Of all the Strangeness [Nat]

[Kasatsu]

The young adult was on a mission of importance and was currently finding himself at a dead end. A very frustrating dead end.

After a long discussion with Ira, they had decided that it would be best for all - and themselves - if they had some sort of tranquilizer on hand, should the winged-mix decide that he was actually going to act on his words. It had than been decided that the mix would be the one to head out on the mission. As soon as he had been able to get away freely he had headed out to the Corvistowne region, having heard that that would be the best place to find someone who could help them.

After arriving he had been following word that this someone who could help him would be found in this area, however all that he had found so far was a pretty secluded and no sign of the gecko.

Giving a frustrated sigh the mix looked around him trying to figure out what to do now. He was too determined to turn around but there did not appear to be anyone to assault . . . question . . . yes question.

[Nathalia]

The lump of flesh, metal, and bone lay lifeless on the ground. It was barely a form at all, a shapeless mass that had so little potential to the untrained eye. He prodded at it gently, lying back in the tall, dark grass and laughing so quietly that it was nearly a whisper, the air hissing through his lips oddly as though breathing were difficult for him.

He sat up, his body had not made an impression upon the grass and his form made an odd, crackling noise as he moved, the air around him seeming to want to resist his existence entirely. He stooped and hefted the fleshy lump up with a slight grunt, as though it were heavier than it appeared and moved off, crunching slightly, toward the edge of the town before him.

The one he waited for should either be on his way...or there already.

He moved slowly but surely toward the lampost at the edge of the town's field line, where civilization began once again and the fields ended for aways...shame...he loved the fields...it was a shame to leave them even for a moment to entice his prey forward but... He stared down at the mass in his arms...some things needed doing.

Finally stepping onto the cobbled stone with a strange sighing noise, he smiled lightly as he spotted the form gazing around some feet in front of him. He was not tall, only reaching five feet, and his shoulders rolled forward pulling his tattered cloak, once a deep blue black but now practically bare thread at the bottom and bleached a lighter teal at the top, forward over his body so that it was impossible to tell what he might actually look like. The hat perched on his head was wide brimmed and as sun bleached as the cloak, his thin frame belied a Human form to most onlookers, though one couldn't quite be sure.

He approached slowly, shuffling along in full view, not wishing to frighten his quarry.

"Good evening, my friend...might I ask what you are looking for...?"

[Kasatsu]

At a strange sighing noise he turned his head to the right to see the source of the sound.

Watching with both interest and hesitation as someone made their way toward him, he could not make out exactly what it was that was making its way toward him. There was something about them that was different - not a causal difference like his Father's horns but something . . . something which the tattered cloak hid along with the stranger's body.

As the stranger made his way closer to the mix, he contemplated his options. There was always the option of running away but the King had never been one of that nature. He had to deal with Se everyday, he was pretty sure that he could handle anything else that came his way.

Deciding to face the newcomer, who knew maybe it could help him, he held his head up.

"Good evening." He replied, his voice only squeaking slightly. Mentally refusing to admit any unease he might have had just been vocally shown he blamed it all on puberty. "I was just in search of someone." giving a shrug he half-tensed ready to leave the situation at a moments notice.

[Nathalia]

Once his quarry stopped to speak to him, he relaxed. Good, if the Card was willing to speak then he would do what was required, his soul was ready.

The Card was a strange enough blend of creatures that he wasn't sure what to make of him...and they called those dwelling in his home strange... Though the colors were pleasing to the eye and the way the horns framed the face was enough to turn most away from the overall strangeness of the beast.

He continued his approach, pushing his arms out and leaning forward just as he reached the edge of the ring of light to lace his bundle down. He then moved his hands forward out of his cloak, palms up, empty. His hands were covered by threadbare gloves, the hands beneath looked pale and skeletal from the light that hit them.

"A very good evening, indeed. You need not search for someone any longer, you have found him."

He murmured, his voice still quiet with an odd hiss to the edges of the words as though his lips were incredibly dry and his mouth quite thin.

"If I am indeed correct in saying that you are the King son of two Queens who fought one another for the throne...then consider your quest at an end...I am the one you seek...and I have what you need right here..."

His sources had informed him that the one with a powerful enough heritage would look like he was worthy and was a King with the background described...he knew no more about the prospective...donor. He certainly hoped this was the one though...it would be such a delightful match for the poor soulless creature he bent to retrieve from the ground.

"Please...I beg you follow me."

He turned and began to walk back out into the dark fields, feeling home once he had left the threshold of the cobbles and was once more whispering through the grass...if this Card was the right being...he would follow.

[Kasatsu]

This definitely did not look like the person that he had been searching for. The newcomer must be mistaken, thinking him for someone else or worse was delusion. He did not need to deal with any more crazy.

About to dismiss the person, he however found himself riveted at the question of his parentage. There were very few, five people at most, who knew of his parents and the death of his bull father. And what was this about his quest being over, how could this person possible have what he needed?

"You do not look much like a gecko" he mumbled under his breath. Watching the person pick up the something he had laid at his feet he considered his options.

He was intrigued with what was going on. The stranger before him had suggested he knew something that could help him and, with him knowing the mix's parentage, he had no reason to doubt him.

Deciding to take a chance he followed the stranger out into the grass, wondering just what it was he was getting himself into.

[Nathalia]

He heard the Card mumble something behind him, but was unable to hear it...his ears were not all that wonderful, he was lucky to know the creature had spoken at all. He moved quickly and with a grace that didn't seem to fit with his hunched, thin looking form. He spoke without turning his head, hoping that the large curved ears of the Card would cath his thin voice as they travelled, turning would take his attention and he needed the exact spot in order to join his motive and this stranger that would seal his pact.

Glancing up quickly, he saw the moon poke briefly through the clouds. Nearly time...they would have to hurry. Doubling his pace he moved faster, his form rustled strangely like dead leaves as the wind hit him from the front and blew at the corners of his cloak...he hurriedly tucked the in with his elbows...the Card must not see.

The walk would be hard, taking the pair swiftly toward the center of a tall field, the grass having grown tall and wild, weeds unchecked, and thistles evident. He moved through them without seeming to notice them and halted abruptly, staring up at the sky.

"Stop here. Tell me, what is it you seek in your life?" He asked, stooping to settle the bundle back on the ground and hunch over a small pile of bracken on the ground. "What is it that you've come all this way to find? Have you need of protection, a way to keep others at bay, or to show them that you are, in fact, their better?"

He smiled, pushing gently at the bracken and standing back up with a few ominous sounding pops and cracks from his back. His left arm sagged strangely for a few moments before the creature gripped it and rotated it sharply to the right, it hung normally once more. Turning, he faced the Card. Behind him, the bracken gave off a small luminous wisp and a tiny silvery orb arose from it, the bracken turning to dust beneath it as it ascended to head height.

"What would you say if I were to tell you that I could easily give you what you want"

[Kasatsu]

The mix followed his stranger till he came far into a field, the grass considerably high. Craning his neck to see he was distracted enough to be taken aback when the stranger called them to a halt.

Tilting his head to the side he glanced up to see if there was anything particular that the figure was looking at. Not seeing anything but the phases of an ending day, he gave up and gave a puzzled look as he considered the stranger's questions.

"What is it that I seek in life?" He was baffled for a moment. It was often the case that someone already knew what he was going to do with his life, having decided most of it on their own, even if he did not. First Father Elias, Dad Shinrai, and his own Father Aderlass. Not to mention it was often the case that Se decided what it was that they were going to do at any given time. "Oh," he gasped after a few short seconds, catching onto what it was that the stranger wanted from him in answer.

"I guess you can put it that way." He subconsciously rubbed at the scars that decorated one side of his face. He had learned from personal experience just how . . off . . . Se really was. Not that the winged-mix was crazy or anything.

"I came here in search of someone who could help me with a . . . situation. Someone who is in my . . . care, someone who relies on me being an enforcer as well as a protector, requires that I be in control. Not like my Father, this protection is of a different kind." He said, giving the ground a puzzled look as if he was debating his word choice.

How do you describe a situation, not to mention relationship, that is specifically unique like that with Se's. Still actively working on the situation of word choice to explain such strangeness - words had never been his strong suit; he knew what he was thinking and for that it didn't really take words just thoughts - he missed the first actions of the stranger.

Giving his head a small shake as if to clear it of throughly confusing thoughts he finally became distracted by what was happening with the stranger. As he heard the pops and cracks he became morbidly fascinated, watching with interest as the creature's arm sagged and then was restored into proper position.

What was this? The stranger said he might have something that would easily solve his problems? Why he would snatch up on it. Surely someone shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Out loud he replied, "Well I would take up on the offer right quick. Do you have something of the sort?"

This stranger had suddenly become someone very cool.

((Gomen for the long delay X - x;; Iggy's mind doesn't work in a straight line. Hope all of this is coherent. *worries*))

[Nathalia]

The silvery orb was suspended, perfectly still as though it were a blight on the watchers' vision as opposed to an object, it gleamed dully, waiting.

He Listened as the Card before him tried to reason sense into itself, but he could tell his offer had been accepted...otherwise the creature would have left already. Waving the last few words aside, he moved forward, closer than he had ever come to a Card before. He felt his breath catch slightly in his throat...the creature was so...alive. So different, in its own way, beautiful. Yes, he would be the perfect host, so full of trust, and an undertone of caring...protecting someone else that sounded in desperate need of simply being put down, as his superior would suggest.

Yes, perfect.

"Do I? Yes, yes I believe I do. I can certainly offer you assistance...though not from myself, you must help yourself to obtain the help...if my meaning is clear."

He chuckled darkly and then knelt down so that he was on level with the others face. His hood still obscuring most of his features he smiled and pushed something toward the Card, the thick bundle, expecting the creature to either assume its Biped form, had it one, or stand awkwardly on its hind legs and clutch the bundle.

Not even eyes could be seen glinting...it was dark under the hood, as if the creature had no eyes at all.

"Hold this, do not open it, and come stand under here, in the ash. I promise I shall not harm you, have you ever wondered...?"

He inquired, lifting his face slightly toward the sky, and finally something caught the light. The creatures mouth, a darker opening in a dark face was made slightly visible by thin, dull threads lacing along the rather wide stretch of his mouth. As though it were loosely sewn together with twine.

"What it would feel like to be in two places at once?"

[Kasatsu]

Blinking his eyes as if to clear them, having stared at the orb longer then was probably good for him. His attention was taken away from it as the stranger gave what could only be described as a dark chuckle and started to kneel down closer to him. He found himself retreating from the presence, going back onto his hind quarters rocking back and forth slightly unbalanced.

When something was pushed into his arms he grabbed it, holding the thick bundle close to his chest.

He could only stare at the stranger. Some about this stranger frightened him, not that he was scared of the newcomer, rather something was . . . off. And not off like the way Se was.

His brow wrinkling in confusion as he tried to ponder what it was exactly. There was small things that one noticed, his eyes - or the sense of them lacking - or even that he had yet to see the creature's form . . . but there was nothing that he would later be to testify to show that this stranger was 'abnormal'.

Bringing his attention back to the bundle at the stranger's words, he looked down at it, moving to open it with one paw then stopped short at the stranger's warning to not do so. Blinking and tilting his head to the side in interest he looked back up at the figure. Hopping slightly from foot to foot he made his way wobbly over to where he was now wanted to stand.

What it would feel like to be in two places at once? that was definitely an odd question.

"Two places at once? Well that would never happen . . . and I can say that I have not really devoted any part of my life to that pondering . . . but it would be a fun thing to try."

This stranger really had the oddest questions, he thought to himself, wondering just what it was trying to get at. All the circular thoughts were starting to make him confused.

[Nathalia]

A fun thing to try...indeed...

He moved back, staring up at the night sky as a shiver ran down the length of his spine, causing a sound like the rustling of dry leaves. Perfect, his Leader would be thrilled. Another passed on in less than a month...soon these creatures...these Cards, might begin to understand. Maybe they would even become people.

He hoped so, he liked people rather alot, they were good and caring, unlike these strange phantoms who cared for naught save power and lust.

"Very well," He whispered, staring upward for a few seconds more and returning his empty gaze to the boy before him. "Then it is my greatest honor to give the two of you a better chance at understanding existence."

He knelt down, hood falling over any hint of his features and reached for the boys' paw. Taking it gently and pressing his other hand to the bundle to help support it, he shuddered again. His hand would feel strange to the Card...like something brittle and long dead, not like flesh and blood at all...He also gave off the strangest scent...like an old, wild field.

"You have potential, both of you. Best of luck, little masters."

The orb of light then descended, covering the bundle and the Card's face. A strange burning, like liquid fire through his veins and blinding light would consume him for about five seconds...then the bundle would move.

He stood again, watching the Card's reaction. Was he a person now? Could he understand...? He reached out a hand to brush the Cards' face lightly, almost sadly.

"And thus we meet a parting of the ways, young master. Perhaps I will be granted the honor to see you two again some day...on different terms."

Slowly, he began to walk away, strange swaying motion of his body giving him no faster a gait than a stroll as he watched the sky.