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 Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:37 pm
 (RP took place December 14th, 2009)
{RP took place in a Word Processor}
 Merci sighed as she stared at the checking account balance on the computer screen in front of her. She had allotted a certain amount of spending money for this holiday, and it seemed she grossly underestimated how much she was going to spend. The nest egg she had built up for herself seemed to be dwindling, and it wasn’t something she wanted to burden Cinderfae with. At the rate she was going, she was going to have to get another job. Her brow furrowed and she pinched the bridge of her nose, the beginnings of a headache forming behind her eyes. Really it was all Dio’s fault. The boy had some really expensive hobbies. The telescope wasn’t so bad, it was the massive collection of rare, ancient, out of print, hard to find books that he was attempting to amass that was killing her pocketbook. Some of those books were crazily expensive. In fact she’d priced villas that were worth less then the latest one she’d bought for him. Though his reaction was almost worth the price, it was some book on ancient myths and legends. Some really obscure stuff in it, he’d had a coronary when he saw that the Alisari were mentioned alongside a bunch of other unknown and forgotten people. Trying to explain to him he couldn’t have it right away was not happening either. The idea that something that interesting was going to be wrapped in paper and kept away from him until a certain day had flown right out the window. Merci hadn’t been fast enough to get it when it was delivered before the little rascal had phased through the wall and snatched it from the delivery boy. Ever since, he’d been holed up in his room. It was darker in there then it was on the walk, and she assumed he didn’t want to be distracted by the annoying light. She tapped a finger against the desk in front of her and stared at the numbers on the glowing screen. Yup, she would have to try and put out some feelers. It was definitely time to find some gainful employment again. *** Dio was still riding the high of his successful snatch and grab. Honestly she was crazy if she thought he could wait to read this! This book was so amazingly wonderful. It had stories from around the globe, and mentioned peoples and things that he had no idea existed! Oh he’d tried to be good and read it from front to back, but knowing that somewhere in the old yellowed pages was some information on the illusive Alisari had him practically vibrating with anticipation. His fingers were careful as he turned the pages. The book was not in the best shape, and some of the pages had been dog eared and creased with time.
Finally he came across the page in question. The author had tried to give a short description about what each of the peoples noted in the book were. Some Dio was sure were entirely fiction, and he would have to do research later to see how authentic and reliable the information was. However the fact he even knew the name of the Alisari was pretty much a cincher that whatever he wrote might hold a grain of truth. The Alisari
A people lost to the sands of time. The Alisari were a race of warriors that worshipped the stars as holy beings. Little is known about their customs and history. They believed in an oral tradition, and as is bound to happen with such things, much information was lost. The story that follows, in it’s entirety, was found in the pages of an old manuscript. Dio hastily brushed his bangs back behind his ear, revealing the usually hidden eye. Everything so far matched up with what he knew! Maybe this was really real. If it was then he would have to tell Red everything! His eyes hungrily searched out the next passages.The Fall of the Forsaken Ones
Ages ago, when many were one, the Alisari were lost in the darkness. They cowered in fear, not knowing where to go or what to follow. It is said that this was when the first Star-gazers were born, in this age of darkness. But just darkness cannot exist without light neither can light exist without darkness. With the birth of the Star-gazers came the birth of the tribes of the Alisari.Ooooh, there were tribes? Dio’s fingers paused on the page for a moment as he pondered this. Maybe Doran didn’t kill all the Alisari after all. If there were different tribes maybe only one of them had been there with him when all the bad things happened. He didn’t want to think about that right now, and he shoved aside the images that always came to him when he thought about that dream.Within this tale is the story of the lost tribe of the Alisari: the Forsaken Ones; those that followed the deceit of a fallen Star-gazer.
Darkness had fallen upon the Alisari, the stars disappearing from the sky. They had just learned how to plot and navigate their way by following the stars and now they were gone. There was only one star in the sky and even that star was barely flickering in the twilight. In the village there were two Star-gazers: one an adult and a respected leader and the other a child who was barely coming into his powers.
No one listened to the child as he spoke of the whispers of the Bright Star; the one that was fading slowly and would eventually be gone. It was the last star that remained and it whispered to him that someone within was hiding the stars.How did someone hide the stars? Who would want to? Why would someone do that? It was just unthinkable. Just the thought of it made Dio‘s brain spin in circles. He couldn‘t imagine going a night without seeing the stars at least for a moment. To see one laboring all alone, flickering by itself in a sea of blackness would just be crazy!Because he was so outspoken, never mind charismatic for his age, the child was able to convince some of his brethren that a dark force was at work. It was not that the stars were leaving them, as the elder Star-gazer spoke, but because someone was hiding them. Still, he was just a child - an unproven warrior - and the other Star-gazer had him thrown out.What a meanie!This is the creation of the first two tribes of the Alisari. Though the names of the other tribe has long been forgotten and changed, the name of the tribe that followed the older Star-gazer is remembered as The Forsaken Ones. Those that believed the elder, believed that the stars had forsaken them, stayed with him clinging to the belief that he would lead them back to the stars.
The others went with the child Star-gazer when he was banished from their encampment. Time passed and the child became older, but the stars were still gone. The whispers increased, just as the light from the Bright Star was fading. Rumors reached their tribe, speaking of the dark rituals that the Forsaken were partaking of; an effort to try and bring back the stars. The elder Star-gazer was taking his tribesman down a dark and dangerous path, the stars whisper to the young one.
In his dreams one night, the Bright Star appeared to the Star-gazer; a beautiful being bathed in light and darkness all at once. Cradling his cheek in hand, the star whispered into his ear the truth that could finally be spoken.He gasped quietly and reread the previous passage again. Is that what a star would look like if you could see them? He’d never seen one, he’d only heard the jumbled rambling in the back of his mind every night. The musical voices had to belong to something amazing and beautiful.The other Star-gazer was foul and was leading their people astray. The Bright Star whispered to young man, who was no longer a child, telling him of the dark magic that had been cast upon the night sky. On this same night the star taught him how to combat the other Star-gazer and how to stop the darkness from blotting out what was left of the sky.
In the morning, the young Star-gazer gathered up his tribesmen and told them of what he had learned from the Bright Star. With renewed hope that they could reclaim the stars that guided them, they headed back to their homeland.
They did not know, however, that the darkness was what the evil Star-gazer followed. It spoke to him, just as the stars could. Their path home became warped and twisted, but no matter what, he could not stop the Bright Star from leading them to their goal.Darkness could talk too? Maybe that’s what happened to Doran, he heard the darkness and went crazy. Isn’t that what Hawk had said?A great battle happened the day that they returned home. The Bright Star was barely visible in the sky, all most entirely gone, but it was enough. Joined together with the faith of his fellow tribesman, it was no contest for them to defeat the evil Star-gazer. Serves him right! They were able to remove the darkness that clouded the sky and bring the stars back - their sacred lights to follow.
Damage was done, however, as when the stars once again lit the skies the Forsaken Ones and their dark Star-gazer could no longer see, or even behold, the light of the stars. They fled from their homeland, hiding themselves in the darkness.
Never again would they look upon the stars with joy.Dio’s eyes got huge and his bangs fell back in front of his face. Never again? How horrible!Even the extended hand of peace from the young Star-gazer was not able to save them. Once betrayed, the stars rarely forgive. To this day, the young Star-gazer's tribe speak of peace and friendship; the belief that the stars, especially the Bright Star, will never lead them astray. That in the end there is all ways hope that darkness will be dispelled. ... and the Forsaken Ones will never know anything but that. It was enough to give Dio the shivers. Hawks voice rang through his mind, a voice that was not the seer’s own 'We ask, blackest star, who is the betrayer and who is the betrayed? Why did you leave us, when we loved you so?' He still had no idea what that meant. His eye traveled down the page to the next section of text. Reading was such a good distraction!The Bright Star FestivalThis story was considered a significant part of the Alisari history. As such it was celebrated with a five day festival during what would be the end of the current Julian calendar. The festival was celebrated between the 27th and 31st of December, and each day had a different tradition. The following are the different customs and practices of each day. Day of Fellowship: This day honors the fact that, during their past, the Alisari were once one tribe instead of many. Not scattered to the ends of the universe, the Alisari were all as one united under the Bright Star. On this day, it is customary for those celebrating to hold a feast and celebrate unity and being with family and loves. Over time it has become encouraged for people to bring their favorite food, treats, or otherwise to the feast and share them with others as a sign of companionship. Day of Dogma: Ages ago, in time past, the Alisari founded their beliefs in the distant lights of the stars in the night sky. With the births of the first Star-gazers, the Alisari were able to hear the joyous chorus of the stars - especially that of the Bright Star. On this day of celebration, those that honor this day tell the many stories of the stars in the sky. From the true stories of how the constellations got their names to the stories told to Star-gazers by the stars themselves. Most often the stories are shared underneath the night sky when it is the most clear. Day of the Rift: The first signs of the splitting of the Alisari began on this day. In these beginnings was what would eventually lead to the many tribes of the Alisari. To some it was the beginning of the end of the Alisari. Those that followed the elder Star-gazer down his dark path and those that believed in the child Star-gazer coming into his power were split apart so long ago, but their tales still remain. On this day people do the exact opposite and celebrate unity, the coming together of many people as one. Look for a friend that you have lost, a parent you have not talked to in years, or a lover that you wish to see again. Perhaps if the Alisari had not been separated by the deceit of their ancestors then perhaps they would still be around today. Day of Bright Star: The only star that remained in the sky after the darkness blotted out the other stars. The Bright Star whispered to the young Star-gazer, telling him of their ways and about the other stars. As well as the truth about what was going on; how the Forsaken Ones were creating the darkness that hid the other stars. On this special day, the Bright Star itself is celebrated. It is a guiding light to all - including those that can no longer see or feel it's presence in the sky. It is customary on this day for stars to be adorned upon anything and everything in sight as a tribute. Day of Ascension: This day, so long ago, the Alisari that followed the young Star-gazer were able to defeat the Forsaken Ones and their leader. The many stars that had disappeared into darkness returned to their places in the heavens, once again lighting the path the Alisari would follow. It is customary, on this day, for an exchange of both wits and bravery to occur - as it was through both that the young Star-gazer was able to succeed. Towards the end of the day there is all ways some display of lights, fireworks if you may, in the sky as once again the people share the feeling of being where they belong. Dio closed the book and held it against his chest. What a fun idea! He clutched the book in his right arm and went whisking away to find Merci and tell her about his discovery. With all the weird traditions that are normally celebrated, he figured he could get away with tossing in a few of his own.
He found her staring at the computer screen. He never could understand how to use it very much, though Maili sometimes showed him pictures taken from telescopes in outer space. He thought that was fun. ’Merci! Merci I found it! I found the story, it‘s really amazing. See it‘s about an old man and a kid who could hear the stars. The old one was evil and was somehow hiding the stars in the sky. I dunno how he could do that, but he did, well all except one star. The kid found out, cause the one star told him and they had a huge battle, and the stars came back!’ Dio pushed the book in front of her face, ’It‘s all in here! They had a festival and I wanna have it too! Please can we? It will be so fun, Seraph can cook and we can paint stars all over the house!’Merci was bathed in information. It wasn’t that she wasn’t used to the Fiend’s rambling by now, it was more the fact she was more then a little distracted. She understood what he said, just not what he was saying. “Whoa whoa slow down alright?” The book that was now right in front of her nose was blocking the glare from the monitor. She lifted her hands up and took the book from him, opening it up. Merci turned the pages until she found the one indicated by the table of contents to pertain to the Alisari. Her eyes scanned it and she furrowed her brows. Food, fireworks and stars. Well it didn’t seem like such a tall order, maybe not full blown fireworks but she was pretty sure she could find sparklers somewhere. For once what he wanted wasn’t going to cost her a small fortune. “We can’t paint stars all over everything in the house. Seraph would probably lose his mind. Maybe we could do some star shaped ornaments for the tree, and hang them on a garland we put around the house though. That way they are easy to take down.” Dio was elated. His eye sparkled merrily and his tail swished with a violent energy. This was going to be amazing! He just thought that living the holiday might help him feel closer to the things he was just barely remembering. The little fiend moved closer to his guardian and he wrapped his bare arm around her shoulders in a spontaneous hug. ’Thank you Merci.’ He let go of her and dropped his hand to the book, pulling it out of her hands. ’I’m gonna go read the rest now. There are so many amazing things I didn’t know before! Ooo can we go to Twilight Designs later? I wanna show Hawk, and Mystic. Oh and the Athan man and Miss Reyna too! Can we go?’Merci glanced back at her bank account. She should probably take some cash with her. After all, with Christmas around the corner and at least two other females in the house there was probably something pretty and sparkly that would make an excellent gift. “Alright we can go, tomorrow alright? I need to do some grown up accounting stuff that would bore you before we can do anything.” She turned her green eyes from the screen back to her little black star and she offered him a smile. “Go read your book love.” Her voice was gentle as she spoke. He was worth the stress, every bit of him. He leaned in and pressed his face to the side of hers, mimicking a kiss on the cheek. He stayed like that for a moment and moved his sleeved arm, lifting the normally useless arm up to stroke her hair back away from her face in a very uncharacteristically thoughtful and affectionate manner. Dio felt the love from her, he could feel it radiating through the bond they shared and he was deeply moved. He backed away from her slowly and his eye creased in what could only be a smile. ’Okay, you tell me if you need me. I’ll be in my room.’ With that he turned and floated back the way he came. Merci sat quietly for a moment before she turned back to her accounts. Somehow she would make it all work, and she wouldn’t go back to the life she lead before. She’d thought about it briefly, but there was no way she was going to expose her precious boy to that kind of life. She would just have to bite the bullet and talk to Cinder about the financial situation. 
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:38 pm
 (RP took place November 3rd, 2010)
{RP took place in a Word Processor}
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:39 pm
 (RP took place September 22nd, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
Merci` Merci wondered if there was a way to magically put in a way to just pop from her house straight to Twilight Designs. The drive wasn't so terribly long, but she did it so damned often that she could do it on auto-pilot now. Her ears were cocked to the side and folded down a little bit, as she listened to Dio babble incessantly about whatever it was he read about, or saw on TV. Guilt bit her, but it didn't last long. She really should be a better guardian and listen to what he had to say, but he talked so much to her about every little thing that came into his head. Sometimes she forgot that he could be so painfully shy around people he didn't know. The street was thankfully not as full as she was expecting with the holiday shoppers. Merci had been quietly fuming for the last five minutes about the possibility that she would have to park around the corner and walk, in the damned cold, to the shop. She pulled the SUV into the usual spot across the street from the store and unbuckled her seat belt so she could slide out. Her green eyes moved from the storefront back to her charge and Merci sighed quietly. "Dio honey, we're here it's time to go okay? I know your really excited, but try not to talk off everyone's ears alright?" Dio stopped talking and he turned his burgundy eye on Merci. She'd been unusually quiet on the ride here. He shrugged it off and gave his guardian a happy little nod as he simply phased through the car and floated across the street to his second home.
He loved this place. Every time he got to come he always had so much fun. Dio didn't bother waiting for Merci to open the door, he just glided right through it. He wondered if he'd get to see Mystic today, or if maybe Auntie Reyna or the Athan Man would be around. If he was really lucky maybe Red was visiting. He missed Red. Oooo Or Hawk! Hawk could be here!
Dio hadn't known Hawk for as long as he'd known Mystic and Red, but he liked the grumpy seer. Merci collected the book that Dio insisted upon bringing with them from the console of the car before following her charge. She waited for a car to drive by before crossing the street safely. The hems of her jeans were wet by the time she made it to the shop, and she stomped her feet on the welcome mat before she pushed the doors open and entered. azuredreams Perhaps it was time to try and teach Merci the art of portal travel. After all, Hawk was fairly proficient in it - he most certainly could try teaching her.
Wasn't like she was Mystic who ... could barely stay away during certain hours.
Hawk's chin was on an upturned palm, mischief dancing in his eyes. After all, if Merci was filtering into his thoughts that meant that Dio was certain to be along as well. With a bemused tail swish, he straightened up a little in his chair, hooded cloak falling back from on top of his head.
If anything, it looked like the Star and himself would have a lot to talk about ...
And wet. Merci would be wet. He gave them both a wave as they entered, all most as if he was ignoring them, and disappeared for a moment into the back.
He reappeared a moment later just beside Merci, a cup of hot cocoa in hand for her.
'Merci,' he greeted, 'I believe this may help your spirits on this miserable day.' Leaning his head to the side, he raised an eyebrow at Dio. 'And you are itching to talk my ear off about something, yes?'
Merci` Merci's ears pricked up and she glanced at Hawk. She'd had a surge of irritation when he'd disappeared, and was honestly shocked to be treated so... nicely. It wasn't that she didn't think Hawk had it in him, it was that most of those she associated with didn't seem to be so thoughtful. Her face softened and she took the cup from him, "Thank you Hawk. That was very kind of you." Dio made a happy noise and darted back to Merci pulling the book from her hands. 'I am so glad you're here! I really wanted to talk to you, or Mystic. I haven't seen Mystic in awhile. I miss him, if you see him will you tell him that?'Merci couldn't help a small smile as she glanced at Hawk, "As you can see, he's bigger but he's still a bit hyperactive." She wandered over to the counter and leaned on it, cupping the mug in both hands and sipping at it. "He's getting a little better about the run on questions." Her tone was teasing, and she had a wry smile on her face. The fiend grumbled a little bit and looked at Hawk, 'I'm not that bad. Honestly I don't know why she feels she has to apologize to everyone for me.' He floated closer, and held the book out to him with both hands. Where he didn't use his left hand as a child, and kept it covered it was now bare to see. A perfect night sky on his arm, from fingertip extending all the way up his shoulder and disappearing under the collar of his robe. 'I marked the pages I wanted someone to look at.'
Despite the fact he wasn't overwhelming Hawk with words, he was still brimming with excited energy. It was obvious that he was very happy and very proud about whatever information was in this book. 'It isn't very long, so it shouldn't take you long to read.'azuredreams To be honest, it was likely some of Athan's charm that was rubbing off on Hawk. He wasn't usually so sweet, but ... he had it in him. The charisma was there, he just only used it whenever there was a customer or it was someone that he generally liked.
'Very welcome, I imagine you don't enjoy the cold. Athan doesn't either,' he said with a quiet chuckle.
Tilting his head towards Dio, he nodded slightly. 'When I see the sleepy-head next, I will tell him.' There was a quiet chuckle at Merci's comment, before he whispered something just to her.
'It could be worse, he could be ... girl crazy or boy crazy or both.' Tail swishing mischievously from side to side, he raised a hand to tug on Dio's bangs a little.
'Oh, you are, Dio - but the charm makes up for it,' he teased him lightly as he took the book from the younger fiend. 'Let me see what you have here ...'
His tail continued to swish from side to side in amusement, though eventually it stilled. This ... This book and what it talked about ... It was all most like he was reading a twin to the book he had himself.
Merci` Merci was totally oblivious to the fiends at the moment. Her hands were cold and the warm cup felt good. When she was done with it she was pretty sure that her knuckles wouldn't ache anymore. Getting into a car to grip a steering wheel that felt like ice was horrible. She was lost in her own thoughts, pondering how stupid she would look with mittens on. Dio moved over next to Hawk so he could look over his shoulder. He really REALLY tried to contain himself so Hawk could read the whole story before he started talking. It was hard, because he had so much he wanted to talk about. So he read the story again, over his shoulder. Figuring that about the time he got done reading it Hawk should be finished.
Dio's eye moved from the page over to Hawk's face and his eyebrow furrowed for a moment. 'Are you okay? It's a good story right? I was really excited cause it's the most I've found written about them other then the scrolls the Athan man gave me.' The shadow trailed off and watched Hawk, even he was not totally oblivious.azuredreams '... the Alisari and Star-gazers, hm ...' he murmured, though it was mostly to himself. His fingers rested on the page, as if tracing the lettering - not that it felt any more raised than the rest of the page - to be able to read it.
'Ah, yes,' he turned his head to look at Dio, 'it is. I'm surprised you found something like this in such a good condition as well ...' He tilted his head towards the younger fiend's for a moment - as if to say that everything was fine. 'Very informative, actually - but what I find intriguing is that it shares similarities with Mhiroso ...'
Hawk closed the book, handing it back to Dio and slipping away towards his perch. There was a book sitting on the counter and it looked far younger than how old it actually was. His didn't even look at the book as he flipped open the pages, instead letting his fingers trail along them.
'Let me show YOU something ...' His tail was swishing slowly again, clearly deep in thought.
Merci` Merci blinked a little bit and glanced up from the cocoa in her hands. Her brows furrowed because she hadn't heard Dio reading the story to Hawk. She wasn't sure how to ask this without sounding insensitive, so she didn't really try. "Hawk? Could you really read that?" Okay so she didn't sound as condescending as she thought she would. Definitely more tactful then 'Your blind right? How could you possibly read that?' She took a sip of her cocoa, her brows furrowed. Dio blinked his eye slowly at Merci before he floated over to the counter next to Hawk. He cocked his head to the side to look at the book his friend had. Dio didn't question that Hawk could read the book, really Dio didn't question that Hawk could pretty much do anything. 'What are the Mhi... Mhiroso?' Dio wasn't sure he said it right, but it was probably close enough that Hawk would know what he was asking.
Secretly he was thrilled that the other shadow seemed impressed with his find. It had been worth the small fortune that Merci paid for it (Though Merci might not agree). Dio hugged it to his chest, as he leaned over to scan the pages that Hawk presented him with.azuredreams Hawk actually chuckled when Merci asked. Though the snider part of him resisted the urge to say that 'I am blind, not stupid' but he did not.
'My Sight ... allows me too.' Hawk's fingers pressed to the page lightly. 'Though the more magical tomes are easier for me to read, if only because of their nature.' Finally landing on the page that he wanted, he offered it gently to Dio.
This was not his book, but Athan's - and it was obvious that it was important to him in the way that he cared for it.
He paused for a moment, his language slipping into what he knew was probably his native tongue. 'Athan Mhiroso'nan ame o'dieo ame tiy, auhn.' Shaking his head, he tapped his fingers against the notes in the margins. They were in english and likely easier to understand.
'It's where Athan is from.' And it was where he suspected he was from as well. 'But what is interesting is the similarity between what you showed me and what I have read in this book of traditions ...'
Merci` Merci opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by Dio. Something she was used to. She opted instead to sip the cocoa slowly, to both savor the flavor, and so it didn't disappear to quickly and stop warming her hands. Dio couldn't understand the words on the page, it was definitely a language he wasn't familiar with. However the notes in the margin were completely understandable. He bent over the pages and his eye scanned the information. It was the only time that Dio was very quiet, when he was reading.
He finally spoke, 'How can this possibly be coincidence? They are so incredibly similar?' The younger fiend looked up from the page, 'Could they have been influenced by your.. um.. Mhiroso? Or maybe the other way around?' This was incredibly fascinating. This was more amazing for him then finding the stuff on the Alisari. He was endlessly curious and this raised so many questions for him that he was practically vibrating with excitement.azuredreams 'Most likely based on Mhiroso'nan. If only because - well, when one world dies out it leaves influences on others. The knowledge spreads, but one never knows ...' Hawk left out the fact that both Doran and Athan had been around for centuries ( and longer than that ) but it went without saying that they had likely influenced more than a few things.
'It certainly is interesting that they line up the way they do, though ...' Hawk's fingers traced the familiar hand writing in the margins before he glanced over at Dio again. 'I do know that this is the only copy of this book, so the traditions contained therein are ... lost to others. Probably the same with the one you found.'
Merci` Merci couldn't help nodding, "That's what made the damned thing so expensive. There were only I think 10 copies ever published and all but two have been destroyed over time either by flood, fire, book eating pests. Dio begged until I thought I would go crazy for that thing." She sipped her cocoa and glanced at the two of them, "It's rare anyway. I think I'll go stretch out on the couch in the back room if that's okay?" Her green eyes were on Hawk when she asked. Merci didn't know for sure if someone was trying to work back there, if they were she didn't want to bother them. Dio didn't say anything for a few moments, he was digesting the information. He turned his burgundy eye on Hawk and he said slyly, 'Merci and I are going to celebrate the Bright Star Festival. She said we could even do sparklers and put up stars all over the house.' The younger fiend's tail ticked back and forth as he started talking happily about the upcoming festivities. 'She even relented about the story telling. I am so excited to hear what kinds of stories Rhys can come up with. He's from another world too, so they have to be amazing.' It was obvious that he was looking forward to the season with barely contained anticipation.azuredreams ''It's fine,' he answered, nodding his head towards the back room. 'No one will be here for a while yet and it is quite slow.' If he had had lips, he would have smile at her in encouragement. 'I believe there may be a pillow and a blanket behind the couch as well, if you wanted to nap.'
After all, Mystic frequently crashed on that couch sometimes. Why couldn't someone else? Actually ... Mystic just crashed everywhere - he was THAT sleepy.
'That is good to hear. Such traditions should not be lost to time, but ...' His tail swished back and forth rapidly for a moment before he spoke again. 'The two are so similar, you could easily celebrate both of them together and not ruin anything ...' And he had all ready been on the path to celebrating the solstace at home with Athan and Holicinesh.
'What if we worked the festival and the solstace together, hm?' Merci` Merci could hear the starting of mischief and she honestly didn't want to be around to see the end of it. After all she was pretty sure Dio wouldn't let her wiggle out of doing whatever it was he was hell bent on doing. "Thanks Hawk, I think I will." The woman slipped off into the back room to curl up on the couch and maybe catch a couple Z's. It was freaking cold outside, and it made her want to curl up under blankets. Blankets was not a far leap to naps. Dio's eye got really wide and he barely noticed his guardian making her escape. 'That would be really a lot of fun! Ooo, I bet we could do some things here? Like, does your solstice have the story telling? Cause it would be so much fun with more people! So would fireworks and everything, more people is more fun.' The shadow put the book down on the counter with the other one so he didn't have to clutch it to his chest. 'And the feast! Oh do you think Athan would let us do something here? Invite the other fiends and their guardians?' Dio already had happy thoughts of decorating the store with stars and having people eat wondrous foods, while telling each other stories and fairy tales.azuredreams Hawk gave a wave to Merci as she slipped in the back and leaned against a nearby counter for a moment. If he could have grinned, he would have as Dio spoke.
'Ah, yes. Day of Knowledge; stories, tales, whatever you wish to tell another. To share power, to spread strength ...' His tail swished back and forth mischievously. 'Though with the lights, not all of us fiends will appreciate the brightness - but the food would be good for the guardians and I'm certain Athan can appreciate something that brings us all together ...'
His tail flicked back and forth again and his eyes glinted for a moment. 'Besides, if he really said no I could just cheat to have it happen.'
Merci` Dio stopped short and he gave Hawk a completely confused look. 'Cheat? How can you cheat to make something happen?' Did he mean simply not telling Athan? That seemed to work sometimes with Merci. If he didn't tell her he was doing something till it was over he usually got away with it. There was a saying or something about that. Oh yeah 'It's better to ask forgiveness then seek permission'.
Then another thought dawned on Dio. He didn't actually know all the other fiends and guardians. He was pretty sure there were some he hadn't met before. 'Does Athan keep a list of everyone somewhere? So we can invite everyone?' That was the thing that was exciting him the most. He wanted to meet all the other fiends. azuredreams 'When I say cheat, dear Star-gazer, I mean to -' Hawk paused and shook his head. 'It just means that I know how to make sure Athan will go along with this, even if he does not initially want too.
'And yes, there is a list. We have one in the back of the shop - an emergency contact list.' Hawk disappeared for a moment from his spot to the back of the shop to grab the list he spoke of. 'It'll make things easier to get others involved, I'm sure, but we have to make plans first ...'
Merci` Dio blinked slowly and his brain started churning. How did one 'Cheat' with Athan? He really did want to know. Was it like with Merci? Just drove her crazy till she finally relented? Or could it have been something way more interesting. 'Hawk can I come when you ask? I'm really excited about this. It will be so much fun to share with Red and everyone else.' He wondered idly if any of this would help shake up Red's memory. After all, the Seer called him Alisari, and this was their festival.
The smaller fiend drifted closer to Hawk and leaned over to look over his shoulder. He was actually surprised at how many of them there were. He hadn't met even half of them! The youngster felt anger drifting up in him too. How could that evil b*****d have done this to so many? Every name was a life that Doran destroyed. Dio pushed the thought aside, he didn't want any of that to ruin his good mood. azuredreams 'OF course. I'm sure Athan would want to hear your talk about the bits with the Alisari and Star-gazers,' he chuckled a bit - if only because if Dio asked then the combined power of the two of them could not be resisted. There just wasn't a way that Athan would be able to. Between Hawk's allure and Dio's endearing cuteness.
Well.
Athan was doomed. More so than usual.
His tail swished back and forth impishly before he stilled for a moment. Tilting his head slightly, he let his tail bump up against Dio to distract him as well from the obvious anger - or perhaps it was just obvious to Hawk.
'We'll get this all sorted and notes written down and take it to Athan. He'll be hard-pressed to resist.'
Merci` Dio glanced toward the back room and he turns back to Hawk. 'Merci is probably falling asleep back there. Do you have time to sit down with me now and work it out? The Athan man isn't here is he? I miss him.' He sounded sheepish at the last part of that. But he did miss the grumpy magician. He thought of Auntie Reyna, Hawk, Mystic and the Athan man as extended family. Dio never really got the chance to see them that often.
Not to mention the extreme excitement that he was experiencing. The fiend was so happy that he'd get a chance to share the wonderful things he'd found with others. Not to mention that this was definitely the season to give to others, what better gift then knowledge, food and company?
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:50 pm
 (RP took place December 28th, 2009)
{RP took place in the Guild}
Please click on the following link for the RP... Here
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:51 pm
CHRISTMAS MORNING CHAOS
(RP took place October 08, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
Merci` Dio was curled up in his beanbags on the widows walk, watching the stars. He could tell by their places in the sky what time it was, and it was getting to be early morning. How early could he get away with waking everyone up? His guardian had warned him that if it was before dawn she was going to set fire to the massive pile of presents that had accumulated under the strange tree.
If nothing else it smelled wonderful. Pine and cinnamon, ooh and peppermint. The house was full of cookies and cakes that Seraph had brought over from the guest house the night before. Plus he'd made pieces for gingerbread houses, and Merci had insisted that they all sit down and make one together. So it had a little gingerbread space ship outside and a little shadow shaped gingerbread thing on the roof. He was assuming that was supposed to be him.
He hadn't been able to concentrate on anything at all tonight. Merci had told him some story about a fat man wiggling down the chimney from the roof, and set Dio on guard duty. No fat man was getting in on his shift, no way, no how. He was supposed to land some crazy sleigh thing pulled by flying reindeer. Who believed in THAT. Pure fantasy.
The stars started disappearing in the early pre-dawn light, and that was his cue. He was just so excited he couldn't wait anymore. Dio didn't even bother going through the house the regular way, he phased his body and moved right through the roof and down through the ceiling. He rubbed his hands together and cackled to himself as he moved freely through the house. Sometimes he really enjoyed being able to move through walls, and now was one of those times. He put his head through Rhy's wall and loudly announced, 'IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING!! GET UP GET UP GET UP! IT'S PRESENT TIIIME!!' He didn't wait to see what happened in the room, he was off to repeat the process in Merci and Cinder's room.
Dio's head went through the wall again and he bellowed the same thing as loudly as he could. This time however he stayed around long enough to hear Merci jump and shriek as she fell out of bed. Cinderfae Rhys had been sleeping, not the most fitful sleep but sleep none the less, when the mental shout came into the room he flailed and fell over the side of his bed. As if anticipating that something was going on Tek fluttered across the floor, darting over toward the door. Muffled sounds of cursing in an alien language were heard for a moment before Rhys threw the offending blanket to the side finally freeing himself and his wings. Hearing a crash form the hall Rhys leaned slightly with enough time to see a flash of orange fur drop down from the small balcony and dash down the stairs. Peeps had been promised that he could help in the kitchen today, something that the priman had been waiting for with anticipation. About as much of a morning person as his mother Rhys looked toward the window with a frown. Walking over toward his closet he pulled a robe from it to cover him a bit more then his boxers alone would. "Time to get up..." a smile escaped him as he looked down to the over excited wisp bobbing in the air next to the door. "Lets go see what this is all about then," stiffling another yawn Rhys ran his hand through his hair and walked toward the stairs, at least the house smelled good with the promise of sweets and food. Cinder's hand went to the blaster on her bedside table as she was woken with a jolt. For a moment in the predawn light she held the gun tightly before slowly loosening her grip and sitting up. Smirking slightly she glanced over at Merci, then pushed herself over the oversized bed and offered the kitsune a hand up, "you know, the empire use to have a celebration on it's founding day...gifts were exchanged, use to have to get up obscenely early to fly your flag and sing ... always hated getting up. Likely why I ended up a pirate..."Merci` Merci groaned and lay on the floor for a moment. Her a** was going to be sore all day from that extremely clumsy fall. She cracked her eye and looked toward the windows. It was turning that crazy hazy blue of really early morning. "I'm going to murder him, I am. You think that he would be old enough now that he wouldn't have to be such a child on Christmas." She stretched her hand up and grabbed Cinder's outstretched one. Dio didn't wait, he phased his body completely and made a beeline for the living room. He was so excited about this morning that it was overflowing through his empathy and up the bond to his guardian.
The fiend paused when he phased through the wall into their winter wonderland, and he was taken aback. Everything was already set up. The fire was cheerfully roaring in the fireplace, and Dio could smell the fact that there was cinnamon sprinkled on the wood. there were mugs with steaming hot cocoa and coffee set out for everyone.
The shadow moved into the dining room and then poked his head into the kitchen. Seraph was already there puttering around.Seraph looked up from what he was doing and nodded his head to Dio. "Good morning young one. It would seem the house is stirring now is it not?" The medusa had a tray of freshly baked cinnamon buns. He set it on the counter and then pulled out a bag of bagels and laid it out too. He'd purposefully left some things undone it seemed, to allow the priman to assist as was promised. The sounds of Merci clattering down the stairs was hard to miss. She hated being up this early and was protesting quite loudly that the gifts would not disappear if they'd been allowed a few more hours of sleep. Cinderfae Laughing slightly Cinder pulled Merci` to her feet before sliding off the bed. Cinder pulled on a pair of pajama pants and a tank top before taking a cigar from the side table and heading toward the door, "well we aren't going to get back to sleep now." Cinder followed along with Merci` letting the shorter woman spew out the profanities of her upset, which just amused Cinder more then anything. Peeps dived down the stairs before darting into the kitchen, pushing a stool over he looked gleefully over the little jobs that Seraph had left for him. Rhys paused and looked at the tree before looking over toward the Kitchen, the kitchen seemed to be where the action was. Mumbling slightly he headed toward it, Tek paused a moment as if not wanting to leave the living room, but after a moment dashed after his guardian. Rhys leaned slightly to look into the kitchen, "good morning..." glancing over to the food and then Seraph he stepped more into the kitchen, "food looks good...is there coffee?" He picked up the habit of drinking the bitter beverage already. Hearing Merci` on the stairs Rhys glanced back, Tek clung to the edges of Rhys robe, small wisps of shadow darting to and fro as the wisp attempted to take in the scene and understand it. Merci` Seraph bobbed his head in greeting to Rhys and kept a wary eye on Peeps as he answered. "I took the liberty of making coffee and hot cocoa for those with the taste for them." The efficient Medusa had a large silver serving tray ready to go with all of their favorite mugs on it. There were two silvered carafes that were spewing steam from the pouring lips. "As soon as the food is ready I will be out directly to offer service to the family. You should probably find somewhere comfortable for the morning." It was obvious the medusa was used to the bustle. He turned his attention to Peeps and addressed him, "The bagels need to be toasted Peeps, and I left the frosting out for you to finish the cinnamon buns." He paused and gestured to the prepared tray and the serving dish that lay on it. "When your done if you could arrange the food aesthetically I will serve it to the family." Dio giggled a little bit, 'Come on Rhys leave Seraph to breakfast. He'll get cross if we get in his way.' Whether or not the fiend was being mocking was not entirely clear as he moved back into the living room and hovered over the piled gifts to try and get a look at the tags on them. Merci had gotten a tree for the medusa to decorate at the guest house, so he didn't see anything there that had a tag indicating any of them received gifts.Merci grumpily shoved into the living room and found an overstuffed chair next to the already crackling fire. Her green eyes focused on Dio and she growled out "When I mean morning, I meant after the sun had risen all the way Dio. Not when it was thinking about it." He turned his eye on her and he tried to sound innocent, 'I'm sorry I thought you wouldn't want to miss the sunrise on such a beautiful day. I'll be more careful next time.' It was obvious from his tone that he was amused by her ire, and not in the least but penitent.Cinderfae Peeps beamed happily before happily moving over and starting on the toasting of the bagels. While the bagels toasted Peeps then started frosting the cinnamon buns, his tail flickered the little primen's eyes shown brightly. Whatever the day held, this moment in the kitchen was likely to be his highlight. Rhys sighed and allowed Dio to steer him out of the kitchen, "alright...but the living room looks much too cheery for me to sit comfortably without something soon." Grumbling slightly Rhys looked over the area before falling into an over fluffed chair to the side, resting his head back he closed his eyes as he waited for the others. Tek fluttered over toward the tree as Rhys settled, the little wisp brushed against packages making the ribbons flutter and the paper crinkle. Settling down near a package the little shadow peeked up and around to see if anyone was giving him notice. Cinder chuckled on the stairs continuing following along, "well...any other morning I might have shot someone. But...today I can be lenient." Stretching slightly Cinder moved over toward the study and leaned against the door lighting her cigar - the pilot usually didn't smoke in the main areas of the house but the study was one of the places she made an exception for; the sweet smell of her smoke spread through the room but not overpoweringly so. Merci` Seraph watched Peeps for a few moments to be sure he seemed to have the hang of finishing off breakfast. He picked up a few of the bagels and cinnamon buns when the Priman was finished with them and arranged them neatly next to the mugs on his tray. When he was satisfied he lifted the breakfast service into his hands and slithered out into the living room. He paused next to Rhys and leaned his body over so the boy could reach the offered mugs and pick his up. "Coffee is in the carafe on the left, sir." Merci moved her eyes from Dio over to the Asian medusa who was moving around with a try half full of mugs and half full of pastry goodness. She scooted to the edge of the lounger she was sitting in and her tail whipped back and forth impatiently. "Are we just about set up to start this shindig? My bed could probably still be warm when I go to crawl back into it if we hurry this up." Dio shrugged a shoulder and stopped hovering over the packages. Instead he floated over and settled in next to Merci. He knew that the chances of them keeping all the curtains pulled and the room extremely dimly lit was not very high today, so he curled himself up in the shadow that the chair and his guardian provided. 'You guys are the ones that need your caffeine and food.'Seraph straightened up and moved around to Merci so she could settle down and start relaxing. She snagged her cup and poured a full cup of hot black java and snagged a thickly frosted cinnamon bun. The monotone voice admonished her gently "There you are Merci, relax and enjoy the time with your family." Cinderfae Rhys nodded slightly and filled a mug for himself, considering his current sleepiness he didn't wait long before adding a fair amount of sugar to his coffee as well. "Thank you," Rhys mumbled softly before curling his legs under himself and sinking back into the chair and closing his eyes. Cinder finished her cigar before stepping out of the study and joining the rest. "I think your under estimating the joy we get out of making you grumpy." Grinning faintly Cinder leaned and kissed the top of Merci's head. "I can hand out the gifts if everyone likes..." Cinder glanced to the tree before striding over pausing long enough to snag a mug and bagel from Seraph. Tek moved along the side of it's package, peering around the back of it to watch Cinder get settled. Once it was sure that no one was watching the little wisp darted toward the tree. Moving along under the bright decorations and lights the wisp curiously started searching about - this tree interested it as much as the larger one in the mall had. Merci` When Seraph had finished passing out the mugs and he knew everyone had something to chew on, he settled the serving tray on a coffee table and excused himself from the room. He would need to go wake the other Medusa and feed them before it got to horribly late in the day. He paused in the kitchen before heading outside to the guest house and reminded Peeps to wipe the counters and wash up when he was finished with the food. Merci hunched down in her chair and stuck her tongue out at Cinder. Yeah she was being a child but really it was all in good fun. She wasn't really upset. Mostly because she knew that this was the kind of thing she should expect on Christmas morning. Merci rested her elbows on the overstuffed chair arms, "I think it would be nice if you passed things out. That way I don't have to move, and Dio can't fondle all the packages to figure out what's inside before they are opened." The aforementioned fiend peeked his head up over the top of Merci's chair. 'I don't do that! Not unless they're mine.' Geez talk about taking all the fun out of opening a gift. The best part was feeling it all over to try and guess what it was before you tore off all the pretty paper and ribbon. He was right only about half the time, but no one really kept track.Cinderfae Using her foot Cinder knocked the stool over toward the wall near the tree and took a seat. Stretching her legs out she took time to eat her bagel ... slowly and drink some of her coffee, "I'll hand them out, after I'm comfortable as well." Rhys muttered and peered over his mug, he was hoping he might be able to just open a few gifts and slink off to his room to bundle up and hide for the rest of the day but it didn't look like that was going to happen. "At least it's warm down here..." Curling his wings more tightly around himself he pulled a nearby blanket over to rest on his shoulders. As Tek searched he spotted the wall socket where the tree lights plugged into the wall. Darting over the little wisp put a few shadowy feelers toward the plug, as Tek latched on the tree lights flickered. Merci` Merci scowled at the tree and narrowed her eyes. The lights were flickering, and she hadn't spent three hours stringing that tree with blinking lights. "Cinder is a bulb loose?" She didn't specify what she was talking about, because it should have been fairly obvious. Dio peeked from behind the chair and his visable eye got wide. The unhappiness that his guardian was feeling right now was rolling off of her in waves. He could feel it through his bond and it was spoiling his good mood. The teenager decided that perhaps it was best to let her wallow in her misery alone.
The older fiend moved away from the chair, and drifted across the room to settle near Rhys. He brushed his long bang behind his pointed ear for a moment, revealing his second eye. 'The lights don't matter, can we just get to opening stuff?' He was massively impatient to see what was under there for him.Cinderfae Tek paused with his tinkering as Merci's voice filled the air, if the little wisp could smile he would have. Curling his little tendrils of shadow around the light connection more he continued his fiddling but attempted to focus it more. Rhys peeked an eye open and looked to the tree, there was something all too familiar about the current dilemma. Glancing over at Dio he smiled slightly and murmured, "better cut off the light gremlin before it gets worse." Tilting his head slightly he shifted his eyes toward the wall where the little wisp was barely visible. You better get out from there before Merci` eats you or something, Rhys sent the thought toward the wisp focusing on his bonded the best he knew how. Cinder looked over at the tree with a frown, as the lights stabilized for the moment she shrugged, "dunno...damn finicky things if you ask me. And I agree ... lets get distracting with the presents." Leaning down Cinder started pulling gifts from under the tree, smirking slightly she passed Dio a very small thin envelope as his first gift from her. Then she passed a present to Rhys and one toward Merci`. "Even something for Tek under here...where did he get off to?" As Cinder asked her question the lights went out and then quickly blinking twice before stabilizing. Tek dashed under the tree before slowly appearing toward the front of it, Cinder narrowed her eyes at the little wisp before dropping his present near Rhys. "He might need help with that."
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:52 pm
DAY OF KNOWLEDGE ( MIDNIGHT MEETINGS )
(RP took place October 01, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
Merci` The one thing that was really really great about growing up, was that he didn't have to bother Merci every time he wanted to go out now. There was something amazing about slipping away in the night and floating in the darkness. It was liberating, and he was enjoying the thrill of flying through the cool breeze. He knew the way to Twilight Designs by heart, and it honestly didn't take him very long to get there.
Okay so he might have phased through some places he wasn't supposed to. It was late though, and he figured he wouldn't scare people at this time of night.
Dio had found a note from Hawk asking him to meet him in front of Twilight Designs at midnight tonight. He had no idea what he was supposed to meet him to do, it didn't really matter. Dio couldn't help but think of Hawk as a sort of Mentor, and he was honestly just happy to spend some time with him.
He was honestly surprised at how easy it was to get there. It wasn't a super long drive when he came with Merci, but still he imagined that it would seem longer traveling under his own steam. Dio just shrugged it off, he had really been enjoying himself, and with the shortcuts he took he lost track of time.
Time, time, what time was it? Dio cast about for some sort of clock. He wondered if he was late, or early for that matter. He fiddled with his bracelets and thought about phasing into the shop to check, but something told him that Athan probably had something that let him know when fiends were playing around in the shop. azuredreams Well, Athan DID have something that would tell him such it just did not work on Hawk. In fact, a lot of Athan's barriers and wards could not keep the Seer out and it was a constant source of irritation.
Hawk did his best to behave, to not upset the man when he could just slip right past his warding runes.
Tailing swishing slowly behind him, the Seer slipped out of the front door of the shop, satisfied for the time being that everything was in order inside.
'Stop worrying, Star-gazer,' he murmured as he appeared beside the younger fiend, 'you're not late, but on time.' He chuckled and pulled the hood of his cloak down off of his head. The moon was bright tonight and it reflected off of the hawk mask that he still wore - though it was pulled off of his face and resting on top of his head. Merci` Dio almost jumped out of his skin. Well, if he had skin anyway. He'd been squinting and trying to see further down the street when Hawk had appeared. The younger fiend put a hand up to his chest, and his fingers brushed against his stone, 'You scared me.' Captain Obvious. He dropped his hand and tilted his head just slightly as he looked at Hawk. The seer was still one the most amazingly beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Especially out here, in the moonlight and shadow.
Dio didn't really dwell on it though. If there was something he was good at it was being curious, and right now, it was gnawing at him. 'I've been trying to figure out why you wanted to see me. Driving me crazy actually, are we going to do something special?' The general excitement was starting to ebb back in the wake of the surprise. azuredreams 'My apologies, Star-gazer,' he chuckled, but did not seem the least bit repentant about it and even teasingly tugged on a strand of Dio's hair. If only the younger fiend knew the trouble he was going to likely cause later on as he got older.
'... mm, and it might be,' he chuckled. It wouldn't be fun if Hawk spoiled the surprise. 'For now, though, you should just enjoy the starry night, yes?'
It was actually, as much as he loathed to admit it, cute how Dio got so curious about the littlest things sometimes. Merci` Dio blinked and looked up, 'It is a really gorgeous night. They are happy too. Ooo I'm getting better at picking them out, if I concentrate hard enough I can hear one at a time. It helps when I have my quartz.' The black fiend lifted his left hand up and tilted his head to look at it, and then the sky. 'Are we going to stay out here? Or are we going to go into the shop?' His voice was distracted when he spoke.
Dio turned a little bit and kept his arm held up. He could sometimes get it lined up properly so his arm seemed to disappear in the sky. It wasn't working right now, he thought some of the buildings might be in the way. The younger fiend dropped it back to his side and glanced back at Hawk expectantly. azuredreams 'We're going somewhere else, actually.' Hawk seemed to check the store one last time before he finally seemed satisfied. 'There's a place I wish to take you too, though we have to walk - so to speak.'
The person that he wanted Dio to meet would likely adore the fact that his arm charted the night sky.
'I think it is good that you are able to understand them better. They're more inclined to share secrets and gossip than I am.' With a swish of his tail, he tilted his head down the street. 'We head this way first.' Merci` Dio put his hands behind his back and glanced over at Hawk. For once he managed to keep a lid on his curiosity. The younger shadow moved off in the direction that he was directed in. Being quiet tonight actually wasn't that much of a chore. It really was very beautiful. The sky was completely clear, not a single cloud in the sky.
The stars really were happy tonight. When he got older he found it easier to hear them, though something told him he still had work to do. There were still too many layers to the song for him to understand it, the melody was still somewhat discordant. Still, it was happy.
Dio turned his eyes on Hawk, and after a few minutes of blessed silence he spoke. 'Does that mean I can't ask you anything? Cause I met someone that said he knew someone named... umm.. Wren. That he was your bonded?' Merci told him that Wren would tell him if he wanted to, but that didn't mean that he couldn't ask right? azuredreams 'You can ask, I just may not answer,' Hawk raised an eyebrow at Dio, but listened as the younger fiend asked his questions.
He himself was quite happy that the only time he 'heard' stars was when they were wanting a more direct connection to the Star-gazer - and that had only happened once, thank goodness.
'Mm, Wren is my soul-bonded, not was.' The Seer's tail flicked back and forth slowly as he tilted his head to look at Dio moving beside him. 'What about him?'
For the most part Wren was not a topic he considered off-limits. Well, actually ... it just depended on what one asked. Merci` Dio dropped his eyes to the ground and he continued on silently for a moment. He was trying to gather his thoughts and ask what it was about the story that bothered him. 'Algie said he was missing. You've been apart from him then? For awhile? Does...' His voice trailed off and his brow furrowed as he tried to ask his questions more concisely. 'Does it hurt not having him around? Do you miss him?'
Dio had thought about it, a few times, and the thought of losing Merci was hard for him. She was his family, and she was a part of him now. If he lost her, he would weaken and wither. He was pretty sure it would hurt more then physically. He didn't like thinking that Hawk had lived through something like that. That any of them, had to live through something like that. If he understood the things he'd learned so far, they'd all already lost so much. azuredreams 'We can, and will, die without our soul-bonds,' Hawk's attention was straight head, his tail flicking back and forth slowly. 'Without that connection - well, you saw what was happening to Mystic while Reyna was stone.' The Seer paused for a moment, before tilting his head to look at Dio.
'To be honest, I was not far off from that state myself. It took everything I had left to make it back and then to help ...' Shrugging, he trailed off unsure of what to say for a moment before continuing.
'I ... it's been ...' he paused and then continued, 'It has been nearly five years? I spent most of them looking for Wren. It did hurt - to not have that energy and on some level I miss him ...' Merci` Dio's burgundy eye moved over to Hawk. He was slowly beginning to realize that he was really very young, and that he didn't know as much about the world as he thought. How could it have been five years since he'd seen the one he was bonded too? 'I thought you were bonded to the Athan man?' He didn't press the question. Maybe it was like him and Red. He'd never bonded to Red, but when he was a stone and near death, Red had been able to save him. 'You have no idea where he went? No idea how to find him?'
The younger fiend kept pace with Hawk, but now he was so wrapped up in his thoughts he wasn't paying attention to where they were going. He reached and hand up to his ear and touched the lower piercing. His fingers turned it as he stared at Hawk. 'If I could help I'd like to. You're one of my best friends, and Merci says that friends look out for each other.' His voice was distracted, he was still trying to figure out how Hawk was still alive without the one his soul was bonded to. azuredreams 'Him and the snake child, Mael. They went missing at the same time and neither have been seen since.' Hawk picked up his pace, feet forming and walking instead of hovering - it was a sign of his age, a sign of the fact that at some point he would eventually grow to an adult just as Mystic had.
'I get glimmers every now and then. A door, darkness, red eyes and blue ...' His eyes looked distant, more than they usually did before he blinked them once and cleared the fog. 'Otherwise, no, I have no idea. Something stops me short of finding him, I think. Some darkness covers him, I know not what it is.' Hawk's tail had stopped swishing, but it started again after a moment. This was an old story for him, one he did not mind sharing anymore.
'... and we are all bonded to Athan, in the beginning, you know - but my connection to him has all ways been stronger than most and it now ... is my primary bond, the one that keeps me aloft.' Hawk held up the pendant that was wrapped around his wrist. 'Though I carry more energy than most others of our ilk, I suspect it kept me alive without a true bond for a time. And I appreciate the offer, but I think even the stars do not know where Wren is hidden. It is not where they are - so how can they know where he is?' Merci` Dio turned his eye away from Hawk and started looking up. He let his mind wander for a moment trying to take in everything that Hawk just said. He would probably have been driven mad trying to figure out what had happened if someone dear to him disappeared. He knew that having a mystery in his life of that magnitude would eat at him. Well, technically he did have a mystery. Who he had been, what were the Crux, what was his involvement in all the tidbits of history dropped in his lap. Who was he now? Was who was then even important anymore?
Oh yeah he handled all that really well.
Dio's eyes remained on the sky when he finally spoke, 'I'm sorry. The offer will stand though, if you think that I could help you in any way I would be happy to.' With the telling of his story however he forgot that they were going somewhere specific or that there was a surprise for him. 'I'm glad your okay though. That you didn't fade away, and that Athan could help save you. Your one of my best friends, and having you in my life makes it better.' He knew it sounded sappy and strange, but he felt like he had to say it anyway. Hawk was important to him, and he should know. azuredreams To be honest, Dio handled his questions about who he was far better than Hawk did. After all, the Seer spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out just what his connection to the past was. The bits and pieces, the darkness that clouded his Sight ... There was a lot that was confusing, but he never let on about it. To him the past would all ways be important, if only because he hoped it would lead him closer to Athan.
Keloswyn help him.
For a moment he paused, the thought odd - the name of the deity not so odd, but invoking it? That in itself was odd.
'Do not worry,' he murmured, 'if I am in need and you are able to help them I will ask.' The Seer stilled all of the sudden, his tail no longer swishing and his eyes once more distant. It was just a flash of darkness, of being alone, his pendant was not attached to his wrist and ...
'Perhaps there will be a time,' he started to speaking, reaching an arm out and resting it on Dio's forearm to let the young Star-gazer guide him as they walked, 'that no one else can find me but you ...' Merci` Dio's turned his head and his eye moved from the stars to Hawk. He sounded far away again, sometimes he sounded like that and it meant something. He didn't push him to tell him more, mostly because it never really worked in the past. It worried him though, where in the world could Hawk go that Athan wouldn't be able to find him?
As usual about half of what the Seer said didn't make any sense. Dio didn't even notice that he didn't barrage Hawk with a million questions as to what he meant. Maybe it was a sign that he was really growing up. He moved his free hand over and placed it on top of Hawks. 'If you disappeared I wouldn't stop looking for you.' That seemed to be all he needed to say.
Dio's brows furrowed and he let out a mental gasp. 'You're trying to distract me. Where are we going anyway? You said I was going to get a surprise.'
Okay, so maybe he wasn't growing up all that much after all. azuredreams 'You may need to help Athan as well, but not because of anything bad happening to him.' Whatever Hawk had seen flicked away from his mind just as easily as it had come upon him. There was all ways something about Dio that seemed to encourage his Sight to be more active.
More than it usually was of late in any case.
'If I was trying to distract you, Dio, I would have,' he chuckled, but gestured to a hill in the distance. There, on the hill, was an observatory and the large telescope it used to look at the stars.
'We're going there.' They had all ready covered a lot of ground and there was not much more to go. 'There is someone I wish for you to meet there as well.' Merci` The younger fiend furrowed his brows for a moment. What the hell would the Athan man ever need from him? He was magical and seemed to know everything that was going on everywhere. It didn't dawn on him that part of the awe he might hold for Athan came from Merci's overwhelmingly paralitic fear of him. He did however file away the comments to think about and add to his journal of “Things I should not forget about”.
Dio turned his head to look where Hawk gestured and his visible eye got huge. THAT was the biggest telescope he had ever seen! He couldn’t even imagine how far away it would be able to look into the heavens.
He was so overwhelmed he actually stopped moving forward completely. If he'd had a mouth it would be slack jawed in his amazement. 'I want one.' azuredreams Hawk tugged lightly on Dio's arm to get him moving again. 'I'm sure you do, but if you play your cards right ...' Once he was satisfied that Dio was moving again he started to chuckle at what he Saw was the younger fiend's expression.
'You may be able to come visit and make use of it.' They were not that far away and the dim lights of the building lit up the path they walked faintly. Merci` How had he not known about this place! Dio knew that telescopes came in massively huge. He remembered from his dreams, and from the documentaries he watched all the time. He was suddenly filled with a crazy excitement that he might be able to actually use this thing. Was this what Hawk had wanted him to see? If it was, this was about the most awesome thing he'd seen since Rhys took him into space himself.
Dio managed to control himself to some extent, and he came back to himself with Hawk gave him a tug. He came to life fairly quickly and took the older shadow's hand in his own moving past him and tugging on him. 'You think they will really let me use it?' His voice sounded a bit disbelieving. The younger shadow was now incredibly impatient to get inside to see what was there. azuredreams 'Perhaps if you become friends with the man who operates it, you may be able to ... have a chance.' Hawk's tail swished from side to side and he once again let his feet disappear in favor of being shadows once more.
He continued his way along the path, letting Dio move as quick as he could.
As it was, the main doors to the observatory were closed, but the side door was open - light spilling from it and the faint sound of music coming forth. Merci` The younger fiend slowed when he neared the open portal. He turned his eye from the light to Hawk's Eye. He didn't want to admit it but people still scared him a bit. Slowly he drifted around behind the the other fiend and he made a sound like he was clearing his throat. 'Since you seem to know your way around here I think I should follow you.' That seemed like a legitimate excuse. Not that Dio thought for a single second that Hawk would fall for it. He was shy, deep down inside. Oh he covered it up pretty well with his desire for knowledge and his insatiable questions, but he was afraid of meeting new people.
The music was somehow comforting however. The shadow turned his head so he could hear it more clearly. Dio himself was fond of a strange mix of jazz, the blues and classical. This drove Merci, a hardcore rocker, up the wall. Because of the difference in opinion, the fiend didn't get to hear as many dulcet melodies as he would like. azuredreams And he did not fall for it, but he also know about Dio's shyness. With a bemused light in his blind eyes, he nodded his head in agreement. 'If only because it will save you some embarrassment, Star-gazer.'
The Seer tugged Dio through the door way and, luckily enough, the lighting was dim and not too annoying for shadows such as themselves. There were plenty of shadows to hide within as they went through the dimly lit building.
At the bottom of a set of stairs the music was clearly louder and one could hear not only the melody being played, but a soft voice singing along with it.
It was a lament, if anything, and it made Hawk pause for a moment before he shook his head and gestured that they should continue up until they reached the top where someone was at. Merci` Dio inched along behind Hawk, his head swiveling back and forth trying to look at everything as they moved forward. He was thankful that the place was so dimly lit. He'd hoped when he got older that the light would bother him less, but no luck there. He paused in each shadow and darted to the next, following the Seer.
When Hawk approached the stairs Dio could finally hear the voice singing along. His eyes got wide, the voice was male, and it sang so beautifully. Why would someone who could sing like that be here? His curiosity was starting to override his natural shyness as he rounded Hawk and moved toward the stairs. 'It's so pretty...' azuredreams Hawk was lucky - if only because he could easily pull up his cloak and block out the light. In fact it was beginning to become his favorite cloak mostly because it radiated of Athan's presence.
That the magic-user was still wondering what had happened to his favorite cloak was beside the point. He had others and would not miss it too much.
It did not take them too long to reach the stop of the stairs and it was easy to see the stars through the open roof of the observatory. The telescope stretched as far as it could into the sky. A man was at the base, not in the chair that was there, but instead was leaning in to look down the lens.
He continued to sing, his voice rich - but the song sad. It did not all ways match the music he had playing in the background but he sang regardless.
The man looked as if he could be in his late twenties, even with the ruffled and slightly unkempt silver hair. His clothing made him all most look like a hippy, but he would assure anyone that he was not. Pacifist perhaps, but a hippy? Not so much.
He pressed his glasses up his nose, his bare feet tapping the ground to a beat only he heard in his head and was completely oblivious to the two that had come in. Merci` The young fiend clung to the doorway, using the shadows there to kind of hide himself. He didn't notice the young man at first, his eyes were drawn up to the unfettered sky. He shut his eyes and he let the songs wash over himself. Dio tilted his head to the side and he let out a soft sigh. Since getting older, the songs made more sense. They weren't noise anymore, more like warring choirs.
The Star-gazer's eyes opened and with his head tilted up he ventured out of the doorway. It took him a minute to concentrate and sort through everything, to poke the incredibly complex songs into the background and hear the voice in the room with him. He was slow to realize he'd ventured completely into the room and his visible eye locked on the strange man.
Dio was suddenly filled with a strange mixture of panic at being exposed and wonder. This man in front of him seemed, strangely familiar. The little fiend darted over behind Hawk, and peeked around him at the barefooted man in glasses. azuredreams Hawk chuckled when Dio darted back behind him. The lighting was minimal here at the top - just as the astronomer kept it. Honestly if he did not know certain things about the man before him he would have thought he was a creature of shadow as well with as much as he preferred the night.
'Late night?' he asked, though it was also a greeting. Regardless of Dio hiding behind him, he moved closer to the man and the telescope.
At first it seemed like he was not going to respond but after a moment he raised a hand in greeting towards Hawk's Eye. "Just a moment, Oracle - I mean Seer," he chuckled, "though it's all the same in the end, I suppose ..."
Finally, satisfied for the moment, he stood up straight and brushed off his shirt and readjusted the scarf. It did not matter the weather, he would all ways wear it.
"What brings you here tonight?" he asked before pausing for a moment. Reddish-purple eyes widened slightly as he looked behind the Seer. "Did you bring a friend?" Merci` Dio's multicolored hair was visible as he peeked around the older shadow. His visible eye was taking in the strange man in front of him. For once in his life, he was speechless. He was so pretty, and there was something about him that was alluring to the young fiend. He slowly drifted further out from behind Hawk and he raised his left hand in a little wave, his arm covered in twinkling stars.
What was he supposed to say? Who was this? Why did Hawk want them to meet? Despite all the questions flying through his mind he couldn't seem to find his voice. He'd only felt this overwhelmed when he'd pulled off Hawk's mask. He was quite proud of himself for keeping some form of composure and not throwing himself immediately on this stranger. azuredreams 'This is Dio - Black Star Diopside,' he spoke, still silently amused by the Star-gazer's behavior, 'and I am fairly certain that he loves the night sky more than you do.' The Seer's tail swished back and forth impishly, watching Dio in his mind's eye and then shifting his attention to the astronomer.
It had only been earlier in the week when he felt a tug to come to this place. Imagine his surprise when he had found a man who was not just a man - which was not so unusual in Gaia - but he was ..
What he was, he thought, was something Dio would eventually find out.
"I don't know about that," he murmured. He was not sure there was anyone that was truly infatuated with the starry sky as he was. After all, it was his home that he missed - how could some one possibly love it more than him?
Where WERE his manners though? With a sweep of his arm, he bowed gracefully towards Dio and tilted his head up to look at him. "My name is Tariq Samar." His reddish-purple eyes glinted cheerfully. "I am the man who runs this observatory and, if what our friend here says is true, it is a pleasure to meet someone who loves the stars as much as I do." Merci` Dio dropped his hand and crossed them across his stomach, hugging himself. 'Is it a competition then? Who loves them more? Maybe it should be who they love more.' He floated closer to the man and canted his head to the side and looked at him closely. Dio spoke again quietly, 'You sing very nicely.' His visible eye squinted at him for a moment as if thinking about saying more.
Instead he floated past him to admire the massive telescope. 'Your's is much bigger then mine! I have a smaller one at home, How far away can you see with this? Can I try it? I haven't seen something this amazing since...' His voice cut off suddenly and his mind flooded instantly with the bloody smile on Doran's face, and the screams from his dream. It was in his dreams that he'd seen such an amazing telescope. azuredreams "One would have to ask to know that - but for me they only cry." The response was cryptic or so Tariq hoped. He stood up properly and smiled down at Dio. "And thank you, but I think my voice has lost something over the years." It was nothing compared to when he had been - he shook his head and cleared the thought from his mind.
He chuckled at Dio's eagerness - and the way he showed more interest in the telescope. So the little one was someone like himself then. "Very far. Planets that are nowhere near this one." For a moment he paused, to let the other questions come before he spoke again. "Well, if you let me point it in a direction for you then we can see about you looking through, hm?" He was all ready heading that direction, towards the telescope, when he noticed that the older shadow was next to the young one in an instant.
Was that fear on his face? "You all right?"
He knew the moment Dio remembered and was there beside him, his arm going across his shoulders and resting lightly.
'A different place, a different time, Dio.' The words were spoken just to him, not to Tariq. 'Will you be all right?' He had not meant to trigger a memory. Hawk was use to him, but he was certain the younger teen was not.
With a reassuring squeeze he looked towards the astronomer and nodded his head. 'How about you show him the north star? I'm sure with this telescope you can see it clearer ...' Merci` Dio blinked his eyes and he turned to look at Hawk. The image was so vivid that it took him a minute to realize it was just a memory. 'I'm sorry. I just, your telescope is amazing.' He tried to find his composure again. He hadn't thought about that dream for a little while.
The younger shadow leaned against Hawk and put his hand up to one of his. His brows furrow for a moment and he looks back at the astronomer. 'They cry? The stars? You can hear them?' He hadn't ever heard of anyone else who could do what he did, but the idea of it was exciting. That excitement was helping to replace the deep soul eating fear that came with the memory of Doran. azuredreams The Seer kept the Star-gazer close for the time being, squeezing his hand gently. He understood that sort of fear and was not inclined, for some reason, to let Dio suffer it alone. One of these days he would understand just what it was about the younger fiend that brought out his more nurturing side.
"You sure?" he asked, skeptical. He had not seen anyone get THAT worked up over his telescope.
'Like you did not get teary-eyed the first time you saw the observatory,' Hawk snickered.
"And if I did?" Tariq shrugged and moved back to his seat and sat down to adjust the instruments to bring the north star into focus. The building groaned, the telescope hissed as it was moved to face a different direction in the sky. Tilting his head back, glasses nearly falling off his face as he did so, he smiled sadly at Dio. "Distantly. Faint murmurs. They lament." Merci` Dio jumped a little bit at the sounds the telescope seemed to make. He'd never moved the big one in his dream before, so he'd never really heard it happen. The surprise made him momentarily move closer to Hawk, who obviously made him feel safe. 'Sorry, I just had a bad memory.' The tone of his voice was airy as he tried to frost over his social faux pas. The younger fiend squeezed his friend's hand before he moved over next to Tariq.
At his words Dio canted his head to the side and tried to listen more closely to the songs he was hearing. 'They are sad? Which ones? They are so loud sometimes I have trouble trying to make out specific things. I didn't know anyone could hear the stars too! Hawk did you know he could?' His burgundy eye locked on the older shadow and he couldn't help but send his happiness through the empathy that fiends seemed to have. This must have been why Hawk wanted them to meet. azuredreams "Bad memory? Why would someone have a -" Tariq stopped and shook his head. "You know what? It's not my business." With a smile he gestured for Dio to take a seat in the chair once he stood up from it. "How about we focus on the present then and not the bad memories?"
As odd as Tariq could be he did not show any of when it came to running the observatory. This was the only place that he seemed focused.
Hawk watched the two of them with his Sight, tail swishing back and forth in amusement. When he felt the brush of Dio's happiness he mentally chuckled.
'Perhaps,' he said, eyes glinting with mischief. When he had met Tariq he had known the moment the man came into his Sight. There was a light, a brightness that he radiated. 'But not the same as you, Star-gazer.'
"Star-gazer?" Tariq's eyes widened slightly. The shadow had not mentioned ... "Ah, it is not my place to say their names," he murmured, staring at Dio now with wide reddish-purple eyes. He took his glasses off for a moment to clean them; it was a nervous habit. "But they are sad, yes. Not all the time, but when they whisper to me they are."
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:58 pm
DREAM GUIDANCE
(RP took place October 24, 2010)
{RP took place over Email}
Merci` Dio yawned and stretched his arms over his head. For some reason tonight he was feeling a bit tired, though it was probably no help that he'd stayed up half the day. The teenager and decided to start trying to write down the things he heard at night. He hadn't really taken Merci's advice about a journal seriously until today. He didn't feel he had anything really important to write about himself. His past was still convoluted and confusing. Writing it down wasn't going to help. He had been with the Alisari, but was not one of them. He probably helped hasten the death of a wonderful race of people, he still had no idea what the hell the Crux was. No matter how much he read he never seemed to come across anything about them. That only really lead him to believe they were some sort of crazy secret society. All in all, he was stumped and didn't feel like he had any direction to continue his investigations.
That left him with one thing to do. Listen. He wasn't super good at it, as friends would say. Dio tended to talk way to much, but listening was his gift, his curse, what made him what he was today. It was his ability to listen in a completely unique way that caused his soul to be caught in the stone that was still embedded in his chest. So last evening he had sat quietly, with his eyes closed, doing just that, listening. Since Christmas things had been getting easier, he assumed that maybe the stars themselves started to understand that he was one creature, and couldn't hear them all at the same time. With the rising of the sun he'd begun scribbling out everything he'd managed to grasp. It was all so incredibly disjointed, but he had faith that perhaps these were his first steps.
The teenager passed on sleeping up on the widows walk today. He was just to tired, so instead he was perched on the edge of the bed in his bedroom. They skylight was closed, so it was nice and dark. Dio flopped onto his side and pulled the blanket up over himself. In the background he had some quiet music playing, the smooth jazz station always seemed to make relaxing into sleep easier. It was with the soft tones of acoustic guitar and piano that he finally felt himself drift off to sleep.
*****
Dio licked his lips and smiled at himself. Yes, he actually smiled. Where his face was usually as featureless as any other fiend, here in his dreams he was a person again. His skin was still the midnight black of the stone he was named for, but there were many things that were entirely different. His hair was still the magnificently hued colors of nebulous clouds, but it was much longer. Instead of one small braid next to his face it was pulled back in a thick french braid that swung down his back. His skin sparkled, though not like it was covered in glitter, instead it was as if he was the embodiment of night itself. The stars he was so infatuated with were there to see under his skin, not just on his arm and back. Both of his eyes were visible, a touch more purple here then they were in reality. His face was actually quite beautiful, and extremely androgynous. Despite his guardian's ribbing he wasn't in the least bit embarrassed by his petite size, his arms and legs were slender and he didn't try at all to be more masculine. His silver piercings it seemed multiplied here. His nose had a small silver stud, and his lips had two small star shaped studs shining from beneath them.
The teenager walked over to a blood red and golden fainting couch, draping himself over it. It matched the room perfectly. Curtains and gauzy drapes hung from the vaulted ceilings. To say that this dream was opulent was probably understating things slightly. The walls had intricate murals painted on them, obviously inspired by renaissance artists. Ornate molding lined the walls and floors, which themselves were white and gold marble. Dio was dressed to match the room in loose harem pants and an open silk robe in golds and reds. Surprisingly enough it didn't clash with his hair. He reached a hand up and touched his lips, he was somewhat obsessed with them, since it was an odd sensation for him.
He moved his hand away from his lips and snapped his fingers, from behind the drapes attendants came at his call. They were all male, and all quite scantily clad. If one was to look at them closely, they might see features they recognized from certain men in the fiends life. Each one carried a golden serving tray, filled with a variety of things, plates of fruit and cheeses, wines and other finger foods. The men arranged themselves in a way that made it easy for Dio to reach out and pluck anything he could want from their offerings. Two of them moved to the head and foot of of his seat so they could fan him with overly large palm fronds. His comfort was complete. Reyna Crelos Mystic took little heed to Dio's protests that he didn't want or need him to visit his dreams. Dealing with nightmare creatures was very serious. He knew that well enough from experience, and if these creatures were coming out of his guardian's head and into the Waking World there was a very serious problem at hand. Upon first entering Dio's portion of the dream realm, the elder Shadow couldn't help but chuckle lowly under his breath. His dreams were certainly far more vivid that Red's had been. Opulence at its finest was what best described it, and he blended right in. The elder Shadow had not lied to his other "little brother" when stating he was more himself in the Dream Realm. He looked very different. He looked almost like his Reyna but distinctly male. Where as she was pale and had silver hair, his skin was dark and his hair jet black. The only thing that seemed to truly identify him as being a Shadow within the dream realm now was the stone set in the middle of his chest, his bright violet eyes, and the dark, smokey markings that remained on his hands and feet. He couldn't help but wonder if Dio would see his truer self, or if his mind's eye would supply him with a more familiar visage cloaked in shadows and darkness. He smirked broadly with sharp, fanged teeth and calmly strode his way into the ornate hall that Dio had created within his mind. "I must say, little brother," Mystic teased with a grin, "You have impeccable taste." Merci` The wine probably didn't really taste like wine, because Dio really didn't know what wine tasted like. Regardless of the flavor as soon as Dio heard Mystic it sputtered out of his mouth and onto the face and chest of the attendant who had given it to him. His eyes got wide and he waved a hand irritably for them to go. "Mystic?" It was the voice rather then the appearance that tipped him off. He sat up on his lounge and pulled the robe that he was wearing a little more tightly around himself. "Stars above, I thought I told you that I was okay?" With another wave of his hand and the remaining men backed off to the edges of the room until they were summoned again.
Mystic didn't look exactly like Mystic. It was some strange mixture of what he was in the waking world, and something different. His stone was there, his eyes were the same. For a moment he wasn't sure if he conjured an image of what Reyna and Mystics lovechild would look like or if this was actually his friend. All he really knew was that somehow, whatever he was, he was an intruder.
That was about when the embarrassment kicked in. It wasn't a feeling that Dio was used to and it made him shift so he could pull the robe around him like a security blanket. This was one of the only places he could get away with doing pretty much whatever he wanted, because no one could see him. Of course it wasn't like he controlled his dreams really, but he did usually really really enjoy them. He rarely had nightmares, and when he did it was always the same one. Reyna Crelos The elder Shadow held the same languid, cat-like grace that his guardian had as he moved. He stalked his way towards Dio and couldn't help but laugh at the look of sheer horror that passed over his face. The look was rapidly replaced by embarrassment which served to amuse him even more. "What you think is fine might not be fine or okay at all. I had to check for myself to make sure nothing is lurking where it shouldn't be. I wouldn't want something terrible to befall my beloved little brother now would I," he insisted before moving to settle upon the lounge curled up next to him. "Why so embarrassed, hm?" The look upon his face very much spoke of mischief as he squirmed a bit to make himself comfortable despite the look of dismay that remained upon his friend's face. "Delightfully decadent as your mind is," he began with a purr as he nosed over against Dio's hair in such a way that he seemed very much like an intrusive feline that was demanding attention. "I've seen so much worse. Maybe I ought to invite you into my dreams sometime, eh? Fair is fair." Merci` Dio sat for a moment completely stock still. A wild thought that perhaps this is how other people felt when he was snuggling them ran through his mind for a moment. He doubted it though, there was definitely an intent here that he'd never felt before. Then it dawned on him, this couldn't be real. This was a dream right? None of this was real, there is just no way it could be. He relaxed considerably at that thought, if this wasn't real then it didn't matter what happened here. "Actually," he paused and moved an arm to wrap around Mystic's shoulder's, "You showed up early. Or things would probably have been a bit more, uncomfortable." There was still a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that perhaps he was wrong.
Oh well, maybe if he pretended he couldn't remember he could get away with dodging the ribbing that he was sure to receive. He reached his hand up and twirled Mystic's hair between his fingers. "I think I would like to see your dreams. After all you crashed mine." His voice carried some amusement. "And also as you can see they are free of any malevolent influences. It's my guardian you should be concerned about." The timber of his voice here was similar to his normal voice, though it was just slightly deeper. "Wine?" He gestured with his free hand and two of the man servants moved forward to offer Mystic the treats that adorned their trays. Reyna Crelos Mystic looked delightfully smug. There was not a chance in the world that Dio was going to live this down. Ever. "You don't know that there's not something malevolent here," he insisted, "Nightmares, particularly the clever ones, can be sneaky. Sometimes they start off as good dreams. I will have to check up on Merci, however." He laughed quietly as he eyed the servants. One looked strangely..... like himself. Dark violet skin, jet black hair, and bright eyes. "No, thank you," he said in decline to the offer of wine. A broad smirk plastered across his face. "Is he supposed to be me? Oh, I am flattered.." Merci` The teenager cleared his throat and glanced toward the other man servants that hadn't moved from their posts along the wall. He hadn't really noticed before but they did look like people he knew. His eyes got a little wide when he recognized Hawk, Mystic, Red, Tariq, and Rhys. This had, in Dio's opinion, turned into a nightmare. He moved a hand up to the bridge of his nose and he pinched it between his fingers, maybe if he tried hard enough he could wake up and hide under a rock for the rest of his existence. The older shadow would probably use every possible moment to tease him about this. "You know it's common to dream about people you know. Just because you substitute a face that's familiar for one that isn't doesn't mean anything."
Yeah right. That excuse sounded lame even to him. "Anyway, what do you have to do to check things out? Just sit around here and drink my wine, eyeball my men, and tease me about it?" His voice was cross. Dio was slightly peeved that what should be an awesome dream was turning into something that was going to have ramifications in his real life. The things happening to him behind his eyelids at night was something he wasn't comfortable with and didn't really understand fully. Reyna Crelos "Awww," Mystic feigned a pout as he suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around Dio. He snickered quietly and nipped at his ear playfully. "Don't be too terribly mad at me?" he begged forgiveness as his fingers sifted back through his hair in a comforting manner. "I want only your safety and happiness, you know." He remained there despite the look of utter discomfort and irritation on Dio's face. He was not happy with him, but the demonic part of him was thoroughly enjoying pushing his buttons. He was quite certain such an oppurtunity to otherwise harrass his friend would not arise in the future, and if it did it wouldn't quite be the same. "To make absolutely certain that there are no bad, bad things that should not be here aren't lurking about," he began with a smirk as he stroked Dio's cheek affectionately, "I must cast a spell." He pulled away slightly, smirk still firmly in place. "With your permission, of course." Merci` The teenager canted his head to the side and regarded Mystic for a moment. It was obvious he was enjoying himself, and Dio knew it was his own discomfort that was likely the cause. However that didn't change the fact that Mystic was still Mystic. Someone that the younger fiend had looked up to and cared for most of his new life. With a resigned sigh Dio nodded a bit, "Of course, whatever you need. I want you to be reassured that I am in no danger after all." His words and tone were cordial. For a few moments he sat with an irritated look on his face while his friend reveled in his misery. Then it dawned on him.
If you can't beat um, join um right? He'd heard that saying somewhere before, probably from his guardian. The situation was out of his control, and he had to admit to himself that if he was in Mystic's place he would probably be doing something similar. So Dio forced himself to relax into Mystic's touch, and in fact he returned it. His left hand moved up to brush along the older shadow's jawline before he moved his index finger to trace his lips. "Then if you would be so kind as to check on my guardian I would appreciate it. Though if you cuddled up to her I'm sure she wouldn't be as welcoming." A slight smirk curled the corner of Dio's lips as he spoke. "You won't be needing my help for this spell will you?" Reyna Crelos "Nope~!" Mystic announced as he bounced up and away from Dio and skittered towards the middle of the room, utterly unfazed by Dio's attentions or the familiar looking … servants. That part still amused him to no end and likely would for quite some time. "I got this." He found a suitable spot there in the middle of the room and held out one hand before him with is palm up. He closed his eyes and called forth a bright, shining rune. He tossed it with one hand towards the ground and it burst like a fire cracker. It crackled along the floor as it burst again and again into smaller, more detailed runes which traveled along the floor and ceiling at lightening speed. "Aha!" he shouted as the sparkling runes traveled again and again to one of the man servants. "Oh, and it would be the one that looks like me," he laughed. He produced with his left hand a silver coin. The being that once was his look-alike was now a creature made entirely of darkness. It lashed out at him with a spiny, whip-like tail before dissipating into the coin. He turned back towards Dio as he playfully turned the coin over and over in one hand. "Just a lesser beastie, though. Nothing out of the usual," he told him, "Though it could be a minion or left over remnant from whatever possibly plagues your guardian." He paused mid step and tilted his head to the side with a curious look on his face. "Do you hear that?" he asked Dio with a mischievous look upon his face. Merci` Horror slowly settled over his face as he watched Mystic. He pulled his feet up on the fainting couch and resolved himself to not panic. What would have happened to him if Mystic hadn't been there? Would it have been benign until he woke? Or would it have waited until he'd been lulled into the dream and then done something much much worse when serve wine? When it looked like all was clear he launched himself from the comfort of his couch and threw himself on the older shadow. Dio wrapped his arms around him and curled up as close as he could to Mystic. Nightmares did truly scare him, because they saw into your soul and pulled out your worst fears. He didn't even know everything that lurked in the darkest recesses of his past.
The teenager was plastered against the other fiend, when he finally realized that Mystic had said something to him that required an answer. He blinked his strange wine colored eyes up at him. "Huh? Did I hear what?" He was slightly confused, and more then a little nervous. Maybe the older fiend was just playing a trick on him again, teasing him like he had until now. Maybe he was alluding to the fact that something much more sinister was lurking and couldn't be seen. These thoughts only made Dio tighten the hug to near a near stranglehold. "Is it another one of those monsters?" His voice was breathless and he turned his head to try and look over his shoulder, obviously completely paranoid. Reyna Crelos Mystic obligingly wrapped his arms about Dio in what was certainly a much more familiar and certainly more comforting fashion. "Easy there, Little Brother," he told him as he petted at his hair, "It was only a common nightmare. They lurk in everyone's dreams and feed upon your stress and worries of the waking world. This one was quite minor, I promise you." "Shhh," he told him with a bemused look upon his face when he voiced his worry of possible other monsters on the loose. "No," he whispered, "This is something far more serene. Listen. Can't you hear her? She has been calling for you. That is the other reason why I came to visit you." He smiled down at Dio and idly brushed his hair away from his face. "I have heard her sing since I saw you last." Merci` Dio seemed to forget Mystic's previous teasing as he cuddled his friend. He was soothed, and slowly he felt the tension ebb away from him. His shoulders relaxed and the teenager's grip slowly loosened just a bit. He blinked his wide eyes and said in a near whisper, "Would it have hurt me? That thing? You don't think it was really associated with that thing that hurt Merci do you?" There it was, the fear laid bare. Whatever it was that crawled out of Merci's dreams wasn't really after her. It had wanted to kill him, he could still feel the greasy cold of it wrapped around him sometimes when he was letting his mind play tricks on him. Though as soon as he gave voice to his worries they seemed to disappear. He would never be safer then when he was with Red or Mystic. Not to mention that this place was to the older shadow, what a night sky was to him.
Dio shut his eyes and moved to bury his face in Mystic's chest. That was really when he heard it. Faint, it really was faint but there it was. He parted his lips and drew in a shallow breath. Part of him was afraid to say something, because he was nervous that he would lose the sound. How could that voice be here? How could Mystic hear it? It was familiar, and it served to only further soothe away his unwarranted fears. He simply removed an arm from around his friend and turned away from the embrace. His eyes opening to search for the source of the whispered song. Reyna Crelos "She sounds so, so sad," Mystic lamented, "And has been haunting me since I saw you last." He frowned and wrapped one arm around Dio's waist and playfully perched his chin atop his head. "Stars do not sleep," he declared matter-of-factly, "Not in the sense that a human does. There is no dream realm for them." He looked a bit sad for a moment as he glanced down at Dio. "It means that she is fallen," he said simply, "Or worse." He pulled away slightly and walked back over to the couch and curled up on it with a drowsy look upon his face. He propped his chin up in one hand and gazed over at his friend through half-lidded eyes. "I had a dream once before that reminded me of a similar presence. I think perhaps she is trapped like us. Maybe your friends who still remain in the sky can aid you better than I," he mused, "I only hear the whispers and remnants of her mind." Merci` His eyes moved across the opulent room and he shifted to sit up straighter. The whisper of sound was so faint that it was easy to trick yourself into thinking you imagined it. Dio however was familiar with the cadence of the sound, because it was something he heard often. It was definitely a star, but what did Mystic mean. "Fell?" He voiced it as he thought it. "You mean, fell from the sky? Like a shooting star?" Now that he thought about it, why not? Hadn't he recently figured out he was thinking about things far to literally and scientifically? Giant burning balls of gas didn't feel, didn't sing, and couldn't talk to him. So that meant that the romantic tales of wishing on falling stars probably came from something much different then pieces of rock burning up in the atmosphere.
He moved a hand up and covered his face with one of his hands. "You know, for all I want to think I've got everything about myself figured out. I'm a real idiot sometimes aren't I?" The fiend ran his hand back over the top of his head and let it finally drop to his side. "I'm afraid that I don't know how to..." Dio paused and gathered his thoughts before he continued, "I don't know how to talk to them really yet. I mean in conversations. I can listen, and I'm getting a bit better at sorting through the voices to understand snippets of what one might be saying. But being able to ask questions and get answers at the this point is still beyond me." It was obvious by the tone in his voice that he didn't like admitting that he'd made so little progress. Without him gesturing, one of the men along the walls moved forward and offered him a glass of wine. Mystic might not be aware of the resemblance, but it looked remarkably like his new friend Tariq. The fiend accepted it and gracefully sunk to the floor, seating himself comfortably on one of the many cushions that seemed to be scattered about. "Of course none of this is your problem really is it. I'll figure it out." -=TBC=-
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:59 pm
THINK LIKE A STAR
(RP started DATE GOES HERE, 2010)
{RP took place in the Word}
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:01 pm
AMONG THE DUSTY TOMES
(RP took place September 22, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
Merci` Merci's fox like ear cocked up toward the bell as it chimed when she pushed the door open. It, like most things in this place, looked like it came from another time. A bell perched on a coil of metal attached to the door, it made her smile a little bit. No mechanical beeping here, no sir. The quaint back alley book store was one she hadn't been to before. It smelled like old books and leather. She assumed the leather came from book bindings, but it amused her to imagine the place run by some fat biker. She caught sight of the nerdy college student that was behind the register and nodded to him. He nodded back and his voice was pretty loud in the small room "Hey, take a look around. If you need anything let me know al..." his voice died when Dio walked right past her. The shadow seemed to like having legs now that he could. Merci gave the clerk a grin and shrugged a shoulder "No thanks I think we'll be good. If we need anything I'll let you know." The kitsune couldn't stifle the smirk as she turned and started watching Dio. The teenager's mouth dropped open, figuratively, after all he didn't really have a mouth. Dio had the same reaction every time she relented and allowed him to come to a book store. His eye got super wide, he turned in a circle taking in the place, and then he bee lined for aisles. Merci was quietly thankful that this old place had chairs. True they looked like chairs that could have been bought at a flea market for three dollars, with frayed upholstery, carved wooden legs and the tall winged back. She flopped in one and crossed her legs. If she got out of here without spending thousands of dollars and spending all afternoon here she would be so far beyond lucky. iloveyouDIE As Dio rushed toward one of the aisles, Algie was in said aisle dealing with a quite a minor emergency but it had started up innocently enough. He'd discovered this bookshop on the internet (having college age employees garnered certain elaborate advertising advantages) after having visited every store listed in the yellow pages. One would think that with a vast library he'd always have something to read but the man sometimes just loved the smell of parchment and old things. It took him back to his own days of youth. The ease of the trip lasted until only a few moments before. With a stack balanced on one arm and a few tucked into his armpit, he'd been making his way to the chairs in the front of the store when his opportunistic feline companion, Fizzy, decided his pocket was not as appealing a perch as the top of his head was. Bloodstone, recently becoming a free floating wisp lazily moved upwards to observe the curious cat. Fizzy found the funny floating stone to be something she could attempt to play with and thus the emergency began. Algie now stood with a fluffy cream colored kitten leaping and crawling across his face, Bloostone's wisp darting away from the curious paws (while also teasing the cat with it's whipping shadow tendrils) and a stack of books now teetering to fall to the floor. "Help?" It was more of a helpless yelp than a cry for assistance and was uttered at the pinnacle of his loss: the painful second the books slid from his grasp and hit the floor in a cloud of dust and the crumble of old paper. Merci` Dio stopped to stare for just a split second, as the scene was quite amusing. His legs melted back into the more convenient tail as he floated over and scooped up the books from the man's arm. He was not unaware of the wisp, or the fact that it seemed to be making the situation worse. The older fiend floated back the equivalent of a step or two, holding the stack of books in both hands.
'It looks like you found trouble.' Dio's voice was amused as he spoke. His one visible eye moving from the man to the wisp curiously. He'd never met this one before. He would have to pester the Athan Man and find out just how many there were. 'Little one you shouldn't put your guardian in such a state of distress.' It was obvious that Dio didn't expect the wisp to listen to a word he said, wisps and fiends in general were mayhem.
He turned his eye back to Algie and he waited for the gentleman to right himself. Dio was normally very shy around new people, but something about this man told him that they were kindred spirits. iloveyouDIE Algie's glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose and his vibrant green eyes caught sight of the helpful new fiend. He immediately could tell what he was, even with his limited experience. Despite his predicament, he was rather pleased and excited to just run into one like this. "Well trouble sort of came to me." He smiled, readjusting the books that hadn't fallen. With his free hand he swiped the kitten off of his head. She squirmed and still tried to catch Bloo in her paws but finally gave up when Algie gave her a stern look. They'd been together for years and she knew she was in trouble. He dropped her into the pocket of his jacket and she sulked, her tiny fluffy head hanging over the pocket's edge. Bloo spun away from the kitten as soon as the new fiend appeared. It shone with interest, his shadows whipping gently around him like green and red fire. If it could be taken aback, that was the stone's reaction to being called 'little one'. Though it wasn't meant to be offensive in anyway, it seemed the stone knew that it was older than Dio (at least in so much as being a fiend). Bloo quickly was over it though and hovered closer to Dio's face, it's fire-like shadow aura coming together to form intangible tendrils that waved at the other fiend. "He's supposed to be calming." Algie laughed and finally had regained his composure. "Well he apparently used to be calming. Not so much anymore. I'm Algernon." He held out a hand to the fiend and cast a charming smile. He had a deep gentle voice and a clearly British accent. He was reminiscent of a professor or a librarian in his apparel and demeanor. "You can all me Algie if you'd like." Merci` Dio shifted the books he was holding to one arm, and accepted the handshake. He'd never actually shaken hands before, and it was a bit novel for him. He'd seen Merci do it so he knew that was probably what Algie wanted. 'It's nice to meet you, I'm Dio. My guardian is here too, she's probably found some chair to sit in somewhere.' Dio's tail swished behind him lazily as he turned his gaze to regard the wisp.
Dio didn't really remember being a wisp all that well, but he had a soft spot for them. He'd been meeting quite a few lately, which made him feel warm and fuzzy. 'Hello to you as well.' He moved his free hand up and extended it toward Bloo. Dio very gently brushed his fingers up against the shadowy tendrils that surrounded the wisp.
The fiend turned his face back toward Algie and he couldn't help himself. 'You have quite a few books here, do you have a specific interest? I'm trying to find good books on Cosmology and ancient peoples. You haven't come across any have you? No offense but you look like you have a lot of books. Oh! I bet you have TONS of books I would like!' He paused in his rambling and his brow furrowed, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to talk so much. Hawk says I talk too much all at the same time and I don't give people a chance to talk back.' The shadow spoke as if Algie should know about everyone he mentioned, it never dawned on him that this man wouldn't know the same people he did. After all, he had a wisp right? That meant he had to have been to Twilight Designs!
Dio pulled his hand away from Bloo and shifted the stack of books to hold them back out to Algie. iloveyouDIE Despite the wisp's rather troublesome actions, his shadowy tendrils emanated a sense of calm that Dio would feel when he brushed his fingers across them. It was something that the wisp had no control over and seemed to be a natural ability. "I'm always glad to meet new bonded." Algie smiled at the fiend's enthusiasm for books. "We may be looking into similar things! I myself was looking into ancient religions and people. Bloodstone seems to have a strong attachment to religious texts." He found it strange since the stone had also seemed to influence him into violence. "I do, in fact, have a rather large library! I own a book store back in my home town." A wand slid into his free hand from his sleeve and with a flick a droplet of water seemed to gather at the tip. When the droplet broke free it seemed to change into a business card, fluttering on the air. His contact information was scrolled in golden ink. Algernon Mixlin
Freelance Wizard of All Trades
Proprietor: The Book Nook It followed with his home address on gaia as well as the address of his store, which unfortunately seemed to be in England and Gaia certainly had no 'England'. "Any fellow bibliophile is welcome to visit our home, right Bloo?" The wisp spun slightly and shot back toward's Algie. It settled on his finger, much like a ring, but when it wrapped his fingers in it's shadows it took on the appearance of finger armor. "He's started to do that a lot lately. Pardon me if I seem rather uninformed about him. My daughter left rather unexpectedly and he and I were bonded in an emergency situation. He was a child but the stress of the soul bond being severed has reverted him back." Algie finally accepted the stack of books, readjusting perfectly without a cat fight happening on his face. "I've been told the same thing about talking." He was already enjoying Dio's company. "Though I tend to ramble and sound like I'm lecturing. I happen to know Hawk.. though not very well. He was the fiend of my son-in-law before he.. Well you probably know all about Wren and Halo disappearing? She's my daughter." Maybe he was too young. Algie nodded his head towards the front. He'd wanted to sit and look at these books but he felt like he was interrupting the young fiend's shopping for himself. Merci` Dio's eye got super round when Algie flicked his wand. It was all he could do not to explode into excited jabbering right then. He controlled himself though, and would have done Merci proud. The fiend turned and waved for the man to follow him, glancing down at his hand before he turned and started floating back toward the front of the store. 'Your a wizard then! You must be a little bit like the Athan Man, I think he's something like that right? After all he enchanted the ceiling to look like stars! Speaking of which you said you were looking into ancient religions, have you ever come across anything concerning the Alisari? Or... the Crux? The second isn't really a people per se I guess.'
Dio emerged from the aisle and he floated over to Merci in the old wingback chair she was reclining in. Merci saw Dio and was confused. There was no way he found what he wanted in a few minutes, there just wasn't. "The books here aren't old enough for you or something?" The fiend shook his head 'I don't even know, I haven't had a chance to look. I found someone instead!' He extended his left arm toward Algie, and the markings on his skin seemed to twinkle. Now that he wasn't carrying books the pattern took on the look of the sky at night, a perfect star chart winked under his skin.Merci turned and stood up. The fox-like ears were pricked forward toward Algie and she moved forward with her hands out, quietly offering to take some of the books from him to make things easier. "Sorry about Dio, he tends to ambush people. He isn't bothering you is he?" Dio huffed and grumbled 'I didn't ambush him. I was very helpful, and he has a wisp!' Dio folded his arms and put off an air of being slightly grumpy that his guardian would assume he was being a pest. iloveyouDIE Algie chuckled as Dio's excitement grew. He hadn't realized wizards were so popular. At home dedicated wizards were found to be eccentric, odd and often a bit dull to talk to. "Athan and I come from different paths but I suppose we are a bit similar." Algie didn't know much about Athan's particular branch of dark magic though. "I'm sorry, I haven't." He'd not even heard of them before in his reading. "Perhaps you need to look in slightly more specialized bookstores? I will remember the names though." If it was coming from a fiend, it was probably worth remembering. "May I ask what you know of them? I am curious myself, having not heard of them." Algie was intrigued by Dio's arm once he'd had a good look but was distracted by meeting Merci. Her fox-like features made him think of his grandson Lafe but the woman's nonchalance, poise and style reminded him of his own daughter Halo. Needless to say he already liked her. "Oh no, not at all!" Algie sat the books on a table and accepted her help with them. He shot a dagger stare towards the lazy college student behind the counter who was fully wrapped up in tweeting or twatting or twittling on his phone, whatever those kids did on those things nowadays. "He's a bit of a pleasure. I don't meet many young people interested in books. You are lucky." Algie gave Merci a charming wink. "Try having a teenage, boy crazy, mall obsessed girl at home. My credit score is screaming at me. You want to trade? I'll take your boy anyday!" At mention of his wisp he held his hand up, showing her Bloodstone settled on his finger. The shadows, shaped like armor, made his finger look somewhat like a claw. Bloo did detach though and drift around Merci. If a stone could be scrutinizing, he was, but it was only a moment before his examination stopped and the shadows flickered and waved at her. Merci` Before Merci could open her mouth to speak Dio was already launching into his passion, 'The Alisari are a dead people, unfortunately. I'm trying to study them because, well, it's weird but I guess it has to do with my past. I don't remember very much, but I know it has to do with them. They worshiped stars, and I talk to stars. Well I want to talk to them, but they all seem to talk at once and make things horribly hard for me to understand.' Dio didn't even seem to notice that he was talking with his hands, or that he might be talking to much. This was a subject he was quite interested in. Anyway Algie had books, it sounded like he had LOTS of books. He might be able to help him somehow. 'The Athan man gave me some scrolls that were written by them, the Alisari I mean. You can only see it under starlight, isn't that interesting? Anyway I think that if I figure them out I'll be able to hear the st-'Merci interjected "Dio, honey stop for breath and to let the poor man actually speak." She reseated herself in the armchair and folded her hands in her lap. "I don't know that you'd want to trade. His obsession with these rare books is honestly driving me to bankruptcy." She shot the fiend an affectionate look. Dio moved to hover next to Merci and he rolled his eye. 'Books are important.' He said it like that should solve all the financial woes he might cause with his needs. 'How else am I supposed to find out what I want to know? It isn't like I can fly up to one of them and ask. They are extinct, like dinosaurs.' The teenager moved slightly and canted his head to the side, looking over the spines of the books that Algie had deposited on the table.Merci glanced at Algie and she arched her brows "So you have a wisp? Aren't you excited that you have to look forward to this?" she waved a hand toward Dio. iloveyouDIE Algie was interested in what the boy spoke of but did, in several slight pauses, open his mouth just to have Dio continue on. He was hardly annoyed and gave up until Merci had interrupted him. "I am honest when I say that if you'd like to get him out of your hair at any time, I know I am mostly a stranger, but you can have him come by my home. He could probably spend hours in our library there. Also we've had 2 fiends in residence, though now there is only Bloodstone. My son-in-law was Hawk's Eye's bond so perhaps he may find things stashed away in our collection that I just haven't found." The Alisari actually sounded very interesting and he was intrigued by Dio's ability to 'talk' to stars. "I doubt Bloo will be quite like this fellow here." Dio would find that the books on the table were large tomes on varying religions, including some interesting expositions on King Arthur and Robin Hood. There were also quite a few written in Arabic mixed in with books on Islam. Several were religions that had only been mentioned in myth and thus Algie was hoping to see if any had a grain of truth. "Bloodstone seems to have a temper. Either that or he feels the need to smite evil. He's been influencing me to be.. well very unlike myself." He didn't want to saw violent and scare off some new friends. "I'm rather unsure what to expect when he takes a physical form. He had been a child before and apparently was very zen. I don't think I will be so lucky." Bloo clearly was right there but it only glinted mischievously. It's shadowy aura flared proudly for a moment, with a green and red flame-like appearance. Merci` The fiend blinked a little bit and glanced up to Algie. 'I thought that Hawk was bonded to the Athan Man. At least it seemed that way. Did something happen to him that Hawk isn't with him anymore? That's sad, I would be beside myself if something happened to my Merci.' His tail swished behind him as he spoke.Merci shook her head and held up a hand to Dio, "You don't need to know that. If Hawk wanted to tell you about it he would have." Her green eyes move from her charge back to Algie, "He's far to curious for his own good. If you're serious about that offer though I might have to take you up on that. I know I don't know you very well but, you probably wouldn't be able to do much to hurt Dio, and you have your own Wisp. If Athan and Reyna trust you with one then..." she trails off and shrugs. "Dio's had a bit of an impact on me as well. I was much more wild before he came into the picture. We have two fiends in the house at the moment. Tektite belongs to my stepson Rhys, and then of course I have Dio. Tek is a wisp too at the moment." Dio sighed. He really did want to know what happened to Hawk's bonded but Merci was probably right. 'We're all different, we're not like copies of each other. Like snowflakes or fingerprints... or people! I'm going to see if they had the books I was looking for. I'll be right back.' Dio zipped off toward the aisles again and disappeared from sight.Merci crossed her legs and sighed quietly. "He's calmed down a lot since his latest growth spurt. You're probably lucky you didn't meet him a couple months ago. He'd have pestered you until you wanted to pull your hair out with questions." iloveyouDIE "Well I don't really know anything. Wren and Halo had to go away for a while. It seems it would be dangerous for their fiends, so they stayed behind and rebonded. Don't you worry about these things though. You seem to have a very secure life." It was basic information, no details. "Hawk will share with you what he knows, if he knows more, when the time comes." He knew that if Hawk had any familiar aspects of Wren's personality, he would not want to be pressed for information that he wasn't willing to share. "That is also how I got Bloodstone." He didn't press the matter more. The young fiend may not want to know the painful details of Bloodstone's past, how the fiend had almost died due to the chaos and danger that came with being bonded to his daughter, who was also soul-mated to Wren and now suffered because of it. Better he enjoy his life with his bond and not wonder 'what-if'. Algie settled into another wing backed chair, the table of books between he and Merci. He picked them each up, scanning through them with amazing speed and separating them into two piles. All the while he continued his conversation. Bloodstone detached from his finger, hovered about his hand for a moment, and then zipped off to follow Dio. He kept pace easily, but of course was silent. "It's the hazards of having children, fiend or otherwise." He smiled over his glasses at her. "I have two daughters. Thankfully both grown now. As children they were very competitive and Halo was especially inquisitive. Sneaking into my things. Drinking potions because they 'looked pretty'." He chuckled at the memories of his little girls. "Is he your first?" He meant child of course. Even if they didn't spring from your loins, it didn't change the feelings you had for them. Merci` Merci shook her head, "I seem to gather strays so to speak. I have a daughter, she's in college now and only seems to call when she needs money. My lover just recently came back with a rather complicated situation. Part of which is a son, Rhys. He's the one bonded to Tektite." The fox woman leaned forward and tilted her head to the side. "So your daughter is gone? That has to be really hard for you." Dio stopped in front of a bookshelf and tilted his head back to look over the spines of the books. He lifted his right arm and used it to trace over the embossed letters on some of them. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Bloo and he turned his head to eye him. 'Following me?' The larger fiend moved his hand from the books over toward the wisp, offering him his hand. 'You are far more energetic then I was as a wisp.' Dio's voice was amused, and he just seemed to radiate happiness.
Wisps really were quite interesting. He didn't remember much about being one himself, but he always enjoyed the curiosity and wonder that they seemed to have. iloveyouDIE "More family though, is always a pleasure. At least your lover can be with you. I myself am a long time bachelor." It wasn't far from the truth and despite being a rather handsome middle aged man, he had been alone for many years now. "She's called a few times.." He smirked a bit. "The truth is that we were apart for many years. When her mother and I divorced Halo was a teenager and sort of went her own way." Part of that way had been summoning and soul-mating to a demon, Wren. Algie hadn't rebuilt their relationship until more recent years. "I have a feeling of where she is. I am sure she's safe." He sifted the books and his 'reject' pile was much higher than the keepers. His mouth twisted downward in disappointment. Bloo hovered above Dio's hand but was only there a second before he spiraled around the other fiend's arm. He seemed to be admiring the star maps there, and wanted Dio to know. Bloodstone seemed to give off a calming cool aura whenever he neared close enough. He then mimicked Dio by drifting up to the spine of a book and flicking it's tendrils against the spine in observation. There was equal measure curiosity and showing off in the wisps actions. Merci` Merci had no idea why she felt so comfortable with someone she just met. Really there hadn't been a guardian that she met that she felt any strong negative feelings about. Maybe it was because they were all in the same boat, having these lost souls attached to them. "Aah, I see. So you can tell me that I'm prying if you'd like. You said that your wisp Bloodstone was affecting your personality? I'm curious because I am honestly not sure if Dio has really affected mine all that much. He was very very weak when I got him. Actually I think he might have died if it weren't for another one of the fiends." Her brows furrowed and she sighed, "No he probably is affecting me. I never used to talk this much." Dio watched Bloo with affection. 'You're much stronger then I was when I was that small.' The larger fiend moved to the side and turned his attention back to the books. He pulled one from the shelf and supported the spine with one hand while he flipped through it with the other. 'I had to be with my guardian all the time, I couldn't go very far away from her on my own.' Dio tucked the book under his arm and went back to the shelves.
The teenager reached a hand up and tucked his long bang back behind his ear for the moment, revealing that he does indeed have two eyes. Dio was not a very high strung fiend, and the calming effects from Bloo just seemed to make him a bit more mellow. 'Tell me if you see anything that might be interesting okay?' iloveyouDIE "No you aren't prying." Algie smiled. He was glad to have someone to talk to that was unconnected to his situation. The only other person he'd been able to talk with briefly was Hawk but the fiend was much too close to the situation to be unbiased. "Without Dio here I can tell you about Bloodstone." Hopefully the teen would be occupied in the aisles for a while. "My daughter and Wren were married but also bonded on a soul level. Something happened, I still don't know what, and Wren disappeared. You can imagine, as someone who has been apart from their lover, what this did to her." He sighed. "Bloodstone was a child fiend when Wren disappeared and apparently he was a pleasure. He was very religious, very zen. Others said he was rather like a warrior monk. He taught all the children martial arts and his calm nature seemed to defy the rather chaotic nature of the fiends themselves." Algie paused, looking to make sure Dio still was in the back of the shop. "Well something must have happened to Wren. Halo fell into a horrible depression but her health even seemed to be affected in a slight way. Soul sickness is all I could call it. Bloodstone tried his best to help with his calming and healing abilities but it was too much and he started to suffer as her soul did." Algie looked rather emotional about it. "Well she had to go. She had to find him. It would only be detrimental to the growing and developing fiend. Their soul bond was severed and he was bonded to me. The trauma had reverted him back to a stone. He was weak for a long time, barely responsive. But as a wisp he's seemed to gain alot of strength in a short time. I think he has remarkable determination. But he's not so calming this time around. He is to a point but he's only influenced me to be more..." he searched for a correct wording, "..aggressive." Bloo seemed proud of his strength and spun slowly again. It drifted across the spines but seemed uninterested in most of them. He hovered in front of one book for a moment that seemed to be about the differences in the star formations throughout history, but he soon drifted back to Dio himself, darting into his shadow and disappearing. After a second he emerged by the teen's elbow and spent his time circling the star marked arm. He really seemed to like it. Merci` Merci sat forward in her chair and rested her elbows on her knees. Her red hair fell over her shoulder in a curtain when she shifted positions. Her fox-like ears were pricked forward, conveying her interest in Algie's story. "That sounds like it was a very difficult time for her. I can't imagine that was easy for any of you to deal with. I'm curious though, he's affecting you already as a wisp? I'm sorry I'm so surprised, it's just that I... I guess I didn't realize how weak Dio really was when I got him." Merci remembered when the ring was given to her, and when they told her what it was. She didn't believe it for one second at the time. If she'd been faced with something like Bloo though? It would probably have been much easier to believe. Merci propped her chin against her hand and furrowed her brows, "Aggressive is worrisome. I was told that fiends in general were chaotic, though Dio has been extremely mellow." Dio glanced back toward Bloo and he noted the book that seemed to catch his attention. He moved his hand over and pulled it from the shelf. 'Thank you, I think I'll look through this one.' Dio sounded fascinated with the find. He was very happy. Really he thought that he would just get to look at books, having time to spend with others of his own kind always seemed to make him feel unexpectedly giddy.
Dio didn't realize he'd started to hum to himself. The tune was strange, and probably not something familiar. The fiend listened to the starts sing at night, and without realizing it he'd starting humming that tune quietly. iloveyouDIE "I have to admit, I didn't expect such a reaction so soon. He must have a warrior's spirit." Algie leaned back and with a flick of his wand the 'reject' pile of books seemed to lift and drift towards the back of the store. They would return themselves to where he had gotten them. "I've been reading up on the stone itself. Healing aspects fit into it's profile but I've also picked up that Bloodstone is a representation of justice. Perhaps that is where this aggressive streak comes from? The other day he influenced me to confront a man who was bullying some elderly women. Admirable, of course, I just didn't go about it the way I normally would." Punching people out was not really his style. "I've also had an increase of dream activity. Another trait of the stone. But not the sort of dreams I care to have." He frowned. "Perhaps when he's a child he can direct this all somewhere that isn't me. You are very lucky with Dio!" His frown shifted into a smile. "He's very attentive and pleasant." It could definitely be worse. Bloo enjoyed the tune and his energy seemed to lower. He quick travelling was slowing and he settled against Dio's arm. The teen fiend would feel Bloo's calming energy beating out in unison with the his soft humming. Bloo probably needed to get back to Algie, but was in no current danger. When the stone sat against Dio's wrist, he wrapped his shadows around the other's arm like a bracelet. Again, somehow, the bracelet looked like some sort of shadow armor, licking gently against the skin with tiny tendrils like flames. He was going to rest here, safe, until Dio rejoined their guardians. Merci` Merci couldn't help a rueful smile, "I did get very lucky. It gets easier then they actually get out of the stone fully. Though they are children they can still communicate their needs and you can reason with them somewhat. Well I suppose reasoning with them depends on the fiend and what they want." Dio's needs were few, but expensive. Really it was the books that were killing her, but when the bar opened hopefully all their financial woes would lessen dramatically. "Dio can be quite insistent when it comes to his books, telescopes and informational programming." Merci straightened up and leaned back in her chair, resting fully against the winged back. "I wish I'd actually thought to try and do some research on Dio before, but to be honest I was told that they were souls that were trapped and needed someone they could rely on for strength. I didn't think that the stone they were trapped in would have affected them so vastly." Now that Algie had mentioned it maybe she would get on the computer when she got home and try to look up whatever it was Dio was. Black Diopside or something like that. She was sure if she put Diopside in a search engine she'd come up with something. Dio glanced at his wrist and his eye softened into what could only be a smile. The fiend moved that arm more slowly as he tucked the last couple books on top of the small pile he was holding and headed back toward the guardians. He really liked Bloo, a lot. He seemed really happy when he floated up next to Merci and held out his hand, 'Can we keep him?' Dio joked.Merci glanced to the side and saw Bloo wrapped around Dio's wrist and she smiled a little bit. "Thanks but I think we have enough to worry about with you and Tek. Are you done looking already? That was fast for you." She couldn't keep the relief out of her tone. 'Awww, alright. He's very charming Algie.' Dio glanced at Merci and he squinted at her, 'I might go back and look in a few but I want to see what these are first.'
The larger fiend floated over to deposit his books on the table and noticed Algie's pile was much smaller. 'Decided not to get some of them? I think I found some I am going to get. Bloo pointed one out about star constellations that I'm quite interested in too.' He felt it was important to point out the wisp's contributions to his small stack.iloveyouDIE "Research is what I do." Algie looked a little sheepish for a moment. It was if he felt he had nothing else. "I suppose I just feel when it comes to souls and living things, nothing is coincidence." Including why those particular souls were trapped in those particular forms. "Already Bloo is defensive of things in the house that I think were his before he reverted. You are a good soul to take on such a responsibility with little information." He had as well, though he felt all the guardians might have been in the same boat. When Dio returned Algie brightened a little, noticing that Bloodstone seemed slightly worn out but completely at ease where he'd rested. "Oh sure, he's all well and good now. Wait until he's angry." He peered over his glasses. "You wouldn't like him when he's angry." His face had gotten serious but quickly broke into a smile. His poor comic book reference (the Hulk was the only recent film he'd seen at the urging of Hela) may have been lost on Dio but Algie seemed like he was pleased with himself for using it. "He can be a little green monster when he wants to be." Bloo lifted from Dio's wrist but when he detached his shadowy aura he seemed slightly reluctant. Apparently the wisp liked Dio, or perhaps he just liked other fiends. He had also reacted positively to Hawk's presence. He drifted to Algie's side and disappeared into his shadow. "I think he's worn out from all his helpfulness. He's got a keen eye for literature I think." He hoped when Bloo emerged as a child he would be even half as interested in books as Dio was. He felt they would need some common ground. Algie stretched slightly, dipping his fingers into his coat pocket to put his kitten who'd fallen asleep with all the boring conversation. She mewed a bit but didn't stir. "I should leave you to your shopping. I will only get these few.. but I am always looking for new bookstores. I will let you know, Dio, if I find another that is promising." He stood up from his sleep, stretching out his tall form. "Thank you for the conversation and remember you are both welcome at our home any time. You have my card." He flashed Dio another smile. "Yourself and your other family members. The more the merrier! Bring your books, perhaps we can do some research together." Merci` Merci actually found herself a little embarrassed by the compliment, though she didn't have any time to respond before her charge dumped his books on the table. She decided that she didn't really need to interject herself in the conversation. She'd never really admit this out loud but she was quite proud of her little Black Star. And even if Dio didn't get the reference, Merci certainly did, and she couldn't stifle the laugh. Dio really didn't get the reference but he was amused anyway. Partially because he could feel the amusement from Merci through their bond, and partially because Algie looked to darned pleased with himself. 'I don't think he could be worse then Red. I don't know if you've met Red, he's my best friend. He's a fiend too, only way bigger then me and... well he's actually red. When he gets angry he loses control and he's very very strong.' Dio furrowed his brows for a moment and then nodded a bit. 'You know like I can speak with the stars and hear them singing, Red is strong, Hawk can see things that are to be, Mystic touches dreams. We all have something, Red's is he's strong.' He wasn't sure why he felt that he needed to explain that, but he did. Merci uncoiled herself and reached over grabbing one of Dio's books and looking at the inside jacket for the prices. "Dio honey, he needs to go so he can take care of Bloo alright? Stop talking his ears off." She said it offhandedly, and like she'd probably said that same thing in different variations a lot. Dio nodded and turned a look back on Algie, 'I hope you have a safe trip back to your dwelling, and that Bloo isn't too tired. He's very strong.' He sounded affectionate. 'I'm sure we'll see you again.'Merci frowned and picked up the next book and started making two piles of her own. Books she was willing to buy and ones she wasn't. It seemed that was enough to draw Dio's attention and the two started to bicker good-naturedly, allowing Algie to make his exit unseen.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:03 pm
NEW SNAKE IN THE HOUSE
(RP started October 14, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:05 pm
BOOKWORMS
(RP started October 18, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:20 pm
OMFG HOW DID YOU GET SO BIG?!
(RP started September 23, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
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Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:23 pm
CRAZY NAUGHTY DREAM, OMG! Solo RP.
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Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 6:24 pm
GROWING INTO A MONSTER
(RP took place October 18, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
Cinderfae His head felt fuzzy and unfocused, looking over Rhys room Tektite realized things seemed smaller or perhaps he was bigger. Blinking slightly in confusion he shifted his arm ... he had an arm he realized. Closing his fingers one at a time he watched as one of each of his six fingers flexed and moved. Within the darkness of the sleeping house Tek's markings glowed softly. Turning he moved over toward Rhys, watching the boy a moment he glanced from his guardian and then toward Sarraqa. Rhys didn't often sleep fitfully so the fiend wasn't overly inclined to bother him even for something such as this. He felt energized, bigger, stronger, more...more of everything he decided and not ready to curl up for the rest of the night. While considering all this the sound of others in the house caught his attention, drifting along the floor he peered around the door frame and looked down the hall. Soft light came from the bathroom, candles he realized and he could hear the shower going. Who he wondered was up so late...curiosity peaked Tek forgot for a moment that he was larger and slinked down the hall toward the door. Upon reaching the door he only paused a moment before pushing the door open to peek inside. Merci` Merci'd had a looong day. She'd been helping to coordinate the contractors for most of the day, and most of them were as meaty between the ears as they were in body. When she'd gotten home that night she was content to go take a steamy hot shower and collapse into bed. So she'd found the bathroom when she got home. Lit some gorgeously scented aromatherapy candles and turned off the lights. Now that she was happily letting the hot water beat down on her, she was starting to feel relaxed. Her long red hair was undone and lathered up with a shampoo that smelled of White Jasmine and Orchids. It was an appropriately girly smelling soap, and one of the few really feminine things she indulged in. She was lathering up her tail when she caught a gust of cool air from around the shower curtain. Merci scowled and she called over the sound of the water. "There are about three other bathrooms in this house you can use." It was either Rhys or Cinder, there wasn't really anyone else in the house. "I'll be out in a few if you just have to have this one." Normally she would have gone right into the master bath attached to her bedroom. But this one had the really strong shower head. It had a pulsating massage setting that did wonders for her tight shoulders. Cinderfae Tek slunk down to the floor looking curiously over the bathroom, the little fiend was only half listening to Merci` as she spoke. He'd followed Rhys plenty of times into the bathroom, but now that he was bigger he wanted to see and experience everything again...it was almost as if he was seeing everything for the first time again. Realizing that Merci` was talking to him he finally spoke up he hadn't spoken before so it actually took him some concentration to process his thoughts into words. We don't require the bathroom.That Merci` would want to be alone for her shower never crossed his mind. He didn't really have any concept of clothing or took into consideration that they were separate from the person they were on. The flicker from one of the candles drew Tek's attention at that moment and he moved over to the counter and started to levitate up to investigate it more for the moment forgetting about the fox woman in the room. Merci` Despite the hot water, Merci felt her blood run cold. She didn't recognize that voice. Not to mention it wasn't really a voice, it was a thought. It was in her head. She reached a hand out and turned the water off, so she could more clearly hear what was happening on the other side of the curtain. When she didn't hear any movements immediately she reached out and took the curtain gently in her fingers, pulling it aside and up so she could cover her body with it and still see what was in the room with her. It was black, it had tentacles. That was about all her brain could process. Merci took a deep breath and let out a blood curdling scream. Her other hand was reaching behind her to grab the bottle of shower gel so she could wing it at whatever the hell that was. She wasn't going for accuracy, she wanted to distract it, stun it, or surprise it long enough for her to get around it. Because her guns were in her bedroom. Cinderfae Tek didn't even pay attention to the water being turned off, or that Merci` was moving the curtain instead he was intent on the candle. The scream however drew his attention and frightened him probably as much as Merci` was frightened. Startled the little shadow turned and knocked the candle down his green glowing eyes wide in terror and then the soap bottle came flying through the air and passed through him. Once the bottle passed through and hit the floor Tek let out a scream of his own. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiii! A mental shriek of pure terror and startlement went through the house. In his room Rhys woke at the sounds of screams, bolting up in his bed the boy stumbled out of bed and fought to right himself. Sarraqa awoke as well the Medusa had a bit more luck with awakening with grace then his young master, reaching out Sarra gently balanced Rhys before turning his attention to the hall. Tensing up Sarra's tail rattled threateningly and he pushed Rhys back ever so slightly in a protective manner. The door then burst open! And the dark tentacled creature mixed with soft green glow met their eyes - for a moment the three in the room all froze and just stared. Merci` Merci ripped the shower curtain off the rod and wrapped it around herself as she bolted out of the bathroom. She watched where the little creature went, but she was intent on arming herself and shooting the damned thing till it stopped moving. She slid into the bedroom and jerked the box that housed her two most prized possessions, Wahrheit and Ruhe, from under the bed where she stored them. She pulled Ruhe out of the box and turned toward the door. It had gone into Rhys room, and she was terrified it was going to hurt the boy, or Sarra and Tek. It had to be one of those nightmare creatures, like the one that came from her mind. All Merci had really seen was a black shape with tentacles. She'd thought she'd gotten rid of whatever had caused it to happen but obviously she was wrong. So, armed, with a shower curtain wrapped around her to preserve her modesty, she legged it to Rhys room. She did however send a stray thought to Dio, telling him through their bond to stay the hell wherever he was.
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 5:45 pm
RAVEN'S PLUME GRANDE OPENING
(RP started October 21, 2010)
{RP took place in the Guild}
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