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 Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 6:21 pm
Well, he didn't think this through. He really did not think this one through. But who thinks when they're panicked anyways? And Faylen was most certainly panicked, if the galloping cadence at which his heart had been beating at for the last few hours or so said anything.
'When you wake up tomorrow morning, you'll know this was more than just a figment of youthful imagination.'
That phrase had come to him in a sudden flash as he'd pushed out the lobby doors of his apartment. It was just like the snake-lady had said in his dreams last night! Oh, there was no denying the reality of things now, no calling everything just a silly dream. Most growing boys only woke up to acne at worst. But unfortunately for Fay, he woke up with scales that- unlike acne- couldn't be picked off, scraped off, or popped. He knew. He had tried. For like...a good half hour. In the end, all he got for his effort has been a red, raw face with raised welts and scales.
He couldn't have stayed at home though. No, no, no! His mother... she would have been so displeased with the scales! Oh, she'd have given him such a thrashing! He had to run away, had to get out of there before she came home and saw him! Apparently, he also had to forget to bring any food or extra clothes. He was just glad the pink button-up he had thrown on was long-sleeved; it got cold when the sun went down. But maybe, if his dream was so true and he was destined for greatness, things would be okay and he'd wind up strong and powerful.
Or he could wind up dead, beaten up, mugged, kidnapped, or raped. Maybe all four if fate felt particularly disinclined to favor him.
So now he was stuck wandering the streets, legs stiff and burning, his bad hip absolutely screaming and throbbing with pain. He had run for about two blocks before his legs started aching and his hip protesting, soon settling for walking briskly and simply trying to blend with the crowd. Of course, even a brisk walk was hard to manage now. He was barely managing to gimp along stiffly, in fact. Fay wasn't out of shape, but the most he ever walked was to school or the store. It was quite a different walk to haul a** from Border East to Middling, he was finding.
Why Middling, though? He had headed in that direction because he remembered the rumors he had heard on the playground. Rumors of strange things happening there, of some sort of...magic store or something. He thought that maybe someone there would know what the heck was going on with him. But then again...what if the rumors were just rumors? Just stories that kids told when they got bored? And even if it was true, he had no idea where this shop was or anything, or even if it was really magic. Maybe...maybe he could go to his old neighborhood, stay with one of his old friends if they still remembered him. But...what if their parents called Mother? No, they...they wouldn't do that, would they? They didn't know how she was now but maybe if he asked them or made something up... Ah, he couldn't risk it! He couldn't risk being found so soon! As he trudged on, mindless panic began to fade away into the background, and fear began to set in. A very real, deep, visceral fear. Where was he going to go for the night? What was he going to do for food? What if something bad happened? Realistically, Faylen was not an outdoorsy boy. He'd never gone anywhere on his own that wasn't school or the store, and even then he was usually with classmates or his sister! He began to breathe heavily. He was just a kid...what did he know about living on his own? Nothing! But he just couldn't go back! Oh, what was he going to do?
Fay took a few more heavy steps before simply stopping dead. His entire body was quivering as he dropped to the curb heavily. He sat there, staring at his high-tops, lip quivering a bit before his face finally crumpled and he dissolved into tears. What now? He had nowhere to go, no food, no water, no clothes, no nothing. He reached up and rhythmically rubbed at the little cross that hung around his neck, rocking back and forth as shaky cries bubbled up and out of his throat.
You stupid boy! You stupid, stupid boy! Mother was right; you're such an idiot! Why did you have to run? What will you do now? his mind berated sharply.
The only answer he could manage for his inward thoughts, though, was a slew of choked sobs.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 8:19 pm
The sooner Persy returned, the better, thought Anubis stubbornly, staring at the talisman in his hand. A bracelet of pearly white scales, each one punctured through the center and strung like a bead, rested in his large palm. It appeared to glow compared to his dark skin.
And somewhere around here was the boy who went with this bracelet. Faylen, his name was, chosen by an old African Goddess, Ayida Weddo. Anubis closed his hand to keep it safe and followed his senses.
Eventually they lead him to a boy crying on the curb.
"That's hardly the way for a potential savior of humanity to behave," he intoned.
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:04 pm
Faylen stiffened at the sound of a voice so near to him. His cries tangled in his throat and he sat there, silent save for a few reflexive sniffles that managed to escape. Slowly, he lifted his face from his hands and turned to glance upwards with wide, owlish eyes at the man addressing him. "W-was?" he murmured confusedly in German, wiping his face with a sleeve some.
Looking at the boy, it probably seemed like the old goddess had a sense of humor...or had gone senile. Red-faced and pitiful, the boy looked...well, not exactly like something a god would choose as their...anything, really. He probably looked more like the type a god would smite to put out of its misery. But if the iridescent scales said anything, it was that he had been chosen...for whatever reason. Anubis had found the right boy, as unassuming as the crying child looked.
The boy stared for a few moments, debating on whether or not to respond properly to the man- Mother had told him to never speak to strangers. Plus, he was a little wary of the other- he was bigger than Fay and seemed somewhat imposing from the boy's position on the ground (though he ahd a feeling the man would seem just as imposing had he been able to stand upright). Maybe...maybe if he answered in German, the man would think he didn't know English and would go away and leave him alone. It had worked in the past but...that wouldn't be honest, would it?
In the end, he supposed he had to say something. He really couldn't just ignore the man after staring at him for the last few moments.
He scooted away a few inches, taking a deep breath before speaking again in a louder and in a more understandable language. Though he carefully annunciated his words, a slight accent was still fairly obvious in his tone. "I-it is not nice to t-tease people, you know." he said shakily with a slight frown on his face. Him, a savior? Hah. Really, what else could a comment like the one the darker man made be but a teasing joke of some sort? Faylen's lip quivered slightly, and he resorted to chewing on it to keep from whimpering again.
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 7:17 pm
Anubis sighed to himself. The longer he worked with kids, the more he found himself despising them every chance he got. "I'm not teasing you," he rumbled.
He held out his hand and showed the boy the bracelet.
"A goddess bade me give you this," he declared. "Take it."
He did not have time for this 'mommy said don't talk to strangers' s**t tonight.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 8:04 am
He shrunk away a little as he picked up on the irritation, looking initially like a puppy that expected to be kicked. He would certainly have to whip himself into shape if he was going to get anywhere... He chewed his lip a little more before frowning a little more deeply, anger flickering ever-so-slightly at the man's exasperation. It wasn't a huge jump from crying to impetuous anger when emotions were running high, after all.
"Was fickten Sie?" he muttered, heart pounding as the curse left his mouth, scooting away a few more inches. What a brave new world! Oh, Mother would have slapped his mouth if she heard him say that! It was ironic, though, that even when insulting someone, he had used the formal version of "you".
What was the man's problem anyways? He didn't ask for the man to talk to him! If he didn't want to deal with a crying kid, he could have walked by like all the other people and let him be. It wasn't like the other was offering to help any. Regardless of his childish huffiness, Faylen leaned forward when the man exposed the bracelet and looked at it curiously.
"A goddess." he said, prodding at it tentatively. Was this man one of those crazy street people, talking about hearing god? Fay took the bracelet timidly. He better not upset the man if he was crazy- he didn't want to get hurt. He was having a bad enough day anyways.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 1:14 pm
Anubis did not speak German - the curse went unnoticed. At least the kid had taken the bracelet. "I'm skipping the formalities and the big scary god talk tonight because I don't have time," he explained tersely. "A Goddess has selected you to participate as her prophet in the Game. You get powers, you fight other players, and if you win you direct a new world order."
He paused to let that all sink in.
"And no, I am not shitting you."
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 5:56 pm
As the man spoke, Fay had sat there, drawing back again and looking uneasy, still expecting to be yelled at or worse for his boldness. He looked ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble, though in his exhausted condition, he probably would have been lucky to be manage hobbling even a few steps away. Thankfully, the dark-skinned man hadn't understood the words nor seemed to notice that the tone indicated an inflammatory statement, so flight was not needed. Or maybe the man just didn't just didn't care. Regardless, Fay wouldn't be doing that again. Mouthing off only got a person in trouble. It was rather like running across the street when there were cars coming. It was highly likely you'd get hit but if you didn't, you were damn lucky and would be wise to not tempt fate again. He wouldn't. He really, really wouldn't. His heart was still thudding in his throat as it was. He hadn't thought before he spoke...but not thinking was a theme for today, wasn't it?
After Anubis had finished, Faylen furrowed his brow again, tilting head from left to right. The man seemed so serious about it all, but...it wasn't quite an easy thing to believe. He looked down at his hands.
"I do not feel like I haf any powers." he said, doubt coloring his words. It just seemed so...so far-fetched! Like a crazy story. Like those rumors. Like one big dream.
Wait...dream.
His dream! Slowly, his mind began to piece things together.
Last night... The snake lady said he'd find out today that last night had been more than fantasy. All he talks of greatness...was this what she meant? Was this really real? The coincidence was too uncanny to just pass off as chance. Was this happening or was he still dreaming? Judging by the bolts of pain that bit at his hip, he had to be awake. You didn't hurt this bad in your dreams.
He began to breathe a little heavier, hand rising up to subconsciously brush the odd patch of scales. It was sort of a lot to take in. The rumors about strange children and bizarre happenings...were they more than playground stories then?
"Vait... zhen zhe rumors...zhat store...is it all real? Are you vit' zhem? Zhe veird shop in Middling zhe kids are always telling stories of? A-and vhat about zhe...stuff on my face?" he fired, gesturing vaguely to the scaly patches on his face. "Does zhat haf anything to do vit' it all?" His fist clenched tightly around the bracelet, scales pressing into his palm.
It just seemed so surreal! Though his family was never terribly religious, he had been raised to think there was only one true God and that the other gods were just myth. But even supposing they did all exist, why would any of them pick him? It was all starting to sound like a joke again but...the man was so solemn and the signs were piling up...
Ah, what a head trip this was for the young boy!
On the bright side, this new line of conversation and dawning realization seemed to at least be distracting the boy from his grim run-away situation and thus keeping him from crying for the time being. How long it would last, though, was to be seen. But if Anubis was fortunate, he'd be long gone before the boy had time to properly think and start bawling up again.
"She said...I would find greatness...is zhis vhat she meant?" he murmured, opening his hand again, still in shock as he stared blankly at the talisman.
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 6:15 pm
"It's all true," confirmed Anubis with a nod. At least this kid had ears and could follow schoolyard rumors. No one else he'd seen lately had even a passing familiarity.
"The powers will come up in the next few days. Ask your goddess, not me."
Really, the kids couldn't come to see him as their Nanny. He wasn't here to give out information - that was Persy's business.
"Greatness will come, too," he added.
He groaned. It sounded like a wounded dog barking.
"I forgot to introduce myself!" he exclaimed. "The name's Anubis. I'm the referee, and the Egyptian god of death. But mostly the referee. And after today, you don't ever want to see me again."
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Posted: Thu May 07, 2009 7:14 pm
It wasn't hard for a quiet, demure boy like Faylen to be a fly on the wall. Plus, Border East wasn't exactly a city hot spot (not like the Scene or Middling) nor was it known for high-class families- not the neighborhood his mother was living in, anyways. So sometimes, when you didn't have a ton of money and couldn't always afford the newest games, you had to make your own fun. Stories were always a form of affordable entertainment- especially when they involved such interesting rumors about magical games. He hadn't much reason to follow the rumors except for that he thought they were fascinating. He was never 'in' on the discussion, being an introverted little boy, but he'd often sit on the fringes of the group or under the jungle gym equipment, just close enough to listen and far enough to not look like he was eavesdropping.
It wasn't hard for Fay to connect the dots at times either- what the boy lacked in physical strength and social aptitude, he made up for in intellect.
Faylen looked down at his hands again. He wondered what powers he would have. Greatness...would it really ever come for him? Or were they just saying that to be nice to him? He wasn't sure but...well, he'd see one way or the other eventually, right?
He looked around when the man mentioned asking his goddess, as if he expected to see her standing off someplace nearby. All he saw were the same general crowd that always tended to be milling about the street. "Ask her? How? Vill she appear? Or do I just talk?" he blinked. He seemed to be losing some of the tension in his body as they talked. The larger man seemed a little less irritated now (though he still seemed like he'd rather not be here, that was undoubted), and that made the boy a little less anxious.
He did jump a bit when the other 'groaned'. It...sounded kind of like a dog. "Zhat vas a veird sound. How did you do zhat?" he asked without thinking. Hurriedly moving on once he realized how rude that was, he pushed himself into a standing position to better greet the man. Ow, ow, ow, his legs hurt so bad! He winced and rubbed his aching hip before extending a hand up to the man politely. He'd been such a bad boy- he had to make up for it somehow. Though this felt like hardly a drop in the bucket...
"Nice to meet you, sir." he said. Well, he wasn't sure if it was quite so nice but...that was the proper thing to say so... "I'm Len-- Faylen Berndt." he corrected himself.
He didn't like his full first name too much, so it was habit to introduce himself as the short version of his name (the more masculine short version, anyways). Give people the long version first and they think it's 'exotic' or 'pretty' and they'd never stop using it. Or they'd tease him. But this was an adult and a 'special' one at that, apparently. He paused and looked the man over.
"A-are you really zhe god Anubis? V-ve learned about you in school. Aren't...you s'pposed t' haf zhe head of a dog?" he asked with timid curiosity. Regarding the statement that Faylen would never want to see him again after this, he had only one question. "Vhy?"
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Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 2:53 pm
Anubis chuckled. "We gods can change our form to suit our present needs," he explained. "In present times, having the face of a jackal is not particularly advantageous. I have evolved."
His ears wiggled demonstratively.
"I'm the referee," he explained. "I bring you in, and I take you out. You see me again, and either it means we've got trouble, or that you've lost."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 6:23 pm
He noted his question about contacting his god went unnoticed, though he refrained from reiterating. Maybe that was one thing he'd have to figure out on his own. Or maybe it would just be terribly obvious once he got playing.
He looked at the man after introductions and nodded slowly. No, he supposed having a dog's head would make it difficult to do anything in these days.
"Ja, I s'ppose you are right." he said, smiling faintly at the ear wiggling. He...half wanted to reach out and touch them but...that would hardly be polite, right? He did not want to upset the man after he seemed to be softening some. "Scales vill make zhings hard enough as it is." he murmured, shifting somewhat uneasily as the familiar anxieties began to pull at his chest again. No, he wouldn't start crying again. He didn't want to make the man angry again. He sniffled but swallowed his stress back for now.
As the man answered why Faylen would not want to run across him again, the boy nodded in comprehension. "Ah, okay." he said in affirmation. "It is a pity zhough...you...are sorta scary but...you seem like a nice man."
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Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:15 pm
Anubis's dark face crinkled into a smile, revealing teeth as white as paper. "You're hardly the strangest looking child I've ever seen," he assured the boy. After all, hadn't that Len kid had tentacles? And Fish had scales, along with the bright purple kid he'd seen on his rounds.
"We death gods get a tough rap," he informed Faylen, "But the large majority of us are downright personable. Best of luck."
With that, he turned and walked down the street and out of sight.
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:00 am
He wasn't the strangest? Well, that was somewhat reassuring, at least. It did make him wonder, though, how odd the others looked. Either way, I'm still too strange to go home. He sniffled again and took a deep breath, nodding along. Maybe it would turn out okay in the end. Maybe.
He watched the man leave and remained standing, waving as he departed. After Anubis was out of sight, Faylen sunk painfully back to the curb. He played with the bracelet a little bit, still reeling from the news. It seemed so unreal still...so many question assaulted his mind but one loomed above the rest... What now?.
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