pegunicent (pegunicent) wrote in rp_prompts, @ 2009-01-29 08:36:00 |
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Entry tags: | ladynero:pegunicent:tb:vs |
Set
Title: Setting up the Steps
Authors: ladynero, pegunicent
Characters: Abel Nightroad, Sydney Losstarot
Fandom: Trinity Blood, Vagrant Story
Theme Set: Ten Set 03
Theme(s): Set
Warnings and Notes: Post-Game Vagrant Story setting, during the Armageddon of Trinity Blood. Complete crack and half naked men of faith.
Ladynero: Abel frowned faintly as he tugged at the silk veils draped over his body. He still wasn't sure how silk scarves were connected to dancing any more than the swords he gripped in one hand or the fire that Sydney had talked about. But this was important to Sydney, and it was such a small thing to learn these dances that Abel couldn't refuse his friend.
Pegunicent: He grinned and called up thin veils of shadow, the circles of fire sparking to life around them in a cheerful blaze. "Just watch, and when you think you have an idea, follow the steps. It's as much emotion and feeling as ritual and form." He murmured. The music started as a low thrumming beat, the Dark itself the musician.
Ladynero: "You lead and I shall follow," replied Abel, gripping a sword in each hand as he watched and waited for Sydney to start moving. He could feel the music beating in his blood, echoing from the Dark that Sydney claimed was a part of him, inviting him to come dance.
Pegunicent: He closed his eyes and grinned, waiting a few heartbeats to get a feel of the world without sight. Claws flashing, he twisted, twirling on one foot and sweeping out an arm to flicker through the flames without touching shadow veil to fire. Two steps and spin, at the edge of the encircling fiery cage. Again he teased the flames, too fast to catch the flimsy veil of shadow, slow enough for heat to caress silver claws. It had been a long time since he danced his Lady's dances, but the music of the Dark measured his steps perfectly.
Ladynero: He watched, his eyes taking in every movement, and he realized that it was as much of a challenge as it was a dance. Challenging oneself to get near enough to the flames to sweep with metal but not close enough to catch the veils. Nodding once, Abel stepped forward and started to imitate Sydney's graceful movements, not getting near the flames until he had a feel for the dance.
Pegunicent: He felt the difference in the air. In the Dark. The music hummed, brighter, louder, and he answered. Hips swiveling, he let himself fall into the ancient patterns. Ancient now but so bright and fresh when *she* danced them. He could feel the sweat gathering on his skin, the heat of the fire mixing with the heat in his blood. Without thought he started to sing along, pure joy in his voice.
Ladynero: He laughed, a joyful sound, as he was caught up in the music, the dancing, and the singing. The swords flickered and flashed in the dancing flames as the sheer veils grew close enough to kiss the flames but never connected. Even his hair, the long strands of silver, were part of the dance as well, and he gamely followed Sydney's steps.
Pegunicent: He could do this for hours, simply living for the moment. Nothing else existed but the dance, their world narrowed down to fire and motion. The Dark was purring under the music. Few enough things in life were as simple as dancing, and dancing, even this dance, was only as complicated as they let it be. Still. It was better with a partner. "Do you think Seth will wish to learn?" He asked, feet bringing him around in a half turn to face Abel though he didn't stop dancing.
Ladynero: "I don't know," he answered, his voice breathy with laughter and his eyes bright even as he never stopped moving. He had never felt so alive as he did at that moment. "We can ask her." He laughed again and twirled around Sydney, hair and veils shimmering behind him. "later."
Pegunicent: "Alright." He snickered. It seemed he wasn't the only one who got swept up in the fire, so to speak. 'Ah Ashley, you never knew what you were missing.' Flicking a claw, he called up a little magic, catching a few flames along the razors of his fingers and letting the tongues of heat and light perform their own dance over his arms. Of all the elements sister to Dark, he carried a fondness for fire.
Ladynero: He was caught up in the dancing to notice, twirling and whirling in a flash of steel and a flicker of scarves. Somewhere along the way, he shifted forms, letting his hair rise above him to imitate the very flames he was teasing.
Pegunicent: His smile was perhaps a bit overly fond as he felt Abel release some of that abominable control. The boy was far too serious. Perhaps he'd get the child to play one of these days, even if the only games Sydney knew involved body counts. Hmm. Now there was a thought. Abel was closer to lightening than fire, and that was a very *delicate* dance. "ready for the next step young squire?"
Ladynero: "Always!" He called, his voice a bit breathy even as his eyes dance, and he twirled closer to Sydney with a bright smile. He stopped a bit wide eyed as he noticed the fire on his arms for the first time and stared in astonishment.
Pegunicent: Gathering the bits of flame with a shrug and a flick, he grasped them in one clawed fist an tossed them into the air. The music of the Dark changed, the beat turning heavier and slower, as if in anticipation. A few words, and the circles of fire blazed bright, leaping for the sky and channeling themselves into something far hotter than flame. Sydney gave Abel a reassuring grin before they were cast into absolute pitch and the heavenly spears started falling back to earth. Leaping and twisting out of the way of one bolt, he let out a wild laugh.
Ladynero: Laughing louder, he shifted a bit farther to spread his wings in welcome as he drove the swords into the ground. Then he was whirling and twirling between the very element that was his to use, feeling it crackle along his feathers as he was nearly struck again and again, his laughter every bit as wild as Sydney's.
Pegunicent: Sydney wished he'd thought of this sooner. And hoped young Seth found as much pleasure in teasing disaster. Not that the Dark would ever let them be hurt. Not truly. He could feel it's pleased mad laughter in his bones. Or what passe for them these days.
Ladynero: Reaching out a hand, he deliberately caught one of the massive bolts and shivered as it coursed through his body. He knew he would be safe from it, his body automatically channeling it, but it was the element of danger that was added to the delight of the lightning dancing through his body.
Pegunicent: Dodging around another bolt, he felt the charge raise all the hairs on his body. The smell of ozone and the crinkle of crazed glass under foot led an edge of surrealism to the dance. Already he was relying on the Dark to guide his feet, eyes and ears useless.
Ladynero: Whirling over to Sydney, he caught one of the razor tipped hands and smiled. "Dance with me?" he invited, never stopping his movements as they twirled and whirled through the bolts.
Pegunicent: "Stealing your chance to lead? I've taught you well!" He giggled, letting Abel take over and falling into the boy's pattern. It was hard to tell where the tips of his claws were in relation to Abel's skin, so he trusted the child to care for their edges himself.
Ladynero: "About a great many things." He laughed, spinning them around the lightning, and he darted forward a bit to steal a kiss, the excitement pounding through his body and making him feel so *very* alive.
Pegunicent: He shivered, blinking blindly at the sudden kiss. He almost stumbled, but grace refuse to abandon him entirely in his moment of shock.
Ladynero: He continued dancing, pulling Sydney close to avoid a rather large bolt, and he blinked in surprise when he felt his body's state pressed against Sydney. That hadn't happened in quite a while.
Pegunicent: The Dark was snickering at him. "Ah... maybe we should... take a break. No reason to upset the neighbors unduly." Because all of Lea Monde couldn't already see an hear the cacophony of a thunderstorm in a mason jar. He... really hadn't thought this out enough.
Ladynero: "I'm not tired," he remarked, but he slowed the dancing down. "But we can if you wish."
Pegunicent: He was over a thousand years old. He was dead. He was a ghost. Ghosts don't get tire, and the certainly don't fidget. He hadn't fidgeted when he'd been alive. "I.. hmph. I hadn't given the elements much thought truthfully. We should have started with the basic four instead of leaping straight into the secondary six." He muttered evasively.
Ladynero: "Secondary six?" Now his curiosity was aroused and his thirst for learning. For that, he would leave any dance.
Pegunicent: Reigning in the erratic energies, he took a step back and waited for the last of the electricity in the air to disperse before going into lecture. "The basic four are practically universal of course; Fire, Water, Earth and Air. The Secondary six are more definable. Metal, Wood, Lightening, Light, Dark, and Ether."
Ladynero: "Oh. Interesting," he nodded before walking over to collect his swords only to wince at the warped metal. "Um, I'm sorry but the lightning fried the swords you loaned me." He held up what was left of them with an apologetic smile.
Pegunicent: "Yes, they were priceless relics, whatever shall I do with you, you careless heathen." He deadpanned.
Ladynero: "Give them to the smith to be remade?" he offered with a grin and a quick kiss again. He liked that display of affection and friendship.
Pegunicent: He grinned, huffing a quiet breath at himself. Abel didn't mean anything by it. No more than his brother had when they'd... when they'd briefly been a family. "He's going to give you that *look* again you know. The one that asks which god you've gone and tangled with."
Ladynero: "And I'll tell him the truth, that I was dancing with the lightning." He grinned and decided to slide a hand around Sydney's waist to cuddle him.
Pegunicent: He let the boy pull him close, one silver arm carefully resting on the boys hip. "At least he doesn't think you're an angelic messenger or something. He just thinks I adopted you and you're insane."
Ladynero: "No, insane is using one of Guilderstern's books to try and conquer the Dark," he sighed with a wry smile. "Cain's learning though. He's still a snarly bastard who hates me, but he's learning to live as a mortal."
Pegunicent: Sydney quirked a grin. "Ah, but eventually he may be wise enough to move up in the world. *You* have some 'evolving' to do yourself if I'm not mistaken."
Ladynero: "huh? What do you mean?" He flipped his wings shut against his back and shivered slightly as the scarves settled around him again.
Pegunicent: Sydney's smile was of a cat with a saucer of cream. "I've been going over those papers from your computer." He got the word out with only a slight pause of thought. "There's another form within the Crusnik. I'm still figuring out the particulars of unlocking it."
Ladynero: He blinked at that, mentally going through all the information he had ever learned about himself. "I wonder if it has anything to do with control," he mused, realizing that he had never completely let go of all control.
Pegunicent: "It's possible, but from the science babble I managed to wade through, Seth is ever so helpful with that, it looks like there's some key. Like the Rood and Lea Monde." Sydney shrugged, making a mental note to ask Seth about making copies of those papers.
Ladynero: "Interesting. I wonder what this other form looks like," he mused, a bit excited at the thought. He glanced at Sydney. "Does the Dark know?"
Pegunicent: He arched a brow. "Why don't *you* try asking it?"
Ladynero: That got a blank look at him. "I've never heard it like you do."
Pegunicent: He sighed and shook his head. "You'll learn to listen." Cocking his head a little, he poke at the Dark, and felt it's curiosity pique. Carefully it started prodding at Abel.
Ladynero: He blinked and frowned faintly as he cocked his head, feeling something.
Pegunicent: The Dark felt along the lines of magic and life that made up Abel, poking at the pieces of darkness within the boy's soul. There was a hint of possibility. A probability. The Dark chortled and pushed at that probability to force it into reality.
Ladynero: he gasped, eyes wide and wings flaring, as something just *clicked* inside him and he felt *something* else in him other than the Crusnik.
Pegunicent: The Dark *purred* at him, as protective as a dragon guarding eggs.
Ladynero: He stared at Sydney a bit wide eyed before sending out a tentative 'Hello?' to the feeling. "I'm being purred at."
Pegunicent: Sydney chuckled. "Yes. It does that. Now you know why cats are considered children of the Dark."
The Dark hummed back at the hello, still poking about. There was a well of power within Abel, and the Dark wanted to know how that power worked.
Ladynero: He glanced at him, a bit curious. "You know, I think that's the one thing we don't have in Lea Monde is cats. I haven't seen any."
Pegunicent: "They'll come. You can't *call* them after all." He chuckled.
Ladynero: He gasped as he felt something shift inside him, feeling more of his control slip. "I think the Dark's interested in that other form," he remarked.
Pegunicent: "It's interested in anything it doesn't already know or possess." Sydney offered, hands coming to rest on Abel's shoulders. "If you want it to stop, you have to push it back." He advised, gray eyes fixed on Abel's blue. He was still fighting spots and flashes in his vision.
Ladynero: "I'm not sure," he confessed. "I'm curious about this other form myself, but I'm not sure I want it to push so much."
Pegunicent: The Dark kept prodding, fitting itself into the strange lock over the well of power. A lock made of the strange living alchemy known as science. It could force open the lock, there was nothing the Dark *couldn't* do after all, but locks that were broken tended to break what they held.
Ladynero: Closing his eyes, Abel silently asked the Dark if it was done or if it knew what his other form might be even as he held on to Sydney, using the touch to ground him.
Pegunicent: The Dark didn't know, but it had a good guess. A form build of lightening, darkness and blood. A form of power, locked down an the key lay within a blind Seer.
Ladynero: "Damn. The Dark says the key lies with Lillith," he sighed and leaned against Sydney. "But it guessed that the final form is one of lightning, darkness and blood."
Pegunicent: "That makes sense. Although I loath the notion of digging into that wenches secrets again." He ran the backs of his claws gently over Abel's hair, petting and soothing the boy even as he tugged at the Dark to turn it's maddening attentions to other things.
Ladynero: He politely thanked the Dark and then did his best to shove it away for now. He curled his arms tighter around Sydney and buried his face in his neck, taking comfort from the soothing scent of his skin.
Pegunicent: Crooning tunelessly, he let Abel use him as an anchor. The tips of his claws brushed over the inky feathers emerging from his friend's shoulders as he stroked the sweaty silver hair.
Ladynero: He shivered at that sensation and curled a bit closer. That had felt *very* nice.
Pegunicent: Sydney hummed softly as he kept petting, being as careful as he could that only the tips and backs of his claws brushed over Abel's back and shoulders, ruffling the feathers gently.
Ladynero: "That feels wonderful," he moaned, shifting even closer to cling. He didn't even think about it, just let his instincts drive him.
Pegunicent: Sydney's eyes went wide and he pondered the possibility of throttling himself. Clearing his throat he slowed his hands, not stopping the caress but giving Abel time to gather himself together. He'd been a teenager once. Long ago. Things... happened.
Ladynero: He purred under the attention, nuzzling his throat and just enjoyed the touches. Sydney had a way of making him feel nicer than anyone else could.
Pegunicent: The Dark wasn't snickering. Oh no. It was in hysterics. He'd gotten himself a kitten while he still had the mothering instincts of a wyvern. If Abel started licking him, he might just dissolve into pyreflies and save them both some awkward discussion. With a sigh he tilted his head to the side to give Abel a bit more room and pulled the boy into a better cuddling position. "If you keep growing you're going to get too big for this." He murmured.
Ladynero: "Just means we curl up sitting down instead," he remarked, trying to ignore the strange laughter he could almost hear.
Pegunicent: "My lap is reserved for books and felines. Preferably books." He replied.
Ladynero: "Then I sit beside you," he countered, smiling a bit as he straightened enough to look him in the eye.
Pegunicent: "I might leave you some room." He grinned, pulling back a bit.
Ladynero: His smile turned a bit sharper. "I have a contract with the various libraries to receive any new books published. Your tithings pay for it." His sharp smile grew fangs. "And I would be willing to share the spoils."
Pegunicent: Sydney shivered, eyes narrowing. "I have taught you *too* well. But I regret nothing. Come on, lets get back and clean up, we can discuss bribery materials when neither of us smell of scorched earth and sweat. I have never understood the appeal of 'male musk'. Unwashed is unwashed and smells of filth."
Ladynero: He laughed and kept one arm curled around Sydney's waist. "I'll wash your back for you," he offered, knowing at times there was nothing better than just getting clean in hot water and sandalwood soap.
Pegunicent: "If I agree to preen those crows feathers straggling from your spine?" he teased, voice filled with good humor. "I never imagined the cathedral would be turned into an atrium for a crow and a pigeon. But better than locust I suppose."
Ladynero: He giggled. "Yes please. I can get most of them except the ones near my spine." he blushed a bit. "I'm not quite that flexible." Yet, he silently added, remembering the books on yoga that he was working through to improve his flexibility just because he could.
Pegunicent: "We are not all of us born to be folded into boxes." Sydney answered blithely, a set of claws waving through the air. "At least you only have the two and don't thrash with tickles in the bath like a certain 'not-quite' a young lady."
Ladynero: That got another giggle. "Poor Seth with four wings." He shook his head. "Hopefully, she'll start growing in a few years. She's already pouting at me because I'm starting to look older."
Pegunicent: Sydney shook his head and smiled fondly. "She should enjoy being a child while she can. Being grown up is terribly dull and frustrating, and the clothes leave something to be desired."
Ladynero: "She is enjoying herself since that artificial blood project was cracked last year, but she's still pouting." He offered with a shrug. "There aren't that many children here that are about her apparent age, and a few of them think she's strange because she's a Crusnik."
Pegunicent: He looked thoughtfully at the city that two years ago echoed with the moans of ghosts and now flickered with lantern and candle light. "There will be more children. With the coming of peace there will always be a subsequent wave of children sired. Give those babes some time to grow and there will be children for her to play with who will never have known war, or Crusniks, or a world without her there to play with them."
Ladynero: He nodded and glanced around at the city as well. "It's not easy for her but she's trying. We go flying at least once a day when the weather's nice." He smiled at Sydney. "Cain might not like me, but Seth's a great sister."
Pegunicent: "She has a wonderful older brother who does his very best to care for her." He brushed the back of a claw over Abel's cheek. "And a whole town full of people to dance around and terrorize with questions and stories and 'Why?'"
Ladynero: He chuckled. "She tries not to annoy the ones who are working but she's learning a lot of skills just by asking that question." He tilted his head, thinking. "She spends about an hour or two each day at a different store to learn the trades that interest her. She's even helped the Midwife and her assistants."
Pegunicent: "It's the best way to find out what she truly enjoys, and to learn an appreciation for the hard work of others. I never mastered the arts of cooking or weaving or tanning, but I was all the more thankful for food and clothes, knowing the labor that went into supplying such commodities." He nodded and smile approvingly. His adopted children were doing well, even the maladjusted one.
Ladynero: "She likes growing things," he remarked. "She's started an herb and flower garden next to the Cathedral. She confessed that she wasn't too good with weaving since she kept breaking the strings by pulling too tight, but sewing is something else she's enjoying."
Pegunicent: "Hmm. Do you think she would enjoy a little field trip then? To collect a few things for her garden?" His tone was innocently curious, but there was a flicker of *something* in his gray eyes.
Ladynero: "Always. She loves exploring too." He glanced at him, curious. "Where exactly were you thinking of sending her? Or taking her?"
Pegunicent: "I thought we could all take a picnic. I happen to remember this place, not too far, that had beautiful flowering trees every spring." He replied cagily, flicking a claw dismissively. "An we are all of us *ever* so busy lately."
Ladynero: He laughed. "All right. When would you like to go? I'll pass the word along to her so she can let the shop keepers know as well."
Pegunicent: "No rush, whenever the two of you manage to make time in your packed schedules for the eccentric old ghost." He said loftily.
Ladynero: He snorted. "You are hardly eccentric," he drawled before smiling. "How about later today? When the sun is actually up?"
Pegunicent: He smiled. "In that case, you'll nee a nap after your bath. Picnics *demand* lots of energy and some flight time."
Ladynero: "Of course. I can doze in the library while you read some more." He smiled. "After I send a note to Seth to invite her along."