RP:It's a Blessed Thing Couatls Can't Write Fanfiction

From HollowWiki

Never Freezing Fountain




Svilfon arrives back in Frostmaw in a somewhat chaotic fashion: There is a noise akin to a dragon's roar. It echoes around the mountains, causing more than one avalanche in secluded areas. There is a shimmering in the air, a dancing glimmer that melts a few lazily falling snowflakes as they make their languid way to the icy ground below. And only then does the wizard appear, hurling out of nothingness, rolling across the snow below, causing tendrils of steam to rise up before they evaporate into nothingness. He stops when his back hits the fountain with an audible 'crack', and he spends a few moments in a quickly freezing puddle, before he draws himself to his feet and brushes his robes off. He grunts once, and soon enough the sleeve of his robes begins to contort weirdly. It goes on for a long moment, before Alahir pokes his head out and looks up at the wizard. ~I told you we could do it!~ At this, Svil grins, "And you were right, my noble friend... you were right." There is an exhaustion in the pale gaze of the wizard, but it cannot help but melt a little as he looks around... they are home.


Satoshi has a bird's eye view of the whole affair: wizard, steam, and all. Although the initial roar prior to Svilfon's appearance was nearly enough to topple the magus from her risky experiment, only managing to maintain the necessary concentration by Emielle's swift intervention, a mental lasso sent from the couatl's stable mind to stabilize the kit's own wavering one. By the time Satoshi gathers herself and once more regains her balance, Alahir has poked his head from the depths of Svilfon's sleeve--now it's the kit's turn to give Emielle a steadying nudge of the mind as the little blue serpent thrills at her brother's appearance. "I didn't think I'd ever say it, but I think I prefer the fiery mode of transportation, dear wizard," Satoshi calls, her voice hailing him from... above. For that's where the frost queen is, in the air above the rooftops and seemingly standing on nothing. No wings keep Satoshi in the air, for Emielle's are far too small and weak to manage more than short bursts of gliding around the levitating foxkin. Rather, it's the air itself keeping her airborne, for the magus is experimenting with freezing the mist above the fountain into near-invisible footholds. It's a tricky business, requiring near-constant concentration, but at least it's a success thus far. Just call her Sato Skywalker.


Svilfon was in the process of ensuring he is entirely whole, when he hears that familiar musical voice. He spends a long moment looking around, even going so far as to peek into the swirling waters of the fountain, before he feels a sensation of warmth coming from Alahir. He has sensed his sister, it seems, or perhaps the snow queen - and though he knows where they are, his amusement in watching Svil look around is rich and tangible. ~Up, wizard...~ With the thought in his mind, Svil looks up at Satoshi standing there... standing on air... and he cannot help but let out a very rare noise of shock. It must be a trick, he decides. So, now back where he belongs, he enacts his usual teleporting and vanishes from below, appearing again a little way away from Satoshi. "This isn't so... ahhhhh...." It is not a trick the wizard can share, it seems, for soon enough he's falling back to the ground below with his arms flailing wildly. Alahir is wise enough to escape the confines of his robes and awkwardly flutter his way beside his sister, even as he watches Svil fall with a shake of his couatl head... ~That wizard... one day he'll learn to be graceful, and I think the world will die from shock.~


Satoshi's altitude drops a number of feet with the division of her concentration, the kit's mind and voice calling to the snows below to gather and soften into a chilly cushion beneath the wizard's fall. Frosty mattress formed, the kit shakes her head and voices a soft, 'tut tut' sound in response to Alahir's remark. "Don't give him any ideas, noble one. The realm could not handle such a thing as a graceful wizard." Emielle projects a couatl-ish laugh, a strange creation that's half trilling sound and half a wave of amused emotion, wrapped into a bundle of quiet delight to touches one's ears and mind with a feather-like brush. The fledgeling couatl then coils herself about Satoshi's neck before stretching out her head to offer Alahir an affection nuzzle of serpent snout to face. Satoshi glances once toward the siblings, eyes then flicking down to Svilfon as a crooked smile darts across her face, the expression widening as she descends from the skies as if she were walking down a simple flight of stairs. If if one could call stairs that were invisible and made of frozen air 'simple', that is. "This isn't so what, now?" the foxkin asks, once she's standing a few inches above the ground and enshrouded herself once more in that misty cloak, for all the world looking like the ghost so many have mistaken her for.


Svilfon is caught by a cushion of snow rather than the hard icy ground, and from his spot below he watches as the snow queen descends her misty and altogether mystical staircase of frozen air. He is impressed, and though he knows she's as vain as his missing friend, the wizard cannot help but let it show upon his face. "So easy?" He responds, only missing a beat or two, before he gets himself back to his feet for the second time today and once again goes about brushing snow from his robes. Already he can feel the insidious touch of ice upon his flesh, dulling the fine edge of his craft; he'd forgotten how fine a weapon the cold was, and being gone for so long, he's not at all used to its touch. Alahir, on the other hand, is entirely content to wrap himself around Satoshi's shoulder and share a moment with his sister; a sharing of minds and memories, showing the adventures he's been on with the wizard. And as Svil watches Satoshi enshroud herself in that cloak of mist, to become the ghost she was known as, but rarely seen as... at least, not by any living eyes... he cannot help but offer her a fully crooked grin, gaps and fangs flashed brightly. "I have missed you, Satoshi. Here I was already to make an entrance... and yours so easily beats mine." He lifts a hand and tips his hat to her. "How fare you, lady icicle? And how fares your frozen kingdom?" He really just wanted to ask how the hell she was floating there, but he figueres he'd wait a while; don't want to stoke the coals of her ego too much! A side effect from hanging around with couatls; one must always be a little wary about it.


Satoshi spreads her hands wide in response to Svilfon. "In Frostmaw, I rule all, including grand entrances, dearest wizard~. Although you certainly keep me on my toes in that field." While vain, she's always willing to figuratively tip her hat to Svilfon's eye-catching teleports. Wizards are just as skilled at showmanship as any prideful mage, it is their kindred ability. She's also more than happy to literally tip her hat to the man, as he's the person who graced her with the one she wears proudly. And so said hat is tilted in greeting as another smile flashes across her face, turning whiskers in a glint of silver. "All fares well and quiet, for myself and my kingdom. And what of yourself? Your wanderlust seems to take you farther afield more and more~." It's not quite a complaint as much as it's an observation. Satoshi's never noticed the passage of time in the same way most folks do. To the foxkin, for a person to be away for a day feels hardly different than them being gone a year. How much she misses them entirely depends on her mood, rather than the time lapsed. Emielle is much the same, taking little heed of how much time has passed, her mind forever wrapped around observing the intricate workings of the world. She can spend hours watching a bee move among flowers, and feel it's only been a mere moment. But she still keenly feels when her siblings are distant, and so eagerly--yet sedately--greets Alahir now, absorbing his shared memories while offering her own quiet ones in return, as if their thoughts were books to be read back and forth.


Svilfon offers Satoshi an elaborate bow that would be fitting for even the most flamboyant of court bards, "It is something we excel at, lady icicle. Though, as much as I am competitive - aren't all us who dance with the archaic winds - I am glad to come second in this regard to you." He grins again, before tipping his hat once more. "And you, young Emielle, are looking as lovely as ever." He's not even sure if she heard him, for it's clear Emiur's children are content to share their memories with each other; so different, yet alike in the joy they find. Where Emielle can sit and watch a bee, Alahir would be chasing it around, yet never truly seeking to capture it. She can observe the world so keenly, just as he so keenly wishes to be a part of it. To share with it his deep seated ideals. Svil offers both the couatls an affectionate smile, before his attention again returns to the mighty queen of frost and snow. "It is the bane of wizardry, lady icicle. Or perhaps it is its joy. I'm undecided... yet I do know I am glad to be back. Many sights I saw... yet few shocked me as you just did... so pray tell... have you adopted your husband's wings?" He looks around, though it's clear she has none. "How did you do it? And can you teach me?!" He grins again at his friend, the look showing a contentment that has been eluding him since he left.


Satoshi looks over the shoulder not occupied by Alahir and Emielle, searching for wings. She gives an almost sad shake of her head, cloak fluttering out around her to briefly take on the appearance of gauzy bird wings before dispelling once more into the mist they truly are. "Non, no wings, borrowed, stolen, or owned. Instead, it is an idea I've been toying with, since I fought Ishataulak. Freezing the very air, enough so to stand upon and move about as if it were ground. It is as close to flying as a fox can manage by herself, y'know?" Here Satoshi looks briefly toward Emielle, wondering when the couatl will grow large enough for them to fly together, before her gaze flicks back to the wizard. She smirks in a playful manner, nose crinkling in merriment. "Teach you~? You're a wizard, I'm sure you can work up a spell to do the same or similar! Knowing you, you'd manage it with fire. Or lightning. Or something equally..." Unable to find a word suitable to describing those two elements, Satoshi opts for a short shake of her head, a mental shudder made physical, accompanied by a soft, 'ugh'.


Svilfon laughs with genuine good humour at the queen of Frostmaw. "Lady icicle, you should know me better than that! Falling is my speciality, I am somewhat flying impaired." He grins again, before stepping forward and putting his hand through the mist which clings to the air around her and giving her free shoulder a brief squeeze. "That's what goats, couatls and it seems glacial magii are suited for. Wizards, less so." Just briefly he looks across at Alahir and wonders the same as Satie did: how soon will he grow large enough to fly them both into battle, or trouble, and how the hell is Svil going to keep him fed when he does... well, he added that last thought. Before with a slight mental shrug he steps back out, away from the frigid air around the snow queen, before lifting his robes up a little higher - to protect against the cold. "It is good to see you, lady icicle. But I must know... has there been word on Emiur? And what have you done with that stone we found?" His nose crinkles at that, showing exactly what stone he means. He's been curious about it during his absence... as well as another thought that lingered from the fight. He remembers her covered in blood... the same blood that burned him. Yet still, he won't ask her about it directly. She would find answers in her own time to that.


Satoshi's smile wavers, the corners of her lips taking a downward and solemn turn. A murderous glint enters the kit's amber-flecked eyes then. Emielle senses the shift and draws her coils more snugly about the kit in something of a couatl expression of comfort. Why she does this becomes obvious when Satoshi answers the wizard. "I've heard nothing yet. No sense of him. No whiff or rumor. I don't hold out anything like hope, despite wishful thinking, about finding him alive. But I keep my ear to the ground. I cannot actively search among the markets and dealers myself, they too well know my ties to couatl, although I've paid hands on the hunt in my place. I've remained here in Frostmaw instead. I have reason to believe our quarry has slipped into my territory in an attempt to prowl new hunting grounds. The moment they try, I will find them. And I will make them sorely rue the day they tore a pair of couatl from the skies." Satoshi and Emielle both nod in a firm, determined way at the end of this, their thoughts on the matter shared and frequently discussed. The feral light alters then, becoming an impish gleam as Satoshi remarks on the second part of Svilfon's question, "As for the gem... You'll see in time~."


Svilfon spends a long moment in silence as he regards the queen. He knew deep down there would be no news, for any hunters to catch beasts as mighty as Emiur and Lin... they would be far too smart to be easily caught. But he had hoped. Her feral look, one usually responded to in kind by his own, is met with a sigh. "I had thought not... though, you are correct. If they come hunting here, they will die... slowly." He brightens, then. "We can have a race! We'll see whether I can boil their blood quicker than you can freeze it." This causes Alahir to flash a look at Svilfon; he too dislikes those who killed his father, yet he wouldn't dream of such a sadistic game. Yet, he understands that though Svilfon struggles against the darker side of his nature, it is a part of the wizard. "Perhaps we can lure them with a prize they cannot refuse... I did promise you a spell, after all... I will look into it." He nods, then, a firm nod, before his grin returns. "In time, lady icicle? A rare gift you have; you can fill me with equal measures of dread and excitement. But I will wait patiently... well, as patiently as I can. I am sure you have plans suitable for a stone so hard to acquire... which reminds me... Xalious doesn't still stink, does it? I really do need to head there at some stage, to remind the magelings that I am still watching."


Satoshi shrugs dramatically, mostly to jostle the couatl pair in an affectionate way. "I haven't heard any complaints of it stinking, but I haven't set foot outside of Frostmaw much in the past weeks, save for a trip to Vailkrin briefly." She'll leave Svilfon's mind to sort out whether that trip was for business or pleasure. Or both. Satoshi's not exactly a modest creature. Although sometimes she wishes she were, as Emielle likes to weasel certain memories from the kit's mind then barrage her with endless questions. Satoshi knows such things should, and would, be awkward for a more naturally self-conscious person. Unfortunately, neither Satoshi nor couatls seem to have much concept of such things. Tangent aside, the magus once again shows a grin of fangs to Svilfon. "I don't think what I'm planning should fill you with dread, really. I'm attempting something rather unique and beneficial, I think." She'd look affronted at the thought of her creations being dreadful, but let's face it... Satoshi loves that she's able to breed fear in people at the idea of her spellweaving. Sure it's useful to be small and cute, thus easily misinterpreted as harmless, but it's also nice to be given respect and caution for what she's capable of.


Svilfon nods his head, a small smile playing across his lips as he does. "Then I surely should visit them. It would be foolish to let the mages forget who we are... if such a thing is possible. We couldn't have them growing complacent." Not that Tiphareth would ever allow such a thing, but Svil always took a certain macabre pleasure in the fact that Satoshi and himself are amongst the most feared for all junior mages. As to her going to Vailkrin, the wizard merely grins a little brighter at that. Any illusions about his own modesty were destroyed when he spent a few weeks walking around Frostmaw in rather revealing robes. "I am intrigued, lady icicle. But I trust you will do good things with it... because if we have to go get you another one..." Though he speaks the words with as much feigned dread as he can, it's clear he would be the first to volunteer for such a mission. "It is good seeing you again, lady queen." And it's true; a weight seems lifted from his shoulders. "Though, I do hate to remind you of such things... I did want to wait... but have you thought any more about what I requested of you? Time, ever an ally of the patient, is no friend of mine in this."


Svilfon thought Satoshi was small and cute, until the first time they fought each other... and she had to carry him to the healers afterwards.


Satoshi, as if reading the wizard's mind, grins. She's pretty sure Buster had to carry Svilfon to the healer. As well as Satoshi herself. It's a good fight, when neither combatant can walk away from it afterwards. Emielle catches the thought and is on the verge of asking Satoshi if it was the same kind of 'fight' that accompanies her Vailkrin trips, when the kit promptly cuts the mental question off with a narrow look. A modest creature Satoshi is not, yes, but she'll be damned if she'll let Emielle mistake her for a disloyal one. Even if the couatl's misinterpretation leaves Satoshi snickering, an odd response following Svilfon's question. Taking a moment to cough and compose herself, the magus shakes her head to clear her thoughts before replying properly, "I've spent a great deal of thought on that request, yes, and I should have a suitable answer for you very soon, I think. More than you expect, perhaps~."


Svilfon tilts his head a touch at Satoshi as she laughs at what he assumes is his question, though Alahir is quick to say ~You don't want to know.~ Svil takes his word for it, even as he listens to the ice magus speak. "Ah, I am glad. As long as it doesn't hinder you, or your kingdom." As his head straightens, he looks intently at Satoshi for a moment. He knows they are loyal to each other, bound by more than what was shared blood. Yet he's not entirely sure how far she would go to aid him. He satisfies himself with the knowledge she'd not put anything before Frostmaw, and soon enough he's relaxed again, his normal crooked grin back in place. "I'll... look forward to it. Again, you see!" He tips his hat in an unconscious gesture, "Joy and dread, ever the bedfellows of an ice magus." There is respect in those words, and friendship. He is sure he'd not like her as much if she didn't have that talent. "Just let me know. I will spend a few days in your kingdom, before visiting Xalious... though, in truth I have little desire to travel far. I care less for the struggles of those beneath us than ever." He doesn't mean figuratively beneath their stations; he means it quite literally - Frostmaw is high on a mountain, after all.


Satoshi tries to adopt an innocent look as if to say, "Would I ever risk myself or Frostmaw with experimental magic on a whim?" She highly doubts Svilfon would believe the look, but it's worth a shot. Besides, what she has in mind to see the wizard's request through is less dangerous and more... tedious. It's proven a trial thus far. Nonetheless, Satoshi has high hopes she'll find the solution soon. She's a dedicated, stubborn scholar, the answer can't elude her for long, once she's sunk her fangs into it! She grins at the idea, a grin that lingers even while she looks toward the wizard and responds to his Xalious comment, "I've little desire to wander beyond Frostmaw as well. Although, when you do, perhaps you can speak to some of the higher ranked magelings? See if they know anything about... ah, rare or especially pure reagents?" She doesn't need to say aloud that she's looking for rumors concerning couatl parts for sale. The fledgelings don't need to hear the words, although they might wonder and guess at the glacial wall concealing the kit's present thoughts.


Svilfon is about as likely to be fooled by Satoshi's 'innocent' look as Dami is of falling over and skinning her...his...knee. So instead he merely laughs at the queen, "This from the same queen who was floating rather high above the fountain mere moments ago... trying out a new spell?" Another grin, one worn so naturally in lady icicle's presence. "I will trust in you, Satoshi queen. I've entrusted more to your care before, and you've not let me down... beaten me, stabbed me, frozen me, strangled me with my own blood... yes... but never yet let me down." He tips his hat again at that. "And yes, I was thinking the same thing." He knew what she was asking as easily as if she'd spoken the words, and like her wall of ice, Svil's mind becomes locked within a shell of fire, one the couatls wouldn't dream of trying to break. "I'll look into it in Xalious, and ask those who... watch other kingdoms for me, too." He doesn't go into that any further, though it is known well enough that he's been in positions of power in more kingdoms than Frostmaw, and no wizard would ever leave such places without a few eyes and ears in place. "We'll find a solution to that, too. I am back again, lady icicle. The world for some has just become a much smaller place."


Satoshi isn't sure if she's supposed to look ashamed or not at Svilfon's list of harms she's brought him. She opts for 'not'. After all, he's done that much and more, and always--well, almost always--in a good-natured fashion. It simply comes with the territory of being Coterie. Showing affection through violence~! If you can't manage to kill your family members, no one else is going to be able to, that's for damn sure. Between this thought and Svilfon's comment, Satoshi has adopted a very wide, and very dangerous sort of smile. "It's a much better world, when a wizard is on the prowl. I envy none that you have in your sights."


Svilfon adopts an expression that is a mirror image of Satoshi's, only far less cute and far more gap-toothed. Her thoughts need not be spoken, for they are ones shared by Svil - you can't trust someone unless you've tried to kill them a few times. Solid Coterie logic. To her words, he offers a tip of his hat, accepting the compliment in turn, and replying with, "The only consolation they may find is it's not literal when their blood freezes with fear, unlike with some." His way of repaying the compliment in kind. Svil shifts his gaze then to the noble couatl perched contently on her shoulder, still sharing stories with his sister - well, more answering her thousands of questions about the stories already told - and speaks, "I am going to return to the library soon, young one. Do you wish to stay or go?" It seems Alahir doesn't even hear him, so caught up is he in his bonding with Emielle. So Svil offers a helpless shrug, "Do you mind, lady queen?" Not that she probably had much say in the matter. "I think he's more content to stay with you now than he would be to come watch me rest and read."


Satoshi's answer is a simple shake of her head and a fond glance toward the sibling couatls. Let them stay together and talk a while longer. She'll make sure to send them both Svilfon's way later, when he's properly rested, for Emielle is a voracious reader--quite a feat when lacking appendages--and will happily interrogate the wizard on all the library's material. Consider it revenge for Satoshi sitting the duo now. Chuckling at this, the magus rocks back on her heels in the snow, a whistled tune escaping her. "Rest well, wizard, and welcome back. Later, you'll have to tell me about that interesting means of appearing you managed earlier. It was rather... non-fiery." Which is a good thing. Just not a Svil thing.


Svilfon smiles again at the queen, and offers a final tip of his hat to her. He steps forward once more and again quickly grasps her free shoulder, "It was good to see you again, lady icicle. More than good." He nods his head, before reaching his hand to her other shoulder and giving both couatls a brief rub on their head, "And you too, lovely one." He offers Emielle a quick smile, before stepping back. To Satoshi's final words, the wizard almost frowns, though he catches himself. "Aye, lady queen. I will fill you in on what I did and how I got home... though, Alahir tells the story better than I... it was his idea after all."With that said, and another hat tip - seems the last wasn't the final one after all - Svil turns and begins to trudge back to the library. He could teleport, he's sure, but he is more tired than he let on, and in truth he wishes to wander through the village and pay homage to those giants he's friends with. Soon enough he'll return to the library, though - and you can rest assured he'll be checking very carefully that it's still in the same condition he left it in! It may belong to Satoshi, but Svil is sure he is the only one who appreciates it as much as she does...


Satoshi, in the meantime, will play chair to the communing couatls, while she wanders the wilds and cliffs that make up Frostmaw's borders. Snow untouched by any other soul is the snow that draws her most these days. She guards it as fiercely as the wizard guards that library, and like the library, those snows are a place for contemplation, silent, private, and without hurry.