When the sprite asked about her "being a ghostie", Mercedes merely smiled mysteriously. She wasn't about to assert her definite knowledge on the matter. Shaking her head "no" in response to the question probably wasn't the best way to answer, but when the fae started swaying back and forth as well, things got doubly tricky.
*Don't puke. Don't puke. Don't puke.*
~You're not helping.~
*Sorry... She's cute, isn't she?*
~Huh? Oh. Yeah. Cute.~
*She reminds me of someone...*
~I know.~
The fairy's bubbly and get-go attitude reminded them a little of their friend Uluki - and of their current "mission" so to speak. Gelden was demonstrating the proper way to sway and indicated that she should do the same. Obediently, Merc stretched out her arms from her sides (without looking at Gelden directly) and made a few steps toward the running water. So far so good. Standing, and now walking in a relatively straight line were definite signs of improvement.
"You know, that DID help. Thank-you."
Not too much further and she had expended all her nervous energy. Merc collapsed by the brook's edge, dunked her hand into a small pool and greedily slurped up the minute amount of water she had managed to carry to her mouth. A few more handfuls were enough to wet her throat for now, and she pushed herself up to sit cross-legged on the river bank, elbows resting on her knees while she got her breath. The mud and blood on her chin had nearly washed off, though some blood still remained caked around Merc's nose.
*You think we should ask her?*
~What? If she's seen a Duskling knocking about?~
*Can't hurt. She IS fae, after all. Uluki would have talked to her if she had seen her.*
Mercedes looked pensive, as though she were contemplating the shades of green on a single blade of grass, but abruptly raised her head and smiled at Gelden.
"Say, I have another question for you. Have you seen a Duskling around? A gal about yeh high" she indicated a reasonable height by raising her arm up in the air "with blue skin, black hair? She'd have had some people with her..."
At least, she had hoped that the whole family was sent to the same place. The way she and Aimee had nearly been separated from within the same body gave her reasonable doubt that the entire group had made it there as one unit. It was a long shot and she knew it, but she could also feel Aimee's excitement building up. It made her smile. Ever the optimistic one.
Like a Leaf on the Wind
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Mercedes D'Amour
- Citizen
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 am
- Name: Mercedes
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Alegria. Beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow. Alegria.
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
"The best I've got? How about these?" the gnome offered as he reached down under the counter and produced a wide metal case. He fished through his tiny pockets and pulled out a huge ring of keys. After carefully fingering through them, he found the right key and opened the box.
A huge grin swept across Win's face and he whooped and hollered in excitement.
Inside the box, laying among red velvet folds, was a pair of Pepperboxes. Win hesitantly reached in and took each one into his hands. The shiny bronze cluster of barrels seemed to gleam with a radiance despite the absence of light in the room.
The gnome adjusted his glasses and scratched his bald head as he explained.
"Single action, muzzle-loading, multi-barreled handguns. One has nine barrels, the other has seven, making for a total of sixteen shots before you have to reload. It's interesting, though... in order to reload it, you have to reload the bullets in the exact same order every single time. The internal mechanisms are guided so that each time you cock the hammer, it rotates to the next barrel in the sequence. If you load the bullets out of sequence, the gun will misfire or overheat. However, the reloading time is exceptionally quick. It will only take about a minute and a half to reload all of the barrels."
Win called Angren over. "Lookie here, pardner! Check out these beautiful babies."
The gnome continued. "It'll be helpful for close combat. You may also need one of these blunderbusses for dire situations. And if you'll be hunting in the field, there's this long rifle," the gnome continued as he hurried about the shop, selecting the weapons from their place on the wall and setting them down on the counter. Well? What do you think? Let's talk bishani!" The greedy gnome smirked as he rubbed his hands together.
Win negotiated a price with the old gnome, while Angren continued looking around the shop.
A huge grin swept across Win's face and he whooped and hollered in excitement.
Inside the box, laying among red velvet folds, was a pair of Pepperboxes. Win hesitantly reached in and took each one into his hands. The shiny bronze cluster of barrels seemed to gleam with a radiance despite the absence of light in the room.
The gnome adjusted his glasses and scratched his bald head as he explained.
"Single action, muzzle-loading, multi-barreled handguns. One has nine barrels, the other has seven, making for a total of sixteen shots before you have to reload. It's interesting, though... in order to reload it, you have to reload the bullets in the exact same order every single time. The internal mechanisms are guided so that each time you cock the hammer, it rotates to the next barrel in the sequence. If you load the bullets out of sequence, the gun will misfire or overheat. However, the reloading time is exceptionally quick. It will only take about a minute and a half to reload all of the barrels."
Win called Angren over. "Lookie here, pardner! Check out these beautiful babies."
The gnome continued. "It'll be helpful for close combat. You may also need one of these blunderbusses for dire situations. And if you'll be hunting in the field, there's this long rifle," the gnome continued as he hurried about the shop, selecting the weapons from their place on the wall and setting them down on the counter. Well? What do you think? Let's talk bishani!" The greedy gnome smirked as he rubbed his hands together.
Win negotiated a price with the old gnome, while Angren continued looking around the shop.
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Angren Paur
- Outsider
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:44 am
- Name: Angren Paur IDraugagar
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Angren stood, quietly examining an odd pole weapon. It had a shaft measuring nearly five feet long, and was ended with a blade very similar to that of his swords. He was momentarily distracted by Win calling his attention to the strange pistols. He simply gave a friendly smile and nod, and turned back to the weapons on the wall.
He didn't have much knowledge of pistols, mainly because he dismissed them as a coward's weapons. Any weapon that allowed you to kill a man without having to see his eyes in the moment of death, released you from feeling his body give way beneath its destructive power, and freed you from being painted in the grime and gore of war was meant for a weaker sort of man. This opinion would, of course, never be shared with his new friend. He may try to lure him into at least carrying a bladed weapon at some future time, but he wouldn't outright call the man a coward for his tactics, unless they proved less than savory.
He soon dismissed the pole weapon as useless, and moved on. It wasn't long before he came to the few pieces of armor in the shop. He knocked his finger against the single breastplate, the metal emitting a hollow thump. From what he could tell the armor, unlike the weapons, was shoddy work. The gnome that made the items for this shop was probably more focused on making the instruments of death than the things that staved it off.
Finally, as Win was beginning to haggle over the price of the weapons, Angren ran out of things to look at, so he idly stood in the middle of the room. Arms crossed, hands resting on his ribs just below his own weapons.
He didn't have much knowledge of pistols, mainly because he dismissed them as a coward's weapons. Any weapon that allowed you to kill a man without having to see his eyes in the moment of death, released you from feeling his body give way beneath its destructive power, and freed you from being painted in the grime and gore of war was meant for a weaker sort of man. This opinion would, of course, never be shared with his new friend. He may try to lure him into at least carrying a bladed weapon at some future time, but he wouldn't outright call the man a coward for his tactics, unless they proved less than savory.
He soon dismissed the pole weapon as useless, and moved on. It wasn't long before he came to the few pieces of armor in the shop. He knocked his finger against the single breastplate, the metal emitting a hollow thump. From what he could tell the armor, unlike the weapons, was shoddy work. The gnome that made the items for this shop was probably more focused on making the instruments of death than the things that staved it off.
Finally, as Win was beginning to haggle over the price of the weapons, Angren ran out of things to look at, so he idly stood in the middle of the room. Arms crossed, hands resting on his ribs just below his own weapons.
"A barbarian's favorite business is war." -Napoleon Bonaparte
"Sometimes I wish life was turn based." -Unknown Author
"Sometimes I wish life was turn based." -Unknown Author
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Gelden beamed with pride as the woman stuck out her arms and semi-stumbled along until she hit the water's edge. She was already doing better, and there was no more blood coming from any part of her body. This could only be considered an improvement.
"You sure are pretty Miss."
The comment came from nowhere and directed nothing. Just a casual observation, as the fae rocked one way, then the other, and finally completed the full circuit in a cartwheel. She failed to finish the maneuver as she lost her balance and went tumbling backwards, landing on her back with a playful shriek. She sat up, still giggling, as the woman completed her question.
"What's a duskling? I ain't seen nothing like what you said. I did see a dark man once, and he was really shy and scared. But I put cloth around his hurts and he got better."
"You sure are pretty Miss."
The comment came from nowhere and directed nothing. Just a casual observation, as the fae rocked one way, then the other, and finally completed the full circuit in a cartwheel. She failed to finish the maneuver as she lost her balance and went tumbling backwards, landing on her back with a playful shriek. She sat up, still giggling, as the woman completed her question.
"What's a duskling? I ain't seen nothing like what you said. I did see a dark man once, and he was really shy and scared. But I put cloth around his hurts and he got better."
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry,” says Coyote.
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Angren was just staring off into nothing when Win came up behind him and nudged him.
"C'mon pardner! We're all done here." He laughed. "How long did you think it was going to take?"
Win and Angren walked outside, and both were relieved to get out of the unkempt and filthy shop. However, they were still in the unpleasant Industrial District, so they decided to hasten home. Win slung the long rifle and the blunderbuss over his shoulder, and carried the pepperboxes in their metal case under his arm.
"We'll get some rest tonight, and I'll pack all of our equipment and provisions. Then bright an' early tomorrow, we'll get ourselves down to the city gate to see if we can pick up any other cowpokes who want to answer my ad. We'll also meet up with Drake, who went to Shim to get us horses for the journey."
As they walked, Win tried to explain different things about the buildings in Marn that they passed, but Angren did not seem interested in anything other than the power plant that they had trekked by earlier. After a while, Win felt bad for dragging his big barbarian friend through the market and the Industrial District all day, so he tried to ask Angren about himself to get to know him a little better. However, the cowboy wasn't really sure what questions to ask, so he just asked Angren how the gnomish smithwork compared to the barbarians'.
"C'mon pardner! We're all done here." He laughed. "How long did you think it was going to take?"
Win and Angren walked outside, and both were relieved to get out of the unkempt and filthy shop. However, they were still in the unpleasant Industrial District, so they decided to hasten home. Win slung the long rifle and the blunderbuss over his shoulder, and carried the pepperboxes in their metal case under his arm.
"We'll get some rest tonight, and I'll pack all of our equipment and provisions. Then bright an' early tomorrow, we'll get ourselves down to the city gate to see if we can pick up any other cowpokes who want to answer my ad. We'll also meet up with Drake, who went to Shim to get us horses for the journey."
As they walked, Win tried to explain different things about the buildings in Marn that they passed, but Angren did not seem interested in anything other than the power plant that they had trekked by earlier. After a while, Win felt bad for dragging his big barbarian friend through the market and the Industrial District all day, so he tried to ask Angren about himself to get to know him a little better. However, the cowboy wasn't really sure what questions to ask, so he just asked Angren how the gnomish smithwork compared to the barbarians'.
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Angren Paur
- Outsider
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:44 am
- Name: Angren Paur IDraugagar
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Angren turned a calm eye to the smaller man when he was nudged. A half smile and a shake of the head was given to Win's comments.
The barbarian walked along after Win, silently listening to his explanations of the buildings they passed. While they remained close enough he had continued to glance back at the power plant. He had no clue about the place, and wanted to know what it did. When the cowboy went over his plans for the next day he received a few nods and nothing more.
"Mm," he mumbled, his attention snapping back to the conversation from wherever it had been, "it is very similar. No useless decoration on the weapons. Many foolish fighters like the weapons with designs and little things to make them pretty, but an instrument of death shouldn't be pretty. It encourages senseless killing and can weaken the weapon." He nodded to himself, agreeing with his own statement like some pompous philosopher. "The armor is shyte though," said with a smile.
The barbarian walked along after Win, silently listening to his explanations of the buildings they passed. While they remained close enough he had continued to glance back at the power plant. He had no clue about the place, and wanted to know what it did. When the cowboy went over his plans for the next day he received a few nods and nothing more.
"Mm," he mumbled, his attention snapping back to the conversation from wherever it had been, "it is very similar. No useless decoration on the weapons. Many foolish fighters like the weapons with designs and little things to make them pretty, but an instrument of death shouldn't be pretty. It encourages senseless killing and can weaken the weapon." He nodded to himself, agreeing with his own statement like some pompous philosopher. "The armor is shyte though," said with a smile.
"A barbarian's favorite business is war." -Napoleon Bonaparte
"Sometimes I wish life was turn based." -Unknown Author
"Sometimes I wish life was turn based." -Unknown Author
-
Mercedes D'Amour
- Citizen
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 am
- Name: Mercedes
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
The compliment surprised her. Mercedes was rarely told that she was pretty - the tattoos and piercings tended to give her a hard look that few could see past, let alone find attractive. They were markings of an earlier time, of mistakes and consequences. What she learned from those consequences were what made her keep them, no matter how flamboyantly presented the objects of remembrance were. For a moment, she just looked at the giggling fairy. Her smile was sad, yet sweet – sad because she wanted to be able to remember a time when she herself was that innocent, sweet because innocence was so attractive. Aimee still had that lightness naiveté brings, but even that was tainted with age and knowledge. Still...the fae was sweet.
“You seem pretty good at making people better. My friend is too. She’s the person I’m looking for.”
With this said, Merc stood, subtly indicating that she wished to go look for her friend now. She wavered only for a second, then solidly stood her ground. Walking back up onto the path, she looked first one way, then the other. This road was definitely not one well-travelled. It would be far too convenient to be close to a town – country living wasn’t for her – and the connections she found in cities definitely made it easier to find people. Merc twisted her head around to regard her miniature guide. A surge of disappointment flooded her senses as Aimee mourned having to leave the bright little thing behind, as they both knew that a fairy would never follow them into “civilization”. There is a time for everything, however, and good-byes only get sadder the longer one stays.
“So, are there any towns or cities around here? If I’m lucky, someone will know something about my friend.”
“You seem pretty good at making people better. My friend is too. She’s the person I’m looking for.”
With this said, Merc stood, subtly indicating that she wished to go look for her friend now. She wavered only for a second, then solidly stood her ground. Walking back up onto the path, she looked first one way, then the other. This road was definitely not one well-travelled. It would be far too convenient to be close to a town – country living wasn’t for her – and the connections she found in cities definitely made it easier to find people. Merc twisted her head around to regard her miniature guide. A surge of disappointment flooded her senses as Aimee mourned having to leave the bright little thing behind, as they both knew that a fairy would never follow them into “civilization”. There is a time for everything, however, and good-byes only get sadder the longer one stays.
“So, are there any towns or cities around here? If I’m lucky, someone will know something about my friend.”
Alegria. Beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow. Alegria.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Making people better? What did that even mean? Did she think the fairy could turn a person's skin into gold? Or maybe she thought Gelden could grant wishes and boons like in some of the silly stories humans told. Or maybe she thought the fairy could give her little glamours to make her hair color change. Or...or something. Whatever it was, it needed to be cleared up!
"Nah, I can't make no one better, I just talk lots. That way I'll be sure to say somethin' that makes 'em smile an' then they'll be happy 'cause that's important."
The tone of voice was oddly mature though the words themselves were tainted with the sort of childish immaturity she most often displayed. She hated being like an adult, it was most definitely not fun in any way. She dropped the tone the moment her point was made and focused on the path ahead of them.
"Yeah, there's a city down that way but they're real mean. They have little machines that put holes in people and they said magic's illegal and they're really rude, too."
She kicked the weed ball along the ground, watching it bounce and weave along the uneven path until it rolled into a small ditch by the side of the road.
"I don't know the name or anything useful but I can take you inside. I gotta be careful though 'cause they don't like me much."
"Nah, I can't make no one better, I just talk lots. That way I'll be sure to say somethin' that makes 'em smile an' then they'll be happy 'cause that's important."
The tone of voice was oddly mature though the words themselves were tainted with the sort of childish immaturity she most often displayed. She hated being like an adult, it was most definitely not fun in any way. She dropped the tone the moment her point was made and focused on the path ahead of them.
"Yeah, there's a city down that way but they're real mean. They have little machines that put holes in people and they said magic's illegal and they're really rude, too."
She kicked the weed ball along the ground, watching it bounce and weave along the uneven path until it rolled into a small ditch by the side of the road.
"I don't know the name or anything useful but I can take you inside. I gotta be careful though 'cause they don't like me much."
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry,” says Coyote.
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
-
Mercedes D'Amour
- Citizen
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 am
- Name: Mercedes
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
She smirked as Gelden rattled on about not really being able to make people better. Such heart. Funny that the fae would hit on something she felt so keenly herself. She was no healer, but she knew the value of a smile and laughter.
“...magic is illegal...”
At this Mercedes’ head whipped around. The fairy wasn’t joking. It felt as though there was a furry nut stuck in her throat. Should Gelden be of the observant sort, she would notice an instant draining of colour from Merc’s face and an increase in her breathing frequency.
~If I know Uluki, that’s where she is. Oh...~
*Don’t be such a pessimist Mercy. She wouldn’t stay in a place that outright outlawed magic.*
~You know as well as I do how much she loves to help people. If there’s a collection of downtrodden somewhere, that’s where she’ll be.~
*I dunno, Merce. I don’t think she’d put the girls at risk like that.*
~You do have a point there. That earns you a sister point.~
*Ha! Yes, that puts me what...five up on you?*
~Whatever! Liar!~
Calmed somewhat, Merc licked her lips before remarking. “You know, second thought, I don’t think I really need to see that particular city. People that don’t like people like you aren’t the types I like to hang around with.” A smile accompanied the last comment.
Amazing how so many cultures can make the same mistakes. The people back home had run Uluki and Rollick out of town – simply because Uluki was fae and Rollick loved her. How did stupid people end up running cities? Ugh. She had to get off of this topic. A glance at the little fairy told her that she might be feeling the same way. Aimee whispered an idea and Merc grinned.
“You know, making people happy is important. I’m with ya on that one. It’s sort of my job.”
Almost by magic, three dyed leather balls appeared in her hand. Merc tossed them gently into the air and juggled them back and forth a few times before stopping with one ball balanced atop her head.
“Ta-da!”
Stupid that something so simple could make her feel so good.
“...magic is illegal...”
At this Mercedes’ head whipped around. The fairy wasn’t joking. It felt as though there was a furry nut stuck in her throat. Should Gelden be of the observant sort, she would notice an instant draining of colour from Merc’s face and an increase in her breathing frequency.
~If I know Uluki, that’s where she is. Oh...~
*Don’t be such a pessimist Mercy. She wouldn’t stay in a place that outright outlawed magic.*
~You know as well as I do how much she loves to help people. If there’s a collection of downtrodden somewhere, that’s where she’ll be.~
*I dunno, Merce. I don’t think she’d put the girls at risk like that.*
~You do have a point there. That earns you a sister point.~
*Ha! Yes, that puts me what...five up on you?*
~Whatever! Liar!~
Calmed somewhat, Merc licked her lips before remarking. “You know, second thought, I don’t think I really need to see that particular city. People that don’t like people like you aren’t the types I like to hang around with.” A smile accompanied the last comment.
Amazing how so many cultures can make the same mistakes. The people back home had run Uluki and Rollick out of town – simply because Uluki was fae and Rollick loved her. How did stupid people end up running cities? Ugh. She had to get off of this topic. A glance at the little fairy told her that she might be feeling the same way. Aimee whispered an idea and Merc grinned.
“You know, making people happy is important. I’m with ya on that one. It’s sort of my job.”
Almost by magic, three dyed leather balls appeared in her hand. Merc tossed them gently into the air and juggled them back and forth a few times before stopping with one ball balanced atop her head.
“Ta-da!”
Stupid that something so simple could make her feel so good.
Alegria. Beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow. Alegria.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Gelden sighed dramatically when the woman said they wouldn't be going to the city. She hadn't been looking forward to the dying part, but at least a city run was always fun. Humans made funny noises when hit in the head with tiny pebbles.
The woman said something about a job, and the fae perked up considerably, her eyes widening.
"Ooo, a job! Humans love jobs! They're always working so that they can have money so that they can go home and they don't really play much. I don't get why they do that. It seems so boring."
Suddenly, the woman was juggling, and doing a fair job of it. The fairy's eyes widened until they looked ready to pop from her skull, and she shrieked and clapped when the woman finished her show. She bounced in place, still giggling and shrieking alternately, and gestured in what could only be called coordinated spasms.
"Again!"
The woman said something about a job, and the fae perked up considerably, her eyes widening.
"Ooo, a job! Humans love jobs! They're always working so that they can have money so that they can go home and they don't really play much. I don't get why they do that. It seems so boring."
Suddenly, the woman was juggling, and doing a fair job of it. The fairy's eyes widened until they looked ready to pop from her skull, and she shrieked and clapped when the woman finished her show. She bounced in place, still giggling and shrieking alternately, and gestured in what could only be called coordinated spasms.
"Again!"
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry,” says Coyote.
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
-
Mercedes D'Amour
- Citizen
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 am
- Name: Mercedes
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Merc managed a lopsided grin. Somehow she knew that would go over well.
“Alright, hold on.” She said, stripping off her guitar and bag and dropping them in the dust before preparing a proper juggling stance.
Why was she doing this? Standing around, juggling for a little fairy in the middle of nowhere when she had something to be doing – or heck, a city to investigate? There was just something about the city that made her stomach churn. Maybe the simple fact that magic was illegal there – not that she didn’t have control enough to keep anyone from finding out – that would be her first guess.
Round and round. Up and down. Under the leg. Over the back. Two up, one down. One up, two down. Switch hands. One hand. Switch hands. Over the wrist. Merc could feel the stress leaking out of her fingers and into the balls as they were tossed up and away from her. Aimee felt this too and laughed out loud, Merc’s eyes sparkling as they watched the shining orbs float serenely in defiance of gravity before succumbing to the pressure and plummeting back into Mercedes’ sure hands. Aimee could lose herself so easily in the simple complexity of an illusion – whereas Merc could simply lose herself in the innocence of being able to do so.
The moment was shattered when one of her balls nudged an overhanging branch and went off-course enough to be missed. “Damn.” one of the sisters muttered as the remaining two balls were chaperoned into Merc’s pockets. The ball had bounced down the path and lost itself in the weeds. She sighed, then chuckled as she picked up her stuff before sauntering down the path with intent to reclaim her property..
“Here’s hoping it didn’t roll down a hole. That would be just my luck.”
“Alright, hold on.” She said, stripping off her guitar and bag and dropping them in the dust before preparing a proper juggling stance.
Why was she doing this? Standing around, juggling for a little fairy in the middle of nowhere when she had something to be doing – or heck, a city to investigate? There was just something about the city that made her stomach churn. Maybe the simple fact that magic was illegal there – not that she didn’t have control enough to keep anyone from finding out – that would be her first guess.
Round and round. Up and down. Under the leg. Over the back. Two up, one down. One up, two down. Switch hands. One hand. Switch hands. Over the wrist. Merc could feel the stress leaking out of her fingers and into the balls as they were tossed up and away from her. Aimee felt this too and laughed out loud, Merc’s eyes sparkling as they watched the shining orbs float serenely in defiance of gravity before succumbing to the pressure and plummeting back into Mercedes’ sure hands. Aimee could lose herself so easily in the simple complexity of an illusion – whereas Merc could simply lose herself in the innocence of being able to do so.
The moment was shattered when one of her balls nudged an overhanging branch and went off-course enough to be missed. “Damn.” one of the sisters muttered as the remaining two balls were chaperoned into Merc’s pockets. The ball had bounced down the path and lost itself in the weeds. She sighed, then chuckled as she picked up her stuff before sauntering down the path with intent to reclaim her property..
“Here’s hoping it didn’t roll down a hole. That would be just my luck.”
Alegria. Beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow. Alegria.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
By the time the woman was done with her show, Gelden's jaw was hanging open and a stupid expression was fixed in place on her face. She was amazed from her head to her toes and everywhere in between buzzed and hummed with unspent energy. The woman's "mistake" did not make an impression; Gelden was already beyond judging her.
"That was amazing!!!"
The fairy started bounding along behind the tall woman, occasionally pausing to twirl with her arms in a wide arch above her head before continuing forward.
"Can you teach me? Can you? 'Cause I think that'd be super fun. I think I'd like to throw and catch stuff, but it kinda looked repetitive, too. Doesn't it get boring? Do people yawn when you do that in front of them? Oooo look, thistles!"
This final statement was accompanied by a sweeping hand gesture to take up a clump of the purple milk thistle, along with a healthy dollop of the surrounding grasses and assorted useless weeds.
"Illilli said you can make tea with this!"
"That was amazing!!!"
The fairy started bounding along behind the tall woman, occasionally pausing to twirl with her arms in a wide arch above her head before continuing forward.
"Can you teach me? Can you? 'Cause I think that'd be super fun. I think I'd like to throw and catch stuff, but it kinda looked repetitive, too. Doesn't it get boring? Do people yawn when you do that in front of them? Oooo look, thistles!"
This final statement was accompanied by a sweeping hand gesture to take up a clump of the purple milk thistle, along with a healthy dollop of the surrounding grasses and assorted useless weeds.
"Illilli said you can make tea with this!"
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry,” says Coyote.
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
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Mercedes D'Amour
- Citizen
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 am
- Name: Mercedes
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Merc was about to respond to any of the fae's numerous questions but had to stop herself. It didn't really matter if she wanted to teach the fairy or not - the chances the little thing would actually sit still long enough to learn seemed very slim indeed. Nor did the question about whether people got bored by her act seem very important at all. It was more like polite conversation just happened to take an inquisitive form with this one. However, at the pronouncement that one could make tea from thistles, Merc crinkled her nose.
"Is Illilli by chance a goat? That is the only thing I've ever seen that would eat a thistle - let alone drink one."
It was only half a joke and the little bit of humour that was there was quickly quenched by the realization that the entire area was infested with thistles. Her ball was somewhere in this ocean of thorns. Getting down on her hands and knees, she attempted to look under the leaves - hoping the ball was close to the front. Dirt and gravel scraped against her bare knees and she winced a little before she lay down flat on the path. She muttered to herself something that implied the juggling balls were sentient and had minds of their own, then grinned as a thought occurred to her. Kneeling and unstrapping her guitar, she poked it into the brambles and used it to attempt to separate the weeds.
There was her ball. Next to a giant black snake. With yellow eyes. BIG yellow eyes.
"Ah ha ha."
Not 'ha ha' as in laughing, but more of a 'oh crap, that's scary' sort of a sound came out of her mouth as she danced backwards, allowing the weeds to spring back into place over the reptile. Merc now gripped her guitar by the neck and held it above her head JUST in case the snake made a move for the open. Realizing that her actions may alarm the fairy, she attempted to let her know what was going on.
"Big. Snake. Big."
Did she mention that the snake was really big?
"Is Illilli by chance a goat? That is the only thing I've ever seen that would eat a thistle - let alone drink one."
It was only half a joke and the little bit of humour that was there was quickly quenched by the realization that the entire area was infested with thistles. Her ball was somewhere in this ocean of thorns. Getting down on her hands and knees, she attempted to look under the leaves - hoping the ball was close to the front. Dirt and gravel scraped against her bare knees and she winced a little before she lay down flat on the path. She muttered to herself something that implied the juggling balls were sentient and had minds of their own, then grinned as a thought occurred to her. Kneeling and unstrapping her guitar, she poked it into the brambles and used it to attempt to separate the weeds.
There was her ball. Next to a giant black snake. With yellow eyes. BIG yellow eyes.
"Ah ha ha."
Not 'ha ha' as in laughing, but more of a 'oh crap, that's scary' sort of a sound came out of her mouth as she danced backwards, allowing the weeds to spring back into place over the reptile. Merc now gripped her guitar by the neck and held it above her head JUST in case the snake made a move for the open. Realizing that her actions may alarm the fairy, she attempted to let her know what was going on.
"Big. Snake. Big."
Did she mention that the snake was really big?
Alegria. Beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow. Alegria.
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Geldenwing
- Citizen
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2006 12:33 am
- Race: Fairy
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
"Nah, she's part dragon. She's real pretty, too. She has stuff on her skin that changes colors and stuff, it's neat."
The fairy picked and prodded at the purple blossom she'd snagged, torturing the poor thing with hardly a care. The woman seemed determined to find her little ball in the nearby brambles, and Gelden couldn't imagine why. It was just a ball. Humans were so weird.
Suddenly, the woman was wielding her guitar like a club and the tiny fae's eyes opened wide as saucers. There had been a weird laugh right before the gesture, but Gelden didn't see anything remotely funny in the surroundings. And so far the woman had been fun. Maybe her sense of humor was broken. Or maybe just her laugh.
The woman staggered out a basic explanation for her oddness, and Gelden stepped closer to see what all the fuss was about. She reached to push aside the brambles and sure enough, there sat a snake. It glared and stuck its tongue out at her, and she returned the gesture before throwing the clump of weeds she had into its face.
"Shoo! Get away!"
She reached down and started flinging whatever she could grab, including roots, twigs, grass, and dirt. The snake, at the least, was having a very bad day.
"Shoo I said! You're scaring my lady friend!"
The snake shooed. Gelden reached to pick up the stray ball, then straightened and beamed brightly at the poor silly human as she offered it.
"All better!"
The fairy picked and prodded at the purple blossom she'd snagged, torturing the poor thing with hardly a care. The woman seemed determined to find her little ball in the nearby brambles, and Gelden couldn't imagine why. It was just a ball. Humans were so weird.
Suddenly, the woman was wielding her guitar like a club and the tiny fae's eyes opened wide as saucers. There had been a weird laugh right before the gesture, but Gelden didn't see anything remotely funny in the surroundings. And so far the woman had been fun. Maybe her sense of humor was broken. Or maybe just her laugh.
The woman staggered out a basic explanation for her oddness, and Gelden stepped closer to see what all the fuss was about. She reached to push aside the brambles and sure enough, there sat a snake. It glared and stuck its tongue out at her, and she returned the gesture before throwing the clump of weeds she had into its face.
"Shoo! Get away!"
She reached down and started flinging whatever she could grab, including roots, twigs, grass, and dirt. The snake, at the least, was having a very bad day.
"Shoo I said! You're scaring my lady friend!"
The snake shooed. Gelden reached to pick up the stray ball, then straightened and beamed brightly at the poor silly human as she offered it.
"All better!"
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry,” says Coyote.
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
“Okay,” said the Lone Ranger. “We believe you.”
“Hee-hee,” says Coyote. “Hee-hee.”
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Mercedes D'Amour
- Citizen
- Posts: 80
- Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2008 12:12 am
- Name: Mercedes
- Race: Human
Re: Like a Leaf on the Wind
Mercedes looked on wide-eyed as the fae launched an assault against her slithery foe. Slowly, the guitar slipped down to rest on the dirt and her hands folded across the top of the neck, her chin settled atop them. A little laugh - a real one this time - burbled behind closed lips and Merc shifted so that she could get a hand out to take the ball from the fairy.
"You are very brave." Merc actually looked quite sheepish "I...I have a fear of snakes." A pause. "I think it's the tongue."
She waggled it in a close approximation to what snakes often do, then snickered at herself for doing it. Once more relaxed, Merc continued to lean on her guitar as though it were a walking stick and popped the little ball back into the pocket with its kin. "Thanks." she said simply and offered another smile.
"So, you have a dragon for a friend. I've never met one myself, but I've heard them fly."
An unsuppressed shiver made the hair on the nape of her neck stand on end for the merest of moments. That night hadn't been one of their best. They had been stranded in a godforsaken wood in a northern highland and had curled up in a small cave for the night. The caravan had taken everything and they were in dire straights. That night, they had been awoken by the strangest sound - a wind unlike anything they had heard before. The trees screamed in defiance as their trunks were pushed and bent into uncomfortable positions, and then they couldn't hear anything but "the wind". A whole army of dragons was flying overhead. They had never felt so small and weak as in that moment. Maybe that's why Merc didn't like snakes...
The memory left her, and Merc blinked as if she had just stepped into the sun before smiling apologetically for having completely zoned out on her fae saviour.
"You know, you've helped me twice now and I still don't know your name. Mine's Merc, just so you know."
This particularly short introduction was accompanied by a wink and a smile that could be described as 'secretive'.
"You are very brave." Merc actually looked quite sheepish "I...I have a fear of snakes." A pause. "I think it's the tongue."
She waggled it in a close approximation to what snakes often do, then snickered at herself for doing it. Once more relaxed, Merc continued to lean on her guitar as though it were a walking stick and popped the little ball back into the pocket with its kin. "Thanks." she said simply and offered another smile.
"So, you have a dragon for a friend. I've never met one myself, but I've heard them fly."
An unsuppressed shiver made the hair on the nape of her neck stand on end for the merest of moments. That night hadn't been one of their best. They had been stranded in a godforsaken wood in a northern highland and had curled up in a small cave for the night. The caravan had taken everything and they were in dire straights. That night, they had been awoken by the strangest sound - a wind unlike anything they had heard before. The trees screamed in defiance as their trunks were pushed and bent into uncomfortable positions, and then they couldn't hear anything but "the wind". A whole army of dragons was flying overhead. They had never felt so small and weak as in that moment. Maybe that's why Merc didn't like snakes...
The memory left her, and Merc blinked as if she had just stepped into the sun before smiling apologetically for having completely zoned out on her fae saviour.
"You know, you've helped me twice now and I still don't know your name. Mine's Merc, just so you know."
This particularly short introduction was accompanied by a wink and a smile that could be described as 'secretive'.
Alegria. Beautiful roaring scream of joy and sorrow. Alegria.