|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:15 pm
I had that dream again...
Part: I He was flying with nothing but the moon to play as a guiding light. The landscape below was obscured in the way only moonlight could. Making everything seem as though it was flat and almost non-dimensional. The feel of night wind flowing through his black feathers was liberating.
Every now and then the crow would peer down at the land below just to make sure he wasn't passing up something shiny as he enjoyed the stretching of his wings. Human form always felt so confining. So, why did he not do this more often? It was because of pride, fear, and self-loathing.
Pales was above that now, at least for the moment.
Though before the train of thought could continue it was derailed by something shiny! It called to him, and the more he tried to forget about it and continue on with his thoughts the shinier it became and it seemed to call to him.
"Pales, Paaaaaaaaaallllllllless," it practically sang out in an eerie voice, "don't leave me here all alone. It is so cold and lonely out here," the voice of the shiny whimpered.
Can't pass up a talking shiny, no sir, it just wasn't done!
The crow swooped down first to get a better look at it and saw simply a glass shard. That was simple enough to carry! He then wheeled around and swooped again to now pick up the shard in his beak.
It was light, it was shiny, and it TALKED.
What more could a crow ask for?
Suddenly the shard became not so shard like. In his beak was a bunch of cloth and the shard was heavy. Soon whatever it was and he were plummeting to the ground...
And just as they hit the ground in what one could assume was a glorious splat...
---
Pales sat bolt up right in bed with yelp and much flailing.
His mate who slept next to him cracked open an eye peering at him sleepily, "S'ri'ht," Tyr murmured incoherently with a questioning tone.
He calmed once hearing Tyr's voice and simply nodded, "Yes, just go back to sleep. I need a drink."
Tyr was already asleep again before Pales even set foot out of bed and onto the floor. Pales knew this not because he checked before leaving the room, but because Tyr was softly snoring again. The man was glad for this, as once you get the younger man to fretting there was hardly a way to stop him. It was like rolling a boulder down the hill. Once it starts it often takes an act of God to stop it.
Pales shuffled down the hallway checking in various rooms to make sure the children were sleeping peacefully. All of the children but one slept, but he refrained from peeking in on her, but he did listen in. With that one, it was always assumed that she was doing 'fine' as long as she was at least dormant. It was when the horrific girl was active and about you had to worry. Tonight the raspy breathing was present in the room that she had claimed.
Thank the powers that be for small favors.
Satisfied that the Strange One didn't sneak out this evening he moved on to the kitchen only to find Albion sitting up and reading a newspaper at the kitchen counter. The much older man didn't even so much as peer back at Pales and simply shoved a cup of warm milk a little farther away from himself to signal that it was indeed meant for Pales.
He hesitated at the doorway watching Albion's back suspiciously, but still the older man didn't seem to acknowledge him any further than the gesture with the cup. Pales shrugged and moved toward the cup and took it up and leaned his lower back against the counter ledge.
"What are you reading?" Pales muttered quietly, but there was no warmth in his voice when he spoke to man near by.
Albion finally glanced over the other man and shrugged, "Readin' the newspaper. Nothing but sadness and death as far as I can see," he sighed turning his attention to the paper again.
Pales peered down at the paper section Albion was currently reading and raised an eyebrow before replying flatly, "That is because you're reading the obituaries again."
There was a pause for a moment before Albion rolled his shoulders and sighed, "Point to you, I stepped right into that one..."
Pales couldn't help but feel a small ounce of satisfaction, but he didn't show that is how he felt. He watched for a moment and yawned, "I had that dream again, but this time there was something more to it."
"Oh?" Albion replied as he lifted one of his thumbs to his mouth and began nibbling at its tip, "My suggestion remains the same, but tell me about this added thing." He muttered as if distracted, but Pales knew better. Albion was worse than a sponge, even if he was a slightly rotted sponge he soaked up any information he could all the same.
"Yeah, go crow and fly," Pales grumped idly as he stared into his cup which was quickly cooling, "anyways, I found this glass shard and it called to me and made me pick it up or something. So, of course I pick it up and suddenly something about it changes and becomes cloth in my beak and very heavy until me and whatever it was that I picked up were plummeting to the ground..."
Albion stood upright again and only offered a shrug, "That doesn't make any sense to me. Perhaps it is prophetic? Many of us have that sort of talent..."
He twitched an eye before shaking his head, "I doubt it," Pales said finally rejecting that theory.
The older man laughed and shrugged, "Maybe it is something you ate? Go to the library later and check out a book on dreams then if it bothers you that much. Now, let me get back to reading."
Pales rolled his eyes and pushed off of the counter and setting the cup next to Albion, "I guess," he murmured and stalked off to take a shower and get ready for an outing. No matter how frustrating living with the old man was, Pales came to accept that Albion made some pretty solid and correct suggestions (when Albion felt like it). Not that he'd admit that any time soon...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 2:32 pm
That book scent...
Part: IIIt took Pales a bit of time to get out of the door this morning. He had to make a million promises to Tyr and Armel that he would indeed return instead of ... Disappearing again. Once everyone was satisfied, he cooked breakfast for everyone as a show of good cheer and even took a bit of time to eat with them before running off to the library.
Pales made it a point to not disappear without warning anymore. Especially after the lecturing he received after returning. It was a harsh and seemingly long process to sit through. It showed they cared though. So that was something at least.
The crisp clean smell of spring was in the air as Pales walked to the library, and he simply took the time to take that in during his walk. He enjoyed his walk and didn't hurry it along. It was nice to walk and not think, and because of not thinking he almost forgot the purpose of his walk until he nearly passed by the library which was the reason of the particular walk. The sudden halt in walking caused him to stumble a bit, but it helped him in his effort to redirect himself toward the library door and enter the building.
The air of the library had what could only be described as 'the book scent'. His mother always used to hate libraries because of that scent, but then again his mother hated reading period. She always claimed that there were more important things to do than to waste time reading little words. His mother was dyslexic, but she never admitted it to Pales. Only when he was old enough to know and understand did he realize the truth, but he didn't bring it against her. He had simply let it drop.
He frowned at the memory of his mother that had suddenly overwhelmed him and promptly tried to think of other things as he moved toward the card catalogue. He could use the computers, but Pales preferred to do his search in the old fashioned way. Selecting a couple of relevant titles and writing down where they could be found he went about his search and found at least two of them were still in. Instead of checking them out Pales simply moved to a seemingly unoccupied table and had a seat there. After getting situated he noted that near by toward his right was an old looking leather-bound book. Perhaps it was left behind by someone that had brought it out and decided it wasn't what they were looking for. Librarians usually frowned at such occurrences, but many didn't seem to respect nor care what the staff thought.
Pales idly shifted his shoulders trying to ignore the small inkling of curiosity that became known after noting that the title of the leather-bound book wasn't on its cover or binding which was easily visible to Pales' gaze. The book was bear except for the sticker stating where it belonged in the decimal system that he couldn't quite comprehend even to this day. He only knew enough to find what he needed.
After a moment or two he managed to amass enough self control to ignore the book and start in on his reading. The sooner he got done the sooner he could get home to his family and end their fretting at his voluntary absence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:13 pm
My precious, my own...
Part: III It was well established that Pales wasn't always the most observant of people when it came to his surroundings. So it wasn't shocking that he didn't really notice the shard of mirror hanging on a string (which was tied around it) from a desk lamp. The shard didn't move or shine, and there was plenty of daylight in the library so that the desk lamps weren't needed. It would almost seem as if the shard quietly camouflaged itself to keep from being noticed by the wrong sort of people. It was positioned to where it was reflecting the image of the book near where Pales sat, but it reflected something else as well.
Something that caught Pales' attention as he just so happen to look up from the text he was reading. A spider skittered quietly across the old leather-bound book that had nearly been forgotten ... until now.
Pales stood up very fast bumping his thighs against the under side of the table causing him to yelp in addition to the squeal of revulsion. He wasn't scared of spiders ... so long as they respected his stay-on-the-other-side-of-the-room personal space policy he had when it came to the small (and sometimes big) eight legged creatures. In addition to his vocal distress sound also came the clatter of the chair falling behind him.
Of course he was only reminded to be quiet with a glare and a soft 'shhh' sound from the librarian currently at the main desk. Pales glanced at the woman sheepishly before going about picking up his chair and setting it up right. Just as he had set himself right he noted something swinging and moving and reflecting light making itself shiny. Now he was looking directly at it now Pales was immediately captivated. Who would leave such a lovely shiny object out in the open like this? He certainly wouldn't. He tore his gaze away just long enough to peer around the library, before reaching to the shard and freeing it from the strong without being 'seen' doing it.
Though in honesty no one cared or seemed to notice.
Pales now in possession of a shiny forgot all about the dream, the dream books, the leather-bound book, and everything in general. All that mattered at the moment was the fact that the shard was in his hand and was continuing behave in a shiny manner.
After a few moments of sitting in silence and admiring the shard he began to speak to it, "Where did you come from? Were you here this entire time?" he coo'd at it softly. Pales went unnoticed since he spoke so quietly.
A part of him partially hoped it would speak to him or in the very least reply, but it remained silent. There was a quiet questioning voice in his mind. It was Tyr's voice. This dragged him out of his reverie and made him glance at the library clock and found it to be late in the afternoon.
"Shhhhhoot..." Pales grunted out softly and stood up while in the process of tucking the shard into one of his vest pockets. After he was sure he was not forgetting anything he scurried out of the library. When he got home he'd put the shard in his collection of all things shiny. End
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:22 pm
How beautiful the world seemed to be. Everything around it shined and glittered, much like it did itself. It was glorious. There was but one flaw. For all the beauty around it, it could not touch them. It could not feel beauty yet. In truth, it couldn't really see either. But it knew they were there. Oh, it knew. The shard was embedded between other equally shiny and equally useless items. It felt quite at home, and yet so restless. Much like it's brethren, a simple mind could only think of a simple solution. The shard vibrated for a moment before scattering into a million pieces, all of which fluttered gently against the glass and stone around it. Each tiny piece did the same as it's mother had, exploding into tiny particles over and over. Finally, they were all gone. A crash could be heard from the room where Pales kept his treasures. Something heavy and foreign had suddenly found itself resting on a bed of shinies.. And for the first time, said object realized that feeling them was not necessarily such a pleasant experience. Before anyone could find him, the child darted out of the room, and found his way easily outdoors. Lost and confused, all four of his arms grasped anything it could in the darkness. One found a length of rope, and the rest were quick to join it. It was dark, and cold. And certainly no longer very shiny at all. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 5:55 pm
All things that glitter...
Apparently turn into children.Everyone was off doing their own thing, most of them outside in the front yard making the most of the quickly dwindling daylight. Pales was in the kitchen chopping vegetables for a late dinner. He was happily in his own little world. Earlier today he got a new shiny and it was happily safe amongst his other shiny things. Contentment was having all the shiny things you could ever want.
Chop.
Chop.
Chopchopchop.
CRASH!
Pales stopped just short of cutting himself from the sudden startle the crash sound provided. What now? He wiped his hands on the apron he wore tied to his waist and quickly moved to the front yard to account for anyone that could be up to any mischief. Everyone was indeed outside still, and under the watchful gaze of Tyr. Tyr was also glancing back at the house with a worried look upon his young face. Pales opened the front door and stepped out a little and waved to Tyr to assure him that he is okay. The young man visibly relaxed and Pales went back into the house to investigate the cause of the crash.
--
The crimson haired figure shifted against the trinkets and things that poked into its skin. Now it could see ... and feel beauty. Beauty was pain that poked into the skin and this didn't feel good. The figure quickly got to its booted feet and looked around through spectacled eyes. Where was this? What was this? He heard movement in the house and he bit his lower lip blinking his bi-colored eyes. It didn't come to the room he was in directly. Good.
The crimson haired figure dusted itself off, but wait, four arms?!
...Well it felt natural enough. He decided to ignore it taking off the shawl and tucking it under an arm and scampering out while the tall man was busy at the front door.
--
Thumpthumpthump.
The sound of booted feet was for the moment overlooked when the front door was shut. If Pales had turned around a little quicker he'd have seen the crimson haired being making its way to the now very dark backyard.
Pales moved to the room where he kept his 'treasure' horde of shinies and found a portion of them in disarray and the shelf they had been resting was broken as if something a little heavier than it could support suddenly appeared there.
The man blinked and rubbed the back of his neck. His concern was more for the person that apparently broke its fall on the shinies than it was for the shinies that may have been broken in the process.
Besides, his mind reminded, broken shinies just created more shinies and thus expanding the shiny collection. It was the rational of anyone repressing a certain part of their inner selves.
"Oh, crap..." Pales murmured as he rubbed the back of his neck, "How'm I going to explain THIS to everyone," he asked at the air as he backed out of the room and began to glance around. His mind didn't exactly connect the mirror shard he collected earlier to the current situation. Surely he will after he had the chance to take stock of his collection, but at the moment that didn't seem the wise thing to do.
Biting his lower lip he quietly removed the apron from around his waist and stepped toward his smashed items and useless trinkets and covered them with the apron as if covering the face of a corpse whose face was frozen in terror. To someone like Pales it was about the same.
Thumpthump.
Pause. Creak. SLAM.
"I really need to oil the back door." Pales murmured after a moment. That was all that came to mind as he turned toward the exit of his room and wandered out and wandered toward the kitchen where he heard the back door. Where most would be having a meltdown, Pales seemed calm, but perhaps this was his version of a melt down. Though the young man seemed good natured enough, but he was behaving far rather calmly for what was happening.
---
The crimson haired figure scampered into the darkness of the backyard. Its arms reaching in the darkness until it felt the something circular, and rubbery. Reaching further upwards it discovered rope and began to then pull itself up one of its arms still holding its shawl deposited it in the hollow of the rubber circle it had discovered mid climbing and soon it was perched on top of the circle which was now swinging giving it a weird yet content feeling for a moment.
What was it? It was it a four armed creature-beast?
Well if it needed a gender it decided it was a He.
Yes, he, and he wanted to know where he was. Did he have a name? He leaned his face against the rope the cold metal of his pince-nez glasses pressing against the skin on one of his hand causing an idle shiver. Soon the door he had exited out of creaked open and there stood that person that was chasing him.
---
"What the hell?" Pales' eyebrow furrowed. He could see fairly well in the darkness, and what he saw was odd, "Who are you?"
The crimson haired figure peered back at Pales almost lazily and didn't respond.
The young man frowned, "Did you hear me, kid?" from where Pales stood he could not discern anything about the figure perched on the tire swing.
A soft, but clear voice parroted back, "Did you hear me, kid?"
Pales raised an eyebrow and shook his head, was this his? Well, he couldn't let it stay out here on its own, "Come on, no more games...Tell me who you are and I'll get you home."
The figure's brow furrowed now as if concentrating. Talking seemed easy, but apparently not as easy as it looked, "Who home?" harder to speak when you chose not to parrot someone the four-armed boy decided.
Pales moved closer sighing a bit, "Okay, do you have a name?"
What the hell was a name?! The boy on the tire swing frowned, "Name ... No." He could figure out what the words meant the simple seeming ones anyways. A name was something he definately didn't have, whatever that was. He could only assume it was a label of some sort...
It was his; at least as his as any of the kids were that he stumbled upon, "I see. Well your name is..." Pales looked thoughtful, but he still couldn't tell the gender even if he was closer, "Boy or girl?" he blurted out thoughtfully.
"My name Boy or Girl..." He tilted his head as crimson hair shifted against his forehead, what a funny 'name'.
Pales shook his head quickly, "Nonono. That isn't your name," his cheeks got red as he blushed from embarrassment, "Your name is ... Suzu." He said after taking a brief second to think. It stuck now. The name seemed to fit the figure and thus latched on.
"My name Suzu," The boy smiled as if liking the ring of the name. It was no longer a he or an it. It was a Suzu, but it would still refer to itself as a he.
Suzu pointed to the house behind Pales, "Home?" He pointed one of his hands at the door.
The dark haired man sighed and nodded, "Yes, I suppose now, come on in and meet everyone..." Pales moved forward and helped the boy off of the tire swing, "This yours?" the man picked up the shawl from the middle of the tire.
Suzu just nodded and walked a head of Pales.
The young man shook his head and draped the shawl over one of his shoulders and followed, "Welcome to the nuthouse," he murmured softly into the air after the four-armed "boy".
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 3:51 am
Hobo Aspirations...
A week later. Suzu sat upon the trunk at the foot of its bed watching as the one it called “Father” showed how to properly make a bed up each morning. Suzu’s head tilted side to side as it watched taking in each detail of the task as it was completed. It couldn’t help but get the feeling that this would get tedious rather quickly. Still, Suzu would attempt to remember to do this each morning.
The one called “Father” was Pales, who sighed softly as he folded over the top half of the sheet exposing only the pillows to view. He smoothed out the line of the sheet leaning over the bed to reach the far end, “See? Easy as that,” Pales said concluding the lesson.
“Father, why? Armel doesn’t really do it.” Suzu asked, challenging the reasoning behind this seeming madness.
“...Armel should be. Anyways, it is to keep your room nice and neat. It is good to be neat and clean.” Pales said trying to hide a tone of uncertainty when faced with a good question that has no real answer. The man had always made his bed each morning. It was something practically ingrained in him since childhood.
“I see. I still don’t understand,” Suzu pointed out crossing its top arms while it leaned back using its lower hands to support it and keep it from falling further backward and off of its perch.
The child had learned fast within its first weeks of living in the household. It knew who to leave alone and who it can safely bother. Though sometimes Suzu slipped up and did something it shouldn’t have. The only thing Pales didn’t seem to have to teach the child was how to read. Suzu could write in a sloppy child-like hand and sometimes his spelling wasn’t that great, but reading seemed effortless. One would think the two would go hand-in-hand. The man decided not to question it, there were odder things lurking in the household than this four-armed child, or so he had decided to save himself the headache.
“So it is important to keep your room neat and clean?” It queried from its trunk perch. Suzu tilted its head causing crimson bangs to shift against its forehead. The glasses on its nose glinted lightly in the morning light filling the room.
Pales nodded a little, “It is very important.” He said with a yawn. Perhaps after this the man could catch a small nap. “Besides, you don’t want people to think you’re a hobo or something.” The man said unthinkingly. He soon regretted his phrasing as soon as he heard his own answer float into the air waiting to be pounced upon.
“What is a hobo?” Suzu inquired watching Father with wide curious bi-colored eyes.
Oh crap.
“I’d think, as much as you read and look through books and stuff you’d know.” Pales said at a loss hoping to save himself from the Hell that was trying to swallow him up. In fact he was mentally beating it off with a stick. Back, back foul beast.
Suzu sniffed a bit looking away and up to the ceiling, “I don’t always understand the words I read.” The child admitted softly. “Sometimes they are not in a context I can’t understand. Plus it doesn’t sound like a word I’ve heard.”
Well at least the kid can admit when it was beat, time had come for Pales to do the same.
The man sighed reaching up both hands to run it through his hair. “Well, okay,” he began jumbling his thoughts together and then breaking them apart again in an attempt to make sense of them. “Well, hobos are folk that don’t have any real possessions and usually live near train tracks. They are homeless, and they don’t often get to bathe or are considered very clean.” Then again this was likely a stereotype, but that was all Pales knew of that particular group.
“Oh,” Suzu said looking back to its Father. “I see. Can I be a hobo when I grow up?” whether this was meant as a joke to see what the man next to the bed would say or if he truly meant it was unknown. Either way Pales was starting to stretch congratulating himself until that question got plopped out.
Pales found himself trapped mid stretch and his ego quickly deflated. The man slumped out of his stretch after a moment at a loss before saying, “I guess, we’ll see okay? Maybe there’s a good hobo school somewhere.” He stated in a defeated tone.
Suzu simply smiled content with the reply. A thoughtful look then took over his features before finally, “Where is Tyr?”
“...You’re not going to chase him are you?” Pales asked as he quietly sat on the edge of the child’s bed feeling suddenly very tired.
“Maybe, he’s fun to chase. I think he likes it, he makes all these funny sounds.” Suzu said cheerfully as it began scoot off its perch.
Goodie...
“You shouldn’t do that Suzu. Those aren’t happy sounds he is making. They are very upset and distressed noises.” Pales said softly, “You don’t want him sad, do you?”
Suzu tilted its head in confusion for a moment and shrugged, “I suppose not,” it said softly feeling a small ounce of guilt creep into its heart, “it just seemed like he was having fun is all.”
Pales couldn’t help but chuckle at this and then let out a sigh, "Don't feel too bad, it isn't you per say. It's just how you look, it scares him a little he isn’t used to it." The man explained hoping not to hurt the 'boy's' feelings.
A brief silence came over the room that was only interrupted by a bird call somewhere outside. Suzu glanced over at a window noticing how lovely the day is outside and he decided then what he would do if chasing Tyr was off limits.
“Okay then. I won’t chase him anymore. May I go outside then?” It asked shifting heel-to-toe now that it was standing all four arms held behind its back as Suzu waited for permission.
The man gave a brief smile trying to hide his relief that the semi-talk had gone so well. “Yeah, sure, go on outside, I’ll go make lunch.” Pales pulled himself to a stand as Suzu, without further comment made its way outside to the tire swing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:30 pm
Fish Markets Are...
Stinky. [&] Synopsis:______________...___The Link: Click!
Those Involved: 'Stala, Shauna, Gilles, Suzu
The Synopsis: A coincidental gathering at a fish market and hilarity ensues and treats are had, sort of. Suzu meets three new individuals with which he could form a bond of friendship with but who knows how far it will actually get... [&] In My Opinion:______________...___Shauna: She seems pretty cheerful, like someone I could remain friends with for a while. Shauna has pretty ears and tail and seems pretty outgoing. Wonder if I'll run into her again...
Ilistala: She seems pretty vibrant and likes to lead people around or something. I don't know. At least the girl seemed like she knew what she want and what she was doing, so I suppose it is alright...She has pretty orange-ish colored hair...
Gilles: He had crazy blue hair and stuff, but I liked it. This one seemed about as confused on a couple of things as I was. He seemed friendly enough, but I shouldn't really judge him or anyone by first meetings... [&] Meanwhile:______________...___Suzu managed to make its way home late in the afternoon after all was said and done. It was very proud that it had managed to gain some friends or at least some acquaintances that could perhaps be cultivated into firm friendships if it played its cards right. Though that depended on their thoughts on it as well, but either way it was good to go out and meet others.
Quietly the young ‘boy’ stepped up to the door of its home and reached out to open the door. It glanced through the sun streaked hallway and listened to the usual sounds of activity with in and found everything to be silent. There seemed no voices or anything, but that could be a good thing, that meant some precious alone time in the house without getting poked and prodded. Not that Suzu minded any attention, but it was always nice to have time alone especially after a full afternoon with three other people.
Suzu padded through the hallway after getting its shoes off and closing the door. It peeked into the living room just to make sure that the television was free for use. Being used to having a full house had made it a little more cautious and conscious of others around it and their needs instead of its own needs. Once it saw the television was free Suzu padded to the kitchen and went about making a bowl of late afternoon cereal for a snack. There would hopefully be a meal coming or made later.
The ‘boy’ seemed pretty self-sufficient at taking care of itself after watching many others do things for themselves in the past. Suzu seemed to learn much of what it did through the mimicry of other’s actions. The way the four-armed being followed everyone around and observed them seemed somewhat unnerving because it watched them so closely, but few in the household let that bother them. Armel was more than happy to lead by example.
Once the snack was pieced together and everything put back into the proper places Suzu padded back to the living room to watch cartoons on the television. All-in-all this turned out to be a rather glorious day. Suzu smiled to itself as it settled into the couch getting comfortable with the cereal and the show it found worth watching.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:18 pm
WHOOLY BULLY...
You @*#$! You broke my glasses! It was a bright sunshiny day and it would have been a shame to just spend the whole day inside and waste the glory of spring weather, as spring weather always tended to be rather glorious as a whole. That was the reasoning behind this current outing, all by itself and with no one else around.
Suzu didn’t want to bother its family with an outing; everyone always seemed so busy running about and doing things. The ‘boy’ was more than happy to look after itself and not make anyone else do so. Suzu wanted to go out again and see if it could make some new friends amongst other sorts of peers and thus expand its network of ‘pals and acquaintances’ or perhaps find the people he had met a time or two ago and reconnect with them.
Sadly, Suzu couldn’t seem to find anyone new or old to connect with. It tried to hang out with various groups of children but none seemed to either take a shine to it or seem to care if it joined in or not. Sometimes the children shooed Suzu away announcing that they had enough players on the field or the game only required a certain amount of people to play with and they had reached their quota. It seemed to the four-armed individual that this making friends ordeal seemed a lot harder than it appeared. Much harder when everyone seemed disinterested for some reason today.
So Suzu found itself seated somewhat sullenly upon the platform of a merry-go-round, all four arms clutching at a railing at either side of it while its legs idly pushed against the ground sending the device spinning in a lazy clockwise motion while sending a couple of gravel pebbles to go bouncing a centimeter away from where they once lain.
It was difficult to discern for the reason why Suzu couldn’t find anyone to play with or befriend. Suzu had four arms but many of the children here had odd features as well then again Suzu didn’t identify with one gender or another. The ‘boy’ lacked the concept of ‘gender roles’ since no one at its home stuck to any particular role as far as gender was concerned. The only masculine influence was Big Brother Armel and only a couple of feminine influences such as Raeanne, who didn’t talk much, and Kaveri, who was much too young to understand gender roles or anything about gender in general.
Pales and Tyr didn’t seem to adhere to anything as far as gender went. Tyr was at times very feminine while Pales sometimes was very masculine, but they didn’t seem to take much notice of their behavior and despite it all both of the parental units seemed to suit each other somehow.
The quandaries multiplied in the ‘boy’s’ mind, issues expanding or shrinking while hoping onto one idea and the next. Deepening into thoughts of why gender mattered at all, then. Perhaps these children weren’t as enlightened as it was and that fact greatly intimidated them, it was a simple theory and one that seemed to make Suzu feel better as it gave a firmer kick against the ground sending the platform spinning into a much faster cycle that would make most children slightly nauseous.
When the merry-go-round finally stopped Suzu found itself looking upon a new group of slightly older looking children not too far away from where it sat. Perhaps it would have better luck with this particular set of children. Thus the ‘boy’ got up, dusted off the back of its pants and started to make its way forward while raising its top right arm in greeting.
Some of the youths in the group looked toward Suzu’s approaching form and several of them just pointed at it instead of waving back. There was snickering and general laughter heard. The ‘boy’ assumed that it was all in good spirit...
The so-called leader of the group stepped forward to meet the four-armed one with hands on his hips and eyes looking small dark and mean as he stared down toward Suzu’s form. “Stop right there,” the larger mean looking boy commanded. Suzu did as it was told while its hand dropped limply to its side.
“What do ya want from us?” The boy asked in a short demanding tone in his voice.
“I wanted to join your game, whatever it was,” Suzu said without fear in its voice.
The older boy held out his hand and soon there was a ball in it which he began to toss from hand to hand, “Yeah, well we don’t want you joining us.” The leader didn’t much respect the fearless way this weirdo was behaving. Didn’t that four-armed freak know who they were? Obviously the four-eyed kid did not. “So get lost, four eyed and four armed freak.” The leader sneered.
Suzu blinked and shrugged, “I don’t have four eyes,” it pointed out, “I am wearing glasses and I guess that could make it look like I have four eyes but...” before Suzu could say much more the ‘boy’ got a snoot full of red kickball in its face. Its pince-nez glasses fell from its face having been knocked loose. There was a soft clatter as they hit the ground. Suzu’s hands all went toward its face and when he pulled them away to see thick rivulets of red blood running down along his palm.
“H-hey! Why did you do that?” Suzu asked in a nasal sounding voice, now looking up at the offending boy who was currently much closer than he had been prior, much too close for comfort especially after that violent display.
Suzu held out a set of hands in an effort to ward the larger boy away while stepping back forgetting all about its glasses that had fallen. The boy merely grinned and stalked after Suzu trying to remain threatening.
Glancing down for but a brief second the ‘bully’ made a calculated stomp upon Suzu’s glasses.
CRUNCH!!!
It was a horrifying sound. One that struck deep into Suzu’s heart and caused a behavioral change in it as it stood stiff and bi-colored eyes darkened all at once stopping its retreat from the larger and much meaner boy before it.
“You broke my ******** glasses, you b***h.” Suzu’s voice cracked faintly as it spoke. The voice was so quiet the other boy didn’t hear it at first.
“What did you say, dumb a**?” the larger boy retorted with a sneer. Obviously the child was unaware that the tide had indeed turned just then.
“I said...You. Broke. My. ********. Glasses. You. b***h.” Suzu repeated now growling. Its head lifted to fix the other boy with a baleful glare, and somehow that had turned out to be enough for the larger boy turned pale and stumbled back a few steps.
“H-Hey. I’m sorry, man. I’ll get you some new ones.” The boy fell unto his rear end in an attempt to back off. “Look, man, it is okay, they were stupid anyhow.”
Suzu just continued stare not smiling or seeming to relax, “I’d get the ******** out of here if I were you. Before I decide to do something I’ll regret.” Suzu said softly clenching its four fists. This was completely out of character for the red haired child or so it would have seemed if someone from its family had witnessed what was happening. Suzu could take abuse could even have accepted having something broken by family members but for some reason when it was a stranger. The four-armed boy couldn’t seem to stand it after a certain point. Suzu had reached its limited.
Either way the bully no longer wanted any part of this. His prey had somehow turned around and become predator. Perhaps that was the true color of this boy. The older boy followed by his cronies all turned and fled leaving nothing behind not even a memory for Suzu to recall about how they had looked or what species of humanoids they were. The only thing the boy could remember, much later as he was picking up the remains of his glasses to bury somewhere, was the unpleasant event that had taken place and the emotion of helplessness and confusion it had left behind.
After the glasses were buried under an old tree in the park Suzu went home feeling weary right down to the bones. It stumbled up the stairs opening the door with a dirt covered hand and kicking off its dirty boots at the hallway where the rest of the family kicked off their shoes when they came in. It didn’t feel like cleaning itself up though Suzu was faintly aware that it looked like a frightful mess with dirt clods tangled in its long hair and bleeding at some of its fingertips. Tears stained its cheeks and dried blood covered much of its lower parts of the face.
In the living room it had found Father watching television. The ‘boy’ said not a word as it moved its smaller frame next to the chosen parental figure and curled up with a soft lonesome sniff.
Pales lifted his arm to view the child in question and had to do a double-take to make sure he saw correctly, “What happened to you, ‘Zu?!”
“Bullies,” it replied tonelessly, “broke my glasses.”
The man was at a loss as he moved a hand to stroke his son’s hair. “Need to get you cleaned up.” Pales was more worried about the condition of the four-armed child than that of the couch. Couches can be cleaned and mended easily.
“Can we just stay like this awhile?” Suzu asked with a small plaintive tone.
“Uhh, okay. Want to go get new glasses?”
“Nah...Didn’t really need ‘em for anything,” The ‘boy’ responded slurring its words a little toward the end.
“You want me to talk to those kids?”
“Don’t even remember what they look like. Don’t worry about it, Father.”
“Well...Okay...”
With that Suzu fell into a deep sleep and remained that way for most of the night, missing dinner. When the ‘boy’ next awoke it found itself clean and in its bed safe and warm...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 11:37 am
Stuff of Nightmares...
So, which are you? A small red spider sat in its web. The breeze was wonderful this time in the evening it had gently swayed its web in an enjoyable manner. The wind was almost seemed to try to lift the tiny spider from its web to get or at least get the little creature’s attention. The spider, however, was far too intent on its task. There was always prey to be found and spider was hungry so very hungry.
For a moment the wind stopped except for the soft gentle sigh that was more heard than felt.
Listen, listen. Don’t you hear, don’t you feel? You can’t have it all.
The wind softly breathed around the spider causing it to eventually lift its head and pay attention to it rather than the ongoing hunt. Sadly this diversion cost dearly for at that same moment some bird plucked the spider and then there was black.
Can’t have it all, can’t be in both worlds. You gotta choose who you identify with. Silly thing. Poor wretch.
It was lonesome sitting there thought a small leather bound book. Inside its pages there were green and purple highlight markings carelessly made by college students that had come and go despite the warnings of the librarian. It was dark in the library this night and yet there was a feel of anticipation in the air. A tremor of something going to happen and suddenly something fell with a shatter and then came a roar of flames.
So what do you choose? Who are you? What are you?
A voice challenged within the flames racing toward the bookshelves.
Can’t have it both ways, gotta pick, gotta choose. Who are you, what are you? Do you even know? You are but a stupid child! Hahaha!
Before the book could figure out how to respond there was a feeling of hot pain arching up its binding and suddenly there was that darkness again. The darkness that threatened to consume and devour every inch of the soul, it was a frightening darkness the kind that clutches at the heart and then crushes it.
The spirit found itself in a procession of other spirits but no one was moving. No one was speaking. Near by, on a boulder-shaped cloud sat a small entity staring intently at the spirit.
So do you know? Do you understand? Speak your wish if you think you do, little one.
“Suzu, I am Suzu.” The whisp of spirit replied confident that the answer is correct.
Oh? What is a Suzu?
“A child. A boy.”
Are you sure? Are you certain?
“Yes.”
Alright then...
Then there was a sensation of falling after a large hole appeared under the spirit and swallowed it.
Falling.
Falling.
Falling.
And suddenly the spirit hits something hard, solid splattering it into pieces...
_____________
Suzu woke with a gasp and a start looking around his room wildly. What was that weird dream? What was it all about? He couldn’t seem to remember specifics as the night terror faded away retreating before it could be grasped or understood.
Something felt different but not physically so. It was a way of thinking that changed. The way Suzu viewed and identified with himself. Something he had grasped and wouldn’t let go of anymore. Something that had been semi-ambiguous before and something that hadn’t had a label until just now.
Despite the dream or nightmare, whatever you may call it, Suzu decided not to dwell on it much longer as he laid back and stared up at the ceiling that was covered in darkness. If he could not remember the dream then it was not worth thinking about it too hard. He wiggled in his bed finding a comfortable position for his arms, all four of them, and his body in general and fell back asleep as he listened to the soft wind blowing outside his window.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 2:49 pm
Off to Timbuctu...
Petshop! [&] Synopsis:______________...___The Link: Click!
Those Involved: Shauna, Suzu
The Synopsis: Suzu goes pet shopping and bumps into Shauna. Shauna buys a chinchilla for him and Suzu gives her a hug for it. D'awww. [&] Meanwhile:______________...___The chinchilla scrabbled about faintly in his box, anxious to get out and see where he had ended up. It knew it was else where by the smells that came in through the air holes. Occasionally the little creature would sit up and poke a small wriggly nose through the hole or attempt to look out of it by pointing the face to the side. It was seemingly useless since the view was very limited. Near by it could see one of the arms of its owner and the leg of some other unfamiliar person.
What a bother.
Suzu spared but a glance at the cardboard pet carrier with a small amused expression until Armel nudged him with a foot.
“Gimme th’ screwdriver, will ya?” Armel mumbled in a distracted sort of way. The ram-horned boy had volunteered for the task, in fact his hands were anxious to piece something together. The large cage seemed to be just the sort of task he’d enjoy. Plus Suzu promised to help hand tools and the like. Armel had sat down with his four-armed sibling and quizzed him on what tool was what for about an hour until he was satisfied.
So, in a way, the two were bonding. Bonding by sharing a task with each other for a common goal: to give the chinchilla a place of its own in the crowded D’Arcy household.
Suzu handed over the tool that was asked for and then when it was taken he resumed watching his older sibling screw in a few lose bits of the cage. “You’re pretty good at that.” The four-armed boy ventured, filling in idle time with conversation.
“Mmm, aye, I s’pose so,” Armel said glancing at Suzu with a small grin. “Thanks fer holdin’ up those pieces at th’ start though. Would’a been a lil’ bit of a problem otherwise,” the ram-horned boy said as he turned back to his task. “What’d ye name the lil’ fella?”
“Rufus,” Suzu replied readily as he rearranged the tools just to give his own hands something to do.
Armel nodded in acceptance of the name, “Ahh, a fine name.”
“I thought so!” Suzu said smiling happily at the compliment, “Glad you think so.”
The ram-horned boy finished putting the cage together and scooted back to survey his handiwork. “That looks good. Want help setting up the inside of it?”
“Please?”
“Sure. I got all afternoon for ye.”
Suzu grinned happily, it was a rare treat to spend so much time with Armel since the elf-thing often wandered off else where on his own tasks and errands. So the boys spent the rest of the afternoon setting up Rufus’ habitat with everything the little creature could possibly need to live a healthy life.
When the chinchilla was released into his new home he sniffed about and then went about making a small nest to sleep in...Life is good when you're a chinchilla.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:03 am
Reflections of me...
Shatter to pieces at the thought of you. [&] Synopsis:______________...___The Link: Click!
Those Involved: Raeanne, Suzu
The Synopsis:
This is a: Metaplot [&] Meanwhile:______________...___Stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
