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 Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:37 pm
Mya’s oddly bright eyes narrowed, and her face twisted into an open display of disgust at the mention of blood magic. She muttered something rather nasty sounding in her native tongue, ending with: “… ******** bokor.” Her eyes almost seemed to glow in the dim lighting of her tent.
The witch eyed Theirn’s cigarette for a moment, her face showing no disapproval. Rather, she found herself longing for a smoke herself. She’d given up on it years ago, though, and managed to mostly stick with it, except for the occasional magicks and invocations which required the use of tobacco. Getting to talk to the Lord of the Crossroads always was hard on the lungs.
“What became of de beast?” She asked, quirking a brow. “Do you remember?” Unlikely, given this had been the time of his first shift. But, merely marking the intended sacrifice with a bite, and then proceeding to tear apart it’s supposed “master” – this did sound like the bokor had summoned something Greater, something beyond his control. Serves ‘im right, Mya thought to herself with a smirk. That’s what you got for trying to bite of more than you could chew. “And why would de blood-mage choose you?”
The origin of the curse, no doubt, lay in that failed ceremony. But what had been the bokor’s intend? To merely sacrifice the young man to the dark spirits he served and thought he could control? Or to turn him into a man-beast he hoped to enslave to do his biding? Quite honestly, the brand could mean both. Agh, this was going to be annoying, and she wouldn’t even get any money out of this, likely. But it had been a slow, boring day anyway.
Hahah, this was almost as if the little wisp had been trying to nod! Smokey’s eyes widened. Maybe it had?! Glancing at Theirn and Mya, she skittered a little further away, sitting down cross-legged and resting the mechanism in her lap.
So the little one wanted her to move that dial – that was the moon, right? – up-up-up- Aaaah, that had been too far, apparently, as now the wisp was frantically skittering around her finger, trying to coerce her to move the dial into the opposite direction until … there. Stop.
So, next were the stars? Smokey was starting to get the hang of it now. ‘Like that?’ she asked, once she got the sense she was supposed to stop moving it. Just what was the little one up to?
Her red eyes narrowed slightly as she examined the brass mechanism. She recognized the scales and numbers for what they were, but the writing meant very little to her. She was, as of yet, pretty much illiterate, books holding little to no interest for her.
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Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2011 10:50 am
Theirn lifted a brow as he listened, the witch had some idea then what he was dealing with. Catching sight of her eyes on the cigarette and not seeing immediate disapproval Theirn opens the case again and holds it out toward her offering her one of the cigarettes.
"Hm, the why is another bit of a story," reaching up he tucked a small decorated braid of his hair back, "my people are the roma, staying in one place usually is not something we do well." Resting back he half closed his eyes as he spoke, "keeping a family supplied for a year can be quite the challenge at times. So we create havens of sort along the various routes that we use, there is one here actually not far from your own bazaar. It's just a small community that is setting up to aid Travellers passing through, usually different families rotate responsibility for these places so no one is tied down for more then a year. One such place was Briarthorne, a farm in a small out of the way area of the wilds; food and cattle were raised to supply the families that rotated through with food for the year. My family, small at the time stopped there and we found that the small farm hadn't been having the easiest of times - someone was stealing our cattle."
Theirn rubbed his jaw thoughtfully and lit his cigerette taking a pull from it before continuing, "One of my cousins and I were hunters of sorts and we decided we'd find out what was taking our cattle. After a night of waiting we watched strange mist forms rise up and take the beast. Following their progress we followed them up a mountain pass... at the top we found an opening to a network of caves. Within we found the blood mage, but at the time he didn't see us. We hurried back to the farm and informed our elder." He sighed and paused a moment before taking a pull from his cigarette and continuing.
"Our elder put out a call to others in the area, she felt we could not contend with this mage by ourselves - the next night a girl went missing. I didn't wait to hear a plan...I just went." He frowned a little remembering, "I knew where the cave network started and that's was my aim, didn't even make it to the network met some of those mist things on the mountain pass. The mist stuff made my brain fuzzy and I lost conciousness.
Woke up in the cave, he'd been kicking me in the ribs to wake me had me chained down. Was going on about using me against the roma - not sure what his problems were with my people but he didn't like us. I'm pretty sure he was meaning to infect me and try to use me to kill off the others." Sighing Theirn shifted his cigarette, "and well that's when he called the thing. As for the beast, I think it disappeared after it killed the mage - after I came back from my first shift...I never heard of it again." Theirn frowns bitterly, "never heard of the girl either. Stephanie Cale one of my youngest cousins, she was eight."
Letting his voice trail off Theirn realized how much he'd spoken and let the story hang between them. He really didn't want to talk about his first change about how he'd almost killed his sister and if their godmother hadn't been there he likely would have.
Coal happily bobbed, nudging Smokey's hand lightly from time to time to get her to move the dials in the direction she wanted. What exactly he was doing Coal actually didn't know, but there was something about the device he had to get the dials set just so.
Spinning in the air slightly he paused and set against Smokey's hand. The sun had been set but it was there he realized something was wrong - there was only one sun and he wasn't sure why but...he needed two. Frustration radiated from the little wisp for a moment before he moved back up and started circling the astrolabe again as if looking for something specific.
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Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 9:49 pm
Mya accepted the cigarette with a grateful nod – one did not say ‘no’ to offerings freely given – but put it to rest behind her right ear instead of lighting it, her eyes fluttering half-shut as she listened to the were’s story. “Looks like yer blood sorcerer got what ‘e’d coming for ‘im,” she said with a smug face. “Fenrir is not a mere dog to be called upon to do one’s biding.”
She leaned back, watching the other through half-lidded eyes. “Ah dun’t tink Ah can ‘elp you wit de curse. But … maybe I can at least find out if yer cousin’s still alive. Ye’re related by blood, right? Ah’d need some of it.”
It was obvious the wisp was getting frustrated with something, but Smokey was unable to figure out just what. There were only … feelings emanating from the little creature, no clear thoughts. He really was very much a little child still, she figured, something akin’ to a toddler? Fully able to move around and explore, but not to express himself and his needs and wants. She petted the little wisp fondly with the tip of her index finger, and then started to look about through Mya’s collection of charms and trinkets. Maybe there was something … Oh!
‘Mya, can I give his to him?’ Smokey asked, holding up an old pocket watch movement with neither case nor face nor hands.
“Only if y’intend to pay for it,” Mya said dryly. “Nothing’s for free.”
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 5:00 am
Theirn nodded faintly, the mage had gotten what he'd deserved even if the curse he'd called lived on. For a moment he assumed that Mya would not hold more answers, at least he considered this witch was being honest and wasn't going to end up dead or harmed. Theirn wrinkled his brow a bit watching Mya, "You think you can find her then?" a thoughtful frown came to his face a moment, "sure, I'll give the blood if you can use it to tell me something about Stephanie. She was a Cale - so yes blood related." He wasn't overly keen on her taking his blood he'd learned through the years that such things had power...but he'd also never had a chance to find Stephanie before.
While Smokey moved off to find the watch Coal hovered around the dials on the astrolabe attempt to remember what was wrong - there was something there but just out of his reach of understanding. Coal's attention drew back to Smokey and Mya as they spoke, the little sprite's attention went to the broken watch and he darted toward Smokey, bouncing a few times by her feet leaving a small pile of dark dust in his wake.
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 7:31 am
Mya shook her head. “Dat’s not what ah said. You gotta learn to listen.” She gave Teirn a bit of an annoyed glare. “Ah can only tell you if it’s wort’ ta try ‘n look for her, if she’s alive or dead.” She shrugged. “Maybe.” It was obvious the other was wary of giving her some of his blood, for good reason. She wished more people were smart like that, though then she’d probably run out of work. “Just a drop will be enough.”
Smokey gave her caretaker a grumpy scowl. It wasn’t even a whole watch anymore, and it was broken! But Coal really seemed to like it, and – compared to the astrolabe – it was probably much more affordable. ‘Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be right back!’ She carefully placed the broken watch on the table so that it wouldn’t get lost among the other charms and trinkets again, and then skittered off to fetch her piggy bank from back home, phasing right through the heavy fabric sides of the tent. ‘Yikes, light!’
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:57 am
Theirn returned the frown watching the witch a moment, "aye your right, my mistake." Inclining his head a moment he tried to push away the headache that had been steadily growing on him, seemed his alcohol dosage needed to be checked a day before having things to do. "Drop it is then, want ta do it now?" Turning his hand over Theirn looked to his hand, a quick p***k should be enough. The Roma reached to his belt and pulled a worn but sharpened carving knife from a small holster, "I can get the drop easily enough." He'd opted for his own blade unless the witch convinced him otherwise - when it came to blood and magic he was more then a little wary.
Coal turned watching Smokey run off his dark aura wavering some as it seemed unclear what his new friend was up to. Darting down the little wisp started to move the astrolabe again, this time he attempted to move the dial for one of the larger stars and position it as a second sun around the center.
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Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2011 1:47 pm
“Mh,” Mya said. “Just wait a sec, dis will take some preparation.” She retrieved one of the bowls she used for incense, pouring some new, purified quartz sand into it, and then lighting a piece of charcoal to put it in. She idly glanced at the tiny floating shadow creature, noting just how very much it looked like coal itself. More like anthracite coal, though, so hopefully it would take no offense. “Dis will take a little time to burn hot enough,” she murmured. “For de incense to not smother and extinguish the coal. Once I sprinkle de incense on top, a drop of blood will do.”
She raised her gaze to look at the Were. “It’ll burn, and be of no furter use to me.”
Smokey, for her part, was moving as fast as she possibly could, and that was, like, real fast in her wispy shadow form. Luckily for her, the bazaar’s covered halls offered plenty of shadows for her to make a beeline straight for the apartment she shared with Mya.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2011 12:12 am
Inhaling deeply Theirn drew the smoke from his cigarette up and blew it out his nose, his head still throbbed but it started to settle some slowly and really if he was going to be partaking in whatever the Witch was setting up...he wanted his sense of smell dulled at least a little. With a slight nod toward Myra he set his carving knife down and rested back keeping his gaze on her as she moved watching the various bits of supplies needed pile up. "Once it's hot enough and you have my blood...what happens then? Hm..you search on the smoke or something for her?" Arches a brow curiously looking toward the Witch. Theirn really didn't understand much about magic but part of him really did want to know.
Coal fussed a bit more over the astrolobe before Myra's movements caught his attention. Moving over slowly and curiously but also with a bit of caution the wisp attempted to get move closer to get a view of what the witch was doing. His little aura flickered some as the coal went into the brazier but after the fiasco at the barbeque the wisp didn't over react and instead just sat nearby curiously hovering.
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Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 7:20 am
“Sort of.” Mya’s dark lips pulled into a smirk. “Am going to knock at te Gatekeeper’s door, an’ ask politely if yer cousin’s passed through. If ‘e says ‘no’, ten she didn’t. Meaning she’s alive. Or …” the witch added thoughtfully, tapping a carefully manicured finger tip against her chin, “dat someone’s keeping ‘er soul.” She shrugged. “Unlikely.”
It was more of an effort for Smokey to make her way back just as speedily, as she was now carrying the battered old coffee tin containing her savings. It was small enough she could make it pass through walls with her, but it required focus, and that too slowed her down. She arrived back at the tent just in time to see Mya sprinkle her herbs upon the charcoal and bending down to inhale the rising smoke deeply. ‘I’ve brought-’ Smokey started out, but then Mya threw back her head, starting to speak in a foreign tongue. Her eyes seemed almost completely white, one might think they’d rolled back into the head at first, but if one looked closely, they’d find the irises and pupils had just turned very bright.
‘Oh,’ Smokey said, her mental voice disappointed. She was smart enough to keep hovering on the threshold to the tent, not entering any further. Mya had made it abundantly clear several times she considered the little fiend ‘tainted’ and would not allow her close by when she cast her magicks. ‘The blood, she needs it now,’ she advised instead, having witnessed this often enough. ‘And the Name of the one you’re looking for. If you don’t make things easy for the Gatekeeper, he’s going to be pissed off, and he’s scary when he’s pissed off.’
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:37 pm
Theirn fixed his gaze on the Seer, she wasn't family and he'd just met her so despite trying to keep a friendly atmosphere when she started to speak and her eyes lit up with a white inner light he tensed. Keeping his gaze locked on her he felt like he couldn't dare move as she spoke.
Coal twisted around the leg of the table a touch of alarm going through him as he felt his guardian's unease.
Theirn looked over quickly to Smokey having not heard her return, noting her words he took the knife he'd brought out before and cut his finger moving his hand over and dropping one drop of blood over where the incense had been sprinkled earlier. Once the blood had been supplied he spoke and simply said his cousin's name, "Stephanie Cale".
Coal's dark aura rippled some picking up the serious and focused feelings from Theirn. Smokey's arrival gave him something else to focus on, the little wisp darted over closer to the tent's threshold seemingly happy for the distraction.
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Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 4:11 am
The crimson droplet sizzled and fizzed as it hit the smoldering coal, its vapor joining the incense's. Mya drew in a sharp sudden breath and groaned, grasping the edge of the counter, her nails digging into the wood.
Pale eyes that were no longer hers sized up the werewolf with an expression somewhere between disdain and disinterest. “Stephanie Cale. Can't say I've seen her,” the creature which had taken possession of the witch mused with an arrogant smirk. There was something sly and malicious in the way it gazed at Theirn.
Smokey froze, her hands clutching tightly around the battered coffee tin which served as her piggy bank. To hear Mya speak in a voice that wasn't her own was always scary as s**t, especially if said voice happened to be male. And the Gatekeeper was especially fearsome. He used to be okay, Mya had once told her slightly tipsy over a glass of red wine, but he'd gotten cranky during the past few centuries or so.
“Really Mya, what's with this sorry summon, incense and a droplet of blood, that's all?” The creature went on, voice sweet as honey, yet dripping with acidity. “Black goats all gone extinct? Joined the hippies now? I ought to take your body for a ride to make up for it. Get it properly ********. How long has it been since you've last get laid, bit-”
Okay, enough was enough. Red eyes blazing with fury, Smokey hurled her saving tin at the possessed witch, hitting her smack-dab in the middle of the forehead and sending her reeling back in her seat. The tin opened on impact, and coins of all sizes spilled, leaping and spinning and rolling across the floor.
“Smokey, ******** DAMN, it was under control!”
Well, that certainly did sound like Mya's own voice. Smokey's shoulders sagged with relief. The spell was broken. 'Yes Mya,' she said, cowering down to pick up her savings.
“Yer grounded!”
'Yes, Mya …' As if that was possible.
“No pocket money for two weeks!”
Well, that wasn't fair. Smokey's eyes narrowed, as she continued to look for the coins. She'd only wanted to protect Mya! 'Yes, Mya …' she mumbled nonetheless.
“And get me some ice for my 'ead NOW.”
'Yes …' Smokey angrily slammed the coins she had alread collected down on the floor, and stomped off to get some ice from a nearby store, sulking.
“Ah, so sorry,” Mya breathed, leaning back in her seat and holding her head. “Dat girl ...” She rolled her eyes with an apologetic smile. Seriously though, the Gatekeeper's presence had been intense, and there were still some scarring images burned into her short term memory of what kind of 'fun' he'd had in mind using her body. She'd been rather reliefed about Smokey's interference, albeit wishing the girl could have thought of another, less violent way to break the spell. It had been effective though.
But, to be taken over by the Gatekeeper like that … Maybe she was getting old after all …
“But, de good news, yer cousin, 'er soul's not passed over.” Which didn't necessarily mean she was alive and well, but it at least meant hope.
“Dere is a place,” she eventually said, touching upon the cigarette Theirn had given her. Yup, she'd need that smoke later on. And she was indeed grown old, to be thriving on feeble small offerings like that. “Same place as 'ere, yet not. Another Bazaar, full of magicks.” She eyed Theirn, but, troubled or not, she'd already offered enough, the witch decided. He'd find a way.
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