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Tweak says, "I'm a time bomb, baby"

Diana Elias (airspriestess) wrote in light_of_may,
@ 2011-07-23 19:07:00

Entry tags:

#group scene, 2009-08-18, aurora, barnabas, cheila, diana

Together again just like it's meant to be
Who: Diana, Cheila, Barnabas, Aurora and Aetheria (NPC)
Where: Elias Household
When: Morning

Diana was excited for one reason and one reason only. Wait, did it count as two reasons? Since there were twins involved she supposed that maybe it did count as two and she was just thinking of it as one because they came as a sort of package. If you picked up a package of corn at the market - because in these weird markets they came all wrapped up in plastic without the husk! - then it was just one even if there were six of them in there. So yes, she'd been right and she was just excited for that one reason. That one reason being that the twins were coming to live with them at last. The house may not have been theirs for all that long but it still was. May not have been a temple but she was trying with the big windows, the porch and that meadow that Cheila was so very fond of. Now that was a girl who would make a wonderful high priestess. Caelia had been the one who was meant to follow her but more and more she thought that maybe it should be Cheila. Caelia had seemed to change so very much and she was hardly ever around. What sort of high priestess didn't even practice half of the time? Diana hadn't been able to keep herself from playing with air, praying to the gods or interacting with the others.

'You're supposed to be cleaning up the spare bedroom so that the twins can put their things in there. Remember?'

"Where are you?" Diana asked without looking up from her study of the kitchen counter. The stone was all blended together, black and silver with white flecked in, and it fascinated her every time that she paid any attention to it. 'On the table. Right behind you.' "Oh." Diana turned and waved at her familiar before looking at the counter again. Only Breeze was right and she needed to get the boxes that had been sent out of that room and where they belonged so that Aetheria and Aurora could move in. They wouldn't be happy if they had to sleep on the floor. Or they wouldn't care more than any of the others but it was the principle of the matter. "Cheila!" Diana called, finally turning away from her study of the counter. Was Cheila in the house? "Cheila; I need you to help me with something. If you're here. Are you here?"

'If she wasn't she wouldn't answer you.'

"Perhaps Lala would."

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airspriestess
2011-07-27 09:29 pm UTC (link)

The winds had started to tug at the bottom of her dress, a result of her rising stress at the idea that the twins had only come for a short visit, when Barnabas pointed out the man bringing in the luggage and Aurora went and confirmed that yes, it was theirs. A brilliant smile broke out on Diana's face and she clapped her hands together once, pressing them to her mouth as she watched Aurora go to hug Cheila while Aetheria moved towards Barnabas. Good, it was good for all of them to be in on the hugging and greeting. "You can leave those right there," Diana informed the man with the bags, waving one hand vaguely towards the sitting room just to the other side of the door. "We'll take care of them later." Despite having excellent hearing like all air elementals Diana couldn't hear a word of what Aurora was saying to Cheila, but she saw the smile and the tears and had to wonder.

Her attention, however, focused in on Aetheria with her little writing pad and Barnabas. "Yes dear it is very good to have you both and it's the room right across from Cheila's. Have you seen Cheila's room? I know Aurora has." But unlike the days in the past where having one twin see meant that both did, this wasn't the same. Aurora and Aetheria separated far too much for Diana's comfort and she couldn't imagine that it was actually all that good for either of them. "I just found the ceremonial robes as well, see Cheila has hers. Is everything all right Cheila? Aurora?" Smiles and tears could go together but they didn't all that often and Diana couldn't help but feel a little bit of concern as to what had caused the latter.

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findthethoughts
2011-07-28 03:21 pm UTC (link)

There was just a bit too much happening right now for Barnabas. Diana's thoughts, Cheila's, Aurora's, Aetheria's... the last was the loudest and Barnabas supposed that was because she had wrapped her arms around him for a hug. Which he returned happily, kissing the top of Aetheria's head as she pulled away. Glancing over at Aurora he wondered what was so important to tell Cheila, catching only a glimpse of something that was supposedly a very happy thing. Shaking his head to try and clear the thoughts away, Barnabas realized that Diana was saying something to Aetheria and then something to their other daughters. He really, truly hated when he couldn't focus on anything. It was like his mind was actively trying to get in the way of him doing anything approaching useful. Normally in situations like this he'd be able to pick up bits of everything or at the least shut his telepathy off so that he didn't have to hear anything.

Sometimes he really wished that his problems with telepathy were that it didn't really work.

"It won't be that hard to find, it's not as though the house is that big." If Barnabas sounded distracted then that was because he was. By the flurry of thoughts running through his mind that didn't even the decency to just be his own. He did wish to know what was going on with Aurora and Cheila, though, so he tried to focus.

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unseeingair
2011-07-28 05:49 pm UTC (link)

Aurora knew that Cheila did not particularly like being touched, it made her sad to acknowledge that, but she had needed to do it or else she may well have whispered to her eye. And that would have just been uncomfortable for everyone involved. You're being silly. Yes, she knew that, but did Aetheria have to giggle at her? Yes! It's silly and I'm happy! We're here! Aetheria would forever be happy so long as she was pleasing others and it had been obvious from the moment that they stepped in the door and revealed that there was luggage with them that Diana, at the least, was very happy. Barnabas likely was as well and it was just harder for him to show it since his mind was slightly addled. How long did things like that last?

Oh, Cheila. Why was she sorry? "Why are you sorry?" Aurora asked, smiling even when she felt dampness on her sister's cheeks. "It's okay to cry, we did too, and we probably will again. We're happy to be here and we didn't think that it'd be possible." Even though she knew that Cheila really was not fond of being touched, Aurora could not bring herself to not wrap her arms around her for a tight hug. Mostly for her own comfort and to reassure herself that she was really here. "We're fine, mother," Aurora assured Diana as she released Cheila and turned to smile in their direction. She was incapable of lying so she just did not say what they had been talking about. "And you have our robes?" I want to see them! "We'd love to see them." Her hand went out to touch Cheila's, feeling the material and finding it to be much like she remembered. "Is Caelia here?"

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importedair
2011-07-30 02:56 am UTC (link)

'You're drawing attention.' I know. Hush. "Because you're here and I'm supposed to behave happier." Which sounded silly even to Cheila as the words left her mouth, but she had said it now and it had made perfect sense at the time. It still did to her. She was meant to be all smiling and cheerful and not-crying. She was supposed to be thrilled. She was, but the tears seemed to be a little contradictory unless to took them to be a happy sort of crying. Which they actually were. That still wasn't the point. Nor was the fact that Cheila could always find something to apologise for because it was simply in her nature. "But if you cry again I might not be able to stop," she pointed out through a sniffly laugh. It wasn't a threat, it was just true. She had been quite emotional since she'd found the rest of the family. She didn't always know what she was feeling, but there was always something there, tugging away at her.

Right at that moment, Dashiell could have jumped on Cheila and she would not have pulled away. In too much of a lingering state of shock to think about the action and too excited about the twins to tense up, she accepted the hug easily. Though she still wished she had hugged them both in the doorway. Diana's concern was the other reason Cheila supposed she apologised - crying worried people and that was the last thing she wanted to do. "We're fine," she echoed, turning the same smile on their mother. "I'm... just a little overwhelmed." True, but it was more than a little. She felt like she was going to burst. But the mention of the twins' robes pulled her thoughts elsewhere and her eyes lit up. "You both always look so beautiful in your robes." Present tense. Because even if their house was not the temple Cheila's mind was not ready to make it past tense. And Caelia... "Oh." Why wasn't she there? With a faint frown forming, Cheila looked to Diana. She didn't mean to judge her sister but the twins coming home seemed like the kind of thing everyone should be there for. And was father alright?

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airspriestess
2011-07-30 04:32 pm UTC (link)

When Diana had expressed her concern over Aurora and Cheila it seemed that Aetheria had been concerned, if the way that she moved to wrap an arm around her waist was any judge. Diana didn't object. She seemed to be nodding about something and, not for the first time, Diana wondered what it was that the twins were saying to themselves. Most twins seemed to have languages of their own when they were just little, but her twins had never needed it. They had a direct line to each other's thoughts and it worked far better. "No, but you know we can sometimes get lost easier than you, dear," Diana reminded Barnabas. Mind off what it was normally like or not he was still more able to get around than the rest of them. Being a Finder had something to do with that.

At Aurora's question about Caelia, Diana couldn't do anything but sigh, a slightly vexed look on her face. She had tried to get hold of her eldest daughter but it hadn't worked and now she wished twice as hard that it had. The twins deserved to have both of their sisters here and while Cheila was plenty good on her own she just wasn't two people. Caelia was the eldest and she had responsibilities that she was shirking. No, Diana didn't care that they were in America and that different rules applied. She did care that there may have been something wrong with her eldest and she wanted to know how to help fix it if possible, but if Cheila and the twins and Dashiell could return then why not her as well? The wind was starting to strengthen again and only Aetheria's tug at her dress alerted her to that. "You all look beautiful in your robes, and Dashiell looks handsome. He's still sleeping but I'm sure we can wake him up for this." His hair would be doing that cute thing where it was all sticking up. "As for Caelia... your sister doesn't seem to wish to be here right now. I'm sure that she'll come visit you later, sweethearts." Cheila was older and supposedly always closer with Caelia so if anyone in the family understood her reasons then it should be her. The twins? Not so much; they seemed permanently lodged in a half-childlike mindset.

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findthethoughts
2011-07-30 06:15 pm UTC (link)

The girls were fine. Barnabas had already known that, their thoughts were confusing but still didn't paint an image of them being damaged more than usual, but it was good for them to say it to reassure Diana. He may not have been all there but he was fully aware of the fact that when Diana got upset about anything the weather reacted. It was already storming and she could be very much like a living lightning rod. And out of all the people in their family he was the only one who wasn't immune to lightning bolt strikes. Hadn't that been how her last husband had died? Yes, that had been how, and Barnabas had spent their entire marriage absolutely refusing to go anywhere outside or too near to a window when Diana was in a mood. It was for his own safety and everyone, perhaps even Diana herself, understood that.

"Let the boy sleep," Barnabas interjected for the first time since he'd come out. "He doesn't so well and when he does it's good for him to get as much as he can." At that, his eyes flicked over to Cheila briefly. He knew that the same was true of her as well. Did any of them sleep well anymore? "I'm fine, Cheila, just having a little difficulty with all of the thoughts that are going on." Such as right there when he went and answered a question that hadn't even been asked. "Be easy on Caelia, she's having trouble readjusting to all of us." Cheila had touch issues and Caelia did as well, but Caelia also seemed to have issues with just spending time with them. Barnabas wanted to know why, but Caelia hadn't been around when he had control enough to ask and find out. "You should all try on your robes see how lovely you all look together." Three was better than none.

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unseeingair
2011-07-31 06:22 am UTC (link)

"Tears can be a sign of happiness," Aurora felt the need to point out even as she fighting back the urge to wipe all of Cheila's tears away. Happy or not she did not want to feel her older sister crying because of her. She wanted her to smile and laugh and feel something like she had once upon a time when the world was not ruined. "But we'll try not to cry." Aetheria echoed the statement inside of Aurora's mind. See, this was so much an easier way to get along with each other when they could just hear the thoughts. And Aurora did not have to worry about keeping some of her thoughts and emotions hidden away in a dark place so that Aetheria did not have to see them and worry about her. If I ever worried about you then you know that I had a reason to do so. Aurora nodded and would have taken her twin's hand if Aetheria was not busy hugging their mother while Aurora lingered near to Cheila. I know Ae.

"We all look beautiful in our robes, Aetheria says," Aurora supplied on behalf of her twin. And if Aetheria and Cheila said it was so then it had to be true. Aurora would not ever dream of disagreeing with something that was state as truth by two of her siblings. The news that Caelia was not, and would not, be there was a little disheartening though and Aurora blinked over at Cheila, suddenly needing to take her hand to assure herself that at least this other sister was here. At least Cheila was not going to run away and stay away from them. Why would Cae - I don't know. None of us do. I want her here too. They agreed on that, both of them wanted their oldest sister to be here and happy for them. Because they adored her and to have her missing made both of them feel as though there was something wrong with all of them. "She's not staying away because of us is she?" Aurora wanted to feel their robes, and she wanted to listen to her father, but she wanted to know if it was something that she or Aetheria had done. "If she really needs us to not touch her then we can..."

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importedair
2011-07-31 05:00 pm UTC (link)

In truth, Cheila just did not want to see the twins cry because today was supposed to be their day. For them to be happy in a place where she knew they could and would be happy. Or in the very least happier. Where none of them had to worry about them any more (but probably would anyway) and everything could begin to settle again. But an accidental nudge from her familiar made her decide that was selfish of her. Rubbing the tears from her eyes, she shook her head. "You can if you feel like you need to, I'm being silly." And selfish. She had no place suggesting her sisters shouldn't cry. Not if they wanted to. Sometimes it just made you feel better.

"Dash fell out of bed last night and couldn't get back to sleep," Cheila put in to support her father's point, despite the winds her mother had summoned just moments ago. He had actually woken with a start and flown out of bed, but she wasn't putting that in for everyone to hear. She didn't need to see Barnabas look at her to accept the general awareness of the fact she only knew her brother had fallen because she had already been awake herself. Either way, she beamed at his answer to the question she barely remembered thinking. "Good - oh, but I shall try to think less." 'A physical impossibility.' But Caelia. There were wisps of irritation in the air and Cheila was surprised to realise that for once she wasn't sure if they were coming from her mother, her element in general or actually from her. Was Air just agreeing with her? With both of them? What was Diana annoyed about, then? Because Cheila truly adored her older sister, but there were certain things that older sisters were supposed to do. It wasn't just about the gods or about the temple - though all of that was very, very important! - it was about the family. Barnabas was better but not fully well and he had been worse, but where had she been? She knew Caelia did not consider her quite to be their father as Cheila did, but he was part of the family nevertheless and that meant something. Their mother had not been alright. Where was Caelia? Dashiell, the twins - their younger siblings! They were both, as older sisters, supposed to be looking after them and where was she? Cheila was having trouble readjusting to everyone, but she was there and she was trying her hardest. Where was her sister? She had learned more of Caelia's well-being from one of her friends than she had from her. 'Cheila, you're not supposed to be thinking and you're calling winds.' "No - no, she isn't staying away because of you! You mustn't think that." She squeezed Aurora's hand gently. This wasn't fair on the twins.

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