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 Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:22 pm
 Clutching the paper tightly in his hand, he stood in front of the archway leading to the party beyond. A few soldiers stood at attention outside the entrance, checking the invitations of all who entered. Nearly everyone here had a Guardian or familiar, something that until two days ago, Desmond had never believed existed. But the invitation he'd initially crumpled upon reading now dangled from his fingers. You are invited...It was addressed to him. At first he'd thought it a mistake, until he'd remembered what he'd tried to initially forget. He had a Guardian of his own. A Guardian that butted him in the back of the knees so hard he nearly toppled forward. He looked down at her with a scowl, but the little doe was breathtakingly beautiful, that he couldn't keep the unhappy expression on his face for long. He didn't quite smile, but a corner of his mouth turned just enough that someone paying for too much attention to him might have seen something close to one. "Alright, little lady. Best we make our way in."He felt a sense of satisfaction emanating from her, and couldn't help the sense of peculiarity that accompanied the thought of her feelings coming to him through some mental link they had. The amount of reading he'd done in the last two days would have made the eyeballs of any scholar drop clear out of their sockets. Handing the parchment to the soldier at the gate, he nodded to the man and felt a sense of loss. Maybe, if things had gone differently, he'd be the one standing there, checking letters and protecting such a monumental gathering. Liadain butted him again with her elegant little head before trotting ahead as if she weren't only as high as a mutt dog.
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 10:21 pm
There were several things that saved Jack from being on duty today, but two stood out above the rest. First, he was noble born. It was difficult to guard a party when you were on the guest list, and as one of only two sons of the esteemed Blackthorn line, he was expected to attend events like this. Not that he necessarily minded. Jack was a sociable guy, and this was as good a place as any to have some fun. Of course, events like this were also more difficult to let loose at, what with them being formal, but there were worse things in life than a Masque.
The second, more obvious, reason was that Jack was Chosen. The handsome, frisky buck at his side attested to that. What was this party for if not to celebrate the newly titled Wardens? He wondered what that meant for him as a soldier. Would he still command his unit in the cavalry or would he be expected to take up new duties? Hmm...
Astrophel, meanwhile, was taking in the sights. He knew his sister was near and was hoping to find her soon. However, what first caught his eye was a saucy little fawn. He snorted and directed his Chosen's attention to her.
Drawn from his thoughts - and at a party, who really wanted to be thinking anyway - Jack followed his Guardian's gaze. A hearty laugh escaped him as he watched the little thing boss her Chosen around.
"Quite the girl you have there," he called.
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:25 am
Desmond followed somewhat morosely, seeing the seething throng of people that awaited within the courtyard. He followed the little fawn with a stiffness to his frame that gave away how uncomfortable he felt.
When he heard the other man call out, he looked around, searching for who the man might be talking to. It took him a moment to realize the gentleman was talking to -him-.
"I...thank you," he said haltingly, unsure whether it was a compliment or a testament to the little fawn's willfullness. She looked back at him and he swore he saw a smug look about her before she trotted over to Astrophel. She lifted her front legs off the ground enough to come nose to nose with the much larger buck, not even an ounce of trepidation in her.
"She's... a handful," he said, unable to come up with a more accurate description for her. Ever since manifesting on top of the bar he'd sat at in Palisade, she'd given him nothing but gray hairs. He tried not to squint as he took a look at the man who'd spoken, realizing with a start that he was a high ranking military man. Desmond stood a little straighter, overly conscious of the stark black patch over his ruined eye.
"Sir."
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Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 7:17 pm
Astrophel sniffed curiously at the much smaller creature. It was so tiny. Could he play with it? His fluffy tail wagged.
"Relax, man! You're at a party. More than that, you're the queen's guest." The poor man seemed so uncomfortable. Jack would have to fix that. The notion that he might not want to relax and enjoy the party never crossed Jack's mind. After all, who wouldn't want to loosen up and have some fun?
"You should have seen this one when he was younger," he said, patting his buck's shoulder. "Of course, I'm not sure he's matured all that much..." He grinned as Aster snorted playfully.
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:26 pm
"He's quite a magnificent creature," Desmond said with a thoughtful look; as uncomfortable as he felt in the current situation, he couldn't help but admit what he had. The buck was a handsome thing, with stark coloring and a troublemaker look about him. Liadain pranced around him and stared up at the male, standing as tall as she could, though for all her efforts, she still barely came up to the buck's knees.
"As far as being the Queen's guest.... I guess I'm not quite sure why I'm the Queen's guest. The fawn...Uh, Liadain, manifested only two days ago." He stumbled on the word, still unwilling to admit that his life had turned in such a way that a word like 'manifested' should ever even need to be used in it. "On top of a bar," he added, glaring at the little thing. The entire pub had stared at him as if he'd grown two heads when the fawn had appeared out of thin air, her little tail flicking satisfactorily as she locked eyes with him for the first time.
"I, uh...Honestly have no idea...what to do," he finally admitted, standing straighter to keep his shoulders from slumping in defeat. Admitting to such was something he just wouldn't have done under normal circumstances. His own stubbornness and pride usually kept his mouth shut about things he knew nothing about, but this....
This isn't exactly normal circumstances, you fool...
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Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:17 pm
Astrophel arched his neck regally at the compliment and gave a pleased snort. Then, his attention turned to the frisky little thing prancing at his hooves. Curious, he gave her a gentle nudge, more inquisitive than anything else.
Jack laughed heartily - a joyous sound it was, not tainted by even the slightest hint of ill-will. "On top of a bar? What a right mess that must have been! Liadian, was it? She certainly has bold tastes." Poor bugger. He must not have known what hit him. Even Jack himself had been surprised to find himself Chosen. Damn near cost him his commission, running off into the Wood like that, but they had both landed on their feet, Aster and he. It just took a little trial and error.
"Doesn't matter," he said, remembering Desmond's confusion. "Chosen for a day or a year, you've a Guardian now. That means there's work for you to do."
He clapped a friendly hand on the other man's shoulder. "The pair of you will learn together. It's not so bad once you get used to it."
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Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:59 pm
Desmond tried not to cringe at the touch, putting up with it mainly because the other man was a soldier, like he had been. "Bold is putting it lightly," he said, and he could have sworn she would have given him a smug smile had she the ability to. All he was getting from her now though was a curiosity and fascination with the buck. When he nudged her, her tail flagged and she bounced about three feet backwards, ears pricked so far forward he thought they would run right off her head.
"She chases the dogs that roam my alleyway. They're bigger than her. She's trying to get him to play. Ah, what's his name?" he added as an afterthought, remembering he didn't know. Liadain hadn't come with her name, but she'd annoyed him all through the night until he'd given her one, and even though, he'd gone through half a dozen before she approved of her current one, which, ironically enough, meant Gray Lady.
"Ah, how rude of me. My name is Desmond Gray," he hastily added, holding out his hand.
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Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:19 pm
Pleased at this reaction, the buck hopped forward, forelegs splayed wide so his head was significantly lower than it had been. His fluffy tail wagged high in the air. Jack snorted. His brave, dignified steed. Try not to get too rowdy, he warned the buck. It was a party after all. He didn't need a pair of playful Guardians bowling people over.
Jack accepted the proffered hand. His grip was firm, but not testing. "Jack Blackthorn," he said, leaving out the captain bit. He was here as a Warden, not a soldier. It didn't occur to him that he might have already been recognized as one. Of course, the Blackthorn bit was a bit of a giveaway, but he wasn't ashamed of his lineage and anyone who was uncomfortable with his nobility soon forgot to be stiff around him.
"That one's Astrophel," he added. "And he has no qualms with a bit of fun."
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Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:46 pm
Don't run into anyone, he chided, making a slight shooing gesture with his hand. The little fawn shuffled backwards a few steps before turning and bolting, gray tail like a beacon through the legs of the people she dashed between.
Desmond sighed, rolling his eyes at her antics. Then the other man's surname struck him and he felt like standing at attention all over again. "Ah, Blackthorn, sir. It's an honor to meet you."
No wonder the man looked so immaculate. Desmond felt quite shoddy standing beside him, though the man did have a reputation as being a bit of a...troublemaker.
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Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:00 pm
Astrophel gave the little thing a three second start, then bounded after her in hot pursuit. What fun!
Jack sighed ruefully. Outed already. His men were used to treating him as just another person - albeit their commanding officer - but it seemed that he had to break this one of his stiff formality. "None of that," he said. "We were having such a nice conversation. No need to ruin it with formality."
He snagged a pair of cups from a passing tray - fruit juice, he discovered, but that was alright. No need to get drunk quite this early - and handed one to the other man. "Come, Gray. Tell me your woes. We'll see if we can't set you straight."
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Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:19 pm
Desmond didn't feel comfortable telling anyone his woes, let alone a man of much higher military status than himself. In fact, Desmond wasn't very comfortable with much. But he took the proffered cup and drank the juice in one go, wishing it were something much stronger. He'd been drinking a lot lately...Something he tried not to think about much.
"I don't think I'm cut out for this Chosen nonsense. I just...I didn't ask for this," he said, trying not to sound as anguished as he felt, though he wasn't sure how successful he was. He couldn't help but stare after the little fawn as she led Astrophel around the run-down courtyard, in between guests and other Guardians alike. She was a quick little thing, making hairpin turns so often he wondered how she managed to keep her feet untangled.
"She looks at me and I feel....something. A sense of disappointment, anger, annoyance....All from her, every time I even think about how much I don't want any of this. But I also feel this incredible love. Why does she love me when I don't want her? But I do want her. It's staggering." His voice lowered, eyes hardening as he continued to watch his little Gray Lady. "I feel lost." He couldn't meet the man's gaze; his cheeks burning with embarrassment, the tips of his ears no doubt just as red.
Now he really could use a drink.
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Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:59 pm
Jack snorted. "That's because she chose you," he said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "She wouldn't have done that if she didn't care for you. She's just waiting for you to come to your senses."
Perhaps someone else would have sympathized or commiserated, but not Jack. He was in a unique position. Long before he had felt Aster's call, he had already dedicated himself to his country. Sure, there weren't many threats to Sunderland in the peaceful era they had been enjoying, but a man didn't choose to become a soldier just for decoration. The fact that it had enabled his hedonism was besides the point. He had become a soldier to protect his people. Kit may be the one inheriting the title, but that didn't mean Jack had any intentions of being a useless second son. He could give his part, too.
Instead of seeing a Guardian as an unwanted, unasked-for burden, he saw Astrophel as a blessing. Here was another way to defend his people. Here was a better way to fulfill his duty. Here was a weapon especially designed to fight the wolves. Of course, it didn't hurt that he rather enjoyed Aster's company, pain though he could be at times.
"It's not nonsense," he added. "It's an honor. You were chosen to defend Sunderland. That little one deemed you worthy."
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Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:35 pm
Desmond didn't see how she could view him as worthy. He was almost certain she knew exactly what went on in his head regarding all of this, and still she loved him. How pure a creature she must be to see only the good in him.
He opened his mouth to respond when the little devil hurled around a corner at such a pace, he had no chance to dodge her. She headbutted him so hard he almost toppled, and even though he kept his feet, the wind went whooshing out of him all at once and he choked on his wheezes. Liadain stared up at him with such a obstinate, devilish look in her teal eyes that he knew all at once she had done it on purpose.
Before he could reprimand her, she turned and dashed away again just as Astrophel reached them, her fluffy tail flagged and wagging in a cheeky victory.
"I need a drink..."
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Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:46 pm
"You need to face reality," he countered, not the least shy about barging into the personal business of someone he had never met before. "Your girl knows." Still, it was a party and he was here as a person not a soldier. He had better, more enjoyable things to do than hound one, newly-chosen man. If Desmond hadn't gotten himself straightened out by the next time they met, they would have a more...thorough talk.
"Nice party," he observed, abruptly changing the topic. "Her majesty really knows how to lavish the luxury."
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Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:10 am
Desmond grimaced, realizing he was making a fool of himself. Straightening, he brushed the Liadain shaped dust mark off his chest and grabbed a flute of wine off a passing servant's tray, quaffing it and giving the glass back almost instantly. The wine was too light and airy for his tastes, but one could get liquid fortitude from almost any kind of spirits.
"It doesn't surprise me, given that she's the Queen and all. Being willing to outfit every guest with proper attire is also no small venture." As if remembering something just then, he patted his pockets until he came to his breast pocket, pulling a simple, unadorned leather mask from it. With a wry look at Jack, he placed it upon his face and tied the strings behind his head. It felt weird to hide behind such a thing, but a Masque wasn't named as such for the clothing the attendees wore.
"Not sure how much I enjoy people hiding behind pretty bits of cloth. Too easy to cause trouble when one can hide their face."
That was the world-weary soldier in him, always looking for a threat. If only he knew how many others felt the same way.
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