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 Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:11 am
This is a private RP between Atma (Cesc) and Neon (Ethiriel, Leo and Henry)
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Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 11:36 am
The call went straight to voicemail; no rings, no wait.
”Hey, uh, this is Leo. You probably don’t need me so… I guess you’re looking for Ethiriel. She’s not here, so call—“
A number was listed, as well as an address.
”Sorry to waste your time. Good luck getting in-touch with Ethiriel.”
And that was it. An option was given to leave a message, but from the sounds of the receiving message it was unlikely that he was going to return any calls.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:19 pm
Cesc wasn't certain what to do. He stared at the phone in his hands as though it had suddenly sprouted tentacles, looking at it and then up, as though looking for someone to verify the message he'd heard. He then plucked his earbuds out. His hands made a nervous motion, half putting one of the earbuds back, then hanging up the phone, then buzzing the number again.
The message was the same.
She's not here, so call...
This time, Cesc typed the number into his contacts, still frowning. Had Ethiriel gone to visit a relative? There had to be some rational explanation, didn't there? It was the tone of the message that bothered him more than anything. Some sense of depression in it, of finality. He prayed that the natural beauty, the graceful creature he'd met in the throes of his depression was not unwell.
The phone rang.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:25 pm
While the amount of rings was unnerving, after what felt like several minutes it was finally answered. There was clutter in the background, the sounds of things being moved about and shuffling papers, but the voice on the other side was distinct and overly friendly.
”Hello! This is Henry!”
There was no worry in his voice, or at least his excitable tone kept it under wraps for the call. Now there was relative silence on the other end, save for the continued paper shuffling as he searched through what seemed like piles.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:38 pm
Cesc had reached... a card catalogue. A phone book? A library? An accounting firm. There were papers. That was all that Cesc could really pick out of the background noise -- papers and movement. He'd reached a bagging station.
The stag's ear twitched. He pressed his earbud firmly into his ears -- having non-human ears, of course, changed how well they fit, but putting the phone directly to his ears was no option, either.
"Hello," said Cesc, his low, accented voice taking on the polite, foreign correctness that it often did when he felt uncomfortable. He looked at his phone as though checking the number, although there was no way he could know if it was right or wrong. He was unsure how to begin this conversation. "I hope I did not reach you in error. I am looking for Ethiriel?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:43 pm
The stag’s voice ran unfamiliar in Henry’s ear but it didn’t take him long to understand once Ethiriel’s name had barely even begun. ”Oh!” he exclaimed, placing the papers firmly on the desk and leaving them be. Leaning against the table he took a deep breath. ”Oh, oh! You’ve reached the right place! I’m Ethiriel’s new guardian as far as titles go! I’m guessing you’re a friend?”
He was so cheery; a jarring change between him and Leo.
”Of course you’re her friend! Otherwise you wouldn’t be calling for her! May I ask who’s calling so I can pass the phone along?”
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:52 pm
There was a quick, half-formed sound as Henry explained who he was, the stag choking out a single note of surprise. What followed was silence, and Cesc's eyes ticked away from what he was looking at, his brows furrowing and his lips parting. New guardian?! What had happened to Leo? He was still clearly alive, as his message had proved, but...
"I -- I'm sorry?" Cesc said, glossing over Henry's questions until he could get answers of his own. The alarm was evident in the stag's usually-lilting voice. "Did you -- did you say 'new guardian'?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:56 pm
The short silence wasn’t a surprise to Henry, but the question somehow was. ”Aah, I… well, you see…” he stammered, raising an arm to scratch the back of his head. ”Leo, um, found himself unfit to take care of Ethiriel. He’s fine, everything’s fine…!”
His own voice faltered for a moment.
”If you’re a friend of Ethiriel’s, though, I do have a request—She’s been… well, feeling really down about the whole thing, so I’d love for you to talk to her and try to cheer her up.”
Even despite his excitable demeanor, the hesitance in his voice wasn’t convincing.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:53 pm
The frown deepened on Cesc's face as Henry continued to speak. The explanation was not a particularly complete or reassuring one, despite his hastily-stammered attempt at soothing the stag's concerns. The truth, Rhedefre knew, was that something had happened between Leo and Ethiriel and the former had relinquished his influence and care over the latter.
It didn't sit well with Cesc. He felt a flurry of confused irritation on Ethiriel's behalf.
"I see." Cesc scratched his stubble thoughtfully. He was unsure what to say. Did he thank Henry for stepping up? Voice his indignation at how Ethiriel had been treated? But what if Leo was ill, or in financial straits, or had some other reason why he could no longer be an effective guardian? It wasn't Cesc's place to pass judgement.
One thing was his place, though...
He had a sudden flash of memory, of Ethiriel's hands on his face, the calm healing that radiated from her. Her sightless eyes squinting to make out the shapes of his form.
"Please, I would very much like to speak with her," he said, his voice obvious with concern.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:00 pm
”Perhaps it’s best explained in person if that time arises,” Henry decided. Talking over the phone was never a good way of discussing important matters as facts could easily get skewed with ease. Still, he seemed just as cheery as he had at the beginning of the call. ”Just give me a sec and give her the phone!”
There was a bit more shuffling on the other end; a chair squeaking, a few papers being pushed aside and then the muffled sound of Henry’s feet against the floor as he walked. From the sounds of it, Ethiriel’s new place of living was rather large, as well as how long it took for the man to reach the Raeven’s new room. A quick exchange of words was given after an extended pause and eventually Ethiriel’s muted voice could almost be heard. It almost sounded like she wanted to deny the phone, but once a name was given she eventually agreed.
With a little more movement, finally her silken voice was heard proper. ”Sir Rhedefre…” she said, tone sullen.
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:39 pm
"Thank you," said Cesc. He lowered his eyes, still frowning, trying to parse what he'd heard. He wanted badly to keep an open mind, but all he could think of was heartbreak. Never, not even once, had he considered a possibility of being without Shepard and Vivi. Not once had he thought of life with another person, of being handed to another guardian. It was inconceivable. Unfathomable.
He had to admit, he did not know Leo and Ethiriel's relationship. He could not imagine that it was contentious. But then, he could not imagine anyone voluntarily leaving her, the delicate spirit.
"Ethiriel," Cesc greeted, his tone warm despite the worry in it. He tried to be polite, to soften the question he badly wanted answered: "It is good to hear you. How are you?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:47 pm
Sounding less than enthused but far better than she had in days, Ethiriel gave a small hum of appreciation. His voice, as always, was music to her elven ears – even if the filter of the phone made him sound more tin-y. A small smile threatened her rosy lips but it faltered even then.
For once she was glad they were apart.
”Agreed…” she said, doing her best to sound content but she fell short – in person she could keep a straight face on most occasions but the change hit her hard. You always have to be careful when repotting plants; they could go into shock. Ethiriel rested with her cheek against the pillow, her chest resting on the bed. Her free hand had buried itself beneath the pillow. She made no efforts to hold herself up and it was obvious in her voice that she was laying down.
”I am well… How are you, my dear friend…?”
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Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:57 pm
Cesc's chest tightened as he listened to Ethiriel, her sweet voice pinched although she did her best to buoy it. He remembered those first sweat-filled days he suffered after Khadlok, when he wouldn't even try to hide his exhaustion or misery, and how his voice sounded half-stuffed with cotton even when he lifted it from the blankets. Ethiriel sounded akin to that: only half there, speaking without her depression's consent, too tired to rage against it.
She said she was well.
"I am well, thank you," said Cesc. He softened his voice, as though afraid it would hurt her ears. "I'm... very sorry to hear that you have moved, my friend." He paused. "How are you doing? Have you settled?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:07 am
”That is wonderful news,” said Ethiriel, now barely lifting herself up from the soft feather-down that Henry had so generously given her. She felt so drained, so listless the longer she rested; it was like she didn’t energy to do anything but exist… though even that was draining.
It was with another pause she considered. ”Yes… Sir Knight has been all too kind to me. There are no complaints that I could give…”
Not that her voice said the same thing.
Finally Ethiriel floated off from atop the bed, her ribbon barely grazing the sheets. She almost wanted to fall back down, unceremoniously flop back down onto the bed and never move again. It was encompassing and more than anything she wished the feeling would go away. This is her new life, it wasn’t about to go away just because she was throwing a temper tantrum.
”Sir Knight has done all that is in his power to make me comfortable – even set out bits of silver so that I may acquaint myself with his home.” There was finally a little warmth in her voice, though still tainted by the overlaid emotionless feeling she had in her chest.
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Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:25 pm
"That is very kind of him," said Cesc. His voice was gentle, and he was trying his best not to pry. He wondered -- from whom could he get information? Not from Leo, and this Henry Knight fellow hadn't been the most forthcoming when they'd spoken before. Eth herself, he thought, should not have to tell the tale. Part of him tried to squash his curiousity. It was not his place to know, perhaps.
But then, how could he know how to help if he didn't know what had happened?
A thought struck him. She hadn't known, not really, when she'd helped him.
"It dawns on me that it is quite fitting you should meet a man named Knight," said the stag genially. "The way you address gentleman in general, it fits rather well." He paused, and his voice was warm. "I am sorry to find you in the midst of such a change. It has been a while, but I wondered if perhaps you would be willing to come out with me. The Gambino Opera is putting on a production of Turandot, and I ..." Cesc rubbed the back of his neck, breathing a soft laugh into the phone. "I thought you might enjoy it, if you like. But I understand, of course, if you would rather not."
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