A slight boy slipped out of the scrapyard, unnoticed by everyone except the few he had dropped by to visit. As far as he knew, only the few of them knew about the tunnel, hidden by a piece of twisted metal, its use long forgotten. "Sirah," as he was known, did provide the boys living at his shelter with food, but only provided they earned their keep by selling things - often more than was reasonable to expect, and so those living in his shelter often went hungry. Orvin was lucky. He knew enough to survive on his own, and was capable of taking care of himself. He was ten after all, and he did have a knife and a sword, even if he wasn't able to use it yet. And so sometimes he would bring his friends who were in the shelter some of his spare food.
He glanced at the few passers-by, searching for signs of suspicion with his deep, blue-green eyes, almost teal. If anything drew attention to him aside from his actions, it was those eyes. Although he was a bit short for his age and extremely thin, most people merely guessed that he was younger than his actual age. He shrugged inwardly. Let them think that. Seeing nobody displaying signs of interest, and not wishing to draw attention by spending too long studying lest someone accuse him of searching for a purse to lift, he turned and began walking to the south. Possibly he'd head east later and walk to the tavern; there were always interesting people there, and there were always tales to be listened to. His stock was growing rapidly from the visits. Perhaps someone he knew would be there.
As he reached the main road, his lightly tanned face stretched into a grin. It wasn't a bad day today after all. Waving to a guardsman he knew and recieving a faint smile in response - professionalism while on duty and all that; befriending street children wasn't part of the job - he began to whistle as he headed to the tavern, a mournful little air not at all reflective of his good mood; but then, it didn't have to be, did it? It was still a beautiful tune; an elf he'd met in the tavern had taught it to him once. He glanced around again, suddenly suspiciously, before continuing; everything still seemed normal. However, he paused again almost immediately, apparently having forgotten to scan the most obvious position and having walked straight into a figure larger than himself (which wasn't that hard, but still...)
Placing his right hand on the hilt of the sword that was only slightly shorter than he himself was, he made an outrageously ornate bow which was not at all in place in such a tiny figure living on the streets of a city like Marn. "I beg yer pardon, sir, it appears my eyes have found their own colour so strange that they were blinded to all else." He grimaced inwardly, but outwardly gave a flashing smile. Not an excuse that made sense, but the humour would only get him off if he was a decent sort anyways. One could always hope...
An Urchin's Fortunes
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Anonymous
Myx looked at the child in front of him with a curious eye. He had little experience with children and when one that looked so young spoke so eloquently he couldn't help but be impressed.
After his encounter with the vampire lord Belatucadres Myx found that sleep would not come so easily. Having already seen the sun rise and night turn to day his body, tired as it was, refused to give out to the surrender of sleep. He had wandered aimlessly around the streets, tossing various thoughts and emotions about his mind until the ragged looking child bumped into him in Main street.
"I think I've seen you more than once around here," he said slowly, trying to jog his tired memory. His tone was casual and light, as if he was speaking unguarded to any other men. A faint meow from directly above the boy's head drew his eyes up, and up to the roof where his platinum furred feline stood. He had gotten so used to the thing being in synched to his mind that he had damn near forgotten about the thing. It jumped suddenly and used the boy's head as a cushion, springing down nimbly to the ground. It turned and gave the boy a subdued meowl, at which point Myx began to laugh lightly. He had not yet figured out the full extent of the cat--it had all the antics of a creature with a mind of its own, yet acted almost like an extension of his own will at times.
"I apologize in return for my pet... I wager we're even now. What's your name boy?" he completed, his own cat-like eyes showing a hint of amusement.
After his encounter with the vampire lord Belatucadres Myx found that sleep would not come so easily. Having already seen the sun rise and night turn to day his body, tired as it was, refused to give out to the surrender of sleep. He had wandered aimlessly around the streets, tossing various thoughts and emotions about his mind until the ragged looking child bumped into him in Main street.
The child was indeed a strange sight. The boy had on him a sword nearly his own height, and was dressed in a simple tunic of bad repair. Most likely a street child, he thought to himself. He had seen plenty in his years spent working in the streets of Thar and in fact Myx felt a bit of deja vu looking at the youngster with an oversized sword strapped on his back. A hint of recognition entered Myx's eyes."I beg yer pardon, sir, it appears my eyes have found their own colour so strange that they were blinded to all else."
"I think I've seen you more than once around here," he said slowly, trying to jog his tired memory. His tone was casual and light, as if he was speaking unguarded to any other men. A faint meow from directly above the boy's head drew his eyes up, and up to the roof where his platinum furred feline stood. He had gotten so used to the thing being in synched to his mind that he had damn near forgotten about the thing. It jumped suddenly and used the boy's head as a cushion, springing down nimbly to the ground. It turned and gave the boy a subdued meowl, at which point Myx began to laugh lightly. He had not yet figured out the full extent of the cat--it had all the antics of a creature with a mind of its own, yet acted almost like an extension of his own will at times.
"I apologize in return for my pet... I wager we're even now. What's your name boy?" he completed, his own cat-like eyes showing a hint of amusement.
The boy nodded, his own accent showing traces of both the street where he had spent the past years and the various folk who had raised him... not conciously, but merely as he had been trained by time. "I expect so, sir. I'm around here more oft'n not when I've nothing better to be doing." That was certainly true; when he had nothing better to do than travel along the road, he didn't do anything else. But even if the man figured out that the phrase was almost meaningless, he should at least infer that the boy did indeed live in the streets."I think I've seen you more than once around here..."
"I am named Orvin Keldarrec Telav after my da, Orvin Kelderric Telav." He glanced at the cat in curiousity, his childish nature still thriving despite his hardening on the streets. Or perhaps it merely brought out his rugged exterior. That was what Mr. Hunsvar had said, anyways. Whatever the case, he knelt down and smiled at the cat, reaching out to rub its head. Looking up at the man who had brought the animal, he asked, "Does the cat have a name, sir?"
A slight flush followed, and he straightened, looking the man in the eye. "T'weren't meaning to be rude, sir. May I be permitted to be enlightened as to what your name might be?"
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Anonymous
"Myx," he answered, "Myx Otysis."
Now that he thought about it he had never named the cat. The first few years after his virgin death (as he liked to refer to it) Myx tried his best to ignore the cat and the cat did whatever it wanted to. He had a hard enough time reeling from what had happened to him--the silence from the voice, the lack of direction in his life, the questionable nature of his immortality; the cat embodied everything Myx did not want to think about. Out of necessity he eventually learned that he could control the cat, and further that when the cat was threatened he had a strange feeling in his gut of mortal danger. It was a kind of danger that threats to his own body no longer elicited.
"It doesn't have a name," he said, then paused, as if thinking, before continuing, "How about it Orvin? If you can think of a good name for it I'll treat you out to something to eat."
Now that he thought about it he had never named the cat. The first few years after his virgin death (as he liked to refer to it) Myx tried his best to ignore the cat and the cat did whatever it wanted to. He had a hard enough time reeling from what had happened to him--the silence from the voice, the lack of direction in his life, the questionable nature of his immortality; the cat embodied everything Myx did not want to think about. Out of necessity he eventually learned that he could control the cat, and further that when the cat was threatened he had a strange feeling in his gut of mortal danger. It was a kind of danger that threats to his own body no longer elicited.
"It doesn't have a name," he said, then paused, as if thinking, before continuing, "How about it Orvin? If you can think of a good name for it I'll treat you out to something to eat."
The blue-green eyes gleaming merrily, he nodded. "My pleasure meeting you, Mr. Otysis. Give me some time with yonder cat," he requested, "And I will do my best to think of somethin' fittin'." Kneeling down once again, he reached out and stroked the cat's head, then began trying to pet it... if the creature would permit such a thing. Pulling out a piece of bacon that he had rescued from some bizarre corner of the city, he held it out, watching.
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Anonymous
Myx watched as the cat approached the boy. He tried not to think too hard on what he expected the cat to do--he was curious to see the cat act on its own. However futile it may have been given his mental connection to the cat, Myx tried to think to it 'do what you will'. The cat gave the boy a careful, neutral stare and let him pet its head. When the bacon came out the cat gingerly grabbed it from the boy's hand with its mouth and began gnawing on it with the help of its paw.
At that moment Myx realized just how hungry he was--he had eaten little since the night before. An all-night outing took much out of a man's body and his appetite arose at the sight of his cat chewing on the piece of bacon. He also felt that he should repay a street urchin who so readily gave up some of his no doubt hard earned food to feed his cat.
"You think upon that name for as long as you like lad, but I've got something of an appetite and I've got enough bishan to spare for a little mouth such as yours."
Myx took a quick look around Main Street and found the street vendors' lacking in choice foods. He didn't want to return to the Drunken Rat so soon after what had happened the prior night. His thoughts rested for a moment on Jenica; he should find her sometime soon. But he doubted he could find a vampire in the thick of day... tonight he'd search for her, or maybe she would find him instead. He was more curious than ever about the woman. But for now that could all wait.
"Look, I think I see an Inn over that way, why don't we head there?" Myx said, already beginning to walk towards the Inn--he was pretty sure the boy would follow promtly.
At that moment Myx realized just how hungry he was--he had eaten little since the night before. An all-night outing took much out of a man's body and his appetite arose at the sight of his cat chewing on the piece of bacon. He also felt that he should repay a street urchin who so readily gave up some of his no doubt hard earned food to feed his cat.
"You think upon that name for as long as you like lad, but I've got something of an appetite and I've got enough bishan to spare for a little mouth such as yours."
Myx took a quick look around Main Street and found the street vendors' lacking in choice foods. He didn't want to return to the Drunken Rat so soon after what had happened the prior night. His thoughts rested for a moment on Jenica; he should find her sometime soon. But he doubted he could find a vampire in the thick of day... tonight he'd search for her, or maybe she would find him instead. He was more curious than ever about the woman. But for now that could all wait.
"Look, I think I see an Inn over that way, why don't we head there?" Myx said, already beginning to walk towards the Inn--he was pretty sure the boy would follow promtly.
Giving the cat a final rub, the boy stands up and follows at a quick trot, his eyes shining gratefully; the bacon had been cold, but it would have provided some nourishment. However, it appears that his acquaintance with the cat has made him happier than would have the small scrap of bacon, and, following Myx towards the inn, nods in thanks. "My deep thanks to you. Indeed, food can be hard to come by at times," he admits, "But I know this place better th'n I know the handle of my da's sword, and probably better than anyone else around here. It helps to know the place. Sometimes I even get extra food and share it with the others," he says proudly, making sure that the his companion is aware that, although he is profoundly grateful for the food, it is by no means necessary to him.
Soon, however, his eyes slip back to the platinum-gold cat, realizing his attention has wandered. Cats generally tend to be sneaky, but it takes even him a moment to find the ghostly creature, skulking at the edges of his vision. A name would come soon enough, as he had named at least half of the alley-cats; although many of those were prone to hiss at you once they realized you didn't have any food.
Soon, however, his eyes slip back to the platinum-gold cat, realizing his attention has wandered. Cats generally tend to be sneaky, but it takes even him a moment to find the ghostly creature, skulking at the edges of his vision. A name would come soon enough, as he had named at least half of the alley-cats; although many of those were prone to hiss at you once they realized you didn't have any food.
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Xyon_of_Calhoun
- Guardsman
- Posts: 549
- Joined: Wed Sep 20, 2006 11:17 am
- Name: Xyon
- Race: Xenetian
Xyon emerged from the inn they were heading towards, blinking in the light of day. It was for this reason he failed to notice the two figures until they were trying to get through the doorway he was stood in.
A look down revealed a man, at a guess human - although to Xyon's hypersensetive eyes there appeared to be more to it than that - a small boy, probably not much older than ten, and a cat.
Curious, he thought to himself, that cat has the same colour fur as it's owner's hair... not often is that seen.
At the risk of being rude, Xyon ventured a simple greeting, as if this made up for all that staring.
A look down revealed a man, at a guess human - although to Xyon's hypersensetive eyes there appeared to be more to it than that - a small boy, probably not much older than ten, and a cat.
Curious, he thought to himself, that cat has the same colour fur as it's owner's hair... not often is that seen.
At the risk of being rude, Xyon ventured a simple greeting, as if this made up for all that staring.
I have to jump.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
For even if I fall, for a moment, I will fly.
Orvin glanced up at the newcomer, his blue-green eyes glinting in the sun. "And top o' the day to you as well," he began in his childish voice. "What might your appelation be? I am named Orvin Keldarrec Telav after my da, Orvin Kelderric Telav." He studied the newcomer carefully. "I don't recognize ye. You don't spend much time here, do ye?"