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 Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 9:16 am
Blood had stood from the sidelines, staying out of everyone's way. She kept her eye's on Shayna and had the same feeling that Sari had. She looked to Sari and back to the girls. Sometimes Shayna's ability to talk to anyone could be quite the pain.
Feeling the need to be a little more involved with the fact that Shayna was around a stranger that she had a bad feeling about, she moved over to stand by Sari.
Shayna looked to Blood with a smile. "Look! Another angel. Like me and Taka!" Shayna took another lick of her melting ice cream and turned her attention to the boy. "Your name is Alexei right?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 11:16 am
The little boy watched as the ice cream melted, quite fascinated. His grip loosened a bit as he leaned forward to stare longingly at it, although he himself didn't eat much of anything. Even so, it would be nice to hold something as strange as the food she held. He tugged on Azruael's pant leg to gain his attention, which had been diverted upon the 'tall' people. It was when golden eyes finally met blue that he pointed a shy finger in Shayna and Taka's direction, round face curious.
"What? The girls?" Azruael queried, one hand resting atop the small boy's head. Alexei shook his head quickly and ducked his face away from the others again. "Oh...what's in their hands?" The child nodded. "That's ice cream, kid."
Ice cream! Looking back over, Alexei bit his inner cheek and smiled, albeit a small one.
"Hm?" the demon turned his attention back to Owle, head cocking to the side. She was very much embarrassed about something, and he was absently reminded of a bumbling school girl. He couldn't suppress the sneer that took to his lips, though he tried to hide it; it wouldn't do for him to act up before the child who was still so green. He watched her with the curiosity not unlike a cat, eyes unblinking.
"Do you --" he paused and blinked. Weather? He looked up at the sky and held his hand out as if to feel for rain; the action made him look very naive. "...Yes? It is." The sudden feeling of a distrust not his own plagued him, and from the corner of his eye he was aware of the looks he was getting. A wave of anger built in his system before it washed away, one hand pushing back his bangs. It never HAD been easy for him.
Shayna's words broke both angel and demon from their reveries, heads turning in unison to look at her. Angel like them? Is that why the child felt such a tug of familiarity with the girls? But...they looked so different! So colorful next to his stark white hair and blue eyes, he thought, becoming concious of his appearance. When he was addressed he nodded mutely, smile flashing over his lips. He had yet to say a word.
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:03 pm
Sarielle met Blood's gaze. Yes, she'd felt the same. Sari felt a little better when Blood came over to stand by her; it was moral support, like they stood together for the protection of the children. Sarielle visibly winced as the word "angel" left Shayna's lips, however.
Azruael's golden eyes showed contempt and a quickening curiosity, she thought. His guarded face showed little else, but she suspected he'd read her and Blood's feelings.
Little Alexei seemed fascinated by the ice cream their girls were busily sending down the hatch. Well, at least Shayna was; Taka preferred to wear it, if her face and clothes were any indication. Why she insisted on wearing white when she was the grubbiest child on the planet, Sarielle would never know.
"That's ice cream, kid," Azruael was explaining. He did have patience with the boy, more than she would have expected. Taka's mind had been a sponge at that age, though; and who know what else he was feeding into Alexie's head?
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:23 pm
Subo was lost in her own thoughts during this exchange. So lost, in fact, that she didnt notice the two people racing down the street with their arms full of thin boxes with a rather nice smell wafting out of them. One of them extended an arm and hooked it around her waist as they ran by, effectivly dragging her with them.
"Uh...I haffta go now! See ya later! Nice meeting yooou!" She managed to call out as she was dragged around the corner.
((xD;; uhm....yeah.))
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:20 pm
Shayna smiled and quickly downed the rest of her ice cream. She smiled, wiped off her hands, and walked over to Alexei and the man he was hiding behind.
Blood winced and went to dart for Shayna, but stopped herself mid step. She held a fist up to her mouth and started to chew on her thumb nail. She was ready to jump in if anything was to happen.
Shayna smiled and held her hand out to the boy. "Do you wanna come play with me and Taka?" She smiled, her red hair flowing about. It had started to get a bit longer as Blood hadn't bothered cutting it short.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 2:25 am
The tense atmosphere was building, becoming almost palpable for the demon. He had always been able to keep his temper, but this brought forth a wave of remembrance; of course it had taken him some time to realize that he would always be scrutinized, as a child, a teenager, and now as an adult. Halflings were rarely ever accepted amongst purebloods, and demons were never allowed into the company of the pure. He was a sinner, after all, literally sold his soul and everything...even so...
The child had accepted him, wasn't that proof enough at his attempts of redemption?
A scowl built upon his face, slender brows furrowing as he averted his eyes from the two women that seemingly stood guard over their 'brood'. Oh, would it do to frighten them? It seemed any little thing would cause them to go a-flutter after their children. His tail coiled as he bowed his head, hiding the glitter of his golden eyes behind his long bangs, and he watched Shayna approach with the look of a panther.
Alexei was oblivious to the demon's ill content, for he himself was becoming a bit more comfortable with the company. But he still tensed as the girl approached him, again lowering his eyes to stare meekly at her from beneath his lashes. Play...with her? Would he be allowed? One hand left the grip he had on Azruael, and his other loosened. Tilting his head up, he looked at her fully, captivated by her bright red hair.
It looked like Azruael's! Kind of. This made the child smile a bit more, before tugging on the demon's pant leg again.
In a swift and sudden movement, the lithe demon dropped to a crouch, making sure his black wings snapped out on either side of his body. The action itself gave him the look of a giant bird of prey, falling from whatever perch it had once been upon to quickly scoop up its meal. His ebon' pinions fluttered as his wings curved inward and around his body a bit; he placed his hands upon Alexei's shoulders and gave a languid smile.
"I am sure he would love to," Azruael nearly purred, feigning sugary tones that were really laced with bits of anger. The small Herald looked back at the demon, blue eyes questioning. Was he alright? Maybe...maybe he shouldn't go.
The look the boy gave him made him feel guilty for his actions and he sighed, rocking on his heels before thrusting himself backwards onto his rear. His wings folded, and he sighed, running a hand through his bangs again.
"Just...go on, kid. Don't worry about me. I'll live...bad weeds never die." A crooked and weary grin came to his face.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:02 am
"Do I what?" Owle asked instinctively. He didn't like her already...she could tell, he hated her. Why did everyone she was remotely interested in look at her like she was beneath them somehow?
For a long time, Owle had been oblivious to the building tension, too flustered to look beyond her own nose. But as she waved goodbye to Subo, it began to build to the point where it couldn't be ignored.
The look on Azruael's face reminded her of Flare, the way the half demoness looked just when she was about to torch somebody. Owle sighed, and sort of smiled. A part of her wanted to laugh.
She reached out a comforting hand to put on his shoulder...a restraining hand, as well. It wouldn't do any good to display demonic powers before people who already didn't trust him...
Before she touched him, though, he dropped into a crouch, his wings snapping out. Owle clamped a hand over her mouth, suppressing an actual laugh. He was...oh, gods! He was preening! He was showing off his wingspan to impress them, to scare them away! It was so silly in Owle's eyes...sure, it'd probably work, but it wouldn't make them dislike him any less.
Once he was done with the theatrics, Owle did put that hand on his shoulder.
"Hey." The voice sounded, not in his ears, but in his mind. It was clearly Owle's voice, but the woman wasn't moving her mouth. No one else, not even Alexei, could hear a word of what she was saying. "It's okay. Just ignore them...some people get stupid when they see things they don't understand, or think are wrong."
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:46 pm
Shayna, bless her heart, was still making friends with Alexei; and Taka, being Taka, was right there following Shayna's lead. A little of the shyness seemed to be dropping away from Alexei, as he clung less and less to his guardian.
If Azruael could be called that, Sarielle added cynically in her mind.
Then without warning the demon (could he be anything less?) slid into an aggressive crouch, glistening black wings extended. With a strangled cry that somehow failed to be actual words, Sari roughly grabbed Taka by the shoulder, dragging her light body backward as the little girl yelped and thew up her arms devensively. Sarielle leaped to plant herself between Azruael and the children. Never mind that she was only human; never mind that she had no way of stopping him. Instinct was uppermost, and her desire, her almost need to stand up to him, was overwhelming.
But, in silky tones, Azruael was giving Alexei permission to play with the girls; and Sarielle knew then that he had only been toying with them. With me, she thought, taking it personally.
Anger replaced fear, and Sari's colour rose as her eyes flashed gunmetal grey. "I don't think Taka will be playing with Alexei today," she said distinctly, obviously fuming. Taka didn't object; she stood quiet but looked more than a bit shaken.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 5:18 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 6:14 pm
"The child didn't do anything," Owle said aloud, staring straight at Sarielle. It seemed odd to her that the woman had been so startled by Azruael's actions...true, it was sudden, but it wasn't scary....
Owle, Owle, Owle, the shifter chided herself. Not everyone is friends with people like Scythe and Flare. Not everyone is used to people who joke by missing you with a deadly fireball by mere millimeters...
She mentally winced as Morgan's face sprang again, unbidden, to her mind, reminding her of another point.
And not everyone is so accepting.
Owle's gaze was pulled to the little girl with the glowing wings as she stepped up to Azruael. What did she think she was doing? Judging him? It looked like she was just waiting...waiting for him to make a move, waiting for him to prove to her what kind of person he was. Like she couldn't believe he was as bad as Sarielle and the other child's guardian made him out to be, and needed to see for herself.
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Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 8:27 pm
"It's not the child who disturbs me," Sarielle said to Owle through her teeth, while watching Shayna with extreme unease. Blood seemed willing to let her do her own thing, so with clenched fists and much difficulty, Sarielle held her peace on that.
Taka seemed inclined to re-approach Azruael as well, her limpid blue eyes full of curiosity. His sudden movement had startled her, true; but that nagging unease had come from the explosive reaction that Sarielle had had.
"Taka." There was no spoken command following that single word, but Sarielle's rapier-sharp tone spoke volumes.
Taka wrinkled her forehead into what would have been a frown except for the quizzical expression. What on earth had gotten into her normally soft-spoken caretaker? She'd never seen Sarielle's face look so...closed, was how she aptly described it in her young mind.
"'M going to play with my twin," she muttered, backing away cagily toward Shayna.
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 1:22 am
Alexei uttered a soft whimper at everyone's reaction to his guardian, who now sat with his elbows resting languidly upon his knees. Though his face was guarded, the child saw through it all, and his pallid brows dipped with sorrow. He always wondered why the demon had always offered heavy smiles his way, never exactly...complete. Was it because people ousted him? Because of the heavy atmosphere?
Azruael didn't know what to feel, be it anger or sadness. Why should he feel sad? It wasn't as if he really knew these people! But maybe that was the case. A violent shudder - like one a cat experiances when frightened - ran down his spine as Owle placed her hand upon his shoulder, and he bit down the urge to dart away. When scorned, Azruael tended to become mindful of other's actions; his touch could very well be a sin to all around him for all he knew. Oh, he was just being dramatic.
He turned his golden eyes up to meet Owle's, lips parting slightly as she spoke within his mind. It wasn't that he was surprised by the power, for he had mind-spoken himself with others, but...her words. Her words calmed the sweltering anger rising in him. He had heard them once before...one other...
He couldn't voice his thanks...because Sarielle spoke before that. He had indeed frightened her, and that gave him a guilty satisfaction. He even smiled - albeit a very angry, you-deserved-that smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"That's too bad," he replied in the same velveteen voice he had used earlier, which was both quiet and mocking. His head tilted back and he regarded the woman with a cool expression, sneering up at her. However, his gaze was stolen away by the brave little girl who dared approach him of all people. Her intense gaze melted away his angry smile, and without hesitation he reached out and placed a hand upon the girl's head, his own golden eyes shutting.
"How fitting is it for an angel to pass judgement...rather than a mortal," he murmured, patting the child fondly upon the head. His eyes flickered open and moved from each person in turn, lips formed in a grim line. His fingers toyed with Shayna's hair before drawing back with a sigh. "I disturb, I corrupt, I cause and am a sin. The basis of a demon, I was once told. Every living being has a heart, yes? Even demons. It just depends on how we use it, if used at all..."
His last words were but a murmur, speaking not to them, but to himself. He made to get up, only the hand of his charge stopped him.
The child was not looking at him, but at Sarielle and Blood, gnawing on his lower lip as his tiny hand wrapped around Azruael's.
"I...thank you, Owle," Azruael murmured gratefully. He really was in debted to her... "If...don't hesitate to--" How had words of thanks ever been so hard to form? Was it because he actually meant them this time? He sighed and shook his head, wings rustling as though preparing to take off.
"...P-Papa'n?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 6:35 am
Elf had pulled out her book long ago and was reading through it silently. She followed the conversations slightly, pausing to look up at everyone else. She had watched the Heralds intensively, finally figuring out what they were.
It wasn't until Azruael's speech that she looked up, her hand in her book to mark her place. By this time, her almost-always present smile was replaced by a slight frown. She didn't know how to respond; she hadn't passed judgement -or so she thought-. Elf looked at all the people in the group, analysing each person slightly, trying to figure out why each had reacted the way they had.
When Azruael looked as if he was about to leave, Elf looked at him questionably, "So soon? But you just arrived!" She, obviously, had not realized how much time had passed. Because of her reading, she didn't understand the concept of time at the moment.
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:52 am
Owle was fumbling through her thoughts, trying to find something to say back to Sarielle, when her view became occupied by golden eyes. Too soon, though, they turned away from her, toward Sarielle.
"That's too bad."
There didn't seem to be anything else to say. Sarielle's face looked all together too much like Morgan's, lost in the depths of his hatred for all "muties," as he called them. Nothing she had said to Morgan had ever helped, and everything she had done had only made things worse. No, there was nothing more to say.
Instead, Owle kept her eyes on the red-haired angel's caretaker, waiting for her reaction to Azruael touching her child. And though Owle strained her ears to catch the words falling from the demon's lips, all she could find were a few scattered phrases that made no sense. Baked potato demon, heartless, if yous....nah, she had to be mishearing him.
"It's...there's no need to thank me," Owle told him, smiling. "I'll stop by sometime, with a playmate for Alexei, if he'd like that."
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 10:11 am
Blood did not move as the man touched Shayna's head. But instead she smiled. Inspired by what the angel could do, but no one else could. And at such a young age. Blood walked to Shayna, placing a hand on her shoulder and looking at the man. "I... am sorry. I should not have judged you by what you are." Blood bowed her head to the man and backed away to stand by Sari once again.
Shayna did not speak, but smile had made its way across her face. She had been brave, unlike the others and had stood up against what others feared.
Shayna's face lit up as Alexei had spoken. His voice was shy and quiet, but everyone seemed to be listening. She was curious to what the little boy would say. But then again, Shayna was curious about everything.
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