...//PRP - A Different Sort of Haunting
(Please note that while this happens without Khia being home, it is a portion of his "story")
(Please note that while this happens without Khia being home, it is a portion of his "story")
Prolixity
Blue's footsteps were slow and hesitant as he walked up the drive, hands tucked in his pockets in an attempt at nonchalance. He didn't want to be here. He did want to be here. Confront your fears, right? Maybe he'd discover it had all been a stupid dream. Even if he had slept for long days. Even if he had woken with an absolute and horrified conviction that what he'd seen was real.
Still, as he approached the house, he slowed down yet further. Stupid! If something awful had happened here, wouldn't he have heard? And there was supposed to be something going on soon, too, and that wouldn't have happened if -
Still, as he approached the house, he slowed down yet further. Stupid! If something awful had happened here, wouldn't he have heard? And there was supposed to be something going on soon, too, and that wouldn't have happened if -
Syrie
As Blue walked, he would see crews of people running around busily with building materials, lists and other assorted items. The sound of construction and the hum of hurried life could be heard everywhere - the people didn't pay the boy any attention though. That was a little odd.
As was the lack of a "welcoming party". Under normal circumstances Syrie was so in tune with this land and it's magic that he knew when visitors arrived and would send one of his kids to greet the incoming guest. Not today. Today he was in his library, doing research and looking haggard while his eldest son, Veloren, ordered around a veritable army of servants.
Cleaning and cooking and taking care of everything. This was how he was dealing with his little brother missing. Phaid, the Pard that was Ren's companion most often flicked his ears and turned his head...new scent. The boy, the one that his companion liked. The small fuzzy one, he was here; Phaid glanced at Veloren and then rose to his feet, tail flicking.
He padded outside and down to the well traveled "drive", sleek coat shining in the sun. Yes, it was Blue. Good. Excellent. Veloren would be pleased and he could easily jog out to meet the child and nudge him along, yes...
As was the lack of a "welcoming party". Under normal circumstances Syrie was so in tune with this land and it's magic that he knew when visitors arrived and would send one of his kids to greet the incoming guest. Not today. Today he was in his library, doing research and looking haggard while his eldest son, Veloren, ordered around a veritable army of servants.
Cleaning and cooking and taking care of everything. This was how he was dealing with his little brother missing. Phaid, the Pard that was Ren's companion most often flicked his ears and turned his head...new scent. The boy, the one that his companion liked. The small fuzzy one, he was here; Phaid glanced at Veloren and then rose to his feet, tail flicking.
He padded outside and down to the well traveled "drive", sleek coat shining in the sun. Yes, it was Blue. Good. Excellent. Veloren would be pleased and he could easily jog out to meet the child and nudge him along, yes...
Prolixity
There was definitely something going on, anyway. There were people hauling stuff around, people talking and shouting, people with checklists; Blue cast confused looks around him. Usually the grounds were quiet. Usually someone would come out to see who was around, too. Maybe everyone was too busy, or there were too many life-signs out here. Some of Blue's apprehension faded under the weight of curiosity. Whatever it was happening, it was a big deal.
Oh, wait, there - there was a pard padding serenely down the drive. "Phaid," Blue called out, and hurried up a little. "What's going on? Where's Ren?"
Oh, wait, there - there was a pard padding serenely down the drive. "Phaid," Blue called out, and hurried up a little. "What's going on? Where's Ren?"
Syrie
Blue's voice filtered through the cacophony of other sounds and Phaid chuckled a little to himself; yes, the hustle and bustle was interesting indeed. The normally lazy Pard waited until he was able to rub his big body against the boy before answering. "Festival. To celebrate." Because after all of the crap that had happened to the Tales, they needed something like this...not that Phaid was going to elaborate on that that.
"He's in Main Hall, ordering vassals. Come, come. He will be pleased you came." With that, the siamese colored Pard used his broad head to bump Blue into motion, towards the Grand Manor.
"He's in Main Hall, ordering vassals. Come, come. He will be pleased you came." With that, the siamese colored Pard used his broad head to bump Blue into motion, towards the Grand Manor.
Prolixity
Blue braced himself so as not to get knocked over by the soft bumping, and ruffled the pard's fur. The pards at the house weren't always careful with their affection, so he'd learned to be ready for it. "Festival?" he echoed, curious and confused. Some kind of New Year thing, maybe, but he couldn't remember if any holidays were around now. Too early for valentines.
"I'm coming," he assured Phaid, and moved up towards the manor, less nervously now that he was assured that his friend was there. He could go talk to Ren first, and maybe it'd be easier.
"I'm coming," he assured Phaid, and moved up towards the manor, less nervously now that he was assured that his friend was there. He could go talk to Ren first, and maybe it'd be easier.
Syrie
"Mm. For the Tome children, yes." Phaid's tail curled and un-curled in an amused manner -- he found the idea of kids born from books to be quite amusing. The rest, well...Blue could find out the rest from Veloren; that was who he needed to talk to, it seemed.
Once they were closer to the Manor, Ren's voice would be heard - he was snapping out orders and directing people to do things; it just happened that he was growling at some contractor that had damaged the stone supports that usually held the wrought-iron gate to the Sanctuary; the Lykin was arguing with him about having it fixed. The guy wanted to talk to the "master of the house" and Ren was telling him that "HE" was the master, at the moment.
"Look lady, 'm gonna talk to the man of the house, not you, or 'm not gonna do it." The contractor was one they'd contacted to help expedite the construction; a stupid jock-type that was about to get his a** reamed by the little Lykin (who wasn't, for once, dressed in drag).
Ren narrowed his eyes, his fur bristling a bit; he hated dealing with idiots - really he did. But he spoke in his best "I'm a sweet thing voice" and got real close to the contractor. "If you want to get paid, I suggest you "deal" with me because I am the man of the ******** house." Obviously, more than words were needed so out shot Ren's hand to snag the other's wrist and he forced the idiot's hand to his crotch. "What part of that makes you think I'm a damned 'lady', Huh?"
Point made. The guy yelped and jerked away as though burned before scurrying out of the Manor with his proverbial tail tucked between his legs.
Once they were closer to the Manor, Ren's voice would be heard - he was snapping out orders and directing people to do things; it just happened that he was growling at some contractor that had damaged the stone supports that usually held the wrought-iron gate to the Sanctuary; the Lykin was arguing with him about having it fixed. The guy wanted to talk to the "master of the house" and Ren was telling him that "HE" was the master, at the moment.
"Look lady, 'm gonna talk to the man of the house, not you, or 'm not gonna do it." The contractor was one they'd contacted to help expedite the construction; a stupid jock-type that was about to get his a** reamed by the little Lykin (who wasn't, for once, dressed in drag).
Ren narrowed his eyes, his fur bristling a bit; he hated dealing with idiots - really he did. But he spoke in his best "I'm a sweet thing voice" and got real close to the contractor. "If you want to get paid, I suggest you "deal" with me because I am the man of the ******** house." Obviously, more than words were needed so out shot Ren's hand to snag the other's wrist and he forced the idiot's hand to his crotch. "What part of that makes you think I'm a damned 'lady', Huh?"
Point made. The guy yelped and jerked away as though burned before scurrying out of the Manor with his proverbial tail tucked between his legs.
Prolixity
"Oh." Blue blinked, and filed that thought away. For the Tales? He'd see some people he knew, he was sure. Maybe meet some new people. Maybe - well, that was the subject he was thinking about and sort of not thinking about at the same time. He should go, really. Hiding in the house forever would get boring.
He paused off to one side as the contractor argued with Ren. That was pretty dumb of the man, he reflected. Even if he did think Ren was a girl, it was dumb to argue with the person who was in charge. At the last exchange, Blue burst out in giggles, unable to help himself. Wouldn't that just teach him!
He paused off to one side as the contractor argued with Ren. That was pretty dumb of the man, he reflected. Even if he did think Ren was a girl, it was dumb to argue with the person who was in charge. At the last exchange, Blue burst out in giggles, unable to help himself. Wouldn't that just teach him!
Syrie
Ren had turned to glower at the man's retreating back and caught sight of Blue and Phaid standing there. "Oh! Blue, sorry - I didn't know you were coming!" The Lykin hurried over so he could hug the child in greeting; he couldn't help but drop a little kiss on his cheek. "Phaid, you could have told me!"
The Pard chuckled and went to lay down in a doorway, making certain someone would trip over his sleek body at some point during the day while his companion and the little blue-ghost child exchanged greetings.
The Pard chuckled and went to lay down in a doorway, making certain someone would trip over his sleek body at some point during the day while his companion and the little blue-ghost child exchanged greetings.
Prolixity
Blue hugged Ren gladly, smiling up at him. "You were busy," he said, in mild, apologetic defense of the pard. "That guy was pretty dumb." He laughed again, picturing the man's face. "Maybe he'll think more next time he argues with someone."
He stuck close to Ren, glancing around at the bustle again. "Phaid said that there was a festival going to happen," he offered curiously. "What's it about?"
He stuck close to Ren, glancing around at the bustle again. "Phaid said that there was a festival going to happen," he offered curiously. "What's it about?"
Syrie
The Lykin squelched the urge to ruffle Blue's hair or cuddle up against him while in public. He shouldn't be so...forward, but he kind of wanted to. Ah well. "Yeah well...I've been dealing with a**-holes like him for a week now." Obnoxious.
"Mmhmm, Dad wanted to have a carnival or something so people would get to relax and have some fun." But Syrie wasn't in any frame of mind to deal with it, not with Khia still missing and all the other kids back.
"Mmhmm, Dad wanted to have a carnival or something so people would get to relax and have some fun." But Syrie wasn't in any frame of mind to deal with it, not with Khia still missing and all the other kids back.
Prolixity
"Well - at least you know who not to hire, if you guys need to have stuff built again," Blue said, thoughtfully. "There must be workers who can listen better than that." There was a touch of scorn in his voice; the guy had been excessively rude, and thus, in Blue's opinion, had gotten exactly what he deserved.
"Why're you having to deal with all of it?" he inquired, glancing up towards the house. "Is - is something wrong?" A little apprehension snuck into his face and voice. He wanted very much to be told otherwise, but surely Uncle Sy wouldn't have left it all to Ren if everything was going normally.
"Why're you having to deal with all of it?" he inquired, glancing up towards the house. "Is - is something wrong?" A little apprehension snuck into his face and voice. He wanted very much to be told otherwise, but surely Uncle Sy wouldn't have left it all to Ren if everything was going normally.
Syrie
"Oh believe me, I've got a whole list of jerks that won't ever see our business again." And that he would have just loved to see run out of business, but hay, that wasn't likely to happen. "I've already fired three of the crews for substandard work or for jerking us around...it's been a huge pain." Ren sighed a little and rubbed at the back of his neck; his hair was pinned back in a little low ponytail to stay out of his way.
The Lykin shook his head a little bit and let his ears droop. "Because Dad's busy...Khia hasn't-- He's not back yet." Syrie was out of his head worried for the shape-shifting Tale, and Ren was worried too...but he was better able to push it from his mind.
The Lykin shook his head a little bit and let his ears droop. "Because Dad's busy...Khia hasn't-- He's not back yet." Syrie was out of his head worried for the shape-shifting Tale, and Ren was worried too...but he was better able to push it from his mind.
Prolixity
"Yuk." Blue made a sympathetic face. Not that he'd ever had to deal with anything like that, but he imagined it was a huge pain in the tail. Pain in the a**, even.
"He's not?" That was almost inaudible. Blue looked down at his feet, all the cold chill of his fears and bloody half-dreamed memories rushing back to coalesce in a freezing lump in his chest. He'd only slept. Had Khia vanished entirely? Blue stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets, trying to quash the urge to cling to Ren's hand for comfort. He could deal with it. He wasn't a baby.
"He's not?" That was almost inaudible. Blue looked down at his feet, all the cold chill of his fears and bloody half-dreamed memories rushing back to coalesce in a freezing lump in his chest. He'd only slept. Had Khia vanished entirely? Blue stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets, trying to quash the urge to cling to Ren's hand for comfort. He could deal with it. He wasn't a baby.
Syrie
Veloren shook his head and brushed the back of one hand impatiently against his eyes; thinking about his little brother off...lost somewhere...was just painful; it didn't matter that they were not related by blood or even magic. They were brothers. "'Fraid not. Khia never came home after all that...Dad did, and I guess most of the others...but he's still missing. Dad's totally obsessed with trying to figure it out."
The Lykin looked around; people were busily working and doing as he'd instructed them, so maybe they could go and just...hide away for a little bit? "You wanna go somewhere else? Sit and talk or something?"
The Lykin looked around; people were busily working and doing as he'd instructed them, so maybe they could go and just...hide away for a little bit? "You wanna go somewhere else? Sit and talk or something?"
Prolixity
"Oh." Blue's wings hunched up against his back, and he studied his toes. He hadn't been particularly sure he wanted to see Khia, but he realized now that he had, too; that he'd wanted to verify with his own eyes that the older Tale was okay, after all that.
"Yeah. Let's go somewhere quiet," he said gratefully. He wanted to ask, and he wanted to tell Ren, like he hadn't really wanted to tell anyone else. And he wasn't certain that he could relate what had happened or hear what had happened without losing his composure, and even if nobody was currently paying attention, this was still too public a place.
"Yeah. Let's go somewhere quiet," he said gratefully. He wanted to ask, and he wanted to tell Ren, like he hadn't really wanted to tell anyone else. And he wasn't certain that he could relate what had happened or hear what had happened without losing his composure, and even if nobody was currently paying attention, this was still too public a place.
Syrie
Blue's reaction was a curious one, but Ren didn't question it - not here. He too preferred to discuss things like this privately; he'd spent a week or more making these people take him seriously to get the work done...and he just knew if they saw him being overly emotional or anything it would ruin that.
"C'mon, let's go to my room..." It was upstairs and located a good deal away from where most of the work was being done; up here in the private quarters there would be no festival access, but it was still being cleaned. Once up in his room, the Siamese colored boy stretched and tossed his planner's clipboard aside.
"C'mon, let's go to my room..." It was upstairs and located a good deal away from where most of the work was being done; up here in the private quarters there would be no festival access, but it was still being cleaned. Once up in his room, the Siamese colored boy stretched and tossed his planner's clipboard aside.
Prolixity
Blue followed quietly, glad to get away from the bustle and sounds of the work being done. He found a place to sit, tucking his legs under him and folding his hands in his lap. "I was worried," he said after a moment. "I kind of hoped I was just being stupid about it." He looked up to Ren, studying the lyin's face,hoping for some kind of clue.
Syrie
Ren sat on a chaise-style lounge in his room and motioned that Blue should come sit by him, not so far away. "We're all pretty worried...I wish we knew what happened. I mean, it's hard not knowing." He sighed a little bit and picked at his jeans. "Being stupid? How so?"
Prolixity
"I guess I was kind of hoping it was really all just a nightmare." Blue plucked loose fur from the end of his tail. "I dreamed - Dad said I was asleep for days ... " He took a careful breath and began to recount what he'd witnessed of the confrontation, his voice soft and a little unsteady. He had to pause and struggle for composure a few times, but he managed to get all of it out. "I wanted to come see if - if ... " His voice trailed off. If what? He didn't really know himself.
Syrie
Half-way through the other's tale, Ren got up and went to sit at Blue's feet. He rested his hands lightly on the boy's knees, touching gently - just letting him know he was there; that this was now and though what he'd seen was scary and horrifying...they weren't there anymore.
It was kind of sickening for Ren to hear that his little brother had...broken like that; to hear that he had gone out of his way to kill and maim. To be hurt. To be changed, small again. "So...he's still there." Good, he knew now; but more than knowing Khia was okay, Ren was concerned with Blue. Khia was his brother, Blue...well, Blue....was something else.
"It's..it sounds so horrible...Blue, I'm so glad you're okay." Ren rose to his knees and slipped his arms around Blue protectively.
It was kind of sickening for Ren to hear that his little brother had...broken like that; to hear that he had gone out of his way to kill and maim. To be hurt. To be changed, small again. "So...he's still there." Good, he knew now; but more than knowing Khia was okay, Ren was concerned with Blue. Khia was his brother, Blue...well, Blue....was something else.
"It's..it sounds so horrible...Blue, I'm so glad you're okay." Ren rose to his knees and slipped his arms around Blue protectively.
Prolixity
"He must be still there." Blue let himself lean against Ren, sighing. He hadn't told anyone. It would only worry his family, and there hadn't really been anyone else he'd wanted to put the weight of that story on. "Thank you," he said shakily. "I guess it sort of helps to know it wasn't all in my head."
"That sounded bad," he added a moment later, ears flipping back.
"That sounded bad," he added a moment later, ears flipping back.
Syrie
The pink-haired Lykin snuggled his nose against Blue's neck and petted his back soothingly; insinuating his slim body between the boy's legs so that he could pet just a little easier. "Hey, I'd want to know if it were just in my head too. It's okay; it is."
What a scary story to hear about two people you cared about though! Veloren was a little bit shaken himself -- Khia had been some huge beast that wanted to kill things...that was scary. And what about how that had seemed to Blue? Ren knew the little Tale had always looked up to Khia... "Blue?" He pulled away a little and flicked his ears a bit. "Are you-- I mean, I know you were close with him.."
What a scary story to hear about two people you cared about though! Veloren was a little bit shaken himself -- Khia had been some huge beast that wanted to kill things...that was scary. And what about how that had seemed to Blue? Ren knew the little Tale had always looked up to Khia... "Blue?" He pulled away a little and flicked his ears a bit. "Are you-- I mean, I know you were close with him.."
Prolixity
Blue relaxed slowly, some of the tension he'd been carrying since he woke from the nightmare finally easing. Ren believed him. Ren worried. That was weirdly comforting.
"I didn't want to think it was Khia," Blue admitted, his tail tucking closer to his legs. "I didn't want to believe it. I - he couldn't - but he - " he bit down on the inside of his lip, looking to Ren. "He's kind of like my brother too," he said, very softly. "I don't want to be afraid of him."
"I didn't want to think it was Khia," Blue admitted, his tail tucking closer to his legs. "I didn't want to believe it. I - he couldn't - but he - " he bit down on the inside of his lip, looking to Ren. "He's kind of like my brother too," he said, very softly. "I don't want to be afraid of him."
Syrie
"Oh Blue, shh.." The poor thing was miserable! No wonder he'd been sleeping the time away -- why on Gaia would anyone wake up when they'd have to face something like that? Ren's hands went to Blue's cheeks, cupping his face in dark-tipped hands. "Khia couldn't have been himself, doing all that. There's no way. Baby, you know he wouldn't." The Lykin didn't even realize he'd called the younger boy by that particular endearment; he was just...reacting.
Prolixity
"It must've done something to him," Blue agreed, clinging to that hope. "I just - it was horrible." He swiped a hand angrily across his eyes. He was not going to cry again. "Sorry," he apologized, voice rough. Talking about it was like cleaning something poisonous out, finally pulling a thorn out of his foot.
Syrie
Ren shook his head a little and took his hands from Blue's face to catch his wrists gently. "Don't be sorry. I'd be crying so hard if it had been me there..." He leaned in and placed a soft little kiss to the pale boy's mouth; chaste and light. "I know everyone says boy's aren't supposed to cry...but there's nothing wrong with doing it." He spoke quietly; there had been a time in his own life when something horrible had happened. He hadn't cried and it had gotten worse...holding back tears didn't help.
"And it's just me here..."
"And it's just me here..."
Prolixity
"I'm not afraid," Blue said plaintively, and slid down to the floor to lean against Ren, the corners of his eyes steadily leaking. "I did cry when I woke up. I'm not. I didn't want people to see." He didn't think Merlyn would tease him, or Reverie, not now, anyway; maybe later, once things had returned to a closer semblance of normal. He trusted Ren not to mention it at all. Perhaps that was strange. He didn't care. He was comforted.
Syrie
Ren's arms went around the smaller boy and he pulled him into his lap; the Lykin was a great deal stronger than he appeared...and Blue was so light. "No need, I'm here." Ren wouldn't mention it, no -- what was happening just then was going to stay right there; he wasn't interested in holding Blue's tears against him later for any sort of reason.
He cared too much for the boy in his arms to do something like that.
No, he would just hold him and pet him and maybe lick at the tears at the corners of Blue's eyes.
He cared too much for the boy in his arms to do something like that.
No, he would just hold him and pet him and maybe lick at the tears at the corners of Blue's eyes.
Prolixity
Blue put his head on Ren's shoulder. It didn't matter if Ren saw him crying. It was fine. The tears came silently for a time, blurring the fleeting ghosts that flickered around them both. He didn't look too hard at those ghosts; whatever they meant, he didn't really want to see.
When the tears eased, Blue felt dry and light and hollow, emptied out of almost everything. He lifted his head and placed a careful light kiss on Ren's cheek, unable to quite put words to the weird and delicate mix of feelings.
When the tears eased, Blue felt dry and light and hollow, emptied out of almost everything. He lifted his head and placed a careful light kiss on Ren's cheek, unable to quite put words to the weird and delicate mix of feelings.
Syrie
The Lykin had the good sense to let his small companion cry without commentary, he just held the boy and petted him; being there but not being overt. This was not the time to do anything but hold and comfort. So that was what he did until the tears ceased sliding down Blue's cheeks, until he dampness of his shirt started to dry without further wetting.
When Blue kissed his cheek, Ren curled his tail around them both and tucked the child's head under his chin; silent for a good long while. The moment called for quiet -- not silence, no, but not clumsy words. Eventually, Ren would speak; it was getting late, the sun had been moving shadows across the floor for quite some time now.
"Blue...? Do you want me to take you home?" He could stay there, if he wanted, but Ren would have to call Prox and ask.
When Blue kissed his cheek, Ren curled his tail around them both and tucked the child's head under his chin; silent for a good long while. The moment called for quiet -- not silence, no, but not clumsy words. Eventually, Ren would speak; it was getting late, the sun had been moving shadows across the floor for quite some time now.
"Blue...? Do you want me to take you home?" He could stay there, if he wanted, but Ren would have to call Prox and ask.
