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 Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:45 pm
In the clear evening sky, the moon hung low and large on the horizon as the sun slowly sank opposite it in the heavens. A shadow crossed the moon, zooming back and forth, coming ever closer. As it grew larger, viewers would be able to make out a broom and a witch's hat, both belonging to a svelte (if oddly shaped) figure. Mad cackling rang out into the chill air.
Umbriel was having a wonderful time. She'd picked up this habit around Halloween, when it seemed everyone was into the supernatural spirit. Of course, her memory was so cluttered with information that it hadn't really occurred to her that Halloween was a one-off celebration each year. Or perhaps she was simply having too much fun with her antics.
As the broom zig-zagged closer to the ground, a glow from the ground became noticeable. One of the tinier riders perked up and squeaked, "Oooh! Ghostie-alert!"
"Ghost alert!" the second tiny figure, almost an exact match of the first speaker, echoed. She raised a paw to point.
Umbriel followed in the direction her familiars indicated, redirecting the broom to take her straight to the group of several glowing figures. Drawing closer, the spots of light became more easily recognisable as the faint ghost kyunru, his two ghostling assistants, and the chained lantern that sustained their lives.
The broom touched down, and as it did, Umbriel leapt off. The kittens weren't so careful, tumbling to the ground as the broom came to a halt, while Umbriel gracefully landed on her hooves. "Lafayette, wasn't it?" she smiled, glad to see a familiar face.
One paw reached out and tapped the broom. Immediately, it shrunk down to the size of a small twig and tucked itself into Umbriel's striped leg warmers.
"Oh, but wait, you prefer Lafe," she remembered. Bending one leg, she gave a delicate bow. "How lovely to see you again."
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:29 pm
 "It was all meant in jest..." The small spirit offered, eyeing the somewhat sullen look on the kyunru's face. It's minute 'arms' of sorts clasping the lantern and holding it slightly aloft as it spoke. The thing clanking a bit as the shape moved briefly to one side, closer to one of the trees the three figures were resting beneath. Not particularly out of sight, but not in the way of anything either.
The second ghost was apparently attempting to pretend it was a sort of hat, mixed in with the long pale tendrils of hair trailing from Lafayette as it stared down at the kyunru's nose, looking far less caring, if that was possible, than the other over the topic. Afterall, it had all been a joke. A mean one, but a joke. "For once he's right, that holiday is all about playing with the supernatural. You're a living target so to speak. You're bound to get a few practical jokes played on you if you're out that night. Since they're bound to think you're just a really good costume."
"Eza... that's not the best way to put it." The first chimed again, eyes narrowing a bit at the other. "They're careless. That's all. Even jokes shouldnt involve toying with others' things though." The spirit shifted a bit, adjusting it's grip on the lantern. "Besides, it's your fault. You didn't do your job." To which the second spirit seemed to flinch a bit, ducking down further with a light grumbling.
"It... isn't something to argue over." The kyunru finally said, lifting his head slightly from where it had been resting on his front paws, his posture still remaining in a laying position though. "I simply... it's not what happened so much as..." He closed his eyes slightly, a low sigh. "The one night that ghosts truly belong, even then I am to be an outsider?" It was more of a rhetorical question than one he wanted an answer to. Heaven forbid he have to face a fact he most oft wanted nothing to do with.
Thankfully, the arrival of the second kyunru silenced any chance of the two spirits replying, as both had shifted their gaze along with their keeper at the approach of the trio. The leader of the three offering a polite smile at the words, along with a nod. "Quite, I often go by Lafe. And you were... Umbri correct?" He offered in return, looking up as the spirit upon his head moved to get a better look at the two creatures who'd fallen upon the ground rather lacking in all sense of grace.
"Which of you two were we gonna test with?" Obviously the small ball hadn't learned to tell the two apart at a glance yet, which was likely about the same for others with the spirits. Aside from personality of course.
"Eza. No." The second called in a tone akin to that of a warning. "It was stupid then, it's even stupider now. Besides, what would you do if they really could eat anything?"
The spirit who had now floated down toward the ground all the while eyeing the duo of kittens in the process didn't even hesitate in response. "Cease to exist. It's more a question of what you would do, but I doubt I'd lose this bet. It can't eat something that's not solid. Unless you want to say it's eating the air."
A sigh had escaped the pale figure as he sat up, once more scooping the spirit away even as it spoke. I... will agree with Asp, Eza. Please let us leave that a mystery." He quietly offered, before bowing his head to the witch politely. "It is a treat to meet you this evening. You've been well?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:15 am
Umbriel smiled, pleased to be remembered despite their previous meeting being so brief. "Yes, Umbri is fine," she said. It was nice to think she could be called by a nickname again. It wasn't often she found other kyunru that she felt close to. Something about Lafe put her at ease, maybe the sense that the life of a ghost might be as lonely as the life of an immortal witch.
She drew back a little and gave the kittens a stern glance. "Please do not try to eat Lafe's familiars. I do not know if it is possible or not, but I would not wish any harm on them. How do you think I would feel if something happened to either of you?" She gave Lafe a sympathetic smile. "After all, they are really all I have. I suspect it may be the same for you...?"
Ah, but that was a depressing idea. Umbriel racked her brains for something else to speak of. Of course, Lafe had just asked after her wellbeing. "I am fine," said Umbri. "I keep busy with my spells and exploring new areas. It seems like only yesterday that there were barely any humans in this area, and now there are so many towns..." Or perhaps that was revealing too much of her true age. A lady needed some secrets, after all. "And yourself, Lafe? You seemed rather sad when we spotted you. Are you not well?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 3:23 pm
The ghost offered a polite not at her reply, mentally thanking himself for recalling her name. It was a wonder such things didn't become muddled together with such time, though perhaps that was why they remained fresh when he learned them. The past was a jumble of things, many he wished to forget, while others he vaguely recalled treasuring. Which had he seen more of? That was the question he most oft wished to answer for himself. Not that it ever came.
He blinked a bit at the look offered to the kittens, seeming a bit lost at the harsh scolding in regard to the comment Eza had made of continuing the experiment. While she wasn't mean about it, it seemed... bold? Perhaps that merely made him weak willed to not even wish to let his voice fall to such a tone. Asp had commented that being careful in his words was a good trait though? Even if it did mean he sugar coated things more likely than not.
The sudden comment in his direction brought him out of the train of thought, as he looked up again, a brief nod accompanying the speech. "While I had met those whom I may call friends, I truly believe I would be lost without these two." There was nothing so lonely as when they vanished for a bit without so much as a mention of where they intended to roam to. "I certainly wish to ensure their safety." He added, eyeing the spirit he was now holding to the ground a bit with one paw. Eza could have escaped if he wanted, but the spirit didn't seem to mind it much.
"We'll always be here though, you needn't concern yourself, Lafayette." Asp chimed, drifting closer from it's spot to try and ease any worry the topic might cause.
A moment passed before she spoke again, this time answering the question of her well being. It seemed good news, though at the same time a slight nod showed at the comment regarding humans, the action slowed with obvious internal thoughts behind it. It was true, there were more these days. "It seems so lively due to them all." The comment wasn't spiteful in the least, just somewhat lost. He wasn't entirely sure how to feel about the change, as it meant more chances to meet those he might fit in with, but also... it brought about some unpleasant events. Though the sudden question regarding his mood id catch him a bit off guard. He'd tried to hdie it since her arrival perhaps he had been a bit slow.
"Ah... it was." He glanced, down head shaking a moment. "Children to not understand the importance of listening at times. A simple harmless... foolish actions. Excited children can do some thoughtless things?" He offered a mild smile, brows knitting briefly. "They were excited to see a ghost puppy, but were also frightened when the only solid thing they could grab was a chain." Which did deal with the problem of the discomfort that came with things going through him, but what was worse was having something turn from acceptance to fear so quickly. Afterall, he didn't think he was scary. "They simply didn't know what to think. It is nothing."
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:31 am
"I see," nodded Umbriel, voice soft. "Yes, children are very excitable and emotional. I've had my fair share of run-ins with humans who don't understand what we are, or who would like to grab first and ask questions later... although they seem to grab Bubble and Squeak more often," she chuckled. If she had been younger, it might have been a giggle, but the years had developed Umbriel's voice into deeper, more mature tones. Giggles were beyond her, though the emotion behind them was not. It was often quite amusing to see humans try to grab the agile kittens, who were not as helpless as they appeared. Very rarely had there been any true danger, and on those few occasions, the witch had been fast to intervene and her wrath quick to kindle.
Umbriel calmed herself, aware that Lafe had more troubles with 'grabbing' than she ever could. "Still, I am sorry to hear that you were bothered. It must be a powerful magic that binds you to your lantern - it is a pity that those magics don't extend to protecting the lantern from outside forces." It made Umbriel wonder if there was a way to add such things without causing adverse effects. She was tempted to offer her services, but held her tongue for now. It would be better to research such things, or be more familiar with the lantern before offering false hope.
Despite Lafe's surprise at Umbri's seemingly-harsh treatment, Bubble and Squeak didn't seem to take it seriously, apart from settling down a bit. Squeak darted forward to poke at Eza, under Lafe's paw. "How hold ghostie down?" she piped up. "Can ghostie touch ghostie? Squeak no can touch!" She demonstrated by passing a paw slightly into Eza, then withdrawing it. She wondered if it felt strange, so she wasn't going to keep doing it, just in case it hurt.
Umbri focused her attention down to Eza, intrigued to learn if incorporeal entities could 'touch' each other, while corporeal beings couldn't. It would be nice ot think that someone could touch Lafe. She'd heard from humans that babies (human or otherwise) would wither and die if not touched. While death wasn't a fear for Lafe, obviously, Umbri would feel better think he could still feel the touch of another being, even if it was only his familiars that Lafe could receive it from.
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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:29 pm
The ghost nodded in response to the words, proving she was on the money with the comments. Excitable was probably the best word to choose. They did enjoy the world so, which made them all the more forgivable. How could one stay even mildly bothered with something that smiled and loved life so?
Which was also part of why the entire event was so bothering. To be one of the few objects in the world they didn't cherish the same was what truly had such a lasting effect. Who wanted to be considered no better than Dracula, the Boogie Man, or the Bed Monster? Certainly the thought was troubling. "You needn't apologize for something you took no part in." He offered, even if the statement was meant merely console him, he didn't wish for others to feel he was such a sorry thing. Not that he thought she was looking down on him, but there wasn't a need? He had, for the most part, gotten over it.Though the comment that followed was curious in a way. "Perhaps, it does seem that it is one of the few things about me that stands on both the plane of physical and spiritual. In a way that in itself is special, even if troubling." He offered, looking up at the tree above. "Even if it is not truly part of me, it's pleasant to think that something of me is on the same level as the rest of the world." Even as a weakness, he could say it made him like others. In it's own way.
His gaze fell again as the catlike thing flew down to look at the ghost who'd mellowed out and remained 'flopped' under his paw, blinking a bit. He'd never truly thought about it, but was it touch? "Consider it something like that?" He offered, eying the spirit briefly.
"What constitutes touch to you?" Eza babbled, suddenly flitting out from under the ghost's paw to bat at Squeak in response to the swipe. Obviously the little blob of plasma wasn't nearly as shy about 'contact' as Lafayette. "Cause I can't feeeeel it, just can't move much." Which was true, there was no pressure or warmth. Just a halting force.
"That is an adequate explanation for it." Lafayette offered, taking a moment to stand up and eying the ground a bit. "It truly is just feeling a brief resistance, or none at all." He raised a paw toward some grass before brushing through it, the blades shifting slightly as he did. "And to an extent, I am able to touch other things as well, though my ability to do so is limited." He added, offering a small smile in the process. "It isn't too much."
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Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:53 am
To say that Umbriel was intrigued by the Lantern would be an understatement. Something sparked in her mind at Lafe's comment of the object stradling both the physical and spiritual worlds. Was Lafe's condition just a case of too much spiritual energy? What would it take to drain that energy enough to let him cross to the physical world? Or, alternatively, to boost the spiritual energy level of another in order to join Lafe's ghostly status.
The latter option was gently shot down by the following explanation of the ghosts way of "touching". To only feel an immovable force, rather than any warmth or texture... it didn't seem like any real kind of solution.
"I see," Umbri murmured. "So it is more a case of spiritual beings projecting a force field than actually touching. An interesting phenomenon. It brings to mind questions of expanding the forcefield, or applying it to other objects..." Certainly, something prevented Lafe from sinking into the ground just as he passed through the grass blades. Umbri pulled a face. "But here I am babbling away and thinking of experiments. No wonder I spend so much time alone," she joked, "I scare people away for entirely different reasons."
Settling herself down some, she decided to put away her scientific (or magical) curiosity for now. Rusty though her social skills might be, there was no reason to be rude. "But what else have you been up to since we last met? Certainly there are many other humans or Kin to meet out there than just the small human children... Have you met others of our brethren? Settled anywhere, or are you continually travelling?"
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