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 Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:51 am
Pasayo finally turned around after a little while, the nerves and modesty she wore giving out to the childish nature of her mind. Her cheeks were happily flushed from her enjoyment of being with Toulouse and the heat of the bath water, and she nodded her head to each and every bit of his story.
"Do your mother and sisters still act this way at every bath time? If so then your house must be always loud."
Being young Pasayo thought that he was talking of his current life, this form of 'Toulouse', and as unaware that he actually meant the life before he became an Ashe. Would she have known and understood she would have thought of her olden times as well, though the memories seemed hard pressed for her. Would she remember more things other than the pain involved with being forgotten?
"Okay, thank you."
She scooted closer to Toulouse as he prepared the water cuter, her little eyes blinking against the soap that did manage to snake its way down her forehead. The shampoo was formulated not to cause any pain should it actually get into one's eyes, but that did not mean anyone had to like it it.
"Then I can rinse yours for you? It is only polite to return the favor."
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Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:07 pm
“Oh of course not!” Toulouse replied in a mocking tone of shock. “We’re all grown up now silly.” At least I am Toulouse added silently in his head. The only growing that his family was doing was that of decay. He shook the thought away with a smile, pouring the water over Pasayo’s upturned head.
Toulouse thought on the death of his people, not just his family, as a whole. They had never deserved to be killed for being ruled by a King that was somehow unloved and plotted against. At the time, he had thought Marabelle killed everyone just to be sure there would be no uprising. It was a political kill, no hard feelings. She was the new Queen and the old powers had to be stamped out. Toulouse could understand that…but it had dawned on him that Marabelle had killed half the court out of spite, just for the thrill of see living things in pain. Hers was a heart without mercy or remorse not worthy of the Seelie Court…and Ea-
Realizing he was scowling, Toulouse screwed his mouth up so that it was back in a small line of proper interest. He blew the errant thoughts away, fixing his mind back on the enjoyable bath. He would have time and a half to thinking about such heavy things.
“You’re right. I accept your favor graciously.” Toulouse’s blue eyes twinkled as he looked at Pasayo. He leaned his head back in her direction, his hair hanging in wet strands, sticking to his face. “Are you sure you can reach okay?”
Somehow, Pasayo just made him feel better. He didn't feel the raging storm of his emotions rolling in his chest as badly with her close by. She made him feel calm. She was innocent and untainted by the blood of politics and seemed in general to be joyful without cause. The little girl reminded Toulouse strongly of better days when he was happily surround by his family and friends. It was the first thought Toulouse had had of such things that didn't sadden him.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:33 pm
With Toulouse bent slightly over as he was it was much easier for the little girl to pour water on his head, and she did so with much relish. Scoop after scoop of the cup into the water occurred, and if she was not stopped soon she probably would just keep continuing. Pasayo liked to do repetitive things, as she was slowly showing to be a creature of habit, and after about half a dozen times of pouring water onto his head long after the soap was gone the little girl was stopped by the clearing of a throat.
"That should be enough, Pasayo. You do not want to drown our guest, do you?"
Houkan was standing in the doorway, clothing in his arms, and he smiled at the pair in the tub. It seemed like modesty was something rare in this household as he had no problems walking in on a complete stranger.
"Are you both ready to get out, or do you want to stay in a little longer?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:31 pm
Toulouse had been laughing while Pasayo had doused his head with a waterfall’s amount of water. He shook his head, sending droplets of liquid everywhere.
His smile slightly wilted at the sound of Houkan’s voice. Toulouse managed to keep some remnants of the smile, but seeing the other boy so close by made him nervous in a way that he didn’t want to think about. It wasn’t a good kind of nervous either. It was the kind of nervousness that spawned fear while making his heart drop in his stomach. Taking a bath with a child was one thing…but having an adult in the room was just not…not good. It was near frightening actually.
“I think so.” Toulouse replied a little stiffly, plowing through his feelings of terror. It was just Houkan his brain told him. It was safe. “Here.” Without asking, Toulouse picked Pasayo up and deposited he hurriedly over the side of the tub so that Houkan could towel her dry.
Toulouse himself waited in the now lukewarm bath for Houkan and Pasayo to get out of the room or until he could get a towel. He really wanted to be dressed right then or at least sink invisibly into the floor.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:54 pm
Houkan lifted Pasayo's naked frame into his arms, a towel in his grasp so she would not wet his clothing. The pair were smiling brightly, Pasayo's face lit up like a small Christmas tree, and Houkan quickly turned away from the youth in the tub.
"I have set some clothes out on the sink in the outer room, as well as some fresh towels. Please take your time in getting out and getting dressed, as there is no rush for you to leave."
He held the squirming child closer to him as he dried the water stains that ran down her face, and for a moment Houkan seemed to pause before speaking again. He took several steps towards the outer door, opening it slightly.
"Then when you are done, please come and speak with my elder brother before you leave. There is something he wishes to tell you."
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:28 pm
Toulouse sunk lower into the bath, watching Houkan warily as he dried Pasayo and then left. There was no way that he was getting out with Houkan in the room. Ever. He tried to squash his irrational fear about being seen nude but it wasn’t working. At this rate he would break out into a cold sweat and need another bath.
Taking calm breaths, Toulouse thought slow thoughts. All he had to do was quickly grab the clothes from the sink and barricade himself in the bathroom until he was dressed. Yeah, that would work. He could do that…maybe.
Putting his plans into action, he scrambled over the slippery side of the tub in his haste to be dressed. He reached blindly through the outer door to the sink, hands wrapping around the towel and clothes. He didn’t dare look about for Pasayo or Houkan. His focus was on getting in and out. Toulouse successfully grabbed what needed grabbing while still retaining some of the color in his face. He hid back in the bathroom to get dry and dressed.
Heart pounding in an irrational fear that he could explain but didn’t want to think about, Toulouse dried himself quickly, pulling on the soft khaki pants and buttoning up the white collared shirt. The pants fit okay but it seemed that Toulouse was a little broader in the chest than Houkan and he couldn’t seem to get the last four top buttons buttoned.
Giving up after a few minutes of fumbling, Toulouse stepped out of the bathroom to where Houkan and Pasayo were in the outer room. His shirt showed the upper part of his chest but he didn't mind that so much.
“I’m not in trouble am I?” Was his first question. Toulouse’s father had summoned him the same way long ago whenever he was about to be…punished for his transgressions, imagined or otherwise.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:40 pm
"Trouble? Not at all. We just want to give you something before we send you off on your way."
Houkan smiled, a little amused at how his shirt fit on Toulouse's larger frame. He was glad he had not prepared the traditional garments he usually wore as they most certainly would not have fit, but he did think seeing Toulouse in something collared was a nice sight.
"We did say that we would not be keeping you here much longer after your wounds were healed, so since you have had time to get cleaned and are no longer injured you are free to go."
Houkan gently shifted Pasayo in his arms, making it apparent that the young child had fallen asleep not long after she had gotten out of the tub. She was dressed in a night shirt similar to the one that had been soiled earlier, though this one carried no bloomers. A gentle snore was issuing from between her lips, and her eyes moved behind their lids as she dreamed.
"If you will come with me to where my brother is we can return your items and give you a token."
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:49 pm
“Oh, yes. Of course.” Toulouse shifted uncomfortably on his feet as he looked at Pasayo who was out like a light, seeming to be deeply asleep. He slicked his still wet hair behind his ears and out of his face. It looked almost black in the light
“Er…thanks a lot for the clothes. I really appreciate it.” Toulouse followed Houkan, wondering what in the world Piero wanted to give him. Probably a good smack for leading danger right up his front lawn. Toulouse rolled his eyes at the thought of Icarus, still indecisive about the whole kill or be killed thing. It wasn't going to be a fun rest of the night.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2008 10:00 pm
It was most certainly not a smack that Piero wanted to give the younger man as he greeted the pair that entered the study. He was sitting in a chair with a towel about his own shoulders, dark brown dye dripping off and staining the colors. He had just finished the process (with the help of his brother between clothes hopping) before Toulouse had shown back up, and he rose to his feet while still drying his hair absently.
"I suppose I would be pointless to try and convince you to stay here until the danger has passed, since that man is after your life, but I am well aware that it will never be over. This is a kill or be killed situation, is it not?"
Piero was speaking quite frank, his voice deep and low like always, yet it held a tone of both command and sympathy. He was dressed a bit down from what he was wearing outside, his gloves off his hands and his shirt slightly unbuttoned, yet there was still an air about him that would make one pay attention.
"As it stands we will be letting you go with only one request and warning. Do not ever return here to simply hide from that man, stand up and face your challenge head on. You are always welcome here for other reasons, but we will not become a safe haven."
While he was speaking Piero was threading something on a small chain, a round mass of silver that seemed to crackle and sparkle each time his fingers touched it. After as few moments the crackling stopped and the silver turned from bright to muted, indicating whatever Piero was working on had been completed. He held it up so that the two younger men could see it, and Houkan nodded his head once he understood what it was.
"This charm should be able to give you some leverage against that man, that Icarus, so long as you keep it by your side. It will also let us here in the home know how you are fairing if you are close in range, so think of it as a means to have aide come when you need it most."
Before dying his hair back to the color it was now Piero had taken some of the strands and wove them together, creating a small band of protection. As long as Toulouse had this he would be somewhat safe since he would have 'his' protection.
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Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:00 pm
Toulouse listened to Piero speak, head down and shoulders hunched. He had jammed his hands into the pockets of Houkan’s borrowed pants, thinking. Toulouse bit his lower lip as he tried to figure out what to say that wouldn’t sound…nasty.
Piero was making a good point and Toulouse would listen to him, but he hadn’t been running away from Icarus exactly. The teen wasn’t afraid of Icarus in any way. The only thing he was afraid of was killing the other Fae.
“Yes, of course.” Toulouse replied to his feet, still not looking up. He didn’t want to see anyone as he spoke. “It’s not…It’s just-” Toulouse ground his heel into the floor, looking up suddenly to stare at Piero with resolve. He was going to say what he wanted to say.
“Icarus is, was, my friend. I was running from him because I did not no wish to kill him. He may be a remarkable huntsman, but I’m no timid fawn.” Toulouse looked down again, staring at his feet as he clenched his concealed fists. He was feeling dejected and forgotten. It was nothing that Piero had done, but merely all the things that Icarus hadn’t. Had their friendship meant nothing? Was he so forgettable? Aloud, Toulouse said, “I am surprised at him for forgetting so much.”
Toulouse felt the magic in the air like a popping of a bubble. He watched as Piero fiddled with a silver chain saying it was a charm to help against Icarus. It was help that Toulouse probably wouldn’t need, but he did not say this, instead he merely looked at the chain in Piero’s hand.
“Thank you?” It came out as an unintentional question followed by a slight cocking of the head. Even if Toulouse didn’t need the charm for Icarus, it was still a generous gift. Piero didn’t have to help him. The other man was going out of his way to help and Toulouse was not about to reject his kindness.
Toulouse moved towards Piero, even though he was uncertain as to what the full extent of the man's offer was.
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:08 pm
Piero extended the chain outward, ready to drop it into Toulouse's hand should the teen extend it. He was not really sure if this young Ashe would take the charm and fully understand it, but he was mostly doing this for the sake of Pasayo. He did want the small child to mourn if she were never able to see Toulouse again, as even someone like him could tell she had an unnatural need for contact with creatures like Toulouse.
"I wish you well then on your endeavor, and hope that will you remember to keep your promise to that sleeping child. I believe she needs you almost as much as you need her, though you will not admit that as easily as she can and will."
He motioned over to Pasayo as he spoke, the little girl sleeping snugly in Houkan's embrace. Her face was light as she slept, her mouth slightly open as it issued a gentle snore.
"The barrier will let you out as you go, just simply walk through it. You are also able to come back, should you find the need, and no one shall have the ability to follow you inside."
Piero rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, finally sighing now that he felt a burden release off of his shoulders. From here on out this was no longer his problem, he had done his part to prevent anything from staining his hands.
"The door is open for you to leave, please go at your leisure. Houkan will show you out, and as for me I am going to bed. I have classes to teach tomorrow and I want to sleep all of this off."
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:35 pm
Toulouse took the chain that Piero offered to him. He clutched the shinny metal in his hand for a moment before dropping it into the pocket of his pants. Toulouse wasn’t sure that he wanted it around his neck as he was still unsure as to what it was supposed to do.
“Of course.” Toulouse said again. He wasn’t sure what else he could really say as he gazed at Pasayo’s sleeping face. He wasn’t going to admit to Piero, or anyone, that the little girl made his heart elated with happiness. He felt that the emotions he was experiencing were part of something that he thought had died with his family. He prayed that the events of his past-life would not be repeated with the faces of new people.
Toulouse moved for the open door when he saw the fatigue etched in fine lines across Piero’s face. He felt horrible for having dropped such a bloody predicament into Piero’s lap.
“Forgive me for the…inconvenience that I’ve cause you. I am very grateful for what you have done for me. Thank you.” Toulouse bowed deeply to the older man, humbling himself before Piero, thanking him again, silently, for all that he had given him.
Toulouse followed Houkan back to the front door of the house, back to where it all began. Toulouse gazed out into the night, thinking of his paltry existence as he passed through the magical barrier. He gave one last fleeting look towards Pasayo so innocently asleep in Houkan’s arms and turned, walked towards his fallen sword and the inevitable battle that he was to face.
He would not lose so as not to break his promise.
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