[FIN] If it Never Crossed My Mind [Callypso]

[Lucca]

Mirriam's smile easily returned as 'Squeaker' seemed to agree with what she did. Well good! And Merquise, her guardian's Ace, also seemed to like them as well. So then, that meant all Aces liked them! But wait...if Squeaker didn't understand, and was just repeating her words back to her like a parrot...maybe he didn't really like those things? This was a bit confusing for the poor Bat, but at least Squeaker did seem to like head scratches. That would be the way to tell! She'd offer the Ace a cookie and see if he liked it! But before she could think of where to get such a thing right now, he was nudging her and then running away.

She laughed. "What are you doing?" Her eyes suddenly lit up as she watched him hop away. "Oh! You want to play tag!" With a delighted squeal, Mirriam launched herself into a low flight pattern and chased after the Ace in a flutter of wings, though in the back of her mind she made sure to promise herself she wouldn't leave the park, even if he did!

At the odd noise the little girl made, Margret peered over the newspaper again. Her ears flattened and her eyes narrowed slightly. She wasn't sure how well she trusted this...Ace, and she watched the two closely as they ran around the park. From what little she could hear of the 'conversation' between the two, she could tell that the Ace was only playing dumb. Which meant he wanted something.

[Callypso]

Yes! She went for it!

This whole running around thing was actually really fun. Emery’s eyes widened in delight as he gave another loud chirp, proceeding to zig-zap his way across the park to keep from being “tagged”. The Ace had never been able to play with other Cards his age when he was young - for obvious reasons. Still, he had watched longingly behind dark curtains as smaller Corvie children raced around in their neighborhood, that is, until they got bored and were inevitably distracted by trying to blow things up or grow extra limbs. He was dangerously close to forgetting himself again, but he managed to stay on track, pausing just long enough to catch Margret’s steady gaze above her paper.

Well, Nanny Wolf hadn’t yet left the bench, so he wasn’t in hot water yet. Speaking of water… they were rather close to the smaller fountain now. Emery chirped again and continued his path toward that end of the park, allowing Mirriam to catch him so they could trade off. He caught up to Mirriam one last time and batted her gently with a claw, after which he made course for the fountain and jumped in.

The water was cool, though not uncomfortably so, and after chasing an energetic little bat all over the place, it was quite refreshing. He shook his mane out and started a brisk doggy-paddle around the little pool using his wings to help him glide about the water. He chirped again at Mirriam from the center of the fountain, using his arms and wings to keep him afloat as his dexterous clawed feet scrabbled at the bottom for loose change.

He chirped happily and splashed a little bit. Hopefully, this will all have been worth it and he wouldn’t go home empty-handed. He had to admit, though, this whole charade was pretty fun.

[Lucca]

Mirriam completely lost herself to the game, and she realized that it had actually been a little while since she'd played a simple game of tag, though it had always been one of her favorites. Now, it was a bit harder to find other kids who would play it with her. Laughing and shrieking in delight, the Fruit Bat dodged and dipped, finally catching up to the larger but surprisingly agile creature and touching him with a claw. "Tag!" she cried happily before giggling and flying off, staying low enough that it would be fair since the Ace couldn't fly.

It took a little while, but he had soon caught up and tagged her again, and Mirriam squeaked in delighted reprisal, and immediately turned in the air to give chase...until he plopped himself into a fountain. Mirriam paused, blinking curiously at him, and alighted on the edge of the basin.

"I guess we're done playing tag, then, huh?" she giggled, but didn't join him in the water. Swimming wasn't really something she could do easily. Both her Suit (for Diamonds are connected to the air) and her breed made her a natural at flying, but she just didn't have the limbs for getting around underwater, and her wings took a while to dry properly if she got them wet. So she contented herself with watching Squeaker and dipping her claws in the water.

[Callypso]

It was a relief that the girl had been so cooperative. His antics were a bit ridiculous today and he didn’t want to exert himself too much more. After all, he still had to make it back to the Highlanders home, make off with some select items (that he knew they wouldn’t miss anyway) and return to Xopek’s house before it became too late. Nighttime in the Capitol could be dangerous, even for someone who knew all the ins and outs as he did. The simple fact was that Emery had no way to protect himself, other than running or hiding.

Luckily, the Avington didn’t follow him into the fountain, which was just as well for Emery. It left him free to scoop around for coins without too much interference. She seemed content for the moment, letting her claws hang freely in the water while he splashed around and made a fool of himself.

Occasionally he would submerge himself completely, curling his body so he could grab the coins from his feet and transfer them neatly into his wing feathers. He had learned long ago that an Ace with a bag was essentially a moving target and had learned to tuck trinkets into his decorative extremities. After completing his little exchange, he would push off from the bottom and shoot out of the water, landing back in with a SPLASH! to amuse Mirriam.

The fountain had been a regular goldmine. When was the last time the park services had collected from here, anyhow? There was more than even he could tuck away, and he scooped up one last clawful. Excited by his treasure trove (and his ability to chip in for the future journey), he completely forgot himself as he emerged from the water for the last time and let out a whoop.

PERFECT!

His eyes dragged themselves back to the little girl still wading at the fountain and he chirped awkwardly.

Busted.

[Lucca]

Mirriam didn't really notice what Squeaker was doing with the coins, all she saw was him playing around in the water, and she couldn't help but smile, watching him. She guessed that must be something good about being only half-Bird and having such small wings...he could never fly, but he didn't have to worry as much about being water logged. Though given the choice, Mirriam would take flying any day! She giggled and brought a wing over her face protectively as a few of the splashes caused a bit of water to come her way.

Miriam sighed in contentment and lay down a bit awkwardly on the edge of the fountain. Not her preferred resting position, but there was really no easy place nearby to hang upside down. If it had been sunny today instead of cloudy and about to storm, she might have been tempted to fall asleep.

Of course, any and all feelings of lazy contentment vanished like sweets at the Winter Holidays as the Ace let out such a loud noise and a shout that it made the little Bat take to the air, startled. Wide brown eyes met the Ace's suddenly fearful expression, and Mirriam's mind was buzzing. She hadn't said that word. She hadn't said anything at all. And it had sounded like he was honestly happy about something, like he knew what that word meant. Not like a parrot at all, but like a...like a Card.

"...Squeaker?" she asked hesitantly, fluttering to land again on the edge of the fountain, eyes not leaving the Ace. "You're...Aces are..." Mirriam's eyes suddenly widened, and she gave a small gasp. "...Aces are Cards, aren't they?" It was something so obvious that she was surprised it had never occurred to her before, but yet...the implications of even that simple little statement...thoughts whirled around in the Bat's head too quickly for her to make sense of them as she tried to figure it all out.

[Callypso]

The fun was definitely over and he had completely blown it. He had let his guard down and let himself get excited because of a little girl. But she wasn't simply just a little girl, she was nearly an adolescent. Emery couldn't sell her a goofy lie about the fountain being "magicked" so that he could only talk while in the fountain. Mirriam was at an age where you began to seriously question ideas and started using critical thinking. There was no way he could bluff his way out of this, and it made him extremely nervous.

The Ace hopped out of the fountain, a couple yards from the bat so he could shake himself free of moisture. He stayed where he was, though, unsure of what she was going to do. He swiveled his head around for any signs of Margret, and when she didn't come barreling through the park he relaxed, if only slightly. He sincerely hoped his shout hadn't carried all the way over to the wolflike sitter. Mirriam was still on the side of the fountain where she could still be seen, which was good. He raked his claws nervously through his mane, pushing the hair behind his chipmunk ears. At least she hadn't flown away screaming. That was something, right?

Ah, well, that's… debatable. He hunched his shoulders, eyes nervously darting to and fro. Um, look. Obviously I can talk, but I really shouldn't be… I'd love to discuss this further, only please don't sic your nanny on me.

Emery would have been amused by the bewilderment in the girl's eyes had it not been for the fact he was scared shitless wondering if Margret (or anyone else for that matter) was going to appear around the bushes. Ordinarily he took a guilty pleasure in proving Cards' assumptions about Aces wrong, but it didn't seem like the right time. At least, it wouldn't be until he was sure he was safe.

Part of him began silently cursing whoever it was who'd had the bright idea that all Aces were nothing more than filter feeders. Honestly. Why deny a group of people their chance to improve society? He could be great if given the chance. Recognizing the futile feelings for what they were, he quickly brushed them aside. Wishing wasn't going to help him out of this situation.

He looked beseechingly at the girl, hoping she wouldn't tattle on him.

Please?

[Lucca]

Mirriam shook her head, looking oddly distressed. Normally, nothing could get her this down that didn't involve her parents. But this...this almost felt like a betrayal. A lot of things she'd taken for granted for years were suddenly being turned on their head and proven false, and it was all Mirriam could do to not let herself get swept away in the tide. But...it wasn't fair to Squeaker, was it, to ignore him in favor of all the questions she had? Questions that multiplied even as she thought about them.

She was dying to ask the Ace some of these questions, but he seemed scared, suddenly. Her ears drooped, and she glanced over toward the bench. Margret's eyes were back on her book once again, though she also glanced at the sky as the Bat watched. Glancing up as well, Mirriam saw how much darker the clouds were getting. There might not be much time before she had to leave, and suddenly she didn't want to. She looked urgently at the Ace.

"I wouldn't, oh I wouldn't do that! I...I just don't understand!" Tears started to fill her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. "Why would you be made a pet if you...if you're a Card just like me? Why did you pretend you couldn't talk?"

[Callypso]

Fear began to ebb away to concern. Mirriam looked exceptionally upset. Had he said something wrong? Her reaction had totally floored him. Usually, Cards were flabbergasted and/or impressed when they discovered his actual abilities. Well, sometimes the response was anger- but he was generally a good judge of character and tended to avoid anyone he thought was going to attack him for being an "abnormal" Ace. Emery just wasn't sure what to do in this particular situation. He could deal with anger, suspicion and awe- but this?

Emery felt a little better as he watched Mirriam instinctively look toward the bench. She didn't look any more panicked than before, so he supposed he was in the clear with regard to a rampaging wolf-nanny. He looked up toward the sky, following the bat's gaze - the clouds had darkened considerably. His eyes found hers again. Wa- was she crying? He grimaced and walked forward a step.

Oh, please don't cry!

Something in her demeanor made him pause before saying anything else or walking any closer. It suddenly occurred to the mix that the child before him was going through a revelation of sorts. She was struggling to reconcile her understanding of the world as she knew it with the, uh, peculiar specimen before her. Oh geez. He raked his claw through his mane again, unsure of how to even begin an explanation.

Uh, it's complicated, Mirriam. I didn't mean to lie to you, it's just that, well, most Cards have an expectation of what Aces are like, you know? Most Cards think Aces are dumb, unintelligent beasts. We're little better than the fish in ponds, or chickens in coops. Except, uh, most think that Aces aren't even worth that. Society thinks we're worthless, a waste of space. Some even think that we're better off as, uh.. coats or something.

He flinched, hoping that that comment wouldn't horrify her too much, but it was the truth. She needed to hear it, if only this one time in her life; even if she later ignored it. She was asking questions and he'd do his best to answer - even if it was uncomfortable. And he was really uncomfortable.

And the whole "Squeaker" thing.. um.. I am, er, was a pet. For a long time. "Squeaker" is the name given to me by the Highlander family I live with. Emery is my real name. I'm not going to be a pet anymore, but that's not important right now... Like I said, most Cards think Aces are animals, pets… not like other people. I have to pretend to be what they expect or I'll get in trouble. It's dangerous to be an Ace, but being an intelligent one is even more so.

His speech faltered as he wasn't really sure how to continue. Emery wasn't sure she fully grasped what it was like to be an Ace. As far as she knew, most Aces spent their days as pampered housepets.

Does any of that make sense?

[Lucca]

Mirriam's eyes widened and she seemed to shrink in on herself a bit, as he went through his explanation. She listened with ever-growing horror. How could anyone treat their fellow Cards that way? How could they be...be made into...coats?? She choked, at this, feeling suddenly nauseated. So many things rushing at her, so many truths suddenly coming out, so many times with Merquise, innocently telling him stories or petting his head, suddenly making terrible, terrible sense.

After it seemed Squeaker--no, Emery, was done, it still took a moment for Mirriam to find her voice. Her mouth had gone dry and she could taste bile in the back of her throat. She swallowed, wincing, trying to sort through her raging thoughts enough to form a response. "I..." No...that wasn't right. This wasn't about her. It was about Aces, fellow Cards who were treated so harshly, who were forced to pretend they were stupid, to be reduced to pets or beasts of burden. Who were made into...into... She felt her heart breaking for Emery, for Merquise, for the others like him.

"Emery...I still...don't understand. Why would people do that? Why would they treat you like that?" She moved forward, hesitantly, and reached out...but it was no longer a little girl reaching out to pet an animal, but a much wiser girl, on the cusp of adolescence, reaching out to support a friend. "Can't you...change your Rank to be not an Ace?" She glanced down to the 'A' on his chest. She felt like she was...barking up the right tree, with that question. Because maybe that was why Emery had said Aces were only "kind of" Cards. Because maybe they couldn't stop being Aces. They weren't like Fours or Jacks or Eights...they couldn't do anything about the mark on their chest? It was the only conclusion that made sense. No one would ever choose to be an Ace, if what he was saying were true...

[Callypso]

Discomfort was putting it lightly, Emery decided. He watched as the girl seemed to sink into herself, then return, bug-eyed as if gasping for air. It was horrible to watch, and he was almost sorry he'd bumped into her this gloomy day. The only other atrocity against fellow Cards beside Aces, that he knew of, was against the Lowlanders - and Emery had spent most of his life trying to keep himself alive than feeling sorry for himself or other people. Sympathy didn't keep your skin attached to your body.

The flicker of emotions across her face was disconcerting, and he thought it best to let her alone for a moment to work through her thoughts. He could only imagine what she could be thinking or feeling, if she could even understand it herself. It was admirable, in a sad, depressing sort of way, that her mind was swirling with questions. She didn't just accept the world for how it was, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride, as if she were suddenly one of his own.

When she reached for him beseeching explanations and answers, however, he almost went into shock. The air suddenly seemed thick and his throat too dry. If he didn't die from lack of oxygen, the surrounding silence would surely kill him. It wasn't only Mirriam's world that had been crashing down as of late, and he couldn't decide whether to feel sorry for himself or for the girl. She actually cared about what he was going through, not just what it meant for her. His eyes welled up with tears as he stepped forward accepting her extended claw with both of his own.

If only I knew the answer to that, he sighed heavily, but I don't. I suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that Aces are born without a single drop of magic. You have a Diamond ability, right? Well, the Heart ability I would have were I any other Card? I don't have that. What you see is what you get. Emery's eyes followed Mirriam's to his chest. Oh. No, Mirriam. That's another reason Aces are looked at like animals. It's near impossible for an Ace to raise their ranks. I've only ever read of it in a couple places - and the reliability of those sources is questionable. My understanding is that it takes a lot, I mean a lot of outside magic for an Ace to move up a rank. It is possible to achieve bipedal or human forms, but it takes a lot of willpower and a lot of work... and most folk think it's an ill omen and unnatural

He squeezed her claw. I know it doesn't exactly makes sense, but I spend more time trying to stay under the radar than worrying about the why. I don't have the luxury, you know?