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 Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:59 am
.Present.
Scissors Aren't Only for Paper!
Messenger Reborn Quote:
The patter upon the windowpane made it only too clear that the rain from the day before had carried on into today, which managed to put a damper on Alexei's mood. The shy boy was slowly breaking away from the seed of awkwardness he was used to, though he made sure not to break it entirely - he wanted to be able to shimmy back in when need be - but now wasn't one of those times. He had sorely wanted to play with Nio outside today and had prayed extra hard that the rain would go away...
But alas, the sky was deaf to his prayers.
"I guess it's okay, though, right, Jumbo?" he said quietly from his place on the livingroom floor. Brightly colored paper was scattered in front of him, a mess that would give any mother an anurism. The large dog he spoke to lay amongst the sheafs of paper, in a near coma because of the sagging weather.
"April showers bring May flowers!" he chirruped, reaching over and rubbing the beast behind the ears. He picked up a red crayon and drew a large circle, that mananged to look a little square, and dug out his plastic crayola scissors from underneath his dog; Nio made little protest, except to huff loudly and roll over.
"I'm gonna make you a saddle, 'kay?" He busily hacked away at the paper, shavings curling around his wrists and on the floor. He set the scissors down and pushed himself up, shoving all the trash behind him while piling all the pieces for a saddle together. Something was missing, he realized, picking up the scissors again to reach for an itch under the gauze on his back.
Even now he refused to take it off, afraid that by doing so, the pain would return. His wings breaking through had been one of the worst events of his life, something that had very well made him lock away the memory in the back of his mind. Alexei hated any kind of pain, be it his own or others.
Glue!
"I need glue!"
The little Herald leapt to his feet and toddled off at a run, grabbing onto the bars on the stairs to keep balance as he attempted to take them two-by-two; he still couldn't reach the railing. Climbing onto the landing, he nearly took off at a run again before remembering: no running with scissors. Oops. He set them in his hand properly - even if they WERE safety scissors - and went on his merry way.
"Papa'n! Where's the glue?" he called, pushing the door to his father's room open and peeking inside. The room was devoid of black feathers or his father; the boy's brows crinkled with worry. Where was dad? He scampered into the room, leaving the door wide open behind him, and approached the bed, where his father was prone to sleeping way in on rainy days.
"Papa'n?" he crooned. Nothing. It didn't take long for the angel's panic to settle in, or rather, crash in. Where was his father? He had been sleeping when he looked in this morning!
Alexei looked under the bed, under the covers, in the closet, and even under that one floorboard that could be pushed up if you stepped on it just right...
But there was no demon to be seen.
"PAPA'N!"
"Holy mother -- Alexei, what's wrong?" The demon flew into the room, looking disheveled and panicked at the poor boy's cry. The little waif opened his eyes and stared at the demon, in near tears, still clutching the pair of scissors he had in one hand; he gave a dry sob and shuffled over to his father, clutching onto his legs for dear life.
Azruael strikes again - wonderful.
It was like someone took a large porcelain vase clearly labeled 'guilt', and smashed it over his head...with enjoyment. He knelt and scooped the boy up, plunking down on the bed.
"Did you call me?" he asked in earnest. "I was in the bathroom, Alexei. Kind of out of it." A sheepish laugh.
"Y-yes! I wanted t-to make Jumbo a s-saddle, but there was no glue, so I came up here a-and...you weren't here and I thought you left and I got scared and I didn't know what to do!" came his muffled wail, as Azruael nervously stroked his hair.
It seemed like an eternity they had sat there, listening to the rain sing just outside the window, and after a while, Azruael wondered whether the boy had fallen asleep. But a sudden shift in his lap told him otherwise, as Alexei gave his eyes one last rub and looked up curiously.
"Why were you in the bathroom, papa'n?"
Red brows rose upwards, "Well...I was contemplating on whether or not I should cut my hair, actually."
Alexei let out a small squeak, eyes widening with excitement. He reached up and tugged on a lock of that crimson hued hair.
"Really? How come? I think your hair is pretty!"
Azruael laughed and ruffled the boy's downy fluff. He knew he'd say that if he had told him in the first place; Alexei had an odd habit of tying his hair into knots when he thought his father was sleeping.
But really....
"I just thought of turning over a new leaf. Everything's changing now, you know...what with your wings coming in and all." Half-truth. Never in a million years had he thought he was going to be taking care of a child, never had he thought that he was going to be on his own, and later found by the elf. So many things were going on, all at once, that he couldn't help but think that maybe it was time to do something new...
Since this chapter in his life was so crisp, unwritten upon, he didn't want to stain the pristine pages with his old, blood-stained story.
He smiled faintly and looked at the the winged boy in his lap, who seemed to be deep in thought. The corner of his lip quirked upwards.
"Don't think too hard, 'Lex. I can see the smoke."
"Hey!" He blew a raspberry and sat up, holding his safety scissors near his papa'n's long, red hair.
"If you're gonna cut it 'cause of me, can I help?" And he gave such an endearing smile, that even the demon found himself unable to refuse.
Why not? Let the child make the first mark on the page...
And after all, if he did a hack job, Lily could always fix it.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:38 pm
Of Dragons and Elves and Little Gypsy GirlsRP can be found Here.Alexei Met: Chailyn, Prem, Emma, Valencia, and Lance Synopsis:Time to meet some people! Azruael was prematurely invited to attend a friend of a friend's birthday party and decided it'd be a good time to have Alexei meet new people. While Azruael got himself acquainted with the party goers at a dance club, the little Herald had to overcome his initial fear of people to be able to get along.
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:50 pm
The Summer MasqueradeRP can be found Here.Alexei Met: Miss Owle (again), Rand, Chailyn (again), and Miss Ane (again) Synopsis:The Summer Masquerade has rolled around! Receiving an invite to the gypsy's fair, Azruael and Alexei decided to attend (sans Jumbo) - the latter moreso than the former. Upon entering the masquerade, they met up with Owle and Rand, the former who, surprise! Surprise! was pregnant. Completely taken off guard, both the demon and the young woman decided to catch up, leaving poor Alexei to... Get to know Rand! Owle's Herald son. They got along fine, and the other boy's out-going personality became magnetic; soon Alexei was being more open as well, getting over his initial embarrassment. Later on, Ane and Chailyn appeared, having been invited as well. Alexei introduced the three, and when the little girl found that she hadn't wings like theirs, they promised to make her a pair. However, halfway through their conversation, a gypsy's child was stolen. Azruael and Owle took off to search, leaving Alexei in Ane's charge, which went along swimmingly since they decided to play Arabian Knights! Notes: Alexei seems to be taking charge.
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Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 12:04 pm
Scary!RP can be found Here.Alexei Met: Lil' miss Mackerel! Synopsis: Alone on a walk with his dog, Alexei finds himself suddenly yoinked into a situation he'd rather not be in: meeting someone new! And it just so happens to be another Herald, a girl, named Mackerel. Jumbo likes her, but the little boy finds her wings to be curious things indeed!
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:57 pm
RP Pending (in progress)
Spot Saved
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:58 pm
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Posted: Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:05 pm
Fear and Faith I
The Dream
Messenger Reborn - growth He felt at home.
That was the first thing that alighted Alexei’s senses as he twisted about, ignoring the faint traces of disorientation at the edges of his mind. The second thing was how thick the atmosphere here was; he could feel it pressing against his skin, gentle and warm, not unlike a light sweater. It was comforting and safe, pulsing, hollow - the stuff dreams were woven with, and made into. But…something was different and it was at once both wrong and right.
He could feel, and feel everything. A gentle breeze tickled his hands and swept his hair aside. The brightness of his surrounding smarted his eyes, to which he had to squint and become accustomed to. This dream felt as though he weren’t back home anymore, that he was very much a part of the waking world.
Beams of sunlight fell across his bare feet and set the room aglow with new life. The shadows, faint as they were, fled from the imposing bright, but fell prey to the sun, and dispersed like scattered ash amongst the pristine tiles. With such wandering eyes, he belatedly noticed that the light itself seemed some sort of sentient being, of which currently found itself drawn to the little Herald. A shaft of light swung towards him, and without a second thought, he stepped backwards to avoid it.
Only to step into another.
Everything seemed to explode in silence, suddenly washed in the brightest of whites, even, he noticed, his hands. Alexei was aware that he was pale, but his skin shimmered back at him like fine, polished ivory.
He was glowing.
“Alexei-el.”
The little be-winged child spun around sharply. His heart thrummed against his chest, his cheeks, his temples – it became the resounding tempo that filled the room, like a harbinger drum of damnation. Fear speared through him unbidden, of which was threaded with confusion. Why was he so rend with guilt? Clammy hands flattened against his pyjama bottoms: the cloth fluttered. His hands were shaking.
“Alexei-el.”
“M’Sorry!” he cried out. His voice was swallowed by the immensity of the room. “I didn’ mean’t! Please don’!”
His teeth chattered, his breath was short; he was terrified, terrified of a voice who had no lips, no body. Terrified of a voice that held no ill will, that was gentle and firm. He was not being scolded – what was so wrong?
“Alexei-el.”
A shadow befell him, a shadow who was massive and whose wings arched high over its head, and of whose halo cast as far as to where the boy-child stood; he was blanketed in such a comforting light that his hands stilled in their shaking. Even the being’s presence was magnificent. Sucking in a breath and steeling his small body, he turned and looked up.
But he did not see this benevolent figure, but instead, felt a firm and guiding hand against his chest, and Alexei found himself falling, plummeting head over heels towards the earth below.
The pearly world was torn away from him. He was free-falling, the wind whistling past his ears and grabbing at his clothes and hair and skin. He felt as though he were being stretched either way, zephyr gleefully plucking at his toes and ankles. But he did not feel scared, not here…not while falling. Everything would be all right; he knew this in the very core of his being.
He would not hit the ground; danger would not befall him.
Faith buoyed him, and he felt it first in his belly, the feeling one received whilst on a roller coaster. It passed through him, and a warmth passed through his back and through his wings – they instinctively stretched out, though he was aware they could not catch him, and suddenly burst with light. Ribbons upon ribbons curled and unfurled and passed through each individual pinion. Tugged and coaxed, the effulgence gathered and grew until it could no more.
To which it burst into a million pieces of lambent starlight, and caroled a lullaby in his ear until he drifted off to sleep
To sleep…to sleep…
Alexei shot up in bed with a start.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:29 pm
Fear and Faith II
Dream versus Reality
Messenger Reborn to Child - growth It was 3 A.M.
Or 3:15 A.M. to be exact – that’s what his bedside clock told him, blinking casually through the darkness at him. Azruael couldn’t sleep – it was nothing new to him, though. Sleeping was always a hit and miss with him: gamble with it and have a horde of silent nightmares, which was the usual, or try really hard and aim for a dreamless sleep. That was it, nightmare or dreamless as he was not accustomed to dreams. With a groan, the demon rolled onto his stomach, black wings flopping over either side of the bed; he burrowed his nose into the crook of his arm.
Why was it so damn hot? Shoving his covers and pillows away, he was momentarily freed from the mugginess of the comforter…only to be attacked by shivers. Cold sweat. Disgusting. With a rustle of feathers and the creaking of the mattress, Azruael flopped back onto his back, nestling against the plush inner plumes of his wings.
Now they were going to stick to his back. He groaned and threw his arm over his eyes.
He was never going to get any sleep.
But fate took pity on him, and ever so slowly the demon drifted off into a faceless sleep…no Rhiannon, no Ferio, no Princesses, and no war. No lord and ladies of which he was to follow, no blood on his hands, no lovers slain at his feet. Azruael settled into the damp coolness of this other plane, falling deeper and deeper, anchored by the weight of his wings, until finally…
A pair of knees slammed into his gut and he shot up, gagging and knocking heads with whatever had attacked him in the dark. Stars burst before his eyes, and he heard a faraway yelp, and the weight rolled back into his lap as he sat up.
“Nnguh…”
“Owwee…”
Gathering his wits in an instant, Azruael’s eyes snapped open, “Alexei?!”
The little boy nursed his bump, his lower lip thrust out. The sound of his name, however, brought his attention up and remembrance lit up his eyes.
Green eyes.
“Papa’n! I h’d th’ most wunnerful dream! I was’n fallin’…only th’ wind caught me n’ th’n I was sort’n floatin’ ‘round! N’ I felt lahk my win’s were a-growin’! N’ it was th’ mos’ wunnerful feelin’ n’ it felt more real th’n BEIN’ real!”
“…Wait. Who are you?”
The little boy blinked, squinted his eyes, and gave his father the most puckered look ever, “Don’ be silly, papa’n! Were’en you listenin’?”
“Alexei?”
“Papa’n!”
Azruael simply stared, and the little boy pursed his lips, hands meeting his hips. Why was his dad acting so funny? Had he had a nightmare or something? Maybe you weren’t supposed to wake up a sleeping person by jumping on him! Wasn’t it unsafe to wake up a sleepwalker or something? Wait. But he hadn’t been sleepwalking! Leaning forward, the little boy waved a hand in front of the demon’s eyes.
Slender hands came forward and cupped the Herald’s face, gathering the soft black curls that shown even through the dark. They were slightly mussy from sleep, but they curled gently around his fingers…not like his son’s straight flax hair. Dark as pitch. Large green eyes pierced through the dark, shining like forest greens. Azruael tilted the boy’s head back – even his skin was slightly darker, not as pale as alabaster anymore. Not as pristine as snow.
“Alexei?” he queried, brows furrowed. “Alexei, my kid?”
Now the boy was just confused. He twisted from his father’s grasp and blew his cheeks out, “Whose’else’s?”
What was going on? Tired yellow eyes flicked to the clock once more, which now read five minutes after four. It was too early to be dealing with this. Much too early. Maybe he was still asleep, and this was going to turn into some nightmare, and with that thought, Azruael’s hands shot away from the boy in his lap as if burned. He did not want to wake up thinking their was an innocent child’s blood on his hands.
He leaned back and shut his eyes, drew a wing up, and blocked out the world. He could feel tiny fingers brushing through his feathers, feel them plucking gently against each pinion in question, begging for attention…but he was tired.
Too tired.
He would deal with this twisted dream-reality in the morning. For now he just wanted to slip away from this world and into black.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:33 pm
Fear and Faith III
Swift Kick in the Face
Child - end growth A cloudy morning, a songless morning…just the morning you would expect after a night full of sleeplessness, and unexplainable curiosities. Azruael had woken up to spy the same boy who had leapt upon him during the night, the same boy who had kneed him clean in the solar plexus – good enough to be a Muay Thai boxer, even – curled up atop him like a kitten. When he had stared down at him, he found his sleeping mannerisms the same as Alexei’s, and his voice the night before sounded just like Alexei’s, even the colloquial way in which he spoke, rushing through his words and licking off half to throw it into another. The same little bandages he had replaced to sooth the angel were wound loosely around his wings, as if they didn’t fit anymore. And though earlier that morning he hadn’t believed it, he knew it now. This little boy was his son, his Alexei.
“Tha’ cain’t be me!”
Even if the little boy now refused to believe it himself.
Azruael chuckled, arms folded over his chest – the look gracing the child’s face was priceless. He was slack-jawed, in a state of perpetual horror and amazement, hands clapped to his face not unlike the brat from Home Alone; the demon was tickled.
“Well it is. Oh man, we’re going to have to get you new pyjamas – how inconvienent. Why’d you have to grow, eh, kiddo?”
Alexei’s lips trembled back as he stared hard into the mirror; the black hair, the green eyes! Just last night he had been a white haired, blue eyed, pale skinned boy, and now…now he had to wake up to a completely different face! But he couldn’t say he didn’t mind the change…the curious curly hair, of which he had a ball touching and tugging. The eyes as green and vibrant as emeralds. He tugged upon his cheeks, clapped his hands over them and pushed them forward.
“P-Papa’n?” he asked awkwardly. The demon dropped his eyes from the mirror’s glassy surface to the Herald at his feet.
“Mm? What’s wrong?”
“D’ya…d’ya thin’ Chai’n’Rand’n’em will ‘member me? N’ auntie n’ Luc’?” He pinched experimentally at his cheeks again.
The demon laughed, “Of course! I don’t see why not!”
Alexei turned back to the mirror, “N’ Nio? Him’n too?”
“He’s a dog, kid! He can smell you from a thousand miles away, I don’t think a change in appearance’ll spook him.” He ruffled his hair.
Removing his curious fingers from his now reddening cheeks, Alexei reached back to touch the two appendages wrapped in gauze. He could feel the downy feathers beneath the protective wrap, felt them twitch and shudder with a newness he really wasn’t quite ready for. They had caused him such excruciating pain once before, and the magic woman had whisked it all away…what if they had grown too much, grown apart? What if all that held them together WAS the gauze, and what if he took it off and that pain returned? The Herald boy’s hands drew away sharply, folding over one another.
“We don’t have to take them off just yet, ‘Lex.” His father was staring at him through the reflection, and his voice had been soft, almost soothing. His eyes, usually so sharp and bright, seemed to have softened marginally as if only for him. A smile tugged gently at his lips, brows arched over his eyes. The angel felt immediately reassured.
“So…all this puberty jazz has worked up my appetite. Wanna get some breakfast?” Azruael patted his stomach, which gurgled in reply. Alexei nodded enthusiastically and held his arms up, to which the demon readily complied, scooping him up and propping him on his shoulders.
“Hey, Papa’n?” again the boy’s voice was tentative.
“Mm?”
“D’ya…d’ya think Ah look l’ke a girl?”
There was a lengthy stretch of silence as they made their way down the stairs, until laughter broke the quiet morning air.
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:48 pm
Five Finger DiscountRP can be found Here.Alexei Met: Miyon, Lenne, Elizabeth, and...that's all! Synopsis:Party in aisle five! On a trip through the supermarket, Alexei and Azruael encounter faces both familiar and...well, not! Amidst so many women, you can't say the demon isn't happy, and the little Herald is more than happy to see a few faces his age, as well as those he doesn't mind calling friends. Even Mackerel, who took it upon herself to share the goods of the shop with her friends. Without paying. Free food, yum.
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