RP:Kissed by Chaos
Library of Arcane Knowledge
Svilfon is telling a wild story to Alahir. He spins about pointing his wand in one direction and screaming, "And so I cast the spell!" A wave of illusionary light comes from the end of the wand, striking without harm the wall, "And then she leapt upon him!" Svil jumps, tackling a chair and rolling over top of it. "But he wasn't done! A girl he said I looked like, her like a boy!" He rolls around on the ground, before taking one of the legs, "It was then I began to pull, and she too pulled!" He drags the chair across the library, struggling like it were a great weight, "Then bam! Split clean in half. Peace and quiet." The wizard waves his wand about in celebration, "And THEN we got to eat the cows! They were tasty alright, though your father didn't want to eat one I dropped for him." The wizard waves his hands in twisting motions, causing the image of a small cow to fall from the ceiling all the way down through the floor. "Too tidy he said! Splat it went!" Panting, Svil then turns to Alahir and grins at the couatl. "Oh! I almost forgot.. probably because of this.. but I also headbutted a bull! Damn near scrambled my brain." A wave of emotion comes from Alahir, a question awash with pure joy, ~you mean, it didn't?~ which causes the wizard to grin. "Well, maybe a little. But we won!"
Satoshi, at some point or other, made herself a member of the audience, arms folded atop the back of a couch and head resting upon her sleeves. The amber flecks in the kit's eyes dance as she watches the wizard's antics, each movement and remark drawing a larger grin from Satoshi until her whiskers threaten to curl in upon themselves with the expression. When Svilfon's tale is completed, the magus laughs and lifts her head from her arms. "It was a fearsome battle, truly~." the foxkin's voice is thick with mirth, "I don't suppose you've told him the one about the demonic goat? Or maybe the day a wizard tried to fly, and the most noble of couatl had to rescue him~." Reaching down then, Satoshi gently scratches Alahir's head in greeting. "I see you've found your voice already. As clever as your father, you are~."
Svilfon turns and flashes Satoshi a grin as bright as the one he shared with the couatl. "I didn't see you there." He tips his hat, before carrying on. "I figured he was too young for the goat story... I'll tell him that when I explain quite what a Percy is." Alahir emits more waves of joy as Satoshi rubs his head; he was already a glutton for attention. "And he knows the story of the falling wizard and the flying magus." Alahir flashes out his feathers then in an unconscious display of couatl pride at the saving of the wizard by his father. He is the epitome of vanity sitting there, his gaze switching between the vampire and the eidolon. ~I found my voice, or it found me.~ For a long moment his gaze focuses on Svilfon, before thoughts again are easily heard. ~You cannot spend time around a wizard without learning to speak. Otherwise, he'll lead you astray. Someone has to keep him in line~ The joy that weaves the air grows then, mixing well with the wizard's laughter.
Satoshi sinks behind the couch slightly with her laughter at the couatl's proclamation. Eventually, she does manage to resurface, although the kit's quick to bury her face in her arms to muffle further giggles. "He's got your number, Svil, you'd better watch out. A wit like that, he might give Percy a run for his money." The thought draws out another smile from Satoshi. Just trying to imagine the vain, clever little couatl competing against the indomitable Percy in a war of words is enough fuel to keep her entertained for a week. It's a look filled with fondness that Satoshi fixes on Alahir then. "You're very much like your father, y'know that? I think your brother is too, our little steadfast and honorable Kenway. Your sister Pinquettki, I'll wager takes after your mother. While I didn't know her, I glimpsed enough of her personality from Emiur to hazard a guess she was equally curious, eager, and adventurous. Can't help but wonder what the other two will be like." This is said with a glance straying toward that last pair of eggs, the little viridian one and the large emerald. While the last to hatch, the two are as opposite as could be, with the larger not giving off a strong personality, only the plodding slowness of a large creature devoting all its energy to growth. The smaller one's mind feels fully developed, simply patient, as if it's waiting for the right moment to enter the world. At present, the viridian egg is surrounded by an aura of attentiveness and even seems to quiver now and again. Satoshi, fond of the egg as she is, takes note of this now. "I do believe you had more than Alahir and I as audience, wizard. Maybe you should tell it another story~?"
Svilfon sticks his tongue out at Satoshi; a gesture as rare as wizard teeth, and one he'd only ever share here in the quiet of the library. "Didn't take him long, did it?" His gaze shifts to the couatl and for a long moment he's silent. Svil is imagining the abusive Percy and the clever couatl in a war of words... Percy has that abhorrent knack of pointing out and making fun of flaws... but does the couatl have even a single one? From the wizard's gaze he does not. He is perfect. This stray thought is apparently picked up by the couatl who turns his head and begins to preen his wing's feathers. So vain already. With a shake of his head, Svil turns to the two eggs remaining. His head cocks to the side as he regards the smaller of the two. He had thought for a while that it was aware of what's going on. Rather keenly aware. This causes another grin to form on his face, "Suited to you that one is, lady icicle. It's clever in the same way you are." Svil doesn't elaborate on that, instead he picks up the chair he'd knocked over before sitting down upon it. "I don't think they're ready for the story of the lichdrow and the wizard, but perhaps he is ready for your story, Satoshi queen. Of how you met his father." In truth, the wizard was a little curious too - he'd never really asked about it.
Satoshi gains a thoughtful look at the suggestion. She isn't one for recalling old happenings, especially to retell them to others, but that tale is one that still stands vivid in her mind. Nodding, Satoshi clambers over the couch to plop down beside Alahir, reaching over then to scoop up the viridian egg so that she can nestle it in her lap. "How I met Emiur? He tried to kill me, is how." Not the most expected start to the story, when the main character is a peaceful couatl. Satoshi is quick to continue, however, once she's let that beginning jab of drama hang a second, "Y'see, I was in the Venturil forest hunting. I'd heard couatl can sometimes be found living in that region, and I was in want of obtaining a scale or two. With colors supposedly so lovely, how could I resist, eh? Eventually I found the trail of my target and followed it back to a lair. I snuck in, sneak sneak sneaky as a proper fox," the kit's hands are curled as she lifts them to mime comical sneaking, "all the way to the back of the cave. And there he was, a great big pile of brilliant green scales all coiled together. I thought I was looking at a heap of emeralds at first. Not even a dragon can produce such shades. I just -had- to have some after seeing them. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to sneak up on a couatl? You'd have better luck playing tag with a ghost, that's for sure! But dammit, I managed it." Insert preening here. "But soon as I tried to pry off that first scale, he snapped awake. And boy was he unhappy... Chased me straight out of that cave with his fangs near touching my tails. Mad and murderous he was, everything they said a couatl wasn't, and damned determined to kill me. He fought for a good, long while, but eventually I managed to bring him down. I was poised to strike the final blow with Asorial when I saw it. Embedded into his gums and poisoning him with madness, was a shard of crystallized Chaos. He'd been unlucky enough to come in contact with one of those chunks after they'd rained down from the skies. I knew then that he wasn't a cruel, evil beast, only an unfortunate victim, so instead of striking him, I cut the shard out. I couldn't bring myself to kill such beauty. In thanks, he gave me one of his feathers." Satoshi's hand strokes the rainbow feather in her hair then, while the other hand's fingers grow taut around the egg. It's a bittersweet memory. "It wasn't long after that, that he offered to aid me with the Eyrie. We'd been flying together since."
Satoshi vaguely recalls there were others present during that fight, but pffft, they don't matter. This is about Emiur and her!
Svilfon sits as quietly as Alahir does while Satoshi speaks her story, though he cannot help but snicker at her own pride. She was as vain as a couatl herself! Though not without reason. But he is silent for the rest, listening carefully, curious how one so anti-violent could ever come to attack her. As she mentions the chaos shard he can't help but cringe. His gaze shifts to Alahir who has somehow managed to sneak his way onto Satoshi's lap beside the egg, small eyes never once leaving her face. But beyond a feeling of fascination, the couatl seems content simply to listen. When finally her words fade, the wizard nods his head. He feels it almost as bittersweetly as Satoshi does, for though he was never as close to Emiur as the snow queen was, he loved that creature more than almost any other who walks, or in this case flies, under Hollow's sun. "Do you think, lady icicle, that the chaos that was imbued in him will effect any of his children?" He speaks the words before Alahir can share them. He too wanted to know if this violence was inside him. Though, even now so young he knew there wasn't anything within that would prove stronger than his determination to be as strong and noble as his fallen father was. "Do you think it will harm them?" Svil feels a strong desire to reach out and pet Alahir then, but the couatl is entirely content to sit upon Satoshi; to be close to this lady who showed such kindness to his father after so valiant a battle.
Satoshi again grows thoughtful, having mused over the possibilities before but never investing a great deal of thought to it. Her answer is slow, working itself into words as she thinks, "It is possible, perhaps. I never fully knew how much it affected Emiur, aside from passing remarks he'd make. Once it was removed, he had no urges to kill, although he'd mentioned that he often found he had a temper where he once did not. While he never acted on that anger, I know it changed his outlook and made him much more careful in his ways. I don't know how or if it'd cause an effect on the little ones, but if it does, I imagine it will be faint. Such as being the reason why they all have such distinct colorations. Chaos isn't always bad, after all. It is simply change, and change is Nature. No, I don't think it will harm any of them." Satoshi says this last bit with a determined tone and a firm nod of her head, something that causes the egg in her lap to emit what can only be described as a mental sigh of relief. And with that sigh comes a spider-web thin crack along the shell.
Svilfon smiles a slow, small smile. "Chaos, lady icicle, is what you and I live for. One does not jump off cliffs, fight lunatic dragons, headbutt bulls, face off with demonic goats, exist within each other's bodies, destroy devilish abominations of the bug-face, or rule a city like this without it within them. A touch will do them good, I am sure..." He is about to carry on when he feels that sigh of relief coming from the egg. His gaze lowers from Satoshi to what is within her grasp and that small smile grows a little larger. He sees the tendrils growing up the outside of the viridian hued egg, snaking up almost delicately. Alahir notices too, and he shifts himself to regard his sibling egg. He feels a surge of excitement that robs him of his speech; too young to really control it, it merely fills the distance between them with an intangible electricity. "I think, lady icicle, that your friend is growing curious to see you at last."
Satoshi's gazes follows that of Svilfon's and Alahir's, down to where the egg rests upon her lap and slowly develops a mosaic of cracks along its surface. Despite the sense of relief it gave off, there are underlying tones of caution and care throughout the hatching process. Further and further the fissures spread until finally a chunk falls away to reveal a small patch of the darkness inside. Nothing comes from within the hole, however, save for a feeling of hesitation. Satoshi waits a few moments before lowering her head to peer closer at the egg. Her voice is soft and low, a gentle, coaxing tone reserved for frightened animals and wary children, "You can come out now, I promise. No need to be shy." Once the kit draws back, the void in the egg changes as the couatl puts its snout to the opening. A tiny, black forked tongue darts out to taste the air before it withdraws again. Seemingly taking heart in what it tastes, the couatl pushes forward until its head and neck are fully exposed. A head and neck of glistening, variegated scales, starting at a near-black midnight blue on top, paling to cerulean along the sides, and finally fading to stark white on the underbelly. The nubs where her crest will one day sprout are situated only on either side of her head, rather than a full, crown-like ridge. Satoshi stares at the hatchling and its unusual coloring, having expected some form of green like the rest--even expecting some bright color like Kenway's teal or Pinquettki's lime and turquoise--but never blue. The couatl seems to sense this surprise and cringes, head curling beneath the safety of a coil. Immediately the kit is reaching for her, drawing her from the egg, and whispering hushed assurances, "Non, non, little one, don't hide. You're lovely beyond words. Touched by Chaos in the best possible way, I'd say. ...Is that what you were worried about? Why you waited?" Ever so slightly, the little couatl timidly nods her tiny head. Satoshi strokes the serpent carefully, wiping away the fluids to better expose her scales and the uncolored wings clasped nervously to her sides. She is not a creature of rainbows like her parents and siblings, but the magus doesn't seem to care in the least. "Touched by Chaos and lovely for it, little Emielle."
Svilfon watches in silence as Emielle makes her slow way into the world. He can feel shyness in the air and instead of speaking like how Satoshi did, he merely relaxes himself entirely. Allowing a sense of peace and calm to come over him; the weight of the world having already fallen from his shoulders upon the flooding of Ferminville and his playing with Alahir, the wizard thinks thoughts of happiness and peace. And as the frozen queen of Frostmaw helps her out from the egg, and in Svil's mind seems to melt a little upon seeing the newest couatl, Svil allows a bright smile to form on his face. He carefully makes his way over, before kneeling down in front of Satie. "Lovely indeed, little Emielle." He reaches out, but doesn't touch the couatl. He stops his hand just before her, letting her cross the final distance if she wishes. "Your father was touched by chaos, little one. And he was both beautiful and noble, proud and glorious." The wizard smiles then, his gaze just briefly shifting to Alahir who seems to take great pride in his sister's unique colouring. Feeling no sense of jealousy, merely joy that he has another sibling to share the world with. "Just as you will be, especially with the lady icicle to watch over you..."~and you over her~ Alahir adds.
Satoshi hasn't been this content since Trebel's hatching. Or when Kasyr had agreed to take in Aurelia. Or when she'd rescued Solace from a drowning with his littermates. Suffice to say, despite Satoshi's capacity for coldness, cruelty, and selfishness, deep down she still harbors maternal instincts and has always wished for young of her own, a fact that causes her to have extreme protectiveness of the little ones that fall under her care. They are her weakness, without fail. Emielle is no different, as the couatl is stroked clean and glistening. Svilfon's hand is met with a level gaze from dark gold eyes, stared at for a moment before she slowly--with care, rather than caution--reaches forward to press her snout to his flesh. While Emielle lacks a voice so young, she still manages to project a feeling of warmth, admiration, and kinship to serve as a greeting. This same blend of emotion is turned on Alahir as she nods her head in agreement, a thread of protectiveness woven into the mix despite her small size. Satoshi has no words and doesn't feel she needs any, happy simply to run her fingers over velvet scales and downy, dove wings.
Svilfon meets the careful touching of Emielle with a soft rubbing of her head, before he slowly shifts his hand to rest upon Alahir. He smiles at the couatls and at the snow queen, feeling a sense of true contentment that is rare for the vampire. He is jovial almost always, and appears mostly carefree against the horrors of life and unlife. But more than anything he is a wizard, and wizards are not like normal folks: They are strange creatures who see the world in a different way; life to them is merely an extension of their art, a thread woven between the fates of others that only they can truly see. They are subtle creatures who make terrible enemies, but the most loyal of friends. Yet here now in the quiet of the library, beside the lady of frost and snow, the small couatls and the knowledge held within the books, he knows that the paths of his life that lead him to this were the right ones after all. So he too doesn't break the silence; he merely enjoys it in comfort, a feeling that is shared by the couatl he will look after. Here, for the moment at least, there is true peace. And even though it will not be long before it is shattered by another catastrophic event or invading army, nothing upon Hollow could break this moment and Svil knows it is one he'll long remember.
It is neither a catastrophic event nor an invading army that disturbs the peace, although it damn well sounds like both and worse. A heavy thundering can be heard from outside the library, growing rapidly closer and accompanied by a chorus of smaller patterings, high-pitched yips, and the jangle of bells harshly rung. The books tremble upon their shelves as the cacophony approaches, the walls shudder and finally the doors burst open beneath the antlered assault of a hulking mass of white fur and feathers. With a ringing yelp, Trebel thrusts his enormous paws outward to try and halt his charge, only to have them shoot out from under him on the smooth floor. As the angha skates uncontrollably forward, his hefty form bowls over the pack of Foxlings and Pandettes that had chased him, producing a tangled mass of creatures that eventually skids to a halt a few feet away from the wizard, magus, and couatl pair. There's an almost sheepish expression on Trebel's face as he stares at Satoshi and Svilfon--grown so large now, he's almost on eye level with them while he's lying sprawled out. The look doesn't last long, of course, before the angha springs back up, shedding anthropomorphic servants in every direction, and proclaims happily, "Hello!" Despite his considerable growth, Trebel's tone of voice and overall demeanor is still that of a young creature. Indomitably cheerful even amid blunders.
Svilfon doesn't even wait until the angha's words have faded from the shattered peace of the room before he's up and moving. One step, then a second, followed by a wizardly leap that ends up with hat, robes and wand all mixed together in the heap of Trebel hugs. Svil's not quite able to roll around with Trebel like he once did, but he still wraps him up as tight as he can, before grinning brightly. "I know someone you'll like to meet!" With a grin Svil extracts himself from the angha before moving to the side to better allow Trebel a look at the two newest members of this... family of sorts that exists here in Frostmaw. "Alahir, Trebel. Trebel, Alahir." He motions to the couatl who seems entirely unsure of the angha, despite the cheerfulness coming from him. "You two will get along like an igloo in a blizzard." He leaves introductions of Emielle to Satoshi, but he's glad that Alahir seems rather curious of Trebel. He sends thoughts to Svil's mind alone, asking with politeness, ~what is he?~ but to that Svil can only laugh and shrug. He doesn't really know how to begin describing Trebel, beyond letting Alahir know that he loves him much.
Satoshi, to the couatls, gives off a sense of watchfulness at the introductions. It isn't that she fears Trebel will cause them harm intentionally, but his size and enthusiasm do not make a safe coupling at times and she can't help but be aware of it. It's why she comments when Trebel thrusts his muzzle forward to sniff at Alahir, "Mind how deep you sniff, Trebel, or you'll get him up your snout like that poor Pandette's tail once." Remembering this unpleasant--and so, so ticklish--event, the angha takes extreme care in getting Alahir's scent before lightly nudging the couatl with his big pink nose. "Hello!" Trebel repeats, practically oozing delight at meeting the little serpent. Emielle herself remains coiled on Satoshi's lap, watching it all and taking it in with that careful way of hers. Trebel doesn't miss her, however, and is quick to give the smaller couatl the same sniff and nuzzle before moving on to Svilfon. The wizard isn't going to get away with a tackle, not so long as the angha has anything to say about it. And so, with a playful growl, Trebel butts his forehead at Svilfon's chest (thankfully minding the antlers), following it with a slobbery brush with his fat tongue over wizard robes and face alike.
Svilfon seems to take it in turn that the room has gone from quiet and peaceful to boisterous and dripping wet with angha slobber. This was the chaos they live in and he'd not have it any other way. Though, he does rub his chest a little. "I headbutted a goat and a bull, but I think I'll pass on playing that game with you, Trebel." He grins as he reaches up and wipes some of the slobberness off his face, before moving to stand beside Alahir. He extends his hand and the young couatl makes his way up the limb, curling himself around until he's sitting in his new favourite position, which much to the wizard's initial dismay is curled around his hat, resting on the brim. It's where he likes to sleep. ~I like him~ is all that comes from the couatl, followed by Svil replying with, "So do I!" Before he grins at Satoshi. "You tell me off for feeding the wyrm in the tavern, but what in the name of frozen hells have you been feeding Trebel?! He's looking.. magnificent" And it's true, he is. "I've missed you, my friend," he says to the angha. "Very much so."
Satoshi is fairly certain Emielle picked up Svilfon's musings about how this home is chaos and just how he likes it, for the hatchling sits up a little straighter and holds her wings a little less nervously. If this is chaos, then chaos isn't so bad. Stroking Emielle's scales, Satoshi shakes her head at Svilfon's question. "I tell you off from feeding that wyrm precisely to avoid -this-." Trebel snorts as he's gestured at. "The last thing Drargon needs is a fire-wearing beast that big, inside a wooden tavern." The instant Satoshi finishes speaking, the angha is piping up with his own answer, "I eat fish! Lots and lots of fish! Sometimes mammoths and wyverns, when they're walking alone." Satoshi looks slightly alarmed at this. She obviously hadn't known Trebel was actively hunting large prey. That's a new development. She'd thought he was still bringing up the overgrown bottom-feeders at the bottom of the cavern lake, and other such easily caught creatures.
Svilfon flashes Satie an altogether crooked grin, "I guess! Though, I've not set the place on fire; you have no faith in us of the fiery persuasion." The wizard pointedly doesn't mention all the places he has set on fire... which is a lot. Nevertheless, he carries on, "Mammoths and wyverns! So you're the one they were talking about." Svil had heard in whispers that something was out catching the beasts of Frostmaw. He wasn't overly concerned about it - the city, the area, it always spoke that only the strong would survive, though he was a shade worried it'd be a dragon or some such out for revenge. But with that worry gone he grins again, "You and me, Trebel, we gotta go hunt something you'll love!" The wizard's getting quite excited now, which causes him to bobble a little. "Way, way over there's a farm with the biggest juciest cows you ever did see! And no farmer there to stop us!" He grins, "We can eat until we can't stand, then waddle back!" This little plan causes Alahir to emit an altogether couatl-esque sigh. So messy! He's just like his father. "I'm sure Satie wouldn't mind us going some time, right?" In perfect unison both his and Trebel's heads turn to face the snow queen with all the excitement of two kids at Christmas.
Satoshi almost looks like she wants to say 'no' due to the memories of that farm, but the dual expressions of eagerness are just too much. "Oh fiiiine," the kit sighs dramatically, trying to make her reluctance plain. It's completely lost on Trebel, unfortunately. The angha is too busy bouncing from paw to paw in excitement at the prospect of eating more cows than he can handle. The furniture jumps and shifts with each of the angha's landings, causing Satoshi to cling to the couch arms while Emielle coils tighter around herself. Although, the couatl's head is still held high and tipped sideways in an intrigued fashion despite her surprise at the angha-made earthquake. She doesn't quite know what a cow is, save for gleaning tidbits of information off the present minds, but she still knows it is edible, and being a newly hatched couatl means she's -hungry-. It's then that Emielle turns her gaze on Satoshi and produces a rough mental image of a teeny, tiny cow going down the serpent's jaws, accompanied with a note of inquiry. Clearly, she's asking if she might have a cow too. "Oh! That's right! You need to eat. Silly one, you should tell me when you're hungry." Satoshi scoops up the couatl then while still admonishing her lightly, before bowing to the wizard, Trebel, and Alahir. "Excuse us, gentlemen, this little lady is feeling peckish."
Svilfon automatically snaps his gaze around the room as Trebel bounces about so excitedly. He is equally excited, of course, but he cannot shake his well worn-in protection of the books within this library. Seeing that they're not falling out of their shelves, he grins brightly, completely missing Satoshi's apparent attempts at showing them her reluctance. Really, two boys planning a mission of feasts... one a vampire wizard, one an oversized angha... what do you expect? The two dance about with Alahir seemingly content sitting on the wizard's hat, soon enough even going to sleep coiled as he is around the magnificent point. And in truth, as he knows, there's probably no safer place in all of Hollow than on top of that hat. When Satoshi makes to leave, Svil grins and offers young Emielle a small wave of his hand. "It was my pleasure to meet you, lovely one. You will be safe here." Satoshi is given a couatl-on-top-of-hat tip and a grin, before Svil turns back to Trebel and the two begin to excitedly talk about their coming adventure, losing track of time as they do until eventually when Satoshi came back she'd find all three of them, couatl, wizard and angha sleeping in a heap in the middle of the library, still wearing the grins they wore until exhaustion finally overcame them...
Satoshi, when she returns later and discovers the heap of sleepers, turns to depart once more and leave them in peace. That is, after she's drawn a mustache on Trebel, whiskers of Alahir, and goatee, scars, eyepatch, and hearts on Svilfon. Coterie rule number one: never fall asleep around the one wielding the stick of charcoal.