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Post by The Jenn on Mar 23, 2008 9:40:05 GMT -5
Parzifal's master had to go to the Court of Spades that day to do a bit of research in a tome he didn't actually own himself. Vren had written ahead, obtained the Queen's permission to access the quite old and valuable book for a period of three days, and secured a temporary room for himself and his servant in the palace. He was two days into researching the book and had distractedly told the eleven-year-old bird to make himself scarce until that evening, when it would be time to bring a meal before the old man forgot to eat at his studies. When their master went on his not-infrequent trips, he had taken to bringing the young corvid more often because, he said, he had the most sense among his three siblings and his rank was the lowest, and thus the most ignorable to everyone else. Privately, the bird thought that reason wouldn't last long - he was trying to figure out a way to raise it slightly even then, as young as all that. But he was grateful to get out of the Wood every now and then, even if his siblings were left to watch the tower and he worried about them. The bird was interested in books himself and had just returned from an hour or two's time in the palace library, trying to find books at his reading level and managing to locate just one in that time. He was walking through the halls, taloned feet clicking on the hard floors, and trying to stay out of everyone's way while at the same time searching for something else to divert his attention. Thus far, nothing was presenting itself. At least he didn't feel horribly out of place despite his age and rank simply because his place was wherever he happened to be at the time, according to his master, and he'd taken that statement to heart. |
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Post by Greenie on Mar 23, 2008 9:54:16 GMT -5
Dysthymia started down the hallway, a glass of juice precariously held in his mouth. He was thirsty, but he also didn't want to stay in the kitchens--the girls had taken to looking at him funny now that they had realised that his mother was their boss. Mia highly disliked being stared at. The only problem with his solution of walking away was his lack of actual hands.. hopefully nothing would startle him. The ferret was planning on finding Mo and rallying the weasel-rat to find something to do, an dwhen he saw a small figure wandering down the hallway he assumed it was his friend and bounded a bit faster. Upon closer inspection, however, this small figure had wings, was black and purple, and... had bindings. Hmm. Mia slowed to a halt a few feet away and sat up on his hind legs, then took the glass out of his mouth. "You are not Mo." He stated, his head tilted. |
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 23, 2008 10:01:36 GMT -5
Startled when a flash of motion caught at his peripheral vision, Parzifal turned his head in surprise to see a... Torque mix? He saw bindings but not much black, though he supposed the spots were enough. It was a mustalid, though he wasn't sure what kind, and young enough to be around his own age. And carrying juice. And addressing him.
He activated his Diamond charm and dipped his head slightly. "That would depend on what a 'Mo' is," he said after a moment, his voice slurred somewhat because of his binding. "But no, I'm probably not. Very sorry to disappoint. My name is Parzifal." He made a small, respectful gesture with his head and wings, seeing the other young man's rank quite clearly and remembering his master's talks on the subject. They were in a palace - rank was especially important here. It wouldn't do to disrespect anyone, especially not being a Three of a different suit entirely.
Large wings tucked back up against his body and he regarded the other boy with one eye, better able to see him that way.
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Post by Greenie on Mar 23, 2008 10:09:54 GMT -5
Mia sipped at his juice and was content to find it was apple--he'd had to grab and pour without really looking. As the bird spoke the ferret absently studied his bindings--that had to hurt like a bitch when jarred, being in his beak..
"A Mo is a small weasel-rat, brown and likely spouting nonsense. You might have seen one if you've been around here long enough," Mia said, his expression and tone dead serious. "However, you are correct, you are most definitely not one." He shrugged, and sipped some more juice. "But no matter. I am Dysthymia, though Mia is.. easier to pronounce." Mia was morbidly curious to hear the boy try to say his name, but wasn't mean enough to make him say it over and over again.
"You don't live here, do you?" He asked curiously. Threes of diamonds weren't exactly common in the court of spades; Mo and Osias were the only diamonds he'd ever seen here, other than the occasional visitor.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 23, 2008 10:18:32 GMT -5
"No, I haven't seen one yet, but I'll keep an eye out," Parzifal replied. He wondered if there really were weasel-rat mixed vermin running around, or if a Mo was actually a person as he'd first thought. It was hard to tell from the other boy's tone, but he thought the person-bit was probably more likely.
It was... unexpectedly good of him to give a shorter name to pronounce. When the tongue-twister came out of the young ferret's mouth, he'd almost winced - he would have butchered it mercilessly. "Thank you... Mia. I appreciate that. If you'd like, you can call me Parzi." He didn't always give his nickname to strangers, not that it wasn't an obvious one, but the other boy had been kind enough to do so and he thought it fitting in return.
"And no, I don't live here. I'm visiting with my master while he effectively pillages your library of its secrets. We'll be here for one more day and then return to the Wood, which is where we live." The other boy didn't seem especially shocked or intimidated by the Tulgey half of his heritage, which should have been rather evident in his white markings and red eyes. That was a more common reaction. "You don't seem very surprised to have a Tulgey mix walking around your palace." Unless that was what the last question had been about, his region.
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Post by Greenie on Mar 23, 2008 10:40:16 GMT -5
"You're welcome, Parzi," The boy replied vaguely, more interested in having more juice than he was in talking about their names. He would have to go get more soon, despite the kitchengirls..
The ferret rose an eyebrow. Master, pillaging? Was his master a pirate? Pirates were the only ones he'd ever read about that pillaged.. but no, someone would have captured a pirate if they were pillaging here. "Didn't you come with your parents?" He asked, oblivious to the fact that not everyone 'had' parents, thoguh he was well aware that not everyone had the same living accomodations with them as he did. Mo's mother was enough to prove that to him.
Mia blinked, tilted his head, then shook it. "No. One of my mothers is half-Tulgey, and so is one of my brothers." He shrugged a bit. Parzi actually looked very, very similar to Chiari in terms of color.. though not in shape. Otters and birds weren't much alike.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 23, 2008 11:23:25 GMT -5
Parzifal shifted uncomfortably, putting most of his weight on one leg. "No, my mother's dead. I'm here with my master. He's the one we live with. He, um. 'Hired' us when we were younger." Seeing as buying and selling people was illegal - not counting Aces, who weren't people according to his master - the man had 'bartered for their services' instead of them. Of course, that also meant he would give them the option of freedom when they seemed like they'd earned it, or so he told them.
And yes, that would explain the other boy's lack of reaction if he was related to Tulgey. Well, he hadn't been aware there were any around here. His master hadn't mentioned it.
He was probably keeping Mia from something, perhaps a Mo. Then again, if he wasn't done with him, it wouldn't be appropriate to suggest anything to the contrary. Again, his master's logic. It was quite annoying. He really needed to work on upping his rank. He wouldn't be a Three forever. "So it seems that you live around here... could you maybe suggest something to do that wouldn't get me in loads of trouble with the powers that be?"
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Post by Greenie on Mar 23, 2008 11:41:41 GMT -5
"Oh." The ferret thought about it for a second, and decided he'd do some.. research on it, but later. "Okay."
At the bird's question, Mia nearly snickered. He wasn't the best at staying out of trouble, he was just good at sneaking around, up, and under it, but it tended to smack him in the face anyways. Parzifal, however, probably was looking to avoid annoying adults, especially if he was only here for another day. "I was going to go find Mo and make him play a game with me, but you can play with me instead if you'd like." The kinds of games he played with Mo usually involved lots of rotten fruit and unsuspecting people, but the ferret did know how to play innocent things like board games and card games. Vessatha occasionally forced him to play with his siblings, afterall, and they generally tattled when he played pranks.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 23, 2008 11:53:57 GMT -5
Parzifal was honestly surprised that the high-ranking boy was interested in playing with him, especially when he had someone as odd-sounding as Mo to go and play with. Then again, it sounded like more of a gracious allowance, so maybe it wasn't all that friendly. Hopefully his charm was working well enough to keep him from too much trouble in this place. He wouldn't want to be the butt of a prank. Then he'd have to either swallow his pride or figure out some way to get the other boy back without making it an issue his master had to handle. He was more inclined towards the latter.
"If you're interested, I'd be happy to," he said with a smile and a dip of his head. He just hoped it was a genuine offer. It sounded like one, but sometimes that didn't mean anything. "I probably don't know many of the games you play here, though. My siblings and I usually just entertain ourselves out in the Wood or hiding in Master's piles of stuff. Or trying to guess how dangerous it would be to knock over the pot of bubbling whatever on the stove that day."
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Post by Greenie on Mar 23, 2008 12:05:29 GMT -5
"Okay." He nodded, oblivious to the boy's uncertainty at his offer. "This way, we can play card games in my room." The ferret immediately set off for Vessatha's suite, the glass of juice once again in his mouth as he walked. The ferret didn't reply until they had reached the doorway, but it was due to not wanting to spill what precious little was left. "Don't worry. I can teach you if you don't understand." He carefully opened the door with one paw, the glass precariously balanced in the other. His efforts were for naught, though, because a blue-and-black figure immediately barreled him over and sent the glass flying to the opposite wall, where it scattered, sending the juice everywhere. The glass was made of some resilient material so wasn't broken.. but that said little for the juice. "BROTHER! ... Oh, was that your glass? Sorrysorrysorry! I'll.. clean it up later, I promise!" The otter clung to him, her eyes tearing up dramatically. Dysthymia scowled at her and shoved her off, and sat up in order to unwrap his arm from his binding, where it had gotten lodged. "What do you want, Saethre?" His tone was annoyed, but mostly patient. "I have a friend over, so you have to leave us alone," He stated, in the way of 'boys don't play with girls in front of other boys especially when the girl is your sister' way. "Really? Are you guys going to play a game? Because I'm really, really, REALLY bored!" The otter completely ignored the 'leave us alone' statement as she was apt to do. After a minute the 'I have a friend' registered, and she turned her attention to Parzifal. "Hi! I'm Saethre! Who're you? You don't mind if I play with you guys, do you? You don't want me to be bored, do you?"Dysthymia sighed and rolled his eyes in succession. "Inside, both of you, before someone finds us with that glass of juice on the floor." He quickly ushered both of them through the doorway, not about to be forced to clean up the mess that his sister had made.
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