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 Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 10:21 pm
"How polite~!" Asrafel coo'd at the man, pushing himself to his feet and giving the man a curtsey. Once straightened up again, he gestured for the man to follow him and turned to flutter off in the direction of the play room. He opened the door and held it for the group to enter.
"This is our play room. I work mainly in this department, with the younger children. As you can see we've got a whole lot of toys and games, but mostly things that are meant to develop a child's intellect and locomotion skills. The building blocks and trains, for example!"
The boy continued to flutter back into the room, where small chairs in all sorts of a colorful array were set up around little tables meant for little people.
"This is where Lillian works for the most part, the Reading Room. She reads the children stories, sometimes we set up the TV and put on some PBS, oh, have you ever seen the Boohbahs? My favorite show~! They don't let us play it for the kids here though.." A sad smile passed over his face for a moment before he continued. "Don't know why really. It's quite the adorable little show!"
He gestured onward, pointing out and bragging about all of the facilities the Day Care offered.
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Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2005 3:32 pm
Syd listened intently as he scanned the area. It seemed safe for a child of Shauna's apparent age to play in relative safety. It also seemed like the children that were working in the facility seemed to be more responsible than the owners of the establishment themselves...he made a note of the fact that it seemed that no owners were present, unless you counted that girl that appeared to be sixteen as an owner..but she didn't even carry herself as a rich family's daughter, and moreover, most rich children were spoiled and didn't have such grand ambitions for helping their fellow humans...which once again made him eternally grateful he had been born an elf as opposed to all the other options he could have had...
Syd's attention then went back to reality when he heard the child say boohbahs...that did not sound like a children's show at all. He then began to wonder who would let their child watch things such as a show like that, and guessed it better he didn't find out right away.
"So these would be the facilities then? I am a little more at ease with things then...for the most part. But I do have to ask you...don't you get a lot of complaints about the uniforms or lack thereof here?" Syd asked the question he had been patiently waiting to insert for the last few minutes. Shauna, the whole time, seemed to be completely taking everything in. She did not want to leave the play room though, and squealed at Syd to go back, rocking back and forth in his arms. She loved how bright all the colors were, and how things were so large compared to her. The colors in Syd's house were browns and blues and reds...the browns from the cherrywood that came from the forests near his home, and the rest was either wallpaper or decoration. She did not mind Syd's home, as it seemed like there was always something more to find there. Plus, she could always bother Cere...he never seemed to mind it, as long as his sleep wasn't disturbed...as he slept alot, he became used to being bothered. Cere did not follow, and instead hung back with the young lady.
"So what do you people do here that makes this such a secretive place?" Cere inquired of the young woman. His tone was dry, as always.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:57 pm
Asrafel turned around, blinking in confusion at the question. He looked down at his ribboned self, and then up at the man, frowning slightly.
"Why, I don't know what y-"
But his words stopped cold as he felt a shiver run down his spine. He turned brusquely and blinked, eyes widening.
Why.. why was he here? Now, of all times?
"Lillian..?" Asrafel squeaked out nervously, but the girl wouldn't hear her. In fact, no one would. The scene before him slowed to a sluggish stop, as if someone had pushed the pause button on life, and he, being the spectator, was the only one not affected.
This was unprecedented. He backed away from the scene, shivering slightly. He was just a kid, he couldn't handle this kind of scary stuff! Why, why was this happening?!
Still, he could feel that tingle in the back of his mind, that told him he was watching. Asrafel had only met him once, in his entire life.. and assumed it to be the last.
He was wrong.
"Why do you look so frightened, Asrafel?" A soft voice permeated the frightening silence, startling Asrafel and sending him reeling back a further few steps. He couldn't see where the voice was coming from, but it didn't matter. He knew who it was.
"Why are you here? Why are you doing this?" Asrafel squeaked out, his eyes turning back to Lillian. Why was Lillian as frozen as the mortals? And Shauna too.. what the heck was going on?!
"..Why me?" Asrafel finally whispered in defeat, after getting no answer to his other questions.
A gentle hand rested on the boy's shoulder, and his nervousness faded away. His body hung limp, and his eyes dulled, dead to sight.
Halexei leaned down and whispered gently into the boy's ear from his sudden stance behind him, knowing full well that Asrafel could still hear.
"Because, my dear child, should anyone awake from their dreams.. no one would suspect you."
To Be Continued..
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 3:39 pm
How long had it been? Days? Weeks? Asrafel's eyes looked up at the clock to check.
...four minutes?
Yes, it had only been a few minutes.
Asrafel had regained his sight, though he could do nothing but watch as Halexei moved through the Day Care Center. He began with Syd and Shauna, fixated on the man for a moment before pursing his lips. It was the only show of emotion Asrafel had ever seen on Halexei, and it surprised him beyond words.
Furthermore, he was surprised to see Halexei take the child from Syd's arms, both of them still frozen in time and unseeing to the events taking place. Halexei placed his hand on Shauna's eyes, and their bright, bubbly curiosity died away in place of a deadened stare, much like Asrafel's had been for a moment. They then closed, and she fell limp into the harbinger's arms.
Halexei then rose his hand up towards Syd, passing it over his face. The man's eyes mirrored Shauna's, just before closing. He did not fall limp however, he simply stood there in a sleepless trance. Halexei felt unsure about just how long the man would stay that way.. which was his reason for Asrafel.
"Child, come to me." Halexei murmured softly, and all at once Asrafel realized he could move. How did he realize this? Because he was moving.. moving toward Halexei. His legs rose and fell of their own accord, and Asrafel whined at the involuntary movement.
He stood beside Halexei, who finally turned his eyes away from Shauna to look down at him. There was the faintest trace of sadness in those knowing eyes.
"She won't remember any of this.." Halexei whispered, nudging his head toward Shauna. "Neither will he." He continued, gesturing toward Syd.
"But you said-"
"I know what I said. Our kind will remember in time. There may be a time, perhaps, when she is grown, where she will require answers. That, my dear child, is why you alone will remember."
Asrafel's eyes fell to Syd for a moment, before looking up at Halexei, who nodded.
"But why? Why are you taking her?"
"I am not. You are."
Asrafel's stomach plummetted. "But I can't.. I mean.. I'm just a kid, I can't be a dad!"
The room filled with a soft, tinkling noise. Asrafel fell victim to it's wonder for a moment, his heart beating wildly, before hazily realizing that it was the equivalent of the harbinger's laughter. He realized all at once that this was why the man showed so little emotion - if his laughter had such an intoxicating effect.. Asrafel could only imagine what his anger would do. He felt shivers run through his body at the mere thought.
"When the true one chosen to bond with the child comes, you will know. You, alone, will know. Until then.."
Halexei handed Shauna's limp form to Asrafel, whose arms lifted involuntarily and collected her into them.
"Run."
"What?!"
Halexei lifted his hand, and placed it on Asrafel's forehead. Before the boy could protest, he was filled with the urge to flee, and he let out a shudder, before his wings beat furiously behind him. He gazed at Halexei and Syd frightfully one last time, before haphazardly zooming out of the Day Care Center at a breakneck speed. He couldn't see, he couldn't feel, he was moving too fast.. even the ribbons bound to his body began to burn at his skin, desperate to slow him down.
But the boy couldn't stop.
Halexei moved slowly out of the room and paused in front of Lillian. Her eyes shone fiercely, indicating that they were, indeed, witness to the events that had taken place. He rose his hand up towards her eyes, which narrowed. His movement paused at this glare, and he let out an uncharacteristic sigh.
"I suppose if you keep it a secret.." He murmured warningly to the girl, who merely nodded. "I would not want Asrafel to think I lied to him about this."
"You never answered his question. Why?"
Lillian's words, as unexpected as they were, did not deter Halexei from his path. He moved back towards Syd, stopping beside the man and setting his hand on his shoulder.
His eyes lifted upward to rest on Lillian's questioning glare, and he merely gave her a haunting smile.
"Even God makes mistakes. Would you truly expect that his servant could not have done the same? After all, it was his mistake that destroyed your chance at life.. was it not?"
As he spoke, his form began to fade away. With it, the man beside him faded as well. Halexei would return Syd to his home, where he could have no recollection of ever finding Shauna, or coming to this place, so long as he lived.
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Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2005 7:17 pm
It felt like hours had past. Then again, the last time he had thought that, it had only been minutes. Still, his wings ached in tenderness, furious with him for being worked so hard. He was too fragile of a boy to be put through this much labor, he whined to himself quietly. It was only quite some time later that he realized he had regained control of his own body, and was flying of his own free will. He didn't stop, however, perhaps because he was scared that if he did, Lexi would take control again.
Suddenly he heard a sickening little snap, and his wings chose for him. The tendons underneath his skin that held his beating wings and forced their rapid movement suddenly snapped, and he cried out in pain, tumbling to the ground on his knees. The little girl in his arms didn't wake, and his hold on her kept her safe, but that didn't stop the horrible twinge of pain he felt in the muscles and tendons of his back.
"Owww.. that huuuurt.." He whimpered softly, sniffling. He really wasn't being very mature about this, and why should he? It wasn't as if he was being given a choice.
He was such a meanie.
"Unf.." He whimpered, as he got up to his feet and looked around. He'd been whizzing past so fast that he lost track of what was around him, and found himself in the middle of a street, in a small town. Was this still Gambino, he wondered? It sure didn't look like it.. there was so much less color surrounding him. It seemed so much more.. suburbian.
Great, now he was lost, and he had a broken wing, and he had to take care of a baby, and he had to find it a suitable guardian.. honestly, how could things get any worse?
A drop of rain kissed his nose, giving him his answer.
"Perfect."
((Those wishing to continue reading this plot development please mosey on over to Papree's Journal, as that is where it will continue. :3))
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 5:41 pm
---Benedict Center Event has occurred, weeks have passed, things have happened, use your imagination and we move on~!---
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 5:53 pm
Asrafel was sitting at a desk, wearing glasses, and writing on piece of paper that all looked very official. He would have looked official as well, if not for the fact he was all but naked save for his ribbons. Beside him at the same desk was a much more formal looking woman, dressed for her job, sitting in the middle of the desk and filling out equally important looking forms.
Unfortunately, the scene wasn't as businesslike and productive as it may have appeared.
Alania was certainly doing her job, this much was certain - but the boy beside her was clearly mocking her every act. He wasn't sitting at all - he was floating effortlessly in the air with his legs furled up indian style, so that he looked as though he was sitting behind the desk with her. His writing utensils were various colored pencils, and he kept switching back and forth with him as he drew long and elaborate shapes that didn't resemble a thing, on blank pieces of paper.
Alania was doing a banner job of ignoring the boy's attempts to mimic his aunt.
She put down her pen, and stretched her arms out behind her. She snatched her glasses from Asrafel's face, and he blinked as his eyes readjusted to actually being able to see again. He looked down at what he thought were masterpieces, and quickly realized he had been drawing gross figures that looked nothing like his blurry vision had told him. He threw them all in the garbage.
This setback didn't stop him however. He picked up more paper and another pencil, and began anew. Subsequently, once she was done stretching Alania wordlessly did the same. She picked up her writing utensil and began to recalculate the figures of the current fiscal year. Once she'd wrote two figures down, she realized she was writing in bright pink colored pencil, and let out a frustrated sigh.
The fairy beside her giggled helplessly.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:21 pm
All was not going well for Chucky Fredricks. It had only been a few days since he had found the newest member of the family, in a dumpster of all places, and he was not having the easiest time being a father. Stray pets were one thing, but Brownie was an eternally pissed off child and seemed to delight in making her father miserable with her baby-pranks. He would have thrown her back in the garbage if he hadn't been afraid of the cops.
Today they were strolling along the Gambino strip, or rather Chucky was strolling and Brownie was being carried. The edges of her wings were wrapped in duct tape to spare her father's already band-aid-covered hands, and she twitched them irritably every couple of seconds. She thought the shops were boring, but when she saw the outside of The Benedict Center, something about it pleased her. She stiffened in Chucky's arms and reached out her hands toward the building, but did not cry.
"What? Whaaaat?" Chucky said, struggling to keep hold of the dead weight Brownie had made of herself. He glanced at the building. "Fine." As he approached the door, Brownie made a satisfied little baby bark and settled down.
Once inside, Chucky squinted and blinked at the change in lighting from the sunny outdoors to the normally-lit room. To the two at the table he said, "Hello? Sorry. She wanted to come in here." He gestured toward Brownie. "We'll only be a second." As his eyes adjusted, he noticed that the boy was not actually sitting at the table but floating. Okay then. None of his business.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:37 pm
Both Asrafel and Alania looked up as someone entered, though Alania did little more in reaction. Asrafel however sprang into action, flinging the colored pencil away (where it then fell upon Alania's head a moment later, eliciting a small growl from the woman in response) and hopping to his feet.
"Why hello! Don't be sorry at all, we love visitors! Especially little ones!" He grinned even broader the moment his eyes rested on Brownie, and he giggled softly, giving the girl a childish wave. "My name is Asrafel! Welcome to the Benedict Center! Can I get either of you something to drink? Or perhaps you just need a place to rest for a bit? Has the day been weary for you?"
Alania briefly wondered how hard she would have to throw the colored pencil she was plucking out of her hair, for it to pierce the back of the fairy's bobbing head.
Why did this place need a secretary anyway, besides all of the pointless paperwork? Asrafel was more the hostess than any secretary, especially her, could ever be. They might as well slap a skirt on him and tell him to start waiting tables.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:50 pm
Brownie brightened at the wave she received from the nearly naked boy and began bouncing in her father's arms. He didn't have any clothes on except ribbons! She had tried to run around naked, but The Man had scolded her.
"Hey Asrafel," Chucky said. He looked down at his bobbing child. Did she know this kid or something? "I'm good, but I think Brownie wants something. I'll be damned if I know what," he sighed. "I'm Chucky," he continued, looking around. "This is a nice place. What do you guys do here?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:48 pm
Asrafel was far from surprised at Brownie''s reaction; he''d seen it a couple of times already. Children of his kind were always so glad to see him, even if they didn''t know why. It was adorable! He almost bounced in reaction to her bouncing, despite how silly it might look.
"Ah, we''re a DayCare center! We specialize in children like Brownie as well, isn''t she a dear? Special children, like her and myself. The woman at the desk behind me is Alania, she makes all of the appointments. I help look after the children, as does Lillian. She isn''t here right now." This last sentence he said with a little less fervor, almost impassively if it was possible for him to do so. "But you must come when you are in need of our services, it would be an honor to watch over-Brownie, was it? What a lovely name! Here, let me give you our card so you can always call or find us if our services are ever needed."
He led the man and his child closer to the desk, and slipped a business card off of it, flicking it between his fingers and holding it out for them. Alania looked up, offering the man a polite nod; he was a potential customer, after all.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 8:18 pm
"Yeah, she kind of named herself," he said. "And she's special, all right." He edged over to the table, squeezing Brownie to him to stop that godawful bouncing. In response, she spun around and bit his shoulder. The toddler didn't have many teeth, but the ones she did have were fairly sharp. Luckily, they didn't pierce Chucky's ratty old t-shirt. He smirked at the small victory as he took the business card from Asrafel. Brownie turned back toward the winged boy too; she hadn't been trying very hard anyway.
"Thanks," he said to Asrafel, nodding to Alania as well. "There are other kids like you around here?" he asked. He wanted to ask if they were all as crazy as his, but he refrained. This Asrafel kid was nice and he didn't want to cause trouble.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:04 pm
"Weeell.. not right now. But normally yes, here or there. It's a slow day today." He chuckled nervously, trying to make it seem like they were a respectable business. Alania merely smirked behind her hooded gaze as she looked back down to her work.
"But yes, all the same and yet all completely different - as different as Brownie and I seem to be! It's just the same with the world today, is it not? All so very different, and yet deep down all the same. It is not our appearances or our meager beginnings that lead us down the paths we follow, but our very own choices."
Asrafel paused for a moment, taking a step back and listening to the words he'd just said. At least, he thought he had just said them.. but he couldn't remember thinking them. It was odd, it almost felt like he'd heard someone else say it, and was simply repeating them mechanically.
A sudden headache fell upon him, and his brow furrowed in pain. "You'll.. have to excuse me sir. I'm suddenly not feeling very well.."
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:30 pm
"Oh, yeah, sure," Chucky said, a little disturbed. It wasn't Asrafel's words that weirded him out, but his delivery. He looked to Alania and then back to Asrafel. Chucky really was not the comforting type. "Take care of yourself kid. We'll be back, I'm sure." He took a step toward the door and Brownie, realizing she was being removed from the presence of awesome nakedness, began to wail. She beat her wings in a violent fit, repeatedly catching Chucky's forefinger between one duct-tape-blunted wing and her back.
"s**t! Ow!" Chucky squealed, yanking his finger out of harm's way and propping open the door with his foot. "Sorry! Bye!" he yelled over Brownie's tantrum. He shut the door gently behind him and the pair and their noise were gone.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2005 9:44 pm
Asrafel's headache only worsened each moment. He struggled to wave and call out a farewell, but he started to feel dizzy with lightheadedness.
Alania finally took notice of the boy's dilemma, and put down her pen to stand and help him to a seat. "Asra, what's wrong?"
"Auntie Lani.. I don't feel so well.. I've gotten a horrible headache suddenly, and now.."
He stretched his legs out as far as they could, and groaned.
"Every muscle in my body hurts."
Alania felt his forehead, and pulled her hand back quickly.
"Well no wonder, you're coming down with a fever.. come on. Let's get you to bed."
She helped him stand back up, and led him upstairs, to put him to bed in one of the spare rooms.
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