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Post by Laydon of Jagkha on Jun 11, 2010 14:47:50 GMT -8
Laydon’s Aunt Fearghie died and left him a supposedly lucky cup. Truth was, he was fairly fortune because she left his Grandmother Luned all of her freckles (Luned did not accept this generous offer). So now Laydon had this cup and he had no idea what to do with it. Was he supposed to drink from it like a normal, non-lucky cup? This was going to be the very first item that entered Laydon’s new escape house, the one he had built for him among the Cliffs of Heaven. Well, other than his two hamsters (Marta and Meheitavel) who were already safely inside; they don’t know what to do with the cup either. The cup was gold and about the size of Laydon’s fist, with two handles. It was shiny and looked well crafted. It looked nice if you were interested in cups. It had yet to show any signs of luck. Laydon shrugged and entered his new cottage, placing the cup on top of the hamster cage.
It was nearing evening and Laydon was helping his hired help to unload his things out of the carriage and into the house.
“Sir Laydon?” the man inquired, “May I ask the significance of that golden cup?”
“It is a lucky cup.”
“Oh yeah? Don’t look so lucky to me. To me it just looks like a cup…”
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Post by Xaviere Arana on Jun 24, 2010 4:09:56 GMT -8
Funny, how it had taken her so long to visit this place.
A pair of brilliantly coloured, cold grey-blue eyes were directed curiously at the heavens, where into the boundless sky jutted seemingly endless cliffs. A ladder to the Gods themselves, it was said, and to uncountable treasure. Also grave danger, of course, but the observer scarcely considered this. Treasure. Possibilities were there, for a Fairy brave or reckless enough to try it. A way to go yet, though. Said observer was standing at the lowly foothills, endless days away from her vaguely formed goal.
Xaviere Arana didn't bother flying. The chief prey of smaller dragons were the things they could catch without venturing into the forests - birds, and other flying creatures. Although she possessed an impressive ability for flight thanks to sky elemental magic (and contrary to the appearance of wings which could be described as ragged, at best) she knew better than to enter a dragon's territory unprepared, uneducated and resembling for all the world their favourite lunch.
Rather, the delicate Sky Fairy wandered almost unenthusiastically into the myriad of paths carved into the cliffs, wondering idly if she would stumble across something pretty, wondering if it was worth her trouble anyway. Truth be told, scavenging was not her main employment.
In fact, this was stupid. Time to head back to Spirit, find a client willing to pay for good old fashioned murder.
The slender Fairy had turned to find her bearings when, drifting on the wind that still soothed and aided her, voices reached her ears.
It is a lucky cup.
Lucky?
That sounded like magic.
The Fairy was sufficiently intrigued. She liked magical artifacts, and if they happened to be crafted of gold more the better. Without a second thought she turned and followed the voices until she wandered quite casually into...a human dwelling.
What on Litharia?
The Fairy froze, instantly tense and suspicious. Her glamour went up at once, instinctively, hopefully before any Humans noticed her. Mere seconds later one looked up, spotted her, looking like who knows what. Fae glamours were unpredictable. Xaviere had no idea what she looked like.
Hopefully not like a Fairy.
What was a Human doing living out here, away from his precious city? She could see the one in charge now, through a window in his cottage. Perhaps if she acted quickly she could slip away...
"Oi, lady, you looking for something?"
Oh, shit.[/font]
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Post by Laydon of Jagkha on Jun 29, 2010 18:40:47 GMT -8
The voice of his hired help startled Laydon. He glanced around quickly, his eyes falling to rest on a girl. She looked interesting and, though she looked human, he thought that maybe she was really shifter. Impossible to know for sure. Her hair was platinum blonde and her eyes were a startling gray. Her skin was very pale, like moonlight. She looked to pale to be out there. The sun would surely burn such luminescent skin, wouldn’t it?
“Do not be rude, Darvin,” the knight replied sharply. He offered the lady a smile and a bow. “Welcome, Lady. Forgive the man for his rudeness. This is not his property, but mine. May I offer you a drink or a bite to eat? Perhaps even both? The conditions here are less than pleasant, so if you need to refresh my place is open to you.”
Even if she was a shifter.
Shifters…
He thought back to Aura and was instantly on guard. Shifters were not loyal creatures. They were more animalistic than human. He could not trust one, but he would not turn this woman away either. So long as she did not take advantage of his hospitality all would be well.
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Post by Xaviere Arana on Jun 29, 2010 19:41:36 GMT -8
Xaviere watched warily as the Human waved off his hired help, one brow raised. He was polite. Attractive. Well spoken. And he didn't immediately try to stab her. She must have managed to get her glamour up in time.
Lucky, indeed.
One could learn a lot about a person in a very short time. This Human that she had inadvertantly stumbled across was clearly powerful and wealthy, if a house in the Cliffs and a bevy of paid workers were anything to go by. He was also potentially a nobleman or some other profession associated with honour and decorum because, although he plainly was wary of her, he welcomed her politely and warmly. How hospitable of him. Xaviere smiled, glamour carefully held in place, and wandered closer.
"The environment here is certainly harsh. I would welcome refreshment, if you truly offer it so openly." She was hungry, sure, having not eaten yet that day. But more than this she was curious and opportunistic. The Human was wealthy, he possessed the aforementioned lucky cup, and he was opening his dwelling to her. At worst he'd figure out she was a Fae and she'd have to hope for a tidy escape. At best, though, she'd have some opportunity to see that Cup. Or perhaps gain employment.
She was certainly intrigued enough to hang around and find out.
"My name is Xaviere. It's a pleasure to meet you."[/font]
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Post by Laydon of Jagkha on Jul 1, 2010 15:15:12 GMT -8
Xaviere? That name was familiar to him somehow. Laydon ransacked his brain for a connection, but came up empty. Perhaps it would come to him later. He smiled and bowed to her. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Xaviere. My name is Laydon of Jagkha.” He signaled for his men to take a break. Laydon wished to entertain his guest without the annoyance of men tromping in and out of his residence.
The knight opened the door for Xaviere to enter. “I am afraid this place is terribly bare at the moment. I have only just begun to move in. That being said, I am sure I can arrange a nice enough meal. Is there anything particular you crave or dislike? I cannot promise luxury, but I can attempt to come close.”
Laydon was curious about this woman. What was she doing alone in such a dangerous place? The man was still unused to female independence, despite his short stay in Spirit. Unlike most of his people he did not look down on it, but nor did he entirely approve. Mostly, he was fascinated. Women were supposedly a weaker sex. Those left on their own became beggars and whores. Such was the truth he was raised with. Only recently did he begin to imagine the truth was not nearly so black and white.
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Post by Xaviere Arana on Jul 6, 2010 15:55:13 GMT -8
"The pleasure is mine," Xaviere replied with a pretty smile. Couldn't hurt to keep up the act. She didn't know what she looked like to him, but presumably it was like a Human or Shifter since he didn't looked disgusted or infuriated by her presence. And weren't Human females deferent and submissive? If her memory served her well then they certainly were and, furthermore, a woman wandering alone was unusual and probably of low status.
Nice of him to be so polite anyway. Perhaps she looked more like a Shifter in his eyes. If so, it was an unusual Human that treated a Shifter so cordially so she'd better encourage those tendencies.
The Fairy stepped gracefully into his house at his invitation, having long ago outgrown the natural Fae distaste for Human dwellings. She spent enough time in the cities of Litharia to actually appreciate the comfort they provided; this Fairy had few of the usual Fae prejudices. As long as a person was worth something; money, employment, trinkets of beauty; then species was secondary in importance to her. Laydon did not likely share her philosophy, though. She wouldn't be letting her glamour down anytime soon.
"It's nice of you to be so hospitable. But I am not picky; I crave only some kind of beverage to refresh me - it is hot outside, and walking is taxing. And I'm sure whatever meal you provide will be luxury indeed." His 'bare' house was, in her eyes, anything but. The furniture that the men had managed to get in before her interruption was beautiful and of a high quality, and the house itself was far nicer than those she normally frequented in Spirit. Her first instinct was surely correct - Laydon was wealthy and probably of noble birth.[/font]
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Post by Laydon of Jagkha on Jul 16, 2010 1:28:27 GMT -8
Wow, that smile was dazzling. Somehow, Laydon managed not to stare. He watched her enter his domain with the casual interest anyone would have in an interesting guest. He kept his movements fluid and his posture relaxed in her presence. Just because she was beautiful and strange did not mean he had to forget his composure. He could easily study her without such demeaning displays of weakness. The knight shut the door behind her before taking the lead. The place was rather small compared to what he was used to, but it was large enough to be a bit confusing.
“Out here, I am sure water would be the best thing to offer you. However, I do have wines and cordials if you wish for something with more flavor. I can provide you with a full water skin when you leave. As for food, I have a wide variety of fruits, some meats, bread, and cheese. Is that to your liking, Miss Xaviere?” Laydon smiled one of his newer smiles; it was just as boyish and charming as his usual one, but his eyes were softer. He had been bred for chivalry and arrogance. Only recently did the two begin to exist independently of each other.
Laydon was fascinated by this woman. He could not fathom why any female would be traveling among the Cliffs alone. The place would be dangerous even if she had an escort. And the woman did not appear to be tough and street savvy. Laydon wondered if she was a powerful sorceress. Mostly, though, he wondered at her smile. Such a pretty thing. Laydon would worry when she left to continue her journey alone. If she was not adverse to company, perhaps she would permit him to join her for a small while. Or even a long while.
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Post by Xaviere Arana on Jul 20, 2010 2:55:38 GMT -8
Xaviere threw a shy smile over her shoulder, one designed to distract her gracious host once more, as she took a moment longer to fully appraise her surroundings. It was clear that Laydon was used to far greater opulence but Xaviere was rather impressed by even his cottage, if one could call it that. Laydon might live the high life but Xaviere certainly never had.
However, her bright blue-shot grey eyes never found anything more interesting than her host. The aforementioned lucky cup was either not in plain view (possible) or Xaviere simply didn't know what to look for in distinguishing a lucky cup from an ordinary one (even more possible), so the disguised Fairy turned away from admiring his possessions and took to admiring their owner instead.
After all, he was quite charming. She could hardly deny that. Having long since shaken off her loyalty to the Fae and therefore also any hatred for Humans based simply on race, Xaviere was free to judge that, actually, his smile was more than a little endearing. And such a gentleman! She wasn't used to being treated like this, that was for sure. The Fairy decided she'd been spending far too much time in the slums and underworlds of Litharia - if her acting proved sufficient and assuming she actually survived this encounter, she'd look into finding work among more distinguished figures.
For now though, why not enjoy herself a little?
"You make an exceptionally kind host, Sir. I would be very grateful for a waterskin when I leave but perhaps for now a little wine would be nice? Only if you will join me, of course." Another shy grin here, for good measure. However Xaviere was surprised by how naturally a gentler demeanour came to her. Either she was in fact a good actress, or she actually didn't mind Laydon's company.
She had yet to decide which.
"As for food I am not picky so much as rather famished. You're very kind, opening your home to me like this." She kept her tone serious now, because laying it on too thick was not convincing but also because it was the truth. She'd not have expected this of Human nobility - which was perhaps why this was her first experience of luxury.[/font]
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Post by Laydon of Jagkha on Jul 23, 2010 13:07:03 GMT -8
Another smile from her made Laydon respond in kind. It was contagious in a pleasing sort of way. He watched her study his place, wishing it was better prepared for guests. He supposed it could have been worse. It was bare, but clean.
"You make an exceptionally kind host, Sir. I would be very grateful for a waterskin when I leave but perhaps for now a little wine would be nice? Only if you will join me, of course."
Laydon’s smile became a grin. ‘Kind’ was not a term he usually used to apply to himself. He was taught to take good care of ladies. And he enjoyed getting people to smile at him, even like him. Did that make him kind or was it just a weird kind of selfishness? Perhaps it was both. Laydon was unsure if he believed in true kindness. Either way, he appreciated her compliment.
"As for food I am not picky so much as rather famished. You're very kind, opening your home to me like this."
Was he? Laydon considered that. How many people did he know that would open their homes to a strange girl, wandering alone in a dangerous place? It was certainly unseemly. This was yet more evidence that Laydon was drifting further away from his own people. He did not know how he felt about that revelation, but his emotions were not negative. Laydon had always enjoyed being different. He did not wish to be just another human. He wanted to be important; to stand out and be known.
“Truly, it is not a problem. I have plenty to spare. It would be a privilege to join you for a glass of wine, Miss Xaviere.”
Laydon reached a room that had a medium sized, polished oak table set with eight chairs. His hamster cage rested on a chest in the corner, his so-called lucky cup on top of that. Eventually, his hamster cage would be in his room and his cup would be…somewhere else. For now, he was merely concerned with getting his things into the cottage. “Please take a seat. I hope you have no aversion to small rodents. Marta and Meheitavel are docile creatures and confined to their cage.” Laydon had long ago discovered that many women did indeed seem to have an aversion to small rodents, though they seemed less distressed by the hamsters than the rats Laydon possessed before them.
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Post by Xaviere Arana on Jul 28, 2010 21:11:04 GMT -8
Xaviere trailed happily after her host, pausing occasionally to brush delicate fingers over the features of the house or the odd belonging that had managed to make it in before her interruption. Her thievery instinct kicked in at once of course, producing a familiar restlessness in elegant feminine hands, but she suppressed the urge firmly. She wanted to see where this lead far more than she wanted to pocket some trinket or another - and anyway, Laydon had few small items to store away right now and she had no pockets. At least, she didn't have any actual pockets. Her scant spider silk clothing, deliberately and alluringly close-fitting and very slightly transparent in the right light, had not been chosen for practicality. Xaviere was far more apt at using her feminine wiles than she was at lugging around stolen goods.
Right now, though, she presumed her glamour had also obliged with an outfit that would seem more ordinary to Laydon for a Human or perhaps Shifter woman. After all, he was extremely polite and cultured - surely he'd be shocked by her actual attire. If he even noticed it past her actual appearance. Xaviere was careful not to let the glamour slip, even for a second. Using this talent was something she was good at - years of practice.
The Fairy slid a chair out and sat down, far more comfortable than many of her kith would have been, though her interest was drawn by the pets Laydon kept. How unusual - she'd known males to keep horses, obviously, as well as dogs and the odd more unusual creature; ferrets, birds of prey, or the like. But rodents? Never before.
"I have no aversion to rodents whatsoever," Xaviere grinned, studying the creatures with intrigue. She was a Fae, after all, even if she didn't look like one right now, and animals in general were not something that frightened the Litharian natives. Xaviere personally had a fondness for less fluffy and cute creatures, generally with a lot of legs, but she'd keep that one under wraps. Most normal people didn't much like spiders.
"The privilege is mine, though no doubt your gentlemanly sensibilities will prompt you to disagree," Xaviere added with a soft chuckle. Playfulness characterised her bright eyes and light-hearted words now - despite her best efforts to appear the damsel in distress, the polite deferent human female, she couldn't fully hide her nature. She could tone it down, though, choosing to leave behind all traces of acerbic sarcasm or excess cheek in banter. She wasn't ready to be asked to leave just yet.
Just for a moment, the Fairy's eyes fell on the cup set atop the cage of Laydon's pets. Could it be that one? She didn't look closely, unwilling to be caught in the act, but by now her curiousity was well and truly piqued.[/font]
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