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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 3, 2021 19:51:35 GMT -5
"Oh, there were plenty," Felix said with an amused laugh. "Us older boys, we've all tried to smuggle a dog or cat, but it was the twins who brought home every animal they could find. Lizard, rabbits, chicks, and Parker even brought in a garden snake once. Near gave Mom a heart attack. Then this one," he pointed to Anya, "kept thinking the baby lamps would rather have a bed to sleep in than the stalls."
~*~*~
(You know, you might just have to. I just have no idea what she should do. She isn't in a place of authority to go question anyone, and she doesn't have the empathy to go check on the Veras. XD)
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 4, 2021 1:20:28 GMT -5
Seth chuckled, looking back and forth between Anya and her brother. "Did you get to keep any of them?"
( Sorry, this is bad. I jinxed myself, and Seth is no longer being easy. xD )
☆~☆~☆ ( 🤣 Rightio. I'll get right on that. xD )
Morgan heard the crowd before he saw them. He changed course slightly so he was running right toward it. He was almost there when he heard Cami scream.
"Callum!"
Morgan put on a burst of speed, and suddenly he was there, in a small open space between tents, made smaller by all the people gathered there. His eyes darted over all of them until he found Cami. She was on the far side of the crowd, with Cresseida, being held back by a couple Rebels. Morgan looked them over closely, reassured himself that they were all right, and followed the line of their sight. He couldn't see Callum, just a tight cluster of people and —
Andy. Looking a little worried, but completely unrepentant and... smug. Triumphant, as he too watched that tight group of people. Some of whom, Morgan realized, were kneeling on the ground.
A tightness filled Morgan's chest. He moved, began shoving forward through the crowd. He had to reach Callum. Had to do something to help him —
A booming, authoritative voice, enhanced by magic, suddenly spoke up, startling the crowd: "What the hell is going on here?"
Morgan spun. Ghost was stalking out from between the tents, his eyes glowing white hot with the magic he covered himself with. He wore the magic like a cloak, making him look otherworldly and ethereal, almost... see-through — ghostly.
This was the Ghost Rider, the only being in their world who had gone up against the Order and walked away alive. Of course, the story was told differently among the Riders of the Order, but to the rest of the world, Sebastian Accio was a legend. One of the most powerful Riders the world had ever seen. Some said be had even conquered death itself.
The sight of him had quiet falling upon the clearing, upon the whole camp. The Rebels stared at Ghost, wide-eyed, some with wonder and awe, others with trepidation and fear. No one spoke, but they moved, clearing a path to where a figure lay on the ground.
Ghost took all of one step toward him before Morgan snapped put of his awed stupor and ran forward. The figure on the ground was indeed Callum, and he was covered in blood. His eyes were closed. He didn't seem to be breathing, so Morgan put a hand on his chest.
Callum's eyes shot open. With a pained hiss, he rolled away from Morgan and tried to push to his feet. Morgan grabbed his shoulder and forced him onto his back again. "Callum, you idiot. Stay still."
Callum batted his hand away. "Leave me alone, Reilly. I'm busy."
"Doing what?" Morgan snapped. "Dying?"
Callum opened one eye to glare at him. "No," he said, and left it at that.
Morgan sat back with a low growl, puzzling it over. Did that mean he had already died and come back? Or did he simply not want anyone to know he could die and come back? Whichever it was, Morgan knew he wouldn't get a straight answer out of Callum, not with all these people here. At least he was alive. That was all that really mattered. A presence loomed behind him. Morgan turned around to find Sebastian standing behind him. His magic aura had faded somewhat, but he was still someone not to be trifled with as he said, "What happened."
Morgan started to tell him he had no idea when, with a low groan, Callum forced himself into an upright position. Morgan cursed him soundly, but didn't try to stop him this time. He put a hand between Callum's shoulder blades to help keep him upright. Callum shot him a dark look for it, yet did nothing to dissuade him.
He switched his stare to Sebastian, but before he could say a word a new group of people entered the clearing. Morgan didn't recognize any of them, but he did recognize that the one in the middle was not here voluntarily. He was being held by two others, one on either side of him, and he looked like he was about to be sick.
Sebastian let out an irritable growl. "Now what?"
The two guys holding the sick one exchanged a glance, clearly uncertain about bringing this problem to the Ghost Rider instead of Lawrence. Finally the one on the left said, "Um, well. We found Gordon here in Andy's tent. He was dumping poison in Andy's stash. So we searched his tent and found this." He pulled a small pouch from his pocket and tossed it over.
Sebastian caught it and pulled it open. He peered in, then brought it to his nose for a quick sniff. His eyes widened for a second, then went cold and flat. Morgan shivered. He had seen a similar expression on Seth's face many times, anytime he shut down his emotions so he wouldn't do something he'd regret. Morgan wondered what Sebastian's reasons were for that same look.
Sebastian pointed at Gordon. "I'll get to you in a minute." He turned back to Morgan and Callum. Morgan couldn't help feeling a tad uneasy being the recipient of that cold stare. Callum, on the other hand, stared back completely unfazed. In fact, the ice in his eyes was almost as terrifying. "For the last time," Sebastian said with lethal quiet. "What. Happened."
For several nerve-wracking seconds Callum just stared Sebastian down, as if daring him to force an explanation from him. Morgan was getting read to smack him upside the head when Callum finally spoke. "I couldn't sleep so I went for a walk. On my way back I found Andy about to enter my sister's tent, so I confronted him. He attacked me. He was about to kill me when that guy showed up and pulled him off at the last second." He jerked his chin toward Samson, who still held Andy in an ironclad grip. "I must have passed out for a few minutes. Next thing I know, Morgan here is hovering like a freaking mother hen and you're scaring everyone with your holier-than-thou attitude. Any other questions, or can I see a damn healer already?"
Dead silence met his words. Everyone was looking back and forth between Callum and Sebastian with wide eyes, waiting for the Ghost Rider to smite the man where he sat. But this didn't happen. Sebastian didn't even get angry. After the silence had stretched into a tense and endless minute, he tipped back his head and laughed.
That shocked everyone more than Callum's attitude.
Sebastian returned his gaze to Callum, grinning wide now. "I like you. You've got the makings of a great Rebel." He ignored Callum's scowl and waved a few people over. "Take this man to the healer's tent. Let me know when he's back on his feet. Oh, and let his family through, please, before their worry eats them alive. As for you two." He spun on his heel to glare at Andy and Gordon. "Bring them to the command tent. If someone hasn't done it already, fetch Lawrence and tell him to meet me there." He let his gaze travel over the crowd. "The rest of you can scram. Get back to your tents or your posts, and don't even think about turning the night's events into tomorrow's gossip. You got me?"
In response, everyone nodded and scattered.
Morgan stayed where he was, even when Cami and Cresseida rushed forward to help Callum to his feet. They didn't seem to notice him as they started off toward the healer's tent. It was only after they were several feet away and most everyone had cleared off that Morgan finally got to his feet.
He felt torn. Part of him wanted to go with the Veras, make sure Callum was all right, get answers out of him. But the other half wanted to follow Sebastian and be there when he interrogated Andy and Gordon. Something... something here wasn't adding up, and Morgan wasn't sure which course of action would lead him to the truth.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 7, 2021 20:25:11 GMT -5
(Don't worry, my people are being jerks too. XD)
Felix glanced over at the stage. "Whenever you want. Depends on how soon you want to get your performance over with," he told him.
~*~*~
(WHY IS KYRA BEING SUCH A LITTLE *BLEEP* RIGHT NOW?!?! THERE'S SO MUCH TO WORK WITH, AND SHE'S JUST LIKE "NAH, I'M GOOD." )
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 7, 2021 20:36:46 GMT -5
The sun was setting by the time Sol stopped ignoring the voice in the back of his head, telling him to get up because they had things to do. There was still enough daylight left to do what needed doing, but barely. Sol didn't regret waiting so long, though. He hadn't slept, but the quiet time after their activities had been restful in its way.
Once dressed, Sol studied the position of the sun in the sky, then the surrounding area, keeping busy while also giving Parker as much privacy as possible while he pulled his own clothes on. He walked over to the waterfall and looked out over the stream. With the added height, he could see several good spots to lay the traps. He would have to go deeper into the forest, away from the water, to find good firewood. And while he was at it, he would look for signs of whatever it was that had been watching them on and off since they got here.
☆~☆~☆ ( Why can't our kids ever just cooperate with us? xD )
Seth scratched the five o'clock shadow forming on his jaw as he studied the stage. It looked like the first act was already up there, warming up. The crowd was still mostly milling around, doing their own thing, but a few were beginning to head toward the large open space in front of the stage. He lowered his hand. "I guess I should at least talk to Ryner, see what the schedule looks like now." He really wasn't picky about when he took the stage.
☆~☆~☆ ( Maybe it's not Kyra. Maybe Sol and Parker fried your brain so bad that you can't get any of the messages Kyra is sending you. xD )
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 8, 2021 20:40:28 GMT -5
(I just remember that this is still Parker's birthday. XD)
Parker had been right. Getting up and walking wasn't fun, but he would live. As much as he hated it, he knew that their time by the pool was over. Slowly and carefully, he pulled on his clothes and cast one more look out at the calm pool, wishing that they could have had a few more minutes. Really, he was just wanting to have longer to cuddle Sol, but he could do that another time.
Speaking of the captain, he looked around to see where he went. Parker found him over on a rock, surveying the area. He walked a little closer so he wouldn't have to shout. "Ready to head back?" he asked, even though his own answer to that was a huge no.
~*~*~
(Because they're our kids. XD Being helpful isn't in their job description. XD)
"Might not hurt," Felix agreed. "Unless you just want to be surprised and have a chance to drink and dance before you have to get up there on stage.
~*~*~
(You're right. It is those two's fault! Because now Parker's obnoxiously overwhelming need to just cuddle Sol is very, very loud. XD)
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 8, 2021 22:27:20 GMT -5
( I haven't. Several times during their activities I thought about Sol ending with a "Happy birthday." xD )
Sol looked at Parker as the other man joined him. He saw Parker's answer in his eyes and wished his answer could be different. "Yes." He stepped off the rock and set off down the path, heading back toward the beach at an easy pace.
☆~☆~☆ ( Well, it should be. xD )
Seth considered the still full bottle of beer in his hand. Drinking wasn't on his agenda tonight, and dancing... well. He wasn't a fan of dancing, not really. Not while sober, anyway. He cringed internally at the memory that thought conjured. It was labeled, "Reason Why Not to Put Morgan in Charge of Drinks." Never before or since had he been more drunk than he was that night. In the end, he glanced to Anya and decided, "I'll wait for a bit. Listen to a set or two, then go see where I'm at."
☆~☆~☆ ( Poor boi. Never gets enough of anything. xD )
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 10, 2021 22:32:59 GMT -5
Parker was a little surprised by the seriousness in his words. He had meant it only as a joke, thinking he would have reply with some witty response of how he couldn't let the sea win that easily. He hadn't expected the answer he got. His mouth opened to say just as much, then closed just as fast, still trying to process the right things to say to that. In the end, he only moved forward and wrapped his arms around his sides. "I'm joking, Sol. I'm glad you jumped in. I'm glad you were able to find me," he told him, looking up at the captain. More than he would ever be able to convey to him in words.
~*~*~
Anya smiled and took a final sip of her own beer before setting the bottle down. "Well, if I'm showing off, you'll have to do the same," she told him, pulling him along to the dance floor.
~*~*~
(His only saving grace. XD)
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 10, 2021 23:00:12 GMT -5
Sol didn't mean to, but he remained stiff when Parker moved forward to hug him. With his words, though, the tension vanished with a sigh and he wrapped his arms around him. He lowered his head so their foreheads touched. He wasn't planning on saying anything, didn't even know what to say for once, yet suddenly he was saying it anyway. "I will always find you, Parker." Realizing the implications tied to such a statement, he eased back slightly and added, "If you want me to that is."
☆~☆~☆ "I thought I was going to be showing off on the stage, not the dance floor." Seth looked around at all the dancing people. Some were good, most were not, but they were all laughing and having a good time either way, which was the important part.
☆~☆~☆ ( That, and his drunken singing. xD )
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 11, 2021 20:32:18 GMT -5
(BOI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Parker's eyes widened at the statement just made, his heart doing crazier flips than it had hours ago at the pool. Was it because of the day they had shared together that was interfering with his words? Hadn't Sol told him he wasn't looking for anything permanent? That he was only going to be keeping him company until he had to go home? Or did he actually mean it? Could he have somehow changed his mind? Whatever the reason on the captain's end, his answer was the same and sincere. "I want you to," he whispered, almost afraid to say the words in case this whole thing was just a dream.
~*~*~
"And I thought you liked to show off with everything you do," Anya teased. She didn't go too far into the swarm of people, just enough so they would be out of the way for those who tried skirting around the dance floor to get to other places. She didn't consider herself a great dancer, but she at least knew enough not to make herself look stupid. It also helped that the song Ryner was singing was more upbeat and fast.
~*~*~
(That too!
Okay, so I'm thinking Kyra's starting to come back around. I'm getting bits and pieces, but they haven't worked into a cohesive post. Maybe tomorrow she'll be in a better mood. XD)
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 11, 2021 22:16:40 GMT -5
( xD Got enough exclamation marks there? )
Sol pulled in a breath only to let it out in a rush as he looked away, smiling wryly. He looked back at Parker. Bowed his head and laughed without humor. "You..." He shook his head, still chuckling. And then, suddenly, it stopped and he met Parker's gaze. "You, Parker Dorreh, are the most confusing person I have ever met. But all right." He stepped back, and kept going until he was a few feet away. He lifted his hands, one hovering over the other with the palms on the inside, and closed his eyes.
There was silence, interrupted only by Sol's steady breathing. He stayed in that pose, utterly still, for several minutes. And the whole time, an energy began building around him. At first it was almost undetectable. Then it began to crackle around him like an invisible lightning storm. Just when it felt like the energy was ready to explode, Sol's hands suddenly came together in a loud CLAP!
Just like that, everything was back to normal.
Sol opened his eyes and lifted his hand. In the other, where nothing had been before, was a feather. A hawk's feather. He slowly closed the distance he had put between them and offered Parker the feather. "Now I really will always know how to find you," he said quietly. He met Parker's stunned gaze and gave him a little smirk. "Happy birthday, Parker."
☆~☆~☆ ( Yay! 😁 )
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 11, 2021 22:41:04 GMT -5
(It's never enough! Not when there's a rare phenomenon like this!
I say it again: Boi!!!! A day ago you were trying to deny the fact you had magic over the ocean, and now you pull this shit? Explain yourself!)
This only made Parker confused. How was he the confusing one? As far as he knew, he hadn't done anything to contradict himself or anything he said. Well, okay, no, that wasn't entire true. He swore to himself that he wasn't going to let this little fling go far, and yet, here they were.
As he stepped away, Parker wondered if he had said something wrong, but he only wat hed as Sol outstretched his hands. Then he felt it: the crackling in the air. It made the hairs on his arms and back of his neck stand up. He was about to call out to Sol, to ask what was happening, when he clapped. It startled him, he wasn't going to lie. From the way it felt, he was sure lightning was going to strike the ground around them. Instead, what it created was a feather.
"That was magic," Parker stated, looking between Sol and the feather. Even though it was offered to him he was a little hesitant to take it. Carefully, he held it between his fingers, turning it and studying both sides. Then his eyes found Sol's. There were a million questions he ould ask. None of them were springing forth. How could this small death tell Sol where he was? Did it even work? He had no reason to doubt it didn't, so if it could, then would it work even when he would be back on the farm? Would he come find him?
"Sol, I..." Parker started before he got choked up. Tears stung his eyes, but he willed them away the best he could. His free arm wrapped around the older man once more, the other still holding the feather. "Thank you," he muttered agaisnt his chest.
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Heterosexual
✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧
"You never have to prove yourself to anyone who doesn't accept you for who you are."
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Post by ✧☽ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇʀ ☾✧ on Mar 12, 2021 13:13:29 GMT -5
( Sure is. xD But it all makes sense to me now that I'm in the loop. xD
Also, I'm just gonna do a bit of skipping/skimming here. ;) )
They made it back to the beach. It was brighter here, without any trees to block the light from the setting sun. Sol led the way back to their little campsite and tasked Parker with building the fire. He didn't leave room for arguing before heading off to check on and relocate the traps.
He returned a half hour later, a troubled frown on his face. His hands were empty of food, and instead filled with more firewood. He dumped it on the dwindling pile, and with only a muttered "stay here" to Parker, he walked off down the beach.
It was fully dark by the time he came back again. This time his hair was wet and dripping onto his shirt, and he held three good sized fish by their tails. He started prepping them for consumption without a word, his movements easy and methodical as if he'd done this a hundred times.
☆~☆~☆ Seth looked around at the other dancers again. "Most," he corrected. His attention returned to her with a faint smile. "Most things I do. Dancing, well. Dancing's not usually one of them." He didn't mind admitting that to her.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Mar 12, 2021 18:33:45 GMT -5
(Now you just to get me in the loop. XD
Fine by me!)
There was little point in him trying to protest. Given perhaps the easiest job, Parker got the fire started while Sol went off. It didn't take him long, so while he waited, he went about looking to see if there was anything edible he recognized growing around their small camp. There wasn't much, but he did spot some type of berries growing. They looked fine, but he knew better than to eat strange plants. He'd ask Sol about them since he would know more of the plant life on this side of the world.
He was going to ask, until he saw Sol return empty handed. Parker hurried to help take the firewood from him, but before he could even say anything, Sol was off again. With a small sigh, he arranged the wood in a beat pile and sat down to wait. And wait. When it was finally dark, he grew worried. He had just stood up to go check of Sol when the captain returned, fish in hand. The silence lingered while the fish were prepared, for a minute at least.
"Do you want me to help?" Parker asked. "Two people working will be faster than one."
~•~•~
Anya faked a gasp. "You mean to tell me there's something Seth Accio can't do?" She asked. "Is the world ending?"
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