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Post by Lucca on May 28, 2011 20:09:56 GMT -5
At first, Shelby devoured the words of his book like a thirsty wanderer in the Hisstor Wastes, eyes narrowed to better search between the pages for some sort of magical solution. But after pages and pages of growing spells, burrowing spells, spells to fluff pillows better, and the complicated ways to enchant these spells into various items, the Leveret began to lose focus. His frustration turned to despair, and the despair moved away to make room for a sort of hollow, tired feeling.
When he found himself reading the same sentence five or six times without absorbing any of it, Shelby finally pushed the book away with a small sigh and closed his eyes. He pulled at his ear with one hand, the motion containing little of its usual nervous energy, and looked at the intense faces of his parents. They were going to so much trouble for him. Was he really worth it? He certainly didn't feel very worth it right then. Maybe they'd bve better off if he just...left? Went rogue? Shelby quickly pushed the thought down, feeling like even letting it cross his mind was pure treason to his Warren.
Across the coffee table, Seena wasn't faring much better. Her mouth was set into a firm little line, and her blue eyes were sharpened to pinprick points. Somewhere between the pages of this tome, there had to be a solution. There had to be. She didn't look up until she was on her second, more careful, read-through of the book, and Heike broke the silence. She looked up and shook her head, seeing that Shelby wasn't even looking at his anymore.
"Interesting, yes," she said, rich voice sounding tired as well. "But helpful to our particular situation...no." She stretched a bit, shaking her head to let her ears flop a bit. "I found a way to mutate him further, however I hardly think that would help." She noticed Shelby wince a little out of the corner of her vision. That was about what she'd expected his reaction to be.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jun 1, 2011 16:56:14 GMT -5
"I was afraid of that," Heike said as he flipped the page in his own book. "I've found minor beautification spells but they weren't meant for leverets and they would probably make things worse." He didn't want to turn his son into a powderpuff.
His fingers tapped lightly on the desk in front of him. His eyes quickly scanning the various volumes on the shelves. There were five more books that could potentially hold information on reversing the situation, and he could send Nadja out to pick something up in the nearest Card town. That was an easy plan to follow. "I only have a few more books that can potentially help, and after we review them we can send a leveret to grab a few Card books from the nearest town."
He pulled the rest of the books from the shelves. "Also. I think I'll grab one of the leverets and have the make us some fresh tea before we start searching again. Unless you two would like to push on?"
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Post by Lucca on Jun 2, 2011 8:35:14 GMT -5
Shelby shook his head at the thought of a beautification spell. He wasn't really sure how beautiful his current mutations could be made in the first place, and the fact that he was so large and Bipedal was what would set most Rabbits off, he imagined. There was no longer any easy way to hide his gender, now, name and fluttery mannerisms notwithstanding. His ears drooped at the thought that he had become truly untradable.
"Good plan, luv," Seena said, nodding in response to what Heike suggested. The effects of these spells were interesting, to say the least, and the methods of casting them all very convoluted considering Rabbits weren't the most magic savvy of beings. But none of them would really make the situation any better. She looked briefly at the books that Heike had pointed out, ready to dive right in, but Shelby spoke before she could.
"A short break might be nice," he muttered, with a very small, hopeful smile up at both of them.
Seena sighed slightly, but perhaps it was for the best. She could do with a spot of tea anyway, and despite the fact that her son had already been taking a break...maybe something in his stomach would help him focus again on reading. He was the one they were trying to help, after all, and he should take at least some of the responsibility!
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jun 2, 2011 15:33:06 GMT -5
The rabbit paused for a moment, more than ready to push on. But the small protest from his son stopped him. All right, tea then. He gave a small nod before slipping out of the room to catch one of the passing leverets.
It was disheartening how short staffed they were. Where the hell had they all gone? It was disappointing not having the usual cook and everyone in their rightful place. Tea was sent away for with little strain, and he slipped back into the room.
"I asked for crumpets and tea cakes as well," he said upon entering the room. He picked up the books that had been read through and placed them back in their spots amongst the shelves. There was a long way to go, and they probably would find a solution in the Card magic books, which lead to a bigger problem. It wasn't like he could go up to a Card and ask them to help with a spell.
The tea and crumpets came rather quickly, the leveret being shooed at the door so they wouldn't have to deal with Shelby's condition.
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Post by Lucca on Jun 5, 2011 8:53:20 GMT -5
Shelby squirmed a bit, still feeling strange being served instead of being the one serving. But he knew already what the reaction of the Leverets in the kitchen would be if he poked his nose in. There would be staring and screams and it really just wouldn't be pretty. The poor half-Selkie inched further from the door, not sure who would come in. However, it was just Heike. Feeling relief wash over him, Shelby stood up and held out his hands, offering to serve the tea.
"I'm used to it now," he said quietly, with a hopeful not-smile. Seena watched him as he took the tray and carefully set it down on the table before pouring them each a cup of tea. This felt more natural than being served. It almost felt...normal. The illusion was shattered when he sat down and reached for a tea cake, only to fumble it and drop it on the carpet.
Seena glanced down at the mess, then at Shelby. "No matter," she said briskly. "You can clean it up later." She nosed a fresh tea cake at her son, who took it with a mumbled thanks, and uneasily went to sip his tea.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jun 6, 2011 17:05:50 GMT -5
Heike watched in silence. He honestly couldn't imagine having mismatched limbs and trying to do much of anything. At least Shelby had the use of hands, that was helpful when it came to just about everything. They should get him something to wear, even if it was just a scarf, he looked so awkward without anything.
When the tea cake it the ground, the Rabbit's ears twitched. The carpet was going to get an awful work out wasn't it? He silently took his own tea cake and and cup. Think positive. He needed to think positive to get anything at all accomplished. "You'll get a hang of using your hands," the Jack quietly commented. He hoped it was in a reassuring way.
He eyed the books on beautification. Could they manipulate the spells in there. Could they simply force him to Jack? It might right his lopsided-ness. It was all speculation though, and they had no way to test any of the magic.
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Post by Lucca on Jun 7, 2011 9:34:38 GMT -5
Shelby couldn't help it; a bright, ashamed flush rose to his cheeks at his Father-Jack's gentle reassurance. It was hard to feel like any of this was bearable for even a moment more, and part of him just wanted to turn tail and run far, far away. He nervously nibbled the tea cake, being extra careful with it. He half glanced at his tea cup, rather afraid to risk it at that moment. His ears were pinned against his head, and he had to fight the strong urge to tug on them.
Seena sipped her tea, trying to be calm and not too hard on her son. But she could see he was nervous and distraught, and part of her wanted to snap at him to have a little more patience and just buck up and work through it...but that would only scare the poor boy. He was a rather delicate Leveret, always had been even before all this. She sent Heike a slight baleful look, wondering if he was thinking the same thing she was. What if they couldn't find a solution? Or, worse, what if they found one but were incapable of performing the magic on their own? For some reason, trying to get Shelby to become a Jack hadn't occurred to the Doe yet.
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jun 8, 2011 23:24:43 GMT -5
The Jack watched as Shelby fidgeted. A tiny part of him wanted to throw a sugar cube at the boy's head and tell him to stop. That however was childish, and the thought was almost immediately banished from his head when he saw the look on Seena's face. She was worried.
Probably about the impossible solution. Had she thought of the things he had? The White Rabbit only knew. This nightmare couldn't be solved in a conventional manner, only the worst possible ways would work. His son would probably have to become a Jack or they would have to enlist help from a Card. Both thoughts kept reoccurring, and both made him feel slightly ill.
"Shelby, you can get up and clean the tea cake if it's bothering you that much," Heike commented as he turned to his desk and pulled a piece of paper and quill. He had an idea, send a letter to a Card and hope for the best. He would think about who or what could deliver it for him later. He just needed to write it down.
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Post by Lucca on Jun 9, 2011 8:43:50 GMT -5
Shelby gave a little jump, nearly losing his spot on his chair when Heike spoke again into the silence. He shook his head, slowly, nose and whiskers quivering slightly. He glanced from his Father-Jack's face to the smashed food on the floor. If only that were the only thing bothering him right now, things would be a lot simpler. Then again, what if that had been an order?
"Yessir," Shelby mumbled, and hopped up from the chair to clean the mess. Luckily, he didn't have to look too far to find at least some basic cleaning supplies, and he set to work immediately. He was slightly surprised to find the work helped his mind clear and his raging emotions calm a bit. Shelby had always seen Leveret work as a necessary monotony that he was always going to loathe, but now it seemed...normal.
Seena watched as Shelby got up to clean the mess, and her blue eyes shifted to Heike. He was taking out a quill and parchment. Seeking outside help for their predicament, surely. But from who? The list of options she would care to contemplate was terribly short, which might mean he was trying something a bit drastic. "Heike?" she asked quietly, slipping out of her own seat and moving closer to him. "What's on your mind?"
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Post by Kari Muffin on Jun 13, 2011 17:44:20 GMT -5
Heike's pen was poised and ready to write when Seena came to join him. He lowered his voice a bit when he spoke, hoping that Shelby wouldn't overhear. If he did it wouldn't be the end of the world.
"I don't know of any Jack that I would trust with a situation like this. So I was thinking about going outside of the regular boundaries." He sighed. "Cards might be the answer. I used to go out when I was a leveret and chat with some of them while I was shopping. There might be a few in the Highlands I can find again. It's a long shot, but I just need to write down a few things to clear my head."
He looked a little frazzled and frustrated over the entire situation. The long shot was longer than he could ever imagine, but if he could at least find out more information since his son looked like he was pieced together from Cards it might be a better answer than becoming a Jack.
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