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Post by The Jenn on Dec 6, 2007 12:47:41 GMT -5
((Set when Lior is roughly twelve-ish.)) The Capital City was such an unusual place to Lior. Crowding, bustle, business, all of that could be called familiar... but there were so many different suits and ranks that it almost made him dizzy on the very few times he'd been to visit. He'd begun to grow into a lanky adolescent, his wings oversized for his body and still not able to bear his weight, legs too long to look anything but gangly as his highlighted golden paws grew. Father and Linda had come to shop for several things they couldn't have so easily delivered to the palace. He wasn't really interested in the endeavor himself so they'd agreed to come and collect him from the city center in a short while, as soon as they'd found whatever it is they were looking for. His sister hadn't been especially specific, but at least she was excited. He walked into the small garden near the center of the city, gazing ahead at the intriguing fountain. The gardens themselves were rather... simplistic and small-scale compared to what he was used to, but nice enough. The fountain seemed more interesting to him, though. He got to the edge and glanced around, golden eyes scanning for anyone watching too closely before he hopped up on the rim to look in at the water. He was disappointed that there were no fish, then just shrugged and began to walk the length of the wide rim.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Dec 6, 2007 13:51:20 GMT -5
 (And Lovely little Eilwyn would be about sixteen) Eilwyn sat on the fountain's edge with his hand dipped in the water. He let out a soft sigh as he twirled his finger in the cold fountain. He simply wanted to think, there wasn't much else to do. Zane was busy reading at the cafe nearby, and obviously making sure that Eilwyn didn't do anything "dangerous." The eagle was too absorbed in his thoughts to notice anyone, and the water was too loud for him to hear anyone. He still wasn't used to this "being in the dark" thing. He had to wonder how Asha didn't run into as many walls as he did. Frustrating as it was, she hardly could explain herself. Eilwyn shifted. He knew he was facing Zane's general direction, he had to wonder what his brother was doing. Was he still just reading the paper? Or was he doing books like Dad told him not to... this was so very difficult to get used to. |
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 6, 2007 14:20:44 GMT -5
Lior walked a quarter of the way around the large fountain and caught sight of another Highlander not far off, an avian playing with the water. He perked up a little at the sight, trotting closer. There hadn't been nearly as many Highlanders in the City as he was used to.
"Hello there?" he half-asked, half-greeted, slowing and eventually stopping about five feet away from the other Highlander. His head slowly tilted to the side and he watched the avian curiously. Those eyes were... odd. They almost looked filmy and white. And he wasn't looking at anything that he could tell. Something was Off about the way he moved. The feline could guess, but he wasn't really sure. How strange.
Those were certainly dark red colors for one of their region. He was almost jealous. Gold and red in a nice balance... his sister always told him he looked pretty with so much gold, but he wondered sometimes if it made him look as weak as everyone thought him to be. As he probably was. Red meant power. Father's eyes were red, and Papa had red slashes all along him.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Dec 6, 2007 17:34:17 GMT -5
Eilwyn twitched at the sudden voice. He blinked surprised as he shifted his wait and turned in the general direction of the voice. He figured it was someone young... almost Asha's age? He wasn't quite sure. He didn't often talk to people around his age that weren't family.
"Er... Hello!" he said after a bit. He really wished he could see who he was talking to. It would be much easier than looking in the general direction. They would mention it and make fun of him--or they would talk about his eyes. They always did. He wanted to look at his lap and mutter an apology, but it was far to early for that. It would be nice to have company. He never really did...
The eagle withheld a sigh as he turned his head slightly to the side. He would see where this conversation would go. Maybe, just maybe, someone would be nice.
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 6, 2007 17:58:28 GMT -5
Lior sat on the fountain's rim, tucking his wings back and smiling pleasantly. "I'm sorry if I bothered you. I was just pleasantly surprised to see another Highlander here in the Capital. Should I leave you in peace, then?"
He watched curiously as the bird turned to look at him... but his head didn't quite make it all the way. Some part of him wanted to say 'a little more, then' but that would just be horribly rude. Besides, he had a bit of an inkling in the back of his head that such a thing couldn't be helped. The greeting had been cheerful enough, but the mood just didn't seem happy enough to support such an enthusiastic greeting.
The tinkling water of the fountain beside him was pushed aside at the refreshing sensation of interest lighting in his mind. It had been a little while since he'd felt quite this curious. He'd almost missed the feeling.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Dec 6, 2007 21:53:19 GMT -5
"Er... No," Eilwyn said as he turned to look at his lap. He placed his hands there as well. It might look a bit less awkward that way, at least he hoped. "I was just thinking. It was nothing important. I don't talk to people much, so I guess it would be nice to have company."
He titled his head at the very thought. He really only talked with his family, and was sure they only responded out of obligation. This person, however, could leave whenever the were bored. He never did talk to that many people, most of them brushed him off or ignored him. It wasn't very nice. He would rather talk to his family than other people.
No wonder they were so protective of him. Socially inept was an under statement. He had no social skills and no direction. At least he was doing something different? Talking to a stranger was a step, wasn't it?
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 8, 2007 6:59:19 GMT -5
Lior's fluffy tail curled around gold-tipped paws, flicking through the water of the fountain on its journey and letting a few droplets fly. This avian was unusual for a Highlander, or at least for all the Highlanders he'd met before. Considering his family and location, that covered quite a few. He watched the bird with more open curiosity. "Oh, I see. I'm just so used to people, I suppose... well. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Lior."
All of the words spoken rang true, except the 'nothing really important' felt slightly off somehow. Not a lie, but not a truth either. Important to the eagle but not something he considered important in general? Maybe? The feline wasn't always good at interpreting the feelings his power gave him.
Formalities were easy, necessary elements of introductions. They left everyone on common ground, though not always on equal footing. He didn't prefer to introduce himself by rank most of the time unless it was a very 'official' introduction and ranks would play a large part in the interactions to come. Being a Jack, this eagle was probably used to being around higher-ranked individuals anyone and it would do nothing but make conversation awkward.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Dec 8, 2007 12:09:27 GMT -5
"My name's Eilwyn," he said. The eagle tried to pinpoint where his voice was exactly, however it was rather difficult with the overwhelming sound of water. He tried to shrug it off as nothing and turned back to stare at his lap. Compensating was difficult most of the time. Dad said he would get better, but he still had his doubts. It was just so hard.
But he couldn't think about that with company around. He had to focus on one thing at a time. The boy, Lior, would ask him about his eyes eventually. Everyone did, but he did seem a bit more polite than everyone else. Maybe he wouldn't? It didn't really matter, did it?
Small talk away always his brothers' strong suits and not his. Eilwyn could try though, it wasn't that difficult. "Why are you in Capital City today?" It was a simple question, but good enough.
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Post by The Jenn on Dec 8, 2007 12:20:53 GMT -5
Polite conversation, then? That was fine, if boring. Better than nattering on about the weather for hours on end, at least. There were far too many people willing to do that just so they could say they talked to a child of THE Queen of Hearts. It made him very upset afterwards, when he was away from them and their false compliments and their pretty lies. It wasn't like they really wanted to talk to him, and whenever they had the chance, they were much happier to talk to his sister. She was the obviously upwardly mobile one. He figured the least he could do for her was distract some of them sometimes.
And there was definitely something wrong with those eyes. He was far too polite to mention it, but that didn't mean he couldn't watch them curiously.
"Oh, I'm just here with my sister and our father. The two of them needed to go shopping for something I wasn't very interested in, so I decided to stay by the central square on my own instead. What about you? Are you familiar with this place?"
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Post by Kari Muffin on Dec 8, 2007 12:52:45 GMT -5
"Oh, Shopping. That's never fun." Eilwyn turned his head to the boy. It didn't matter anymore. No point in keeping up useless appearances that were easy to see through. Conversation would be easier to maintain if he didn't worry about it.
"I come here with my brother often. It's one of the few peaceful places around here." He shrugged. Capital City was a busy place, there were only a few places that lacked the busy bustling of people. Zane and he had found all of them. For their sake, and for Asha's. "Then again, it's kind of sad that nothing really happens, and all I can do is think."
Because when you're in the dark there isn't much else you can do. The eagle held back a heavy sigh. He was being melodramatic. Things could always be worse. Still, it was hard not to think about everything.
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