"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
10-03-2015, 07:00 PM (This post was last modified: 10-03-2015, 07:18 PM by Gallows.)
This is my last child. Birth is hard fucking work. And based on how Kushiel turned out, raising the little brats is a thankless task. You take care of them, feed them and make sure they don't die, teach them your version of the truth and then the little fuckers run off to the Chamber. Hypothetically, of course.
I have rediscovered that I am not pleasant when I am writhing in pain. In fact, everyone should be grateful that I don't have powers more menacing than mind reading because I would be zapping the shit out of anyone in a twenty mile radius right now just for distraction.
Ah, perhaps that's why I don't have any greater gifts. Someone had excellent foresight.
I've shut out the minds of everyone around me. I bite my mouth shut as well, unwilling to have uninvited company, and pace near the trees in the secluded edge of the Valley. It's fucking hot, and I make a mental note to harass Demian about the quality of his damned wall. What's the point of protection if we're all roasting to death in the summer heat? Sure will make ruling hard for the next leader when his subjects are all burnt to a crisp.
Thankfully, this second child is nothing like Kushiel was. She is eager to be born, and unlike the day of excruciating torture I suffered with her big brother, the little gray filly slides quickly out after only an hour of hard labor. I'm not saying it was easy, mind you. But it was a sight easier than giving birth to a child who a week later would burn me with a flame he found.
I look her over curiously, and she pops to her feet before I get the chance to nudge her up. I grin a little at that, my brown eyes warming affectionately as she finds her feet. Gods, would it be too much to ask to have a child who didn't look like Carnage? How many grey babies does he have, and me, a dark bay. Well, Kush will be happy enough.
True to my word, I send a message to Kushiel. I fully expect him to drop anything he is doing and come barrelling in. (I mean, assuming he does something more than make mental love to the burning tree in the Chamber all day)
Oh, not because I asked him to. Never for that. Simply because he has been dying to meet his sibling ever since I told him he was going to have one. I eye Namaah, and sigh. She really is the spitting image of her brother at that age.
G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
ooc: for the sake of having to write extra posts, we're just going to say Gallows escorts him across the firewall once he arrives because she's near the border. feel free to play that out if you want, anna. ;-) Also, Ill post Namaah after you post.
For once in his life, it could be said the Kushiel really was the dutiful son he always considered himself to be. At his mother’s word, he did drop everything. Granted, “everything” had in fact been staring at a tree for the better part of the afternoon. Someone had to do it, how else would they know if it was still on fire?
He was more than a diplomat, he was a public servant.
But still, for this he was willing to assume the tree would still be burning when he got back. The chances of that seemed high. The chances of him missing his little sister’s triumphant entrance into the world was very, very low.
Despite his single mindedness, he did allow himself to be distracted briefly by the Valley’s cosmic fire wall. It was just his style, over the top and burning. He would have to make a point to congratulate Demian. The man knew how to make a statement. There would be nothing so mundane as a “no trespassing” sign under this king’s rule. Go big or go home, that was Kushiel’s moto as well. Unless “big” was synonymous with a lot of work. In cases such as that, Kushiel really did just go home.
He was distracted long enough to miss the parts that no son should ever have to see. He may have been convinced to attend, but if he did he would have made horrible jokes the whole time. That probably would have been the straw that destroyed he and his mother’s fire forged and time tested bond. He burst in on Gallows with a slightly frenzied look in his eye.
“I’m here!” He bellowed unnecessarily. His eyes immediately went to the little filly, and to his intense embarrassment, he felt himself get a little choked up. She was everything he had hoped for. She looked just like him. He smiled at the little girl. Then approached slowly. For good measure, and so she didn’t feel left out, Kushiel beamed at Gallows and threw her a rather roughish wink. Most mothers, at this point, would probably have told him to get the hell away from their offspring. Luckily, his mother wasn’t “most mothers” she had learned patience in the hard school of rambunctious son raising. He lowered his large muzzle for Namaah to sniff.
“Hi Peanut. I’m very happy to share my mother with you.” He smiled happily, and admired the tiny perfection of the girl. If he reached out he could probably knock her over with a single nose push. He didn’t consider doing it, and that was a true sign of his regard.
“And you should know that makes you very special, because I don’t normally share.” This was true. Kushiel had a long time to nurse his only child syndrome. He couldn’t remember the last time he shared anything other than a joke. He looked at Gallows and grinned again.
“She’s a heartbreaker, Ma. You’re going to have to keep an eye on his one.” At this point, that was probably pretty run of the mill for Gallows. She may have had a grown son for several years now, but if we were being truly honest, it was probably fair to say that someone still needed to keep an eye on Kushiel.
The world is so very big, and I am so very confident that every inch of it is mine.
I don't own it. Who could do that? But it is mine to discover and enchant and love. It beats within my veins, causing a restlessness I am too young yet to satisfy. And as of yet, it is only a subtle thing. Someday the urge will stretch and grow and I will cause my mother and my brother no end of anxiety for my well being. And then I will smile at them, full of charm, and they will love me in spite of my wanderings.
My mother is the first one I meet. She smells of this place, of home and the air and a faint hint of earthiness. Her wings fascinate me, but I am not afraid. They are already a source of amusement to me and my mother indulges me. Someday I will learn that she believes I am only half the trouble my brother was. She gathers me in with her feathers and speaks to me softly, her voice a rumble in her chest.
In contrast to her gentle tones, a startling voice makes itself known. I peek out from under my mother where I have been busily nursing. My eyes widen and I am instantly curious. I step forward on cautious legs and sniff the nose that is offered to me.
"He's so big, mama! Is he mine?" I squeak out, my dark eyes glowing. I am too young to notice that we look more alike than my mother and I ever will.
I shake my head at his silliness. "I am not a Peanut. My name is Namaah, and what am I to call you?" I give him an overly serious, musing look. "If you want to share mama, then you have to tell me who you are so I can approve. Mama is very picky you know."
I say this with all the wisdom of the hours I have lived, the beginning of a smile on my face. I like this big, noisy creature.
"What's a heartbreaker?" I pipe up suddenly, looking from the gray stallion to my mother. It sounds dangerous and exciting and I wonder if I will be any good at it.
Kushiel felt his heart constrict a little when his sister wobbled over to him. He never considered himself a huge softy, but apparently he is. All these years he spent cultivating a too cool to care demeanor came crashing down around the hooves of a little girl.
It’s not a new story.
But still, as he reached his nose for the girl he couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped him. Is he mine? His chuckling continued, and he chucked the child under her chin, his muzzle nearly the size of her whole face.
“Why yes, little one, I believe he is.” This is a bad start, a very bad start. He will not be viewed as an authority figure if they carry on in this manner. He had imagined trespassing on his mother’s hospitality so he could raise his sister in his image. That won’t happen if he doesn’t get it together. However, the little girl continued, and again he had to fight a laugh. He managed to suppress it, but couldn’t help the grin struggling for supremacy on his face. His sister is so serious in her musing that he would hate to discourage her. Someone had to be serious in this family. He and Gallows certainly hadn’t managed that feat.
“No, no I think you must be mistaken.” He measured Namaah with his nose, then looked her up and down.
“You’re definitely a peanut, but I’ll call you Namaah if you wish.” He winked at her, because even then he knew he was lying. He was still going to call her Peanut, and Sugar Plum, and every other ridiculous name he could come up with to undermine her dignity. However, apparently she had plenty opinions of her own, and he snorted, pretending to be affronted. He looked around at Gallows.
“Did you hear that, Ma?” He did note the slightly whiney quality to his voice and wasn’t embarrassed. Namaah had been alive a whole five minutes and already she was telling him about their ma.
“Mama is very picky. But thankfully, I’ve already been approved. Or at least, she can’t change her mind now. I’m your brother goofy girl. My name is Kushiel.” He then proceeded to ruffle her forelock unforgivably. Let her try to be dignified now, with a messed up forelock. Even as he was tousling her hair he noted her question and his lips quirked into a smile.
“Why, you are Peanut.” He was being intentionally vague, and intentionally calling her Peanut. It’s time this kid learned who was boss.
I am enjoying the quiet after the storm of labor when Kushiel barrels in, as eager as if he were the sire or even the one to give birth. I say nothing but watch curiously as Namaah steps away from me and immediately entrances her big brother with her doe eyes and charming ways. Of course, the poor bloke never really stood a chance. He has a soft spot for women, and his sweet little sister will be no exception.
It would be ridiculous to say that I am teary eyed as I watch interaction between my children, but there is certainly a fond dewiness in my eyes. Little irritating rascals. I spent years cultivating my ability to subsist on my own without anyone and then I go and create two little time bombs who have the power to twist me to their will.
Motherhood is absurd.
"Now you've done it, Kush." I say cheerily. "You'll never get an ounce of respect from that one. She knows you're a pushover already."
I move closer to the sibling pair, and nudge Namaah with a grin. Her wings, unlike my reddish ones, are white and gray with black tips. Osprey wings. Right now they are fledgling, poufs of snowy feathers along seemingly insubstantial bones. It will be quite some time before they grow enough to carry her, but that's fine with me. Two completely graceless flyers is probably not what the Valley needs right now.
I roll my eyes a bit at Kush's statement, scowling at him.
"I hope she's more than a heartbreaker." I have never held a very high opinion of stallions (present company excluded), nor of love in general. To be fair, that's probably because it wasn't of any use to me. My love is completely given over to a place. A paramour would hog the attention, and the Valley is a jealous mistress. No. I'm content with my home and my children.
Even if one of them is a traitor.
Unfortunately, Kushiel is right, and Namaah really is a breathtaking child. She must have gotten that from my mother or someone far back in Carnage's lineage because neither of us is particularly appealing looking. Lucky girl.
"He is right, Namaah. This is your brother, Kushiel. More than half of what he says will be ridiculous, but I suppose he'll take good care of you."
I grin wickedly at that. A vast understatement. I predict that before the week is out, Namaah will have Kushiel led around by the nose.
G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
10-05-2015, 07:22 PM (This post was last modified: 10-05-2015, 07:23 PM by Namaah.)
love as thou wilt
I do not know very much but I do know this. Brothers are silly creatures.
With all the logic of a child, I conclude that all brothers must be the same, of course, and that it is the duty of little sisters to make sure they know who is in charge. Mama is in charge but then next will be me. I size up my Kushiel with large brown eyes.
I can definitely take him.
I wrinkle my nose at him, a charming gesture that I mean to convey annoyance but only makes me look like a perturbed cherub. "Well, all right. You can call me peanut. But only you, cause I said so."
I nip him in what I imagine is a stern way, but is probably nothing more than the brush of a leaf. Mama unsuccessfully hides a grin, although I don't know what is so funny. Kush has to know who is in charge and I think it's better to start young.
I look around while Mama chats with Kush, taking in the Valley. It is warm and beautiful and
I give mama my oh so serious nod. "And I will take good care of him, too."
And just like that, my brother has an unshakeable bodyguard. After all, someone has to keep him out of trouble, right?
I ignore his vague response to my heartbreak question and plow forth with a barrage of new queries. After all, I know that eventually I will learn what I want to know.
"Will you take me on adventures, Kush? And why haven't you got any wings? Were you naughty and they went away? How very old are you? Why does mama say you are reed-rid-rikulus?"
Mama is full on laughing now and I shoot her a scowl. I am very serious.
Kushiel was starting to feel outnumbered. How did this keep happening to him? He was a giant of a man for heaven’s sake. Why was he constantly being pushed around by petite women? This woman wasn’t even a week old. Kushiel scowled, but his heart wasn’t in it. Even as he tried to make the foul expression his eyes twinkled.
Damn it, he was going soft.
He redoubled his efforts and cast a stern look at Gallows.
“Now, let’s all try and remember who the elder brother is.” He looked back and forth between the girls.
“Me. That’s me.” He said it very slowly, as if there was a chance they wouldn’t understand him. Of course, that seemed to be exactly what was happening. Privately, he’d taken to calling himself, Kushiel, burner of Kingdoms. But, now he felt more like Kushiel, tormented by women. The latter was not nearly so fearsome as the former. He remembered how much hell he’d given Gryffen when the wolf-man brought his daughter to the Chamber. Kushiel could only imagine what they’d say back home when they saw Namaah, who wasn’t even his child, leading him around by the nose.
This was going to be a problem.
He shot Gallows yet another stern look at the public disparaging of his sensibilities. However, his heart melted a little when his sister said she’d take care of him as well. He made that universally recognized, “awwww” face, then straightened up. That was so very sweet, and so very unlikely. Still, he ruffled the little girl’s forelock again.
“Yes. We will go on many, many adventures. But only if you promise not to tell Ma about them.” Over the girl’s head he widened his eyes at Gallows, as if to say, “see I can make your life hard too.” However, he continued brightly.
“I’m sad to say I was very naughty, Peanut. But, I never had wings. I can do this though.” The flame that was lurking deep within his mane sprang to life and dripped down his nose, dribbling like liquid to the ground in front of them. He quickly squelched it before it could burn the filly or the grass.
“You see, Namaah, playing with fire can be very fun.” This was not a good lesson to teach a child. He knew that. Kushiel was lucky that he couldn’t burn. If he could, he would certainly have been incinerated as a child. He didn’t want that to happen to Namaah, he would have to impart some wisdom for a change.
“But, don’t touch it okay? We can do different things. I can play with fire, and you’ll be able to fly.” Kushiel considered this for a long moment. That was a really scary thought. Still, the girl was full of questions and Kushiel had to move quickly to answer them.
“I’m six. And ridiculous is what people say when they can’t find words great enough to describe true perfection.” This time it was a triumphant look that he shot Gallows. She would have to find another way to describe him, otherwise Namaah would be quite certain to think her brother was better than life its self.
Dear gods, but they do look alike when they scowl.
And as a good, dutiful mother, I shall give them plenty of reasons to do so. Everyone needs a few reasons to blame their parents for their screwed up lives and I am happy to oblige. Carnage, with his dark god nonsense, would be too easy of a target. And where's the fun in that?
"You may take her anywhere you like as long as you don't catch her on fire or let that idiot Gryffen put his paws on her." I respond promptly. An overprotective mother I am not and for all that my son is a lazy pushover, I know his mind and his heart, and I know that Namaah is safer with him than even me. I, after all, am going to be the one to push her off a cliff some day to teach her to fly.
Besides, having mind reading means Kushiel will tell on himself if he does anything particularly stupid. And he knows full well I know exactly how to deal with him. I grin wickedly at him, remembering how very silly he looked squealing like a colt when I bit him. I give him an innocent look over Namaah's head. "After all, darling girl, Kushiel knows better than to cross mama. He may be the big brother but I have a couple centuries and a few fights on him. And no one can get anything past your mother."
I nudge her hip playfully. Truthfully, there are some who can pull a fast one on me, but it's better if Namaah doesn't know that just yet.
Good lord. I roll my eyes at Kushiel's fire play. It was inevitable that he would introduce her to his flames, but I had hoped for a little time to prepare. Still, I know Kush would sooner burn himself down than his little sister.
"Yes. I also like to use words like 'exasperating' and 'vexatious' to describe the perfection that is your brother." I say sweetly.
Dear son, don't try and beat your mother at a game she invented.
G A L L O W S We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
"Yes," I say patiently. My Kush must be confused. I speak slowly. "You are the big brother. And I am the little sister, and that is mama."
Brothers. I am only a week old and already I have to keep reminding him who we all are. Perhaps six is a very old age and he forgets things easily? I shall have to keep reminding him. I mentally add it to my list of sister duties. Brothers must need a lot of watching over. I am not sure how he ever got along without me. It's a good thing mama decided to have me.
"You were naughty?" I say curiously. "What sort of naughty things did you do? Can you teach me?"
My mother coughs behind me, sounding suspiciously like a chuckle, and I turn to look. She gives me a stern look but I am undeterred. In a loud whisper I add, "When mama is not around, okay?"
I watch with wide eyes as my brother pulls flames from his mane. I gasp with delight, the world suddenly expanding with wonder as the fire dribbles down his nose and disappears. I take a step forward, sighing regretfully. My brother may not realize it but I am now madly in love with him and his talents. I hear my mother sigh, although I don't realize the significance.
"Oh. Well then you are very ridiculous, my Kush. And 'xasperating and, um, that other word." I nuzzle into his side, sure I have given him a great compliment. I plaster a huge grin on my face. "And you are all mine, right? Where will you take me first?"
Summoning up his trademark scowl became harder and harder. Authority, it would seem, was not necessarily in the cards. Kushiel found that it didn’t bother him too much. There were worst things than being ruled by your mother and baby sister. Surely, nobody could hold it against him. There were those who would say that he was simply doing his duty to his family.
Then there were others who would say he was a total weenie.
Even that thought couldn’t summon the scowl. Those people probably already thought that, and his most recent antics weren’t likely to convince anyone of his masculine superiority. Battling with his mother, and being chased all over the Deserts by their ridiculous pet dog. The stallion sighed. Life was hard. Still, despite any familial differences they may have, Kushiel and Gallows agreed on this one thing. No Gryffen.
“Aye, no Gryffen and just a little fire. I hear you loud and clear, Ma.” His eyes twinkled a little. He wouldn’t let her touch the fire, but they could still play with it. Besides, fire safety was important. If Namaah was going to visit the Chamber she would need to know some fire safety. They did have a perpetually burning tree after all.
Already his sister was a girl after his own heart. She wanted to learn his tricks, and the stallion grinned widely. Naturally, it didn’t really matter if they waited until Ma wasn’t around. She would know anyways, but it was more fun to pretend like they were getting away with something. He nodded along and winked conspiratorially.
“We’ll wait until she’s distracted.” He dropped his voice down to a whisper.
“But, in the mean time, if you pull on horse’s tails they make really funny sounds.” Granted, Kushiel had lit those tails on fire when he was a kid. But, pulling them out would have somewhat of the same affect. Plus, there was the added bonus of a sneak attack. When Namaah could fly she could drop down on them from above. They would need to perfect the move.
Her next words caused a bark of laughter that was quickly stifled into a pleased grin. There, mission accomplished. Now, for a while at least, all the disparaging things that could be said about him would sounds like compliments. Still, that could quickly get awkward if his little sister went around telling everyone he was ridiculous. For now at least, it was was adorable. He nuzzled the little girl’s check affectionately.
“Yes, I am most certainly all yours, my ridiculous little sister. Your very own knight in shinning armor.” He grinned and shot a proud look at Gallows. Anyone who overheard their use of “ridiculous” as a family term of endearment would have a lot to gossip about. More the better. He considered her question for a moment.
“Well, we could visit my home. But, if we go you have to promise not to touch the tree and to say ‘back off buttface’ to any creepy men that approach you.” Again, Kushiel nodded proudly. Problem solved! Creepy men usually responded well to clear boundaries, and besides, if they didn’t, Kushiel could just set them on fire.
