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Post by Kasatsu on Oct 18, 2008 17:14:40 GMT -5
He lapped at his wound with is tongue, cleaning up any last vestiges of blood away from his wound. The five minute bleedings had become a habitual thing, a sign of his perpetual shame for a responsibility that he had failed. No direct thought ran through his mind on the reason behind the shame, the time long past for coherent thought. Just the continuous, overwhelming feeling of dishonor clogged his mind now. Once the last of the blood was licked away he waited a few moments before gaining to his feet. He had learned through trial and error that if he got to his feet too soon after the bleeding then he would either be extremely dizzy or would pass out. Either of which he could not afford. Swaying slightly, he gave himself a strong rebuke. If he could not allow himself to be weak for to be such would mean he could never gain any of his honor back. He had to pay for his sins, he had to correct what wrong he could. There was no other Way but this. |
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Post by Bee on Oct 21, 2008 0:26:29 GMT -5
 The sun was hidden behind ominous-looking clouds, and the birds had stopped singing once the children started throwing rocks at them, but the lack of joyous atmosphere failed to drag down Iphis's cheer, because he had spent the morning fabric shopping, the only activity scientifically proven to cure all ills. (Well, proven by disreputable Corvies and corroborated by several Esterberries who were widely known in academia to have gone 'round the bend, but Iphis preferred to think of them as unrecognized geniuses.) His venture had been mildly productive. Some of the dyes he was going to have to make himself (provided that Mom would allow him access to the required plants), but the wagon he tugged along was nearly overflowing with material. His trip home did not remain cheerful for long. The first thing Iphis noticed, when happening upon the wolf, was the interesting and adorable plummage that poked out of his fur. The second thing, a brief moment later, was the wound, wide and dark carmine, fresh-looking and significantly less adorable. Iphis knew only vaguely of Mid-Rangers: shadowy and ill-defined, like wraiths and rabbits and the other less happy bedtime stories. He had thought their practice of cutting to be only a grotesque rumor, like when he heard about Torquehelm bindings. Too cruel to be true. He tugged his wagon forward cautiously. "Can I...help you with that?" he asked uncertainly. He nodded to his textile trailer. "I have a lot of prettily colored bandages." |
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Post by Kasatsu on Oct 21, 2008 16:15:35 GMT -5
As he slowly made his way down the street, his strength slowly returned to him. If he wanted to stay conscious though he would need to consume something, either drink or food, to replace the nutrients he had lost in his blood. Ever since . . . that night . . . he had never been as strong as he once was.
He was weak, unworthy, pathetic.
Hearing a soft, light tone that was obviously laced with concern, he brought up his head with a snap. A wave of nausea hit him with the sudden movement but he refused to give in.
At the . . . female's comment about colored bandages he glanced to see the cart holding all of the fabric. Some of the colors and patterns on there made him wonder about the sanity and character of the female in front of him.
Better not to ask.
"No, ma'am, I am fine."
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Post by Bee on Oct 21, 2008 16:34:35 GMT -5
Comfortable and accustomed as he was to being addressed as "ma'am" (or, more commonly "Ma'am--sir?--Miss--you--thing"; he quite liked being a Ma'amsirmissyouthing), he continued on with the task at hand rather than bothering with semantics. The wolf looked tired and hurt and weak. Had he eaten lately? Slept? Had he been fighting someone?
He tossed the coth back into the wagon. "Don't be silly. You look like you need a good meal and a good nap." He paused. In that brief moment, his instinctive desire to help people brutally murdered his common sense and threw it off the balcony. "I can make you lunch, if you want. I don't live far from here."
As much as he missed constant human companionship, finally having his own apartment afforded him many advantages--not the least of which was the freedom to bring anything and anyone into the place without Mom exploding with something like "ANOTHER BLOODY KITTEN? I DON'T CARE IF THREE OF ITS RIBS ARE BROKEN, I AM NOT RUNNING A HUMANE SOCIETY."
He smiled hopefully at the wolf.
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Post by Kasatsu on Oct 21, 2008 16:44:49 GMT -5
He lofted a brow at the canine . . . if a canine it really was. He was not sure what to make of the stranger. Some of him whispered a hint of male but that part was strongly strangled by all the femininity that surround him. He almost wondered if it was something that could rub off on others. He surely hoped not.
At the female's - if that was what it was - offer his face turned a little more serious.
"I thank you for the offer, ma'am, but I have to wonder - why would you do such a thing for a stranger?" It was not that he was not completely use to a helping hand but rather, harsh examples in the past made him a little leery of just anyone wanting to help.
Life was not all the fantasy everyone seemed to want it to be, that was a lesson he had learned hard and fast as a child.
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Post by Bee on Oct 21, 2008 17:10:17 GMT -5
He blinked at the wolf a moment, slightly baffled and not sure how to respond. He was not at all used to people questioning his motives. Really, why would he not help him? It's not like Iphis was some heartless monster who was going to laugh at someone's misery and then hurl them into a ditch to die.
Though he did have a nightmare like that about Hadyn once. It was horrible. Mouse-kitties do not make pleasant noises when they're dying slowly of massive bacterial infection.
"You looked like...you might need a hand?" he said, tentatively. It was the best he could do. It was also the truth, so he hoped that counted for something. He carried on, with more confidence: "You don't have anything to worry about, really. I make a fantastic alfredo sauce. And all my furniture is quite comfortable."
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Post by Kasatsu on Oct 21, 2008 17:54:44 GMT -5
His honor roared up, long past childhood learnings reminding him that to take such an offer would be a blow to his honor. To accept from others in such a way would show that he could not take care of himself.
At that exact moment when he would have declined the strange stranger's offer his stomach rumbled with protest. It was true that he was in a strong need for food with no real way to pay for it since he had been forced to leave his job.
A look of sadness so deep consumed his eyes for a moment. He had failed Him, he did not deserve to live or be offered such kindness.
Another part warred with him. To admit the truth he would probably have to be a fool to pass up such a kind offer.
Finally he gave in a gave a small nod acceptance. "Your offer of kindness is great ma'am."
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Post by Bee on Oct 21, 2008 23:33:32 GMT -5
For a moment the wolf looked like he was going to decline, which would have made Iphis very unhappy, because then he would have had to resort to desperate pleading measures. And that was just embarrassing.
But it looked, fortunately, like that was not going to be necessary. The small battle won, he said, brightly, "Always happy to help. Right this way!" He walked on, tugging the wagon behind him. He realized then that he was leading someone to his apartment to whom he had not even introduced himself. Mom had failed to teach her children many things, but proper etiquette was not one of them. (Though she may as well not have bothered; all seven of them had all taken "proper etiquette" as a nebulous term and made numerous alterations.)
Lacking the proper hand for a shake in animal form, he inclined his head and smiled. "I'm Iphis, very pleased to meet you."
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Post by Kasatsu on Oct 21, 2008 23:53:25 GMT -5
Falling into step besides the, what he was pretty sure was a, canine he inclined his head in reply.
At the offering of a name he filed it away, along with the information that he was a nine of Hearts. He hesitated in replying with is own name for a moment, not really used to it being asked when those who needed to talk to him at any given time already knew his name or did not care.
The canine had offered first though, so he offed his own. "The name is Zeev."
As they walked along he kept a mental log of where he was and what was going on around him, though he kept most of his attention on the winged albino. Not much one for chit-chat he remained silent, allowing his host to speak or ask questions should the urge be upon him. He personally had never seen the need nor purpose to such activity and was content with what silence was offered.
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Post by Bee on Oct 22, 2008 2:37:32 GMT -5
Iphis kept up a light conversation on the way back to the apartment, though it was mostly one-sided. That didn't really bother him. Some people just weren't very forthcoming with people they had just met, and Iphis was used to one-sided conversations anyway. Clara was notoriously reticent nowadays. He was sure he could get the wolf talking eventually.
His apartment was pretty much the opposite of what he had grown up in: it was clean, neat, small, and in a pretty nice neighborhood. No mutant insect infestations, no mad banders and crazy plants, no kids trying to bust in and steal things. Sometimes, as he lay in bed before drifting off to sleep, he would wish some hoodlum would throw a rock through a window.
"Here we go! Why don't you have a seat on the couch? Lunch shouldn't take long."
With a quick slip into a form with actual hands, lunch didn't take long at all. Pasta was a good way to go. Lots of long-lasting energy. Some meat for protein.
Lunch on the table, he beckoned his guest over. He had a lot of questions, but those could wait until after he was fed and comfortable.
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