|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:56 pm
It didn't take long at all for Jean-Gabriel to pass though a completely inconspicuous Gaian forest-bound portal and into a rather similar Louisianian forest, not 40 feet from his club.
The sun was setting off in the distance, casting an eerie multi-coloured light through the trees.
"Welcome to New Orleans."
"Oooooooh," Ike cooed, although he could see almost nothing. The fact that he was on a new planet, that was enough for him.
A young Hispanic woman suddenly appeared before the van, waving her hands around frantically. Her black hair was straight and totally unruly, sticking about her head at deliberate angles and tipped with neon green.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:06 pm
Reid craned his neck, trying to see as much of this new place as he could. It was only past experience which stopped him from flying up to one of the windows.
He glanced at the young woman and tilted his head, "who's that?" he murmured, glancing to Ike to see if his best friend knew.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:10 pm
Ike simply shrugged.
Jean-Gabriel had already stepped from the van and opened the door for the children to get out.
"That is Ananda, the barkeep," Jean-Gabriel stated simply, "She will be watching over your sisters while the three of us go off on our own, Malachi."
"Hey. Nice t' meetcha," Ananda smiled and waved to the girls as they hurried to her. Her accent was not at all that of a Southern belle, but more of a native New Yorker.
"I'm Clemmie. This is my little sister Desiree."
"Pretty names," Ananda said as she began to lead the little girls back to the club.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:21 pm
"Ahhha..." Reid murmured, waving to Ananda and the girls as they left.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 6:24 pm
"Come," Jean-Gabriel smiled as invitingly as he could and stepped back, allowing the boys room to leave the van. As a bit of an afterthought, he removed the gris gris bag from around his neck and dropped it down over Malachi's ears. He then removed a small silver coin, engraved with strange symbols from his pocket and handed it to the small one.
What was his name...Reid?
"To keep you safe," he nodded slightly.
"Now...what would you two like to do, hm?"
Ike instinctively looked to Reid for a reply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:21 am
Reid took the coin with a nod of thanks and slipped it carefully into one of his pockets.
Nima, mouse shaped, grumbled and curled up around the coin, opening one beady eye to examine the markings as she bounced a bit in Reid's pocket.
At the question he looked up to Ike, caught his friend's eye, shrugging helplessly.
"I dunno," he looked to Mr. Jean-Gabriel ofthemanynames for help. "Mr. Jean-Gabriel what do you suggest?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:28 am
Ike fingered the string of the pouch around his neck. It smelled rather odd, like herbs and old death. He idly wondered what was in it.
Jean-Gabriel had no expected a reply so dignified from such a young child. Maybe his size was misleading.
He paused to think for a moment. It was comparatively late, and not much suitable for children would still be open.
"What are your feelings on jazz music?"
"Jazz?" Ike inquired. He actually didn't think he had ever heard jazz or, if he had, he hadn't known what he was listening to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:43 am
Reid tilted his head, "I dunno if I've ever heard jazz before..." he scratched his chin and looked to Ike, idly noting that his best friend looked as lost as he felt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:45 am
"Well then," Jean-Gabriel grinned, feeling satisfied with himself, "I would like to introduce it to you, if neither of you have an objection."
"I don't mind," Ike smiled slightly. He liked all music. He could even find meaning in the hard bass and screaming voices of Liam's "metal".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:46 am
Reid smiled, glowing warmly at the prospect of a new kind of music, "I don't mind either."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:54 am
"Alright," Jean-Gabriel nodded, "Suiv e mwen, tanpri." He turned and began walking to the edge of the forest. There was an all-ages club nearby, he knew, where the people were not so put off by beings of...unique physical appearence.
They actually rather enjoyed having their own living myths.
"He said to follow 'im," Ike motion for Reid to follow and began slowly after Jean-Gabriel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 7:57 am
Glad for the translation Reid nodded and hopped into the air, rising to near Ike's shoulder level and falling into pace with the taller Mishap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 8:01 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 8:07 am
"Dunno..." Reid murmured, watching Jean-Gabriel head inside, he shrugged at Ike.
At the faint sound of music he gently gripped Ike's shirtsleeve and tugged a bit, wanting to go faster that the creep but not willing to leave his friend. "But it sounds nice in there."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 8:14 am
Ike sped his pace up, feeling his best friend's tug.
"It does," he nodded and stepped inside. The chatter went silent for a moment as the people stationed at tables around the room stared at the boys.
Jean-Gabriel waved to Malachi and Reid, calming the other clubbers. They were used to him by now.
Ike carefully made his way through the jumble of tables to Jean-Gabriel and took a seat beside the man. He could hear the music better now. It was low and deep. Slow and meaningful. His eyes perked to their full height, trying to absorb every note.
He liked it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
