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 Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:17 am
"Well then my little one, should we go out today? The sun is shining rather brightly and the air is warm enough that it shouldn't chill you at all."
A man stood in front of a mirror adjusting a bow tie that ran around his neck, a smile on his face as he spoke to an image that was shown behind in him the reflection. It was a black egg, one that had strange pink clouds that whirled around it and little wings that seemed to flutter, and it sat upon the bed while being propped and surrounded by pillows.
"We shouldn't spend all of our time indoors or else you'll start to get lazy and fat. We should take the chance to seize the day."
As soon as he was finished putting the last touches to his outfit he walked over and gently lifted the egg, taking care to not in any way bruise or harm a single part of it. It had been weird when he was suddenly given this little charm, but for now he enjoyed every moment with 'her'.
"Well then, let's head outside."
The door was opened to his house as he took a few steps out into the sunlight, his hand moving to shield the small egg rather than his own eyes from the piercing light. With no destination in mind the pair started down the street, their stroll starting.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:38 am
Toulouse struggled with the plastic bags of chocolate in his hands. Carrying the delicious candy would have been much easier if he didn’t have to carry his violin case too. Come to think of it though, he wasn’t even supposed to have the chocolate in the first place. The only point of him to being out and about to begin with was the fact that the tune up for his violin was finally finished. Unfortunately, there was a delicacy chocolate shop right next door. He was never known to resist such a treat.
He made a rude noise as he adjusted the handle of the violin case to sit easier in the crook of his elbow. However full his arms were with chocolate, Toulouse was still delighted over that fact that his violin would play properly now. The polished wood he knew, gleamed with a faint light and the new strings hummed like a nightingale. With a shake of his golden hair, he smiled, not even caring that the more avid shoppers were jostling him left and right.
He swung right, down a more quiet suburban street where the crowds were thinner. He walked briskly towards a far off bus stop with a hum under his breath.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:11 pm
"You seem to be a little troubled with your load. Should I give you a hand?"
The gentleman from before stood near Toulouse, his dark eyes watching the young man struggle with both a violin and his bags of whatever he was carrying. Originally the man hadn't thought to see if anyone around him would need assistance as he went on his walk, but when he'd heard Toulouse make a little rude noise nearby he was attracted with the desire to remedy the cause.
"I wouldn't mind at all."
Out in the sun it was very clear that this man stood out in a crowd, his attire a complete throw-back to the Victorian era. A top hat rested on his hair, which was a soft shade of brown turning silver, and the suit he wore had tails that swung behind him like little ribbons in the wind. His suit was a dapper shade of black so it wasn't like he looked too out of place, and he smiled down at the teen.
Probably the most noticeable thing about the man was the object that he carried in his hands like a precious treasure - the black egg.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:29 pm
“No.” Toulouse said suddenly, barely registering that anyone was speak to him. He had been nearly startled into dropping all of his things. He wasn’t used to strange humans talking to him. That along irritated him. He hurriedly corrected himself. “I mean, no thank you. Very good of you though.” Toulouse straightened his shoulders adjusting his parcels once again and looked at the man in front of him.
The human was dressed very strangely in a tailed suit with a genuine waistcoat. Toulouse hadn‘t seen anything like that in a long time. It reminded him vaguely of the Seelie fashion at court. He also wondered if the black top hat was collapsible. Stranger still was the black egg that the man held in his arms like a child. It seemed to be watching him, those Ashes of the Wind, and it made him shiver.
Toulouse stepped back slightly before realizing what he was doing. What was this human doing with an egg that belonged to the fae? “What is that?” He would have pointed if he could. Toulouse continued on in an accusatory tone with a furrowed brow. “Where did you get it?”
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:43 pm
"Oh, you mean this child? She was given to me by the winds of fate and chance, if you will."
The man smiled at the egg in his hands, which seemed to thrum happily as he spoke about it, and he gently ran a gloved fingertip over one of the sides. He honestly had come across it on a pure chance while taking a stroll on a rather windy day, the egg falling out of the sky as the strong wings blew from the northwest. He'd run like an idiot to catch whatever was coming down and in his earnest had ripped a pair of pants, but when he found the egg safe and humming contently in his hands it seemed like a little thing of worry.
"I surmise she's an egg of some sort of bird or creature, as I've never seen anything like her before, and I must admit I'm a little excited to see what she will become."
He had completely ignored the tone of voice Toulouse had, the accusing one, and continued to look at the egg which seemed to react more so now that Toulouse had come into their company.
"I take it you know what she is?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 12:56 pm
“Of course. It’s only natural that I should.“ Toulouse more or less stared openly at the egg with the fluttering wings. He had never actually seen one before. Oh, of course he knew the theory of it and had met others who were born of it…but still, he had never touched one before. Toulouse was the first to know about the Ashes, so shouldn’t he at least get to touch one?
Working on this logic, whether it was right or wrong, Toulouse set his bags of chocolate on the ground, and reached for the quivering, thrumming egg. The shell was warm to the touch and Toulouse could almost feel the life inside. He bent towards it. “Her?” he queried after a moments pause.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:09 pm
The man smiled at the almost childlike curiosity that he felt Toulouse displayed in reaching for and touching the egg, and he didn't pull the egg away as he instead let the caress continue.
"Yes, her. For some reason I felt that this child is a little girl and not just an 'it', so I decided that I should properly address her as such when speaking to others. Since she is alive in some way or another, it's only natural to do so. I'm sure you would feel the same way about something you cared for, am I correct?"
The egg seemed to be delighted under the touch of the other boy, the humming and warmth from it being released at a more feverish pace. The egg was always like this though whenever the man took his time to touch her and carry her around despite the fact his hands always smelt like ash afterwards.
"Oh, do pardon my asking, but what is your name? My name is Piero Hofmeister, though you may call me Piero if you wish. This child is known as Pasayo."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:29 pm
Toulouse sighed, his light touch still on the surface of the egg. He gave it one more caressing tickle before unbending to stand straight. “I care for very little sir.” Toulouse blinked his blue eyes slowly pushing a stray golden hair behind his ear. It was true there were not many people who he cared about. Toulouse thought of Julien for a moment and Felicity. They were the only ones.
“German.” Toulouse replied bending unhurriedly like an old man to pick up his strewn bags. It wasn’t a question. “I haven’t heard a name like that in a very long time. Pasayo is a cute name for a girl.” Toulouse bobbed his head, toggling his belongings as if for the millionth time. “They call me Toulouse. It’s a pleasure to meet Mr. Hofmeister. I’d shake your hand but…” The golden haired boy shrugged, indicating the full arms of both of them.
This Piero person was interesting to say the least. He was very polite for a human and it was somewhat refreshing. Though, Toulouse, being a suspicious type, met Piero’s politeness with his own cool version of it until he was sure how to gauge the man in the top hat properly.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 1:57 pm
"There's no need to be so on guard around me, though I must admit I think it's grand for you to be so. You must have been raised well by your caretaker, despite the fact that you said you have very little to care for. One does not grow well if one does not care for something."
Piero once more ran his own hand gently over Pasayo's shell, taking a moment to trace the delicate white lines that seemed like cracks against the startling black. As she pulsed softly beneath his fingertips he got almost a sense of longing from the egg, one of a nostalgic desire.
"Also, are you sure you don't need assistance? I believe I said it would be be trouble for me to give you a hand at all, and this child seems to wish to be in your company for a little while longer."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:19 pm
Toulouse let out a bark of laughter at Piero’s comment. Should he tell the man that caring had got everyone killed along with himself? Would he be shocked to know the monstrosities that Toulouse had committed in the name of love? No. Of course not.
“You presume to much sir.” The first thread of anger was barely perceptible. This man was strange indeed and seemed somewhat blunt in his with his comments and opinions.
Toulouse smiled suddenly at the egg’s display. He could feel himself getting too serious again. He really needed to work on not being so melancholy all the time. “I really don’t need any help.” Toulouse replied in a much kinder voice. He looked around and saw no one else about on the street. Through some perverse reason he wanted to shock this Mister Piero Hofmeister, to break that polite façade that he wore. He wanted to see the real emotions of Piero. It was his Fae blood at work again.
“See?” Toulouse let his hands fall to his sides. It seemed that the bags would smash to the ground, but they instead floated between him and Mr. Hofmeister as if in a field of zero gravity. “Do you understand now? Her and I are of the same cut.” He motioned to Pasayo with the corner of his violin case.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:06 pm
"Oh my, well this is indeed amazing. To think a child such as yourself could do something like this as well is indeed quite surprising."
For a moment Piero's eyes had indeed opened wide with shock, though they just as quickly returned to their normal size as he smiled at the teen before him. It was unusual for any man to act so calm when someone was doing something very clearly inhuman or magical in front of him, but Piero wasn't the type to be fazed by most things. He'd had his share of enough magical happenings to not think this strange - three of his guests at home were more than the proof of this.
It wasn't that Piero was a target for the supernatural or the inhuman, he just happened to have a large house that he lived in, one that made his rather eccentric cousin seem to think that she could send some of her wards over at random times to live with him. Inhuman wards, naturally.
"You must have practiced quite hard in order to be able to control your ability this well. Did you have to do training?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 7:53 pm
A sudden rampage of emotions ran across Toulouse’s face in a fighting flurry to make themselves know. He was caught between anger at being called a child, astonishment at the man’s lack of response, and amusement over his analytic comment. There was only one thing to do in the situation. Laugh. Toulouse clutched the bags back from the air close to him, laughing until his sides hurt from humorous situation.
“You,” Toulouse gasped squeezing a few tears from his eyes, “I like you Piero.” Was his emphatic response. “You amuse me and Consort knows precious little does. Come walk with me a bit? I was headed for the bus stop, but I think that I’ll walk home now.” He motioned for Piero to follow him, stepping lightly around the older man.
“Oh,” Toulouse turned round to smile gaily at Piero. “Just for a point of reference, I have a certain pair boot buckles that are older than you.” There was no elaboration on that point, only a smile and a light hum as Toulouse began to meander down the side walk with his arms still full. He wondered if Piero would follow him.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:39 pm
He was a little taken aback by the laugh. Just a little.
"Good to know that I'm not that old then. Thanks for helping a man in his twenties still feel young, good sir."
Piero wasn't sure if being told by a teenager that he was liked should be considered a high point in his life, as the feelings of a complete stranger hardly weighed anything at all on his mind and emotions. However as it was Piero was a good man, raised to be polite beyond all reasons, and he simply smiled and listened to Toulouse's chatter.
"I have a favor to ask of you then, in return for myself and this child accompanying you. While you may not wish to do something for a stranger, how about we trade?"
He seemed serious as he stayed at Toulouse's side, his pace slowed so he wouldn't over walk. The stares from any people that managed to walk past the duo as they strolled were easily ignored, and he amused himself with thoughts of how it may look like he was strolling with his younger brother.
If only for the fact that Houkan was probably a little taller than Toulouse, dressed in the same manner he did, and had dark hair that was almost a shocking black.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:13 pm
“No problem whatsoever.” Toulouse’s mood had returned to him in good measure along with a little hum of that wordless song. He wasn’t sure what Piero thought of him and knew that the man hadn’t understood what he had meant about the age comment, but Toulouse wasn’t sure if he cared one way or another. He had never much cared what others thought of his brusque manner. Some liked it, others didn’t. He had given up long ago trying to please others. A thousand years was a long time trying to appease the unappeasable.
He walked along with Piero and Pasayo, startled at the question of a favor. Toulouse had made it a point in his long life never to offer a favor to anyone, but he truly did like Piero to some extent, so Toulouse compromised to at least here the man out.
“Now, I just don‘t know now.” Toulouse turned to walk backwards so he could watch Piero closely. He easily dodged whatever objects sprang up outside of his vision, as he continued to stroll. “What kind of favor would it be? I don’t like quests mind you.”
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:24 pm
"I wouldn't mind carrying your baggage for you if you would hold this child for me. She seemed her happiest when you were touching her earlier, even though it was so brief, and I can't help but wonder if it's because she's the same as you? Something beyond human?"
His question was honest and sincere as he held Pasyao's small egg out towards Toulouse, and it was quite obvious that the egg did desire the contact of the younger man as it started to thrum louder the moment it came even closer to him.
"If that's too much from you, then never mind. I know it's unreasonable to ask things from strangers and it quite bad manners as well, but you seem someone who is wise beyond their ways and knows the meaning of a favor or gratitude."
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