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 Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:10 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Part Two ]|
05.12.04 ; Baby Growth Quest ; A sleepless night, recounting the previous day. The cry seemed to shatter the quiet that had fallen over the house in the wake of walking into the living room and seeing Rider dead. The bird's claws were sunk into the flesh of Suffocation, the snake writhing madly to get free, hissing and biting at air without any purchase. Mael's own cries of pain, turning to near shrieks that were mixed with hisses seemed to echo the pain of his daemon.
There was no movement from Wren, simply too stunned to actually take a step forward. His eyes were transfixed by the sight, the way the pain seemed to echo faintly in his mind. Both of them ... Were they both in pain, simply because one of them was injured badly?
Before he realized what was happening, there was all most a blur of Nora moving forward. Her dress catching against her legs and the sound of the fabric rubbing against skin somehow echoing louder than he thought it should. Nora had first looked to her dead bird, the way she touched it and recoiled proved that it was indeed dead, but what she did after that seemed foolish and utterly stupid.
Her fingers closed, not around the pinned snake, but around the baby's arms. Those tiny fists were closed, fingers curled in the fabric of colorful fabric Mael wore, and the shrieks only briefly stopped now that someone else had touched him. He blinked red eyes at her, tears straining down his face, and watched her warily -- as if waiting for the next strike.
And it came.
She screamed at him, utterly horrid things, and shook the baby while she did. She seemed to yell out, not relenting in adding to the further torment of the young Forgotten and it was that seemed to break Wren's shock to move. He wasn't quite as tall as Nora, but he matched her weight at least, and tugged her away from his son, fingers locking and tightening around her arm when she did not release.
Looking into her eyes, it was like staring into that of a fanatic, or an overly devoted pet owner. Could she not see that Mael had nothing to do with this and if he did, there was a perfectly good explanation behind it? Her shaking continued and finally at the end of trying to handle this without having to resort to actual physical action, he forcefully jerked her hands off of his baby and then backhanded her.
"About damn time somebody did that to that --" Halo was cut off by the stare she received from Wren, the tired blue eyes of her husband reflecting his worry as he stopped recounting the events of yesterday to her. His eyes were not hidden behind his glasses for once and it was too easy to tell that he was trouble by this. More so trouble by that thing, woman, whatever the hell Nora was.
"... maybe so, dear heart, but I'm damn lucky she doesn't try to bring me up on assault charges. She's riled up enough at this point that she may very well do that. As it is, she's trying to claim that Suffocation bit Rider and that was the reason he died, but I won't know anything about that until later." Wren gave her a weary smile, having all ready been up all of the previous day and well into the night to deal with this. The first few shades of dawn were gracing the horizon and making it apparent that it was Sunday and no longer Saturday.
"Until later?" Halo questioned, raising an eyebrow and then stirring her coffee with a finger tip before bringing it up to suck the liquid off of the finger. Wren watched her, eyes narrowing to really be able to see what she was doing, but just giving her a still tired smile.
"Later, yeah, since Nora is trying to push that Suffocation killed Rider. She went on yelling and pointing at Mael, damn near thought I'd have to call to send her to an asylum since she wouldn't stop, saying he was at fault for Rider's death. Except," Wren paused, sighing and folding his arms on the table to rest his chin on top of them, "there was no way to really prove that. So she focused on Suffocation, since Rider's claws were in her, saying that Suffocation was poisonous and bit her 'precious baby' and caused him to die. My response was to prove it, which means getting the bird's blood tested. Since I said that, she said that if she did and it turned out that she was right and Rider was poisoned, she was going to petition for Suffocation to be put to sleep." There was a grimace on the man's face.
"Not happening." Halo's reply was firm, the look in her eyes stony. Wren merely smiled faintly at her, nodding his head in agreement.
"Yeah, I know, it'd -- Mael, I don't think he'd make it through that sort of thing. I mean, when Suffocation was injured, he just ... Deities be damned, Halo, it was like he felt the pain himself. His shrieks were Suffocation's screams voiced." Wren bowed his head, fingers curling into his hair and tugging on it lightly. Even if the man claimed to be a demon, even had the horns, he wasn't feeling particularly demonic.
No, somehow, he felt defeated.
After a moment Wren felt warm arms slip around his shoulders and looking up, Halo was there smiling at him. That smile that was far too reassuring.
"I'm sure he'll be all right, Wren, don't worry. Now finish what you're telling me, hm?" Halo nuzzled him lightly, pressing a light kiss to his hair and tilting his head back up. She slowly pulled his hands from his hair and set them back down onto the table.
"... after Nora finished having her fit and slinging her threats and scaring Mael, she finally let me get a hold of Suffocation. I took her to the vet to get looked at and it turned out the wounds weren't that deep, but if the claws had been just a little bit more to the right, it would've done damage to her spine. She's bandaged up right now and with Mael. They've been asleep since I brought them home. Ended up bringing Freyr along since he had just gotten home," Wren paused again, rubbing his hands together and then shaking his head. "The vet, well, he's a friend through Carmine -- somehow, don't ask, I don't want to know -- and I told him about the incident. He said that since Nora also uses him and he'll probably be taking the blood samples. He'll call me and give me a heads up before calling her with the results. That's the after bit, of course."
"Figured something like that," Halo spoke, head tilted against Wren's, "and Tom and Carmine are good, you know. At least, when it comes to connections benefiting the family." Her husband just snorted at the remark, glancing at her briefly and then rolling his eyes.
"Whatever you say, lover mine, but anyway, all I can do now is wait. Nora's stewing most likely. Knowing here, she's probably not going to let this drop, even when it comes back that Rider wasn't poisoned or bitten like I know he wasn't." His voice was laced with concern, worry, and a wealth of other emotions. Halo did her best to smooth them away for the time being, tugging Wren up and out of his chair and out of the kitchen.
"So do that, but while waiting, you're going to come watch the sunrise with me." Her lips quirked into that smile, the one that Wren could never deny.
All he could do was let himself be tugged along.
Watching the sunrise and waiting wouldn't be too bad.
It was just the worry that was.
"And if all else fails," Halo's voice held a serious tone to it, "I'll just kill Nora."
But at least Halo was there with him and her words brought a smile to his lips, even if he voiced his dislike of the idea a moment later.
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Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:59 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Interlude ]|
04.12.04 ; Baby Growth Quest ; A moment outside. It had been just a quick trip out of the house, Wren taking all the back paths he knew to specifically avoid running into Nora and just walk with his son and the injured daemon.
Mael was in his arms, attention focused entirely on Suffocation. Even as his son was cradled in his arms, sitting on a swing at the local park, the baby's attention was on his daemon. His fingers were constantly petting over Suffocation's scales, her soft hisses accompanying the petting along with Mael's own garbled baby-talk responses. His pets avoided the bandaging around part of the snake's body, careful to not harm her.
Wren didn't understand a word of Suffocation's hisses of Mael's baby speech, but apparently it was enough for the two in his arms because they seemed far better than they had been the previous day. They were calmer, alarmingly so, but it was good to see that Mael was making sound again.
After his shrieking and fit he had gone deathly silent, but it had somehow matched up to the exact time that Suffocation had passed out. In the back of his mind, Wren wandered if it was compensation. Mael silent just as his daemon was silent and incapacitated. Yet there had been tears that continued to trail down his cheeks, but there was an all most resolute look in his eyes, one that seemed to speak of a maturity beyond that of his age.
Then it had all most scared Wren and he still wasn't sure what to make of it. Mael was all most cautious now in his arms, Suffocation not curled up for once but actually stretched across his lap. The tip of her tail brushed over Wren's own leg.
He swung his legs back and forth slowly, swinging and enjoying the cool air. They were dressed warmly, both Mael and him, Suffocation kept close enough that she could feed off of the body warmth of them both.
After having been in the house, Wren had to get out and Mael had woken up, so he took the child with him. Nora was still next door, creating a ruckus and generally being noisy so that she was as irritating as possible. It was enough to make Wren batty, but his concern was still focused on his son.
Still on the fact that the vet had not called and that he was expecting him to at any point, any hour.
The sound of silence once again greeted his ears and Wren looked down at his son to see him focused on the flock of birds in the distance. His tail was flicking from side to side, all most irritable in it's motion.
Loosening a hand from around the chain of the swing, Wren placed his hand to Mael's cheek, distracting him and tilting his face up so that they could look each other in the eye.
Even Suffocation's attention was on him now, but he swore there was a flicker of pain in her eyes.
"I won't let anything happen, Mael, all right? You're my son and I'll work everything out, even if I have to get help from the rest of the family," Wren spoke quietly, one of his notorious warm smiles on his lips, "but perhaps we should head home now."
Mael blinked his eyes, all most as if he understood. Suffocation was slithering into a position where she could be picked up and not dropped while the baby was latching his hands onto his father. Wren picked them both up, careful to hold them in his arms, and looked around the park.
It was peaceful.
Hopefully the peace would follow them back.
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:09 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Part Three ]|
06.12.04 ; Baby Growth Quest ; It's not easy realizing your child may be responsible. Carefully balancing the baby in his arms, Wren walked through the hallway and past the living room to answer the banging on the front door. It could hardly be called knocking and he had a feeling he knew who it was anyway. Probably had everything to do with the fact that he had gotten off the phone with the veterinarian all most a half hour previously and it was a sign of the coming irritation.
Then again, the phone call had proven what he thought was true. Rider had not been poisoned, nor had he even been bitten. The bird had died of natural causes ( or what seemed to be natural causes to the veterinarian ) and the only actual injury that had been done had been to Suffocation and she was all ready bandaged up.
Opening the door, he came face to face with a flushed looking Nora. Wren thought that if he squinted enough, he could actually see the steam shooting out of her ears.
Mael had gone silent once more, even though he had been letting out quite garbles of baby-speak and hisses at Suffocation and his father. He had hardly spoken otherwise, his eyes all ways cautiously watching, just as they were watching Nora now.
"You," she gritted out, crossing her arms in indignation.
"Me." Wren merely smiled pleasantly at her, not really wanting to give her any commentary to work with. It was bad enough he couldn't get out of the house without hearing some sort of rumor about what was going on, but to have her twist his own words? That wasn't acceptable.
"You and that thing you call a child and it's pet!" This time Nora's voice was accusing, fingers clenching at her arms as if attempting to hold them back from pointing or something of that sort. Pointing was rude anyway and Nora was still trying, or failing, to be polite.
"There a point to this, Nora, or are you just back around to pester us more?" Raising an eyebrow, Wren shifted Mael in his arms and the baby's fingers instantly closed around the front of his shirt tightly. His attention was still on Nora, red eyes only blinking as often as necessary in attempts to keep their entire focus on the woman. A hand was placed on the child's back, and Wren wondered if it was such a good thing for Mael to be around this woman -- the baby was shaking underneath his hand a little.
"I'm here to get answers, that's what I'm here for." Nora flipped her hair, huffing and narrowing her eyes as she looked down at Wren. "And also to tell you that you're lucky. Very lucky. Rider wasn't poisoned, so I'm not going to have your son's pet snake put down." From the way she said it son could have very well been demon spawn and snake could easily been replaced with vile thing.
Wren didn't think Nora was all that creative with her insults.
"How fortunate." It was hard to resist the urge to roll his eyes, but Wren managed it and merely shifted again. It wasn't that easy trying to keep his attention on Nora and then look after the still babe in his arms. "If that's the case, then what more do you need to know? Your Rider simply died, my son and his daemon had nothing to do with it."
"Yes! They did -- both of them! I don't know how, but my Rider was a perfectly healthy bird, not even that old and he died from one meeting with your brat." Her face was still flushed with irritation, but clearly the facade of politeness had crumbled.
"From what I remember, Nora, your bird's talons were in my son's pet," Wren said, shaking his head. There was no way to explain the daemon thing to this woman, none at all. "So, even if they were responsible for it, your bird attacked my son's pet, no? That means, technically, I can hold you responsible for the bills I had to pay to get Suffocation treated." There was a no nonsense tone to his voice and Nora opened and closed her mouth a few times rapidly trying to find something to reply with.
"Well," she spoke up finally, "I don't care. You can't prove it." There was a defiant glint in her eyes. "And I know your son is responsible for my pet's death. Him and his snake." Nora's lips twisted into a mocking smile and she started pushing at Wren's chest with a finger. "Your son's demon spawn, and you're nothing but a demon yourself and -- OW!"
Perhaps pushing at Wren with her finger had not been such a bright idea, for Mael had taken the chance to latch onto Nora's finger and bite into it. He bit down hard and the woman let out another shriek, trying to get her finger free from the babe. After a moment even Wren was trying to do so.
It took a few tries, but the young man freed Nora's finger from Mael's mouth, but the baby was now struggling in his arms, emitting a noise that sounded like a combination between a hiss and a cry, and all directed at Nora. Mael and Suffocation were both in an uproar, yet their focus was still Nora. Wren took a step back away from Nora, just in case the injured Suffocation got it into her mind to try to strike the woman.
Just what I need, he thought.
"Your whole entire family, you're all nothing but a bunch of -- !" Nora was flushed once more, clutching her injured finger to her chest and trying to stop whatever bleeding there was.
"Bunch of what, neighbor? Hm?" Halo was walking up the pathway, Otium in her arms. The mother seemed focused on Nora, but the baby focused briefly on the woman before looking to his squirming brother. Wren obviously had his hands full, trying to keep his eyes on more than just one person. He finally settled on his son, trying to calm the boy down, but it couldn't be done.
"Nothing." Nora replied, lips pressing together tightly. From the glint in Halo's eyes, it was better for her to not finish her statement than continue on as she was. "I'll be going now, but mark my words, Wren, I will get answers."
"Whatever, Nora, whatever." Wren didn't even bother to look up as Nora retreated and Halo approached, his attention too focused on his son and getting him to calm down. He only spared a brief glance up at his wife before stepping back into the house so that they could be inside in the warmth and not the cold. "Mael, come on, s'just you, Ottie, your mum, and me, calm down ..."
Smoothing his hand along the side of Mael's face once and then brushing his thumb over the marking over his forehead, Wren slowly got Mael to calm down under the watching eyes of his brother and mother. The moment, however, Halo made a murmur herself, trying to assist in soothing the baby, Mael recoiled, squirming back away from her and hissing loudly.
"... Wren?" Halo's eyes went to her lover's and he shook his head, not really knowing.
"Not sure, I mean, Nora's got him upset, so maybe he'll calm down in a bit? Since she's gone and all." Wren smiled, but there was tension behind the easy going grin. Just to be safe, he took a step back from Halo and turned Mael so that he was pressed against his chest, face either against his shoulder or looking over it depending on what the child's decision was.
"Probably. So what did the bit -- woman have to say? Besides bothering you and bad mouthing us?" Shifting her Otium in her arms, she watched Wren's movements as he tended to Mael. It was obvious to see that her husband's focus was on the baby, but he looked up at her briefly.
"Just that Rider wasn't poisoned or bitten. The vet said he died naturally and she said she didn't care about that, because she's certain that Mael and Suffocation are somehow responsible."
"Well, that's good right? That does mean they weren't the cause of that bird's death?" Halo tilted her head a little, eyes narrowing at the odd grin on Wren's face.
"Funny thing is, dear heart, that Mael and Suffocation may very well be involved." Wren was still grinning that odd grin of his, the sheepish one that said everything and nothing at the same time. There were just some things that hadn't been closed quite yet. "Because there really is no explanation for why Rider died ..."
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:13 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Part Four ]|
07.12.04 ; Baby Growth Quest ; The lending of a book. It was a rather boring game when Wren thought about it.
At least when he thought about it as a game, knowing it wasn't, but he had no clue what to think at this point. Instead, he was flat on his stomach, head resting on his crossed arms and staring up at Mael who was in a similar position in front of him. Suffocation was curled up on top of a pillow, the bandages having all ready come off and her wounds healed. It was rather remarkable, all things considered.
Then again, so was a baby from a book.
But his mind was on the game that wasn't really a game. Him staring at his son as if he could figure things out, but so far he had figured nothing out and Mael had beaten him far many times for him to actually. How was he suppose to know his kid was good at this game and didn't even know the rules of it? Couldn't help it if he apparently had to blink more often than his son had too. Sighing to himself, he rolled over onto his back. His head tilted backwards and he moved a hand forward so that he could tap his finger against Mael's mouth.
"Open up, kiddo." Wren grinned slightly when Mael did. It came from the times when the baby had been teething and he had given him something that wasn't an article of clothing or a piece of jewelry to chew on. Really, who wanted to attempt to pry open the mouth of a babe who had fangs? Certainly not Wren and most certainly not after seeing them in action. However, it didn't stop him from pressing his finger against one of the fangs very softly. He had done the same the day before, washing out Mael's mouth -- mainly for sanitary reasons and others mostly not named.
There was a flicker of a tongue and Wren shook his head. He really did end up with a child that had a daemon that was a snake and was very much like one himself.
"When you get older, are you going to have scales? Or just patches of scales?" Chuckling, he pulled his hand back. Mael finally blinked again, red eyes closing only momentarily before opening up and focusing on Wren once more. For a change from recent habits, the baby cracked a smile and giggled and reached out for his father's finger. Indulgently, Wren brought his hand back so the baby could tug on it.
His eyes drifted over to Suffocation. The ruby snake looked asleep, but he somehow doubted she was. Her tongue was flickering out too frequently. In his mind, he started to play back the scene from Saturday. Still not quite sure where things went wrong.
Just a trip next door for sugar. Wren frowned. Went so wrong and I do feel as if Mael's somehow responsible for this. The bird's death, but I'm not sure how. I mean, it is possible he has some sort of gift? Power? Whatever? Otium has his coin trick. Iqbal has lupine qualities. Eydis is your classic snow princess, at least in appearance. Not so sure about the other three. Well, that one has a horse tail and a lion cub with teeth. He paused, a thought that shouldn't be amusing crossing his mind. One that has probably put Freyr on the guard when dealing with animals he hardly knows. Still, Mael's sort of like a snake. His eyes are like one, markings perhaps? Maybe I should start looking --
"What do you know about snakes?" The voice cut through Wren's thoughts far quickly and he rolled right back onto his stomach, pushing himself into a crouch automatically, eyes cutting up to ...
"Shouldn't you, you know, be asking Halo that question, Tom? She knows more about them I do. I only know bits and pieces about care that I read up on because of Suffocation." Shaking his head, the red head fell back and braced his palms against the floor, eyes focusing briefly on Mael who was trying to squirm around to look at the other voice in the room. He recognized that voice, much to Wren's obvious displeasure, which only made the Italian man chuckle.
"I know all I need to know about them, but I don't think you do." Gaitano smirked, eyes reflecting his dark amusement. Why was everything amusing when it came to him? Perhaps it had to do something with the fact that Wren was just that funny.
Probably not. Most likely some inside joke that Tom knew and Wren didn't -- that had to be it.
"Look, I realize I don't know much. Is there a reason you're pointing it out? If you really must know, I was just about to go do some more research, not entirely about just snakes." Serpents, snakes, their mythos possibly-- that's what I need to look up, he thought silently.
"Really? I suppose you wouldn't like to borrow this book of mine. It's about snakes, their relation to the occult and other things. Halo mentioned something about you thinking Mael might have actually been at least a factor in that bird's death, so I thought I'd be kind for once and let you see this. Snakes are considered sacred to some and there are far too many things they are associated with to really narrow it down ..." Tom said, still smirking and watching as Wren was suddenly back on his feet and moving towards him. He reached out for the book before stopping.
"Catch. There has to be a catch. What is it, Gaitano?" Narrowing his eyes, Wren pulled his hand back slightly. He had good reason to be suspicious, it wasn't like anything was ever truly borrowed freely from the man. It was something he had figured out early within the first few months of Carmine and Gaitano living in his house.
"Nothing, at the moment." Gaitano grinned that grin of his. The one that would probably send the general population swooning or instantly grab their attention, instead, it just made Wren more suspicious. "You think the worst of me, don't you?"
"And if I didn't I'd be in for a lot worse. I may not know everything, but I know some things." Wren plucked the book from Tom's hands, opening it up to the index and running his finger down the page. It really was an occult book. He blinked at the title of one section and shook his head, resigning himself to not even bothering to contemplate it. When a hand ruffled his hair, mockingly, he let out a growl.
"Feisty, Wren, but you don't know even half of it like you think you may." That smirk was back in place on Gaitano's lips and he pulled his hand back before Wren started to act like his son and start to bite. "You can borrow the book. Return it when you're finished." Leaving the younger man with the book he briefly looked down at Mael who was waving his hand at him as he wanted his attention. "Sorry, Mael, but I've got to go. Perhaps later, hm?" Briefly, he leaned down and patted the baby on the head before heading back out of the room. "Enjoy the book, Wren," he called.
"Yeah, yeah." Wren waved him off, planting himself back down on the ground next to Mael and pulling him into his lap. "Well, Mael, let's see what we can find out, hm?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:38 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Part Five ]|
08.12.04 ; Baby Growth Quest ; ... a day in the snow. All most the entire household was outside on Wednesday, with the exception of Carmine and Gaitano ( that no one could seem to find them to invite outside; of course, the odds were that they were busy doing their own thing, as they were like to do ), Freyr ( who had declined coming out into the cold to play and instead wanted to read some of the books that Wren had gotten on different mythos for his research, but somehow the child had claimed a couple as his own ) and some of the other pets and entities that lived in the home.
Wren was absorbed in the book he was reading, still trying to work on his understanding of snakes and their myths. There was a lot to be read and he really needed to cover some ground to shed light on that which he barely knew anything about. Valsharess was sitting on Wren's head, fingers busy working strands of the red hair into small braids. Every so often, usually in between page turns, Wren would raise his hand up to offer her a small hair tie.
He was sure, by the time she was done, his hair would look interesting, for lack of a better word.
His wife, his other son, and Gallium were actually out in the backyard, enjoying and playing with the snow that had fallen to cover the ground. Otium was bundled up in a snow suit, sitting on the stuff and patting his hand against the ground, making shapes with his hand as he moved it. He would've blended in well with the snow, if it wasn't for the fact his clothing was dark. His top hat was on over another hat that was there to keep his head and ears warm.
Immaculate was far too busy pouncing large piles of snow and Halo looked to be indulging her by chasing the bear-cat around, but often making a circuit to check on her son.
Every now and then there would be a metallic glint in the snow that would be Gallium. She apparently loved the snow, as being outside in this sort of weather pretty much meant would be completely solid.
Wren surveyed the scene with an amused quirk to his lips, happy to see that the rest of the family was so at ease now. It seemed that today it was easy to forget about things that had happened in the past week or that Nora was still continuing her campaign of trouble to really brass off his entire household.
With those thoughts in mind, no longer so much on the text he was reading, Wren looked to his son who was sitting to his side on the swing. The baby was also bundled up in a snow suit, Suffocation stowed safely away in his open jacket and only her head visible, and was leaning against his father's side. His tail would flick from side to side every so often, but mostly he was quiet with a neutral expression on his face. He still hadn't seem all that playful, despite the smile he had cracked previously.
No, Mael was still very much not as giggly as he had been before. Worse yet, was that he still would become fussy whenever Halo tried to handle him. Wren set the book down in his lap and slipped his arm around Mael until the child actually looked up at him. There was the barest hints of a smile cracked in his direction, before Mael seemed to focus on the line of trees not too far away. Birds lived in those tree, Wren knew that. Mael was probably suspicious of birds at this point. After all, one had seriously hurt Suffocation and the two were linked. Then again, Suffocation probably didn't even like them at all.
Yet another problem that would have to be dealt with.
Never mind the mystery. The one that dealt with his son, but somehow Wren had figured Mael's marking had to be the key. It was the most unique thing about him, the fact that he had that golden emblem of a serpent right on his forehead. It had to symbolize something, had to have some deeper meaning and shine a light on Mael and Suffocation.
Then again, he really wasn't getting anywhere. There were simply too many mythos to study. He had thought about the Pharaohs of Egypt and the fact that there had cobras on their crowns. When researching, he had learned about Buto the snake goddess of the ancient Egyptian oracle in, of course, Buto. She was the protector of the king, which was why there was a cobra on the pharaohs crown, and her name meant 'papyrus colored', referring to the green color of the cobra.
For all of two seconds Wren had thought it might be associated with Mael, that perhaps that aspect of Egyptian mythology would clue him in. However, there really wasn't anything to do with the current situation that he could think of. Protection perhaps, but oracles or nourishment, as it was mentioned? Hardly.
Still, there were other aspects to look too. Never mind countless more mythos and stories about snakes, and the various names they went by.
"Tie, please." Val's voice caught Wren's attention, twisting his thoughts away from his son and whatever deeper meaning was attached to the marking on his forehead.
"Just a sec', Val," Wren fumbled into his pocket, reaching for one of the hair ties. He could feel Valsharess moving to and fro just a little on his head and finally he held up another tie for her to end yet another braid. Why she wanted to put his hair into little braids, he had no idea. "How many more are you planning on?"
"A little more or less than my fingers can manage," came the busied reply. There was a tug as Valsharess started to gather more hair and he merely sighed, resigned to the fact that he was going to have his hair done up. He had wanted a new hair style, but this wasn't quite it, still he let her continue on even with the cryptic response.
Though he sort of got it, which was odd in itself. That the feien seemed to like using his horns as something to lean against was odd as well, but somehow not nearly as much as the first thing.
Looking out past the veranda he was on, he watched Halo who was now leaning down to talk to Otium it looked like. Immaculate looked like she was trying to sneak up on the both of them, but then she stopped to sniff at the air, suddenly turning and looking towards the low fence that separated his yard from that of the neighbors.
"I see that just about the entire show is out and about. Now, if only those two friends of yours would come out, it'd be a complete freak show for the neighborhood. Perhaps include some of those other pets of yours? Not only the ones your sons keep, hm?" Nora's voice seemed to echo in the silence that followed her words. All eyes were on her and if looks could've killed, she would've been six feet under, at the bottom of the lake with cement shoes, carved in a million pieces, along with several other deaths -- all at once.
She smirked at the fact that she had stunned the family from their enjoyment. It was just, considering that thing had killed her precious baby.
"Fu --!"
"Not in front of the kids, Gallium!" Halo shot Gallium a look, one that clearly told her that she knew what she was about to say and agreed with the sentiments. So did Wren for that matter when he shared a look with his wife. Even Valsharess had stilled, her attention on Nora.
Otium looked to be unaware, eyes turning to Nora only because everyone else seemed to be paying attention to her. Immaculate's tail was lashing back and forth as she paced, all most protectively, in front of all of them. She was the closest to Nora.
"Nothing to say? Not even a holiday greeting for a neighbor?" Nora asked when silence stretched, her smug grin not faltering despite the glares that were aimed in her direction. Perhaps it was just that she wasn't too bright to realize the wrath she was invoking or merely naive to it.
"Get lost, Nora." It was Wren's voice, stopping Halo from saying something. He shook his head at her. There was no point in getting into verbal sparring with Nora. Her gone was better than her talking more. "Now."
"Why should I? I told you I'm going to get my answers and since you're so keen on avoiding me and not answering when I come to by, I might as well take this chance to talk to you." There was that sweet tone of hers, lips twisted into a mocking smile and her eyes glinting maliciously. That this had to happen with the neighborhood gossip and nosey-nose was totally not in their favor.
"That's because we don't want to talk to you, Nora. Neither Mael, nor Suffocation had anything to do with the death of that pet of yours. Get it through that brain of yours, but that would be assuming you'd have one. Since, you know, you choose to come out when both Halo and myself are out here, but I'm pretty tame. Halo, however, well, she does have that knife of hers that she keeps ..." As if to illustrate Wren's point, Halo had taken to playing with the knife she kept on her at all times. The sunlight glinted off of the snow and reflected off of the steel blade, part of the light briefly showing on Nora's skin.
The woman paled and Wren merely smirked.
"You got your answers. The vet told you that your bird died of natural causes, neither bitten nor poisoned. Which excludes both Mael and Suffocation. And before you claim Mael is poisonous, may I point out that you're perfectly healthy and alive?" Wren shook his head, finally pushing himself up carefully so that the feien on his head wasn't sent tumbling.
"For now," Halo added, grey eyes glinting murderously. Wren just made a small noise of agreement, raising an eyebrow as Nora finally seemed to decide that perhaps she had picked the wrong time.
"I don't take kindly to being threatened, but don't think it'll stop me from getting the truth. I will. Your entire sideshow can't stop me." She was about to point her finger at them, as if chastising, but thought better of it. After all, it was that same finger that had been bitten previously. Turning the go in a snobbish huff, she walked back towards her own home.
She wasn't expecting to suddenly get pelted with a couple snow balls to the back and spun right back around to say something in rebuttal to the action.
Except nobody was even paying her any attention. Wren was sitting back down, that fairy thing holding onto one of his horns. Halo was crouching down to pet the other son's pet and check over both it and the boy. That shiny foul-mouthed creature was too small to throw something. Nora merely scowled, bit her lip and turned back around to go inside.
Before she got inside she got pelted with more snowballs, but wisely she took it and continued on her way.
Sharing another amused and satisfied look with his wife, Wren looked to his son who hadn't seemed bothered at all during the entire exchange. No, Mael had been utterly quiet, even Suffocation, and both of them had been so distressed by the woman's mere presence lately ( as well as Halo's, but Wren was trying to not think about that ). Blinking, Wren noticed Mael's attention hadn't even been on them as they were talking. Instead, the baby's attention was on what looked like a sickly squirrel that had brazenly crept up to the seat they were occupying.
The baby was reaching out a hand to pet the squirrel, his attention intent upon the little woodland creature.
Wren was reaching forward to shoo the sickly thing away when he heard Freyr's quiet voice.
"Don't." Looking at the pale Luna boy that had dressed warmly to step outside, Wren raised an eyebrow in question. "Watch, just let this be. I -- I think you should, it feels right. Can't explain it, but ..." Freyr shrugged, nodding his head back towards Mael.
Mael was ignoring the attention on him. Suffocation had nudged her way out of his coat some and was slowly flicking her tongue, tasting the air and sensing the squirrel so close by. It was odd how the little thing wasn't threatened by the presence of the snake, but it seemed to slip closer, shuddering, and sniffing at Mael's hand that was held out to it.
The baby giggled at that, for the first time since all of this had happen, and patted the squirrel on the head for a few moments before petting down it's back slowly. The squirrel seemed go completely still, and for the span of several heartbeats Wren thought he was about to get a repeat of death, but instead the squirrel started to move again. This time, his motions were more animate and it was chattering, making all those noises squirrels were like to do -- except it sounded healthy, not nearly as sickly as it had been.
After a few more pets from Mael, the squirrel skittered off. Obviously, it no longer wanted to be petted, but that wasn't what really what Wren was paying attention to.
It was the fact that the squirrel looked healthier leaving than it had it coming.
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Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:44 pm
|[ All Good Things ; Part Six ]|
09.12.04 ; Baby Growth Quest ; A conclusion, even if wrong. Wren hadn't known what quite to think after yesterday's incident with the squirrel. Mael had acted perfectly normal afterwards, right up until the point that Halo made moves towards him and he started getting fussy. Even Suffocation joined him in his crying out and Halo had retreated. It twisted Wren's heart, particularly when there had been a flash of hurt in Halo's eyes because of the baby's action.
Gallium had asked what was up with Mael, but in her own colorful way that couldn't seem to be negated all the time.
Wren still wasn't sure what was the cause behind it, but he was certain it was something else he'd have to figure out. Except, at the moment, he was trying to figure out the meaning behind the marking on Mael's forehead, that of the incident yesterday, and the one that had occurred nearly a week ago now on Saturday.
Never mind work out the braids that Valsharess had put into his hair. Yesterday, when he had asked her if they would come out easily, she had just looked at him funny and fluttered off. He was still working them out at this point and he knew that by the time he got them out, his hair would be far more wavier than it should be. Probably would look like he had it crimped.
Instead, he cringed, sighed, and shook his head. Banishing all other thoughts, he closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair in the baby's room. Mael was currently asleep in his crib, taking his nap as he was like to do at this time of day. It was giving Wren more time to think and try and figure things out.
After talking to Freyr about what he had read and that feeling he had ( which the boy couldn't explain, just that something told him what Mael was doing was all right ), Wren had taken Mael and Suffocation with him to the library to read. ( He was truly lucky Halo was indulging him in being able to do this; to spend so much time reading and so little time paying attention to anything else. )
Seeing that squirrel go from sickly to healthy had set Wren on his path. It was as if the baby had somehow managed to fix the sickly thing and return into to a better state of health. Those present that could talk that had seen the squirrel, had noticed it moving slowly and it's motions strained, said that it had moved much quicker as it departed. A little bounce in it's steps after Mael had petted it.
As if Mael had healed it and that was pretty much it right there. That one action, seeing that one moment, had narrowed down that which Wren had to look into. Granted he had looked into a lot, but healing -- that was a specific aspect. Perhaps combine that with snake marking and see what it would get him.
Except there had been nothing about a snake marking that had something to do with healing. Nothing specific at least. Snakes, serpents, whatever one wanted to call them. They had a number of meanings. According to some, the snake was a representation of the unconsciousness and to come across one sometimes can be abrupt and sudden change and not all ways for good. ( Oddly, in Nora's case, Wren had to agree with that. Her chance encounter with both a serpentine baby and his snake daemon had ended in an abrupt change. ) Snakes were also related to immortality, death, and rebirth. All of it having to relate back to the fact that snakes shed their skins as they have a newer, healthier one beneath.
There were several meanings associated with the snake or the serpent or the dragon or whatever you wanted to call it. There were even more mythos, countless ones that Wren had looked into. But there was only a few that related to what he was interested in.
"Asclepius or the caduceus? Is that it, Mael? Suffocation?" Sighing, the father looked into the crib where his baby was resting and used his hand to brush his thumb across the glimmering marking on his son's forehead. Mael squirmed a bit after he retracted his hand, the baby turning over and moving his hand as if he wanted to rub at the place where his father just touched.
"Both are symbols of healing ..." Wren murmured underneath his breath, turning to look out the window. It was amusing to think that it was Carmine who had lead him to that conclusion in the end. After all, the caduceus was the symbol of medical corps. Two serpents twined around a rod with wings at the top. It was said to be a representation of the staff that Hermes had carried around, a symbol of not only healing, but peace as well. ( Never mind the commerce and communication aspect. )
"Or," he chuckled, talking aloud his thoughts, "it could relate to that bit about Moses in the desert and how he erected a brazen staff on the word of God, a seraph-seraph, to heal his people. Of course, he built a nachas-nachas which is the serpent that appeared in the Garden of Eden. But that's getting into stuff I don't care to think about ..." Wren shook his head. It was better he didn't think about religion, at least, not when he was a demon and all of that. He didn't need to knew somehow get hit with lightning.
"The wings on the caduceus relate to Enlil, I think, which is ... Sumerian, I think." Wren paused, turning around and facing the baby's crib. He was pacing back and forth going through the information in his mind. "But, I suppose I think of Asclepius as the most accurate. After all, he was a god of healing and the medical association uses his staff as their symbol. A single serpent, shaped like the one on your forehead, around a staff." He was once more looking at his son in the crib. Mael was sleeping easily, a little hiss escaping every so often.
"There's a lot of information, but it makes sense." Wren folded his arms on the crib, leaning on it and watching Mael sleep. Just as one can heal, it would be just as easy to harm, he thought. And if Rider did come after Suffocation and she couldn't protect herself, maybe you reacted with whatever offensive abilities you had? Separating the parrot from it's mortal coil, so to speak, and saving Suffocation ...
"Has to be it," he murmured to himself, tugging the blankets up around Mael in his crib and running a hand along Suffocation's scales briefly. Wren turned to walk out of the room, meaning to go find Halo and talk to her about his ideas. After all, she was the one that grounded him and it never hurt to have her help him make sure that his theories made sense.
The door shut with a click and the only thing that showed Wren had been in there before was a book left open on the bay window, opened to a page of symbols. One of a serpent twined around a staff and another of two serpents twined around a blade with wings at the top.
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Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:51 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:42 pm
|[ An End ]|
11.12.04 ; All good things, all good things ... It was a cage and Mael didn't like it one bit. It wasn't even for him, but it was for her, and all he could do was stare at the thing as if it was far, far worse than the bird that hard harmed his other. Father had brought in the clear cage earlier in the day, carefully putting it into the room while he watched with Suffocation curled up in his lap. Serpentine red eyes watched it with suspicion and they came true the moment that he was picked up and carried over to the cage.
Except it wasn't for him, it was for his other. For his Suffocation. He wouldn't let her be away from him for one second! It wasn't allowed! It wasn't, because she was still somewhat sore from her injuries and she needed to be kept close by, not in some sort of clear cage and separated from him and --
Suffocation knew it was for the best. Mael stopped his bawling and stared at his daemon.
Separation bad!
Not separation. Growth. Skin tight.
... shed.
Though the thoughts were not as clear as that, but they were there, shared between the two and he was willing to let Suffocation be put in he cage. It wasn't to hurt her, not from the way that farther was hovering about and looking between both of them before finally focusing on Suffocation to make sure she was all right. Father was just trying to help Suffocation who was growing. Everything grows. He knew that, he knew it well.
Mael's tail swished and he sniffled, the last of his tears drying up. He let out a hiss, then a cry, and smashed his hands against the ground to get his father's attention. After a moment, father turned around and looked at him. He pointedly turned his attention to the tank in which Suffocation was in now.
He wanted up there.
He wanted up there. Now and not a moment later.
Luckily, father complied otherwise there would have been more of a ruckus going on and teeth might have been involved in this one. He was set on the edge of the bay window, right next to the tank. He couldn't quite reach his hand inside, but he could press his hand against the glass and Suffocation slithered forward to press her nose against it, tongue flickering out every so often.
Soon.
Now.
Wait. Soon. Grow.
Fine.
Mael let out something that was like a huff and a combination of hiss. He let it be and leaned his forehead against the cage as well. His charm chinked briefly against the glass and he wrinkled his nose up in confusion before letting it go. Father was standing to the side and watching them both, clearly not knowing what was going on.
Father just needed to realize that until Suffocation was out of her cage, there was no making him move. No way at all.
[ note left on kitchen counter ]
Will be back in here shortly if you're home, lover. I had to set up an aquarium for Suffocation so she had somewhere safe to shed her skin. Unfortunately, Mael won't let me remove him from the room without putting up a fuss. So if you hear screaming, it's me and he's bitten me. Cheers.
No clue what I'm going to do about feeding him and Suffocation. It'll be interesting, or something of the like. Just hope Suffocation doesn't take ages to shed like some snakes do.
Wren
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:46 pm
|[ Glimpse, But Not ]|
09.01.05 ; Sight doesn't all ways imply the eyes. Humming to himself, Wren sat cross-legged on the floor. To his right there was a nut, sitting on that little basket of his, in front of him was his son Mael and his daemon Suffocation, neither of whom were looking at him, and to his left and clinging to his shadow created by the light in his room was the wisp, Hawk's Eye.
Now, both of these were interesting things, but Mael couldn't seem to decide which was more worth going after. The nut he had tried and been cut off rather quickly by Wren. So far any attempts to go after the glimmering shadow gem had lead nowhere. Not only could it stay out of it's grasp, but Wren knew that he was going after it without so much as a glance in his direction. He would merely stop reading from the book he was reading and quietly tell Mael to lead Hawk alone.
He was not for him to play with. Then again, this was all to the amusement and irritation of Wren. Granted, he didn't mind reading books aloud ( and this time he was reading Neverwhere ), but when you have a son intent on going after either of the beings to your side, no matter what or how many times he was stopped, it was kind of bad. Hawk was new though, somewhat. Since Athan had just appeared and Hawk ended up in his possession before the meeting was over and done with. The thing was with the wisp that it seemed much like everything else.
Prone to being amused at him. He could all ready tell it was getting a few chuckles at his expense or perhaps that was the paranoia that seemed to have settled in because of Tom and Carmine ( he twitched ) and glanced at the Feien bloom sitting at his other side in it's little basket. At least when he talked to the bloom it didn't have anything to say and so far what he had done didn't seem to harm it. It was kind of like he was all ready treating it like a kid. Taking it out places and talking to it as if it could understand him.
Not everybody got that the nut was actually a bloom that was actually something that would eventually turn into this creature called a Feien. The conversation usually went:
'Do you know Valsharess?'
'Yes. She's rather unique.'
'Well, this is from the same place. Just a different kid, so to speak.'
'It's a nut.'
'I know, it's it cute? Just adore the natural-ness and how it's hard and --'
'I didn't ask for your opinion.'
'Oh. Right. Sorry.'
Wren wrinkled his nose up and sighed, closing the book and setting it down in his lap. Not only did it seem that Mael was not paying attention to him, but he was too busy making grabby hands at Hawk to even bother listening. At least the bloom was sitting there. Perfectly quiet in it's little basket and not doing anything whatsoever.
He reached over with a hand to run a finger along, all most like petting it. Really. He did like it. The nut was kind of like nature and he did like nature so. Provided, of course, none of his relatives were around. Somehow, they tended to bring him out of his love of nature but now that he was here with this nut and -- ignoring the fact that Mael was now trying to crawl over his lap and go behind him to get the darkly glowing blue gem -- able to look at it he was very much in tune with the nature aspect.
Which, of course, meant one of two things.
One: when the feien came out of it's shell -- literally -- it probably wouldn't be very nature-ish and demand Wren back up off of it's space; and two: he had to grab Mael by the back of his shirt and set him back down where he had been and where Suffocation was. He sighed again, using his free hand to rub two fingers against his temple.
"Look, it's just a few days after Christmas, don't you think you'd still be shocked from your first one, hm?" Mael just gave him that wide-eyed look of his, grinned that impish smile, and started to make grabby hands at the bloom. This time Wren rolled his eyes and promptly sat his son back where he had been sitting on a pillow. "Sit. Stay. Be good." He couldn't resist the chuckle when Mael just gave him a look like he didn't know what he was talking about and the truth was that he probably didn't.
It was still cute.
And then he was brought to the attention that Hawk was floating closer towards the bloom and seemed to be hovering over it as much as the shadows and Wren's own seemed to permit. He lifted an eyebrow, diverted away from his son for the moment and briefly wondered what was going on. There was only a vague sense of curiousity coming from the fiend and he gave it a brief nudge of his own curiousity to see what was going on.
What he wasn't expecting was to get a sudden wave of amusement and then a fuzzy and not so clear picture. It was something not so big with wings and it was doing something in what looked to be outside in the backyard, near one of the trees. Except the people and it were all blurs and the words he heard were garbled clips and phrases. After a moment, just as the image flashed across his mind and vision, it was gone and he was blinking and staring down at both the nut and Hawk.
"... what the fu -- what was that?" He stared at Hawk and the bloom and there was nothing from either of them, but there was dark sort of amusement coming from the fiend and he rubbed his temple once more, absently grabbing Mael again as he was back in his lap and after both the bloom and the fiend now.
"I am no seer," Wren muttered and the only vocal response he got was Mael's giggles because daddy yet again caught him sneaking.
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:52 pm
|[ Meeting Again ]|
04.02.05 ; Mael sees Iqbal once more. Wren was down in the actual Library of the HQ, towards the back where there was still mats and a few chairs scattered around for guardians, Forgotten, and daemons a like.
He had come to see if there was anyone around, wanting to get Mael out and about. ( Never mind inherent curiousity about the library. ) As it was, however, Mael was on his back on one of the mats, tail flicking about and letting Suffocation slither wherever she pleased across the length of the mats. He was trying to spy the shiny dark glowing thing that crept about in his father's shadow and clung to him.
Father wouldn't let him get a hold of it or that thing he was carting around in a little basket. Silly daddy ruining all his fun and paying attention to the book he was reading.
Tia was muttering something as she ran into the main HQ with Iqbal snug in a baby backpack with Fortune snug beside him.
"Phew!" she panted slowly turning into stalker hall.
"So, what exactly did I rush over her for again? there was a play date or some such ..." her foot tapped lightly as Iqbal squealed happy as he bounced around, while Fortune squawked.
There's an inhumane groan leaking from the left of the entrance. Someone - something? - is the source of it, but they can't be immediately seen upon entrance. Since Pippin hasn't quite fixed the lighting up properly, most rooms are completely pitch black without occupants. Strangely, in the same direction as the groan, there is a single light, perhaps cast by a flashlight from its size..
Tia froze up as she turned to the left. She raised an eyebrow to the light.
Iqbal stopped his squealing and looked towards it curiously, while Fortune tensed up her feathers and made a small squawk.
"I think we should see what it is Fortune ... you'll protect us if it tries to attack,"
Fortune squawked in approval crawling up to Tia's shoulder as Iqbal's ears twitched all around. The trio approached the light cautiously, but enough to try to see what was causing it, or where it lead to.
The light flickers for a moment, but returns to its place. The groaning is replaced with a softer muttering, though any type of words can't be made out even if someone was in range to hear.
However, only the three present can hear this. None, if there even were others, would notice a thing.
Upon closer examination, it would seem that the light and various confusing sounds originate from one simple doorway to the far left..
Tia paused for a moment, shifting Iqbal to the front incase anything were to jump out from behind, while Fortune stretched her neck forward from Tia's shoulder.
Upon finding that the light flickered and groaning was replaced, Tia decided a that this doorway, as though it was simple, may always lead to something much bigger.
"Let's go a bit further ..."
She walked slowly bit steadily getting closer to the doorway.
The light gets a little shaky before disappearing completely. A sound similar to that of rapid footsteps follows, as well as a faux shutting of a heavy door. The only light now remains to be a small, fading one at the base of the now clear staircase.
A bland door it is, just like all the rest save for a glass window at the top covering one third of the door itself. But to look inside would mean to get a little closer..
Iqbal's ears twitched at the sounds and eyed the area carefully. Fortune did make a sound, she scanned the place before landing on the simple door.
Tia cautiously made her way forward once more, hoping where ever this lead, wouldn't be to where she thought it was going. She held onto Iqbal tightly as Fortune scurried into Iqbal's coat for comfort, while Iqbal's eyes widened. Tia narrowed her eyes pressing forward.
The door falls open without even a touch on it. It just.. falls. There is no crash, nor is there any signs of light except the one earlier mentioned. Truthfully, the door slid into the walls, but cast the illusion of disappearing completely.
All the while, the walls seem to smile with pleasure.
To go down, or retreat?
Meanwhile, Wren was still reading his book and Mael was ever so slowly crawling his way towards his father's feet. The aim the shiny dark thing that clung to his father's shadow so.
That thing in the basket was just odd, so he ignored it and the fact that father talked to it and it didn't talk back. He looked towards Suffocation, as if asking a question and she merely hissed at him. Her head turned towards the shadows in the room and then Wren's.
... sometimes it was fun being perfectly oblivious, except that Hawk was letting Wren know that Mael was going after him again. "He can't honestly get you," he murmured, looking towards Mael and Suffocation. He sighed at the feeling of wariness he got from Hawk and shook his head.
Tia watched the door ... well sort of break or disappear, either way her reaction would have been the same.
"Dear god! I broke part of the house?!" Tia groaned as Iqbal giggled, and Fortune raised an eyebrow.
Iqbal clapped his hands happily as he pointed to go down.
"So now you laugh at mommy who breaks things hmm?"
She chuckled, hoping this wouldn't do any permanent damage to the old house. If Iqbal didn't sense any danger and neither did Fortune, then it seemed as though Tia would continue on downwards.
"I guess we're going to find out soon enough what's down there ..."
Once the victim is all the way through the doorframe, the same door parts jolt to life. They whiz across and slam with a threatening click of a lock, making the three prisoners to its intentions.
Only way to go now is down..
Tia held tightly onto Iqbal as he giggled whizzing around. Fortune squawked before silence came over them. Tia figured that the threatening lock sounded was like a cliche in the movies, that there was no where to go but forward.
"Erm, this house has the a tendency to play with your head,"
She whispered to herself as she went lower Iqbal jumping in his place with anticipation the whole way down.
The signature frosted doors, faintly decorated with vines and faded gold markings, stand at the end of the staircase, tall and proud. A single light bulb, flickering and threatening to give out, hands overhead. The handles are vines themselves, a large solid "leaf" at the thumb of them.
Within, there's a whole other world.
Iqbal bounced even more reaching out to touch the handle while Fortune squawked happily. Tia's hand touched the golden leaf handle and peered at her surroundings. She spoke with an arched eyebrow.
"A library?"
Somehow, Tiagra's voice manage to carry the distance to the back of the Library where Wren was. Even Mael tilted his head, distracted from the darkly shining gem, and looked towards the voice.
"Don't move, brat." He pointed a finger at Mael and saw that tongue flicker out briefly. Right, he could only hope Mael decided to not move. "Somebody there?" he called back, walking a bit, but not letting Mael out of his sight.
Tia crept into the library slowly admiring the colors and spacey area. She walked in casually upon hearing Wren's voice, and replied back.
"Wren? ... It's Tia."
Oh. Well, Tia -- then again, Wren knew it had to be one of the other guardians, but he wasn't sure that Tiagra had ever made it into the library. After all, Iqbal wasn't originally hers to look after.
"Um, just keep heading towards the back," he responded, "there's a cleared area for the kiddies back here." Pausing, he turned around to make sure Mael was still on the mat ( and he was, but intently watching Hawk ). "More proper greeting when we're face to face."
... he really was going to have to sort out this thing about Mael and trying to grab his shadow.
"Right," she chuckled edging in deeper into th library until she saw Wren. With a small wave of her hand she walked over to them Iqbal giddy as ever when he saw Mael. Fortune was glad as well, since her job would be easy with only the serpent and child to observe.
Both Mael and Suffocation focused on Fortune before only Suffocation's attention was on the gryphon type avian and Mael's was on Iqbal. Tiagra was mainly ignored, Mael scooting back on the mat and then patting the ground with his hand and letting Suffocation slither off.
"'Lo you." Wren grinned at Tia, ignoring the nudge of curiousity he got from Hawk who had gone to hide in his shadow near his feet. "Finally made it into the Library, I see."
Tiagra took Iqbal out of the baby backpack she had him in, since his squirming permitted her to, and placed him on the mat sitting up while his clapped his hands together. Fortune hopped out of it onto the floor following Iqbal's movements.
"Yes, quite interesting way to find this place, I almost thought I'd done something wrong in the beginning," she gave a small laugh sitting in a nearby chair.
Fortune was given a wary look from both the baby and the daemon, but after a moment Mael and Suffocation started to move again. They shared a moment of speaking to one another before the baby smiled and waved his hand at Iqbal. He giggled, but Suffocation seemed to show the wariness that both still had.
"Mm. Let me guess, was it music? Or light? Or something else? Door's probably locked now, but it'll open back up it a bit most likely so we can leave." Wren shook his head, hands going into his pockets.
Iqbal leaned forward touching his toes again ears twitching at the giggles. His tail flicked a bit as he tried to get control. Fortune gave a bored look resting beside Iqbal's side.
"Actually, it was light, then a door sort of disappeared and I found myself going downwards till I reached the next door which lead me here," she gave another small smile scratching her head, "It locks people in here? How wonderful."
"Er, well, when I first came down here with Naita and Kam, the door locked shut behind us. ... then the mysterious light." Wren scrunched up his nose and then shook his head. "Stairs and all that business. Honestly, I can see how people miss the way down here, but ... well. The Library probably helps." Cue creepy feeling that the place they were in was alive in some way.
It was amazing, Mael's attention was no longer on Hawk that was in Wren's shadow. No, he was focused on Iqbal and those ears of his. After all, he still hadn't gotten a chance to really look at them and he slowly started to crawl forward, regardless of the fact that Suffocation didn't think it too wise. He was inching closer and closer and trying to reach those fuzzy ears ...
"Maybe people aren't willing to follow eerie things as we were? I mean I thought it was the swamp thing trying to catch me back there," she felt a shiver down her spine glancing behind her for a moment.
Iqbal tilted his head to Mael and gave a little gasp of excitement as he edged closer. He wanted to touch that funny stuff he always wore. It was boring to touch his clothes all the time. He gave a small coo. Fortune curled up into a small ball on the mat attempting to sleep.
"Who knows." Wren tapped his finger against his cheek now, eyes watching the walls, seeing they were like to suddenly move like the door he remembered. Then again, Pippin's office was somewhere around here. "I mean, this place seems old and ..." He shrugged, trailing off. There was simply something in the air here that was magic. Much like the babies and that one book. "Though I've never felt chased."
Suffocation hissed at Mael, trying to make him not go near the wolf child and the avian daemon, but Mael just let out a garble of baby speak and went on forward. He finally managed to get close enough that he raised his hand up to get touch the tip of one ear with a hand. Fuzzy ears. He giggled, smiling that impish smile of his.
"True, the saying, 'things are what they seem' comes to mind," she paused to glance a look to Iqbal before continuing, "Perhaps it all lays in the babies? I've heard stories of how they were born,"
"Ehgoo..." Iqbal cooed, as his ears twitched at the touch. He gave a small reach for Mael's shirt patting it lightly with his small fingers. Iqbal gurgled at Mael's giggles and smiled back to him. Fortune's head poked up with a raised eyebrow. She didn't understand why they wanted to play with each other that way ... but as long as Iqbal wasn't in danger or hurt, it wasn't of much concern to her.
Wren gestured to a chair, since he was going to sit down, eyes glancing to the babies briefly. Besides, he had the nut that was there too to look after. Never mind Hawk still clinging to his shadow. "Maybe, who knows? I mean, I didn't see how they came to be. Just that we came in here, ended up picking out a book, and then Pippin lead us into his office to speak and when we came out, there were three babies and three daemons in place of the books and excerpts with them."
This wasn't actually playing to Mael. No, playing would be with the toys that were around on the mats, but the fuzzy ears made him curious. He paused in his movements when Iqbal patted his shirt and looked at him before giggling. Suppose it was fair, since he was looking at the ears. His tail swished happily and he petted the fuzzy ears much like he did to Immaculate's. Suffocation, if she could've, probably would've rolled her eyes.
"Maybe that's why they are close then?" Tia gestured towards the two Forgotten, "Being born on the same day ... or something to that effect, though that does seem interesting, their excerpt must have more to do with the big picture ..."
Iqbal's eyes darted from the inanimate shirt to that swishing tail. He had a tail too, but he couldn't move it like that. It was so interesting! his small hands tumbled down attempting to snag a bit of the tail, attempting to balance himself with his heavy coat. Fortune sighed keeping one eye open as the other closed.
"... did Kam give you his excerpt?" Wren asked, looking at the Feien bloom and then satisfied it was okay he smiled up at Tiagra. "As for the closeness? Perhaps, but Mael went after Iqbal's ears last time they were together. The excerpts, though? In some ways, my dear, it is probably best they do not pertain to our charges."
Iqbal moving meant that Mael lost the fuzzy ears and he frowned, letting out a quiet hiss. His tail continued to swish and twitch, particularly when hands tried to grab it. Blinking red eyes, Mael watched Iqbal with a curious look. Suffocation merely slithered somewhere to find a comfortable vantage point, watching and keeping an eye on her Forgotten.
"I'm not sure, perhaps it's with Iqbal's belongings somewhere, or hidden in that coat that he won't let me touch," she chuckled, "Ah his ears. Iqbal's been attempting to control is tail, so he's probably envious of Mael's ability. Hmm well, perhaps it's best not to think too much ahead and enjoy the ride there,"
Iqbal furrowed his eyebrows as the tail jumped away from him every time he tried to reach it. He sat up a bit flustered touching hi_ toes again giving a sigh and a gurgle.
"There's all ways something the brats," though Wren said that affectionately, "won't let you mess with. Though with Mael that's anything at any given time." He snorted. "Mm, I don't know what it is. Mael doesn't hold back, well ..." Wren shook his head, not wanting to talk about the incident with Nora, because Mael did hold back now. "Ahem. I don't think Mael has complete control over his tail, more like it has a mind of it's own, but he can do things with it. When I carry him, he likes to wrap it around my arm. And, yes, enjoy the ride. You know the saying, all good things and whatnot."
Mael giggled, amused at how Iqbal couldn't just seem to get a grip on his tail. He squirmed a bit, trying to change how he was sitting, and his tail swished, just resting there and not moving.
"Heh. Well, he seems very possessive over keeping that fur on. I have no idea why though ... I haven't even found out what kind of fur it is," Tia didn't pay attention to Wren switching so suddenly, "Oh, I see. Iqbal's got that small furry wolf tail. For the past few days he's been trying to move it on his own, it's quite funny to watch his attempts,"
Iqbal's ears twitched as Mael's tail flickered around. It was as if he was teasing him so he couldn't touch it. That wasn't fair! He got to touch his ears! Iqbal leaned forward more narrowing his eyes onto the tail attempting to pounce on it, wiggling his tail. He ended up with a thump, but nonetheless get to touch the smooth tail. He bobbed back and forth happily clapping his hands.
Tia stared a bit oddly to Iqbal. "Well. He's never pounced anything before."
"Well, have you tried asking him nicely to let you look at it, perhaps?" Wren chuckled, shaking his head. "You can all way_ try that. A wolf tail, hm?" he asked, tilting his head to one side to look and catch a glimpse at Iqbal's tail. "I'm sure if he's determined, he'll get it eventually." He ended up chuckling more.
The odds were, there really was teasing going on. Mael just giggled and smiled that mischievous smile of his while Iqbal moved about. At the attempted pounce though, he all most fell backwards trying to get away, but he ended up staying his ground. Particularly when Iqbal ended up clapping his hands. So, wait, he was just trying to touch his tail? Nothing else. Mael turned his head to look at Suffocation, who let out a soothing hiss. The tail, proving it did have a mind of it's own continued to move about and eventually, moved and curled briefly around Iqbal's ankle.
"... well, at least it's cute?" Wren shook his head. "At least Mael did try to crawl away or anything afterwards." There were those worries again, but he shoved them to the back of his mind.
"Or maybe when he's asleep. At least the duo is beginning to trust me more, I felt that there would be that void where Kam was ..." she answered softly trailing off, "Yes, when he gets a bit older and more aware of his actions," she smiled at the thought.
Iqbal looked curiously to the tail, watching it curl around his ankle. He didn't exactly knew what it meant, but it felt ticklish and he giggled smiling with his bi-colored eyes, his tail swishing. He leaned his head over for Mael to touch his ears who twisted in opposite directions.
"It is cute," she laughed, "Mael's a cute one too, especially with those little smiles,"
"Well, be careful of doing it when he's asleep. You wouldn't want him to wake up with you returning or taking it." Wren smiled faintly, reaching out and patting Tiagra's shoulder. "I'm sure that there probably is, but now that you're taking care of him, you'll help to fix that, no?" He smiled a little more widely. "I honestly can't wait to see the kids get bigger. All the girls have, but that's no surprise."
Mael's tail was smooth, the skin warm, but there was obviously strength in it, particularly when it curled completely around Iqbal's tail and squeezed slightly before loosening. It went right back to flicking every so often in movements. Mael turned his attention back to Iqbal after being reassured by Suffocation and smiled again, giggling because Iqbal did and those ears were nearby. So, of course, he reached out to play with them again.
"They're both cute, but that could be me." There was an amused grin on his face now. "And those smiles may be cute, but watch it, they can be just as mischievous."
"Yes. If I'm correct and he has some wolf blood in him, my hand may be his new chew toy," she smiled and nodding to Wren, "Yes, I just hope Kam will be ok, she seemed so torn at that time," she sighed shrugging, "Heh, yes it'll be interesting to see what comes out of their mouths,"
Iqbal's eyes followed the tail suspiciously and gave a small giggle as it squeezed his ankle. He had an interesting time following its movements though. It was like a little animal. Iqbal cooed again at being petted on the ears. He couldn't exactly reach them himself to scratch, and this was the best he could get.
"Heh that's also true," she chuckled, "Ah the mischievous type then? I'm sure with that smirk he'll get out of any trouble,"
"Perhaps try a teething ring or something along that line? You know, those rings that are filled with water? Stick it in the freezer for a little while and then take it out and give it to him to chew on. See if that contents him." Wren rubbed his neck, shaking his head. "Honestly, I'm sad to hear that Kam could no longer take care of Iqbal. I mean ..." He shook his head again, obviously a sign that he just didn't know what to say.
Since Iqbal didn't seem to mind, Mael kept playing with the ears. Tugging on one a bit, testing. There were all ready wheels turning in his mind, little things that he probably wouldn't remember when older. Mael honestly hadn't been getting out a lot and the fact that he was getting to play with something that made him curious and there was no danger meant he was going to enjoy it. Never mind Suffocation was keeping an eye out for him and father was near by. ... the woman, he ignored. His tail slunk back and continued to move about.
"I worry for when Mael becomes a toddler. I don't know if I'd be able to survive." Wren said, purposely being over dramatic. "Mm, that's bad, you realize? He gets out of things because he's too cute. I have no resistance."
"Yes, teething rings sound good. If it gets to the point of sharp cuspids ... I'm going to have to get out some bones," she amused herself with the thought as she nodded, "Ah well, that's alright. She said she'd visit once in a while, and if it's making an effort I'm pretty much content with the decision,"
Iqbal's ears twitched again at the sound of Tia's voice and 'bones', but he could let his eyes off the tail. It was mesmerizing him, before he blinked at the tug. No he liked to be scratched. Fortune tugged at his ears when she wanted something. He shook his head lightly in displeasure to Mael for him to try something else. A thought crossed Iqbal. Where was Fortune? Fortune squawked lightly as she was examining Iqbal's actions at the tail. she pranced over to him, avoiding Suffocation and sitting like a small puppy.
Tia laughed at his drama, "Ah. If he'll be like that who knows what they could do as a duo. It'd be bad for both of us. Little partners in crime,"
"Mm, well, Mael's got fangs. Teething rings didn't stand up to his teeth -- but one of my shirts did." Wren rolled his eyes and sighed. "Not that he really makes it a practice to bite and chew all that much." He tilted his head to look at Tia, fingers absently nudging the little basket with the nut. "Well, I'm glad things worked out for Iqbal and Kam. Really."
Mael was happily ignoring both the adults, only focused on Iqbal and Suffocation when she crossed his mind. At the reaction to the tug, he let out a quiet hiss, and went back to scratching. So tugging wasn't good, but scratching was. That was fine. Of course Fortune coming closer and watching his tail made him pause his scratching. He stared at her for a moment, wondering how much of a threat she was. Iqbal seemed just fine, but Fortune was something else.
"... ugh, not another partner in crime duo. I don't think I'd survive." There was a smile on his lips anyway, though. "We'll just have to see as they grow up, hm?"
"Oh my, I think I should get him a little playhouse. It'd be idle for playing or ... destroying," she gave a wary laugh, "Thank you, really. I'm sure Iqbal will be happy. What have you got there?" she pointed to the nut curiously.
Iqbal's tail tapped lightly as he cooed sticking a bit of his pink tongue out in reply to the scratches. It almost felt like he was in a daze that the scratching that spot made him feel better. He nestled his head forward to switch ears. Iqbal looked to Fortune babbling a bit, when the scratching stopped. Fortune gave a small squawk before returning beside Tia's leg. Iqbal tried to reassure Mael that she was just overprotective.
"Heh, though yes, their characters will develop more as they get older."
"Them being happy is all we can hope for, right? Since we're like parents and everything ..." Wren glanced down at the nut and then gave Tia a sheepish grin. "It was something of a gift. It's, um, a Feien. Except ... it's a nut right now, until it comes out of it's shell." He nudged the basket in her direction so that she could get a better look, but otherwise watched the group on the mats carefully. "It's something to look forward to, however, them getting older and coming into their own."
Suffocation had stilled just as Mael had, but watching Fortune. Red and black eyes all most unblinking. When Fortune finally moved away, Mael started to scratch again slowly, not exactly sure of what Iqbal's reassurances. After all, in his mind, birds were nothing but trouble. All kinds at that. There was a frown on his face and he let out a quiet garble baby-speak, a sign of his wariness, but he scratched since Iqbal's ears were right there.
"Yes, I guess it is," she eyed the nut carefully, "Ooo looks interesting," she looked dup to Wren, "Getting older, it's hard to imagine how they would be,"
Iqbal gave more of a happy gasp his tail thumping thoroughly enjoying the scratch, until he heard Mael, in which he lifted his head up to babble something else looking him in the eyes. He felt his toes again as he gave a small giggle. He didn't want his friend to be sad over Fortune. They could play a new game.
"I'm just curious about what the little creature will look like," Wren snorted, stretching his arms out a little and rolling his head from side to side. "Well, I'm not much of a seer, so I suppose we'll just have to wait and see." Of course, at the mention of seer, Hawk sent Wren a wordless message of amusement, glowing faintly from his shadow.
Mael all most fell forward some, trying to scoot around to see what was _causing the thumping noise. Of course, when Iqbal tried to speak back, it wasn't like he really understood, but the bird was away and he didn't have to worry about it. Suffocation was watching and his father wouldn't let him get hurt, never mind Iqbal seemed to be trying to reassure him. He scratched the ears still before pulling his hands back and this time really trying to get a look at what was causing the thumping noise.
"Ah, I see, a little fairy like creature is supposed to pop up then? I've seen a few others, but with blooms ..."
Iqbal tilted his head and looked at Mael curiously. He managed to get his talon the side of him. Iqbal eyed it sheepishly. That little tail of his. He'd been trying to catch it for so long and couldn't do it. It thumped in it's place oddly. Iqbal resisted the urge to pounce on it. Fortune didn't know why the pair were glaring at her. She had thought the Serpent was an equal, perhaps she didn't know she did something to upset them. she sat on her stomach, letting her head rest on her paws.
"Yeah, Val, the feien Halo looks after, was a bloom too. The fact this one is a nut is kind of unique, I think." Wren sighed a bit, shaking his head at the behaviour Mael and Suffocation were showing towards Fortune. At least it wasn't as bad as what he was expecting from Frozen, but still ... "I hope Fortune won't be too offended by how Mael and Suffocation are acting towards her. Not sure they can help it."
Mael just looked at the tail before reaching out and tugging on it once, softly, before letting go. Iqbal looked like he was trying to get it himself. Could he hand it to him, perhaps? Suffocation merely lowered her head back down, tongue flickering out every so often and turned her attention back to Mael and the pup.
Tia glanced down to Fortune, petting her on the head. "Nah, I think she knows to stay her ground. She's just overprotective," she replied taking in the information, "They do sound odd, little Fairy's coming from nuts and all,"
Fortune accepted the pet, feeling a bit better keeping her spot. Iqbal's eyes widened. He caught his tail! How did he do that? His tail swished away, as Iqbal turned his head following it with his plump cheeks, flexing his fingers toward it, as if to grab.
"Well, no, that's not it." Wren sighed, hands spread flat across the top of the table. "That day that you took Freyr out with you, Suffocation was injured by a parrot." He looked towards Suffocation, still amazed that there was hardly a mark to show where she had been injured. "They've been wary of birds since."
Mael blinked, trying to figure out just what Iqbal was doing. Did he want to grab his tail too, was that it? But ... it was short, or, well, not long like his own. He looked at the tail and then at Iqbal, all most as if he was at a lost with figuring out how to help the other grab it.
"Oh," Tia paused to look at Suffocation for a moment, "Ah, any birds at all? Even mixed like gryphons?" Fortune's ears were intent listening. While she didn't understand most of the conversation, she perked up at the words birds and wary and put them together. She let out a small sigh watching the two boys.
Iqbal cooed as he attempted to touch his tail. Why couldn't anyone understand that it was fluffy. Fluffy had to be touched. His tail thumped along to the other side of him as he rocked from side to side flustered, trying to catch it.
"It seems to be any bird." Wren bit the inside of his cheek in thought before shaking his head once more. "It was the neighbor's parrot. The thing got it's claws into Suffocation and ended up hurting both her and Mael. ... the noise he made was something else." Suffocation was barely paying any attention to Wren, but at the mentioning of her name and the look in her direction she was alerted and looked back at him before turning back to the pup and Mael.
No, things were about the fuzzy stuff, not fluffy things. Mael patted Iqbal's tail, before crawling around and trying to figure out what it was Iqbal was trying to go. His tail flicked from one side to another. So Iqbal wanted to play with his own tail, was that it?
Tia gave a small gulp, not even wanting to imagine what it had really been like for the duo. "That sounds pretty bad, I'm glad they're fine though," Fortune ruffled her feathers momentarily getting a glance in from one golden eye to Iqbal.
Iqbal felt his tail being touched. He did it again! This friend could touch his tail twice already, and yet he couldn't even touch it once in so long! He tried to turn his head to watch his own tail swishing out of range, but it was still, and the perfect opportunity; he would catch it now. He directed his energy to pouncing to the right of him before he found himself turned over facing Mael. He had just turned in a circle again. Blast it! It got away again! He gave a disgruntled coo tapping the floor with his hands.
"... well, they are, but things changed." Wren sighed, not really wanting to think about the fact that Halo was still unable to get near Mael or any other female for that matter. He didn't seem to harbor any trust for them and Suffocation wasn't much better. Birds and his own mother. It wasn't good. "I'm just happy the neighbor left well enough alone."
Mael only blinked his eyes at Iqbal, who looked to be chasing his own tail. He tail flicked over nearby to Iqbal's hands. Since he couldn't get a hold of his own, then he hold his? For a moment at least. He smiled and giggled, trying to understand, but not at the same time.
Changes can be good, yes?" Tia answered hopefully, not sure of the big picture, but informed enough to know it wasn't an easy subject. "Ah, well at least there's a good to the bad."
Iqbal looked over to Mael's tail. Well it was a good substitute, it had a nice smooth texture, ah well, he'd catch it ... sometime. For now, he slid his hands of the smooth tail giggling from Mael's giggles smiling.
"Changes are good, but this is one of those ones forced changes that shouldn't have come now. At least there's all was some bad and then some good." Wren hid the frown he felt like letting show on his face. "Just, um, don't be surprised if Mael doesn't pay any attention to you or anything. Nora, my neighbor with the pet, she kind of shook him enough with her behaviour around him because of her bird's death that he's not too fond of adults -- mainly women." A complete explanation would take longer and most likely coffee or something. Then again, his mind flitted to Halo and the fact that she couldn't even come close to Mael came to mind.
Mael's tail twitched and swished in Iqbal's grasp, occasionally curling around his fingers and hands and then letting go. See? It was much better to hold his tail than chase the fluffy one for now. Mael continued to smile that smile of his and reached out to pat Iqbal. In the back of his mind, Suffocation was most likely giving him a small nudge as to how silly he was.
Tia glanced over to Mael momentarily. "I understand ... I wouldn't force him into doing anything ... especially of having an incident that turned him away from women completely. There's still hope for a change in mind as he gets older though?"
Iqbal giggled at the tail very happily. He hadn't had this much fun even with Fortune! His fingers wiggled as Mael's tail felt ticklish against his soft skin. Iqbal twitched his ears in agreement, since at the moment his hands were a bit busy. He brushed his cheek against his tail to see if that would feel funny too.
"Well, I hope so. I mean, he doesn't acknowledge women if he can help it and deities help if one tries to touch him." Wren finally did frown, but smiled at his son's giggles. "I'm hoping that it at least changes, because he won't let Halo get near him and she's his mother." He went silent for a moment before he rubbed his hand across his face. "I just realized ... I never even thought about his excerpt during all of this." Then there was a sheepish grin on his face. "Er, um, sorry, I think. For rambling on like I am ..."
Mael's tail was smooth, the skin soft, but somewhat tough, and it was very warm to the touch much like the baby. Mael was trying to squirm around to get a look at Iqbal, ignoring the quiet nudges from Suffocation, and smiled again. Now that felt odd, his tail rubbed against a cheek. No one had done that before ...
"Ah ... well, I'm sure he can learn to trust a mother, since it's that maternal instinct and all ..." she chuckled at Iqbal and his actions, "Ah, the excerpt. Well I wouldn't be surprised if something was in there ... and don't worry, I ramble all the time,"
Iqbal cooed from the warmness, and giggled at the tail on his cheek. He pulled away sitting up again smiling some redness in his face from being warm, but a few more giggles escaped him again.
"Rather, can maternal instinct stand up to it?" Wren hoped so, since Halo was giving him looks and they were starting to get more and more, well. He cut off his line of thought. "Mm. Well, Mael's excerpt? It involved being betrayed by a woman. I should've clicked sooner."
Mael just smiled his little mischievous smile and let Iqbal play with his tail, squirming and shifting. He was trying to go for those ears again -- because they were far more interesting than the dark glowing thing in father's shadow and the toys around.
"Well there are pretty powerful women out there," she chuckled to herself before looking back to Wren, "Ah, well that would explain it,"
Iqbal looked to Mael's face curiously with wide eyes. His ears went outward in opposite directions as he gurgled to himself from the tail again. It was a pretty interesting tail ... unlike his who was mean to him. His fuzzy ears twitched from some small sounds Fortune was making in her sleep.
"So, so not going to comment." Wren laughed, cheeks going red briefly. "But I guess that explains some part of it, except that ... er. Well, I'll just have to let you know the complete excerpt sometime." Then she'd understand why, exactly, he was wary about it. "I'm sure he'll change his opinions as he gets older though ... Nothing lasts forever."
Mael's tail was flexible, all most like the baby himself, who was trying to contort one way or another and finally managed to sit so that Iqbal had his tail ( which curled around his wrist again and brushed his cheek since it was being held ) and he could reach out for those ears. The tips of his fingers brushed against once, a hiss from Suffocation distracting him for a moment. Ah, so that bird was asleep ... That was good.
Tia laughed along with him. "I'm glad. And I'm sure I'll let you see Iqbal's ... once I found out where it is he hid it. And yes, nothing does last forever."
Iqbal cooed again as the smooth tail wrapped around his finger. His eyes glanced up to Mael's hand and he smiled gently tilting his wars forward to him.
"... actually, I kind of remember Iqbal's." Wren gave Tiagra another sheepish grin. "A while back, the first time Mael and Iqbal really got to be around one another, Kam and myself read their excerpts to each other. His, um, I remember bits of it ..." He shrugged, then nodded with her words.
Mael let out a hiss, something of a giggle mingled with it. He was probably going to roll out those s's of his when he was older because of his fangs, among other things. He leaned and reached, finally getting the ear and let out a triumphant squeal before petting. Suffocation let out her own hiss. Really. Hadn't he been more interested in toys and shiny things earlier?
"Oh? Do you? He hasn't shown any signs of anything dramatic yet ... so he probably isn't too heavily influenced by anything ... but you never know."
Iqbal giggled at Mael's squee shuffling his coat, when a small piece of paper flew out landing next to Fortune. Tia looked down and picked up the small paper. "Ah, what do you know, it was in his coat."
Iqbal didn't even seem to notice the excerpt fall from his coat. He was much too content on Mael patting his ears that give him a relief from trying to pet them himself. His tail thumped softly behind him.
"Something about a woman and blood, I think? I can't remember exactly." Wren tilted his head, lifting himself up a little to look up over at Tia and the piece of paper in her hands.
Mael's eyes cut to the paper, simply because it was something that had appeared. He was quickly distracted by the thumping of Iqbal's tail and continued petting the ears. He couldn't tug on them, right? Well, maybe later he'd see what else he could do ... Letting out his own brand of garbled baby speak he looked elsewhere on the mat towards the left over baby toys. Hmm.
Tia read aloud, "The valley bottom was perfectly still and the gnarled bones had been covered by the snow. But as he crept towards the rock, he stopped. The snow was stained with blood, a little red stream snaking out from the edge of the stone. The fortune teller was lying on her side and the snow about her body was covered in prints." Tia shivered a bit from the morbid thoughts on the paper, before glancing over to Iqbal.
Iqbal cooed happily again at being petted before he followed Mael to the baby toys. What was he going to do now?
Wren shook his head, fingers tugging a few stands of hair that had fallen into his face. "Yeah," he said, as if that explained everything and nothing at the same time. "... Mael's wasn't much better or brighter, for that matter." But with where his mind was going, it wasn't best to think about it. "As I said before, one can hope they don't reflect upon the children.'
Mael reached with one hand and nudged one of the letter blocks towards Iqbal. Hello, PLAY. What else was one suppose to do? His tail swished and flicked.
"Yes, hopefully it won't shape their lives," she whispered, still a bit wary of the paper in which she would have to relate back to time and time again.
Iqbal gave a small smile and picked up a letter block stacking one in the middle. He had never played with blocks ... because he had never found them too interesting.
"It's just a piece of paper, honestly. If it ties to their lives, it ties to their lives ..." Wren ignored the nudge from Hawk and stared at the feien bloom he was charged with. After a moment, his attention focused on Mael who seemed intent to stack all the blocks up somehow and Iqbal who didn't seem too interested. "Besides, if it does, it's a story right? Who says you can't do a rewrite? Or they can't?"
Mael was hardly paying attention to his father or the woman or Suffocation who was still trying to get his attention. Instead, he was playing with the blocks and attempting to get Iqbal to as well. Because, honestly, the best thing about playing with blocks was the way they came crashing down.
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Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 12:45 am
This morning you are surprised to find that along with your morning post is a dark looking paper bag with the top scrunched tightly over. Intrigued, you pick it up noticing a small note attached to the outside...Quote: Dear Wren and Mael, I was finally clearing out my cupboards after the holidays and I came across these things! I meant to give them out at Hallowe'en, but... let's say my house isn't as tidy as most. Anyway. Moving swiftly on, seeing as this is a gift for Mael and Suffocation, I thought I would drop it past for you. Hope you guys are well! ~ Kel-chan (and Althalus) 
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Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 1:10 pm
|[ Bigger Equals More Trouble ]|
28.01.05 ; Run it's Godzilla -- er. Toddler Mael! It was noticeable instantly. Perhaps it had been gradual and Wren simply had been caught up with other things to notice, but that couldn't be it. Then, for more than a single moment, his chest tightened just a little. Halo wouldn't really be able to enjoy this to it's fullest either. Not with things between her and Mael still in shambles and even Otium was beginning to show signs of being affected by the fact that Mael and her were not getting along.
Not that Halo wasn't trying, but Mael wasn't even bothering to play nicely with her. Then again, he was a baby. Well, no, that was inaccurate, Mael wasn't a baby anymore. He was a toddler. Which --
"... I'm so screwed." Groaning quietly, hand pressed to his face, Wren looked down between his fingers at the still sleeping toddler. He'd have to wake him up sooner or later for breakfast along with Otium and then the others if they were inclined to eat. Hopefully Mael wouldn't live up to any of his expectations of him as a toddler, because if that was the truth ... Well, Wren was in for more than he could handle, one way or another.
"Don't even think about it, Pierce." Wren said in a quiet voice, all most forcefully to the Shadow Fiend that was lurking over his shoulder as if he was peering down at the sleeping toddler. Hawk's shadowy glow merely darkened and he slunk back into the deeper shadows that the demon cast about himself. Honestly, Wren wasn't interested in suddenly being bombarded with potential visions of his son. At least, not in the way Hawk's Eye was inclined to show him. Getting hit with random clips and foggy visions of the future was not something he liked, particularly when he was in the middle of doing things.
Or when he was contemplating the hellion that Mael was likely to be. Hawk merely let Wren know his feelings on the matter, a hint of smugness to the feeling he got from the Fiend. Hawk knew damn well how much of an arse he was at times and took pride in the fact he could get a rile out of Wren without even trying.
Then again, it did take the fun out of things and there was something of a sulk to the feelings that he impressed upon Wren. Taking the immature route, Wren turned his head and stuck his tongue out at the Shadow Fiend -- not quite giving a damn.
"Might as well get this done with," Wren muttered under his breath, now that Hawk's Eye was subdued in his shadow for the time being. ( Though retaliation was to come later, he knew it. ) Reaching forward, he moved to wake up the sleeping toddler and from there, he knew not what would happen.
---
Mael was wide awake and ready for more playing after breakfast. Suffocation was happily slithering about the house, though not too far from him, and exploring more places than she hadn't been before. The only reason he wasn't was because he was too amused by father sprawled out on the floor in front of him. He look so tired! But he shouldn't be, the day hadn't even begun and father was tuckered out.
Waking up this morning had come with changes. He was bigger, so was Suffocation, and that meant there was more to explore and to see. Of course, it was odd being bigger, and he was still crawling about, but that didn't deter him at all. If anything, it spurred him on to do more things. There were lots of things to look at from his new vantage point and never mind getting use to the height. ( Then, and the most important, he was more aware, more understanding. It was no longer simply vague things, but he was well on his way to comprehending just exactly what was going on. A good thing for sure, but a bad thing in the right hands. )
Father also made funny noises that were pretty interesting as well, but then he'd glare at the dark shiny in his shadow that hid behind him. Mael giggled, hands hitting the ground in his amusement and started to crawl forward to tug on father's trouser leg to get him to play more. ( Or if he was lucky, the dark shiny would come out to play. Maybe the other fairy thing would play with him more now? ) There were places that Mael wanted to go and visit and from Suffocation's hissing, there were a few interesting things towards the basement.
"... it's not even eleven yet, brat, and you've got me tired out." Father murmured, the words not entirely understood by the toddler. Mael just smiled that wide grin of his, the one that meant trouble, and tugged again on father's trouser leg to get the point across. The dark shiny actually flitted forward then, coming towards Mael, and he reached out for it only to have it slip right out of his grasp.
No fair.
"I swear, Hawk, one of these days, Mael's going to get a hold of you and I'm not going to help you. If only in spite." Father spoke again, sparing another look for the dark shiny. Mael merely frowned and tugged on father's trouser leg again. Hello. Playing. Now preferred. It didn't do him any good if father wasn't focusing on him or if he couldn't be equally distracted by the dark shiny.
Father simply looked at him, giving him that awkward half-smile of his and reached down to scoop up the now squirming Mael. He didn't particularly like to be picked up, not when there was exploring to be done and playing! His face screwed up and he started to pout. Suffocation appeared around the edge of the sofa and stared at him. There were interesting things just around it. That was what she seemed to say to him.
"Hey, hey!" Father's voice was ignored as he squirmed out of his grasp and started to crawl off. His tail was flicking about happily and he was too busy about to have fun to be bothered by father.
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Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2005 3:25 pm
|[ Nora's Pet ]|
01.02.05 ; ... and she just had to get another bird. The shrieks and squawks could be heard all down the road and through out a good portion of the Port Gino neighborhood. Most weren't honestly bothered by it, since it was merely another one of the locals bringing home another pet ( and, for a change, it was a normal pet ). Most weren't Mael, however, and the moment the toddler heard the sound, his hand was shielding Suffocation, insistently communicating that she was safer curled around him rather than slithering about in vague thoughts.
Situated out in the front yard, most of the snow gone all ready from the yard ( though bits and pieces of it were still on the ground and cause for him to be bundled up, somewhat ), both Mael and Suffocation had been enjoying basking in the sunlight and letting it warm their skin. Wren was sitting on the steps leading to the porch and then into the home. He was trying to write, laptop in his lap, not so bundled up, and a pair of headphones on trying to block out noises. Every so often he would look up to see where Mael was and then go back to his writing.
It probably helped that Ripper was stretched out beside him, head on his crossed forelegs and keeping watch on the serpentine toddler with one eye open and the other closed. The totetsu could enjoy the warm weather as well, never mind that Tom and Carmine had gone out and there was no one to keep him amused. ( Well, there was Nicolena, but the feline simply wasn't that intriguing, not when she was batting around that rock -- it didn't feel quite right to play with it. ) The totetsu was keeping an eye out on the serpentine child as well, since the father of the child was so insistently writing at the moment. He kept muttering something about not wanting his writing groove to be broken.
As it was, Nora was walking up along the street towards her home next door, a true gilded cage carried high with one hand. Within the cage was a large bird. It's feathers were mostly white, with just a hint of yellow to some of the feathers on top of it's head. It was, apparently, a cockatoo and one that couldn't seem to stop it's squawking. Nora was talking to it, that baby-talk that showed she was a tad bit too obsessed with her new pet. She didn't even seem bothered by the few people that poked their own heads out to see just what the local gossip and nosey-nose had brought into the Port Gino, particularly considering her last pet had died previously under what was still considered 'mysterious circumstances' that related to the toddler that was outside now.
Mael's attention was on Nora as she came closer to reaching her house. It was for too easy for him to recognize her, to know who she was, and to instantly dislike her beyond most emotional responses a toddlers had. It was hate and probably more than that. This woman was responsible, in Mael's mind, for bringing harm to his Suffocation. To what was another part of himself, just not on the inside. Suffocation was his other half, in a way.
Letting out a hiss, jerking slightly as something fuzzy with horns butted up against him softly, Mael only briefly acknowledged Ripper. He had to watch Nora and this bird that she was bringing into their territory, or reasonably close to it. Not that the woman seemed to be paying them any mind at the moment, but her lips were moving and she was speaking to the thing. Mael didn't like it at all, the bird. It was too big, too noisy, and obviously a danger to himself and Suffocation. More so Suffocation, because even though she was bigger there wasn't much defense to be had against talons and a sharp beak that could crush nuts.
His fingers brushed along Suffocation's scales, soothingly in a way, though the serpent did not seem to be scared at the moment. There was, honestly, no reason to, but it was best to let Mael do as he pleased. Perhaps he was a little over protective, but that was his way it seemed, in regards to her.
"B - b - buhssss." Whatever Mael tried to speak turned into a hiss towards the end, his fingers curling about Suffocation in a protective move as Nora turned down her walkway. Her eyes had finally settled on the toddler and narrowed slightly. The gilded cage that carried the bird was switched to the other hand, held out and away from him. As if that would protect it from what she considered to be the killer of her previous pet bird.
Nora just stared at the serpentine toddler for a moment or two, eyes glancing at first to the totetsu that was sitting beside him and then to Wren who was on the porch, steadily writing ( but out of the corner of his eye, he was watching the proceedings; he was not that oblivious ). She opened her mouth to say something, only to close it just as quickly. It wasn't worth her time and she turned her nose up and just walked up to her house and then inside.
Mael's fingers loosened their protective curl around Suffocation, but he gnashed his fangs a little, forked tongue flickering out as he did so. That woman, and her bird, were a serious threat and problem.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 3:45 am
|[ Journal Entry ]|
09.02.05 ; Written in by the guardian, Wren. Been a while since I've actually written anything down that hasn't been related to something I need to get written. More like, this something I can enjoy one way or another. At least things have gone quiet since what happened in December. Never would thought Mael would end up being responsible for something like that. Then again, considering it was Nora's pet bird? Well, she deserved it. Never mind she deserves being knocked upside the head for how she treated Mael right after everything went sour.
Really have to wonder if she's at fault for how Mael's reacting towards females. He didn't seem to have a problem prior, but now he hardly pays attention to any at all, and whenever Halo tries to -- well, let's just say that his reactions are particularly good. Disheartening, in fact, and likely to be more so to Halo. It's not good that he's treating her this way, but apparently any intervention from myself doesn't seem to do a thing. I have to give it to Mael, he's stubborn when he wants to be, among other things.
I'm beginning to wonder if Otium is affected by all of this. Well, I don't doubt that it is possible, just not sure if he is. I mean, honestly, how would someone -- as a baby -- take suddenly having their brother not particularly friendly with his ( their ) mother. Not a cheery thing, I'm sure. Hell, actually, no. That thought wouldn't work out, and I don't have any siblings. Not any that mom and father have mentioned, and I somehow doubt they've got anymore. ... since I'd do harm if I had any other siblings. I kind of like my place as the only child, not that I'd ever mention it, but hey. Only child in my family has it's perks, but it comes with some downsides like no one would believe.
And it looks like I went off on a tangent, but honestly, it happens. The house hasn't been quiet for a while, so I'm enjoying the few moments to let myself go off on tangents. The feien bloom I received as a gift turned into a young juvenile feien named Kojak who's rather independent and adept at avoiding the grabby hands of Mael, who is still slightly interested in him. Mael's attention is all most all ways on Hawk's Eye, who's really good at avoiding getting caught by Mael's hands, even if he is taller now. Stronger too, if the way his tail grips my arm when it curls around it at times.
I'm reminded that Suffocation came through her shedding just fine. There were several things to worry about when it comes to shedding ( and considering my family, I do know about shedding, but my mind did not relate that to a somewhat normal creature ), but no problems arose during Suffocation's. Except for that tiny fact that there was no getting Mael out of the room for that period of time. At least he was too focused on her to get spoiled to me feeding him in his room.
Just makes me realize that since everything happened, Mael's a little beyond protective of Suffocation at times. As much as I play off as not observant, I know very well that the day that Nora brought home that new pet bird of hers ( dear sweet merciful deities, it was a cockatoo; those things are irritating ), Mael was shielding and hiding Suffocation against his own body. Even gnashed his fangs at the woman, hissing something out. He might have been trying to say something, but I've no clue what.
Now there's a positive thought, away from the trouble Nora is. Mael should be saying his first word any time now, and he's all ready attempting his first steps, just hasn't gotten it down right. I think he will when him and that tail of his work together for balance, instead of him curling it around his own leg. He'll learn, I'm sure, particularly since he's stubborn at times and doesn't seem to want my help when it comes to his attempts at toddling.
... speaking of, I better stop writing. I think I just heard crashing from the kids bedroom and that can only mean somebody's up to no good. Just hope it isn't Ripper trying to avoid giving the brats rides again. If it is however, really need to remember to get a picture of it for Halo. It is adorable, even if Ripper looks like he's about to eat the kids. It's what you get for having a totetsu around the house.
Wren
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:47 am
|[ Capture ]|
17.02.05 ; Becareful of the games you play. Catching things was never going to be easy, or at least some sort of similar thought was floating through Mael's brain as he raised himself up out of his sitting position and tried to grab for Hawk's Eye who was floating about in Wren's shadow. Mael would've been content to ignore the dark shiny from past experience of not being able to capture him, however today wasn't the same Today, the mischievous thing had deliberately, as far as he was concerned, come into his view and tempted him. The dark shiny had wound it's way slowly around dad at the desk and eventually came into his view.
Mael wasn't interested then, however. He pointedly ignored the dark shiny, going back to his own writing, because if dad could write stuff, so could he. Who cared if no one but him understood it? But it pointedly contained plans of some sort. Mael wasn't quite sure what sort of plans, but he was certain they would be quite important once he got older. Plans were all ways important, but he had no clue where that thought had come from. He wasn't even sure what plans were, but it sounded interesting enough to his toddler ears.
Plans was one of the few words he understood, because everybody was all ways talking about them. Plans with mom ( ew ) and dad usually involved him and Otium and going places or other sorts of things. He hadn't figured out what plans with Tom and Carmine meant, but they tended to disappear whenever they came up in conversation. For long periods of time, too, which was something akin to eternity to a toddler.
As it had been, Mael had tried for a while to ignore Hawk's Eye, or the dark shiny as he thought of it. However, the fiend did not give up. No, Hawk's Eye was persistent in his pestering of Mael. He would wind and slip his way around the legs of Wren's chair, floating just beyond the reaches of the shadows and towards Mael. Just as the toddler would look up at him, he'd pull back and move towards Wren's shadow, only to slowly move forward once more as the toddler lost interest in looking.
"When he catches you, Pierce, I'm not helping you out." Wren muttered the words, barely even looking up from where he was typing. Hawk's Eye paid them no mind and Mael didn't even understand them entirely. Hawk was enjoying himself, playing this little game of his, and it was all fair and good as he saw it. The serpent child made grabby hands at him far too often, so it was about time he taunted him in turn. Never mind he was the one with foresight, not Wren. As if the demon could see anything past what was going to be had for dinner.
If he even knew what that was. Besides, as it was, at least he hadn't dropped the news on Wren that his house was going to get noisier, but Hawk didn't need the headache. He was too amused with his game for now, like any young thing. Except, what he failed to realize was that in this game he was, in the end, the prey. Mael was beginning to learn what patience was and he had it to a certain degree, at least in regards to getting what he wanted.
And what he wanted was Hawk's Eye. The way the dark shiny winded and twisted and glowed bright, but shadowed at the same time, fascinated the serpentine toddler as well as his daemon who's head he stroked absently. Suffocation hissed at him quietly, as if informing him the fiend was coming closer once more, but Mael paid him no mind at all. Instead, he kept up with his plans. Furiously scribbling down this and that upon the paper with his black glitter crayon.
He let out a hiss of his own, forked tongue flicking in the air as any snake on the hunt would've done and tasting it lightly. The prey was closer now, apparently coming closer now that it seemed he wasn't even paying attention. Who knew ignoring the dark shiny would lure it in further? Waiting, far more patiently than any toddler his age rightfully should have to. Mael was just waiting for that one sign, another hiss from Suffocation, when the dark shiny got too closer.
There it was! Suffocation's hiss! Then Mael suddenly looked up, tail flicking out rapidly as he pushed himself up and practically jumped into the air. He felt his fingers close around the dark shiny and bring it back down to the ground with him. He kept his hands tightly clasped together only breaking them apart a little bit to peek in at the dark shiny with a smirk ( one Wren probably would've expected to see on Gaitano or Carmine ).
Hawk's Eye frantically bounced against the walls he was bound in now, the fleshy hands that kept him secluded in darkness that wasn't where he wanted to be.
"Stop worrying, Pierce, he's going to let you go eventually." Wren's words were heard far too clearly and Hawk's Eye could all most picture the man turned in his chair away from the computer with an amused smile on his face at what his son and just accomplished and was putting him through. Hawk's Eye didn't even hold back from giving Wren the empathic equivalent to an ear full of yelling and griping. There was no holds barred on the bond between, even when Wren tried to push up some of his own walls to block it.
Hawk's Eye was just too sly for his own good to be denied, with petty attempts at least. Still, Wren did nothing to help him, but if he thought it would teach Hawk a lesson he was probably wrong.
And yet Mael couldn't understand why there was a pained expression on his dad's face, but he was humming such a happy tune. Didn't matter, honestly, he had the dark shiny ( which was still clasped in both hands and being constantly shaken ). Besides, maybe those plans of his had been for this capture. It was possible, wasn't it?
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