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 Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 12:49 am
|[ Newcomers ]|
05.03.05 ; Friendly or otherwise ( and first steps ). Mael was something else at the moment ( or not really something else, he was never anything but himself with different moods and he was in a mood at the moment ). The serpent toddler was sitting in the center of the living room, on top of the too comfortable center rug. His fingers were constantly tugging on the individual strands of the rug, not quite pulling them out but close to doing so. It was an absent gesture that he wasn't thinking about at the moment.
For now, he was silently conversing with Suffocation. Every so often he'd let out a hiss, dark blood red snake eyes turning to look at the daemon as if she had made some point, or said something that bothered him. Though, in the case of the topic of conversation, she was making a point. Both of them were watching the two new children. The fox and the other darkling.
At first, when Mael had seen father with the fox, he had wanted to touch his ears that reminded him of the wolf -- except that had been meet with crying and then a growl from the small baby. Apparently not only was his touch not wanted, but if he pressed the matter he would end up with trouble. Mael knew when to back down and that had been a moment to do so, even if he hadn't really wanted to. The fox baby was far too interesting, but there would be no getting a closer look.
Not when father moved him back and kept the fox babe away from him, not when the fox cried as if something horrible had been done to him. Mael couldn't understand it and he was sure that Otium didn't understand it either. The fox, Lafe as father called him, wouldn't even let his brother near him -- and that was saying something. His brother was hardly somebody to recoil from, at least in his thoughts he was. Still, there was something wrong with the new baby and Mael wasn't sure what it was, just that he was beginning to hurt his ears with all the crying and wailing and father was beginning to look like all the noise was bothering him.
( Which actually earned the fox a few points with Mael, but only because it was a pain to get a reaction out of father. )
And then the darkling came to his mother, whom he still did not trust in the slightest bit ( women were not to be trusted, and mainly to be ignored, there was no expecting them to be anything but trouble and vile ), and then things became quiet once more. The fox and darkling got along well, the dark baby seeming to calm down the fox a great deal. Enough that the fox let the darkling near to him, that the fox and darkling would play together, and that the fox would curl up against the dark baby as if the other was what had been missing.
Suffocation insisted that that had to be the case. The question, without words, crossed his mind of how he would feel without her and his reaction that that was silly to ask. He'd never be without her, but Suffocation seemed to insist that if he was without her, he may very well act as the fox did. Mael, however, doubted he'd cry as much if he was missing something that important to him -- and he'd still let somebody touch his ears if he had them. Wolf let him touch his ears, but the fox wouldn't let him touch his.
Then Suffocation muttered that he really needed to give up on that, it was hopeless. The darkling obviously was different from the rest of them, from mother and father who couldn't get them apart and from him and Otium who couldn't get that close to them yet, because the darkling would put himself between them and the fox as if they were a possible threat.
Speaking of, Mael was in the mood to test that. It hadn't been that long, the darkling not apart of the household for that long, but the fox had been -- and even then, he wanted a closer look. Perhaps a chance to see the glowing eyes of the darkling and the odd eyes of the fox. Letting out a hiss of agreement with himself, Mael glanced down at Suffocation before making sure that she was safely wrapped around his arm.
Suffocation was getting larger, of course, her body become longer and thicker. Eventually she be able to curl herself around his arm and then the rest of him, but the idea of Suffocation being thoroughly wrapped around him really didn't bother him that much. They were partners in crime, after all.
And it would only make sense that as she grew, so did he. His fingers, no longer busy tugging at the rug, were slowly spread out and he pushed at the ground. There was strength there that was only getting strong, but he barely noticed it for the time being. His other hand was clasping onto the studded leather collar that his father all ways wore, the one that looked similar to his bracelet. Father had given it to him, at least for a little while. It was too big for him now, but somehow he knew that he'd end up with one of his own -- if not this one when he was older.
( Wren was peculiar like that, but the collar was special to him, and somehow he didn't really have an issue with letting Mael have it. At least, when he was older and it fit -- otherwise, he'd just have to get one that was the toddler's size. Though, that was all on the demon, and not so much on his son. )
Both hands pressed to the ground now, his plans in mind and Suffocation firmly wrapped around him, Mael started to push himself up slowly. Sure, he had attempted this before, but somehow his tail all ways tripped him up. He wasn't use to using it to balance like that! As Mael slowly came to his feet, unsteady and sometimes wobbling, his tail swayed in the air. It had grown with him and in compensation it seemed. It was thicker at the base, where the tail met the rest of his body, and it gradually became thinner. His tail would only get bigger with age, but it was usually a hindrance -- at least with this walking thing.
Mael had an idea, though, and after a moment, the tip of his tail curled comfortably around his ankle, no longer freely swishing and lashing about absently. Granted, his tail did have a mind of it's own sometimes, it didn't mean he couldn't give it orders. He'd just have to ignore Suffocation and her little jabs that he needed to stop treating his tail as if it was another person.
Letting out a grumbled hiss, the snake boy finally got himself up and standing properly. His red eyes focused on the fox and the darkling, and slowly, one foot placed in front of the other ( and no silly father around to help him get messed up ), he started to make his way towards them. Mind shifting easily away from other thoughts, as it was easy to go from one to another just like any toddler, he was back to the darkling and the fox.
Just one foot.
Step.
Then the other.
Stumble, falter, but balance yourself back out with your tail.
And another step after that.
Left, right, left, right ...
Mael would get to the two children and they wouldn't be able to actually stop him. Not when he could come to them and he knew he was faster. Besides, he didn't want to mess with the ears of the fox, no. He just wanted to see, to test, and find out what those boundaries were.
The sudden calling of his name as he got closer made him turn and all the attempts at keeping himself going faltered and he fell flat on his rear with an irritated hiss and a glare at father. The man seemed far to excited. Suffocation was grumbling as well, not enjoying the jarring sensation of them both falling, and just nudged him to get up and keep going. They had a pair to investigate.
Father could just stare at them as they left him in their dust.
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 11:43 pm
|[ First Word ]|
07.05.05 ; Roleplay ; Nora pushes, Halo pushes back, Mael speaks and insults.
Halo sat on the front steps and adjusted her shades as the kids played in the lawn. Spring was already there and the grass was getting thick and green and the weather was warm and sunny but kept in line by a constant cool breeze. It was enough that the woman could wear a short sleeved shirt and be comfortable and that the kids could play without jackets on.
Which is what they were doing. Mael was still uneasy with his mom (and it was still a subject not discussed really) but fine with his brother so once they boys got out into the front yard and into the grass, mom could be ignored and they could play amongst themselves.
Halo had wanted to get them out, get them both distracted from what had happened the night before. She was worried about what could have upset Otium so much and he seemed more jumpy when he was in the house (and he usually wasn't jumpy at all). Halo did not want to think that it could be some sort of spirit.. something heinous. She would explore every possibility before she invested her worries into things that were (debatably) out of her depth.
So she took the boys out and let them play. Otium seemed completely relaxed once he left the house and he enjoyed being out in the warmth (even though he wasn't horribly fond of the sun) and he enjoyed more playing with Mael where their parents couldn't distract them.
Immaculate was having a ball sniffing and exploring and rummaging through anything she could find (including snuffling Suffocation every now and carting the snake around with her when she could). Needless to say, the bear cat felt as if she had no boundaries and that meant that any attached lawn was fair game for exploration. Especially Nora's rosebushes....
Mael was happily ignoring any and all traces of mother dear, more interested in drawing Otium out of what had been a bad mood. ( To him anyway, and Mael still wasn't sure what was wrong the last night. All he knew was that something was bothering his brother and it was his duty to make sure that if he couldn't get to him and try and make it better, their parents had better. ... or else. ) Besides, he liked being out in the yard as much as the next kid who didn't like being stuck inside the house. He tugged on Otium a little, luring him in one direction, so they could continue their own exploration of the yard. Of course, they turned up a rock, a dead frog ( that Wren knew nothing about, really! ), and a few twigs. Nothing interesting so far.
Suffocation was enjoying the ride from Immaculate, though it she was getting to the point that being carried around by the bear cat wouldn't do. Even when she coiled herself lightly around Immaculate, she was wary of doing any harm. Though with some of the places the bear cat explored, she was well and truly on her own. Like those rose bushes! Thorns are evil, thank you. And Immaculate was crazy for poking around in them, a sentiment she shared with the other daemon as well with her own Forgotten. The snake was, however, situated in the sun right next to the rose bushes, waiting for the other to come back out.
Otium only spared a few glances to his mom and his daemon while he played with Mael. He was grateful to his brother, in his own way, for taking care of him like he did. Not that Otium realized that's what it was quite yet. he just knew if he felt sad that Mael could and would perk him up. He liked crawling all over the yard and finding things (and the dead frog had caught his interest for quite a while until mom had taken it away from him saying it was gross ).
Immaculate was having a ball in the bushes though and poked her head out one side to yip a bit at Suffocation sunning herself. The bear-cat had leaves and petals in her fur and was wriggling because she was getting poked in the sides by not so comfortable thorns.
Mael lamented the loss of the dead frog, but it was probably better it got taken away ( with only a disgruntle hiss in mother dear's direction ) -- it would've been poked and prodded, and may have ended up in a mouth, but who knew? It was a rarity that Mael didn't keep an eye constantly on Suffocation, but he figured she was safe with Suffocation, which left him with Otium -- and, hey! What was that over there? A sparrow? ... was it alive? Giving Otium a grin, he moved slowly closer to investigate.
Suffocation let out a hiss in response to the yip, head raising up some to scent the air and see if she could spot the wriggling white mass. And just as she was about to let out another hiss, one to clue Immaculate in on a path not so thorn filled ( or so she thought ), a near shriek resounded.
It was Nora of course and the woman looked down right brassed off at the sight of THAT snake in her yard and the other mongrel beast that was making her precious rose bushes shake. They'd be ruined. Raising her eyes towards the next door house, she glared at the sight of Halo on the front porch. "Mind getting your children's pets away from my rose bushes?" Though, from the way she spoke, pets could've been something particularly nasty and children wasn't much better. Really, the neighborhood had gone downhill since they'd taken residence up in that house.
Otium went with Mael, reaching out for his brother's tail and holding it gently like a lead in front of him. He let go though when the resounding shriek made him turn his head around. His hat slipped over his eyes with the sudden movement and he pushed it back up and frowned.
Halo, being herself, would normally have removed the pets gladly.. but no. This was Nora. Hell, she'd let them play there on purpose in hope of Immaculate taking a crap on the woman's lawn (unfortunately it didn't work). She stood up immediately and scowled at the gossipy wench. "Your rose bushes aren't hurt any.."
Immaculate's head poked out from the thornless path and she started to growl at Nora, hackles raising and tail swishing in agitation.
Mael's tail curled around Otium's wrist as he held onto it and he came to a near sudden halt at the sound of the shriek. He knew that shriek, he wanted to forget it entirely for that matter. Or do something about the owner. Coming back around, pushing himself up so that he was actually standing, Mael moved so that he was partially in front of Otium all most protectively. His face was set in a scowl only a toddler could manage, though mentally he was calling for Suffocation -- far too worried.
Nora crossed her arms across her chest, letting out a small huff of irritation. It was hard to resist the urge to kick the not nearly as small snake she remembered, but she held back from doing so. Particularly since it was coiled up and hissing loudly. Never mind the white fuzz ball. Just what kinds of pets were these? Shaking her head to throw her hair over her shoulder, she just glared right back at Halo. "Yes they are, that fuzz ball there is parading through them as if their her personal playground -- and they're not."
Suffocation really was curled up too, head raised only slightly and hissing constantly. She knew Mael was worried, but if this one so much as put a hand near her it was biting time. Besides, Immaculate was with her, it'd be all right.
Halo walked forward confidently. She had that way about her. Long legs and confident strides contributed to why Halo usually intimidated those she confronted. "Your damn roses are dead anyway. They haven't bloomed in a year so you can't blame that on my kids or their daemons." She knelt and offered her hand to Suffocation to bring the snake out of Nora's kicking range.
Otium crawled up behind Mael but they were a good distance away and he didn't want Immaculate hurt so he started to crawl around him and closer to his mom. Not too close.. but closer. Immaculate herself had come out of the bushes and positioned herself in front of Suffocation. She lifted herself up on her back paws and fluffed up, trying to intimidate.
And Nora was damn good about not acting like she was, except that in acting like she wasn't, she did. "My rose bushes are just now starting to bloom, if the blossoms on that thing's fur are any indication." Her hands fell down to her side, a scowl on her face now. She failed to hide the small sigh of relief at Halo picking up the snake.
Suffocation let out a particularly nasty hiss, but uncoiled herself to start and slither up around Halo's arm -- regardless of the grumblings of Mael. The woman was her way out of danger, and she sent a wordless thank you to Immaculate for being her shield long enough for her to get off of the ground.
Mael let out a disgruntle hiss when Otium started to move around him. He actually stepped in front to stop him, before he finally just let him pass. His brother was worried about Immaculate and he was worried about Suffocation, so he started making his own toddling steps towards his mother and their daemons. Never mind so long as he was in front of him, Nora wouldn't get to Otium. And as close as Otium got, Mael was pushing closer, until he was at Halo's side. He reached up with a hand for Suffocation, but it could've looked like he was reaching to tug on her pant leg.
"Those "blossoms" as you call them are already getting eaten by the bugs. Serves you right too. Just proof that anything half way respected rots away as soon as it's touched by you. Halo stepped forward, getting closer to Nora, getting in her face. "My kids and the animals caused no harm to your precious and hideous rosebushes.. so get off your high bloody horse." Halo glanced down at Mael and rested her hand lightly on his head for a moment before allowing Suffocation to slither down to him.
Immaculate took it upon herself to jump forward and grown again. She was closer to Nora but nowhere near biting her or anything.
Nora bristled up herself, all most making a kicking motion and the fur ball at her feet. There was a flush to her face and it was from both embarrassment and anger. "My rose bushes are not like that! If anything, your mere presence is causing them to wilt and die. Never mind those horrid little beasts messing around in them." She was nearly Halo's height and would go toe to toe with her if necessary. At the sight of Mael, she let out a little sneer and was about to add in something, only to be silenced from a particularly nasty sounding hiss from the toddler.
Mael merely glowered at Nora, thankful that Suffocation was once again safely curled around him. His hand was still resting against Halo's leg now, and for once he didn't make a fuss at her touching him. If anything, he was actually enjoying the way that Halo was standing up to Nora. Suffocation nuzzled against his jaw lightly before winding down further along his body.
Halo stepped forward sharply, chest to chest with Nora. It was a sure sign that she'd been raised a tom boy. She never gave thought to the fact that she wasn't flat chested like a guy and that some might be a little uncomfortable with how close she got. And she was very close to Nora right this moment. In fact her sharp nose was almost touching the other woman's and she was peering dangerously over her sunglasses.
"Don't you ever make violent motions towards any of our family members again. Animal or child. And don't you ever give them looks of distaste like you just did. I will personally guarantee that your eyes won't look anywhere.. ever.. again.." She poked the woman strongly in the collarbone.
Otium made a whining noise at Immaculate and the bear-cat retreated, still growling, to settle at Otium's side, behind Mael. Otium was watching his mom wide eyed. he'd never seen her like this.
Mael was experiencing something along the lines of evil glee, particularly at the way that his mom was treating Nora. The woman deserved it! His fingers loosened from their hold on Halo's pants and he watched the exchange far too gleefully, letting out a hiss of his own as if throwing in his two cents about Nora. Suffocation merely watched before turning to hiss something at Immaculate, something like it'd be all right -- though she doubted the other would stop growling.
Nora took an involuntary step back and then another one that was far too voluntary. Halo was getting too close for her comfort and intimidation was starting to bleed through her stubbornness and bitchy attitude. "You don't have the courage to back that up, freak." And, of course, Nora pushed her finger right back up against Halo's collar bone. "I'll look at them however I want and if those things," the pets, "cross into my yard, I'll do whatever's necessary to get them out."
"You don't think I'll do something?" Halo tilted her head to the side and the look on her face was a bit of a scary smile. She seemed to echo Mael's evil glee a BIT too much. "Oh I will show you..." Her hands were flexing into fists and then back out. But then Nora had to go and push her. Oh she really had to go and do that didn't she??
Halo's anger grew and she almost forgot the boys were there watching. Almost. A mother never forgot but getting rid of Nora and protecting her brood were her priorities. She reared back and slapped Nora across the face, "Don't you ever touch me again and don't you ever dare even think the wrong way about my family! I will know! And I will get you, you b***h!" She hissed in Nora's face and stepped back to lean over and scoop up her boys, one in each arm. Nora didn't deserve any of her time anymore.
Nora stumbled under the force of the slap, not even expecting it, and ended up falling onto the rose bush on the other side of her. She let out a tiny yelp, indignant at being treated the way she had been, but she couldn't seem to find her voice, not under the looks and threats that Halo had laid down. The woman could only watch wide-eyed and Halo stalked away from her with the children and their pets.
Mael was wriggling in his mom's arms as she tried to carry both him and Otium off. He let out a hiss of protest, trying to get her to stop, because he had something to say to Nora too! Except Halo's grip was stronger than expected and he could only wriggle so that he was leaning slightly over her shoulder. Holding out a hand, fingers pointing at Nora directly, Mael shouted out one word perfectly and as loud as his toddler lungs could shout ( which stood to be pretty loud ). "b***h!" There was a smirk on his face, far too smug at that. Because since mom had said that word, the way she said it, Mael could only think it was something very Nora and not very nice.
Otium's eyes widened at his brother form under the wide brim of his hat and Halo blinked a bit, turning her head to look at Mael. It only took a second before she was laughing aloud. She didn't have the heart to reprimand the boy, especially not when he was sort of putting up with her carrying him. She just laughed and gave Nora a cocky look before heading inside the house with Immaculate wandering in behind them.
She'd intended to distract Otium from the night before and felt as if that job had been done... even if it was not quite what she'd had in mind.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2005 12:11 am
|[ Journal Entry ]|
07.05.05 ; Journal entry written by Wren. Right. RIGHT. There are no words. Wait, no, there ARE words. Or at least the single word that Mael spoke and has repeated more than necessary in the time has passed. I don't have the heart to correct him, but I know I'm going to have to, but how can you reprimand him when he calls Nora a b***h? Deities be damned, I've just been waiting for him to talk instead of hiss like he usually does or something more than the garbled speech -- which I think he did on purpose just to be difficult -- for a good while.
I'm all most waiting for tomorrow, just to see if he'll go back to hissing and not saying anything at all. Though now that he's actually started speaking actual words, I wonder if he'll make an effort to continue doing so. It's a thought, honestly, and I really should start teaching him more things instead of letting him get by on his own.
( I realize now part of my opinions on how to raise children came from momma and father. As much as I am a big believer in letting people have their actions come back and bite them on the arse, I've got to be ready to stand up and be there for my kids. Despite the fact that Mael needs to learn things on his own, I've got to teach him as well. Though, uh, I don't think it'll be the really, really hard way like it was with me. Not that it was all ways the hard way with my parents, but I'm hardheaded ... So, there you go. Enough about that. )
It's not too easy to forget that Mael's really speaking now, but in the middle of this all, he's apparently getting along more with Halo. He actually let her carry him around without that much of a fuss and never mind it was her that he seemed to repeat after. Halo called Nora what she did and Mael called her that as they were leaving. Not like Nora didn't deserve it, she tried to kick Immaculate and was giving Mael the evil eye or something like that. It's Nora, what can you expect? The neighborhood gossip really doesn't like to be on the receiving end of a verbal beating, though apparently Halo slapped her as well.
... never mind Mael seemed to be enjoy it, though Halo said something about Otium being wide-eyed for most of it.
At least today's events were a distraction from the previous night's events. Otium woke up and started to cry, apparently bothered by something unseen it looks like and, of course, Mael had to get in on making a fuss because his brother was obviously in distress. I know Halo's got her suspicions on what it could be that bothered Otium, and Mael through him, but I'd rather it not be what both of us may very well be thinking. If it is ...Well, it's out of my hands because I never really learned how to handle those sorts of things.
It's hard enough with all the kids that we've got, but if you add in another problem like this? That we're not even sure of? Utterly nice. I just hope that Alejandro and Lafe won't be bothered. I'm pretty sure both of those brats may be sensitive in one way or another, just not sure how.
Mael seems to get along with them well enough, once he realized that he wouldn't be able to scratch Lafe's ears in any shape, form, or fashion. ( As amusing as it was to watch him try and actually see Lafe take an aggressive stance. So had to break up that potential blood bath before it happened. ) Since if Lafe is all right with someone, usually so is Alejandro, and vice versa.
I think I'm feeling sentimental about how Mael's growing up into a, er, mischievous toddler. When he first started teething, getting those fangs of his, when he blew a raspberry at me with that forked tongue of his, when he was just a baby and had a nightmare that I had to stay in the room and keep him against my chest all night. Little brat's not going to be that small ever again.
I wonder if I set a heavy book on top of his head if he'll stop growing ...
Actually, what am I thinking? Mael at this age, while having it's special moments, is a trial and a half. Hell, you've never known what a torture raising children is like until you've chased one down through a grocery store. Mael's just the right size that when I make a dive to get my arms around him, he can still duck out of the way or even squirm out of them. Let me tell you, that boy is flexible and tough to nail down.
Speaking of trying to capture said brat, I think I need to go do so before it gets any later and have a talk with him about saying that word as much as he is. Sweet merciful deities, what have I brought into this world?
And is it even ready for him?
Wren
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2005 3:50 am
|[ Journal Entry ]|
15.05.05 ; Journal entry written by Wren. Vaguely, I'm still tired from the events that sort of ... fell into place after Halo had a run in with Nora with the kids. I can't honestly believe that Reinhardt was able to slip out of his confinement. Even if it was just as sliver of himself, it wasn't a good thing that he was able to break out at all. Though I'm sure once Tom and Carmine are back they're likely to do something particularly nasty to the rock that Reinhardt was contained in. I don't think letting Nicolena use it as a plaything will be the least of the torture they've got in mind for the damnable thing.
Honestly, I suppose this does confirm that Otium can see shades and the like, though I believed Halo when she said that Carmine came to her with the information. Still, it's not all that comforting to know that someone as young as Otium is susceptible to ghosts who get it in their head to mess with him -- though he's obviously got some sort of strength to protect himself, if ... that final show where he spoke said something.
... and how come his first word was something tame compared to Mael who just had to say b***h as his first? Really, if this is setting the pace for how things will be in the future, I'm not sure anyone within this household will be able to survive Mael and Otium growing up. Except maybe Tom and Carmine, though that's because they'll too busy creating more chaos and teaching those two bad things that I'll spend my time trying to undo.
( Or not, because I can't begrudge them that they gave the boys knives -- but I sure as hell will begrudge them that post card they sent, eesh. )
Otium, in any case, hasn't shown another sign of talking since he did that day. Not quite sure he'll be speaking again any time soon. Where Mael is talkative ( if you count hissing ), Otium's fairly silent. I suppose their personalities compliment one another, being that they seem to be opposites. Mael's flashy where Otium's not, Mael talks more where Otium does not ... Suppose it's cute in a way, Halo and myself can at least count on our kids to make up for the short comings, fallings, whatever you want to call them, of the other.
... still, I think it was good that Otium and Mael and the others got to meet their grandfather. I rather like Halo's dad, though I'm not sure how well he'd get along with my side of the family, but ... come on. They have to respect a human who has magic in his blood, right?
Right?
I can hope, but at least the kids enjoyed seeing him, and he was a tremendous help to getting things back under control ( and thankfully shall be gone long before Tom and Carmine get back, least we won't hear the end of it ; Halo can't stand it when they hit on her dad, even if he's not interested, they're just that bad ).
Perhaps, with all these recent changes, it's about time I go check in with the library and see how things are going. It's been a while since I've taken Mael and I probably should ... He hasn't seen any of the other Forgotten children besides Otium in a fair bit ...
Suppose I'll go later today and in the meantime realize how truly glad I am things didn't end up worse than they could've, with Reinhardt breaking free like that.
Wren
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:14 am
|[ The Pile Up ]|
15.05.05 ; Metaplot ; A trip to the library leads to a pile up ... of letters.
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:18 am
|[ Questions Unanswered ]|
17.05.05 ; Metaplot Roleplay ; After receiving the letter from Pippin ... After initially receiving the note, Puchiko had rushed to Xana's playpen and jerked the child out of its confines, much to his surprise. A brief physical exam showed no wounds, sores, or sign of leprosy - then what the hell was that whole letter about?
Xana, newly-clothed and set back in his crib, was still recovering from Hurricane Puchiko whilst the scientist stood in the doorway, note clasped in her hands, lips pursed in thought. Her single eye narrowed at it. Xana seemed all right, so what was this whole "danger" business? Puchiko preferred to avoid danger if she could. She wasn't the confrontational sort, except for when she was.
Which was often.
But nevermind that! So long as Xana was all right, what did she care? It didn't matter! She would be better off staying home and eating popcorn.
Except something kept nagging her; what if the damage wasn't immediately visible? What if it were to happen later? What if - Einstein forbid - Xana was in danger? Sure, the kid was a handful, and there were times when Puchi wished to simply return him to the Library where she found him, but she'd stuck it out this long. It'd really, really suck to have all her hardwork go to waste.
Puchiko glanced back over her shoulder at Xana, who was happily wrestling with Courage. The corners of her lips quirked into a smile. Yeah. It'd really, really suck.
"Come on," she sighed, walking to the playpen and picking Xana up. He squealed in protest, unhappy that his game was interrupted, and fixed a sharp glare on Puchiko. Puchiko ignored it and lifted Courage from the playpen, setting her down by her feet. "We're taking a trip."
_______
Back to the library. Xana - who had been asleep and nestled into a carrier attached to Puchiko's front - cracked open one dark brown eye when a tingle set over his skin. He recognized this place. Face brightening, he awakened fully and pointed at the library, beaming.
"Yep. The Library." Puchiko confirmed. Down by her feet, Courage began to climb the steps carefully, one by one. Finally, the entire group arrived at the front door and Puchiko pushed it open.
"Heellooo?" she called, glancing about. Xana bubbled happily at her front.
The note that had been delivered was tucked in an inside pocket of the jacket Wren wore, hanging out just slightly and visible as he had scooped up Mael and decided on another trip to the building where Mael had first come into his care.
Wren could remember just a few days previously when he had stopped by briefly, no one there in the building it seemed. It had been quite, too quite for a building the demon thought had a mind of it's own. Never mind the mail that he had seen piled up on the outside and the similar letters on the inside as well. Granted, he hadn't actually opened any of them, but they all read the same thing, all came from the same place, and all of them looked very official -- but Wren had left it at that, trying to ignore who they from and the suspicion that nagged at him.
He didn't spy into other people's mail, not without good reason, and Mael had been with him. A quickly bored toddler who wasn't appeased with the fact the building was empty and the mail that he had knocked down with his tail was hardly worth his attention. ( Though there had been a paper cut scare for all of two seconds before Wren realized that Mael was playing him. The brat. )
But now? With this note? Obviously written by Pippin? Pippin, he knew, was fairly easy going and, and, and ...
Well, skulls and cross bones were something of a surprise and he could only hope it was Pippin just over exagerrating things. Yet when it came to things that could be a danger to Mael and to Otium and to their daemons? He couldn't help but go and report in, just to see what was going on.
Mael was few feet in front of him, carefully proceeding down the spiralling staircase that lead to The Library. "Careful," Wren murmured, uneasy still in the silence of the building, though he thought he heard something ahead of him.
The serpent child made a noise of disagreement. As if anything here would hurt him. Riiiiight. His caretaker obviously didn't know that this place was special! Hoping off the last step, arms carefully making sure that Suffocation was secure, he let out a large whoop.
... that died as he spied the woman near the doors. He started to open his mouth, raising his hand to point at her and speak ...
"Oh no you don't!" Wren said, covering the child's mouth, and glancing up towards the woman. "Um, hello?" He called after, marching the toddler forward, hand still over his mouth. Wren could've swore this particular guardian was familiar, but he hadn't seen her that often ...
"JEEZUS TAPDANCING CHRIST," Puchiko yelped, startling into the air. She whirled around, hand fluttering over her heart. Her widened eyes eventually settled and she wiped a hand dramatically over her forehead, letting out the breath she had been holding.
"Sorry. You spooked me. I didn't hear you come down."
Which was hard to believe, what with the whooping, but Puchiko had always been somewhat... out of it.
Xana immediately noticed Mael and scowled at him, crossing his chubby arms over his chainmail tunic. Hmph! He recognized him. Didn't trust him one bit. Courage, in response to her Forgotten's reaction, bared her sharp fangs and peered out from between Puchiko's leg, tail twitching fitfully.
Now fully recovered, Puchiko beamed at Wren. "You seem awful familiar - have we met?" She continued before Wren could reply, words coming out in a rush, "Anyway, I'm Dr. Puchiko, though you need not call me doctor, I don't really care , either way. I like your jacket. Did you get a note? I got a note. It's very strange. Strange note. You know, I don't get notes all that often! But I'm not partial to the strange ones - "
Xana covered his ears and made a miserable burble. Puchiko, realizing she had been babbling, laughed shrilly. "Sorry! Mind tend to wander." she explained, as she pulled Xana out of the carrier and set him on the ground, shrugging her way out of it and simply dropping it on the floor. She'd pick it up later, but as of right now, her shoulders and back were starting to ache.
"No, no. I'm sorry." Wren quickly said, giving Mael a disapproving look but he looked totally unrepentant. "I didn't mean to give you a scare and I'm sure this young man didn't either. Did you, Mael?"
Once he was nudged forward, Wren obviously making a gesture towards Puchiko as well as a whispered 'go on, apologize', Mael looked up at her and her baby ( he remembered this one, didn't he? ) and mumbled a quick "So'ry." He quickly retreated back to Wren's side, fingers stroking along Suffocation who was curled partly around his arm and then lounging somewhat on his shoulders.
Women were still on his not to be trusted list and what was up with the feline? Both Mael and Suffocation let out a hiss, the former baring his fangs slightly. He hadn't even done anything to this baby and his daemon and there was all ready issues -- well, just give him time.
"Um," Wren started to say, but let Puchiko go. One a whirlwind started, it was better to let it go than try to get a word in yourself. Eyes wandering to baby as she set Quixana down and then back up to her, Wren nodded his head slightly.
"I think we met a few months back, briefly." He smiled easily, holding out his hand towards Puchiko. "Wren, Wren Concord if you want a full name." He wasn't a doctor, but he was a writer! But what did that matter? "And thanks," the compliment, "but did you mean this note?" He pulled the one that was hanging out of his inside pocket and offered it to her. It was the very one that had been delivered to him in the early hours of the morning.
"Oh! And it's fine, the mind wandering. I'm like that too, but the other's are -- er, anyway." He coughed, getting back on track, and shuffling towards the library a bit. "It's a bit, well, odd the note. It's from Pippin and him using skulls and cross bones is a little, well, unnerving. I mean, ... I don't seem him as the type to send that sort of message without there being something going on, you know?"
Mael's tail swayed back and forth as he marched right past his father and the odd woman and the baby that apparently didn't like him -- and he didn't care that much if he did or didn't. He was going to go have a look around in the Library, thank you very much. Of course, Suffocation and to turn around and hiss right at Xana and Courage. If snakes could smirk, she might've been doing so.
The hand-shaking gesture was completely lost on Puchiko, as was the apology. Instead, she snatched the note from him and squinted her good eye at it, scrutinizing it carefully before giving a fervent nod. "Uh-huh! That's it exactly. Strange, don't you think? I don't see any danger. Or hear any. Or smell any."
All she smelled was dust. This place needed some cleaning up!
Xana whirled round once Mael breezed past in order to retaliate properly - sadly, his motorskills were far from developed and the baby soon found himself on his bottom, blinking at Mael's retreating back. He frowned and gave a frustrated grunt, whilst Courage pushed her head against his hands in order to comfort the baby. He'd - he'd show him! Xana would take him down a peg! Soon as he learned how to walk, Mr. Snakey-Pants was as good as skinned. His righteous rage knew no bounds!
"I haven't spoken to Pippin all that much," Puchiko confessed, handing the note back to Wren, "But I trust your judgment. Seems awful fishy to me." She nodded knowingly, despite having absolutely no clue what was going on.
Meanwhile, Xana was leaning up against her knee, glaring off in the direction Mael had tottered off in. He was plotting his revenge as the two adults spoke - no one, but no one, slighted Quixana's honor! Or the honor of his Lady Courage! Courage glanced up at Xana, ready to sprint and tackle the unsuspecting Mael, but Xana shook his head. Nay, they'd fight this enemy together!
"Well, I admit the same. It all seems normal, you know?" Wren took the note back, stuffing it back into the inside pocket, careful to make sure that it wasn't going to fall off or disappear anywhere. Things could do that.
And smell anything? Well, that was different. Wren took a sniff and all most immediately sneezed; his hands went to cover his nose and mouth at the same time. "Ah, excuse me. S'dust ..." He trailed off, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe off his hand after he made sure he wasn't about to sneeze again. Was this place ever going to be anything but creepy and dusty?
Mael's tail twitched back and forth as he stood, deciding which direction to go. He could go to that alcove that he had hidden in with, but was he up for making father attempt to find him? Glancing over his shoulder, shaking his head at Suffocation for hissing at the other baby without him, he looked over his shoulder. No, that one wouldn't be any fun for that sort of ... game. Mael smiled widely, fangs visible and his forked tongue flickering out.
"Anyway, um, when I came by a couple days ago, there was lots of mail piled upstairs. You know, at the front doors and the like. Looked official, if you know what I mean." As in from the city and the like, that sort of official. "I didn't see Pippin around then, and ... well, I don't know if he's here now. We could check his, um, office? See if he's there?" And if not, maybe they could see if anything else was off?
Despite being glared at, Mael didn't look at all bothered. Was he suppose to feel threatened? His tail swayed back and forth, his mind reeling at the potential of fun. A fun involving that baby and his daemon. Hmmm. The daemon would be more of a danger than the baby. Letting out a hiss to Suffocation, he turned and started patting his hand along the books in the Library. He'd think on it.
Puchiko scratched the tip of her nose, lips pursed like they always were when she was involved in "deep thought." Curious. "Official mail?" she wondered aloud. "I wonder what officials would want. From a scientist's perspective, I can understand being interested in this house and its contents... Perhaps some organization would like to experiment on the Forgotten? It's a possibility."
Puchiko wouldn't mind doing so herself. But that'd wait until Xana was older.
"Or maybe Pippin's got a relative in the government!" she added brightly. Not as much fun as rival scientists trying to barge in on her gig, but hey, it was a possibility.
Xana's eyes remained locked on what he could see of Mael - his vision had always been rather blurry, though he hardly ever noticed, having nothing to compare it to - and he snorted with distaste. Such arrogance! Turning his back on a knight. Bah and hmph and the like. The baby scratched idly at the gauntlet on his arm and burbled unhappily to himself. Probably not even worth his time.
"I don't suppose you - well, read any of it?" Puchiko prompted. She was not above reading someone's mail. Heck, Puchiko was above very, very little.
"... yeah, but that's if any sort of organization really knows about the Forgotten and their existence." Wren paused, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn't really like the possiblity, but he could understand it. Hell, if he was that sort, he might even be inclined to. Mael was his kid, though, and so was Otium -- and experimenting on them was off limits.
"But, maybe it could be about this building. I mean, it is old and -- er, well, maybe he does have a relative in the government." He hadn't thought of that, but ... "I would think they'd not send as much mail that was piled up though."
Mael, as if he had an after thought, turned and waved merrily at Xana. "H'Lo!" he called out to him, finally remembering that father told him he was suppose to greet people -- and, hey, if Xana said something in return, all that much better. Suffocation butted her head against his neck, hissing at him. Just what was he up to?
Playing. He responded to her, once again poking at the books at the shelves, but otherwise leaving them be. These books were special, he knew that. Instead he was going towards the stand he could make out not so far away.
"Um, no, actually, I didn't read any of it." The look on his face was sheepish. "The thought crossed my mind, but I didn't in the end." A gesture was made towards Mael. "He wasn't in the mood to linger and ..." It went by unsaid that obviously it was easier to leave than to peek at the mail and he really wasn't the sort to read somebody else's mail in the end anyway. Not without a really good reason.
Or curiousity eating at him, and it hadn't been.
Tia fumbled with the letter between her fingers. The wording made her nervous, and the fact that Pippin was being that serious in a letter bothered her even more. Pippin was more carefree and laidback than this, which did cause for attention. And the fact that she had just come from loosing Iqbal in the woods, made her even more concerned.
Considering this call of need, Tia took it upon herself to make it down to the Library. It'd been all too long since her last visit to there, let alone the old antique building she used to be seen periodically at.
Iqbal squirmed in her arms. Didn't she get it by now that he didn't want to be held? He began getting fussy before she placed him on the floor, him giggling that he'd gotten his way. Fortune flew from behind Tia, toddling after Iqbal with a certain look of pride.
Tia could only chuckle, following the duo down the familiar door and stairway. The place hadn't creeped her out as much now, and she was often getting more used to the fact that the building was alive and that it was a normal occurance. Normal wasn't bad, right?
Either way, Iqbal had a ball bobbing himself down the steps, making it a game while Fortune sqwuaked a few times as Iqbal accidentally stepped on her. As they reached the base of the stairs in the Library, she placed her hands in her pockets casually, walking a few steps inward. Her eyes squinted slightly as she saw people.
"Wren, that you?"
"Excuse me, Puchiko? I think we've got another guardian." Smiling politely to Puchiko, leaving her to theories -- grateful at least she could come up with some when he was coming up with blanks and ideas that were probably too far-fetched.
"It's me, Tia!" Wren called out to her, moving towards the entrance of The Library and stepping over what Puchiko had been carrying Quixana in. There was a grin on his face at the sight of Iqbal and he crouched down to get a good look at him. "I think somebody's growing, hm?" He looked up at Tia, smiling warmly. "Don't suppose you got a note too?" The way he asked was casual, but the look in his eyes gave away that he thought something else was up.
Mael all most immediately turned at the sound of more people, a quiet hiss from Suffication telling him there were more arrivals. Giving one final glance at what had been his destination, he turned back around and started making steady steps towards where father was. He was, for a moment, tempted to hiss at Xana but he ignored the urge for now.
Maybe later. His hand was pressed against the books as he walked closer, Suffocation coiling and uncoiling as she carefully slithered and moved about his body.
"Ah, Wren, good to see you!" Tia returned the warm greeting, walking in much less tense to see him, 'least there was a familiar face that could provide answers.
Tia laughed softly, bending down to ruflle Iqbal's hair. "Yep, he has grown, much faster than I've expected. Both him and Fortune." Iqbal fussed as his hair was ruffled, he'd taken most of the morning to get it that way, and there Tia was messing it up. He crawled away slightly annoyed, falshing an innocent smile to Wren. If he was here... then maybe...
He paused as his ears twitched. He heard hisses. They were faint, but enough to recognize them as a familiar tone he hadn't seen in awhile. He gave barely a yap, wagging in tail, glancing around for his friend.
"Ah... yeah, I got one. It worried me, so I came down here..." She lifted the letter up to Wren's view with her index and middle finger, before stuffing it back in her pocket, corner of her eye on Iqbal all the while
"Good to see you too, Tia," Wren grinned, pulling her into a brief hug once he was standing and she was through ruffling Iqbal's hair up. As he pulled back, he chuckled at the sight of Iqbal crawling away. No doubt, as he glanced over his shoulder, that Mael would be happy to see his friend.
As it was, Mael's head lifted up at the sound of a yap. It wasn't too unfamiliar, it reminded him of Lafe in a way, but the only other that he could remember who had that sort of quality was ... the wolf! Iqbal! Mael moved in a toddling run, tail lashing back and forth quickly.
Of course, he nearly tripped over Iqbal as he came to a skidding halt, but he managed. "Oi!" The word came out easily, something he had heard father say repeatedly, and it sounded fair enough game for a greeting.
Snorting at his brat, Wren turned his attention back to Tia and to her letter. "Ah, yeah. It looks like the one I got, and Puchiko said the one I got looked like mine, so ..." He trailed off, letting that information digest. "Not quite sure what's going on, but there was some mail piled up outside a few days ago and I don't think Pippin's around to ask, but --" Wren took a breath here "-- I just hope nothing too bad is going on. What could be a danger to the Forgotten, you know?"
The first thing that came to Iqbal's mind as he saw Mael, was the fact that'd he'd have to turn his head up as he got closer. Since when was he so big? He stared a bit curious at first looking him over noticing that he not only walked on two feet, but there seemed to be some word that didn't sound like himself he'd spoken. He was getting older than Iqbal so fast!
He sat quietly while looking to Mael, giving him a gummy smile, bits of hard, boney fangs poking out from the corners of his mouth. He'd had to show him they'd have some similarities. But regardless of how he tried to control his excitement, his tail kept wagging profusely, and this time he wasn't controlling it. And just as a test, he twitched his ears once.
Fortune glanced to Suffocation. Clearly the snake had grown along with the child, it was curious, yes. She strutted around next to Iqbal proudly, she'd definately have something to show off too.
Tia's face slowly turned down, hugging Wren as a brief greeting all the same. Her head turned to the other person and child occupying the room. She'd barely noticed in the reunion. She smiled softly, giving a brief wave of a hand. "I haven't been around the place for quite a bit, but... Pippin's acting much stranger in this letter... the way it's written, don't you think? He might be as equally strange confronting him..." She mumbled off the thought, before bringing her head back from the clouds. "You and I both, I'm really not all that fond of having danger surrounding any one of these Forgotten, but what's this about mail?" Her left hand toyed with the ring on her finger as a sign of tenseness.
Ooh. That was right! Iqbal hadn't seen him since he had grown! What was it that the older ones had said? Called the wolf? "Iq'al!" he finally said after a moment, the name coming out, but not exactly the right way. Though he grinned himself at the sight of Iqbal's fangs, his own showing. There was a flicker of a his tongue, hissing slightly as he usually did.
Plopping down onto the ground next to Iqbal, Mael let Suffocation slither to the ground. It was a noticeable change, that Mael and Suffocation where at enough ease around Fortune. But -- well, she was with Iqbal and she would hardly be a threat.
"Eh, well ..." Wren ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it up more than it usually was. He even fiddled with one of his horns briefly, before bringing his hand down. "I know Pippin can be, um, over zealous? But ... I don't think he'd kid about this sort of thing. Though it's strange enough all ready, without running into him ..."
His eyes glanced briefly to the ring on Tia's finger and for one fleeting second he was reminded of, well, himself. He often fiddled with the ring on his own finger when -- waitasecond. Tia was engaged? MARRIED?! Wren got pulled from the thought as he looked back up at her. "Ah, um, not sure. It was piled up a day or so ago, when I came by. It looked like it had an official seal on it. You know, from the city? Not sure if it's still around ..."
Suffocation let out a hiss, head lifting up along with some of her body as she studied the avian. She looked different, grown. Letting out a hiss, wordlessly, she greated the other and shared her own remarks on the other's change.
And, of course, at the twitch of Iqbal's ears, Mael couldn't resist the urge to reach forward and scratch them. His tail swished too and fro on the floor behind him.
Iqbal's head tilted for a moment as he watched the older version of Mael. His ears twitched again as the sounds of his name rolled off the forked tongue. Oddly enough, he was proud of Mael for getting his name so close, and admired the fact that he could do so. He couldn't wait until he'd be able to do things like that... but for now, he gurgled a phrase or two. Perhaps Mael would understand part of him.
Fortune had forgot slightly that avians didn't agree well with the pair, but for the past few weeks or so, she considered herself more canine. She pulled her ears back slighly, before she noticed that they didn't shun her away. Her ears pricked back up as she heard Suffocation hiss to her, and she chirped back a few bars of her own.
Tia nodded carefully to Wren's words. "I know what you mean... but it is strange, very... I didn't think people outside really took this place into that much consideration..."
Her head turned away as she detected a hint of hesitation in his voice. "Something wrong?" She asked first before answering him, curling the end of her hair around a finger. Her eyes scrunched a bit form the sound of the city. "Odd, what would they want with this place? It poses no threats..."
Iqbal paused as Mael reached forward. He gave a mix between a sigh and a coo, tail thumping behind him. He was getting much better at scratching, yes, he could really learn to like this new Mael.
Puchiko, who had been occupied with a scowling, cranky Xana for a few moments, perked up significantly at the sight of another stranger. Oh boy! More people. Today was shaping up to be rather... interesting. Seemed like the Wren fellow knew the newcomer. Puchiko - who had long since learned strangers were fun to talk to and sometimes even offered her candy - waddled over eagerly, hands clapsed together.
"Heeelloo!" she shrilled, beaming brightly at Tia. "My name is Dr. Puchiko, you can call me Puchi, Dr. P, Doc. I answer to just about anything! Hello - ooh, I already said that, didn't I?" She laughed weakly and coughed awkwardly.
Well, despite the fact that she enjoyed company, it didn't make Puchi any better at being social.
Xana studied the new Forgotten with renewed happiness and vigor. Hohum! Interesting looking fellow - animalistic, just like him and that stupid snake-boy. He looked like... like - blast, what was the word? - a puppy! Yes. Xana liked puppies. Looking very pleased with himself, Xana crawled over, Courage trotting along at his heels, and weaseled his way inbetween Mael and Iqbal with a grunt.
Regarding Mael with a cold stare, he eventually turned towards Iqbal and fixed the Forgotten with a gigantic smile. A happy gurgle greeted the baby, whilst Mael received the cold shoulder.
That should show him!
Such an odd thing to happen to Valora. A note about the child that was placed under her care. And not just any simple note, like one questioning her well being and journey in life, but one that requested her assistance. Valora was not quite sure if her assistance would be one they would want. However, if she was asked, she would reply to the best of her abilities.
She walked down the familiar stairwell, remember when she first was enticed to enter it's chambers. Even though it was a few months back, the memory of it still existed fresh in her mind.
The woman held the Izumi, the child she was given by the library, upon her hip. Relentless, Izumi's daemon, buzzed around behind them.
The library was still beautiful to Valora's mismatched eyes. She smiled admiring it's doors once again.
Inside, many other beings were gathered. They too had children and random animal daemons. A slight flutter of relief filled Valora at the thought that she was not alone in caring for a child born from this library.
Valora cleared her throat as she moved closer to the pack. One eyebrow cocked as she spoke. 'Good afternoon.' Izumi clung onto Lori's bodice.
"No, nothing's wrong, Tia," Wren quickly recovered, "nothing besides wondering what's currently going on." He was about to answer her, but he chuckled and nodded towards Puchiko as she came towards them. He'd let her make her introductions before they got to speaking again. Perfectly oblivious to the current chaos about to start.
Mael had been enjoying scratching Iqbal's ears, happily, right up until Quixana decided to put himself between him and his friend's fuzzy ears. Letting out a displeased hiss, he eyed Xana.
The glare he received just made matters worse. It was one thing to give him looks and have that feline growl at him -- it was another entirely to get between him and his friend! Mael let out a low deep hiss, gnashing his fangs irritably. This wouldn't do. "No," the word was quiet, forceful, and as Quixana had weaseled his way between them, Mael got right back between him and Iqbal. He was a snake, after all, it was easy to do.
He let out a hiss, red serpentine eyes glaring at Xana. This was his friend. What business did he have getting between them? Mael didn't care about the cold shoulder, didn't care if Xana would ignore him, but getting between him and his friend was another matter entirely. Reaching up with a hand, all most possessively, he started to scratch Iqbal's ear again.
Suffocation was currently moving to slither her way back up onto Mael's body, a small glance given to Fortune before she went on her way.
Wren all most instantly turned at the sound of another voice. "Hello!" he responded, grinning. "It's still afternoon? You can never tell once you're down here." This guardian was one that he wasn't familiar with and neither was the baby girl clinging to her.
Tia nodded, shaking her mind off anything else that had popped up into her head. "Ah, hello, Puchiko then, I suppose I'll refer to you as..." Tia chuckled, flashing another smile. Her head turned momentarily to get a look in on Iqbal, and she was a it more relieve to see him getting along.
Iqbal didn't even have time to think of the transition from having Mael's scratching stopping, to another child's face too close for comfort, and then back under Mael's scratchs again. His brows furrowed together from this, realizing that Xana had come between him and his scratching... that wasn't very nice of him. He could of at least introduced himself first. He let out a murmur of a gurgle, just blinking to Xana with his bi-colored eyes. He was an odd one, this child.
Fortune though, had taken a different thought. Courage was much bigger than her in size... but really she could fend her off if she really wanted to, but sneaking their way into earn Iqbal's trust was a bit farfetched to her. She ruffled her feathers, following Suffocation's lead back to Iqbal.
Tia also was distracted by yet another voice, another female nonetheless. "Ah, hello there."
Courage blinked down at Fortune, tail flicking idly back and forth. Twitching an ear, she settled back on her haunches, remaining close to her Forgotten in case he needed her, but otherwise remaining separate from the group. She didn't trust these new ones with her Xana yet; best to see what they were like before rushing in.
Xana scowled darkly at Mael. That was it! Xana would not be showed up by this, this... this ignorant knave! With a haughty snort, Xana raised his hand and brought it down none-too-gently on the top of Mael's head, palm splayed out against the colors.
There! Snake-boy would learn better than to interrupt his superiors! No one treated a knight with such disrespect when Xana was around.
The fur on the back of Courage's neck bristled and she growled a warning to Xana. For all his slobbery cuteness and imaginative games, Xana was a bit more aggressive than he probably should've been, though Courage supported the attack 100%. No one knew this better than Courage, and Mael did NOT look pleased from the bonk he had received. She was ready to intervene if need be.
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss - um." Puchiko petered off, realizing the stranger had yet to tell her her name, then turned to Val. Another person. "And nice to meet you too! Wow, it's getting busy here, isn't it? Don't suppose you got a note too? Pippin's been a busy little bee."
Babbled on and on. Did she ever shut up?
Valora gave a half smile to the other three adults. 'Valora.' She introduced herself. 'Valora Riddle. Lori works just as well.' She shrugged. 'This is Izumi. Right Izzie?'
Izumi giggled a little. She usually was a happy baby and it seemed today she was still in this good mood. Izumi peered around at the other children, slightly confused. She hadn't been around other children, so this situation was new to her.
Valora reached down to the cuff of her stocking and pulled out the note she had recieved. 'Yeah. I did. Thus the reason for my appearance." She held the note between her index and middle fingers. 'Any idea why we got them? Should we be concerned?'
She and Izumi watched the other children and their daemon's interact, questionable if she should let Izumi near them.
"Wren Concord," the red-head respond warmly. "Pleasure to meet you, Valora." Wren would settle on calling her Lori later on, when he was a bit more familiar with her. "And you've a lovely little girl."
His eyes settled on the note that Valora held out, his fingers waving at Izumi all most absently as he focused on it. "Well, we've no idea exactly why yet -- don't believe Pippin is around, and, unless you count the mail that had been stacked up last time I visited ..." He was pretty sure it was still there, just inside and not so much outside anymore. "But, well, considering Pippin? We should either be concerned," because it could be that serious, "or wonder just what has him this riled up to send a note like this." Because it could be nothing at all.
He turned his head, looking towards the back, his eyes all most searching for Pippin's office and instead focusing on The Book itself briefly. He wondered.
The moment between the children that Izumi happened to see was, potentially, not the best moment to be introduced to the other Forgotten children.
Mael shook his head abruptly, eye's narrowing and letting a sharp and short yelp. As if he couldn't believe that he'd been hit! What nerve! His tail lashed rapidly back and forth, and instead of curling around his own ankle as it usually did, it ended up curled around Iqbal's.
This. Would Not. Do. Who did this babe think he was? He was smaller, younger, and there was no disrespecting of those bigger and better than you. Ignoring Suffocation's mental warnings that it wasn't worth it and he should just let it be -- this was a baby after all -- Mael was all ready moving forward.
Just as that hand that bonked him was pulling back, Mael lashed out as any snake that was attacked in it's own territory would do. Letting out a sharp hiss, fangs bared, he bit Xana's hand. Granted, he pulled back just as quickly, the strike quick and fast, piercing into Xana's skin.
Stupid boy.
( But, of course, not even Mael was aware of the fact that as he had grown, so had something else. His bite, if not watched, would prove poisonous. Not so much, considering his age and size, but the bite would do it's damage to the baby -- albeit not strong poison, but enough. )
"Mael!" Wren's eyes turned to the small scuffle and he was on his way over there, all ready inwardly kicking himself for this. What the hell had Mael done now?
Xana let out a yelp of surprise as he felt sharp fangs suddenly sink into his hand, fingers twitching with pain. He drew back with a whimper, one hand curling tightly into Courage's golden fur for support, and eyes narrowed darkly at Mael. He'd pa -
Suddenly, Xana's skin paled. His eyes began to flutter rapidly, as if he were having difficulty keeping them open. Courage let out a worried yowl and rubbed her nose against his cheek, but to no avail - suddenly Xana fell on to his back, eyes shut and snoring almost peacefully.
It took a moment for this to register in Courage's brain. She nosed against Xana carefully. No response. Furious, she whirled on Mael, doing her best attempts at an intimidating roar. It wasn't very effective, but at least the thought was there.
Puchi, hearing all the commotion, glanced back over her shoulder with a scowl. She was trying to have an adult conversa - QUASARS, why the hell was Xana so pale?! The scientist lurched forward, kneeling at the baby's side and gently picking him up, cradling him in her arms. Courage, still snarling at Mael, backed up slowly; she was more worried about Xana than she was angry at Mael.
"Xana?" Puchiko asked hopefully. She poked his cheek. Nothing. Eventually, she noticed a few drops of blood were trickling down his hand - where the hell had those come from? She glared suspiciously at the two Forgotten nearby and wobbled to her feet.
"If you'll excuse me," she sniffled, then hurried out of the Library, Courage galloping after her.
Izumi cried after witnessing an attack on Xana. Valora grimmaced as the child wailed loudly in her ear. 'Gah!' The female grabbed onto the back of Izumi's neck and pulled the child's head into her chest to muffle her cries. Izumi clung tighter to her mother in fear that she might be attacked next.
Relentless shot around Izumi worried. He would be no help in protecting her, for he is so small in size in comparision, but he would try his best in any way possible.
Extremely confused as to what she just witness, Valora watched the other parents cautiously. 'Does this happen often? Attacking each other.' She looked down at Izumi and hummed a bit of the first song that popped into her mind.
Izumi calmed a little. Just enough to allow Valora to say goodbyes to Puchiko as she ran off with Xana.
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Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:23 am
|[ Gathering Clues ]|
19.05.05 ; Metaplot Roleplay ; Wren returns to the house and gets some answers. In the case of one particular demon, it was odd to see him coming to the potentially ancient building without a child. Considering at least two that he looked after, one his own and another his wife's, were actually 'born' in the place, it said something. As it was, however, his mind wasn't too far off on the actual subject of the building, The Library within it, and The Book that was in the center of it all.
Wren had come back to the place, after the incidents of a few days prior that did and did not shed much light, to see if he could find anything new. If anything stood out to him, if he could find out where the hell Pippin was at and ask him what was up with sending a note with skulls and cross bones? Granted, it was several levels more decent than the vacation postcard Tom and Carmine had sent to them, but still.
( And besides, Mael was suffering from being put in 'time out' for a day or so. At least until Wren got a handle on just what was going on with the toddler. Not that he showed any signs of aggressive behaviour since biting Quixana, but the other baby collapsed and that had him worried. Not only for others, but for the fact another change was over coming his son. )
Pushing an odd niggling question from his mind ( whether or not the lass he had passed by early possibly could've been one of the 'Horsemen of the Apocalypse' and if she was, just what was she doing here? ), the short demon headed up the stairs towards the great building.
Instantly, something was off to his line of sight.
Or not so much off as no longer piled up or even visible. The mail that looked like it had been stacked up for days was no longer around, not even a couple days worth. It was the same as the other day he visited, when the mail seemed to have been cleaned up. Still, Wren couldn't shake that he thought -- knew without a shadow of a doubt, and his shadow fiend was very much c**k sure from the whispers in his mind -- that something was going on and the mail was related to it.
As much as the building was, The Library was, The Book was, and the Forgotten and their daemons were, with their guardians caught up in it all because a house had tried to swallow them up but only managed to lead them to someplace quite special.
The demon could only shake his head in mild amusement at his thoughts and head on inside.
With the house, the real trick to finding the Library was to never look for it in the first place. Sure, one could wonder about it. Wonder whether or not they'd find it, wonder if they'd find out the real truth behind babies from books, and wonder if this house really was alive, but the moment someone actively starts looking for The Library and not just wonder about it? Well, they were caught in the game of the house. Then if the place actually decided to give in and suck you up and let you view the Library?
The place was feeling nice, giving.
You passed whatever tests and were deemed worth.
Or it got bored and needed more entertainment.
One or the other, or even all of the above.
And the thing was that Wren wasn't looking for the Library current. Not as he was within the house and the moment he stepped foot within the building, he could all most swear his feet knew an instantaneous path to the barely lit and dusty abyss. Except he didn't want to go there quite yet and for every step he took further into the first floor and towards the Stalker Halls, he knew that he was inexplicably caught up in the game of the house.
"Never did like feeling like prey," he muttered under his breath, blowing black tinted red hair from his eyes and nudging his glasses up on his nose. The house wanted him in the Library, he suspected, or someplace close to it -- if there was anything close to the Library.
But he was ignoring the pull, the quiet tug on his mind and the added echo from Hawk's Eye that he needed to go another direction. His destination was the kitchen and the Stalker Hall near to it. Except when a light flickered out above him and he was thrown into all most darkness, he let out a grumble.
A grumble that turned into a yelp as the floor beneath his feet shifted and contorted without his knowing and his foot got caught in a crack to make him stumble and fall.
Play the game or don't play at all.
Several words later, and more than a few not meant for company ( be it polite or otherwise ) to really hear, Wren picked himself up off the floor. Only to have a tug of war with the floor in attempt to get his foot free from it. "Oi, I need my foot." And if he wasn't going insane, though he likely all ready was so it was a moot point, then the crack his foot got stuck in seemed smaller all of the sudden.
Never mind the pressure on his shoe and foot seemed to increase and he couldn't begin to dislodge it.
The demon ended up back on the floor with a scowl on his face as the light above continued to flicker in and out in accordance to the mood of the house. Not the quickly turning sour mood of the prey it was toying around with. Once the house had you, captured you, let you see a few of it's secrets, you were it's permanent prey. Even outside of the building far away from it, you were still the prey. Just within it, sometimes the building liked to remind those it had picked.
Wren was quickly learning that either his suspicions about the house were correct or the quick flickering of the light on and off was playing tricks on his vision, his mind making him think that crack was smaller. "Damnit, don't want to go down stairs right now," he muttered to no one in particular. His head shot up at the sound of buzzing, faint but there, and not so far away. Was it behind that door nearby?
"... later," he suddenly said aloud, looking from the door, to the ceiling, to the crack he was trying to pull his foot free from, "I'll go to the Library later. Doesn't feel too right without Mael down there with me anyway." The last bit of the sentence a half-hearted grumble and when he tugged on his foot this time, it came free just as the light above him flickered completely back to life.
The red-head, of course, ended up flat on his back on the floor staring up dazedly at the ceiling for a few seconds before picking himself up slowly. The buzzing, he noted, was still there but even fainter. Shaking his head, trying to distill odd thoughts, he started to move again towards the Stalker Hall. Not like it was that far.
Except with this place the passage ways could stretch on for miles like those irritating dreams.
Once it seemed the house had given him it's permission to continue on his path, Wren actually didn't have any trouble getting to his destination. Granted, that buzzing was constantly there with the faint sound of trickling water. Did someone leave the water running? he thought, but he found his way into the kitchen, he didn't actually see any water running. Nor did the pipes seem to be leaking when he peered underneath the sinks.
Never mind no one seemed to be around and the house actually silent without people was odd. Trying to ignore the mental I told you so from Hawk's Eye, ever present in his shadow and hidden therein, he turned from the kitchen to head back towards the Stalker Hall one last time. The buzzing actually seemed to increase for a moment, just as he was passing by the bulletin board. It odd, but he did stop and peer at the thing that was filled with various notes.
"Book club, rugby, soccer, the city of ..." Wren was reading off the note and messages as he saw them, eyes going right back to the last one he had started to read. "Wait, what?" His eyes quickly scanned the note -- no, letter -- quickly. In fact, he actually just tugged it down, surprised to see something that looked like a duplicate of it underneath. "You've got to be kidding me. There's ... Hell's Bells," he hissed out. Scary how much he could actually sound like a serpent went doing so, much like his son.
If the letter was right, and he had a suspicion it was and the seal far too similar to and just as official as the ones he had seen piled up, then this building was going to be deconstructed to put it lightly. Bulldozed to put it another. "Destroyed and rebuilt, but they don't know about The Library, do they?" And, really, should they know about The Library? It was better off that such a place remain something of a mystery and if the place was destroy, Library with it, would whatever surrounding the children disappear?
Was this the danger to the Forgotten Documents at the moment? The one that Pippin was talking about in his note? Wrinkling his nose up, Wren quickly reread the note, trying to put the constant buzzing noise and water he heard back out of his mind. There had to be something he could do about this and as he read the letter, noted the city that it came from, an particularly impish smile made it's way onto his lips as he started to form vague ideas.
"If only, if only ..." he muttered, and pulling a spare pen from his courier bag, he tugged out a sheet of white paper to write on. He was penning and pinning a note to the bulletin board, another announcement that something had to be done to stop this and that, if anything, someone had something in mind. Not that he signed his name to it, but still.
And another note was written as well, this one signed and directed towards Pippin. Not like he could leave the message in the mail slot -- it'd never get picked up.
Wren moved slowly towards one of the darker doors in the hall, away from the good lighting and towards what he was thinking of as damp darkness at the moment. His fingers brushed along a door knob handle, opening it just slightly, but then not at the last moment. The buzzing was coming from behind this door, the sound of water as well.
He slid to the floor and stuffed the note underneath the door, eyes glancing up to study it. "I don't really have time at the moment for a visit, not now at least. Going to go check into a few things, see what I can turn up." It felt silly to be talking to a door, more importantly talking to a house that he was beginning to consider living. For real and not in jest. "Can't say I won't ask something in the future, but make sure Pippin gets that note, okay? It's vital."
Pausing, the demon expected some sort of response. If anything happened the area where he was standing seemed to have better lighting. He guessed the wiring shorted in his favor. Tacking on a small 'please' that was barely whispered, he pushed himself up to his feet and headed on his way out.
Still, he was the prey, the building and it's Library the hunter, and even if it did one small thing because it would help itself ( maybe ), it wouldn't do to let him go unscathed.
Just don't let it be said that a door can't hit somebody on the arse on the way out.
All by itself at that.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:12 pm
|[ Journal Entry ]|
17.06.05 ; Metaplot ; Written in by the guardian, Wren.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:24 pm
|[ Hunting ]|
29.06.05 ; Hunting when bored isn't necessarily a bad thing.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:30 pm
|[ Escape Interrupted ]|
16.07.05; RP; Nearly block the path of escape. It's a surprisingly chilly night for this deep into the summer, so it doesn't look so unusual for the teenage Legend to wrap his jacket around him tightly. Not quite noticable from the front, but clearly bizarre from the profile, an irregular lump hides in the protection of Dare's arms, beneath the jacket.
"Guess I don't need to tell you to keep quiet," he murmurs absently, on the alert at every stray noise. What was he thinking, taking her along? He won't live to see the end of this - and knowing his uncle, this could be entirely truthful.
Nuzzling her head into her cousin's ribcage, April closes her eyes and locks her arms harder around his middle, this feat taking barely any effort due to experience on her part. Her feet are the tricky thing, shoes dangling out, exposed by the jacket, at the sides of Dare's legs. Neither person notices this, however, much too busy with what floats through their own heads.
With the extra weight and the fragility of his transport, it takes Dare at least twice as long to get out of immediate sight of the Tolcher household.
Wren was trying to figure out why he let Mael come along in the first place, but the toddler was jumping up and down at his feet as he walked, making grabby hands at Lafe's swishing white tail.
"I get bit because you grab his tail, you're in trouble, brat," the demon said it loudly enough to get his son's attention who turned a wide, red snake-eye innocent look upon him.
He didn't buy it, and instead snorted, looking down at the growing pooka in his arms. Lafe was quiet for the most part, glaring off into space and seemingly ignoring both of those he was traveling with. His tail was twitching in tune with his irritation, not even caring it was creating a game for Mael to play. He nuzzled into his scarf some to further protect against the chill he felt.
Coming up on the house rather slowly, he spotted someone not too far ahead and coming this direction. He paused for a moment, head tilting, and eyebrow arching. It looked ... like ... there was a foot hanging out of the teen's jacket.
From this distance the teen looked a bit familiar, and he opened up his mouth to call out a greeting. At least, then, he'd know for sure, right?
Feeling the cover of his jacket slip - but not April, no, she's an expert at this sort of thing - Dare stops out on the sidewalk to fix and rearrange things. Having not noticed anyone present, he doesn't mind much that the girl is temporarily exposed as he does retuck the zippered front around her.
She looks at at him in this brief moment of natural light, pigtails brushing her shoulders and eyes wide and black. He's almost sad to have to cover her up, as adorable and innocent as she appears to be. But, for his own safety, and apparently hers also, it must be a clean exit, no witnesses.
Shrugging the jacket on for a better fit, he resumes curling his arms around her, eyes finally strolling up the street. Dare nearly jumps out of his skin to see someone there, and, from the looks of it, about to speak to him.
So much for no witnesses, he mentally groans.
Wren's lips closed abruptly, his steps stopping, and Mael stopping a few precious feet in front of him, wondering just why his father stopped and -- well, there went the tail he was grabbing at. It was now caught between Lafe's fingers, that were absently brushing the fur. The pooka's piercing silvery blue eyes were focused on the snake boy, watching him with an all most knowing look. He knew just what the boy was up to, and was putting an end to it.
Of course, the demon wasn't paying attention to any of this, but instead to the flash of a little girl he knew looked just like April, so familiar that it had to be her, and she disappeared within the jacket of someone ... he couldn't recall.
Just what was going on here?
"Oi!" he called towards Dare, "enjoying the evening air?" Oh, yes, he was one to be subtle. Really.
Dare swallows at the lump that suddenly rises in his throat, nausea overwhelming him. He hadn't even made it to the nearest bus stop, and he'd been caught. How pitiful is that? Alone, on his own escape mission, he'd made much better progress with plenty other people around to notice, and yet not one person saw him leave.
"It's.. just lovely," he replies, keeping his distance warily. "A bit cool, if anything."
He hugs his stomach tighter, more protectively. Had he seen her? Ohh, he must have.. he'd been so stupid to stop and check on her. If anything, keeping hidden is something she's good at, and he'd been the one to ruin it. Perfect.
"Ah, yeah, it is a bit cool this evening," the demon started, smiling easily, and shaking his head as he approached the other slowly, as if treading closer to a skittish animal. "But it feels good, compared to the heat of the day," he finished off with another warm smile.
"Something the matter with your stomach?" Wren asked, somehow managing to put genuine concern into his voice as he asked the question. "Are you all right?" But from the gleam in his eyes, he knew something was up. He was just waiting to see if Dare would make any moves.
Mael had stilled at his father's side, his fingers curling around of the suspenders that weren't worn properly and tugging slightly. He was studying the one that father seemed so interested in, but ... well. There was something not quite right. Besides, Lafe wasn't fun to pay attention to as it was -- the baby was still as could be, silver-blue eyes half-closed and seemingly not paying attention whatsoever.
Taking steps backwards immediately, he nearly trips at the uneven distribution of weight. "No, nothing - nothing's wrong with it, just.. chilly," he assures, with absolutely no assurance in his voice. He's quite the bad liar under pressure, and in most cases he sticks to the truth to avoid such situations.
There's a gentle squirm from under his jacket to tell otherwise, one of the feet rising up to hold tighter to the carrier. April can hear the voices and some movements, but being under this jacket sends her senses awry, causing her to become rather skittish. If she can't see or hear, it leaves a bitter helpless feeling she hates dearly to experience.
Close enough for his tastes, to clearly see that it looks like a child shaped lump under that jacket ( and wondering just how that jacket managed to hide the girl under there ), Wren nodded his head slightly. "Looks like you're holding a bit tight to your stomach there," he murmured, eyes trailing until the focused on the shoe that was hanging out of the jacket and clearly in view.
"... and apparently have grown another foot," he added in with a slight cough at the end, his eyes raising to stare at Dare.
Mael's tail had loosened from being curled around his ankle and he was ... very slowly, taking steps forward. If only to try and get close enough to poke at the mysteriously large bulge where he figured someone's stomach was. Or maybe something was inside the jacket. In any case, he had to have a look -- because Lafe was boring.
( And probably resented being called boring, but he didn't like Mael, thanks. )
Dare bites down on his lip visibly, sliding his hands down to the bottom zippered edge. He has quickly grown tired of the extra weight anyway, and the gig is already up.
"Look, sir, it certainly isn't what you're thinking," he explains, tipping his head to the side nervously. Oh? Wasn't it? "I'm not gonna hurt her, or anything. In fact, she wouldn't let me leave without taking her with me, and well you see it all wasn't supposed to happen this way.."
The foot sways side to side, loose from the clamped grip it had on the teen Legend's leg. Leg warmers scrunch up at the base of her ankles, socks barely visible from the condition of her clothing, as if she had been inhabiting these clothes for days.
"I don't doubt that if April didn't want to come along," Wren said slowly, shaking his head with a sigh, "that she would be latched onto you as she is." He didn't know what quite to say in a position like this, when someone was obviously making off with the friend of a child.
Leaning forward, he abruptly grabbed the back of Mael's collar and tugged him back. "No messing around, mister," he said in a hiss into Mael's ear and he got a disgruntle hiss in return, as well as a sudden n** to his chest from Lafe who did not appreciate being slightly squished in the leaning over.
The pooka glared up at Wren and rubbed his hands at his head and then his ears, before returning his grip to his tail. His eyes were on Dare, now, and he remembered this one from the past, he was sure. But ... the last time ... it had only been a fleeting glimpse.
"But you're not making off with her in the still of the evening? Because that's what I think and it looks like it ..." Wren trailed off, eyebrow arched and waiting for an answer.
"Uhm.. well." Hesitation, which only proves the point. ".. Er, uhh.. I'll stick with yes."
He drops his arms to his sides, the jacket waving gently aside in the cool breeze. April drops her head back, paling slightly to see who it is, only to dig her fingers into Dare's sides. He winces, trying to stop himself from pushing her off out of pain. Instead, she lets herself off, dropping her feet first before releasing her hands [a relief to Dare.]
She sits directly on Dare's foot, as if to protest him moving anywhere without disturbing her. She blinks, looking at each individual one by one before settling on Mael, a friendly face. He'd understand. She waves to him, opening and closing her hand as is her custom, and actually manages a toothy smile. He wouldn't let her go back there!
"Not to firm with a cover story, are you?" Wren wanted to move a hand to scratch at the back of his head, but instead he keeps his grip on Lafe, who still hadn't moved much beyond his gaze shifting from Dare to April. His tail swished a little, which attracted Mael's attention before it shifted to April.
Now, see, Mael knew things were bound to come from somebody's stomach looking a little too full. Wriggling out of his father's grasp, he moved forward, waving at her in return. She wasn't with the one Mael knew to be her father, but with someone who seemed a bit more there than him.
( Mael, as it was, couldn't find it in himself to trust Pippin. He simply ... did not exude that air that called for respect, more like it called for Mael to poke and prod and cause trouble. )
Letting out a hissed hello, as was normal, he moved before April and Dare. After giving April a wide smile, those fangs of his visible, he turned his attention to Dare. The look in his eyes was hard, calculating. He wasn't sure about April being with this one, but ... she was with him, and that had to say something ... Still, he had to look him over anyway. Just in case.
( No, he wasn't protective of his friends. Really. )
"Why do you have her, besides the fact she wouldn't let you leave without her?" Wren finally asked, trying to get somewhere and trying to figure just what the hell was going on in this situation. He couldn't, honestly, let someone take April from the house, but at the same time, he couldn't assume that something was wrong.
Dare tries not to look edgy and vulnerable with the look that Mael gives him; a toddler, for goodness sakes, can't have too much on their minds.. can they? He shakes his head, red hair drifting across his forehead.
"No, I wouldn't say I am," he starts with, eyebrows pressing together in a tinge of self pity. It disappears quickly. "I can't tell you why I took her with me. It was more an instinctual thing than anything else."
He rummages into his pocket, producing a twenty, the only money he has to his name.
"Here, sir, for your silence..?" Whether or not that'd work, he wasn't sure, but talking seemed to dig his own grave deeper. And yet, nothing stops him from continuing to shovel. "I can assure you, we were close once, Turtle and myself. She was just a baby last I remember her, but they grow like weeds don't they?" He attempts a smile, looking more like a pitiful wet dog than anything else, nevermind to be trusted.
Curiosity nudges his self out from inside April's sleeve, wheezing softly and dramatically. Lost! Why had she curled herself up in a way to make him lose himself in his own home?! Huffing, he tumbles down onto the pavement, clicking his tongue in a scoff. People.
The child raises her eyes off her daemon, smiling remaining in a faint line curling upward at the corners. She brushes a pigtail off her shoulder while standing up, mildly discouraged at the height she gains over her friend. Never the less, she pats his bald head affectionately, next looking up at Lafe. Interesting fellow, isn't he..
Wren bit the inside of his cheek to hold back the slight chuckles at Mael's behavior and Dare's reaction to it. Still, he holds himself in check and adjusts the fox child in his arms slightly. "Look," he said, letting out a deep sigh and raising his eyes upward to the sky in slight exasperation, "truth is worth a lot more to me than money, and you'll likely need it if you mean to take her with you."
Wiggling his hand free, he made a gesture for Dare to put the twenty back away, before his eyes softened just a bit from the stern look. So ... maybe this one was someone ... He shook his head a bit, smiling faintly. "Yes, they do grow like weeds. Before you even realize it."
Thing was, Wren had this habit about not being able to do further harm to kicked and wet pitiful dogs, as much as he tried.
It took a moment or two, but Mael eventually deemed Dare all right. He seemed more together than the other one, and toddlers could sense these sort of things ( otherwise how did they know when to mess with someone and when not to? ).
Actually, he was truly distracted by the sudden hand on his head, patting him. Mael wrinkled up his eyebrows, lips pursing and he let out a small hiss. Did she have to do that? Eh, oh well. It didn't bother him that much and eventually he gave her a smile, before following her line of sight.
Oh. Him. Mister No Fun. Mael let out a slight hiss that seemed to relate that little fact.
Lafe's tail swished back and forth still and he was still ignoring Mael entirely, it was often better that way, as much as it probably irritated the toddler ( whether Lafe realized it or not ). Silver-blue eyes focused on April and he slowly, eventually raised one small hand to give her a wave.
This one, she felt ... different. She was a bit different than the other children he was use to, more mellow, more calm -- not so much ... chaotic. Though the larger one seemed to be very nervous and his eyes briefly glanced up at him again, an ear twitching, before he turned his attention back down on April.
Still ignoring Mael, thank you.
Dare pockets the money with a bit of saddened realization. "Oh, right. Money," he murmurs absently. His thoughts are quickly plagued by things like, what will keep her entertained? What does she eat? Should she come back at all to play..?
"I don't know what I'm doing," he finally admits, wearily raising his gaze to Wren. With his luck, this is just a nice guy act, and he's going to report back to his uncle, which equals.. insta-death. "It just feels like she knew what was right and what's supposed to happen."
He couldn't explain it, really, and it wasn't as if it had been a strong feeling, but just a look at her reassures him that he's doing the right thing. .. Somehow.
April dips into momentary confusion, looking between the boys as if to make some sort of connection. Neither seems to want to do that for themselves, that's plain to see. But the fuzzier one, he doesn't have a daemon; no, he looks like he's still got his daemon in him, and it got stuck halfway out.
She waves to him, hoping to make peace with his interesting new speciman. Anyone with their daemon still in is a new and confusing species indeed!
Wren readjusted his hold on Lafe, eyes glancing down to the child and the toddler now near him. They were fine, but he turned his attention up at Dare. April, he though, was old enough to be able to make her own decisions ( to a certain degree ), but he also trusted the fact that if she didn't want to go somewhere, she wouldn't.
She seemed like that type of little girl, even if silent most of the time. "Are you by any chance, Dare?" he asked, curiously, listening to him as he spoke, but still asking the question he had on his mind. He had heard of him from Pippin at least once, when April went missing months back.
For the moment, in any case, the demon is thinking about whether or not he's going to let this slide. Asking if the teen is Dare is just a way to stall and give him a bit more time to think. If anything, he's sure the boy will stumble a bit on his words before he admits his name.
Mael made a small hiss towards Lafe, a small warning to play nicely, but all he got was a look from Lafe that seemed to say the baby would do as he pleased. For once playing nicely as April seemed to be interested in Lafe ( and, really, if Mael wasn't use to seeing kids without daemons, he might've been too ).
He blinked his eyes suddenly, as Suffocation poked her head out of his shirt, from where she was coiled around his torso. He turned his attention down to her, hissing softly, and scratching gently under her chin. Everything was fine, Lafe was ... just being Lafe.
Lafe's ears c**k to the side, eyes opening up entirely and that silvery-blue gaze focused on April. He returned the wave she made in greeting, curiousity eating as his mind. She was different, just like Mael was different and Otium was different. One in two, though he wasn't consciously aware of the fact.
A little half-smile was on his lips, as most as he gave people, and he squirmed in Wren's arms to get a better look at the girl before him. When it came to his curiousity, Mael didn't matter.
Dare gives Wren an abrupt, astonished look. Had he met him before..? He would have remembered the face, surely his memory isn't that terrible. Or, perhaps it was too long ago for him to remember.
Wiping the expression off, though knowing the damage is gone, Dare stands up a little straighter. "N-no, what makes you say that?" he stammers, lying through his teeth. If there's some sort of bad omen behind his name already, he should find it out before admitting his identify, real or otherwise.
Opening and closing her hand in a wave, the escapee child looks over Lafe with interest, intrigued by his unique appearance. Unique to her, anyway, as she's seen little more than the ones who come from the Library, and her new baby brother. [She figures they're hiding his daemon somewhere, or she is too small to see, or something.] April reaches up on her toes, running her fingers through Lafe's tail very cautiously. Someone with daemon parts might bite like one, too.
She stops with mild surprise, looking a little shocked. Her eyes flicker side to side without actually seeing anything, her hand dropping slowly from Lafe's tail. She softly whimpers, a truly worried and pitiful sound coming from a normally silent girl. Whirling around, she blindly buries her face into Dare's leg, curling her fingers around the folds of his pants and tugs. Insistingly, she tries to pull him across the pavement, eyes shut to prevent tears.
There's a soft howl from under her clothing, muffled by the layers but chillingly out of character for the usually grumpy Curiosity.
The black-haired demon arched an eyebrow, lips trying to not quirk at the sudden look on the teen's face. At least, that sort of response gave him some sort of idea he hit paydirt. Without using any other ability to make sure the boy was telling the truth.
"Just a thought," Wren replied. The look on Dare's face and the way he stammered really was enough to make him think that was the boy's name. Even then, though, something tells him the girl's likely in safe hands and as much as he ... likes Pippin, the man wasn't all ways the most observant. How long would it be before he noticed April was even missing?
Lafe's lips turn up at the corners, but he holds back the snarl that usually threatens to spill out when someone touches him and he doesn't want to be touched. The soft fuzzy white tail is a no-touching zone, but he doesn't bite or truly snarl. His ears c**k back, silvery-blue eyes trying to stare down April. There's something about her he can't figure out, like there's something familiar about her ...
Except she's moving back and whimpering, and something flashes in Lafe's mind but ... he doesn't know what. He lets out a tiny growl, shifting and squirming in Wren's arms. The growl is echoed by Mael's hiss, the serpentine toddler sure that ... well, needless to say he thinks Lafe probably did something to April.
Suffocation slithers to a better vantage point, silenting communicating with her forgotten, but otherwise the toddler is caught between glaring down Lafe and looking to April.
"Oi, Lafe, Lafey ..." Wren murmured, trying to get Lafe to stop squirming, but his eyes glance up from the fox child in his arms to April clinging to Dare and the sound of howling he picks up as well. "... what's wrong?" he mutters, but ... doesn't really expect an answer.
Dare springs ahead on this opportunity, guessing it to be his best chance at escape. Lifting April up into his arms, he takes off in a run past Wren. Something slides out of April's sleeve, whether purposely or not, to land roughly at Mael's feet. It's a small hairclip matching the one in April's hair currently, grey with a skull charm. His head swarming with thought, Dare stops a good twenty metres away just to turn around. Being rude doesn't sit well with him, what when the man knows his name and knows his uncle.
"Please, I beg of you to keep your silence," he calls, breathlessly, stumbling backwards to continue moving. "But you must realize that this what's best, and she knows what she's doing!"
Does she, really? Or is his own judgement poor and has it softened at the reunitement of his favourite, fatefully bonded relative?
Wren whipped around, trying to catch Dare, but all he succeeded in doing was gaining a bite from Lafe. It was a sound bite, into his forearm, the fox baby's canines sinking into his flesh and latching on. He let out a near hiss, biting back the urge to say something nasty at the sudden ache in his arm.
Lafe let go after a second, blood smeared on his lips, but a pleased glint in his eye. He wanted to stall Wren, to stop him from moving. Part of him knew far too well that this was for the best too. Wren just didn't realize it and Lafe was determined to make him, one way or another.
Mael gave April a worried look, once it seemed Lafe was contained by his father, and his toddling steps towards her are stopped once it seems that Dare was making off with her. There was a frown on his lips, tongue flickering out, but ... it's what she wants. He knew she wouldn't go anywhere, unless she wanted to. Or so he thinks.
Instead, he moves forward, Suffocation slithering down his body to the ground and goes to pick up the clip that fell from April. He leans over and his fingers curl around it, picking it up and examining it in his hand with a small hiss.
"Fine, fine," Wren eventually muttered, his attention on the departing pair. "I'll leave it be for now, but if Pippin asks," and here the demon wondered how long it would be until Pippin would ask, "I'll tell him." Because, honestly, sometimes it was a bit too creepy when it seemed the children knew the right thing to do and he did not.
Dare's relief might not be noticable at this distance, but he grins widely as emphasis. "Thanks, sir! I'll bring Turtle 'round sometime, once the heat's worn down, to see your serpent-kid."
And with that, he turns and makes off down the street. The night is fresh, though the cold seems to remain in the air. Despite the chill, it's a beautiful summer night. April watches over the shoulder of the teen as one of her best friends disappears; she slides a hand out to try and wave goodbye, eyes full of saddness that won't be seen. It hadn't been part of her plan to be reminded of what she's leaving behind.
"You do that!" Wren called back to Dare. At least, if he can't see the relief on Dare's face from where he was standing, he most certainly could hear it in the teen's voice. He probably could catch the pair, if he wanted, but Wren had two children with him and it would likely be war if he left Lafe alone with Mael. He rakes his free hand, the one that Lafe so nicely bit into the arm, through his hair and sighed.
What was he going to do now? Besides going home, he had no clue, but Lafe was looking up at him self-satisfied and he couldn't even begin to question that look.
Mael on the other hand barely caught any glimpse of April as she and her new caretaker disappeared off. Instead, he thought he saw a hand and waved too in goodbye. Somehow, he knew it might be a while before he saw her again, but until then ... well. He'd keep a hold of her hairclip.
And give it back when he saw her again. That way, at least, he knew he could potentially see his friend again.
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Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:15 pm
|[ Poison ; Part One ]|
29.07.05 ; ... one bad day. "Don' wan' to," Mael was standing his ground, arms crossed against his chest and red serpentine eyes focused on Wren who was sitting on top of his desk in the family library. Mael's expression was one of petulance, one that clearly said that no matter what, he wasn't going to listen to Wren. The growing toddler let out a huff, his tail twitching back and forth in the air visibly behind him. Even Suffocation seemed to be agitated, from the way she kept constantly hissing at Mael, as if she was berating him.
Or perhaps egging him on in arguing with his father. In any case, the blood red snake was not one that Wren wanted to handle any time soon. In fact, he didn't think he wanted to handle Mael anytime soon either. It was all most amusing to see the both of them. Wren now pushing himself to stand up properly, his own arms crossed against his chest and facing his son. At least, for now he was taller than him and the height would potentially help him ascertain his right to being able to tell his son what he needs to do.
Except it didn't quite work that way, if anything, Mael stood up straighter. His red eyes narrowed, pupils bare slits, and he bared his fangs in a smug grin. It was surely a look that was learned from Gaitano, or even Carmine, but that was Wren's thoughts on the matter. The look was purely Mael, the attitude all his own, and he wasn't going to do what his father wanted of him.
"I've let you skip out before, but you can't today. Remember? You promised." As much of a promise as could be pulled from Mael, the toddler understanding the words but hardly speaking them as he preferred his hisses that much more. The toddler frowned at him, letting out another huff, and turning his head away.
"Ottie lef'," Mael replied, eyes narrowing once more and he quickly leaned over to pick up Suffocation from the chair where she was sitting. The daemon quickly slithered and coiled herself around the body of her forgotten, a sign that in the future, she might just be able to wrap around him entirely. Her head raised until she was able to hiss into Mael's ear, before turning her attention to Wren, who was beginning to lose his patience.
It had been like this all day. Both Otium and Mael did not want to do anything that was asked of them, or anything besides what they pleased, and if anything, the only ones that they were acting nicely to were each other ( and even then that seemed like it was barely possible ). Wren could've swore he heard Otium whispering to his brother at some point earlier in the day, before he finally became too cranky for the lessons. When Otium was distracted and paying attention not to him, but to everything but him, it was time to let him go. Besides, things had been shaking in the room, and there had been a spike of energy.
If Wren had not let Otium go out of the room, things might've been a bit hectic. More so than they were now. Pressing two fingers against his temple, Wren started to massage lightly and let out a small sigh.
"Otium left because he needed to leave. You promised me that you would do as I said and stay with me so I could teach you things." Wren was trying, he really was. Perhaps if Mael hadn't agreed to the promise, it wouldn't have meant as much to him, and he'd let the malcontent toddler go, but as it was promises meant something to him -- Mael needed to know that.
Except apparently it didn't amount to anything to Mael. He turned, tail wrapping around his ankle, and started to stalk his way towards the door of the library and to leave.
"Leavin'," he said definitely, not even looking back over his shoulder at Wren. He was tired of this, tired of having to do what father wanted him to do. He wanted to go hunting, or go torment birds, or go do something that wasn't in here -- or anything else his parents could come up with. Mael just wasn't expecting to be suddenly plucked up by his father's arms.
Mael's on patience was shattered and he reacted instinctively. He was angry father decided to pick him up and hold him back from going where he wanted to. Angry that he had to sit through these lessons when he wanted to play. It didn't matter that he promised, it just mattered that he got to do what he wanted, when he wanted.
So he did the first thing that came to mind.
And he let his fangs sink into his father's forearm and bit down hard. This bite was different from others before it, particularly when Wren let the boy suddenly go and clutched his hand against the bite. Blue eyes were glowing brightly, in anger, and Mael didn't even have the decency to look apologetic. If anything, there was a smug smirk on his face. His forked tongue flickered out, licking away the traces of blood that stained his lips and teeth.
"You, your room. NOW," Wren hissed out, eyes glinting dangerously. His arm burned from where he was bitten, and he wasn't sure about it. "March. You're in trouble, and you're going to be punished."
---
Several minutes later found Mael in his room, bouncing up and down in the chair in the room. Otium wasn't present and he didn't have anywhere to release the pent up energy and anger he still felt. He was frustrated and he had no clue why, just that he was. Things weren't right, nothing seemed right.
And father overreacted to a little bite! It was his own fault he got bit! If he didn't want to get bitten, he shouldn't have picked him up. Mael let out a huff, nuzzling against Suffocation when she whispered into his mind that he was right. Father should've known.
Still, they were confined to the room and there was nothing to do. He pushed himself and went towards his chest where he kept his gems and jewels. The valuables that Otium had somehow gotten for him and he kept hidden from their parents. They were tucked away safely, under one of the dressers, and he started to crawl under there to reach it.
Suffocation was normally first to reach the box, but instead she hung back. 'Something's there ...' she whispered into his mind and Mael went deathly still. He waited until his eyes adjusted to the shadows under the dresser and he let his tongue flicker out and taste the air as well. There was something under here, in their territory, and it wasn't where it belong.
Quickly, he reached forward with a hand and grabbed whatever it was. Eyes shut, he started to wriggle out backwards, to pull the thing into light. It felt soft under his fingers, fuzzy like one of Wolf's ears might be. He heard the small whine, something similar to the rare noises he heard Lafe make, but not quite the same.
When he opened his eyes up, no longer under the dresser, what sat in front of him was a fuzzy light blue talaye pup. It's dark blue eyes glinted at him pleadingly, as if trying to get him to let go of his tight hold on his ear. ( Never mind Suffocation, still under the dresser and behind the talaye. 'I bite?' was the thought that crossed Mael's mind from her. It was ignored for the time being. )
Normally, he might've been distracted by the soft fur, wanted to pet and touch it, but instead he only got angry. The thing had been in his territory, where he kept his treasures, and that wasn't acceptable. He let go of it's here, but snapped at the talaye when it tried to move away.
"Bad!" he hissed out and twisted the talaye's ear again to get the point across. It let out a weak whine and whimpered, before he quickly dropped something it had been holding in it's mouth. It was the skull hairclip that Mael had picked up from April.
... this thing had gotten into his trinkets and took it out of there. Something snapped in Mael, as this was the last straw of a seemingly bad day. It was one thing to go into his territory, it was another to go into his territory and take his things, particularly ones from friends. He lunged forward and struck at the talaye, his fangs sinking into a small shoulder and he bit down.
The shrieks of pain from the pup brought in both Wren and Halo, and even then, it was tough to pry Mael off and longer yet before he calmed down enough. His fingers were tightly curled around the skull hairclip though and he could've cared less about the condition of the pup or his father.
... no one messed with his things.
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Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2005 11:21 pm
|[ Poison ; Part Two ]|
30.07.05 ; ... in the blood.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:14 am
|[ Journal Entry ]|
11.08.05 ; Written in by the guardian, Wren.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:15 am
|[ Birthday Boy ]|
12.09.05 ; The first birthday rolls around.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:17 am
(( "DAMNIT PIPPIN, YOU KNEW TODAY WAS MY BIRTHDAY AND YOU HAD A BARBEQUE. NO NOOKIE. EVER AGAIN.
(( "... well, I can't hold true to that, but he's not getting any for a good while. Neither is Halo. Evil people." ))
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