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 Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 11:56 am
Maximos' posture noticeable loosened, and steadily a smile slipped back on to his face. He acquiesced with a nod that the concept of a sword testing its owner was indeed in interesting. He also quickly recited a few recipes and ingredients in the back of his mind for various items that assisted with things like frostbite, burn recovery, lacerations, bad moods, disappointment, aggression...just in case. It would be ideal if they were never needed, but he'd rather rest assured they were there. Eating generally commenced, and while it was quiet for a moment that again was a sign of a meal being enjoyed. And enjoy it he did. It was nice to not feel awkward eating as much as he did, Ryugi's legendary appetite made Maximos feel quite at home devouring as much as he did. And then there was talk of secrecy. Well, not open secrecy so much as reluctant information that had yet to be shared with the public. Immediately, Maximos felt honored, and a bit of that warm tingly tightness one gets in their chest when they are gifted with a title like closest friend. And then at his core so much as Shadows and secrets were linked he was all ears, swallowing a piece of steak and quickly wiping his lip before setting eyes back on Ryugi. Family, yes. Shadowlander's did not natively put so much stock in individual families as everyone was a brother or sister under the Shadowfather, but his time on Gaia had taught him a new meaning for family. And it was one he treasured. He felt, honestly and deeply what Ryugi meant. Combining that feeling with the Ryugi's mention of duty and every one of Maximos' knightly instincts were set at attention. His posture actually changed, his back straightening a bit, his elbows slipped off the table. And the spot of meat stuck between his teeth felt like an offense greater than any other and had to be washed out. He took a glass and began sipping it towards that effect. Ryugi had such an intense mixture of emotions about him. It was completely unlike anything he'd ever seen in the dragon before, and he had almost no idea what to expect or how to proceed. And then it happened. Leaving Maximos with absolutely nothing to do but stare, his eyes progressively widening in blank shock as the pieces fit together.  And that duty is one of Godparent to the children so should the parents choose to have one for their children.
Godparent?
And the reason I ask, Maximos, is because Vargus and I...
oh. Oh. OH. No thats impossible they cant--
We're going to have a baby.
I'm... I'm going to be a father, Max.
...
... ...
... ... ... Maximos honestly hoped that in the seconds that followed that particular glorious revelation, Ryugi, Walter, or anyone who heard this story in the future would be kind enough to note that Maximos did make every effort to turn his head so that Ryugi's white attire was not stained with the dark purplish red of whatever he just happened to be drinking. However the final destination of his drink would likely be overshadowed by the way he suddenly exclaimed. " PARDON?!" A skellion wore the dripping liquid and stared down at himself, and at the table and all around utterly confused. Maximos stared blinking in surprise for a few moments. This was a shock on multiple tiers. Ryugi? A father? Maybe he had let himself be fooled by the dragons youthful appearance, man so young starting a family? Or maybe it was because the idea of someone so pure as Ryugi doing anything other than holding a woman's hand utterly shocked him. Still. No excuse for an outburst. " I'm sorry." Max adjusted his jacket, exerted his self control, dabbed his mouth and said, " What I mean to say is..." Ryugi was having a baby. A little hatchling all his own! Wait, did they hatch? It did matter, he was going to be father! " PARDO--erm, CONGRATULATIONS!" Maximos' face absolutely beamed, ear to ear showing every tooth and leaving the Shadow looking absolutely overjoyed. Had Walter not been present, he might even have dove across the table and given the dragon a hug. " Thats absolutely amazing news! You'll be a great father!" A parent. Wait. That earlier statement. He added it all together as best he could and came to a grim realization. It was a happy moment, best to throw in whatever negative may up rise before it gained too much momentum and the moment was ruined. Maximos had figured it out, or at least figured out what Ryugi was asking as best he could be an Arian and a servant of the Shadow father now asked to, he imagined, to be a God parent. There was only one Shadowfather. " Ryugi..." He said in a softer voice. " I'm honored, but I cant possibly do that." " I'll help you in any way I can, you know that...but I dont have the qualifications." He shook his head slowly, looked down at his plate and then back at the dragon with a faded smile. " I know you think I'm strong, powerful even, but...I'm not a god."
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Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:30 pm
Now was the time for Ryugi to grin. Good ol' Max, bless his heart, seemed to have gotten the wrong idea of what exactly his duties might be. To be honest, Ryugi couldn't recall a moment of Max ever looking so very flabbergasted and...awkward. Max was always a man of poise and dignity. Even while fighting he held an aura of knightly grace, but to see him so utterly taken aback by something, Ryugi couldn't help but laugh. And laugh he did.
But Ryugi quickly quieted himself. He didn't want to be rude. Besides, he had to set the record straight! He took another sip of his drink, having calmed considerably, and spoke again.
I assure you Max that you're more than qualified. Being of the divine has absolutely nothing to do with this honor. Perhaps I should explain...
Ryugi sat up in his chair and got a little more relaxed before talking again.
I suppose the closest translation to what I mean with "Godparent" would be more like "Honorary Uncle." In many ways, Max, you've been almost like an older brother to me, despite our differences in age. And your wisdom and support are something I would want my daughter to have access to as she grows up.
Ryugi paused for a moment to have a little more of his drink and sample a few more of the dishes on his plate. After finishing another sandwich and refilling his glass, he turned to continue.
So, do you think you'd be willing to be that for my daughter, Max, once she's born into this world?
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:41 am
Ryugi would see the dawning of a realization over his face. And yet, it did not come with a smile. Maximos' face grew more serious. His expression did not worsen, instead it vanished entirely. His brow even, his lips flat, his eyes sharp on Ryugi but not in the slightest betraying whatever was being thought behind them. Maximos abruptly stood up, his action not rushed and yet so unexpected the Skellion beside him did not have the time to pull the chair away as Maximos rose. He placed both finger tips on the table and his mismatched eyes met Ryugi squarely and evenly. There was a pause as Maximos took in a deep breath and then his voice came out without mirth, but serious like a man at a war council.
"Ryugi...", Maximos said softly, yet not weakly. There were other considerations to make her, some most definite then others. Most prominent was what Maximos said next. "...when your daughter is a little over one and a half years old, I will be dead."
Maximos was of course speaking in Dragon years, a hundred human years for every one dragon year. That would make Ryugi's daughter just about old enough to be speaking her first words and eating solid food when Maximos was being buried. Even if she aged faster, he doubted he'd even see her formative years or see her reach a double digit age. There wasnt alot of influence the Shadow could have on her life, as she grows up at all. Maximos was not upset over his own mortality, if anything his tone showed how serious he took Ryugi's request and how much Ryugi's opinion truly meant. But there was more to consider.
Maximos was a hand to the eternal force know as Death. He was Paladin to an ancient god born of despair and father of darkness itself. The responsibilities and dangers involved with such a thing simply could not be expressed aptly in a single sitting. Against that responsibility, how could another title bound to something as small and universally insignificant as a single being matter?
How many lives are born and extinguished everyday? An innumerable tide of names, faces, and memories that washed up on the shore of the land of the dead, permanently lost and restricted to the past tense. When one has their hands forever stained in that insurmountable ocean of blood, what does one more life no matter who's truly mean?
In the stream of duties placed on Maximos, it seemed impossible that a little life, any life, had a place. In a very matter of fact manner Maximos said, "I severely doubt that I can be of any use to her growing up."
Hopeless. Impossible. Maximos right hand rose up in front of his face, fingers loose as if he might adjust his glasses. Then it balled into a quick fist, and pound against his heart with a thud. There was a sudden power in Maximos' voice as he spoke. A diligence and will one might expect of a knight commander giving orders before marching off to war. "You have my word, that for as long as I may, I will fulfill this role Ryugi."
Because really, when were hopelessness, impossibility, or even death matters of concern to a hero? Ryugi said all the right words. Honorary. Brother. Even Godparent while misunderstood still stirred a connection to his duty to the Shadowfather. What Maximos had given Ryugi was a salute shared only amongst black knights in the service to Shadowland and Shadowfather. It was renowned across all of Aria's history as having been a symbol of unbreakable word. Bloodied knights have returned from the battlefield with their bodies torn beyond any mortal limits simply because they offered this salute and an oath, to see a loved one, to give last words or a last treasure to a family member, or even to succeed against all odds. It was the word of a paladin, a knight, and a man.
"So." Maximos' arm slowly lowered and with it the smile crept back across his face. With an unceremonious flop, he fell back into his chair and let a Skellion slide him in. In a much cheerier tone he added, "When can we expect her?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:06 pm
Ryugi sat and watched the entire display. His red orbs watched as Max stood, turned solemn and strong, and spoke his words of caution and of the differences in his and Ryugi's different senses of time passing. Ryugi understood all this, but even as Max continued to speak, a small smile grew almost imperceptibly at the corner of Ryugi's mouth. As Max continued to speak, saluted in the most knightly and heroic fashion Ryugi had ever seen from the man, and gave his sworn oath before sitting, Ryugi's grin had transformed into a full-blown grin. He simply could not be happier.
Vargus says that she could expect her any week now. So, when the day comes, I'll be sure to make use of this.
Ryugi reached into his coat and pulled a small dark gem of a necklace into view. It was the shadow necklace that Maximos had given to Ryugi what seemed like years ago, marking their friendship, and also acting as a portal for direct communication with the Shadow Warrior. Ryugi hadn't forgotten the necklace, and it remained a staple of his outfit since he'd first received the gift. He slipped the necklace back into his coat and took another sip of Walter's many provided drinks, having sampled virtually every food item on the table.
As for the aging difference between us, Max, I was fairly certain that you would bring that up. However, I can put some of those fears, or realities maybe, to rest...
Ryugi's face took on a matter-of-fact expression as he shifted in his seat. Maximos would likely be thrilled. He would be getting a small crash course in the aging processes of Angaran Dragons. As a man equally fascinated by the world around him, especially when it came to Ryugi's elementally-inclined species, Maximos would be sure to find what followed interesting, or so Ryugi hoped anyway.
Long long ago, my kind did not bother to tend to our young when they were hatched. Once the eggs hatched in the nest, the parents left the hatchlings to their own devices. This ensured that only the strongest survived to propagate our species in the next generation. As a result of this seemingly barbaric behavior, hatchlings changed over time to become more sturdy and evolved defenses to protect themselves and find and hunt prey alone.
It was a bit strange to see Ryugi speak like this. It was very uncharacteristic of him to speak so much like a dragon, and so little like a human being. It was yet another reminder that Ryugi, despite his honor and pride and strength, as well as his human appearance, was in fact a dragon himself. Ryugi sipped his drink once more before continuing, finding this green one to be fizzy and tingly with little pops of sour and sweet. An interesting combination indeed...
What this means is that Angaran children, while born in our human states, may appear as babies for an extremely short period of time. We also don't suckle our children as humans do seeing as we aren't mammals. In effect, my daughter will appear to be a human child of about three or four within a matter of weeks of her birth, and she will continue to age outwardly at an accelerated rate until she appears to be roughly sixteen human years old, and that is within the span of about two human years. She'll also be speaking her first few words within a few days.
At that point, her outward aging will quickly slow to the normal rate of about one year every hundred years. In effect, by the time she is one draconic year old, she will appear as though she is a human girl of twelve to sixteen, give or take. It varies from dragon to dragon. I was a "late-bloomer" to use a human expression. By the time I was one draconic year old, I still looked like I was twelve, and stayed that way for quite some time until my aging caught up with me.
Ryugi chuckled and continued to sip his drink. Draconic biology was a very strange thing when coupled with a human outward appearance. If they were in a draconic state, the hatchlings would hatch and be about the size of a human, with teeth, claws, and basic elemental powers more or less ready to be used to hunt for prey or defend themselves. In a human state, all the normal human development would be rushed to keep up with the rapid development of the true draconic form at an early age. The offset caused the radical change in outward appearance that usually wouldn't be seen if the hatchling remained in its draconic state. It was all complicated, but it was the simplest way to describe it.
That being said, Max, you'll have plenty of time to impact my daughter's life. Oddly enough, those first developmental human years are when much of the life lessons are imprinted. And I'd like for you to be able to be there to impart some of your own wisdom to her, as you have for me. That you've accepted that has made me very, very happy, Max. I can't thank you enough.
Ryugi smiled at his friend and sipped down his drink once more. Being a father would be a new adventure for him, but he knew that he and Vargus were up to it. And now that Maximos would be involved, as well as Ryudo, Ryugi knew that he'd try his best to be the best dragon dad he could be.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2010 10:25 pm
Vargus says that she could expect her any week now. So, when the day comes, I'll be sure to make use of this.
Maximos face split in a wide nostalgic grin. It seemed like a lifetime ago, but he remembered the necklace. So many times Maximos expected the gifts and trinkets he gave to be forgotten as people forget their own shadows. It was quite the treat to see Ryugi kept his, and by the brightness of its energy seen through his right eye it was well worn and well kept. And then Ryugi continued...
As for the aging difference between us, Max, I was fairly certain that you would bring that up. However, I can put some of those fears, or realities maybe, to rest...
Ryugi's face took on a matter-of-fact expression as he shifted in his seat. It was story time. And of course Maximos was indeed excited, as excited as Maximos would be to learn about any culture or society. The older the better, customs which stood the test of time held his interest even more. Every animal had instinct, every creature could create shelter for itself or develop a pattern of interaction with its surroundings. But society was something different, it was an element of interaction that existed solely within the human condition.
In Angara dragons, while not human, took the form of humans and lived as humans lived. Their lifespan's alone made their society and its rules and customs one of the oldest to date. Needless to say, the Shadow's attempt was rapt. He leaned forward interlocking his finger and setting his chin on his thumbs.
What came next was both surprising, and not. If one looked at Angara as a civilization of humans, then what Ryugi had spoken was odd. But if one looked at Angara as a specials of large reptiles there was nothing odd about it at all. Crocodiles, turtles, snakes and many other reptiles leave their young after birth. Survival of the fittest truly was natures law. Maximos mused that perhaps the idea of family network came into play when the Angaran's had their first meaningful interactions with the humans they mimicked.
It really was strange to see Ryugi speaking so draconic, and yet at the same time it was interesting and enjoyable to see that rare side of him. Maximos' smile grew as Ryugi continued, when the situation was presented against an animal point of view it made perfect sense that a hatchling should mature so quickly and seemed foolish that anyone should expect anything else. So he would be able to see her to somewhere between twelve and sixteen. But not her next draconic birthday. The idea that he might be able to provide memories in those precious few year that would last for thousands was absolutely daunting. And yet, the edge was taken off by the idea of Ryugi walking around for a few hundred years looking like a teenager. Perhaps that explained his youthful personality even now. Maximos had his suspicions, but simply smirked.
When it was all said and done Ryugi thanked him, and Maximos while appreciative immediately found the gesture odd. Thank him? No. This was what a friend did, it was the most a friend could off and any friend would have offered it willingly. Max included! So when he laughed softly and said, "No no Ryugi, no thanks are necessary. Its a pleasure and an honor to be there for you in any way I can. I only wish I kept notes at a time like this, so little is know about your people beyond what tomes and scrolls I purchased while visiting. Also..."
He reached out and grabbed a medium sized bowl of steaming brownish red liquid, mixed with dozens of diced vegetables and slid it in front of Ryugi. "Try this Dragonbreath Chili. I need an experts opinion on the validity of its claim."
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 1:06 pm
I'm always happy to provide a little insight, even with things like this.
Ryugi pointed to the chili as he finished and slid the bowl in front of himself. He sniffed the concoction warily. Dreagonbreath Chili, huh? That meant it would have to be spicy. His sniffing told him the tale of a few ingredients, and delivered a basic idea of the overall taste. It sure did smell good, and Ryugi was instantly curious about good it tasted. He took up a spoon and, seeing it didn't burn away when he placed it into the bowl, took a healthy spoonful onto it before putting it into his mouth.
Ryugi's mouth was on fire! Well, not literally, but it sure felt like it could have been. His face turned a nice beet red, his cheeks puffed out, and his eyes watered. He quickly chewed and swallowed the entire bite and opened his mouth. If Max was watching carefully, he might see a small puff of steamy smoke escape from Ryugi's mouth. Just because he was in a human form didn't mean he wasn't capable of throwing a flame breath or two, it just didn't look right...
After the bite, Ryugi scrambled for a nice glass of milk, which was widely known to help eliminate the effects of spicy foods, like the hottest chili this side of Angara's Suhal Region... After gulping milk, and wiping his mouth, Ryugi let out a long low whistle and fanned his face, still grinning.
I've gotta hand it to you, Max. That is some spicy chili, possibly the hottest and spiciest I've ever had, and that includes a recipe that Vargus makes that she got from a distant Flame Dragon relative. If you can top that, you've got something there.
Ryugi fanned himself a bit more, before going right back for another mouth-burning bite. He couldn't help himself. Spicy or not, it was 100% delicious. And he wasn't going to let such a yummy thing go to waste if he had anything to say about it.
After a few more bites, with gracious chasers of milk to retard the lingering burn, Ryugi spoke up again.
Well Max, thank you for letting me use your training facility, and for the delicious lunch. I'll have to drop by your shop in Latent once I get things running now that we're neighbors. But I really should get going. I want to make sure that everyone is all set and ready for the big day when my baby girl comes into the world. Lot's of planning you know.
Ryugi smiled and stood, extending his hand to Max.
Thank you, my friend. Hopefully the next time we see one another won't be so distant.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:07 pm
Maximos tried his best to stifle his laughter as Ryugi's entire face turned red, but...he simply could not. It poured from him in a jovial wave. Max had expected the Chili would have some bite, but part of him honestly thought Ryugi's mouth might have been fireproof. Or heat proof. Or just resistant, the site of it was just hilarious!
And then...was that smoke? He actually did breath fire?! That made it even better! Milk in the largest cup available on the table was already waiting beside the dragon who seemed to have been thoroughly.
I've gotta hand it to you, Max. That is some spicy chili, possibly the hottest and spiciest I've ever had, and that includes a recipe that Vargus makes that she got from a distant Flame Dragon relative. If you can top that, you've got something there.
Maximos chuckled softly and then gestured to Walter and said. "There you have it! From the mouth of an expert! I would definitely say you've created a success. I'm surprised the bowl withstood that."
"They were reinforced Sir." Walter politely replied, bowing his head. Maximos laughed a bit more and then turned back to Ryugi who was enjoying even more of it! A surprise! And yet a pleasure to see at the same time.
"The original recipe actually said that the concoction had been known to make some humans belch gouts of flame, but Walter thought of a few ways he might improve it. I do believe you've proven him a smashing success my friend!" And if Ryugi was going to eat some more than Maximos certainly was too. Though he knew the Chili would be far too potent. Perhaps something else for the plethora before him. After a bit, utensils were being set down and plates were emptied.
Well Max, thank you for letting me use your training facility, and for the delicious lunch. I'll have to drop by your shop in Latent once I get things running now that we're neighbors. But I really should get going. I want to make sure that everyone is all set and ready for the big day when my baby girl comes into the world. Lot's of planning you know.
Ryugi smiled and stood, extending his hand to Max. Maximos smiled equally and extended his hand to Ryugi's and shaking it. "Anytime Ryugi, you know your always welcome."
Thank you, my friend. Hopefully the next time we see one another won't be so distant. Maximos laughed again softly. "Likewise Ryugi, likewise. Once again, honestly congratulations. Your going to make an amazing father. Here, let me walk you to the door."
A few moments later Maximos found himself in one of his many workstations across the house, flipping books from the shelves reading and researching as best he could. A baby. A child. This was not a side of life he had alot of practice in, he had to bring something suitable to the experience. But what...?
His eyes lit up as he slapped a page in an old tome, kicking up a tuft of dust. That was it! And with that he raced off to gather some ingredients.
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Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:13 am
Maximos This woman was incorrigible.
Unbelievable.
Where was the rage? The fear? The doubt? The quivering lips and blood and tear stained face?
She was absolutely impossible.
Incorrigible.
Unbelievable.
Impossible...
She was all these things and more, including:
Stubborn
and
Difficult.
Maximos Was it trust that protected her? Was it love? Whatever it was that kept her together in the face of something so terrible, Maximos was thankful for it.
It was a sort of trust, and it was love too. It was trust IN their love. That the bond they shared, no matter how damaged was not irreparable. That they were stronger than the destruction caused by a misunderstanding.
And it was her tenacity and iron-will that gave her the strength to defend that love and lend her trust, to what she knew in her heart to be the unshakable truth.
She watched with some satisfaction as her headbutt rocked him and his noggin bounced off the floor. He went still a moment and then as his body began to shake with laughter, her lips curved into a grin. But the laughter stopped as she threatened him and flopped exhausted on top of his burned body, her face buried in the ruin of flesh and fabric.
"Mmmf."
She didn't lift her head or speak an answer so much as she grunted her confirmation.Maximos ...
...
...
A moment passed and neither of them moved. And then all at once Maximos sprung into action with every bit of the fluid grace and strength that a man of his level of injury and exhaustion should not have been able to muster. His arm, moment ago laced around her as he rest on his shoulder snapped into motion. A ragged and burned hand tightly snatching her nearest arm and pinning it behind and beneath her. Maximos rolled and spun, grabbing her other arm viciously and pulling it across her chest, pinning it down by her hip. The Shadow's reacted without warning or mercy. For Teira it was the unsettling moment when you know something terrible is going to happen, but have no power to stop it or no understanding of exactly what will happen. Hands, lengths and tendrils flung up around either side of her in an instant aiming to hold her limbs in place, tiny hands working terribly in tandem. Maximos had flipped the script, the Shadow straddled her instead! His hips just over her belly to render her legs mostly inert. There was fire in his gaze as he looked down at her, white rose in a wispy plume from his right eye and what little shadowed light there was remaining in the room danced across his stained white teeth menacingly. " I'd like to see you try!" Maximos said in a voice every bit as dark and slippery as the arms binding her.
D; Maximos His hands quickly jerked free of hers leaving the darkness to carry out his bidding, his fingers curled inwards like the deadly claws of some beast and then... ...He began to tickle her. It had occurred to him that while in her Teira Mark I body her senses were dulled as his were. She had never actually be tickled. With the Teira Mark II, she was able to breath and feel and touch and experience so much more. The full onslaught that was a tickle fight was now upon her, save absolutely nothing. It was every big brothers Noct-given right to abusively tickle his youngers. Maximos The abuse had begun. And the abuse would continue on, even despite burns, cuts, injuries or whatever accidental splashes of red or black made the jovial moment seem absolutely macabre. Maximos absolutely no intentions of stopping, unless he was defeated and it went without saying that as Maximos had already employed the shadows he planned to cheat and thoroughly. That was until... Maximos " Ahem." Someone standing by the gymnasium door cleared their throat. Someone wearing a black vest and pants as well as a white dress shirt, and with gray hair tied back in a small pony tail behind his head. A man sporting a monocle, and white gloves. A man who looked down at the Master and Lady on the floor like the children they were. A man who had no actual reason to clear his throat. A man named Walter Worthington the 3rd.
Gods be thanked! She was saved!
Maximos Maximos' head snapped to Walter and he Maximos froze in mid motion like a kid caught with his hands in the cookie jar. Walter's face was its usual unreadable and collected mask. " Pardon my...intrusion Sir, Madam. A fresh compliment of pastries and tea has been served in the dining room. " " Yes, well." Maximos said, and it was clear if he could have blushed in the moment he would have. Instead he attempted to right his hair and pat his chest searching for his glasses in an attempt to make himself look as formal as possible before saying. " Thank you Walter." Maximos And the butler departed, leaving Maximos to look down at Teira with a wide grin speaking nothing of the assault of moments. " Shall we?"
"Yes, lets."
Her voice was hoarse as she wheezed her response, her voice still quivering with aftershocks of giggles. At this point, the shadowling was going to need to hook up an IV of Life Leaf tea, directly to a vein.
But first, there was still one small problem...
"...Nii-chan?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:28 pm
Ahh, it truly was the simple pleasures in life that made it all worth it.
The laughs of a loved one, something so simple as smile. Something so deep as the coppery and vivid scent of blood, refreshing like a morning coffee. The walls were painted with viscera and gore, baked and burned into the hard wood. Ah yes, burning wood, cooked meat. Maximos became acutely aware of the hollowness in his stomach where...whatever meal befit whatever time of day it was outside simply was not.
"Yes, lets." He heard her words, and he heard the way in which they were spoken and yet to Maximos, a man entirely accustomed to such a violent life her voice might as well have had a musical trill for the way it made him smile.
He was standing now, he was ready to make his way to the door. His clothes, as they had been built and enchanted to do were pulling from the shadows, spinning the darkness into thread and weaving it line by gentle line. Shadow born cloth was so much softer against sensitive skin, and yet it lacked a certain...earthly quality that made it little more than a stand-in until Maximos could change to something tailored and silk. But that was all an afterthought, background noise in a busy mind.
Every little motion, every little twitch of his form sent a wash of pain through him. Burns were special that way, they made the skin absolutely alive, and the Shadow was pleasantly acquiescing to the sensation. He couldnt pretend this was the worse condition he had left a fight in. His footsteps seemed steady and as if they should belong to a man unharmed. At least...to an untrained eye. At the end of each step his body wobbled just a hair, his breathing hiked, and there was a semblance of the start of a limp. He also couldnt pretend he was invincible.
One step. Two steps. A bit of a drunken sway before the third step as Teira's voice gave him pause.
"...Nii-chan?" Maximos did not really think, he spun around on his heels...a movement he would immediately regret...and said, "Yes my dear?"
And immediately threw his arms up over his face defensively, sprinkling a shower of black dashes and charred cloth with the motion as he exclaimed, "Not the face!"
Because being hit in the face was clearly the worse thing that could happen to him right now.
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Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:28 am
Such a lofty sight, a island floating in the sky. Suspended by nothing but hopes and dreams, carried by the winds and clouds, magic incarnate. The lazy windmill spun dreamily in the warm sun as it floated over the Great Plains, miles upon miles of nothing but grass and farmlands, sectioned only by the occasional road or farmhouse and barn... ...And it was on one of these roads that a large, blond man on a motorcycle traveled, seeming like a mote of dirt following a channel of macadam from the lofty heights of the Island. John was riding his recently acquired Thunderbird Triumph, the massive man straddling the roaring beast of a cruiser like he belonged upon it. Like he'd been born on it. Hell, he never knew why he hadn't gotten one before. Perhaps because this was something of a mid-life crisis for John? The man had been through a lot of hell lately, and admittedly, he was to blame for a lot of it. It was nice to have something that took away all his worries, if only for a fleeting moment. When he rode upon the motorcycle, the wind slashing through his hair, the vibrating engine screaming beneath him reminding him of his own battle-roar... Maybe that was the reason. Aside from fighting, riding the Thunderbird was one of the few things that actually got his blood pumping again. He could leap large distances and probably match the bike for speed - eventually - but it was nothing compared to the feeling of it rolling over the wide hills, watching the ground roll smoothly past under him at breakneck speeds, and just feel... alive. The sun felt warm on his skin. He had forgone the biker jacket, and was only wearing a thin cotton shirt on his chest, the fabric ruffling violently in the wind as the Thunderbird roared down the road. He wore his signature sunglasses and had left the bandanna in the saddlebag strapped to the back of the Triumph - he could withstand the bugs smashing into his face for a few miles (but sometimes swallowing them did tend to get a bit tediuos). He had just crested a hill - he loved the moment just before you reached the peak, the anticipation before the landscape was revealed to him - and had pulled over to check his maps, the bike rumbling with excited apprehension as he unfolded the map from his pocket over the instruments before him - when the Island passed over him. He looked up, awestruck, as the Island just floated merrily by, the windmill spinning lazily in it's wake, swallowing a small cloud and spinning it through its blades, leaving the cloud shaken up but no worse for wear. "Heh..." John chuckled as the sun peeked out from behidn the Island once more. "Ha ha!"He stuffed his map into his pocket excitedly. He had another destination now. And this one was mobile and several thousand feet in the air. He twisted the throttle on the bike, listening to it roar like a lion, before he took off, the wheel spinning only slightly behind him as he did. Okay... John thought to himself, the roar of the engine and the wind in his hair afterthoughts as he quickly ended up back within the Island's dark shadow. Obviously can't ride up there...I could jump, but from this distance, I dont know if I could survive..."Ah s**t!" He exclaimed as the wind changed, sending the massive island over to the east, where it began to coast over the Plains proper. John had two desicions - continued the chase on foot (tedious, boring), or put the Thunderbird through its paced off-road (stupid, awesome). He looked at the fence cordoning off the plains, then at the ground racing past his feet. "This is gonna hurt...." He breathed as he shuffled himself deeper into his seat, pulling the bike close to the fence as he pulled his legs out and letting his feet dangle from the edges of the bike - before leaning in close to the handle, revving the engine high, and slammed both his feet into the road. The result was a bunny-hop that almost sent him careening out of control, tipping the bike wildly into the air - straight into the soft grass of the field, the Triumph's rear wheel shooting mud and grass out behind him as he punched the throttle, the bike leaping heroically up from the divot in the ground and rumbled over the grass. Nice one John....now what? He wondered, shaking pieces of road and dirt from his boots, trying not to wince as he felt the pain shoot from his ankles - before stroke-of-luck number three came to him. The plains on this side led towards the mountains, what with their height and what-not. From the lofty vantage point from the Island there would be a neat brown line being cut through the grassy plains as the Triumph blazed a path through the tall grass fields, John having to skid and slide to keep traction with the ground. Soon, however, the grass devolved to hard slate rock as they both approached the mountain. It'll move soon....it wont run into the mountain, it must have defences for it...His grin broadened as he watched the Island take a slow, lumbering turn north, beginning to follow the mountain range as opposed to going over or into it. He revved the engine again and picked up the pace, riding faster over the bumpy but hard rock, before he finally got ahead of the floating clump of dirt. He led the Island a little, following it through a little alcove and to a tiny valley nestled within the ranges. It was here that he stopped the bike, pulling it to the side and skidding to a stop, the engine tic-tic-tic-ing as he shut off the engine, the mufflers almost red-hot. He didn't stop - as soon as he was off the bike he was running, racing up the side of the mountain gradually, his powerful legs like pistons launching him forth with each step. Dust billowed out behind him as his feet bit into the rock, his arms pumping wildly by his sides, his breath deep and steady as he looked up at the looming Island - Before he leapt. It was a powerful leap. The ground literally shattered beneath his legs, his body shooting forth as he outstretched both arms, looking to grab onto a piece of dirt or something, something with purchase so he could climb up and - Then he hit the defences, the Lunoc seal forming in front of him as he slammed into it with full force, the impact blowing the air out of his lungs and giving him one hell of a shock - before he tumbled back to earth. John bellowed, his body spinning haphazardly as he fell in freefall. "Forgot about the ******** b*****d bloody - "
BOOM.
...When the dust cleared John pulled himself out of the five meter crater that he'd created with a grunt, groaning as he placed his hand on his back. Picking himself up from the ground, he twisted his torso around violently, an ear-splitting crack rinigng out from the small of his back. He slammed his fist into the spot, looking up at the Island with a sigh...
...Before shrugging and, cupping his hands over his mouth, shouted out. Nothing too loud...but then, he figured he probably didn't even need to do that. "Oi Max!!"
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:57 am
Shadow Island was a daunting place for many.
It was a massive chunk of land defying gravity entirely and home to thousands of rumors. Some spoke of a monster that wandered its halls. Others a mad man. Others a wizard, or a hermit. Very few knew who actually lived on that floating ground, and even those that knew his name found his name to be equally shrouded with mystery, rumor, and of course the fear that came with all things unknown. Some believed that Maximos performed the most villainous of deeds up there. That his time on Shadow Island was spent performing deeds that denizens of the ground would shutter to look upon. That maybe the island was teeming with monsters and creatures led by a insane shadowy beast or even...
...a beautiful garden, the center of which held a man dressed in a black slacks, a pinstriped indigo dress shirt, and with tousled navy blue hair, enjoying a nice peaceful nap.
Well, maybe not the later, but it was most certainly true. It took a few sleepy moments for the Shadow to roll over, shuffle his feet underneath him and wander towards the sound of his name. But he did. After a minute or two, John would see Maximos peek over the edge of the island looking somewhat confused until his mismatched eyes settled on the giant crater and the man at the center of it.
"Johnathan? What are you...?" Maximos said, a bit of warm surprise in his voice along side a bit of apprehension. There last visit had ended...less than ideally. "Wait right there."
Max said, vanishing from view. A minute or so later he returned carrying what looked like a simple picnic basket, and stepped right over the edge of the island and began to fall. Black spewed from the soles of his boots like paint, in wet streaks and lines spilling up and around him, slowing him. Maximos barely seemed to be falling at all when he landed softly a few feet ahead of Tomorrow. A pale hand rose to scratch the back of his head in an embarrassed gesture, as he offered the larger man the picnic basket.
"I'm really, really sorry about that John. I was almost completely sure I wrote you in! Its just, been so long I must..." Maximos let the sentence trail off and gestured to the basket. "Theres a thermos of tea. Iced tea. And of course, theres ice, clean ice to keep it cold. I can have Walter take a look at you if you've taken any substantial injuries. Oh, noct-be-damned, what a horrible greeting."
Max shook his head, his finger sliding automatically up the bridge of his nose to adjust a pair of glasses he had sleepily forgotten to put on. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit Tomm?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:15 am
"Hey Max...no no, i'm okay..." John gasped, coughing a minute before spitting out a few rocks that had fallen into his mouth on impact, the little stones landing heavily at the Shadow's feet and rolling away. He had a few nicks and cuts, his shirt a little bloody and a little dirty - but Maximos would know that this was nothing that the giant couldn't handle.
"Iced-Tea? Cheers." He said, opening the basket and spinnging the lid off the thermos before placing it to his lips, drinking greedily, the liquid spilling past his lips a little in his haste to consume it.
Odins friggin beard, now what?! John's mind screamed at him as he fought desperately to keep himself steady. The...fear was upon him again now Maximos was standing before him, but it was sunny and warm, and he'd given him a treat...he thought he'd gotten past it, but perhaps he needed to work around it.
"Daaaah, thanks." John exclaimed, wiping his lips with his right hand as his prosthetic one plonked the thermos back into the basket. He then placed his hands on his hips, looking down at the smaller man impassively.
No, not impassively...were there tears in the big man's eyes.
Suddenly his left hand snaked out to bat the basket from Maximos' grip, his right hand grasping the Shadow's shoulder tightly - before lifting him into a tight embrace, crushing him against the big lug's chest.
No matter the visions, no matter what he thought of his actions, words or appearances....John could not bring himself to truely hate the man. Perhaps their ying/yang personalities were attuned like that...or perhaps his time in the woods had given him a bit of Stockholm syndrome...
Either way, he was giving Max a damn hug, whether he liked it or not.
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:20 am
There really is no preparation for that kind of thing.
At one moment, Maximos was obeying the courtesies of greeting and the like, offering refreshment. Watching Tomorrow down said refreshment. Appreciating the company of a good friend. The very next, the basket was being smacked out of his hand and before he could fully register that he was almost certain he saw something wet in Tomorrow's eyes, the other man had him and had pulled him close for a big bear hug.
Some old instinct in the back of his mind shouted that he should have mounted some sort of defense or counter maneuver. But for reasons unknown to him, Maximos did not. He did however sit in Tomorrow's grip for a second or two as stiff as a corpse, unsure of what to make of the situation. And then, slowly but surely he warmed up to the greeting. His hands rose as much as they could, when held so close and so tight to pat just above John's hips. It was as much of a return gesture as he could physically muster. There was alot of emotion here, Max could feel it. But even now, emotion wasnt his strong suit. He didnt understand it. What made this? This feeling, this relationship, this brotherhood, this friendship? But then, at the moment none of that mattered.
"Hehahah, you win! Its good to see you too Tomm!" Max called out, with a smile on his face, and the start of a laugh on his voice. "I might just have to leave you written out of the defenses, if the fall leaves you this happy!"
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:22 am
Maximos would feel the small laugh rumble deep in John's chest, the vibration almost like a lion's purr, before he was placed back onto his feet, John allowing him to step back. He left his right hand on Maximos' shoulder, however, the fingers curled tightly around the shirt as if to make sure he wasn't going anywhere.
John heaved a large sigh, his stark azure eyes glistening wetly. Some tears rolled down his cheeks to be swallowed by his beard, but his left hand raised up to brush them away, using the edge of the metallic fingers to scrape the tear from his skin. "Just...knowing I can do this....makes me feel very happy." He said with a firm nod, setting his jaw as he finally released Maxi's shoulder, raising the arm to scratch the back of his neck.
He'd gone on the ride to be alone, to feel the wind in his hair, to find a place that made sense again....and, as usual, he didn't know what to say to his brother now. He idolised the man for a time....then he feared him....and now it was a weird mix of the two, a myasma of love and hate that almost bordered on the pathological.
He found that thinking of him as a man helped things. He vaugely remembered him the first time they'd met - simply a shell containing the black substance that was him....things went fuzzy after that...John couldn't recall. But now he looked like a man. A sickly pale man, with one black eye...
John felt his eyes focusing on it, and he had to tear his eyes away. The fear welled up quickly, but with practised bravado he quashed it as he looked down at his boots. "I...ah...its good to see a...friendly face. I've had a bit of trouble....adjusting to society." He looked over Max's shoulder down to the valley below, and his awaiting Thunderbird. "...I was out for a ride on my bike, and i saw the Island floating by, and i thought to myself...'lets pay Max a visit.'"
He shrugged lamely. Nostaliga had made him react. Perhaps he was bored? Or maybe he just didn't want to go back to that place just yet...perhaps the wounds were still too fresh.
"...Figured we'd catch up...we could talk about....about the Tavern, and what Rae told me...." He heaved another sigh, lifting his right hand to tap his left arm, the metal clinging softly under his touch.
"...Figured we'd talk about this."
His voice was full of sadness - but it had a forced tone, like he was a child confronting the boogeyman.
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:52 am
And rumble John did. It was almost unsettling to imagine how much power was packed into that mortal frame. Maximos almost found himself retroactively daunted by the very idea of the task he had undertaken time and time again with this man, and would doubtful have to undertake again. A fight. Another fight.
And yet, when he was set down, when John's hand engulfed nearly his entire shoulder. When he noticed the wetness in the other man's eye...Max didnt want to fight. He wasnt afraid, he made no motions to distance himself or even lean away in discomfort. He just wanted to smile with his friend.
And he did.
"Just...knowing I can do this....makes me feel very happy." John said with a firm nod, to which Maximos smiled back not brightly, so much as honestly. Genuinely. And in the same sort of way he softly replied. "I'm glad."
Whatever had brought Tomorrow here didnt really matter, what mattered was that he was infact here. That, as promised when he left the Tavern however long ago, John knew where to find a friend should he need one. And at the moment, thats precisely what Maximos was. There was no defense in his posture, no attack waiting in the background, no secret magics being activated. Maximos was no sizing up Johnathan, he was not strategizing.
Oh, there was no mistaking that at his core Maximos was a killer. A monster. A shadow. And all that darkness everyone talked about when he wasnt around. But that wasnt all he was. He was a gentleman, he was a friend. And he was somewhat groggy, having just been woken up from a nap.
John was looking so intently into his eyes, and those were exactly the eyes meeting him. The smiling eyes of a man, who was somewhat groggy from a nap. They were the eyes of a friend.
"I...ah...its good to see a...friendly face. I've had a bit of trouble....adjusting to society." Max nodded in understanding. Society was nothing if not hard to adjust to. It almost made one wonder why everyone tried so hard to adjust at all.
"...I was out for a ride on my bike, and i saw the Island floating by, and i thought to myself...'lets pay Max a visit.'" Maximos smile broke as he chuckled softly, but not mockingly. John was shrugging. Playing it down perhaps? Either way, Max reached out and patted the other man's arm and added. "I'm glad you did."
"...Figured we'd catch up..." That seemed like a good idea. Just glancing over the last few months, there was alot to catch up on. Maximos responded almost automatically, without much thought to the details of such a talk. "I'd like that."
"We could talk about....about the Tavern" Something deep in Max's sunk. The tavern had gone rather...poorly. And if anything, Max didnt want to start and argument right now. Especially about...
"...and what Rae told me...." ...that, or any other plethora of opposing opinions. The Shadow wasnt so sure he kept the encroaching dread off of his face. He may have been too freshly awoken to manage a proper mask. His mismatched black and white eyes followed John's hand and he nearly felt the metallic cling as a palpable weight.
"...Figured we'd talk about this."
There was a pause. A silence.
There was no fear in Maximos' heart about the conversation itself, persay. These were not demons or memories which he regretted, especially not after speaking to Raven following the tavern incident. What Maximos was concerned with was breaking...this. The image before him. This man, afraid. This man, his friend. How quickly words could bring this simple moment to blows, or worse.
The wind howled by, accentuated by the weight of the silence. The smile fell from his face, Maximos' eyes slipped from Tomorrow's down to the ground and then shut, his head bounced in a silent nod and he softly said, "Yes...yes I suppose we should."
At which point his head slowly rose, his eyes rolled open, and his lips curved in a small smirk and he said, "You had better come inside then. I've written you back into the defenses, can you make it up that high on your, or do you need some help?"
If anything, Maximos was certainly awake now. His tone was light, and jovial, but something told him that the moments to follow wouldnt be as kind.
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