Fantasy For my Family

[HilgenHoffer]

As they sat, Odom returned the feline's question. "I am the jester who listens to the silence. The world calls me friend, but those who walk it know me as Odom." He glanced at Estelle for a moment. "Is it so strange to call one by what they are? I wonder what it is that the stars so favor in this one. They seem to put more effort into their shining when she is near." He turned back to face the girl. "And she puts more effort into her shining when you are near." Cracking a smile, he was suddenly crouched on the bench, staring into her eyes, as though looking for something hidden. "You must be truly special."


-----


Rudd flinched, but he recovered and briskly finished his last chorus before turning to face Ryrax. "D'ya mind, terribly? You're quite distract . . . ing." He faltered as he took in the rag-tag group at the table behind him. "Um. Hi? I don't reckon we've met."

 

[Cyrionessa]

Estelle's face turned blood red at Ryrax's words and she quickly tried to compose herself. "You....aren't one for subtlety are you?" By the time Rudd walked over, her face was only half as red as before, which was still pretty red.


Cerys flushed slightly at his words. "W-well....uh....thanks....." It was then that she noticed that Estelle had turned the color of a tomato. With a sigh, Cerys spoke up in order to save her friend. "Hey mister, didn't mean to spoil your fun earlier. I'm a little too over-protective of my family sometimes." She was trying to keep the person's attention until Estelle recovered. Estelle didn't really get out much, so her ability to deal with some social situations was low.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd waved the new cat-girl off. "Don't fret over it. I've been known to do the same. I did say I'd like to try again, din't I?" He extended one hand to each lady. "Rudd Vejta Danesson. It's a right pleasure."


-----


Odom sighed a bit inside as the girl turned away. He was less than surprised, though. Most people never understood his intentions enough to associate with him. He turned his attention instead to face the man introducing himself, and found himself agape. Every ounce of this young man's body was babbling incoherently. Even the air around him was speaking, just because he was touching it. The words made no sense, but the dialect was . . . country? He shook his head and took a closer listen, leaning into his ear.

 

[Cyrionessa]

"Cerys Xevren." Cerys' tail twiched behind her at the hand as she confidently shook it. "Your friendly neighborhood Cat Woman, at your service." Cerys eyed the young man's movement carefully when she noticed that he was also greeting Estelle. She was going to perform her duties as "guard cat" and keep any unwelcome male beings from infringing upon the beauty of her dear friend. Beauty was something Estelle excelled at and had no idea what to do with this fact either.


"Oh please, Cerys...." Estelle was much more hesitant at this "shaking of hands" then Cerys. "Estelle Naejor. The tournament's resident healer." A more thorough inspection of the man made her get the same feeling that she had felt when she had first met Ryrax and the two stars had crossed above.

 

[Twizinator]

Rryax sat his right elbow on the table as he took another sip from the bowl that nested in his left hand. "Basically you get two options in this little tournament, Rudd," Ryrax said, smirking. "Either don't get your ass kicked or get used to having Estelle play nurse."

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd laughed amiably. "I'll expect one and hope for the other. They say the tournament is unfriendly to newcomers." He turned to face the rest of the host. "And I suppose the rest of you will be participating as well? Y'all got names?"

 

[MControl]

Jyterra perked up at the mention of a healer. "A healer you say? What a coincidence, I feel i may need your assistance." He said, gesturing loosely toward himself, and his injuries.

 

[Cyrionessa]

Estelle's eyes widened and pulled her hand back with a massive blush on her face. Was it this creature's wish to embarrass her constantly? Yet...the stars never lied. And the country creature.....expect one.....hope for the other? Which one was he expecting and which one was he hoping for? Her blush slowly spread down her face to her neck and shoulders.


Cerys felt like clawing Ryrax's tongue out. Why had Estelle wanted to talk to him again? She knew without thinking, though. The answer would be "the stars."


Estelle noticed Jyterra injuries and quickly moved to assist. "I-i'm sorry that I did not notice sooner. You s-should have said something." And now she was stuttering like a child. Was this social interaction thing a good idea?

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd cocked his head inquisitively. "You alright? You look pretty red. Y'ain't sick, are ya?" He took a step forward and found himself nearly bumping into a mass of blond hair. There stood Odom, gazing at him intently. "Um. Can I . . . er, help you . . . ?"


Odom shook his head, as though snapping out of a trance. "My bad. Name? I have a name, yes. Odd question. Why do you ask?"

 

[MControl]

Pausing momentarily, he says, with a flourish and a bow, "I... am Jyterra of the house Astora, And that, my dear lady," he looks at her with a brilliant smile, "was me saying something"

 

[Cyrionessa]

"O-okay......" Estelle hadn't heard Rudd's words because she was concentrating on healing up Jyterra so that she could go hide behind Cerys. "M-may I ask how you did this t-to yourself?" And the terrible stutter was apparently staying. Brilliant. She could tackle scholars from across the land without the blink of an eyelash, but throw her into a social setting?

 

[MControl]

Still smiling, he says, "It was a mid-air collision during a flight test"

 

[Ixidor92]

Jaeger sat on the roof of the Vejta hall, his arms crossed and sighing to himself


"Dammit woman."


Here he was, right back where he had started, except this time now the woman was quite comfortably situated in conversation. If he went back to the head without her, he was boned. But if he walked in and tried to take her away, he was likely also boned. Jaeger let out an exasperated breath and let his head thump against the roof


"Why are you so difficult . . ."

 

[Twizinator]

Rryax's ears twitched (fun fact, he can wiggle his ears) when he heard a thump on the roof. He could smell Jaeger, who must be stalking Cerys again. Ryrax opted to ignore him for the moment. "Flight test?" Ryrax chuckled. "You make it sound like flying is difficult." He was mocking their lack of telekinesis, a power that he thoroughly enjoyed.

 

[MControl]

"Well, not really. The wings were a bit painful, but flying was pretty easy" Here, he paused, his smile turning into a pained grimace, "until the wings disintegrated. I had a rather painful encounter with a roof, which i had the luck to win."

 

[Cyrionessa]

"Apparently f-flying is a bad idea for you." Estelle was slowly returning to a normal color of skin tone. "As a physician, I'd tell you to avoid such things but I'm sure that my advice would be ignored." She finished her healing, erasing all trace that any of the injuries existed. Estelle glanced at Ryrax; perhaps the fact that he was socially inept as well made him attempt teasing as the best means of social contact. She refused to glance at Rudd because obviously she was still trying to figure out what his statement had meant.


Cerys suddenly smelled a familiar scent. "....aww....Jaeger found me.....again....."

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd was thoroughly confused. "Um . . . well, actually, I was kinda hoping you'd lend it . . ."


Odom frowned. "Why does everyone care so much for names? No matter. I am Odom, and Odom means . . . nothing, really." He paused, and then asked, "How do you do it?"


Rudd just stared blankly at him. "What?"

 

[MControl]

"BY THE SUN!" Feeling his wounds and injuries magically melt away, he sweeps her up in an embrace"You are absolutely amazing! I have never seen such a thing. Please, " giving her some space, he drops to his knees, "Teach me!"

 

[Cyrionessa]

".......ummm...." Estelle backed up against the table, knocking over a glass on accident. "....maybe....oops.....ummmm.......and....ummm...i-it's by the stars, by the way....." She lost concentration and accidentally glanced at the country boy talking to the odd Odom. The thoughts came again and she started to flush slightly.


"Why are we all sitting around here, anyways?" Cerys was once again trying to save Estelle. "I thought that tonight would be filled with fun, dance, song, and beer! I'm trying to educate Estelle, here, about worldly affairs."

 

[Twizinator]

"Fun and beer go hand in hand," Rryax said," But don't come to me for song and dance. That's Rudd's department and he can have it." He rose and looked to the ceiling. "As for Jaeger..." He smiled and had a devious glint in his eye. He drew his sword and took careful aim. After a few moments of that he threw it straight upwards, aiding it's trajectory with TK. it impaled itself into the roof just beneath Jaeger, the blade jabbing through in between the man's legs. Fortunately for him it was a short blade.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd heard his cue and took it. "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Ask me later? I'm wanted." He pulled out his fiddle, hopped on the long table beside him, and began tuning his strings.


Odom wasn't about to let him go. "But you're doing it now! Everything you touch trembles with excitement! Your every fiber speaks constantly! And yet it says nothing. What are you? What does it mean?"


Rudd stopped briefly. "I'm not sure if I completely understand, but I've heard similar things before. Let me play, and we can talk. Deal?" He drew his bow across the strings, frowned disapprovingly, and adjusted his pegs once again. Now smiling, he stomped his foot four times and began sawing away. "If you know the words, sing along!" He directed his shout at the newcomers; the rest of the hall would already have done as much.

 

[Ixidor92]

Jaeger could feel the mana coming at him, and instinctively back-flipped as the blade shot up through the roof. He grit his teeth together, letting out a few hissing breaths. He didn't have to guess who the sword belonged to. So it was the mildly aggressive was it? Jaeger's hand slowly became encased in the crimson scales of his battle form, and he ripped the sword out of the roof. Without further ado, it was thrown straight down right were it came from.

 

[MControl]

"Well, if it is dancing you want," he says, opening a box on the floor, "Allow me to show you the dance of my people." As sound began to pour from the box, he held up an ornamental trident, and began dancing to the music, singing "Yatta Yatta". "Come my friends, i have tridents aplenty, join me!" and he tossed several to the gaping audience.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Rudd almost stopped playing at the sight, but caught himself. He began to laugh. "Strange, friend, but I like it!" Odom, meanwhile, had grabbed a trident for himself, and began making merry. If there was anything he could not resist, it was a good time.

 

[Cyrionessa]

Cerys jerked Estelle out into the middle of the floor. "Okay, missy, I know that you're a divine dancer. Now, let's move. I'll lead."


"B-but...I don't....dance in front of people....." Estelle looked absolutely terrified.


"Oh come on, Estelle." Cerys smiled. She twirled Estelle out and back. "This one's an easy swing dance." Estelle gave in and began moving with Cerys. Soon, her movements flowed perfectly with the music. Cerys was not quite as graceful, but then again, she didn't normally lead. She began looking around the room for a man that she could hand Estelle off to so that she could go find out if there was any ale in the place.