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 Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:26 pm
 Falx didn't suppose that he was lonely.
Loneliness was, after all, an emotion, and Falx could no more feel emotion than a fish could pedal a bicycle. He spent his time learning about useful things, like manners and culture and electro-shock therapy, and was entirely satisfied with his progress in life. Yet he had to admit to himself that time had begun to pass more slowly ever since his dear niece Liadian had grown up and started to branch out on his own.
It did not suit un flaneur such as himself to while away the days, weighed down by the steady march of hours. He had resolved to do something about it.
And so it was that Falx wished his Mumsy farewell, polished his gloves until they shone, and set out to visit the infamous Lupin library. It did not matter to him one whit that he did not know the way to the library, did not know anyone at the library, and could not care less about witchcraft. He was going for the sake of the journey itself, like any true gentleman of taste and leisure.
After several hours of walking, Falx was grimy with dust and vaguely put-out that his gentlemanly adventure had yet to lead to any insight, enlightenment, or interesting anecdotes.
Falx huffed. What to do, what to do?? He couldn't very well return home having garnered nothing from his experiences abroad.
His left forepaw crackled with electricity, and Falx concentrated until he produced a sparking energy knife. Age had helped him to gain control over his powers. He'd found that his lightning abilities naturally shaped themselves into blades resembling his mother's kunai.
One Falx had generated a satisfactory tool, he set about using it to carve lines into the side of a nearby tree.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:11 am
 The white haired teen on the other hand, was bored.
It hadn't taken long for Hiroyuki to learn most of the spells, especially since she found that she could recite them easily. Her daily training consisted of practicing, which didn't really take long. Even though her mind often wandered off to think about mythical creatures she had just read about, she still managed to do spells very accurately. She was more happy than proud of herself, because it meant that she had more time to concentrate on going on adventures.
However, magic was starting to grow on her, and becoming an important part of her life.
Going on her adventures normally meant she would be dirty, but learning cleaning spells solved the problem. With just a flick of her wand, she made the dirt stains on her clothes and fur disappear and grinned in satisfaction. The only thing that annoyed her was how messy her hair was, as she shook out the white bangs from a blue hair band she had conjured up. "I should really research on a spell to make hair neat again." She muttered. "Okaa-sama would scold me if I went home like this! And I can't get scolded. I hate being scolded. It's never nice to be scolded just because I went out on an adventure. I mean! I practiced, I did!" Admittedly, she hadn't practiced as hard as she should have, but her progress was admirable. She stuck her nose in the air as she walked along, prancing forward.
She stopped, ears pricking up as they picked up a...crackly sound. What was that? "Halt obake!" She pulled out her wand, and then pointed it towards the source. What ghost or monster would make such a...noise? The possibilities spun through her mind as light blue eyes turned to see who it was. A kitsu? Her eyebrows quirked in confusion, but continued directing the tip of her wand at him. "Who are you?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:46 am
Falx briefly turned his gaze on the femme with the wand, before he returned to concentrating on his work. Time spent staring into pools had taught Falx that his eyes were easily his most striking feature. Let the rest of his form be drawn in soft, welcoming pastels. His irises were black as storm-clouds.
"O-Baking? Oh, I'm not baking, kitten."
The teen's voice had already changed, settling into a smooth tenor, though the drawl he affected would have better fit a grown adult. His smile was easy, flashing teeth as sharp and bright as his weapon.
The energy knife glowing above the pads of his paw was around the same size as Hiroyuki's wand. It lit up the clearing with a harsh electrical glow. Each time he passed it across the tree-trunk he was showered with a rather aesthetic stream of sparks.
"Do you ordinarily run about threatening innocent kitsu with sticks and wands and the like? I would say it's far too pretty an afternoon for that, and that you're far too pretty a girl to behave so crassly. I therefore do not believe my ears."
Tsk. Manners. Falx's own tone was light and chatty, as though the young femme had merely caught him in the middle of an afternoon stroll.
"Do stay there if you wish to model. If not, I suppose I might whither and die in disappointment, but I shall attempt to retain a gentleman's composure."
Falx flashed her a friendly, winsome wink.
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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:35 am
The half demon sighed, shaking her head. Ridiculous. Were all people she ran into this clueless? "O-ba-ke. It has nothing whatsoever to do with baking. Only in your dictionary, it seems. It's Japanese for spirit or monster. Which I apologize for mistaking you for, but..." Could she be sure? With all those shape-shifters she had read in books? She trailed off, sharp eyes resting on his weapon. She had seen knives before, especially that of her "niece". It didn't particularly daunt her however. Sure, she hadn't beaten Verix in their fight, but that was only because cousin Xanul-san had stepped in.
And what was she to call this male? Ojisan? That sounded quite too formal.
Besides they seemed to be about the same age.
Hiroyuki was confident enough in her wand, and her magic that the only reaction she gave when she saw him manipulate it was that of amazement. "Interesting. Some sort of magic? You're not an Ani Hyuntikwalaski, are you? No, that's lightning fire....I've got it!" Eyebrows shot up as she examined Falx from head to toe. "Impundulu? I mean, sure it's supposed to be a bird, but it can take the shape of a handsome guy and seduce women." A shrug. "Or I could be totally wrong, and you're just a kitsusagi." However far-fetched her fantasies seemed, Hiroyuki did know that some kitsusagis had well...interesting powers, that didn't mean they were mythical creatures. Still, it never stopped her from trying to find one.
She gave him a glare which was followed by a slight sigh. "Always be on guard. You'll never know when someone tries to ambush you, do you?" She tilted her head towards him with a coy smile, tone light and almost sarcastic.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:51 am
"Oh, me?" Falx arched a brow, smiling enigmatically. He was pleased that the conversation had turned away from random foreign languages and squarely towards himself. On the other hand, a gentleman did not brag.
"Terribly kind of you to ask. But I assure you, kitten, I'm nobody. Just a wanderer on the road of life, searching for solace from the oppressive quietude of my hearth in the elegant world of culture."
The energy blade scored deeper into the tree trunk, forming defined trenches and valleys. It was difficult to see exactly what Falx was shaping beneath the glimmer and flash of his weapon, but it appeared as though he were... carving something?
"Do restrain yourself from ambush for a little longer, won't you?" Falx attempted to appeal to the young femme's better nature. "I cannot blame you for being irresistibly drawn to artistic endeavor, but I'm almost finished, and I'd rather you stayed still until I'm done."
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:16 am
Whatever that had popped into her mind had just came out of her mouth, like it always did, so Hiroyuki did not realize she had unknowingly complimented the male until he had replied. She frowned. Maybe the others were right...she should think before talking after all. The thought crossed her mind for a second, before she gave a quick shrug. Ah well, it hadn't caused any harm after all.
"I'm not a kitty." White tails swished in defiance. "Half demon and witch, to you, sir." It seemed that she had reverted back to using English, although that was partly because she had no idea if she could call him 'ojisan' or not. "And you can't be nobody, for god's sake. You're standing right before me clearly, so you must be somebody..." She trailed off, then narrowed her eyes. "Oh, don't tell me you're someone like Cousin Xanul-san. You don't seem to be like him at all." She had heard about these...Nobodies that her cousin had tried to explain to her about. Creatures with no emotions.
She tucked her wand behind her ear, and watched him curiously. "What are you doing? Some form of art?" She was too busy tiptoeing and trying to see what his carvings were like to babble on like she usually did.
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 4:30 am
Why did this femme expect him to know who her miscellanous cousins were? Or what random Japanese words meant? Really, there were only so many hours in the day, and Falx preferred to spend them on the finer things in life.
"You're cute when you try to be threatening and disagreeable." Falx beamed cheekily. "Like a disgruntled kitten who's been thrown into the bath. So don't fret. It's very charming, and i would hate to see a lady knock her tiara out of joint."
Electricity arced across his gloved paw, and he could feel each and every cel of his body coming alone with energy. Soon the cascade of power would start to burn him, but he only needed a little more time...
"Ah! There we are."
The lightning knife vanished with a loud thunderclap, leaving only heavy, charged air and the scent of ozone in its wake.
Carved into the tree was a smooth wooden replica of the pattern on Hiroyuki's vest.
"I'm glad you came along. Nature scenes are so banal."
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:20 am
Well, well, it seemed that this kitsusagi didn't know much. Or, in other words, wasn't knowledgeable on the topics Hiroyuki preferred to immerse herself in. It was very hard to find others, besides her siblings to chatter about what she desired. Plus, they didn't really take an interest in mythical creatures like they did.
She bounded up to him, her white tails sticking up in the air in a disgruntled fashion. She was annoyed with him, yet secretly pleased at his comments, though she didn't show it. So she wasn't very good at being violent or as tomboyish as her niece. So what? "My tiara's on perfectly fine, thank you very much. It won't come off. It's never come off, really. And it shouldn't. What's the point of putting it on properly if it's gonna be, may I quote you, out of joint?" It was hard for her to decide whether she did like it or not. It was interesting; her aunt with a similar one had told her it was the symbol of a princess, yet being slightly tomboyish as she was, she was a bit unhappy. But well! What was wrong with being a adventurous princess? Nothing, to her, that was.
"They are pretty boring." She agreed, hopping up to look at his carving. It didn't take her long to notice what it was. "And oh! You like it too? I always did. Especially the tassels, though they were a pain to clean when I didn't know any cleaning spells."
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:06 pm
"So defensive, my dear!" Falx laughed, raising his forepaws in a gesture of surrender. "You should be more confident in your tiara. It's a perfectly ladylike accoutrement, much like your patterned clothing."
One of the most wonderful things about having no emotions was that Falx never had to care whether or not he was annoying people. He had no feelings of his own, so why should theirs be in any way material?
"Fear not. I, Falx, the Voltage Kniht, am here to alleviate your tedious frustrations."
He gave the femme a mock-bow, tails bobbing, before turning to give his carving a farewell pat. Falx was aware that he was a mere dabbler in the fine arts, but that was perfectly fine. I gentleman shouldn't be too passionate about such things.
"Now come with me. There are many things to accomplish before the sun sets."
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:33 am
"Of course I'm confident in it." Hiroyuki retorted. She wasn't quite so annoyed as before, after seeing the carving, and was more intrigued by this strange individual.
"The Voltage Knight? Interesting~ I've never met someone with a title before. Nor someone that is a knight. Whom do you serve? Do you slay monsters?" She was about to go on into a happy ramble about monsters when she realized he had introduced himself. Remembering her manners, she said. "I'm Hiroyuki. Daughter of witch, Vynessia Lupin, and demon, Sesshomaru." There was a spark of pride in her voice as she spoke her parents' names.
She gave a simple bow of her head in return.
"Go? Go where? Is this an adventure? It's not going to get me dirty, is it?" She didn't mind getting dirty, but she had just cleaned herself, after all. As she spoke, she took her wand from behind her ear, and handed it to the middle of her three tails, which curled around the white holly wand immediately.
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 4:55 am
"Of course not. I should hardly wish to serve any of the kitsusagi I have met, and as to slaying monsters- mmm, what does that have to do with knightliness? Being a gentleman is a state of mind and manners."
Falx had thought very hard about his title before adopting it, and had settled on one that he felt was descriptive of both his power and his class. He was certain that his natural aptitudes would shine through.
"All true Nobodies have titles. My mother, for instance, is the Savage Nymph, and my father is the Graceful Assassin. The demise of the Organization Thirteen is no reason to abandon our traditions."
Falx blinked, catching himself.
"Still, my dear, it is a pleasure to meet you."
He rose, to cast Hiroyuki a curious look.
"Now tell me about this monster business. Do you have any basis to believe I should be doing such things as a precursor to adopting my title? As a half-demon, you yourself might qualify as a monster. And I am a dire creature with no heart." He chuckled. "I dare say that charring both of us to a crisp would not make for a pleasant afternoon. But I am intrigued by your supposition."
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 5:29 am
"Weeeelll, I thought a knight served a king or a queen or both. Or fought for a lady's honor. Something along those lines. I've read about them before." An avid reader she was, with fantasy books. It was strange that she didn't really like to study her magic and go on adventures as a powerful witch when she loved to read about such.
"Organization Thirteen." She repeated his words, bobbing her head slowly as she listened. "Oh yes, I heard I'm related to two of them from that. Can't exactly remember who, or their titles, but I know Cousin Xanul-san's father is one." So she was right about the Nobody thing after all!
"Well. Even though I may be half-demon and you a Nobody...person, we've never done anything to harm anyone, have we? Well, at least I haven't, that's for sure." Annoying people with her excessive talking didn't count, in her book. "Monsters do bad things. Like capture maidens and try to eat them. Or set fire on houses. Which is why knights are supposed to slay them and bring glory to themselves." Hiroyuki then paused and glanced back at the blonde. "I suppose it's really up to you. Whether you want that glory or not."
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Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 7:29 am
Falx thought about that for a moment. Hiroyuki had a salient point about the nature of knighthood. But he had no king or queen, and he enjoyed the company of ladies too much to limit himself to a single belle. An emotionless being was capable of loyalty, and even attachment, but not the kind of devotion borne from love of a femme or a country.
"I fight for the honor of my lineage," Falx decided. "And I suppose I ought to defend the honor of any ladies in the immediate vicinity, if it comes up. Kitsusagi society ought to have standards."
He casually examined his paws. The energy blade had worn away of the bit of shine to his leather glove. He was going to have to get better with it.
"Do you feel as though your honor has been impinged recently, Mademoiselle Lupin?"
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:12 am
"Ah, for your family. Very noble indeed." She bobbed her head, showing her approval. Even though books had not mentioned this, Hiroyuki thought it was fine for Falx to do so. Besides, she loved her family and would fight for them as well. With the exception of a certain individual.
"Me?" Hiroyuki asked, waving her tails lazily in mid air, tossing the wand from one tail to another, making sure to catch it before it landed on the ground. It didn't take her long to think. "Well, yes. I met this...female kit when I was one, and she was absolutely feral! She attacked me for no reason at all! And to make matters worse, she had a weapon!" Of course, Hiroyuki had a wand, but she had somehow forgotten to use it during the fight. Besides, she had thought it was a friendly one, until Verix tried to scratch her. "I was obviously at the weaker side!" Her voice dropped to a conspiratory whisper. "I heard she's grown though. And she has fangs, of all things!"
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Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 8:04 am
"How droll," Falx drawled, brushing one of his bangs back. "There truly is an alarming lack of class in these kitsusagi lands. We are sentient, are we not? There's no call to live like wild beasts."
The smell of ozone returned, stronger and more powerful than ever. There was a charge in the air. It was the smell of the calm before the storm.
"Shall we go pay your dear friend a visit?"
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