|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2005 6:14 pm
Owle tottered backwards as the pup slammed into her knees. She had been expecting it though, and struggled valiantly to stay upright, even fluttering her tiny wings for support. She was doing well, too, until Azruael slammed into her from behind, sending her crashing face first onto the floor.
"Ow!"
She was smiling, though, once the pain died down, even laughing a little as she twisted her head back to look into Azruael's face. Poor Nio must be stuck somewhere in between their legs.
"Haha...looks like we ended up right back where we started."
Verde nodded sagely. "Friend Owle a little crazy too." He gave Alexei a toothy grin. "Me Verde. You friend?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:52 pm
His eyes were sealed shut as he fell, and they didn't open until Nio began to wriggle in between the bodies he was captured in. The dog yapped loudly, growling only when it seemed the demon didn't care too much what happened to him. He twisted around and batted his giant paws at the winged man, and after a moment, his actions deemed fruitful. Nio wiggled free and shook himself off, shooting an exasperated glare at the man and woman before kicking his hind paws out and sauntering off without so much a 'tap-tap' in his departure.
Azruael issued a hiss from between his lips, pushing himself upwards and shaking his head, hair falling wildly around his face; lovely, just what he needed: knots. He arched his back and grunted, looking down at Owle, expression instantly becoming bemused. A coy smile quirked his lips.
"Aa, true. How interesting." His fangs peeked from his upper lip as his wings arched forward and encompassed Owle, shadowing him as he crouched down and brushed his nose across her cheek. The touch was brief, ending as soon as it came, and just as quickly the demon was on his feet, pivoting on the balls of his feet only to fall into a crouch once more.
"Up, up. A lady shouldn't be on the ground." He smirked.
Alexei giggled a bit and nodded, pulling his hands back slowly and resting them upon his knees.
"Nice to meet you, Verde!" he exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Friend? I guess I am -- ahh!"
The little angel tipped forward and barely caught himself as Nio - or Jumbo, as he called him - rammed his cold nose into the small of his back. The puppy yipped and pulled his muzzle from beneath the boy's pyjama top, tail wagging briskly. He placed both his large paws on the Herald's shoulders, using him as a bolster as he peered over his shoulder and at the dragon curiously. What was that?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:16 pm
Owle wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. A shadow had fallen over her as Azruael wrapped his wings around her, shutting out the tiny living room and the world it was a part of. A brief touch, and then it was over, and things were back to the way they'd always been, as though nothing had happened at all.
Owle didn't know what to make of it. All she knew was that it had made her body tingle all over.
"Erm...yeah," she said. Trying to recover from her befuddlement, she picked herself up off the floor and stood in front of him. Her right hand tugged on a strand of her hair, an old nervous habit. "Heh...guess that didn't work too well. Sorry."
As Alexei drew his hand back, Verde took the hint and planted both his front legs on the floor again. He didn't keep them there long, yelping and scrambling backward as Alexei fell forward. The dragon took to the air again as the pup jumped up on the angel. "Hey you!" He pointed a claw at the pup's nose. "What you do to Verde's new friend? Get off!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:56 am
He rose to his feet gracefully, hands folding loosely over his chest as he regarded her silently. It was as though what had just happened had been so brief that he had clearly forgotten about it; but, such was the demon's way. The tip of his tail flicked back and forth idly as his cat-like, golden eyes burned into her face. He looked so serious...only for that moment, though.
"Mm, it worked quite well," he replied, knowing smile quirking the corners of his lips. His wings rotated on his shoulders, black pinions rustling eerily in the growing quiet - that, of course, was disrupted by the none-too-distant yapping of the mutt he had regretted bringing home the instant he stepped through the doorway. You would think the GHS would housebreak the animals brought in...
...Or at least peoplebreak them. He shuddered.
He wasn't too worried about Alexei; he knew his sensitive hearing would pick up any scuffles outside, so the boy was quite safe. As for anyone attempting to harm him...can't quite say the same for them. So he ushered Owle into a seat without a word, head cocked to the side.
"So, what's the occasion?"
The Herald grunted quietly and tried in vain to de-attached the growth known as 'Jumbo' off of his back. This only spurned the pup to drape himself heavily over the boy, using him as a stool as he tried to reach his maw out to the dragon. His barking rose in volume as the creature spoke, tail whipping back and forth.
"D-don't worry, Mr. Verde" - why he had attached 'Mr' to the dragon's name was beyond rhyme and reason, but seemed suitable; he only hoped the dragon would consider himself a he - "This is..."
Alexei twisted around and grabbed the pup's paws with practiced care, easing him off of his body; he finally stood up.
"This's Jumbo. His real name's Nio, but I like Jumbo better..." The little angel smiled smartly, placing a hand on the Dane's head. "He's my friend too!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:52 pm
Owle was still trying to figure out how she was supposed to act when she found herself being led to a chair. Nothing seemed certain around Azruael...it was as though he bent and twisted every rule of social interaction Owle had ever thought she knew. He seemed to her entirely unpredictable, unreadable from one moment to the next. It made her feel a stranger in her own skin, and she wasn't sure she was comfortable with that.
Still, she had felt this way before, hadn't she? Yes...the first time she'd entered the Firebrand, the first time she'd met the people that became her best friends, her family...maybe it would all be worth the awkwardness in the end.
Hey, at least she knew what to do with a chair. The shifter sat down and tried to make herself comfortable before looking up into Azruael's face.
"Uh, no occasion. I just thought I'd stop by, that's all...it's not like I had anywhere else to be. It's not a bad time, is it? I'd hate to intrude..."
Verde backed off a little bit at the force of the barks, a hand coming up to cover his nostrils as though offended by the dog's breath. On hearing Alexei's explanation, though, and seeing the child stand up again, he seemed to relax a little. He flew over to Jumbo, giving the pup a friendly grin. "You be Verde's friend, too?" he asked Nio hopefully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2005 10:48 am
Busybusy. I apologize for the long wait. x_x~
"Aa, no, no. You're not intruding on anything. Unless you consider the shower I was going to take upon arrival, but..." His slender brows dipped, a thoughtful look crossing once stoic face. Wings snapping outwards, he took a seat across from her and draped his arms over the back of the chair, ankle lifting to rest against his knee. His tail ticked briefly from its place at his shin. He looked all the part a lazy prince, once again placing the woman under his scrutinizing gaze.
He wouldn't be surprised if he had made her uneasy in some way. If there was one thing he enjoyed doing - out of many sinful little acts he performed - it was unsettling people. He got a thrill out of it, obviously.
His molten gold eyes finally left her, rolling upwards to stare absently at the ceiling. Azruael always loved to make an uncomfortable silence spawn before speaking. Sifting through his past experience with Owle, he smiled thinly, head dropping.
"A little unexpected company is welcome every now and then. Especially when received from a lovely lady," he said, breaking through the quiet with his low voice and unreadable smile. "In all seriousness, though, I do appreciate the visit."
His hand swung absently, head turning to stare at the wall as his thoughts set upon gloomier memories, "I believe I owe you some form of debt - you did, after all, keep me at bay back in the town. Accepting a demon isn't easy, but for you...you must have experience with them?"
For the first time that day, a real smile - albeit small - was coaxed to his lips.
Nio stared wide-eyed at the flying creature, shut up by the close contact as he swooped in. His tail paused in its wagging, suddenly intimidated by the creature; it slowly curled between his legs and his head ducked down, a baleful whine escaping him.
"Heehee, he's being a big baby!" Alexei giggled, rubbing the large puppy behind the ears. Nio seemed to relax at this, and lifted his bear-like head again, offering a yip. Apparently Verde was no danger, so the dog lifted his nose and attempted to bump it against the creature's belly.
The little Herald was delighted once again by the exchange, eyes shutting as a smile brightened his pale face. This was a reprieve from the old to him - he was so used to Lily that it felt good to meet someone new. Especially an animal, one that could talk - it was like a two for one special Azruael would sometimes whoop about.
Of course, the angel and the demon's specials were miles apart.
...Miles.
Tucking his fingers beneath Jumbo's collar, he tugged on it and drew backwards, motioning for Verde to follow.
"C'mon, Mr. Verde! Let's go inside...we can get a snack!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:29 am
It's okay. Real life happens.
"Aa, no, no. You're not intruding on anything. Unless you consider the shower I was going to take upon arrival, but..."
The first thing that came to Owle's mind was a quip she'd once heard from James: Save water, shower with me. Understandably, the thoughtful look on his face and the feline gaze he was giving her worried her.
He seemed like nothing so much as a cat, making it clear that he owned all he was sprawled out over, calling attention to himself and his utmost confidence. When cats did such a thing, they generally wanted to be looked at, and admired...so Owle took the opportunity to look. Maybe his behavior would make more sense if she applied cat rules instead of human ones. In any case, there was very little to see of Azruael that was not to be admired...
Too quickly, she returned her gaze to his face, only to find him staring at her. Her expression changed to one of startled guilt; she suddenly felt embarrassed for examining him so. But just as soon his eyes were off her, and the awkward silence stretched on...
"I believe I owe you some form of debt - you did, after all, keep me at bay back in the town. Accepting a demon isn't easy, but for you...you must have experience with them?"
Owle firmly shook her head. "No debt. I..." She didn't know what to say. I only did what I thought was right? I'd have done it for anyone? "My sister, Flare...and my friend, Scythe...I've never seen any reason not to accept demons. I mean, Flare's really the first friend I had in Gaia...I mean, she's tried to kill me from time to time, and has come pretty damn close more times than I'd like, but...well, she's Flare, you know? I know it sounds weird, but, much as she's tried to injure me and burn me...Flare'd give anything to protect me. She's saved my life, more times than I can say...and Scythe, no matter how many people he's killed, is a good guy...he'd always watch over me if I needed him. And he has reasons for doing what he does..."
The shifter paused for breath, and to figure out whether or not she was making any sense. She decided she was, but not really. "Anyway...a demon's just a person. Accepting you wasn't half so hard as accepting Flare and Scythe...and I accepted them near instantly. When I saw you with that look on your face, like Flare gets when she's about to torch someone, I figured you needed someone to calm you down...sides, it wasn't very fair what they all were treating you like. It's not like you even did anything...I couldn't not have said something, given the situation."
Verde looked at the dog curiously as Nio backed down, puzzled to no end. "Why he be baby?" the dragon asked. Then the dog regained his courage, and Verde got a cold wet nose shoved into him, pushing him back just the slightest bit.
The dragon giggled. "Verde be your friend," he said reassuringly, patting Jumbo's nose with a tiny hand.
"Snack?" Verde echoed, floating after his two new friends. "What snack?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 10:54 am
He listened to her words with genuine interest, which was rare for the demon to express. Azruael was the type to listen to his own voice rather than someone else's. He rarely listened to others advice, their stories, because he didn't think them important. Not unless he himself could gain a smidgen of information from their words.
"Nn, I have never heard of friends that try to kill one another, but...I suppose I can understand. To each his own?" There had been many attempts on his own life, only to be saved the last second - again his thoughts reeled back to Rhiannon; his already sharp eyes narrowed even more until his pupils became slender, penstrokes of black. He had been tortured so much by her former lover and his lord, but the woman had always stopped him before he had given the death blow. Just enough, just enough...she had always been a bit soft through her rough exterior, always mothering.
He supposed all women were soft on the inside, though.
Out of the blue, he sneered, eyes flicking towards the wall again.
She hadn't, of course, been the only one to spare the demon's wretched life. His body seemed to relax even more at the thought of his brother - though they were not related at all - for he was one he could never harbor any anger for. He was, after all, an elf...and elves were rarely ever in the wrong. That was how he had grown up thinking. But enough about red-headed heroines and green haired saviours - he had a guest to think about.
"I've never had reasons for killing," he murmured cynically, the barest hints of a smirk turning his lips upwards. "But...sometimes I do believe that I deserve the treatment and reactions others hand to me. A demon can never be...just a person, unfortunately" - he issued a soft sigh - "whether born or made one, we're all damned. Some are born sinners, and those who choose to live the fire and brimstone life were sinners in the making."
Azruael shifted in his seat and leaned his elbow against the nearest arm, chin resting upon his palm; his fingers splayed over his face as if tired, pinky resting against the crease of his lips.
"But really, I had no intention to cause them harm, and they judge me before my heart has time to beat. As if I would do anything before children." He wasn't a monster entirely, he had once been a man, after all. And an elf at that. His lapse into thoughtfulness was dragging him into a downward spiral, tugging him into a dark he had found himself slipping into more and more as of late. Sealing his eyes shut, the demon inhaled deeply before flicking them open once more.
It seemed that was all it took to get him back to normal, either that or he was a damn good liar.
"I still feel indebted," he said quietly. Arching from his seat, he leaned forward and placed his elbows upon his parted knees, cupping his face with his hands; his golden eyes were gleaming. "Are you sure you don't want anything...?" His brows arched over eyes half-mast.
Alexei shut the door behind them with both hands, Nio following his every move. His tail was whipping back and forth as it had been earlier, pink tongue lolling from his mouth in an excited fashion. The little Herald used his head as a boost, one hand firmly placed atop it, as he leaned on his toes and switched the lock.
That done, he turned his eyes back to Verde and nodded, flaxen hair bobbing. "Yah huh...I kin make some peanut butter san'wiches for us - 'cept Jumbo. Well...he can have some peanut butter!"
The little boy bobbed his head, began to walk towards the kitchen, footsteps muffled by the pyjamas that were tucked under his feet - they were, after all, too large for his little body. Once he felt the cool linolium press through the fabric, he knew they had entered the kitchen.
" 'Kay...hold on," he mumbled, shuffling towards the sink and grabbing the foot stool that rested there - it didn't occur to him that Verde had wings as well as small hands that could no doubt grip. No, Alexei simply climbed up the rungs and scrambled onto the counter.
Which was pretty dangerous no matter how you looked at it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:25 am
"Well, I don't think she was ever actually trying to kill me," Owle explained during his moody silence. "She sure as hell made it seem that way, though." The sneer, she didn't know what to make of. Had she said something wrong?
Slowly, Owle leaned back into her seat as Azruael spoke. She was beginning to get more comfortable here, as though she had finally found territory she knew.
"You don't owe me anything," Owle said, though it seemed hard for her to come to that decision. "I wouldn't feel right asking anything from you." There was a lot she wanted right now...the shock of just what she had lost last night was still catching up to her. A job, a place to stay that wasn't a forest clearing, a means to get food that she hadn't had to catch herself...there was much she could ask for, but she didn't have any right to. She had done what she did because she couldn't have done otherwise; she expected nothing in return, except maybe a chance at friendship and a kind thought.
"You're not damned. No one should be damned for what they are." Her left hand went to her right shoulder, where the scar of the 3 within the triangle within the circle had been before she had changed. As she ran her fingers over the smooth flesh where it had been, she realized both that she had a left arm, and that the scar was no longer there. Sighing to herself, she made a mental note to fix that when she had a little bit more energy; it wouldn't do to pass out in Azruael's living room.
"Anyway..." Her wandering attention settled onto Azruael once more. "I don't know you yet. Neither did they. I can't just judge you on your species..." Her hands twitched, searching for something to do with themselves while her mind collected her words. "And even if I had to..." Dammit, Owle, what are you trying to say?! "...well, an angel once tried to annihilate my mind, and take my body, continued to torment me, manipulated me into...doing great harm to another...killed me, forced me out of the place I felt most at home.......well, if that's an angel, I wouldn't say that demons are the ones who are damned." It wasn't much of a point, but at least she'd finished the thought.
"Peanut butter..." Verde muttered to himself, wondering if it was some sort of shiny toy. Being more a jeweled sculpture someone had brought to life than a biological creature, the dragon didn't need to eat. Thusly, the concept of food was lost upon him.
It didn't occur to the dragon that Alexei could be in any danger; he simply assumed that all people bigger than him knew what they were doing, and even little Alexei was bigger than him. In fact, if he tried, Verde could probably manage to fit inside a peanut butter jar.
So instead of cautioning the angel, or offering to help, Verde simply fluttered up beside him, hovering so that he was level with Alexei's face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:24 pm
His fingers had drawn away to steeple before his face, tail snaking upwards from brushing against the floor to slither into his lap. His wings drew forward to cup around him in a more comfortable position.
"It never feels right when someone asks another for something," he responded airily, though his tone was still quiet. His eyes became questioning as she brushed her fingers over her shoulder, though he didn't bring it up; somehow he figured injuries were a territory that shouldn't be crossed into unless you really knew the person, and Owle was still an aquaintence. After all, he would never bring up his past to someone he passed on the street, no matter how talkative a person he was. It wasn't as if the reappearance of an arm had gone unnoticed, though...he just didn't mind it much.
Azruael's ears tweaked at the mention of an angel, though quickly diminished at the rest of her story. He felt a sort of indignance flare within his chest, lips pulling taut. His brows needled over his eyes and as he watched Owle attempt to string words together, he felt something akin to pity for her. He was rarely empathetic, but this...it reminded him of a similar story he had once heard long ago. One of the few he had kept stored within his memory, and he knew, though she had been relatively vague, that her own tale would be tucked within his mind - something to think about when he was alone.
"That...was no angel," he replied sternly, as though he forbid her to speak out against his words. "An angel brings peace of mind, They do not try to take one's memories, sanity. An angel is...the harbinger of life, a pure and untouched creature - an innocent." He paused his words, eyes wandering to look out into the hallway. His thoughts fell upon Alexei, and a gentle smile graced his lips.
"Yes...what you ran into must have been a mimicry of what an angel is. An angel of darkness." It put him ill at ease to think of an angel committing such crimes...
Nio gave a soft whine of warning, before leaping onto his hind legs and placing his forepaws on the nearest cabinet handles. With a yip did he give his support to the child, tail wagging like a flag in a dull draft.
"Nngh...why does papa'n have'ta put it so high..." Alexei had long since swung open one of the cabinet doors lining the kitchen, and was now on the tipiest tip toe he could manage, little fingers scraping against the jar on the top most shelf. Turning to look over his shoulder, he met Verde's eyes and grinned, before poking his tongue out in concentration.
The little boy became a tad frustrated, and huffed loudly, though wouldn't dare call for his papa'n when he could surely do this himself. He began to hop upon the counter, swinging his small hand at the jar. His movement seemed to rattle it closer and closer to the edge, and one last swipe sent the peanut butter over the edge.
And crashing to the ground with a tinkle of glass and a splut of goo.
Silence filled the room and was only broken when Nio began lapping at the peanut butter smeared all over the floor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 4:38 pm
She ignored the question in Azruael's eyes, though she was sure he was curious; he couldn't not have noticed, even though he gave no sign of it. People didn't just not realize when you suddenly had an arm you'd been missing. ...but she wasn't in the mood to explain. Not about Drake, not about Morgan. Not about how she'd nearly let herself die.
"But an angel nonetheless," she replied quietly. The fervor in his words didn't scare her. Owle followed his gaze to the hallway, then nodded, as though agreeing with something that went unspoken. "Alexei is nothing like he was. But he was something you'd call an angel, a servant of some unkind god." The woman sighed, resting her chin in her right hand. She knew she should drop the subject, just drop it...but a part of her wanted to go on, to get it all out and talk about the thing she had never talked to anyone of before.
He watched the thing he had planted within me try to slaughter me, and did nothing. He sent someone to kill me; he couldn't even do it himself. He allowed me to think he cared about me, then...
Owle bit her tongue. It didn't really matter, or at the very least, it wasn't something to talk about with someone you'd just met. "Anyway...erm..." She cast about for some abrupt change in subject, but was coming up blank. It was the sound of a small crash and breaking glass that saved her. "What was that?"
Verde flew up to where Alexei was reaching, intent upon pushing the jar closer to the angel's hands. "Me help!" he declared.
Just as he was getting close enough, though, Alexei sent the jar tumbling down towards him. "Yipes!" The small dragon dove down to the counter, his little hands clamping over his head, his tiny body shaking right down to his tail. The sound of glass shattering seemed to scare the little guy to no end.
When the noise stopped, Verde lifted his hands away from his forehead and opened his eyes. Seeing Nio on the floor near all the sharp things spurred him to action, and he fluttered off the counter to reprimand the dog. "Verde's friend get away from sharp things! You step on one, Verde have to pull them out, bandage you all up!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 7:16 pm
As the soft voices in the room dwindled to a still quiet, Azruael dropped his gaze and fell into contemplative thought. Suppose there was an err in the way he raised Alexei; suppose he did something drastic in the future and the little boy witnessed it. Would he become like him? Tainted, impure? Pristine white snow stained now with blood?
No, no, he decided. There was a difference between them. He had always been a sinner, this was just another slab of stone upon the stack. Alexei was born innocent, and that...that would set them apart, right?
Right.
The crash struck him like a blow to the head, and before it even registered he was on his feet like a startled cat; had he fur it'd be standing on end.
"Sounded like glass. From the...s**t!"
Without even checking to see whether Owle followed, Azruael bolted from the small living room and towards the kitchen, wings hugging close to his body.
"Oh no, oh no!" Alexei whimpered and crouched down, hands clasping over his ears as his eyes pressed shut. He had just done something terrible, awful! He had broken the peanut butter jar! Now his papa'n would surely hate him and make him sleep in the closet or the laundry room and give Nio his room as punishment! He'd be made to live like...like that one magic-boy on T.V.! Maybe he too would be saved from this terrible thing his mind conjured up; but he loved his papa'n...he didn't want to leave!
Nio's large head swung upwards to stare a Verde, before he growled lightly and yipped. Finders keepers! This loot was his. He circled the mound of splattered butter and gave his back to the dragon, unable to understand his warnings. The goo coated his nose and muzzle - even the fine, little whiskers upon his face! But it tasted good, so he didn't care!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 6:22 am
*ninja-glomps Azy* Glad you're back
Owle was up and dashing off after him before she had any time to think. It had to be the children; Verde couldn't get hurt easily, but what if Alexei had...?
In the meantime, the little dragon grew even more agitated as Nio refused to listen to him. Sharp things were bad! Verde should know! He darted closer to the dog and gripped its collar, the way he'd seen Alexei do, and tried to tug Nio away from the broken glass. Unfortunately, his small size meant Nio felt barely any force at all.
If Nio didn't budge, Verde quickly gave up and rounded on Alexei accusingly, ready to demand why he'd made things go boom. The moment he saw the position Alexei was in, though, and realized how scared he was, Verde's expression softened, and the dragon darted to the angel's side.
"It's okay, no one hurt. No more go boom."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2005 3:58 pm
Moving takes too long. u_u It really does. -never moves AGAIN.-
The scene he came in upon was as comical as it may have been pitiful. Watching the small dragon-like creature move between Nio and Alexei was a sight; the large pup was still stubborn, letting out a low growl before whining in a high-pitched fashion, ears flattening against the sides of his head. When his amused, golden eyes lifted from the mess on the floor to the boy on the counter, his smile froze.
Alexei barely heard Verde's words through his mumbling and his rocking. He was going to be in so much trouble...he couldn't bear to see the angry look his papa'n was capable of pulling. He had seen it once before, directed not at him, but at another man in the bar he worked at. And it had been scary. Very...scary. And somehow the little Herald knew his father was capable of more. With a sniffle he looked up, dragging the back of his arm across his nose, just before spotting the staring demon.
And squealing, arms reaching out to try and grab Verde in the process.
Azruael entered the kitchen, unaware that Owle was behind him. Why did the flaxen haired boy look so scared...at him of all people? He felt his stomach drop somewhere near his navel, an ache tearing down his chest. Scared of him. Scared of him?
"Alexei...?" The boy's squeak made him wince. Nio's tail stopped wagging, and the large dog tucked it safely between his legs before backing away awkwardly, head lowering with a baleful whine.
"Alexei, what happ -- "
"I'm sorry Papa'n, I didn't mean to make it fall! I didn't mean to make a mess, but I was hungry and Nio was hungry and Mr. Verde wanted a snack too, so I thought I could make a peanut butter san'wich, but the peanut butter was too high and when I went to grab it I knocked it over and it hit the floor and it was so loud! And then Nio started eating it and Mr. Verde tried to make him stop but he wouldn't so please don't lock me in a cupboard because the dark is scary and I'm sorry!"
His voice was high-pitched and frantic, and by the time he had confessed his pallid cheeks were red from exhaustion and lack of breath. Even so, he held said breath and snuck a peek at his father, who had long since knelt beside the mound of goo, staring at it with a calculating gaze.
"So...you broke the jar."
"Y-yes sir..."
"Hm..."
"I didn't mean to, honest!" His voice was watery, on the verge of tears.
Azruael swung to his feet, flicking strands of hair over his shoulder, "What a mess, what a mess..." He seemed to have recovered from the shock brought on by Alexei's initial fear - having never been a father, he finally realized he wasn't afraid of him, per say...more of what was in store. So the demon lazily side stepped the peanut butter and approached the little boy, whose face was becoming more crumpled by the second.
"There's only one way to deal with this," he murmured quite seriously, pushing Verde away with one hand. His other shot out and grabbed the tiny angel around the waist, flipping him over his shoulder.
"We'll just have to eat you."
He turned back sharply towards the mess, preparing to faux-fling the squealing angel in, when he noticed Owle.
And froze.
He coughed and looked away, somewhat embarrassed to be caught acting an ounce fatherly.
"Yes...well...you hungry?" Alexei squeaked again. "For something that's not angel?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:27 am
Verde let Alexei hold onto him, though he didn't really understand why the little angel was grabbing him. For the most part, he stayed a spectator in the situation, knowing somehow that he was not to be a part of this. The moment Azruael mentioned eating Alexei, though, Verde shot up from the counter, flying so he was smack in front of Azruael's face.
"Bad people!" he admonished the demon. "No eat Verde's friend!"
Owle couldn't help herself. The look on Azruael's face...the way Alexei and Verde were so convinced he was serious...and the little guy acting like he could boss around Azy...
She tried to reply to Azruael. She really did. But whatever she was trying to say just came out as a giggle. And then she couldn't stop.
As Azruael watched, she slowly crumpled into a heap on the floor, laughing so much her sides hurt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
