A Day of Beginnings and Revelations
#1
Posted 18 October 2008 - 01:52 PM
Iris plopped down on a nearby bench, taking in the rest of the scenery. She was starting to think that this trip of discovery wouldn't be so horrendous. Eventually she'd have to come out of her shell and ask someone for help in locating proper lodgings, but she thought it was best to tackle things one step at a time. She wasn't quite ready to approach a stranger just yet. She decided she would stretch out on the bench and proceeded to lay down. Iris looked up at the sky. She never thought that she would ever miss the harsh mountain climate of Paia, but sadly she did. The difference in climate made for a difficult adjustment. It took a bit more effort to breathe and she felt very warm being in such a low altitude.
She thought about what she was going to do to pass the time during her stay her. Once she was settled, she would begin developing and working on her preparation for the Shrine Lord. She needed to become a Djinn, no ifs, ands, or buts. Iris deemed it was best to incur as little distractions as possible, but she definitely needed someone to talk to and an extra source of income on top of that. Iris finalized that her first order of business was to look for some sort of employment and then perhaps a pet to ease her loneliness. However, she had a sinking feeling that this might be easier said than done.
#2
Posted 04 November 2008 - 07:37 AM
Arriving at the good-sized plot of land set aside for the Quadrangle, Zephyr leaned against one of the rustic old walls, truly just a hop-skip-and-a-jump away from the statue itself. There were others around as well. A young Zanaryan girl who the 'varian had smell several yards away was sitting on a bench; an intimate young couple of nondescript race sat underneath the blossoms of the cherry trees; an old man paid homage to the 'deity' at the foot of her statue by laying what seemed to be an urn similar to those used to contain the ashes of the dead into one of the large bowls on the ground. A few others milled about as well, but nothing much for Zephyr to take note of. all he needed to do now was wait.
"Any time now, Slythe." Zephyr said telepathically to the beast he was bonded to for eternity. The two had continuously butted heads from the moment they'd met, but since the incident in the desert it seemed a silent respect was beginning to grow between the pair. A very silent and small respect, but a respect nonetheless. Crossing his arms in from of him, Zephyr waited silently for his companion, his breathing slow and quiet. Every so often he moved his head, as if looking for the bird that was routinely perched on his large shoulder but had been left home for the day due to the nature of the warrior's outing. The owl wouldn't have fared well in the bitter cold of the Dusky Mountain skies.
Still, the large man waited, his face stoic and his muscles perpetually tense as if awaiting a sudden conflict to arise.
#3
Posted 07 November 2008 - 08:53 PM
"Um, excuse me? Would you mind moving a bit to the right?" Iris asked as politely as she could.
#4
Posted 17 November 2008 - 02:10 PM
Dazadi really didn't need to visit Xanth's Statue to report back on the day's patrol. She could be in direct contact with the Queen of Drama at any moment, whether she wanted to be or not, but there was something to be said for talking to a stone representation rather than a disembodied voice. She'd come a long way from jibbering insanity from a dark corner but she would never stop being crazy and she could do without having voices in her head, thank you very much.
Besides, she was on her way to the weapon store to find the owner of the sword still strapped to her back, so she figured she could kill two idiots with one teleport.
Not that she was feeling lazy, or anything.
She arrived in a subdued poof of teleport smoke and breathed in at an inopportune moment. She'd never had the displeasure of inhaling 'port smoke before, and couldn't say she'd ever be tempted to again.
Coughing briefly, she wafted a hand around her head and scrunched up her face with distaste. 'Porting did come in handy when she was tired and didn't want to bother with the flying and the walking, but she really didn't think she ever actually like it or fully appreciate it.
Unpleasant scents assailed her, from those damned flowers Xanth insisted on having year-round, and... ergh, a young Zanaryan.
Dazadi was usually quite tolerant of the differences between the species: She disliked them all equally, but on an individual basis rather than a stereotype. However, with young Zanaryans, it was easy to figure out why they'd been granted their own special little realm instead of being forced to share with the rest of them. Suddenly, the idea of Kiril being that young popped into her head, and her lips twitched. She almost wished she could have met him back then just so she could tease him now.
#5
Posted 22 November 2008 - 01:32 AM
The Anyelos cracked open an eye when she heard a woman speaking. She glanced around, rather curious. Hm. She opened both of her amethyst eyes, turning to look at the source of the sound. She raised an eyebrow when she spotted the Zanaryan, and looked rather irked as she saw the large man standing there, ready for battle. It was unlikely to happen, not in front of the statue. Making her face expressionless, she turned away. The woman turned her attention on the couple. Oh. Ugh. Evangeline was rather disgusted. My, my. Do those two honestly have to show their affection in public? How ... irritating ... The Anyelos found herself becoming angry. That really spoiled her relaxed mood.
Sighing a bit, she rubbed her left glove, feeling the black stone that was set into it. She proceeded to comfort herself, taking deep breaths to calm herself down, when she saw another woman, older than her, teleport into the square. Huh. "I wonder who that woman is ..." she murmured, standing up. She stood up, lifting her periwinkle coloured dress up and began walking around, using a navy blue ribbon to tie up her hair. Evangeline milled around, just taking her time looking at and smelling the flowers. A small smile appeared on her face as she examined them, their scent perfuming the air. How soothing. She payed no attention to anyone else.
#6
Posted 24 November 2008 - 04:30 AM
"Um, excuse me? Would you mind moving a bit to the right?" Zephyr paused at the sound of the young girls voice before slowly turning his gaze to meet hers. Casting a stone cold glare, sure to make most any creature weaker than he shiver a bit in fear, Zephyr spoke darkly. "Yes, I would," he said, before turning his head away once again to stare into nothing in particular as he waited for Slythe to appear.
Not but two ticks later a woman, at least Zephyr assumed it was female from first glance due to the small body structure, poofed into the quadrangle. Zephyr quickly measured the newcomer's traits before deciding she definitely was female. He knew her, too. "Dazadi." he thought, silently as he returned to his resting state. At least, he considered it resting; even though every muscle in his body was ready to lash out and yank the limbs off of a person who so much as looked at him funny, this was about as relaxed as he ever got.
((OOC: sorry for the late post. I'll be a good boy from now on :'( ))
#7
Posted 25 November 2008 - 02:25 AM
Lifting a shoulder, she adjusted the position of the sword she'd found against her back. The makeshift sheathe wasn't particularly comfortable. She'd thought about keeping it, but the longer she carried it, the more wrong it felt. While she was an assassin rather than a warrior, there was still a code she followed regarding the use of weapons that didn't belong to her. Kade, especially, had always made such a fuss about her using his weapons instead of her own that, after the first few months of their working together, she'd automatically attributed that fussiness to other warriors and made a habit of only ever using her own weapons - or the weapons she took from bodies, but those didn't matter since their owners didn't need them anyway.
On top of that code, it just plain wasn't a comfortable weapon for her. It was heavy, and while she could heft it easily, it threw her balance off. It was a sword designed for a Dracovarian and she was accustomed to Anyeli weapons. She'd be glad to find its owner and be rid of it, frankly.
Snorting derisively as she glanced up at Xanth's stone avatar, Daz crossed the grass to the statue and stood before the collection bowl with her arms crossed over her chest, cocking a hip out. "I don't see why I have to kneel, you know, I'm the one doing all the work here."
#8
Posted 01 December 2008 - 01:38 PM
Stretching ever so slowly, as was his typical fashion, Slythe blew a rather large stream of fire into the air in front of him to warm his scales in his frigid mountain domain. With the changing of seasons it was likely that the beast was going to need to do something to heat his home. Or perhaps he could get his bond-mate to do it for him. Now there was an idea.
After all, Slythe did hate having to do things for himself. Though, if he didn't watch himself that 200 pounds he'd gained in the past year could quickly triple and become an unsightly pudge. For the moment Slythe had decided to just call it his 'winter insulation,' but he knew that while working with the Rutilus that excuse wouldn't fly for long.
Hearing Zephyr's second call, Slythe snarled. "I am no dog to be beckoned on with treats, warrior," he said telepathically to the man, using the familiar name that had been assigned to Zephyr ever since but a few months after their bonding ritual. "I will come when I am ready," he continued as he teleported himself to the dragon's location, though a few yards away so as not to damage Xanth's quadrangle. "No sooner, and no later. No matter how you call me," the Dragon's words were pointed at the 'Varian's demeanor, and obviously so at that. "So do not trifle with me. You'll live to regret it." With that, the large beast blew the tiniest of flame streams towards the fighter as he lowered his head in between Dazadi and Zephyr, which was near all he could do in the small space of the quadrangle.
Credit
Piper's BoutiqueDafont
Dragon
Avatar and photo credits: Gary Dourdan & Adriana Lima.
#9
Posted 01 December 2008 - 02:22 PM
Despite his wonderings, though, Zephyr's eyes kept returning to the blade strapped to the woman's back. At first he'd simply been thrown off by the size of it when compared to her body, but as he continued to look there seemed to be something so familiar to it. From the evenly formed silhouette, to the jeweled hilt, the flared blade, to the unusual blood grove moving along the center of the metal blade. Zephyr knew he'd seen the blade before. The metal was a bit word, as if having been ill taken care of for some weeks, but the blade still clearly showed a beast dragon breathing a swirl of flame towards the point of the blade. The etching was like a calling card, instantly causing him to know who the weapon belonged to. Him.
This realization in hand, Zephyr's face turned from firm, to solid stone as he went to move forward from his position, just as Slythe appeared. In the back of his mind he'd heard the beast's prattling and indignant demands, but he'd been too focused on the blade before him to pay Slythe much mind. "I'll keep that in mind, Dragon," Zephyr responded as he avoided the heat of his companion's fiery breath while still attempting to reach the woman. "Dazadi!" He called out, his tone firm as the Viridis' head got in the way of his path. The woman had his blade, the one that had taken over a month of painstaking work to create, and he intended to get it back, hopefully willingly.
#10
Posted 01 December 2008 - 03:15 PM
Focusing on her report, Daz stared up at Xanth's statue with a mocking smile. "There's an abandoned camp in the jungle and signs of poachers near Lake Anis." She had no idea if Xanth was even listening, but Dazadi was determined - for the moment, at least - to do her job. With Kade and their son gone, her life was empty and meaningless. If she didn't throw herself into her work...
"I found a cool sword in the desert but no body, there's evidence of a rock slide near Agraia, you owe me some new boots because I forgot how hot and sandy the desert is. Why don't you douse the whole place with another flood and let actual people settle there instead of those nutjob nomads anyway?"
Daz opened her mouth to continue her irreverent and one-sided conversation, but there was a sudden sense of something huge appearing out of thin air behind her. She had a vague idea of what that something might be before she twisted her head to look, her hand inching towards the hilt of her greatsword, and snorted at the sight of the dragon. They were bigger drama queens than Xanth.
Turning her face away from the sudden heat and flame, Daz scowled, remembering all too clearly the last time she'd been treated to a full dragon display. She still hadn't forgiven Siphae for trapping her in those enormous claws, and the sheer proximity of this beast made her skin itch.
Easing to her feet, Daz arched an eyebrow at the apparent one-sided conversation as a male voice said, with a distinct lack of awe and respect, "I'll keep that in mind, Dragon." Judging by the direction of the stream of fire, it had been aimed at the speaker, and Daz assumed they were a pair, although she couldn't remember ever seeing animosity between 'Vari and their dragons before. Then again, Kade was the only 'Varian she'd really been exposed to and he'd already developed a friendship with Phae when he began pursuing Dazadi, so what would she know about it? Maybe they all started out this way.
She did need to tell them to watch themselves, though. There were too many people around for dragons to go breathing flames all over the place, and in Dazadi's experience, they didn't usually tend to worry about who was in the way.
"Dazadi!"
Surprised to have her name yelled like that, Dazadi arched an eyebrow. The dragon had lowered its head so she could no longer see the speaker and she reached on tiptoe futilely. Glancing around in mild bemusement at the rest of the people in the quadrangle, she tried to get a feel for what the man wanted. He hadn't exactly seemed pleased to see her, or at least, the tone of his voice suggested he wasn't yelling her name for the fun of it. Planting her hands on her hips and cocking a hip, Daz tilted her head. "Do I know you?"
#11
Posted 20 December 2008 - 03:32 AM
Turning his head around as Dazadi spoke, Slythe eyed her cautiosly. She had a vaguely recognizable countenance, but Slythe wasn't quite sure why. Still, for some reason the brute was highly interested in the woman. "Who is she?" he asked the 'Varian complacently as he continued to examine her form, his head moving about to take her in from several angles. "I thought your mate was blonde," he tacked on soon afterwards, reffering to that Daoine woman Zephyr had spoken of several times.
Credit
Piper's BoutiqueDafont
Dragon
Avatar and photo credits: Gary Dourdan & Adriana Lima.
#12
Posted 31 December 2008 - 07:51 AM
"This one does not taste good with ketchup," she warned the eye-sore with a combination of forced respect (dragons were always so easily offended) and unyielding strength.
"Look," she continued hurriedly, "I know you guys are all about scaring the snot out of impertinent young pups - " She gestured vaguely at the people milling about the quadrangle, one hand still on her hip. " - but Xanth tends to get a little bit annoyed if her statue's burned to a crisp so... you know. Be careful where you aim that thing." Pointing at the dragon's still-smoking nostrils, she lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug and cocked her hip. "'Kay?"
#13
Posted 11 January 2009 - 05:25 AM
"She's not my mate," Zephyr said telepathically as he walked around the end of the Dragon's head, glaring at him rather angrily. "And your food's over there. We'll head out in a moment," he finished, his words short and to the point, though likely to be returned with some smart alek comment. Zephyr pointed vaguely in the direction of the wall, implying that the Dragon could grab the many pounds of meat for himself. Sometimes the differences between the two personalities made Zephyr wonder why on earth they'd ever agreed to bond with each other, even if a strange almost-working relationship had begun forming from it.
Hearing Dazadi speaking behind him, Zephyr restrained himself from casting a disrespectful glance in her direction as she apparently lectured the two of them. There was something aggravating about being condemned by someone so much... smaller than him. Looking down at her as he turned, the 'Varian nodded as his only response to her speaking. "My name is Zephyr Cairbre, I was part of the party who fought the hind to help save you," he said, his tone firm as usual, though lacking it's typical harshness. "And I believe that is my sword," he said, raising an arm to gesture at the large blade rather crudely attached to her back.
#14
Posted 12 January 2009 - 12:06 PM
Oh, except for yanking on a dragon's tail - unless that dragon was your lifemate...
Daz's limited experience with Kade's dragons gave her reason to think they were communicating telepathically so she snapped her mouth shut as Big Red made it past the Jaws of Death unsinged and with a vague gesture that drew her gaze to a sack of what she imagined was raw meat.
Stomach twinging in disgust, she rebalanced on her other hip and exhaled sharply, making her bangs flutter. He was only as tall as Kade - only! hah! - but there was a lot more of him, and those eyes reminded her all too well of her lifemate the way she knew him best. The way he looked at her was nothing like Kade, though. Something about the way he looked down at her... it wasn't just a physical thing and it made her bristle.
She bristled all the harder when the pair completely ignored her reprimand. What did he think, that she'd said it just for kicks and giggles? Did she look like she had time to waste getting her feathers singed?
Well, okay, so maybe she did, but they didn't know that and she'd thought she was doing a fair job of looking busy. "My name is Zephyr Cairbre, I was part of the party who fought the hind to help save you."
Dazadi's eyebrows shot up and she was responding even as he continued to speak, her voice clashing with his: "Oh, bully for you! Let's all have a parade!" It wasn't that she was ungrateful for the rescue, but sheesh, get over it already. Or was that his one crowning glory so he had to keep harping on about it?
Then again, she never had thanked those people personally. She'd just wanted to forget about it and it wasn't like she'd ever been introduced to them anyway. Why the hell had he brought it up, though, the sick censored?
Pouting and frowning, probably looking more like a grumpy child than a grown woman, Dazadi's brain caught up with her ears and she flicked her gaze up and down the 'Varian dubiously. "Your sword?" Reaching back for the blade, she fiddled with the tether as she continued, her gaze never leaving him. "Prove it." Grinning wickedly, she looked skywards and stuck out her tongue pensively. "I'm thinking of a number between 5 and 10."
It was a ridiculous test of ownership and wouldn't prove a damn thing but she was feeling mischievous and didn't like the way he looked at her. It would be interesting to see if he could name the number, though...
#15
Posted 28 January 2009 - 09:35 PM
He really hoped it wasn't the latter.
Raising his left eyebrow a bit, Zephyr glanced over to Slythe and then back again at the Anyelos. "That makes no sense..." he said, his tone a twisted concoction of confusion and patronization. He really didn't enjoy being toyed with, and he was beginning to feel like that's what was happening here. "Fight me," he said after trying for what seemed like ages to figure out what game the woman was playing. "I have no patience for games, and I desire my sword," the warrior continued, his tone firm and his face showing no sign of fear. "So fight me, and I'll prove to you that it is mine," the 'Varian finished speaking and then held out his hand for Dazadi to place the hilt of his blade in. He would fight and he would win, or else he would die before letting her keep his weapon.
#16
Posted 28 January 2009 - 09:54 PM
Turning to face Zephyr as he communicated with the dragon, Slythe snorted a very small string of fire at him as he registered the glare. What was it with his partner and always glaring at everything. He'd probably glare at a mother cheefle giving birth just because it was living. As the man mentioned his food, however, Slythe's attention immediately shifted to the bag that was a few feet away.
Whipping it up with his tail, Slythe quickly brought it above his head and dumped the contents straight into his mouth. Withing moments what had been the best meat from almost an entire cow was gone and never to be seen again. Now bearing a mostly-full stomach, Slythe returned his attention back to the pair who were now talking about something.
"His sword? The one he lost in the desert that he's been blaming me for ever since?" Slythe wondered, still not seeing why it was his fault that Zephyr had gone out into that desert all alone in the middle of the day and nearly gotten himself killed. Ever since, though, Zephyr's apparent goal in life was to get his sword back. Well, if it meant him fighting this woman to get it, and Slythe not actually having to do anything, then the dragon was all for that. "Yes, fight him. He's been griping about that blade for weeks." Slythe said to Dazadi telepathically, not really caring who would win the match as long as Zephyr stopped whining about his missing weapon.
Credit
Piper's BoutiqueDafont
Dragon
Avatar and photo credits: Gary Dourdan & Adriana Lima.
#17
Posted 29 January 2009 - 05:42 PM
Of course, if he was a Blue, she'd then have to wonder why he was wearing contacts and masquerading as something else, and then they'd get into this whole mire of suspicion and... Wait, what was he saying?
"So fight me, and I'll prove to you that it is mine." Oh, he would, would he? Did he realise she could swat his ass all the way to Nirim and back with just a little bit of effort? Besides, she didn't see how getting his ass kicked would prove anything - except that he was stupid.
Her turn to frown at him dubiously, Dazadi stared at the hand he held out, shifting her weight back and forth. Well now, this was interesting.
"Yes, fight him. He's been griping about that blade for weeks."
Eyes flicking up towards the dragon as she leaped to the assumption it was his voice in her head, Dazadi's eyebrows arched and her smile slowly returned, though still marred by suspicion. Well... what could it hurt? She was restless and desperate for a good spar, and he looked like he wanted his ass handed to him on a plate. It was a win-win situation as far as she could tell, but they couldn't spar here or Xanth would have apoplexy and the mountains would fall down.
"Okay, but not here." Reaching for the hilt of the blade he was drooling after, Dazadi pulled it around on its makeshift sheathe so it rested the length of her leg. She almost handed it over, but stared at him for a moment with her eyes narrowed. "I don't suppose you have another weapon you can fight me with?"
#18
Posted 09 April 2009 - 03:34 AM
"What did you say to her?" Zephyr asked his partner with a menacing glare before quickly turning his gaze back to the woman as she finally began to speak again. A slight sense of relief washed over the warrior as the Anyeli seemed to accept his offer. Moving his hand over to receive his blade that the woman still held, Zephyr paused abruptly as she spoke again. "But that doesn't make sense,"" he said of confused look enveloped by his face. "The whole point of me fighting you is to prove that I know how to wield a weapon."
Glaring angrily, Zephyr clenched the fist of his outstretched hand. All he wanted was his sword back. The blasted sword he’d lost in that Xanth forsaken desert. "Just give me the blade, and I’ll show you what I mean," he declared, his voice cold as he glared straight through her eyes and into her soul.
#19
Posted 10 April 2009 - 06:38 PM
“But what's to stop you poofing off with it as soon as I hand it over?” Her hand fluttered like a bird being released in Slythe's direction as she emphasised the poof part, alluding to him escaping on dragonback. He'd offered to fight her to prove the weapon belonged to him, not to prove he could. Him having a temper tantrum wasn't going to get him anywhere either, she mused with a pointed frown at his fist.
He really did remind her so much of Kade when she first knew him, coldly refusing to play her games and glaring at her with those hot red eyes of his. Before she knew it, she was looking up at him from beneath her bangs and grinning coyly, just as she'd done with her lifemate. “Take it from me,” she challenged, shoving the sword so it fell against the back of her legs, out of his way. She didn't reach for her own weapons but dropped back to rest her weight on her left foot, ready to dodge whatever he threw at her. Gods, this was going to be fun.
#20
Posted 16 April 2009 - 09:34 PM
"But what's to stop you poofing off with it as soon as I hand it over?" Suddenly Slythe's attention was focused as he jumped up angrily. "I do not poof you ignorant little whelp!" he rawred in enraged Draconic accompanied by a hot burst of flames at the end. "I teleport!" he finished, slamming his tail to the ground as he completed his seemingly unintelligible tirade. The fact that neither of them was likely to know even a drip of the Dragon's sacred language mattered not to him, the woman had deface his honor and that was unallowable. "Zephyr, you must beat her." he said telepathically to his partner as he snorted a plume of smoke into the air, ignorant of anything else the woman or the man had done since the Anyeli's demeaning comment about his powers.
Credit
Piper's BoutiqueDafont
Dragon
Avatar and photo credits: Gary Dourdan & Adriana Lima.