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 Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:45 pm
Stats
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 3
Constitution: 6
Intelligence: 4
Wisdom: 3
Charisma: 9
Magic
Teleport: Allows the user to teleport himself and others to a nearby area.
Darkness: Casts a cloud of darkness over the area, obscuring sight.
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:49 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:58 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:59 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:23 pm
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:25 pm
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:50 pm
Itae prowled around the room he'd been given to sleep in. A spare, clean room, with a low, comfortable bed, a chest of drawers, and a desk and chair; blue walls, wooden floor, thick rugs that were pleasant to bare feet. It was very obviously a guest room.
The house had been bigger than he'd expected; not a sprawling manor house or castle, but a sizeable and well built home, with well-kept gardens surrounding it. It had the scent of magic all around it; magic of a type he'd never encountered before. Shining wards surrounded it, barely visible and itching at the corners of his eyes. The wards held the feel of his bonded's personality, and a signature he couldn't read. Made by more than one person. The foreign magic made him feel soft and drowsy and very, very nervous. What was he walking into?
Inside, the house was spacious and clean, if not entirely tidy. There had been a young man standing at the table inside, a male of a species Itae had never seen before, winged, four-armed, four-eyed. Prolixity had casually introduced the man as his son, causing Itae to mentally revise his estimate of the other feline's age upwards drastically. He must be of a species that aged slowly or did not show age.
There were others in the house, as well; Itae learned that Prox had a husband and seven children(!), as well as a veritable menagerie of strange and varied pets, some sentient, some animal. That, then, was the reason for the large house. Itae wasn't quite sure what to think. Was his bonded some kind of philanthropist? Soft-hearted? Did he have some motive Itae couldn't guess at?
The bonding seemed to have been an accident, but the tabby had accepted it equably and taken Itae in without argument. It grated on Itae's nerves that he was essentially in the position of a liege servant, and he had no particular choice in the matter. Where was Mithirri now? Did his brother chafe at the feeling of obligation, too?
At least the closed door kept the odd animals out of the room, and kept him from having to deal with bizarre strangers and drooling babies. Itae threw himself petulantly down on the bed. The headache he had claimed to escape was becoming a reality.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:56 pm
Trio Maxwell-Chang Aishiki gripped the basket tightly, eyeing the house she approached with trepidation. An odd-looking little robot sat on her shoulder, owl-jewel eyes glinting in the sunlight as he turned to take in everything. "This... is the place," she told him, and felt metallic fingers touch her neck. "It's quite impressive, don't you think?" he asked, talons digging in a little harder to her shoulder as he held tight while she raised a hand to knock. "He must be comfortable." "Maybe," was her doubtful response. Prolixity Prox opened the door after a short delay, balancing Merlyn comfortably on one hip. "Ah, hello," he said. "Aishiki, if I remember right? Would you like to come in?" He glanced at the odd mechanical creature on her shoulder with passing curiosity. Trio Maxwell-Chang She nodded, tail lashing behind her as she stepped inside. "Is Itae in, please?" she murmured, voice timid but not fraught with fear as it had been in the past. Prolixity "He's upstairs in his room," Prox nodded. "He's been rather quiet the past couple of days - I'll show you where it is, if you'd like." One of the catterflies regarded Aishiki shrewdly from the counter, ears flicked forward with interest. Trio Maxwell-Chang She'd grown used to Trio's menagerie, at least, barely batting an eye at the unusual creatures. But thoughts of Trio did recall one thing, and she fished in her basket, coming up with a foil-wrapped package. "Trio and Aziraphale sent this to you. They thought you might enjoy." Prolixity Prox took the package and set it on the counter so he could peek under the foil, deftly avoiding a chubby kitten-grab at the contents. "Oh, brownies - they smell good. Please Tell Trio and Aziraphale thank you for us." Trio Maxwell-Chang "I will," she nodded, offering a faint smile before stepping back a pace. "Would you please guide me?" Prolixity Prox nodded and folded the foil back over the brownies, then led the way across the living room and up the stairs, down the hallway, and knocked lightly on a closed door. "Itae, are you awake?" "Maybe," the answer came, a little crossly. "Aishiki has come to see you," Prox said to the door. There was a brief silence, then the door swung open to reveal Itae, who bowed low. Trio Maxwell-Chang Aishiki's eyes dropped uncomfortably, and she shifted from one leg to the other before asking quietly, "May I come in, please?" Prolixity "Certainly, lady," Itae nodded, and moved back so that Aishiki could enter the room. Prox nodded and said, "I'll be in my study; call if you need my attention." Trio Maxwell-Chang She nodded, slipping into the room and waiting for Itae to close the door as she peered at him uncertainly. "I thought... something from home might help soften the blow?" Prolixity Itae pulled the chair out from the desk and offered it gracefully to Aishiki. "That is - kind of you," he murmured, and kept his ears and tail under tight control. It wouldn't do to betray his loneliness immediately. Trio Maxwell-Chang She thanked him softly, withdrawing the book and another, smaller foil package. "It's not easy here, at first, but... it does get easier. And there are many wonderful things about Gaia." Prolixity Itae seated himself on the end of the bed and paged slowly through the book. The gesture affected him more than he was going to admit. "Thank you," he said finally. "I believe I owe you my life, as well as my respect." He straightened his back slightly. "I will get used to living here." Trio Maxwell-Chang "Re... respect?" she whispered, hesitant. Prolixity "I think, perhaps, I was terribly rude when I stood before you last." Itae dipped his head slightly. "It was not my intent to distress you, and I am sure it was not my brother's either." Trio Maxwell-Chang She blinked, then shook her head sharply, the motion dislodging Salvus. The tiny robot squeaked, catching hold of her ponytail and swinging with it before crawling down her back. She twitched at the feel, but didn't comment, instead responding to Itae. "You weren't rude. Well, not to me. It's a huge change, and can be very nerve-wracking. I expected you both to be somewhat... out of sorts." Prolixity "I was - disoriented," Itae admitted. "Somewhat shaken." He closed the book and stroked a hand over the cover. Frightened, too; but there was no way he was going to say that to a Princess. Even a former Princess. "I appreciate your concern." Trio Maxwell-Chang She, apparently, had no such qualms. As she reached behind her to retrieve Salvus, setting him in her lap like an odd, mechanical doll, she admitted, "I was terrified. Everything here is so very different." Prolixity Itae cast a wary look at the odd contraption in Aishiki's lap. "It is - different," he conceded. "It is ... new ground." Trio Maxwell-Chang "But surely that's the wonderful thing about it? So many things to learn and discover." She hesitated, then held Salvus up. "This... is a fandangle. He recently evolved - before, he was a disk. I believe you saw him hovering over my shoulder that night?" Prolixity "I will not wear all that clothing," Itae grumbled. "It is impractical." He leaned forward slightly totake a closer look at Salvus. "That - he is the same as that disk?" Trio Maxwell-Chang "That's up to you, of course," Aishiki nodded, hesitating before moving to rise and carry Salvus to where Itae could examine him. The fandangle twitched, but said nothing. "He is. He's my companion." Prolixity Itae looked closely but did not touch the fandangle. "He - You are sentient?" he said to it, sounding slightly dubious. Trio Maxwell-Chang "I am," Salvus responded promptly, while Aishiki smiled softly. Prolixity Itae nodded briskly, and realized he had no idea what one said to a mechanical sentient being, how to address it if it had an honorific, or quite how to address the fact that it was being carried around like a doll. He decided to ignore all that, and said, "I greet you," a little stiffly. Trio Maxwell-Chang Salvus bowed in Aishiki's hands, then responded, in perfect Shiseien, "Thank you for your hospitality." Prolixity Itae sat up, tail puffing slightly. "It - you speak our language," he exclaimed in the same tongue. Trio Maxwell-Chang "I've had an upgrade," Salvus responded in kind. "I speak all languages. As does my bonded," he added, flicking a hand toward Aishiki, who blushed. Prolixity "All languages," Itae mused, giving Aishiki a thoughtful look. "A very useful talent." Trio Maxwell-Chang She nodded hesitantly, offering a shy smile. "It's helped, at times, yes." Prolixity "You must be very talented," Itae said, and smiled. Trio Maxwell-Chang "She is," Salvus said promptly, earning a squeak from Aishiki. "I'm not," she hastened to say, cheeks now flaming as she stared in horror at her fandangle. "Xue and Irasiel would both agree with me, I'm certain," Salvus returned smoothly. Prolixity "With such references, how can I not agree?" Itae said, a gently teasing edge to his voice. It was certainly a liberty, but it was one he felt he might take safely. Trio Maxwell-Chang Her eyes flew to his, and she drew back a bit, but seemed more concerned about the compliments than him. "I'm just like everyone else." "Hardly," Salvus returned dryly. Prolixity "If lovelier," Itae said, the compliment coming automatically to his lips. It was just something one did, when talking to a lady. Trio Maxwell-Chang "I...," she managed, trailing off as she bit her lower lip. How DID one respond to that without insulting the speaker? She never had gotten the knack. "I'm sure you'll make friends here," she finally tried, a little desperate for a change of topic. Prolixity "I'm certain I will," Itae said, a little startled. She seemed so flustered. "The family has been very kind to me." Not that the dynamics of this odd family were anything like familiar; but it was true, most of the people in the house had simply accepted him. Trio Maxwell-Chang "Trio and Youkochylde were very kind to me when I first arrived," she nodded, drawing back to curl up in the chair with feline grace that owed little to her upbringing and a great deal more to the time spent hidden away in the library. Prolixity "I will seek out my brother soon," Itae said, eyes fixing on one of the spare line drawings that hung on the wall. Trio Maxwell-Chang "Once I've found the path to him, I'll be bringing him a book as well," Aishiki nodded, looking more than a little nervous at the prospect. Prolixity "I am sure he is well. He has always been able to care for himself," Itae said, a little haughtily. Trio Maxwell-Chang "As have you, I'm sure," she nodded, not wanting to offer insult. "But something familiar, even slightly familiar, can make a world of difference." Prolixity Itae nodded slowly. "Perhaps he has been enjoying himself with arguments," he mutteerd. Trio Maxwell-Chang "Arguments?" she murmured. Prolixity Itae shook his head. "I am impolite," he demurred. "It is only because I worry." Trio Maxwell-Chang "I'm certain he'd be pleased to see you, at the least," she offered, as Salvus finally let his own nature get the better of him. Climbing off her lap, he toddled off, poking through Itae's room. Prolixity "We have rarely been apart," Itae admitted. It was a spare room, not yet made personal with belongings and the feel of living; still a guest room. A few things lay on the chest of drawers; a book borrowed from one of the many shelves in the house, a pile of towels, a neatly folded and untouched pair of jeans. One ofthe drawers stood open slightly; it seemed to have been used for storage of odds and ends. Trio Maxwell-Chang Salvus, grateful that their attention was on something other than himself, carefully hoisted himself up to wedge the drawer open more, peering within. "I'm not used to the idea of close family," Aishiki admitted. Prolixity Iate looked startled. He couldn't imagine not having family nearby at all times, younger children underfoot until scooped up by their governesses or tutors, older siblings pursuing their own agendas, parents occasionally appearing to cast a stern eye at whatever one was doing. "I'm sorry," he said. It was a collection of notebooks, obviously a child's first attempts at drawing, notated in careful childish handwriting; beside it, a box of letters. Trio Maxwell-Chang Salvus peered up at them, noting that they were lost in their conversation, and slipped inside the drawer to examine more thoroughly. "In a way, I've been sort of getting used to the idea at Trio's. She has SO many she cares for," Aishiki said, eyes widening in emphasis. Prolixity "So does Prolixity," Itae said, shaking his head. "The pets ... they're everywhere." He leaned down to peer under the bed. There had been a Doggin lurking there earlier; she had popped out and frightened te living daylights out of him with a soft-voiced hello. Sketches and cryptic notes; over the course of the notebooks, the handwriting and drawing became more refined. The letters were written in some type of simple substitution code. Trio Maxwell-Chang Wasn't that interesting? One ear perked to note changes in the conversational tone, Salvus settled in to read comfortably. This would certainly help him better get to know the Juusanshi! Aishiki actually giggled, nodding in complete understanding. "Trio jokingly refers to her home as "the menagerie", but the reference is entirely apt." Prolixity "A bit of a zoo," Itae remarked dryly. "And there are wild things in the forest, as well as some half-wild pets." He glanced out the window, a little nervously. Trio Maxwell-Chang "Wild things?" Aishiki blinked, peering to the window with far less fear than she had shown around other Juusanshi or humans. Prolixity "Birds with mechanical parts, things I don't recognize .. there is a giant winged wolf thing that comes right into the garden," Itae said, his ears flicking with slight horror. "I am never certain if the animals are tame, or part tame, or not at all." Trio Maxwell-Chang "Birds with mechanical...," Aishiki repeated softly, before smiling. "Those are safe. Trio owns some. They're called Dreams, and they're rather nice to have around." Prolixity "Dreams, yes. There are some in the house, also," Itae nodded. "Prolixity has warned me that there are wild ones that are not friendly." He stood and went to the window, resting one hand against the glass. "Though I have not seen them." Trio Maxwell-Chang "Not friendly?" Aishiki blinked, tilting her head in curiosity. "All the ones I've ever met have been wonderful companions." Prolixity Itae paused, turning to look back at Aishiki. She seemed so much like a child, right at this moment. He said only, "I have not met any." Then he noticed the Fandangle, absorbed in a pile of letters. "What are you doing?" Trio Maxwell-Chang Salvus looked up, the eyes giving the oddest appearance of blinking before he answered. "Reading." Following Itae's gaze, Aishiki paled, moving to scoop up Salvus and the letters, keeping them apart. "I'm so sorry," she said hurriedly, eyes huge and scared. "He's curious, he gets into things. I'm sure he didn't mean to infringe on your privacy." Prolixity "They're not mine," Itae said, piling the letters back into the box. He hadn't been able to read them, anyway; he had never been good at breaking codes. "I don't think there is any harm done." He eyed the Fandangle. This business of things that ought not to be alive having personalities and curiosity was also a new thing. Trio Maxwell-Chang "They're not?" Salvus asked, drooping a bit. "Then whose are they?" Aishiki closed her eyes for a moment, then shot Salvus a quelling glare. "YOU need to learn to mind your own business," she informed him. "I very much doubt that Kumo's going to be impressed with a nosy friend." Prolixity "I don't know," Itae said, somewhat primly. "I can't read the script." A faint blush appeared on his cheekbones at the tacit admission that he'd tried. Trio Maxwell-Chang "I was upgraded to be able to understand the written word as I do the spoken one," Salvus returned, reaching for a letter. Aishiki jerked them back, glaring at him. "No, Salvus. They're not yours, and they're not his, and NO ONE is reading them. Is that clear?" Prolixity Itae managed to keep the disappointment off his face, and said "I'm sure they belong to someone who lives here." There were several candidates for the ownership of the letters, actually, and he would have liked to know whose they were, if nothing else. Trio Maxwell-Chang "Unless you need the drawer, they should probably stay put, don't you think?" she asked, handing the letters over to Itae. Salvus just snorted. Prolixity Itae put the letters back into the drawer, carefully not smiling. He sympathized with the fandangle; atthe moment, Aishiki reminded him of his mother, commanding though she was quite small. Trio Maxwell-Chang "I... should go," she murmured, rising and peering at Itae. "He's only going to get more bored, I think." She hesitated, then offered a hand to Itae shyly. "I... hope things go better for you, and if you need someone to talk to..." Prolixity Itae bowed, a deep, respectful bow. "I thank you for your concern, and for your gifts," he said. "I find myself much cheered." He gave her a bright smile. Trio Maxwell-Chang Her own smile grew, and she bowed back deeply. "I'm very glad. Please, enjoy them. There are other texts from Shisei in the shop, if you should find yourself wanting another." Prolixity "I will be certain to return, for text and for company." Itae winked. Trio Maxwell-Chang She nodded, setting Sal on her shoulder before moving to the door. "Thank you..." Prolixity "No, thank you." He held the door for her. Trio Maxwell-Chang She slipped away, the smile lingering on her lips and her step a good deal lighter than it had been when she'd arrived.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:51 pm
Home.
The view from the towers was spectacular, but he wasn't paying attention to it; the smallest sibling had escaped his tutor, and Itae had caught him, and was tickling him and laughing as the boy squealed gleefully.
Home, family, all the things he knew and loved, the familiar boring ancestral castle, the noises of life going on .. it was never entirely quiet, even in the depths of the night; someone, somewhere was always awake, doing something, be it family or servant. There was a ball to come two nights from now. Everything was busy.
Itae scooped his small brother up and carried him down the hall to return him to his minder. He had plans to go down to the cellar and check that the wines were being prepared properly - perhaps have a taste himself -
Itae woke from the dream to a room that didn't feel like his, to more quiet than he was used to, to a white, flat, painted ceiling and a bed he wasn't used to. It was comfortable enough. But it wasn't home, and the vivid sweet happiness of the dream brought that point back hard.
He turned over and buried his face in the pillow.
There was a chirp from somewhere nearby. Itae refused to look. There were few enough creatures in this house that were birdlike; it was one of those mechanical bird-things, or it was that nuisance of a jewel bird.
Another chirp. Itae looked up, intending to tell the meddling pet to get out and go back to bother its owner. It was a Dream, one he had never seen; large as a hawk, bigger than the black-and-blue one. It was delicately pink and white and gold, and wore a tiny golden crown. It was absurd.
It chirped again. The things had no identifiable facial expressions, Itae told himself. It - she - was most certainly not looking expectant. The Dream tilted her head, hopped down from the headboard, and sidled across the sheet to rub herself against his bare shoulder affectionately.
Itae sat up fast and told the creature, "Whoever you belong to, you can go back now."
She chirped and hopped over to settle into his lap, folding her wings fussily and definitely looking far, far too self-satisfied.
Itae rubbed his temples. He could feel the creature's sunny satisfaction and cheerful affection towards himself now. "I am NOT your owner," he said helplessly to the birdlike being.
Ouko (when had she acquired a name, and how did he know it? Itae was horrified. This wasn't permanent!) chirped agreeably, closed her pale blue jewels of eyes, and settled down for a pleasant nap.
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Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 3:05 pm
Itae came downstairs into the midst of a minor whirl of chaos. The phone was ringing, something in the kitchen was beeping and smelling suspiciously of smoke, and Merlyn was wailing at the top of his lungs, waving small hands furiously at a toy he'd flung across the room moments before. Prox looked up from trying to quiet the baby, and spotted Itae. "Hold the kitten," he said, "while I deal with the rest of this," and Itae was left with an armful of pudgy wriggly upset baby while Prox skidded across the room to snatch up the phone and rescue whatever it was that was burning.
Merlyn, startled by the sudden transfer, quieted and stared at Itae with infant suspicion. Who was this? This was not either of his daddies, and moreover, did not seem to know how to hold him properly. His face crinkled up, and he spat and puffed his fur.
"What in the - " Itae said, and held Merlyn at arm's length. "I am NOT a NURSE!"
Prox hung up the phone with more force than it required and stalked back across the room to take Merlyn back. "You will treat my family with some degree of respect," he said in a low, deadly tone. "You're gently born when you come from. Okay, I get that. Doesn't mean you get to sneer at us and isolate yourself. I was hoping to avoid this, but it seems I have to pull rank on you." He tucked the kitten into the crook of his elbow and flung his free hand out towards the windows. "Out there. I know you've noticed this house is mostly in another world. You're a mage, and you're not stupid. You know why that is? Dream is my world. I'm not stating that in some abstract sense. I am the avatar of this world, one of three surviving members of the direct royal bloodline of the High Court of Dream, and if I want, I can call myself a King. I don't want to. I like my life just fine. I don't need a Court and a title to do what I need to do. But if I need a title to get some respect out of you, I will invoke it." He stopped, breathed deeply, and glared at Itae.
Merlyn decided that the sudden quiet was a good time to start wailing again.
Itae put his ears down, tucked his tail meekly against his leg, and held his hands out towards the baby.
Prox shook his head. "I've got him," he said, more calmly, bouncing Merlyn until the kitten quieted somewhat. "It'd be nice if you'd attempt to remember that you don't necessarily know who ranks who in this world. Or that it doesn't necessarily matter. I know plenty of worthy folk who were born in the worst places; they've earned my respect. Get that through your head, and you'll do a lot better around here. - And I am going to expect you to have dinner with the rest of the family on some sort of regular basis."
Itae nodded silently, thoroughly shocked by the revelation and by the new and uncomfortable concept that rank might indeed mean very little in this new world. It was not a concept that had ever been introduced to him; being smacked over the head with it, so to speak, stung more than a little. But if it was true that his bonded could claim a royal title - he couldn't even particularly argue. Not unless he completely disregarded rank. He was nicely trapped.
Ouko landed neatly on his shoulder and chirped in his ear. He could feel her radiating calm, trying to cool his roil of emotions. "Stop that," he said, irritated. She chirped sweetly and kept right on doing it.
Prox regarded the Juusanshi and the Dream with a raised eyebrow. "I see you've been adopted. You're lucky. Elders are rare, and it's even more rare that they bond late in life."
Merlyn had fallen entirely silent at the appearance of the pink and white Dream, and now he chortled, reaching chubby hands out towards Ouko's feathers. She twittered at the baby and preened, tilting her head so that the little gold crown she wore flashed light at Merlyn.
Itae opened his mouth, shut it again. He'd been treated as a nursemaid, outmaneuvered and lectured, and now his Dream (and he hadn't given that permission to happen in the first place!) was flirting with the fur-bundle. And he was supposed to be appreciative?
He voiced a soft wordless snarl, whirled around, and stalked towards the door.
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Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:59 pm
Itae's journal Father kept a journal. I saw him writing in it once or twice. I have decided to try the same. It will be good for my calligraphy, at the very least. How to begin? In the past months, we have had Yule, and we have moved into new rooms. Prolixity's older son has gone to live elsewhere. I have not. Sometimes I feel weirdly fond of this family. Other times they frustrate and aggravate me. The baby has grown, and the suspicious, snappish male who my bonded shared house with has gone, taking some of the younger members of the household with him. I can't say I'm upset. I did not like him and he did not like me. I spend my days reading, or working in the garden. I have found that getting earth on my hands and helping growing things flourish makes me feel oddly at peace. I would never have done it at home, but here, as I am so often reminded, everthing is different. My host has kindly provided me with a key to the Door in the garden; with it, I can visit the Great Library. Heaven for any bibliophile, but one must take care not to lose track of time. I often have the sense that I could spend a few days there, and come out to find that years had passed, as if I had slept through my own life. I am adjusting. I suppose it was inevitable. Still, I miss home. Ouko is a comfort. I did not want her, but she is a constant. She is always cheerful, and I have come to care for her.
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