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 Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:28 pm
Audric was unimpressed by the joke, and continued to stare at Dark with those big blue eyes. He watched with calculation how easily Dark smiled and laughed, before the embarressment sunk in fully and he quieted, becoming more serious. He touched right upon the point of speculation for the oni and for the first time Audric cast his eyes away from Dark.
"It is unfortunate then that I cannot provide you with the answers you seek then."
Something changed, Audric's eyes became fearful and uneasy, uncertain even. His voice became quiet, matching the soft whirr behind him.
"If I knew what happened, I'd know what I did wrong, and how I could keep from hurting anyone again. If I knew what happened, I wouldn't have to lock myself away to make sure no one suffers from me."
Audric paused, clenching his little blue hands into fists. He shot his gaze back up to Dark, more emotion in those swirling blue orbs than he'd ever shown before.
"...If you see Azerim, tell him i'm sorry..."
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:40 pm
Audric looked very loveable when he was sad. But it was also very sad to see him like this. Dark's eyes became puffy with a mix of the two emotions. He broke out into tears so often, but he was not here to cry. "Really? Azerim didn't say you did anything to him, as in like physically hurt. It was something else that spooked him, from what it sounded like to me. In fact, bringing you into our conversation a little while ago made him happier and less..." Dark was puzzled. He couldn't put Azerims behavior into one word. Buuuuut he did anyway. "... Angry." He finished. Still smiling and comforted by Audrics recation to his lame joke, he pulled up a seat and sat down in front of the fridge. Dark was just campy like that, giving of a lame like appearance to make other just go: "hahaha... okaaaaay?" Annoying and partially self degrading, but Dark liked the person he was, and he liked to give everyone something to laugh at.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:03 pm
Audric watched Dark with curiosity. He'd thought that last bit would cause him to leave, close the door, and let him to his thoughts, but it seemed this human was actually trying to comfort him. Well, his having a bond with the stone oni, he'd know him best of all. Audric was confused by this behaviour.
When Dark sat down, he began to spill his fears.
"I'm worried for him. When I hurt him he first time, I thought he had died. Then he came and found me, but before I could really have a chance to talk to him, he looked very uncomfortable and ran off again. I wish I knew why I hurt him this way, so I could stop. I hate being ice, all I am ever capable of doing is hurting those I care for!"
Audric drew back, stunned. Why the sudden explosion had emerged from him he didn't know, but was suddenly ashamed of his lack of control. It was this same lack that made him not trust himself. Thin arms drew about himself, hugging his form.
"...You believe me, don't you? I'm not bad."
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:24 pm
"Bad?!" Dark leaned back in the seat laughing very strongly. "Of course you're NOT bad!" Smiling even more, Dark leaned forward in the seat. "Look at Azerim! He tore up the side of the table climbing up it, he's the one who broke a hole through the floor, he's the one who used to have the attitude. Above all else he should be the one getting a self put 'time out'. Why do you think your icyness gets in the way? It doesn't hurt people. Not at all!" Dark was still happy inside, but he gave off a serious tone. "You haven't hurt anyone... but yourself, so it seems. You know for a long time, before I met anyone here, my favorite thing to do was walk around in the coldness of night and darkness... You must be very smart. I mean come on, look at me." Dark leaned back in his seat. " I did that for a long time, and I still spell smart S-M-R-T." A stupid joke again. Dark thought it was funny though, remembering it from a famous T.V. show he once saw. Leaning back in, he tapped Audric's head with his finger. "But I'm definitely not saying you're stupid. Would you like to see Azerim again? I can go back home and get him, or if you want to come with me you can."
Azerim couldn't believe what he was hearing. So Audric wanted to see him too! He giggled devilishly under the stone, but one thing stood in his way. If Audric left with Dark, then he'd have to race them home. How could he get Dark to leave so he could see Audric alone? the stone liquid swirled around him as he thought.
!!!
He had an idea. A wonderful, awful idea. Hehe... too much 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' he thought to himself as he lifted a hand, and a stone pillar 'thunk'ed the fridge slightly, just enough for it to shake microscopically.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:39 pm
Audric was awash with relief. In fact, he nearly trembled with it. Indeed, when someone put it that way, Azerim was far more destructive than he, at least to inanimate objects. People though were far more important than tables and floors, so his was far less forgivable. Dark made him happy, but he didn't see the world as Audric saw it. Audric witnissed death on a regular basis.
One particular time Audric had scrambled up to the top of the freezer, where there was a potted plant. He plucked one leaf and slid back down to his home. Without saying anything, he touched the surface of the bright green leaf. Instantly, tendrils of white shot from his finger, enwrapping the leaf with deadly ice. When the ice melted away, the leaf was left dead and grey. What kept human skin from suffering the same fate? It was not impervious.
He let the thought fall. Dark continued to speak, something about SMRT brought a faint smile to his lips. It was better than the cool comment, at least. Dark tapped his head, poking at his horns lightly, but seemed okay.
The blonde perked his head up at mention of Azerim, and the possibility of venturing to Dark's home to get him. Just then, he felt a tremor along the floor, the walls shivered slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"I'd rather stay here, if you don't mind. I- I don't fare so well outside for too long. I appreciate your wanting to go get him, though." Audric said, smiling a little more serenely now.
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Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:47 pm
"Hehe. Yeah, okey. Well i'll be sure to tell him you'd like to see him sometime soon." Nodding with a satisfied look on his face, Dark stood up, streching. "Would you like me to close the door?" He put his hand on the handle.
Azerim was standing behind the refrigerator, his presence unknown to Dark. And it happily looked like Aduric knew he was there. He couldn't wait
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:03 am
Audric tilted his head gracefully.
"You can leave it open, but I would appreciate it if you would close the storeroom door? I'd like a little fresh air for a while." Audric was feeling much much better than earlier that day. Dark might not have gotten the answers he was looking for, but he seemed pleased as well. It was unusual. Before, Audric had given very little regard to Azerim's caretaker. The boy seemed jittery, and overanxious, but he now watched Dark with a form of fondness, and was glad someone who cared so much was there looking out for Azerim's well being.
Audric waited patiently for Dark to leave completely before casting his eyes to the floor.
"...I thought it was you outside."
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:24 am
"Okay then." He turned around and left the store room, closing the door behind him.
Dark walked out into the front of the store and sat down, happy with himself even though he didn't really find any of the answers he was looking for.
He couldn't help it -- "Heeheehee! You know it!" Azerim ran out from under the fridge and looked up. It had been a while since he had had any excersize, he'd sat on top of that book shelf for far too long. "I'll be right up!" He called to his beloved friend. Looking around quickly, he saw a bunch of piled up boxes and some shelves stacked close together. "Hehehehehe..." He snickered malliciously. "Hey Audric! I saw this in a game once. Watch me!" He couldn't help but try and show off a little. Running toward the boxes to theleft side of the firdge, Azerim lept up them with ease. Tackling his next trick, Azerim ran across the wall Prince of Persia style to a pair of tall shelves that sat across the room from the fridge. The two were placed close together, and Azerim began to jump from one wall to the next. Up higher, and higher his movents were poetry in motion as he reached the top. Perched a little higher than the fridge, Azerim sat on top watching out for what to do next. Looking next to himself, sat a stone vase. He smiled, and clapped his hands together.
In a dazzeling light, the vase turned into a spring of some kind, and launched him into the wall where the freezer handle was facing. Hitting the wall with all of his might -- he propelled himself into the freezer handle with one last jump. Swinging now towards the open freezer, Azerim propped himself between the door and the freezer wall. SQUEEEZE -- Azerim had turned himself into a sandwich as the wall and door collided with him in the middle. The force of him pushing away slowly tugged the freezer door back out, as Azerim fell on the icy floor in the freezer. He had reached his destination. more or less... The rock Oni stood up dizzily and made a gesture with his hands, shifting his many bandages as he did. "Taaah~ daaahg..." He fell over, panting from his overworked excersize.
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:03 pm
"Well?" Dian asked when Dark returned from the room, carefully closing the door behind him. He seemed pleased, and Dian hadn't the mind to eavesdrop, it wasn't polite.
Audric stepped forward to the edge of the freezer and looked down at Azerim, not particularly happy the stone oni decided to eavesdrop on their conversation. Still, perhaps he could clear some things up between them. And then, Azerim started bouncing around the room. Audric slapped his forehead as he watched the reckless display of aerobatic capacity. Why did he have to make this so complicated? Azerim could have very easily pushed the boxes up to the fridge and jumped up them to the inside.
The snowy oni just shook his head in exasperation, but when Azerim finally managed to cram himself between the freezer wall and the door, he became worried. If he wasn't already directly hurting the oni, he was hurting himself in an attempt to impress him. As Azerim fell onto the freezer floor, many bandages fell loose, revealing the damage caused by the freezer burn he aquired. Audric stiffened noticibly. The damage was along his upper torso and arms, exactly where they...
Audric stepped back briskly and stepped around Azerim to the freezer door which had closed again in the...process, and pushed it open again. With it closed, the entire freezer was shrouded in darkness, and much much colder than it was now, so it was really for Azerim's sake he opened it. Walking into the living room, Audric found a chair, and tapped it against the floor to dislodge the frost. Sliding it over, Audric pulled his hands into his sleeves and lifted Azerim into the chair, out of where he lay on the white surface. Watching that beloved brown head bob with dizziness, Audric came very close to touching one of the peaks of his horns, but snatched his own hand away as if burned, remembering what happened the last time.
Turning, he walked into the bedroom, and found a spare square of cloth he used for a blanket. Audric had several of these little squares, he used them for padding on the furniture and bed, and as blankets. Made from fleece, they were very soft and rather warm. He didn't usually sleep in his own bed, so it was still impeccably made up, but he grabbed a spare one anyway. Returning, he flapped it out and laid it upon Azerim's lap.
"You didn't have to do that for me, I could have come down for you."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2006 8:19 pm
Azerim shook his head back and fourth. shaking off the dizziness, his lips made a "pfffthp" sound as they flapped back and fourth. Blinking a couple of times, he realized he was in a house of somekind in the freezer. So I made it in! Hehehe.... Azerim giggled lightly. Looking up at Audric he said happily; "Heehee! It's okay, I wanted to do it. You have no idea what sitting down for days on end can do to you -- AND frowing while doing so." He sighed heavily, remembering what had happened with Audric...
When he realized his bandages had fallen off. He gasped in his head as his eyes widened a little bit.
Spying the blanket on his lap, he instantly had it around him. Not even noticing the coldness of the freezer. "And besides I'd do anything for you--" Azerim clasped his mouth, as he accidentally let it slip. Better learn to watch what I say... What was the use of feelings if all anyone ever did was run away from him when he shared them? Azerim remembered Dark's thoughts, and his many run in's with relationship problems.
Looking around, Azerim decided to change the subject. He noticed Audrics clothing, and awed. "Your clothers are so cool!" He lept up, the blanket flying off as he ran over to Audric, holding his arms up and turning him around so he could get a good look at him. "You look very snazzy, are you having company over?" Technically he was the company, but how did Audric know he was coming? Blushing slightly, realizing his last statement was a rather stupid one, he walked in a wide circle around the room uneasily.
"VERY cool house as well." Stretching, he then ran outside quickly and came back with his bandages in hand. He wrapped them around himself chuckling. He knew it would make Audric uneasy to see him hurt from their hug, but it was a very slight pain. Not even so, more of a sting when pressure was applied. "Hehe," Azerim patted his chest. "Don't worry about it. I'm as tough as stone! You can bet your snazzy clothes on that one!" He giggled at the sentence.
Dark stopped, unexpected with Chegrin's question. none of them knew the complete and full story. To be honest though, he didn't either, but he knew a bit more about it than he and Azyre did. "Everything's good." Dark nodded letting out a small laugh. "It seems like a misunderstanding. I think things are going to be fine between Audric and Azerim. Just as soon as I notify Azerim that is... It probably wasn't a good idea to leave him at home alone was it? I better go back and check on him." Dark jogged to the door, cold wind blowing in as he opened it. "Oh, and Chegrin, Audric seems very solitary and saddened inside. Maybe you should spend some time with him. It would do wonders to both of you. I just know it." And with that, he was out the door and down the street, unknowingly that Azerim was inside the shop.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:25 pm
Audric frowned at the bit about him siting around for days with a frown comment. So, he had been correct in his thought that something ill had happened on that day, and that Azerim was faking his good health. But if that were true, why was he still here? Why did Azerim seek him out?
The oni in question snapped the blanket closer about him, very obviously trying to cover up the wounds he had before. If he was trying to fool Audric for some reason, he was failing miserably. The ice demon's cold and calculating mind was already ovverun with assumptions and deductions and conclusions, made evermore furious with the conflictions between Azerim's actions and his words. It made him absolutely livid that he'd have the gall to try and appear unhurt!
...But why?
The truth? Audric cared for him so much, he at least deserved to know the truth, if nothing else. Audric's anger was as much self directed as focused on Azerim. If he hadn't hurt him in the first place, if he didn't feel as attracted to the oni...
Azerim jumped up to him, clucking something about his clothes. Just as suddenly, warm brown hands were on him, his shoulders, pushing ever so gently to get him to spin. Thankful for a barrior of clothes between them, he complacently obeyed, confusion apparent on his face. When Audric was facing Azerim again, frustration, sadness, confusion and hurt were written all over his features, and Azerim was covered in a blush, and he quickly wandered off again.
"What are you talking about?" Audric snapped at last, watching Azerim return, giggling and smiling and wrapping himself up as though nothing had happened.
"I'm wearing the same clothes I always have, as are you. Speaking of which, yours do nothing to cover the obvious, nor does your smile cover the pain you carry inside any more than my ice does mine!"
Audric clenched his hands, and airily batted away Azerim's hands. He was making a mess of his own bandaging, goofy fool. Quickly and with suprisingly deft fingers, Audric wrapped the wound he himself had caused, perhaps as a gesture to reverse the damage. When he had finished, and Azerim stood, staring at him, he began with the most pressing thought, the question that had bothered him for so long.
"Why did you run from me?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 10:52 pm
Azerim stopped, noticing that Audric was a bit edgy. He raised a brow with a scribbled look on his mouth. "Thank you for helping me..." THe baffled Earth demon looked downward at himself. "Is it really that bad? If I wore stuff, that would slow down my overall movement, and if I molted myself into the ground, they'd get ruined." Looknig down at his droopy belt and suspenders again, Audric had quite a point. Blushing again he remarked, "Heehee... so maybe you're right." Sitting back on the chair without the blanket, Azerim thought about what else Audric had said. "My smile doesn't hide anything... Can't I be happy to see you? My wounds... I guess I should say that it hurt when it happened, but it doesn't hurt now. I had a funny feeling you wouldn't like to see what happened to me, so I tried to cover it up. Sorry for not telling you the truth..." Bobbing his head down the Earth Oni rubbed his foot into the cold ice. He looked up again suddenly. "Your ice element is harming you...? Why? It's not bad... You know while I was in a solitary state, I stayed out in the cold for a bit, and have been trying to work up a resistance to it. So I can be around you more..." He chuckled a bit. "It hasn't really worked, but that doesn't matter. Just thought I'd try it. As for my wounds again, it only hurts for a split second. Other than that it just stings if a lot of pressure is applied. But that was long ago -- and I'm fine now, despite how I look. You can still give me hugs... but if you don't want to... that's okay too..." His voice trailed off. Azerim began to think of Audric's last question. He fumbled for his belt and tried to hide his reddened face. "I... I ran from you -- well, ah heh.. because... ummm..." He bit his lower lip and shut his eyes tightly. That sickly sweet feeling was back inside him, and he didn't want to blurt out what he wanted to say. While he wrestled for silence, his mouth began to slowly suck up his lower lip; as his face turned more and more crimson.
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:15 pm
"I had meant your wounds, Azerim, not your nudity." Audric followed Azerim to where he sat, and stared at him, really stared at him, trying to read his face, his thoughts, his intentions and his wants all at the same time. Audric wanted, he needed to understand.
"Your smile shines even when you have been hurt, so others will not notice the pain. Something else bothers you, really bothers you, and you won't tell me what it is."
The clearest blue eyes sought out the liquid slate ones that Azerim had but came up with nothing. He couldn't pry the information out against his will, Azerim's mind was sealed, even to Dark. If he was going to find out anything, Azerim had to talk to him. He backed up slightly to allow him more room.
"My ice does nothing but cause pain, suffering and death. No one ever christens a blizzard, no one calls a cold and snowy or dismal icy day a pleasant one. Who needs to build a resistance to water, or to rock? It hurts me to hurt you, especially because I don't want to."
Audric's irritation had melted away, and the lonely oni had returned. The fact Azerim couldn't bring himself to answer his question made it worse. What was there to be embarressed about around Audric? Had he judged? Had he teased? No. He stated fact, lived by it, and saw no facet of life an embarresment or a shame. He disliked his element sure, but saw no reason to hide it, or pretend it wasn't there. Azerim just kept turning more and more red, sputtering off, perhaps coming up with an excuse.
"I just want to know why. I care for you."
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:31 pm
"Okay fine..." Azerim closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. Here goes nothing... "I ran from you because I felt something inside me that I didn't know. I didn't understand it... I got scared. That's why. I kinda talked to Dark about it... and even he's not sure what it is. But I did find out one thing..." He took another deep breath. "That I care about you too. A bit more than everyone else." He looked up at Audric; no longer able to look away from him. Audric meant so much to him, and he deserved to know what had happened. Scratching the back of his head, he stood up. "My smile doesn't hide anything."
He walked over to Audric and held both his hands. he put them on his chest, and Azerim walked into Audric, giving him a strong, but loving hug. "That's why. I'm not very good at explaining things... so I'm sorry if it doesn't make sense."
"And I'll get some pants too." He giggled childishly.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 12:04 am
Audric looked a little suprised. A bit of a 'that was it?' type thing. Such a fuss over nothing! He was expecting an outpouring of pain and torment, or nightmares and burns, and a tragic recovery, not a feeling that could not be understood, but wasn't really feared. While not dissappointed, he wasn't exactly relieved, either. Audric had felt this for a while, and Azerim acted as though it was something to be hidden, why?
Startled, Audric took a step back when Azerim approached him with intent, grasping both of his blue hands and placing them upon the bandaged form of Azerim's chest. Instantly Audric felt warm all over, but not in a painful way. He could feel the solid thud of Azerim's heart underneath the muscle of his chest, and he could almost hear the whooshing of his pulse. Audric's normally slow rythmic heartbeat jumped up in pace, shooting cool blood throughout him, causing the red that was rising to his cheeks back away again, and he shivered. Azerim was much bigger than he, more connected with his power, so much stronger, and yet when he was enveloped in those arms, he'd never felt safer. Audric leant in closer, seeking to touch more of Azerim, to bring his frosty lips to the rock solid frame...
"N-no!" He cried out suddenly, realizing with mortification the pain he must be inflicting on Azerim. Audric was tormented with the thought as to why Azerim would intentionally put himself in harm! Mouth agape, Audric watched in horror as the tendrils of white spread from where they made contact, curling around Azerim slowly.
"Don't do this! Azerim why?" He cried, struggling to disengage from his rocky friend. In exasperation, he willed the ice to evaporate, to melt, to ANYTHING but stay with them both.
"Azerim let me go, I don't want to hurt you, please let me go."
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