived here now. There was nothing left within him that he could give to make this sanctuary the Eden it once was.
His frail form, typically hidden beneath dark robes, shook with emotion as one of his hands clawed at the moist ground to keep himself up right. A choked sob erupted from his chest before he went still and fell utterly silent as he stared, enchanted by the bright flash of vibrant green that had somehow managed to develop within the murky rubble of its surroundings.
Tentatively he edged towards the thriving plant, gingerly making his way towards it as though afraid it would suddenly jump up and run – or worse, his presence would somehow poison it. He frowned and scooted a little closer to examine the leafy greenery. What was it?
He hovered over it, a rather comical sight as he was crouched on the ground on all fours and cautiously peeked at the very top of the plant.
".... what the hell are you doing?" piped up a small, yet demanding voice.
It was enough to startle Athan completely out of his reverie and nearly caused him to topple over on top of the plant. He scowled and skittered backwards in an abrupt movement as Lorelei flew down from a branch of the barren tree to land on his shoulder.
"What's that?"
Athan paused as he shifted his weight to sit cross-legged about a foot away from the plant in question. "It appears to be a cabbage, a very large one," he stated simply with no further explanation.
"A cabbage," Lorelei stated dryly.
"A cabbage."
The fairy huffed a bit irritably with an expression that was quite reminiscent to one her bond often pulled himself. "Why are you growing a cabbage?" she queried as she folded her wings against her back and moved to sit close to Athan's neck.
"I.. didn't. It just appeared here. Nothing has grown here in .. deities be damned, centuries! If not longer. I mean.. I haven't.. there's been nothing here! And now there's a cabbage!" he declared in a heated rush of words that took Lorelei aback slightly. Since when was he ever excited or expressive about anything?
"Riiiiiight," she muttered as she crossed her arms across her chest, "If it didn't already go without saying, I'd say you're nuts." She frowned a bit before leaning forward slightly to eye the plant suspiciously."Although, this wouldn't be the first time something strange has suddenly appeared in your house," she stated in a generous manner as though he ought to be thankful she was bothering to speak in more detail at all.
"... that is true," Athan answered softly as he fell silent, lost in his own thoughts. A cabbage thriving in a barren wasteland. A small smile quirked at his lips. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was still a little bit of hope left.
Lorelei sighed as she idly swung her feet back and forth. "I'm gonna guess you're going to be here for a while, huh?" she grumbled before rolling her eyes when Athan didn't bother to reply. "Whatever," she huffed. Stupid cabbage. Oh well. Athan looked happy, and that was rare. She always knew he was eccentric in his ways if not completely crazy. Let him enjoy the cabbage before it ended up eaten or wilted away like everything else in the garden.
She frowned as she launched herself back into the air and flutter to a stop briefly on a window sill to gaze back at Athan. Secretly, she hoped that didn't happen, and so what if he was crazy?
He had been right during his conversation with Kova. If anything, it was the world in which they lived that was positively wrought with insanity. Let him hold onto the shred of happiness he had found within the never ending gloom.
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:38 pm
Kids From Cabbages, Who Knew?
Kova brings Delilah to work with her, and Athan learns the truth about cabbages.
Athan sat at Reyna's desk rifling through an assortment of paperwork. Most of it was useless and necessary only in that he was required to keep said records for a total of seven years. Given his extraordinarily long lifespan, seven years was nothing, but it was still frustrating to keep up with. At least, with it being so very early in the morning and the shop not yet open, it was easier to get it done and over with.
He rubbed at his temples a bit irritably as he came across an order he had placed and not yet received. Truly, he hated dealing with that particular company. Always late, and this time doubly so. He had ordered an entire custom set of mystery eggs last October that were intended for Easter -- an event that had already long since past.
He was definitely going to be exchanging some words with the owner. The delay (and without any explanation!) was absolutely unacceptable and in his eyes, highly unprofessional.
Athan sat at Reyna's desk rifling through an assortment of paperwork. Most of it was useless and necessary only in that he was required to keep said records for a total of seven years. Given his extraordinarily long lifespan, seven years was nothing, but it was still frustrating to keep up with. At least, with it being so very early in the morning and the shop not yet open, it was easier to get it done and over with.
He rubbed at his temples a bit irritably as he came across an order he had placed and not yet received. Truly, he hated dealing with that particular company. Always late, and this time doubly so. He had ordered an entire custom set of mystery eggs last October that were intended for Easter -- an event that had already long since past.
He was definitely going to be exchanging some words with the owner. The delay (and without any explanation!) was absolutely unacceptable and in his eyes, highly unprofessional.
Athan looked up from his paperwork briefly when he heard the bell chime. He relaxed as he realized it was simply Kova, though he did take notice of the small child that accompanied her. He offered them both a small smile despite his rather cantankerous mood.
"Good morning, Miss Kova," he replied conversationally, "And who might the lovely young lady at your side be?"
Kova smiled brightly and set her hand on Delilah's closest shoulder. "This is my daughter," she answered. "Delilah, this is Mr. Athan. He's my boss and he does a lot of the pretty things around here."
Shyly, Delilah ducked a little curtsy to Athan. "Hello," she whispered. "Nice to meet you."
"And you as well, Miss Delilah," Athan answered with a rather charming grin as his dour mood seemed to fade somewhat. How darling! He did so have a soft spot for children.
He stepped away from the desk and moved towards the two before kneeling down so that he was more at Delilah's level. "Are you going to be helping your mother today or are you just visiting?" he asked, warm smile still in place, "I'm certain that if you did perhaps we could arrange so that you may be able to take a necklace or bracelet of some sort home with you."
The little girl's aquamarine eyes went wide and shining, clearly flattered and impressed. Then she glanced at her mother who merely smiled back. Delilah returned her gaze to Athan and, after a momentary hesitation, dipped another little curtsy. "I would like that a lot, please. It's Saturday so there's no school."
Athan chuckled quietly, a warm mellow sound. "Indeed so. Shall we get to work, then?" he queried as he stood and offered his hand to the little lady in invitation, "I have recently received a box full of gems and trinkets that need sorting. Perhaps you can help."
He led both ladies along towards the back room. "I'm sure your lovely mother wouldn't mind the change of pace either. I dare say everything within the front end of the shop is cleaner and shines brighter than it ever has what with all her hard work," he went on as he settled himself upon one of the overstuffed couches and bent over a small box that sat upon the coffee table.
"See all these little bags?" he began as he held up a plastic zip lock bag that contained a gemstone within and was labeled by type and color on the outside, "I need to go through each and every one of these and make sure nothing arrived damaged. Do you think you could do that for me?"
He smiled before adding, "With your mother's aid, of course."
Delilah hesitated again and looked to her mother for permission. When Kova nodded, though, she turned back to Athan. She offered him a very shy, little smile. "I'll do my best, Mr. Athan. I'll be very careful." She moved to sit daintily beside him, barely making a dent in the overstuffed couch. "Do I have to compare them to a list?"
"Brilliant child!" Athan declared with a bright grin, "Where have you been hiding her, Kova?" He reached to retrieve the packing list from the box that was neatly folded in quarters. "This is the list you have to compare to. The description should match the labels on the outside of the packages. If there are any discrepancies or if something is broken, just set it aside for me to take care of."
Delilah flushed pink at his compliment and ducked her head. A piece of her silky hair fell over her eyes, affording some protection from his gaze. "Okay," she whispered. Then her little hands dipped into the box and began sorting carefully.
Kova watched her daughter for a moment and then nodded warmly at Athan. "Thanks for this. I wanted to show her where I worked but, um, I hadn't thought beyond that."
"Not a problem," Athan replied smoothly as he strolled towards the small bar and sink off to the side to pour himself a cup of coffee, "Reyna brings little Samara in with her quite often. I truly do not mind."
He paused for a moment as he leaned back against the counter and sipped at his coffee after stirring in a bit of cream and sugar. "Although, I can't say I recall your ever mentioning having a child, or is my memory fading me due to old age?" he questioned in a light, somewhat teasing tone of voice.
"Oh, I haven't had her long." Kova moved to lean against the back of the couch, half-watching Delilah work in the box. "You've met her before, though. I brought her to work when she was just a baby. I put her on that table in the sunlight so she could drink it up while I worked."
Athan frowned, brow furrowed in confusion as he attempted to recall when the child had been there. He took a sip of his coffee and very nearly choked on it. He turned away to regain his composure and to clear his throat.
"... so," he started again, still looking somewhat distressed, "She uh... came from.. that cabbage?"
"Mmhm." Kova blinked at him, eyebrows curving down in confusion. "You didn't know? I thought I'd told you or Miss Reyna had. She met Delly the cabbage."
Delilah looked up, little mouth pursed. "Mama, please," she murmured. "I wasn't that way for long."
"Well," Athan began as he idly pushed a hand back through his hair in an anxious gesture, "I recall your mentioning it, but... it's just that..." He exhaled slowly to keep his calm composure firmly in place before folding his arms over his chest.
"I discovered a cabbage the other day. In my garden."
Kova's brown eyes lit up and she couldn't quite seem to resist clapping her hands. "Where is it? Oh, you didn't leave it out in the garden, did you?"
Delilah shifted her gaze from her mother to Athan, head tilting in interest.
What little color there was drained from Athan's features as he stared over at the woman with a bit of a lost look on his face. He cleared his throat and stood upright. "Kova, my dear, I dare say a venture to my home is in order. I think you ought to accompany me to ensure whether or not the cabbage we speak of is indeed.. well.. that sort of cabbage."
He moved towards the front of the shop, fully expecting both ladies to follow as he headed towards the front door. "No need to fret over the shop. Reyna will be in shortly to open for the day," he replied as he reached to set the lock so that it would shut behind them.
Without a moment's hesitance Athan reached out with one hand to call forth a bright, green rune. It shimmered brightly before flaring out wide in a semi-circle that then completed itself with a flash of white light.
"Come along now, take my hand and do not for any reason let go," he stated as he reached for Kova's and then in turn Delilah's. "Simply walk forward," he instructed, "The rest is already done."
"Hold tight, Delly," Kova ordered gently as she squeezed Athan's hand tightly to prove she had heard. "We can't ask Mr. Athan to go diggin' through the space-time continuum for us if we fall off."
"Mama." Delilah sighed a bit before mimicking the action and squeezing Athan's hand as well. "Yes, sir."
"There we go. Lead on."
Immediately upon stepping through the portal, the group found themselves on a small, cobblestone path that led directly to the steps of a rather impressive house. Truly, it was more of a mansion than a typical house, but the assortment of busted and otherwise broken electronics (namely coffee pots and microwaves) about the front porch seemed to take away from the elegance of it all.
Regardless, it was an impressive structure and the surrounding terrain, though quite empty, was equally beautiful what with the grassy fields and forested area within walking distance.
"This way," he motioned as he went directly towards the house and laid his hand upon the door. An assortment of different symbols lit up and swirled upon the surface before a series of locks clicked one by one.
He did not pause to introduce them a bit more formally to his antique strewn, dust-filled home, though his fairy did appear to greet them both as she settled upon Athan's shoulder.
"You brought guests!" she squeaked, "You never have guests." Her three eyes went wide as she gazed up at her bond.
"The garden is this way," he said without acknowledging little Lorelei's statements as he led them through the kitchen, down a hallway and finally stopped before a grand set of doors that creaked in protest when they were opened.
Delilah went wide-eyed at the little flying girl and swallowed nervously. Her hands twisted themselves about each other, catching at her skirts. Then she hurried after Athan. Kova, on the other hand, paused to smile at the girl and nodded. "Hello, there! Mr. Athan's just showing' us his cabbage," she explained. "I have to make sure he's takin' care of it."
Then she moved to follow Athan. "Are you comin', too?"
"I suppose I'll go along for the ride," Lorelei answered, and she meant that literally. She squirmed upon Athan's shoulder and half burrowed into the hood of his robes that gathered at his neck and his hair to steady herself.
Athan pushed open the doors, and paused for a moment as he turned to look back at the two that had accompanied him all the way here. He was an intensely private man when it came to his personal life and having them both there within his home was slightly... awkward.
Regardless, it was necessary.
"There," he said as he pointed towards the overly large cabbage. It was the only vibrant, thriving plant within the brown, twisted vines and weedy overgrowth that was truly alive. ".. is it? I mean... do you think...?" he managed in a voice that had suddenly gone quiet and soft.
Oblivious to his hesitation, Kova strode past the dark man and knelt beside the cabbage, half-cooing as she gently touched the leaves. "Look, Delly!" she called. "It's bigger than you were but just as bright." She stroked light fingers down a vein in one leaf. "Aren't you a handsome cabbage, huh? I bet you'll be a boy. Big and tough."
Delilah blushed a bit and offered a crooked, little smile at Athan as if apologizing for her mother's behavior. Then she padded over to peer down at the cabbage. "I think it's so healthy 'cause it ate up the other plants," she offered quietly.
A look of relief flashed across his face in that the plant was still thriving. He had more than enough guilt weighing down upon his shoulders. He didn't want to add the death of what could've been an innocent child to his shoulders due to his own ignorance. At the same time a frown creased his brow.
What was he going to do with a child?
He had no doubts about whether or not he'd be capable of raising a child, but.. was he really a suitable parent? Sure, he spoiled Sam rotten and considered her his neice. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her, but he wasn't responsible for her.
Ultimately, it didn't seem he had a choice in the matter. The fates had bestowed him with this responsiblity, and it was his duty to accept it.
He smiled faintly upon Delilah. Sweet, innocent child. If only that was the reason why his once sprawling garden had blackened and withered away. If that were the cause, then perhaps his heart would not be nearly so broken and his soul, not nearly so weary and torn. He sighed a bit sadly before moving to kneel next to Kova's side.
"So it will be child," he whispered quietly. It was more of a statement of fact than a question.
"I'm pretty sure, yep." Kova tilted her head and twisted to look over at Athan. There was a sudden questioning quirk to her eyebrow. "Child-ish, anyway. Humanoid."
Athan simply nodded with a rather somber look written across his face. "Well then," he began slowly, "How do you suggest I care for this er.. child until it is born, so to speak?"
Shadows emerged from stones, his fairy (though already in her juvenile stage when she came into his care) came from a bloom, the cabbage... well.. he wasn't entirely certain how that would work. Surely it couldn't be too terribly different.
"Oh." Kova laughed and shrugged with one shoulder. Standing, she brushed off her knees absently. "Keep it in sunshine and water. I talked to Delly a lot."
"You sang to me."
The smile Kova gave her daughter radiated pure adoration. "I did. I'm glad you remember." She turned her attention back to Athan. "And it's just like that, pretty much. Take care of it. Pay attention."
In essence it was no different than how he once cared for all his plants, though the idea of talking to just a cabbage seemed a little awkward. Sweet little Delilah seemed to have memory of her mother's conversations and singing. He would definitely have to put some thought into the situation he'd found himself in. He wouldn't want the child to recall nothing but silence.
Children, after all, were meant to be loved regardless.
He moved to face Kova and offered her a small smile in gratitude. "Well," he began, "Thank you. I appreciate your both having come this far to .. help me with this."
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:18 pm
Creating Spaces
Athan clears out a little room for his cabbage within his home.
Since discovering the cabbage within his garden, he had kept in mind Kova's advice and had brought the overly large vegetable indoors to make sure it was kept safe. Finding a spot with enough light within his dank, dark home, however, was an interesting feat in itself. If Kova was correct, and he was inclined to believe her, then the cabbage would become a child, and a child would certainly need space of its own that was not encompassed by darkness.
He selected a room that was relatively close to his study, which was where he spent most of his time. It also had several tall, nearly floor to ceiling length windows. After scrubbing them clean, he had not only found a room for his child, but a place with enough light to allow the cabbage to thrive. It's decor was sparse, as was the furniture within -- just a small bed, and a desk off to the side, but it would do nicely for now.
Athan sat the cabbage upon the bed gingerly before sitting next to it. He heaved a quiet sigh. He had spent a great deal of time and physical effort cleaning. He'd have attempted to do it all with spellwork, but there was no way to be certain how his cabbage would react physically. He was not about to accidentally cause any sort of harm to the plant for the sake of taking the easy way out.
"That simply would not do at all."
He leaned back against the wall the bed was wedged against and idly reached to gently stroke one of the large leaves. Kova had reccomended speaking to it. He felt a bit odd talking to a vegetable of all things, but Delilah had made it clear that she remember her mother's singing. He would not want his child to grow up in silence or to believe they were not wanted. True, having a child was rather unexpected and sudden, but he was not one to shirk responsibilities. What's more, the cabbage had appeared within his garden, and he was a firm believer that things happened for a reason even if in the beginning that reasoning is rather unclear.
He glanced out one of the large windows as the sun filtered in, chasing away the shadows that lurked in the corners of the room. He smiled faintly. It was the first day of true sunlight he'd seen in a while, and not because he typically trapped himself down in his study in darkness. Fall had long since come and gone and the world was well within the throes of winter.
"Spring will be coming soon. I've always liked spring best," he offered up in what he knew would be a one-sided conversation. He glanced down at his hands and flexed his fingers in a sort of restless movement. "Winter to me.. is so barren. It's the very last of the seasons before everything begins anew. It is very difficult to keep a garden in winter, though I have tried."
He paused for a moment, small smile still in place as he reminesced. "For a while I succeeded. I had a... oh.. what is the word .. a greenhouse! Yes. It stayed warm even in winter. It was as though I had found a way to capture that instant in spring where everything is blooming, bright and alive."
He went on as he glanced over towards the cabbage with a quiet chuckle. "Spring, in my world, also meant celebration. A new year. New life. I always liked the festivals. Especially as a child," he continued, voice quiet and low as his revisiting his memories seemed to lull him into a calmed state, "My father always took me to them. We would buy sweets for my mother, and of course some for ourselves. Perhaps... someday I will be able to do the same for you."
He stretched his arms above his head and moved to stand with a yawn. "Sadly, it will not be the ones I attended as a child. My world, while still ... there, is not what it used to be. But those are not such things I would share with you. Not everything in this world is as lovely as spring, and I would not burden you so early in your life with that knowledge."
He shook his head quietly. No, he would not want that. He would do his very best to protect him. He had seen and experienced too much turmoil in his own life. It was not something he would wish upon anyone, not even his own enemies. Thankfully, those seemed to be few and far in between nowadays, which mean he need not worry more than the average parent would have to regarding the safety of his child.
"Are you still talking to it?"
Athan grimaced faintly as a small weight settled upon his shoulder. "What of it?"
Lorelei shifted so that she was sitting cross-legged just inside the collar of Athan's shirt. "I just think it's odd, is all."
"I talk to you, don't I?"
The small fairy shot her bond a rather irritated look and folded her arms over her chest. "I am not a vegetable."
"Perhaps not, but it is in my understanding that Feien come from blooms, correct?"
Lorelei frowned but did not argue that point. It was true enough. She had not arrived in Athan's care during that stage in her life, but she did carry the general knowledge that a bloom was the first part of a Feien's life cycle. Instead, she changed the subject: "So this is its room?"
Athan nodded as he moved to straighten out the curtains on the windows before stopping to simply peer outside. It was a rather impressive view. Even more so when it wasn't winter. Currently, the forest that could be seen was barren. All of its trees, save for a few evergreens, had their leaves stricken from their branches a good month ago, but in spring and summer it was vibrant and lush.
"I do not suppose you'd be inclined to stand watch for me, would you?" he asked. He was beginning to feel the effects of his sleeplessness coupled with the rigorous cleaning he had done since dawn to straighten up a suitable living space for his new ward.
"... you want me to watch the cabbage?" her small voice piped up, sounding rather puzzled at why and how such a thing could possibly be necessary.
"Yes," Athan replied, "Only for a little while. I need to... rest."
Lorelei fluttered off of her bond's shoulder and glided down to the bed to land next to the cabbage. She eyed it a bit warily. "I suppose."
"I appreciate the help, Lorelei."
The fairy's eyes widened slightly and she felt herself smiling despite herself as she watched her bond's form retreat from the room. She did rather enjoy being praised for her efforts. She settled herself in the shade provided by the cabbage. Perhaps this would not be so bad.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:07 pm
A Serious Business
Lorelei takes her watching after the cabbage to heart.
Lorelei was not truly interested in the cabbage or in what it might become. She found it odd. She saw it as a plant, nothing more. Perhaps she was being rather hypocritical given the nature of her existence, but she did not recall being a bloom specifically, so she had nothing to reference to in order to comprehend the fact that the plant before her would become a human-like child.
She did, however, take her post in keeping watch over it very seriously, especially after having received Athan's praise. That in itself was uncommon. It was not that he was particularly neglectful or a mean spirited person who did not often offer a kind word or two. It was that he had done so and she had not anticipated it. He had also been quite sincere.
While she sometimes aided him in gathering supplies for his studies or in analyzing small text that was difficult for him to read, she had not truly been charged with any real sort of responsibility before now. She decided rather quickly that she liked it. It allowed her a sense of pride that was justified by her doing a good job.
And perhaps, just perhaps, if she did do a good job, Athan would allow her something else. That in itself was a thrilling thought. What sort of adventure would she be able to go on? The very thought made her giddy, and she found herself grinning like a Cheshire cat.
She quickly stifled the expression when she realized she was not alone. Her three eyes narrowed in suspicion as she stood with her hands on her hips. She could not see the culprit but she could feel him. It was a rather odd sensation that was unmistakable.
'Heehee! Green-thing!' squeaked a merry, high-pitched voice which Lorelei knew to be nothing more than a telepathic form of communication within her head.
"BLUE." Her face twisted into a frown and she scowled over at the shadow sprite that was floating curiously above the cabbage. "You leave it alone! Athan will be really, really mad at the both of us if anything bad happens to this vegetable."
The blue sprite's bright eyes widened slightly. Athan? Mad? Oh that would be terrible! He did so adore Athan, but Blue had the overwhelming tendency to love most anything he came in contact with. He was indiscriminate and child-like. The thought of Athan being mad at him stalled his exploration of the green-thing for a moment before he seemed to all but forget the warning the fairy had given him.
He paused for a brief moment as he peered over at Lorelei before his eyes twinkled with a hint of mischeif. Without any further warning, he made a dive bomb for the cabbage and phased right through the top of it.
'Greeeennnnn on the insiiiiiiiiiiide toooo!' he all but sang.
Lorelei's face flushed red with anger. He was going to ruin EVERYTHING. There would be no adventure. There would be no more responsibilities asigned to her from her bond. There would be nothing. She resisted the urge to scream, and instead stomped one foot irritably.
"Blue! You get out of there right this instant or so help me I will see that Athan locks you back into the ring from which you came!" she all but shrieked. A part of her hoped that Athan was nearby still and would be alerted by the noise, and another part of her cringed. Even so, she realized rather quickly that it was a moot point. Her small voice would not be able to carry far enough for her bond to hear if he were not within the same room.
The shadow popped his head out of the side of the cabbage which made the fairy pale somewhat. She just knew he was going to do something terrible. Like rip off one of its leaves or something!
"I'm warning you!" Lorelei growled out between clenched teeth as she pointed accusingly at the sprite, "I helped him discover that spell, I can surely help him find a way to send you back!"
Blue's brow furrowed in worried lines. Go back? He didn't want to go back! He liked Lorelei, Athan, and the green-thing... even if the green-thing wasn't nearly as interesting. He phased the rest of the way through the cabbage, and much to Lorelei's relief, had remained entirely transparent while skittering through the vegetable itself and no leaves were torn off, damaged, or otherwise missing.
She heaved a heavy sigh, but her dark gaze did not waver as she stared down the sprite who was now looking quite beside himself as he settled near her side.
'Please no being angry? Green-thing is not hurt. Was just curious,' he whined as he pawed quietly at one of her hands which earned him another irritated scowl. The look didn't phase him, but his curiosity remained. 'What is it? Why is it here? Did Athan create it? Did it come from a ring, too? Why so big?'
The fairy huffed and moved to sit back down without bothering to reply to his slew of questions. This of course, made him attempt to pepper her with even more questions, each one more desperate for simple acknowledgement than the last. She fell back against the mattress with a groan.
"If you promise to be quiet and behave, I will tell you."
Blue beamed happily and zoomed just above Lorelei's prone form in an overly excited circle. 'Yes, yes! Tell, tell!'
"You have to promise and actually do as I say," Lorelei cautioned.
'I promise, I promise! Will be good! Tell!'
The fairy eyed him warily as she crossed her arms over her chest. "That cabbage is going to be a baby. So I'm watching over it for Athan while he rests," she informed him briskly with an air that clearly said: I am important, that's why I am in charge.
'Green-thing is a BABY?' Blue all but squealed as he moved to sit cross-legged next to Lorelei, his chin in his hands as he peered contentedly down at the fairy, utterly enthralled with what she had to say. 'Is a boy or girl?'
Lorelei paused as she glanced towards him, her posture relaxing somewhat. "We're not certain yet, but it is going to be a child. I've already met a child who came from... a green-thing, as you put it. Her name is Delilah."
'Ohoh! Pretty name! Is Delilah pretty? Can I meet, too?'
The fairy shrugged her shoulders. She did not care to judge people on appearances. "I suppose, but no. She is not around for you to meet. I do not think Athan would invite them over again. He does not appreciate company very often, but you never know."
Blue's face seemed to fall and he looked utterly crestfallen. Lorelei did not see him appear so glum very often, but she had a hard time admitting that whenever the occasion did arise, it tugged at her heartstrings.
"You'll get to meet this one."
'What one?' he perked up, blinking quickly as he glanced around himself as though searching for the child which he would be introduced to.
Lorelei pressed a hand to her head, a faint, bemused smile twitching at her lips. "The green-thing, Blue. The green-thing."
'OHhhhhhhh! How exciting! When is it going to be a child? Can it be a child now?' he asked excitedly and clapped his hands together in approval.
"Not yet. We must be patient," she replied before motioning for him to shush before he could ask another question, "We must also be quiet. The baby is sleeping!" A small smirk twitched at her lips as Blue nodded enthusiastically and moved to lie next to her so that he could watch the cabbage, too.
'Blue will be quiet,' he whispered in the quietest, softest voice Lorelei had ever heard emanate from the sprite, 'So not to disturb baby. Will wait to meet.'
She smiled and nodded in affirmation. She would wait, too.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:09 pm
Stories of Old
Athan reads aloud to his cabbage.
Athan had been hesitant to remove his cabbage from its room. His home had a curious ability of changing on a whim, something that was in direct correlation with the fact that his house was atop a very old, very strong ley line, and he made certain that that particular room was a safe place. It was a place of constants that did not directly involve change. Lorelei of course, was quite accustomed to this ever evolving, continuous alteration. In fact, she preferred it, as she was quite content to explore anything and everything.
A cabbage, however, would not be able to fend for itself should a spell go awry or otherwise escape the confines of Athan's study that was below ground. Such things were truly a rare occurrence, but he was not willing to take such a chance and permit what might become a child to end up a snack before it had a chance to take its first breath.
He gingerly held onto the large vegetable as he toed open a door to the library. The lights were low, but were bright enough to allow a person to read in comfort. Direct sunlight was good for a plant, but too much would wither it, and that was not something he could allow to happen to his dear cabbage.
He sat it upon one of the plush armchairs after wiping the leather free of dust. He had not exactly entertained company in quite some time, and with dust being Lorelei's element, she was not one to complain of its abundance within the household. For a moment Athan couldn't help but wonder if she were partially responsible for it, but quickly dismissed the notion. He had to be honest with himself; his home had been a wreck long before the little fairy came along.
He hoped that his new ward would not especially mind. Of course, he would make an attempt to clean a little more thoroughly and a little more often for the child's sake, but he hoped that he or she would not think of him as a complete slob. In truth, he was quite neurotically organized, but the sheer abundance of trinkets, antiques, and other oddities made that organization seem quite unclear to anyone other than himself.
Not to mention his books!
Athan's library while by no means grand, was still rather impressive by its content alone. He had many books that could not be found elsewhere in many worlds. Several of them were from his own home world, but he did not read from them often. They had the tendency to dredge up memories he'd rather not face.
Though at that moment, he felt inclined to do so regardless. He left the cabbage alone in its chair for with a glance spared over his shoulder as he sought out one book in particular. He knew it was childish of him to keep it, but it was a treasure of sorts. He had owned it since childhood. A small, quiet part of him had kept it in the hopes that he might share it with... someone one day.
He smiled faintly to himself, but it was a bittersweet expression. He had hoped. It was hard to be certain if there was any of that hope left, but his internal struggle did not deter him as he pulled a small, aged yet well cared for book from one of the taller shelves. From there he moved to sit in the armchair across from the cabbage.
Fondly, he traced the gold lettering and emblem on the leather surface which was stained a bright, cherry red. It was a book of fairy tales. It had once served as a comfort to him at night as a child. Whenever he had a nightmare, or otherwise felt insecure, he would turn to his stories and read until dawn. Or at least until his parents caught him up and about at such an indecent time of night and ordered him back to bed.
He smiled again, though this time it was softer and a little more sincere. He opened the book carefully and glanced up towards the cabbage briefly before reading aloud. He doubted the cabbage would understand entirely what he was saying as it was written in the language of his world, but he would read nonetheless. He wanted to let the child that lurked within the bright, leafy vegetable that he or she was wanted and that he was there, waiting.
The first story he read was about a mischievous tree nymph that played hide and seek with a young boy. The boy grew to be a man, and the nymph grew as well. They fell in love, but were not allowed to be together. It was somewhat somber, but Athan found its ending to be a happy one. When the man died of old age he was buried at the base of the tree that homed his true love, and was then reborn as a tree spirit as well.
That had been something he had hoped for as a young boy. For love. He had not quite known exactly what that sort of love was as a child, of course. But when he grew older, he understood and as he read aloud he began to hope a little.
No, not for himself, but for the child that was yet unborn. He would want them to know that kind of love as he once had.
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:05 am
Like a Fairytale
Athan awakes to find a little boy tugging at this sleeve…
Athan woke slowly with a grimace on his face. A sharp, stiff pain in his neck told him that he had fallen asleep reading again, no doubt in his favorite armchair in the library. His eyes creaked open slowly with a grumbled mutter at the faint wafting light that infiltrated his senses. He really needed to stop doing that.
He sat up straight with a start when he felt a small hand touch his before tugging at his sleeve. Eyes wide he turned to his left to face the small child that stood near the arm of the chair an armful of books in hand.
“Uncle,” the child insisted as he pushed his glasses up further on the bridge of his nose with his one free hand.
Athan stared for a long moment, jaw working silently as he attempted to come up with some sort of response. Instead, he simply looked puzzled. He wanted to ask the little boy where it was he had come from, but one glance towards the cabbage which was now strangely missing confirmed that little fact.
“Yes?” he managed, still slightly taken aback.
“Can we read another story? You fell asleep in the middle of the last one,” the boy replied with the faintest semblance of a smirk.
Athan chuckled quietly before reaching to help his rather articulate ward up into his lap to settle with the assortment of books he’d gathered. “Of course we can. I dare say we can read as many as you like so long as you can keep me awake.”
“Okay, Uncle.”
Another low, quiet noise of amusement escaped him at how matter-of-fact the child was. “I don’t suppose you have a name, do you? Or shall I have to find you one?”
The boy blinked, wide-eyed as he stared up at his newfound uncle over the top of the rims of his glasses. “Holicinesh.”
“Holicinesh, is it?” Athan spoke up, “That is a fine name, indeed.”
The boy beamed quietly up at his uncle before handing him the first book so that they could begin reading anew. It was another book of fairytales and other such stories quiet similar to the one he had read prior to falling asleep in his chair.
Athan quickly found that reading to a more… lively audience was far more entertaining. Whenever he came to a passage that was particularly funny, ‘Nesh would giggle quietly and stuff his little hands against his face to muffle the sound. If a scene became particularly suspenseful, he waited with bated breath for the outcome and hung onto his every word.
They read a great number of books that evening and even finished off the boy’s initial selection before moving on to other tomes stowed away within the recesses of Athan’s expansive library before it was he that had to wake Holicinesh rather than vice versa.
After watching him nod off slowly in his arms, Athan decided that given the hour and the boy’s youth, it was already far past bed time and that they should both be resting. He carried him off, out and away from the dark, dusty library to the boy’s own room which he had meticulously prepared for him.
In comparison to the rest of the house, it was virtually immaculate and quite cheerful dressed up in blues and greens. Athan tucked him into an equally jovial bed set which boasted yellow ducks against lime green and bright blue stripes. Silly. Very silly, but perhaps it would serve to amuse the boy, and if it didn’t, well, what did it really matter?
He huffed a bit irritably. Perturbed with none other than himself. Here he was, gifted with the presence of this child and he was worried over bed sheets.
“I think I am much too old for this,” he whispered to no one at all as he gently patted the boy’s head before drifting out of the room to leave Holicinesh to dream of fairies and giants and the stuff of stories and make-believe.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:42 am
A Fine Mess
Athan makes a grave mistake that he shall not repeat...
Athan muttered and grumbled to himself as he walked up the cobble stone path that led to his not-so-humble abode. That had been a disaster. Typically a day at Twilight Designs was a disaster. He expected chaos. He anticipated there to be problems. For the love of the Gods! His primary business partner and employee was a demon! Of course there was going to be trouble.
His being turned temporarily to stone had not been an issue that topped his list of things that could possibly and quite potentially go terribly, terribly wrong. Then again, he was beginning to think this mental list of things he should be wary of might be in (see: desperate) need of being re-evaluated what with the turn of events prior to the latest fiasco (nightmare beasts had run rampant, shredding his shop to bits), and then of course there was the one before that (where he had been poisoned and had very nearly died).
With a tired huff he stepped into his home, thankful to simply be home so that he could relax... and thus realize he had unconsciously done a terrible, terrible thing.
He had left Holicinesh alone! He had been completely unattended save for the company of Lorelei and Blue. "Oh by the gods," he cursed mentally to himself as he dashed off towards the child's room and flung open the door. There he found him, safe from harm, still sleeping, and thus utterly unaware that anything could have been amiss. Thank goodness for the time lapse between this world and the one he had just ventured from!
He heaved a heavy sigh of relief as he continued to mentally berate himself. What if he had died. Who would have looked after the child, then? His fairy would have died and Blue... well... was Blue.
'That wasn't a possibility for you. Stop fretting over it.'
Athan looked mildly spooked for a moment until he remembered who it was that had hidden himself in his shadow. He had entirely forgotten he was even there.
Hawk chuckled quietly and phased into view, arms looped about the other's neck and shoulders as he peered at him with sightless eyes. 'Am I really so forgettable?' he teased before changing the subject when Athan flushed and began to stammer, 'I can help you with the child. I do not mind.'
The boy in question began to stir from his sleep. He stretched with a yawn and flailed about blindly for his glasses.
"To the right, kid. On the nightstand," came a gruff, yet still distinctly feminine voice.
Athan blinked, head tilting to the side. Lorelei had slept next to him on his pillow? That was decidely... cute. He smirked but said nothing of it to her. No need to ruin a perfectly good thing by calling her on it.
"Good morning," he said as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed after handing his glasses over to the child. "Well... it is almost afternoon, but still early enough that we can say it is morning still."
Holicinesh smiled before scrambling forward to curl over against Athan's side. "Morning, Uncle," he murmured, voice still tinged with sleep-fogged drowsiness. He peeked over his shoulder at the strange creature that was drifting lazily behind him. "Who'er you?"
'You may call me Hawk. And yes, I am a creature of magic, a Shadow Fiend to be specific.'
The child's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't even asked yet but the creature, or Hawk rather, had supplied the answer to his questions! "How did you knooo~oow??" he rushed out before the being could cut him off. He wanted to at least get to ask his question first.
'I am a Seer.'
'Nesh nodded, wide-eyed. That was both intimidating and utterly fascinating! He wanted to pepper him with more questions but his uncle cut him off by lifting him up into his arms suddenly.
"Come along now. You need to have breakfast. Can't have you starving to death, now can I?" Athan murmured in an affectionate manner as he balanced the weight of him on one hip and carted him off. "That simply would not do at all."
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:48 am
The Fiend
'Nesh gets to know Hawk, or at least as much as the Seer will allow...
His uncle had wandered off down through some strange doors that look like they led underground or somewhere beneath the floor. Why someone would want to do such a thing was beyond him. Either way, he had breakfast and knew where he was if he needed anything. He munched contentedly on a piece of a fruit and eyed his surroundings. This was the kitchen, that much his uncle had made clear.
The rest of the house remained a mystery save for his own room and the library he had more or less been 'born' in. He would have to ask if he could go back there later as he quite liked it. For the moment, Holicinesh was preoccupied with other thoughts -- mostly of the strange, shadow-thing that was sitting in a chair across from him looking quite bored. He was even more interesting than the fairy that seemed intent on following him around and the miniature-sized shadow-thing that followed her around.
He giggled quietly to himself at the mental image that brought up before reaching for his cup of juice, feet swinging back and forth in his chair as he did so. He set his cup down and folded his hands neatly atop the surface of the table. "So.... your name is Hawk," he stated matter-of-factly. It was almost comical hearing him speak with such a serious tone given he was so little and precious in a way that nearly all children seemed to be at first glance. He sounded completely grown-up save for a slight lisp and faint stumbling of consonants and vowels when he came across a particularly big word within his vocabulary.
'Mmhmm.'
"Well," the child began before pausing as he thought to rephrase or otherwise rethink what it was he was about to say to a creature who had the uncanny ability to simply know, "Do you know my name?"
'That I do.'
'Nesh smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. "So... what else do you know?"
'About you?' Hawk asked, one pale eyebrow lifting as he spoke before the expression vanished entirely. 'Mhm. Enough to know that you came from an over-sized vegetable,' he replied dryly as he began to fidget in his seat. He was still tired and a bit drained from the ordeal earlier (or was it later? The sudden change in time from Gaia to.. wherever this was threw him off a bit) at Twilight Designs. Despite his stoic, bored appearance, he could honestly say he was very nearly enjoying himself.
Then again, he had seemingly been trapped in some sort of void prior. Anything was fun in comparison to that sort of empty nothingness. Even talking to a strangely mature toddler..? Child? His true age seemed ambiguous as without a proper image of him in his mind's eye, it was difficult to discern his age. He knew he had silver hair, and for whatever reason it made him seem familiar. Why, he had no clue, but that was the nature of things, and he of all people knew when the headache of questioning the little stuff was truly worth the trouble it could cause.
"So why does your voice sound funny?"
Hawk blinked as he was given a sudden vision of the child before him that his normal sight did not allow. He had caught on to a little of what he looked like through his bond to Athan, but having an actual visual was a nice change of pace. The boy's question drew him from his reverie and if he could, he would have smiled. Just a little. 'I lack vocal cords and other humanoid-type internal organs. Thus, my voice is merely a whisper of telepathic speech.' He looked rather smug and desperately wanted to tease him about it all being in his head -- literally, but he was not that cruel.
The sarcasm was best left for those that appreciated it. Like Mystic.
Holicinesh fell quiet as he attempted to process everything the Shadow had just said. There were a lot of big words and terms that he had not heard before. He kind of knew what he meant, but at the same time the true meaning was lost on him entirely. It made him want to ask more questions. He wanted to know and learn more. It was frustrating not knowing and he did not like it.
He frowned a bit at that thought, but it came off as more of a pout than anything. He chewed thoughtfully on a piece of toast, still looking rather put out until Hawk addressed him once more.
'The library.'
"What?" he managed around a mouthful of toast. He coughed and decided the talking and eating at the same exact time did not go hand in hand.
'Take a sip of your juice,' Hawk instructed.
'Nesh did so and cleared his throat before beginning again, "What about the library?"
'You like the library and learning, yes?'
The boy flushed a bit, why he wasn't certain (which only made it worse), and gingerly pushed his glasses up his nose in what was rapidly becoming a habitual gesture. "Well. Yes," he managed a bit hesitantly.
'Then lets go to the library. I can help you read, and maybe you'll find the answers to your multitude, never-ending list of questions.' He was so not going to answer them all. Not without help. Besides, it would be best to let the boy figure things out on his own rather than simply provide him with all the answers.
Holicinesh's eyes lit up and he smiled. "Okay," he replied, excitement evident in his features though it was only vaguely apparent in his voice. He hopped off his chair and scooted around the table to grab at Hawk's hand. "It's this way," he went on as he tugged at him in an effort to urge him to follow.
The Shadow radiated a faint sort of amusement. He hadn't been around children in a good while. It made him miss Lafe, and strangely enough, Wren. His brow furrowed a bit. He knew better than to worry about the demon, but...
He heaved what would have been a heavy sigh as he trailed after the child that held on so tightly to his hand. There would be time enough to fret over that later.
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:14 am
Back to the Library
Hawk takes 'Nesh back to the library for a bit...In truth, Hawk had only ever been to Athan's house once prior. He had done it mostly to antagonize Mystic when he was taking lessons in spell-casting. So distracted with his goal to cause the eldest of his brethren torment, he hadn't really taken the time to take in the surroundings.
It was impressive.
Or at least the library was proving to be. The child's room had been typical, the kitchen also quite 'normal' save for the occasional strange, unheard of appliance or knick nack. He had sat Holicinesh down with a large book full of elegant illustrations, and so far it was doing an excellent job of entertaining him.
In turn, it temporarily relieved of his duties of attempting to read. Yes, he was blind, and thus without a tome written in braille, he technically couldn't read, but that was where his being a Seer came in handy. It allowed him just enough vision to read, but it was a strenuous task. As tired as he was, he wasn't exactly feeling up to it.
Which almost made him feel bad as he had told 'Nesh he would help.
He lounged in one of the plush chairs with a huff. Oh well...
Holicinesh very carefully flipped through the pages of the book before him, all the while sneaking glances over towards the Shadow. He was interesting with his pale blue skin, and two-tone hair. Not to mention the intricate spiraled markings on his face and shoulders.
A faint smile twitched at his lips as Hawk's eyes drifted closed. It almost looked like he was wearing a mask or makeup or something as the lids and the skin just beneath them were kohl black. Or perhaps even like some sort of strange illusion that made at seem as though he had no eyes at all. It seemed quite possible there in the dim lighting.
"Heeeere you are. I was wondering where you skittered off to, kid," piped up a tiny voice which was accompanied by the faint fluttering of wings and the inane ramblings of the tiny shadow creature that followed.
'Hello cabbage-kid!' Blue chirped cheerfully as he clung to the side of Holicinesh's face, making him giggle, 'So glad you're alive! Alive is happy!'
Hawk reluctantly opened his eyes, but the only change for him was a faint shift of lighting that was akin to a simple play of shadows by a candle that was about to go out and little more. What was that little thing? The fairy, fine, he knew of Lorelei, but the thing seemed to be a Shadow but on a smaller scale. Strange. Very strange, indeed.
Lorelei settled upon the child's shoulder and peered over at him curiously. "So. What'cha up to." Technically it was a question, but she said it in such a way that it could've very easily been a command.
"Uhm. Nothing, really," he answered truthfully, eyes widening a bit. He hadn't expected to be questioned by her. Not like that. "Just.. reading a little..?" Okay. That was a fib. He couldn't read, but the pictures in this book were so intricate that he found himself spellbound by it. At least when he wasn't staring at or otherwise contemplating Hawk.
"Mmh," was all she said in response before gliding down off his shoulder to take a closer look at the book. She made no mention that there were little to no words on the beautiful, ornate pages. "Hmmmm..."
'Nesh arched a brow before giggling behind one hand when Blue zipped down towards her. Before he could get too close to cling to her she had outstretched one arm to shove him away.
"Personal. Space. Blue," she gritted out.
The Sprite wiggled and squirmed mid air as though itching to get closer to her but otherwise stayed put. He distracted himself by also admiring the pages in a way that mimicked her, but Lorelei paid him no mind. That was typical.
'Is pretty, yes?'
Lorelei shot him a look but did not bother to elaborate on her thoughts or feelings. Instead, she moved to what she considered to be a safe distance away from the book, dragging Blue along with her by grabbing hold of one of his arms. "Next page?" she asked as she glanced up at 'Nesh before thinking to add, "Please?"
Happy to be helpful and otherwise entertained by their presence, Holicinesh complied with a smile, much to the bemusement of Hawk.
What a scene. He wished almost that he weren't blind so he could watch them interract. A child of mysterious origins, a fairy, and ... whatever 'Blue' was. He could not ask for better entertainment.
Hawk sat up straight with a bit of a start when he felt a faint tug of something vying for his attention. He had not felt such a thing in ages, and even then if Wren truly wanted to check in on him through their bond, it had never been that strong. Athan was his maker, however, so it made sense that it would feel far more poignant.
'Everything okay?' Athan asked.
He nodded before adding, 'Just fine. We're in the library,' when he sheepishly realized that Athan couldn't see his response. That thought made him flush a little, embarrassed by his own naiveity, but the sound of Athan's mental voice had been the equivalent of his being present.
He caught a flash of sight that showed to him that 'Nesh was staring again. He offered the boy what he hoped was a look of reassurance. 'Your father was just checking in on you.'
"Uncle," the child corrected as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Hawk seemed to smirk and chuckled quietly. 'Yes, your uncle. Of course.'
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:39 am
Strange Dreams
A strange darkness takes over Holicinesh's dream.He had not had many dreams, at least none that he remembered. He supposed that his time as a cabbage was a bit like dreaming. He recalled fragments of his dear uncle's voice filtering through to his consciousness. He recalled the faintest feeling of being lifted and settling into bright sunny patches. Those dream-like memories were faint, barely there. He had to make an effort to recall those times which made it seem more like he was fabricating the experiences all together.
'Nesh knew now that he was dreaming and that when he woke, he would recall the dream. It was painted so vividly against his mind that the very thought of forgetting it seemed impossible. Remembering the scenery would be tricky, though. It kept changing and shifting. It morphed and moved like some living undulating thing that couldn't stand to sit still. It was somewhat disorienting. His subconscious realized that he was simply dreaming, and so he remained utterly calm and lucid while watching this fantastic shifting array of color and form.
He decided to take a step forward. In that moment everything shifted violently, and he thought that he might fall. It was dizzying. The colors picked up speed. There were no longer forms or shapes feigning elaborate backgrounds of lush gardens or the interior of houses far more grand than his uncle's. He frowned, puzzled as the colors seemed to bleed out, leaving everything pitch black.
They coalesced together, congealing in a morbid sort of fashion. He blinked again, head tilting to the side in curiosity. The colors began to glow, and as he took another step forward, he noticed that they were once more beginning to take form. He reached out with one hand, compelled to want to touch the colors as they formed strangely familiar patterns and symbols.
Runes.
He blinked again as he held his hand out before him. Oh he was most certainly dreaming. His hand was much too large and vaguely reminded him of his uncle's deft hands. That thought pleased him but was cut short as his attention once more returned to the now vividly glowing markings that swirled around the dark, dark room he seemed to be standing within.
“How strange.”
Stranger still was his voice. No longer was it the soft, sweet voice of a child. It was that of a grown man. It startled him, and again he was reminded of his uncle. Would he be so much like him? Inwardly, a part of him desperately hoped so. He wanted to be good at spell casting, no, better than his uncle. He wanted to be better so he could help him and keep him safe from the things that made him so, so sad.
“Is that your true motivation, child?”
He frowned before giving a startled shriek as the room suddenly grew larger with a sickening tilt. No. It wasn't the room. It was him. He was a child again! He wanted to scream in outrage. How was he supposed to help when he was simply a useless child?
“How indeed,” the low voice mocked, “Probably my luck that you are just a petulant brat. Otherwise how would my plans succeed? The demon, well.. she won't stand much of a fight, bound as she is. But you. Oh you. You have talent. Such talent. Too bad your youth prevents you from tapping into it properly.”
He pouted and crossed his arms before scowling as he realized in that moment he probably did appear as just a petulant child. He looked around him, but saw no one. There was nothing but the swirling runes that now danced across the perimeter in varying speeds and colors.
“What. Not going to ask the basic questions are we?”
Holicinesh arched a brow incredulously. “And what sort of questions might those be?” Yes. He was definitely a child again, but he was at least pleased that his voice did not waver in fear or anger. It gave nothing away.
“Don't you want to know where you are? What I am? Or better yet, who?”
The child frowned. He was just dreaming in his head. Why should it matter what voice spoke to him? Did any of it matter. No, not really. He then decided that dreaming perhaps was not his cup of tea, and more than anything he'd really like to wake up and..
“Read books with that blind Seer who can't remember? Have breakfast with your dying uncle? Play with the fairy wench and pitiful Sprite? Oh yes, wouldn't that be nice.”
His brow furrowed in worried lines. Who was this voice? Why would he dream of such a spiteful, hateful entity. He could almost feel the hate emanating from the voice. It dripped with venom and cut like knives. His uncle wasn't really dying was he? He seemed okay. Most days he seemed sad, but dying? No. He couldn't possibly...
In his frustration his hands had balled into fists and tears began to p***k at his eyes. “Leave me alone! I'm tired of this dream and I don't like it here!” he declared hotly.
The voice laughed and his frantic upset escalated until he was absolutely mad with it. In a fit he had fallen to the ground, and in a fashion true to any child his age, he banged his fists angrily on the black ground and cried. The echoing laughter wouldn't stop which only fueled his rage.
Exhaustion set in quickly enough and his crying subsided to hiccups and sniffles. Wide-eyed he watched as the dancing runes circled in closer to him on the ground. He sat up right with a startled breath. He knew what they were. He knew what they meant, but he couldn't voice it aloud. The words were choked up in his throat. He couldn't even scream for help or demand that the scary voice stop. They were meant to bind him. His eyes widened and he gasped as the circle closed in on him.
He clenched his eyes closed, wrapped his arms around himself, and hid his face as though to shield himself from the onslaught. He knew it would burn. How he knew this, he wasn't sure, but he knew with an utmost certainty that it was going to burn.
Instead of the pain he knew ought to be well on its way, he felt nothing. Hesitantly he opened his eyes and exhaled raggedly. He was sitting upright in his own bed. The first light of the morning was slowly creeping in through his windows. The terrifying darkness was not present nor the glowing runes. He was at home. He was safe. Everything was going to be okay.
“Just a dream,” he murmured as he rubbed at his eyes and reached for his glasses.
“Must've been a bad one, kid.”
Holicinesh smiled widely. Hearing Lorelei's voice was oddly reassuring, even more so when Blue chimed in with some sing-song lullaby he had just made up in his head. He paled slightly as he glanced towards the far corner of his room where the light hadn't yet reached. The darkness there brought back memories of the dark room. It looked as though it were moving and very much alive. His brow furrowed and his entire body went tense.
'Please tell me your little nightmare wasn't about me. I've hardly done anything worthy of tha-- oh good. It's not,' Hawk spoke up as he phased into view, revealing that the strange darkness was simply a familiar Shadow.
'Nesh grinned and reached out towards him with both arms outstretched.
Hawk arched a brow, curious. He usually wasn't one to lend comfort lest the person in need of comforting was Athan, but he was finding it strangely difficult to ignore the sunny smile that had lit up the child's face when he realized it was him there in the corner. He drifted towards him, careful to avoid the light filtering in through the window and moved to drag the boy into his arms. He rested his cheek atop his hair and allowed his sightless eyes to close.
'That bad, huh?'
“Not anymore,” he replied with a yawn.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:41 am
Auntie Reyna
'Nesh is introduced to his uncle's business partner.Holicinesh blinked owlishly up at his uncle from behind his glasses. He had yet to be taken anywhere outside of the house save to play in the yard. The prospect of getting to see where it was that his uncle worked was quite exciting. He smiled widely and held his arms out towards his uncle who smiled in return. He chuckled quietly when Athan hefted him up into the air in a sudden rush, leaving him somewhat breathless as he nestled into his arms.
"Now, I am also going to introduce you to some of my .. employees," Athan explained as he regarded the child with a serious tone. “Miss Kova may be there. She is a very nice lady. She has a daughter that also came from a cabbage.”
‘Nesh perked at that information and cut his uncle’s explanation short with a sudden burst of excitement. “Do I get to meet them today?”
Athan smiled gently and tucked a stray lock of hair behind the boy’s ear. “It depends upon whether or not Miss Kova is working today. I shall make arrangements for you to meet her soon if she is not present.”
The child nodded in solemn agreement and once more fell quiet so his uncle might finish speaking.
“Now. I have another employee. She is.. much more like a business partner than a true employee per se. She is also quite different from anyone you’ve probably ever met. Kova is different as well, but Reyna… well.. she’s special,” Athan went on, fumbling slightly with his explanation.
Hawk drifted up behind the both of them and leaned his chin atop Athan’s shoulder with a look that seemed both content and strangely resigned, bored even. ’Reyna has a temper. That’s what he’s trying to get at. She’ll like you just fine though seeing as your adorable and approximately around the same age as her daughter.’
Athan exhaled and visibly relaxed at Hawk’s statement. There was a certain benefit to having a Seer within his home. It meant that most potential disasters could be avoided – most being the key word. After his comparison of ‘Nesh to Sam, he knew what Hawk said must be true. After becoming a mother the demoness had never shown any sort of intolerance for children. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It seemed her patience had increased and her temperament mellowed.
He still couldn’t help but worry just a little bit.
’Everything will be fine,’ Hawk insisted, ’In fact, she will end up spoiling ‘Nesh silly the same way you do Sam.’
“Well then,” Athan spoke up as he tightened his grip upon the child in his arms, “Shall we go then?”
The boy nodded excitedly and waved goodbye to Lorelei and Blue as he was carried out the door. His eyes widened impossibly so with a look of excitement as Hawk drifted ahead of them both and cast a circle. “We’re going through?” he murmured in a rush of jumbled words.
Athan nodded with a smirk. “Scared?”
‘Nesh grinned and shook his head vehemently. “No! Let’s go, let’s go!” he shouted with more glee and exuberance than he had ever seen the boy muster over much of anything. Perhaps he would have to take the time to show him more spells if this was to be his reaction.
With no further hesitation he stepped through the portal and quite suddenly they were in Durem rather than the empty field that qualified as his front yard. A few more steps down the pavement and they were nearly at the door of the shop.
Hawk seemed to exude amusement at the child's delighted face as he took in his new surroundings. He even was momentarily distracted enough by all the new things he was being presented with that he nearly allowed his glasses to slip right off his nose. The Shadow caught them before they could plummet to the ground and fit them back on his face.
"Thanks," the boy beamed quietly as they stepped through the door of the shop.
Seeing as the scent of fresh baked cookies and pastries seemed to be missing, Athan could only assume that Kova was either not working today or was going to work a later shift. Reyna was present, however, tapping a pencil boredly on the surface of her desk as she mulled over design work. She glanced up and looked back down at her sketchpad only to do a double take.
... was that a child in Athan's arms?
Her brow furrowed in confusion and her head tilted to the side. Before she could speak Athan held one palm up, begging for a moment of silence and reprieve from her sarcasm so that he might be allowed to explain. Surprisingly enough, she seemed to actually take note of his silent request and complied, all the while staring at the precious child in his arms.
"This is Holicinesh. I... thought it time to introduce you to my ... er... nephew, as he will no doubt accompany me often to the shop," Athan spoke up as he drifted towards the desk, Hawk following lazily after. He moved to sit the child atop the desk so he might sit with his feet dangling casually off the side.
Reyna didn't so much as blink as she stared at the child. He grimaced at the weight of her one visible eye, which seemed enough to bring the demoness back to her present self. "That's quite a mouthful. Got a nickname?" she asked, all but ignoring Athan in favor of the boy that sat mere inches away from her.
"Nesh," he replied smoothly as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
The demon's face broke out into a brash grin at his declaration. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you, sweetness. I suppose I'll have to bring my Sam up here for you to play with some time, eh? She's about your age or so."
"I would like that very much."
Reyna chuckled quietly and finally turned her attention back to Athan. His arms were crossed and a concerned expression was painted across his dark features. She rolled her eyes. She could only wonder what horrors were parading about through his decidedly morbid and pessimistic brain.
"He's quite articulate. Reminds me of you kinda. What cabbage patch did you pick him up out of?" she said with a teasing grin.
"My garden, actually."
Silence filled the room for a moment as Reyna stared at Athan. Was he serious? Or was that a lame attempt at a joke? She blinked, and then the silence was broken by a peal of almost musical laughter.
'Truth is stranger than fiction, Reyna,' Hawk spoke up, traces of laughter still obvious in his voice as he drifted over towards her to gingerly place a hand on her shoulder. Her presence was so much like Wren's and yet still so different. It was comforting to a degree, though it was not something he cared to admit. Not unless he were simply in a mood to aggravate Mystic. 'The boy did indeed come from a cabbage. Just like Kova's child.'
"Ohh. Delilah."
Immediately visions of the not so distant passed flashed across the Seer's sightless eyes. It was more memory than true Sight. She had been burned by the spell that had freed Athan from his stone prison not too long ago. Stubborn thing. That much he remember vividly. And she had an odd fondness for Mystic. That amused him if only because it could turn out so very interesting.
"Del-li...lah?" Holicinesh queried with a look of interest.
"Kova's daughter. I told you about Miss Kova briefly before we left, remember?" Athan murmured fondly as he reached out to smooth one hand over the boy's silver hair.
'Nesh nodded and then turned gingerly towards Reyna. "Is Miss Kova going to come to work today?"
The demon quickly decided that the boy was so irresistibly adorable in such a strange way that it was almost sickening. She smiled sweetly (or as sweetly as one could with a mouth full of sharp teeth and prominent fangs), "Not today, darling. She has the day off."
The look of disappointment that flashed briefly across the boys face made something inside her twist painfully. "But you know what?" she interrupted his bout of gloom with a brash grin, "I've got some stuff you can play with. I bought them for my Sam to tell the truth, but I was planning on buying more anyway since it was all on sale."
She turned to rummage through one of her desk drawers noisily as she dug through a plastic bag. She glanced up, amused at the hopeful look on the boy's face. Children. She definitely had a soft spot for them. How had that happened again?
She paused in her thoughts of her darling daughter and the strange evening of her "birth" when she found what she was looking for. "Here ya go, kid," she murmured as she handed over a brand new box of glittery crayons and some construction paper. "It's uhh... probably not that impressive, but those crayons look wicked awesome on dark paper?"
"Thank you very much," Holicinesh answered with a look of genuine sincerity.
"Alright," Athan interrupted as he scooped the boy and his gifts up off the desk, "I think it's best we take up residence in the backroom, hm? That way Miss Reyna can get back to her work and we can find you a place to work on your soon-to-be-magnificent-masterpiece."
'Nesh smirked at the flourish of words and waved goodbye to the nice pointy-eared lady as he was carted away. Images of swirling colors swam through his head, but this time they were much more pleasant in the daylight.
He knew exactly what he would draw.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:42 am
Dark Days
'Nesh spends some time with his uncle at his shop.Athan was sitting on the couch in the backroom – his usual and customary spot if he was not occupying Reyna's desk whenever she wasn't present or if he simply felt a certain desire to tempt fate itself by harassing her. There was a haphazard display of gemstones and other various beads and jewelry-making materials strewn across the coffee table before him. The only corner left partially visible of the table top was strewn with crayons as his 'nephew' sat scribbling neatly on colorful construction paper.
He had been quite intent on his own task of sorting and repairing various delicate antiquities up until the demon had barged in to pry and otherwise demand to know more about the identity of the young boy that had accompanied him. The look on her face when he had briskly informed her in his customary monotone that he came from a cabbage in his garden had been a classic in the making. The fact that it had been entirely true made it all the more satisfying a moment. The only damper was that when he reiterated the statement after she had followed he and Nesh to the backroom was that it didn't have the same effect the second time around.
It wasn't often he one-upped her, but he took a certain amount of gratification (not to mention relief) that it wasn't in his nature to be so conniving. Thus, her quick wit and barbs did little to deflate his ego. That did nothing to change the fact that it was endlessly annoying. He could at least allow himself the pride of being quite capable of going toe to toe with a demon. It wasn't exactly a bragging right in his book, but if anything it was a hard won life lesson that aided him often; perhaps even on a daily basis seeing as she had squirmed her way from simply being an hourly employee to a sort of unofficial 'business partner.'
And yet those frequent thoughts of his so-called 'business partner' and the frustrations he felt she brought to his life purposefully (and with a s**t-eating grin, no less) were not what had distracted him from the mess of baubles and beads before him.
His 'little cabbage,' Holicinesh, (and oh wasn't that precious enough a nickname that it would grow old and spoil faster than fresh milk left outside on a warm day) was scribbling fantastically detailed patterns and shapes on his construction paper. The crayons themselves were metallic and glittery, and thus contrasted sharply with the dark paper.
Amusingly enough, watching him complete what he had declared was his own work was enough to distract him from the fact that both the crayons and paper had been a donation or 'gift' from Reyna. He would likely wonder at what web of obligations came along with the trinkets, as gifts of any sort from a demon, even to a child, did not come without said strings attached. He at least held confidence knowing that since she was a mother-figure (a surprisingly dedicated one) that it would be he that fulfilled whatever unspoken contract that had been forged and not 'Nesh.
Even so, he could not help but admire the boy's drawing with a bit of awestruck fascination. His scribbles looked like runes. They reminded him of far away places he had seen and of his earliest lessons in what he fondly referred to as the 'arts' of his own world. It also made him a touch homesick. That in itself left him in a quandary as he struggled to quell not only his emotions but the memories it brought to the surface.
And all because of some fancy crayons and colored paper.
He sighed heavily at that and leaned back against the couch, eyes closed as his palm rested against his emerald pendant. Calm. Solace. Peace. He could wield and weave powerful spells. He could do terrible, awesome things with the abilities he had gained, but a simple charm to calm and relax the body and spirit was completely out of his realm of influence. Much like so many other things in these days – these dark days of mine.
He felt a familar presence drift close before a pair of pale blue arms snaked around his shoulders. 'Are they so dark, Athan? Is your world so grim?'
A frown drew lines on Athan's face and made him look closer to the age he ought to have been some centuries before. "Mind your thoughts, Hawk," he warned quietly in a tone that truly left no room for conversation.
His words were met with musical, airy laughter, but he had mostly expected it. He had learned several things about the Shadow very quickly in the few shorts weeks Hawk's Eye had spent with him – he was a know-it-all, he enjoyed being lavished with attention like a housecat, was just as moody as said housecat, and at times reminded him of Wren. Quite like his dealings with demons, he quickly categorized the expierence as a valuable life lesson; he now knew exactly what it was like for other guardians.
'I mind mine especially well. Do you know what sort of disasters I could cause simply by blabbing away mindlessly?' the Fiend quipped in a peevish manner, effectively ripping him from his reverie entirely, 'I am no fool, and I am certainly not a housecat.' Hawk's striking blue eyes narrowed as he tightened his grip on Athan's shoulders, fox tail flicking behind him in what was no doubt a very cat-like manner despite his heated declaration.
"Mhm. That is all well and good, Hawk, but I do have work to do," Athan replied as he shifted forward enough to free himself from the Shadow's grasp so that he could dig through part of the mess he had made to snatch up what appeared to be thank you cards. Hawk arched a brow and settled himself to snuggle up next to Athan's side with a purr of what could only be contentment. Athan paused, and for a moment his own expression mirrored the Seer's, brow arched and face grim. "Do you mind?"
The Shadow all but beamed. 'Absolutely.'
"Oh good. Then you can write these out for me," Athan smirked as he shoved the cards towards Hawk who's face fell into what could only be a pout. As he anticipated the Shadow turned away from him with a grumble (which only increased when he realized he was playing exactly into what Athan had wanted in the first place) disappeared, skittering in to the next room to keep company with Reyna. She at least would entertain him. For a while.
Athan shook his head and sighed, one hand pressed to his forehead before his gaze settled upon Holicinesh who giggled quietly behind one hand. "Always an adventure, hm?"
'Nesh nodded before crawling up onto the couch to sit next to his uncle and stifled a yawn behind one small hand. He pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose in a habitual gesture and eyed the assortment of elegant looking cards in his uncle's hands. "What'sit?" he asked curiously.
"These?" Athan murmured as he reached to wrap an arm around the boy's shoulders companionably. "Nothing much. Simply... a thank you. They're to be sent to, well, some ... friends... who had helped me a few weeks back. In fact, it was the day right after you were born."
"Oh," was all the boy said as he squirmed closer to his uncle and snuggled into his dark robes. He was getting quite sleepy. He had had strange dreams last night and had not gotten much rest due to that fact alone. He hoped now that he had scribbled out all the things he saw in his dreams on paper that he could relax now. He smiled happily when Athan reached to drag a blanket over him so he could nap.
"Yes.. just thank you notes," Athan went on, talking quietly mostly to himself as he wrote neatly in his script-like writing to all of those that had helped to save both his, Reyna's, and the life of her own Shadow and potentially countless other stones not yet awakened.
He owed them so much; more than a simple card or note could convey. He wasn't sure if it were a debt he could repay, though that would not stop him from trying.
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Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:13 pm
Runes
Hawk takes a closer look at Holicinesh's drawings.It had been a day full of excitement, and now that it was nearing its end exhaustion was rapidly setting in. He just about fell asleep mid-bite of his dinner. Had it not been for the Seer at his side to gently tap him on the shoulder and the echoed concern from Lorelei's tiny voice, he might've fallen asleep face-first in his plate.
'I think it's safe to say it's bed time,' Hawk spoke up with a low chuckle.
'Nesh nodded sleepily and reached out towards the Shadow with both arms extended.
Hawk obliged by picking him up and carrying him away from the dinner table. He'd come back and clean up once the boy was settled in bed if Athan didn't beat him to it. A vision of the man in question flashed across his mind and he paused mid-step. Athan was hunched over an ancient looking tome, brow furrowed in deep thought.
He would definitely be the one to do the dishes. He sighed, amused as he shook his head at how easy it had become to simply be so... domestic. He resisted the urge to laugh outright when 'Nesh snored against his shoulder. Poor dear. He would insist that he remained home tomorrow to catch up on rest. The night of bad dreams prior had not exactly been restful for him. That combined with all the mayhem of day to day life of Twilight Designs made from one very tired little boy.
Gingerly he laid him down in bed and tucked him in. Carefully, with a whisper's touch he removed his glasses and folded them carefully before reaching to place them on his nightstand where he would find them in the morning. Another vision overtook his mind for a moment and he faltered as he was about to set the glasses down. He paused, hand hovering just above the flat surface of the nightstand.
For a moment his eyes could See. There before him were the scribbled drawings that the boy had been so diligently working on for the better part of the day with the crayons and construction paper Reyna had given him. All of the drawings were either on black or dark purple paper. He had not bothered with any of the brighter colors. His choice of colors for his drawing were vibrant and varied, but nothing darker than an electric shade of blue.
A look of confusion crossed the Seer's face as his vision faded to black. He replayed the images in his mind over and over. Why would he See such a thing? Normally he didn't exactly question his visions. He often Saw perfectly mundane things, but for whatever reason the child's scribbles weighed heavy in his mind's eye.
Blindly he reached forward and felt along the nightstand until his hands touched the rough surface of the paper. He picked the loose sheets up and set the glasses down without a noise as he realized he still had them clutched in one hand. He sat gingerly near the foot of the bed and stared down at the drawings as though to will himself to see them. All he saw were varying shades of darkness.
A chill ran down his back. Darkness. There had been a look of sheer terror on the boy's face this morning, though he had hid it quickly. Once he had revealed his presence the fear had faded entirely. Was 'Nesh afraid of the dark? Was that what this was about? No. It hardly seemed so simple. It had to be something else entirely.
Without thinking his fingertips moved across the paper, and that's when he Saw it. An older version of 'Nesh in a dark, dark place. Runes written across the walls. The vision changed and he was a child again, crouched low on the ground, sobbing in frustration as a circle of magic enclosed on him. Sunlight broke through the circle and cast it away.
As the vision faded and Hawk came back to himself he realized his hands were suddenly very unsteady. He tightened his grip on the drawings and zoomed out of the room, through walls, and finally directly to the door of Athan's study. Normally he'd pause for a moment to consider knocking or perhaps announce his presence somehow, but the sudden urgency he felt overtook his need for niceties, warranted as they may have been.
'ATHAN.'
The man in question jerked upright out of his chair with a start. Athan pressed a palm to his face and sighed heavily. “Must you shout so? And haven't we spoken before about coming down here uninvited? I do not appreciate nor do I wish to have this discussion with you agai--”
'This is important,' Hawk cut him off, words sharper than he had intended.
Athan's scowl melted into a look of concern as he took in the Shadow's shaken appearance. He could feel the tension bleeding off into the bond they shared, and he suddenly wondered why he hadn't taken note of the Fiend's anxiety prior.
'Wards,' Hawk explained with a huff before getting straight to the point as he all but shoved the drawings into Athan's hands. 'Have you seen his drawings? Did you look at them? Read them now. To me.'
The frown on Athan's face intensified once more into a scowl as he peered at his nephew's handiwork. “What is this about, really?” he queried, “I haven't taught 'Nesh how to write yet, nor do I believe you have. He couldn't have possibly.... written... any...” He trailed off with soft exhale. He went from feeling simple confusion to a sort of stunned silence. He had been sitting right next to the boy for the better part of the day but he had not noticed this. No. He had, but he had thought nothing of it. He had noticed only a faint resemblance that had caused him to lose himself to his memories. Not this. He thumbed through the small stack of drawings before shoving a mess of papers on his desk carelessly out of the way.
Carefully, one by one he laid the drawings down so they formed a sort of mosaic. Once pieced together the scribbled swirls made infinitely more sense. “Runes,” Athan murmured breathlessly. They were clumsily rendered and obviously the handiwork of a child, but there they were. It hadn't just been his mind tormenting him with thoughts of the past.
'Yes, but what do they mean? What has he drawn? I need to know. I don't know why yet but this is important. Somehow,' Hawk muttered in a rush of words that barely contained his irritation with himself for not simply being able to See what was going on with the boy.
“It's nothing bad. Just... runes for protection. A sort of... ward against wards,” Athan replied offhandedly as though he were lost once more in some faraway place in his thoughts. He seemed just barely aware of anything other than the drawings laid out on his desk.
Hawk was silent as he mulled over this new information for a time. In all honesty he was hoping for another vision, but that would've been too easy. He thought again of the vision of what he knew now was likely the child's nightmare from the night before. The circle cast had been meant to seal him away in some fashion. '... could it be a ward against binding?'
Athan crossed his arms and stared harder down at the runes. “Yes,” he answered hesitantly, “It could be. Potentially. But too much is missing for this to be anything other than … well... childish scribbling of crude, rune-like shapes. I mean, there is obvious significance here. The boy has some sort of latent talent for magic, that is for certain, but this is no spell.”
'No. It isn't a spell. Not yet. It was a dream. A nightmare to be exact,' Hawk replied smoothly with a bit more confidence now that the picture was being pieced together in his mind. It was slowly making sense in at least a small way, and that was better than nothing. He would need to speak with the child when he woke. He chuckled quietly as another thought struck him.
Athan arched a brow, curious at the Shadow's amusement.
'Tell me. How are Mystic's dreamwalking abilities coming along? Bit of a late bloomer isn't he?'
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Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 8:47 pm
Near Dawn
The Shadow watches over 'Nesh as he sleeps..Hawk cleaned up the dishes in the kitchen for the sake of having a distraction. It wasn't that he normally minded doing it, or didn't usually bother with the chore. It had more to do with the fact that he was having to wait. 'Nesh was sound asleep, and he'd have to wait until he awoke to ask questions. His Sight, much to his dismay, was not being helpful and he was loathe to admit it – even just to Athan.
A heavy sigh caused his chest to rise in fall in an instinctual manner despite his lack of lungs or even the need to breathe at all. He finished cleaning quicker than he would have liked, and he was now left with little to do. Sleep wasn't all that appealing to him. He didn't especially need to sleep, though at times a little rest was necessary simply to recharge. If he did cave to that particular whim, it was usually Athan's fault.
Well. It was less his fault per se, and more that he insisted on curling up next to him. Part of it was his need to protect Athan and make sure he rested when he should. The other part was a little more self-serving. He adored Athan – more so than he could ever possibly put into words. Sleeping next to him was a bit of a guilty pleasure.
Another sigh and he was left drifting lazily through the house, tidying up things here and there. Finally he ended up at the child's door and skittered inside silently. Tonight he would leave Athan be. If his instincts were correct, it was 'Nesh who needed someone to shield him from his nightmares.
He settled on the foot of the bed, tail swishing idly behind him as he moved to sit in a cross-legged position. His eyes drifted closed, though he did not sleep. Instead, he focused on his meditation to help him focus. Sometimes it helped with his Sight. Regardless it would help him remain calm and intent on the goal at hand.
After that point morning seemed to come swiftly. He hardly noticed time pass, though he did occasionally note the presence of Lorelei and Blue. Both had shown up to check in on the boy. Faintly he heard her tiny voice declare that he did not seem as restless tonight. That was good. Perhaps there would be no dreams this night. It would allow him time to prepare for the future.
It wasn't until nearly dawn that the child at his side so much as rolled over in his sleep. The boy's restlessness wasn't apparent to begin with. He seemed to be sleeping well. At first 'Nesh simply moved to lay on his side in a slow, sleep-fogged movement. Moments later his hands balled into fists and in a repeat performance of the night before, he began to thrash about as though he were banging his fists on the ground.
The action jarred Hawk back to awareness and his brow furrowed in worried lines as he leaned over the boy. He was unsure as to whether or not it would be wise to wake him or if he should allow him to wake on his own. He didn't have long to debate as 'Nesh suddenly bolted upright. Had he been a more solid creature, something more human, the both of them likely would've head butted in that instant. Instead, Hawk had kept enough presence of mind to remain intangible and 'Nesh phased right through him.
'Shhh. You're okay,' the Seer reassured him as he moved to sit on the bed and pull the boy into his arms as he had the morning before. 'Did you have another bad dream?'
The child nodded wearily and buried his face over against the Shadow's neck. He sniffled quietly and tangled his fingers in Hawk's hair before gazing up at him with his wide gray eyes. “Is Uncle Athan really dying? And why can't you remember?” he asked in a quiet, sad little voice.
A look of shock fell across the Seer's face. 'Dying? No. No. I wouldn't allow that. You see. Lots of people depend upon your dear uncle. Dying isn't exactly an option,' Hawk answered with as steady a voice as he could muster. By the gods, what was this child dreaming of? 'I won't allow that to happen,' he reiterated once more almost as though he were also in need of some reassurance of that fact. He paused for a long moment as he stroked the boy's hair and back in an effort to offer him some sort of solace from the dreadful dreams that were haunting him. 'Do you know what it is I ought to remember 'Nesh?' he asked tentatively.
Holicinesh shifted slightly so that he could peer up at Hawk once again. He shook his head no with a solemn, heartfelt look. “No,” he murmured softly, “But the voice. It said you can't remember and that Uncle is dying. It also said that the demon can't help either.” He fell silent for a moment before speaking up once more. “Hawk, are you a demon?”
That amused the Seer enough that it momentarily distracted him from the boy's more pressing questions. 'Would you be scared of me if I said I was...?' he asked tentatively.
'Nesh thought about that for a moment, lost in his own thoughts with a look upon his face that reminded him very much of Athan whenever he came across some quandary that had him puzzled. “No,” he said firmly, “You seem awfully nice for a demon. I like you.”
Hawk's musical laughter filled the air for a moment and he shook his head. 'No dear one, I am not a demon. Not technically. Though my bond is, so I suppose I could be by proxy.' His amusement faded away for a moment as he thought about what 'Nesh had said. The demon can't help. Was it Wren who was of no use or Reyna? Wren was far, far away in a place he couldn't reach no matter how hard he tried – and oh, had he tried. Reyna was technically handicapped by her being bound. Neither were exactly what he could qualify as useful at the moment. 'Miss Reyna,' he spoke up gently, hesitantly, 'She is a demon. Full blooded even. Bit of a rarity, but she has--'
“A temper?” 'Nesh spoke up with a tiny smile.
The Shadow chuckled quietly and tightened his arms about the boy's shoulders. 'So true, little one. So true.'
They both fell quiet again and not but minutes later the child in his arms was once again snoring against his shoulder. The Shadow was content for the time being to keep him there, safe in his arms while nestled in the far corner of the bed. He had much to think about and still an assortment of questions to ask. In fact it seemed they had multiplied tenfold. Everything that 'Nesh had told him simply complicated the intricate puzzle in his mind further. Each time he gained a piece, he discovered he still needed at least ten more to complete the picture.
Needless to say, it was a tiring process. Soon enough, it wasn't just 'Nesh that was sound asleep. Hawk followed suit though his arms which were protectively wrapped about the boy did not slacken one bit.
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