|
|
Post by Chaos on May 10, 2010 19:37:29 GMT 7
Well, it isn't the palaces of Hell, but it's home for now. Small and cosy and you can definitely tell that Kira got to do the decorating. Now Callier's just trying and figure out where her sister has stashed all the flaming weapons because apparently cutting someone's head off is not an appropriate way to greet them. But be careful, there are a few artifacts around the place that you might not want to mess with. They were queens of hell and there are a few leftovers. |
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 3, 2011 20:34:39 GMT 7
Nothing had changed since the last time he walked up this flight of stairs (he refused to acknowledge the lifts' existence) and along the corridor, but everything had. The electric lights made the gold thread on his tunic and boots where they showed through a gap in his cloak sparkle oddly. No, this place was still strange.
He stopped outside the appropriate door and gazed at it for a while. As soon as he knocked that was it. He was back. Tough luck. But right now he could still turn back, stride down the corridors and stairs and away and pretend he'd never come here.
But that would be cowardly.
He pulled his blue hood as far over his head as it could so it completely shadowed his face, pulled his gloves up where they had slipped and knocked.
In the silence that followed, a worrying thought crossed his mind: It's been seven months; what if they've moved?
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 3, 2011 21:43:36 GMT 7
Kira looked up from her book at the knock on the door, surprised. She glanced at the hallway when a weak voice echoed down and out into the main room.
"Who is it?" She smiled a little to herself.
"I don't know yet dear." There was the sound of movement on crisp sheets and the voice came back.
"Well make sure you take my sword." Kira rolled her eyes, unfolding her legs and getting up from the squashy, comfortable chair. She ignored the giant, ice blue weapon standing in the hall, pulling open the door and looking out into the hall.
"Phoenix." She smiled up at him. "Hello again."
|
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 3, 2011 21:53:22 GMT 7
"Kira," Phoenix replied, as though his popping round was a regular occurence, "Not intruding, am I? May I come in?" With that he swept over the threshhold and a little way into the room. He span around, slowly, mumuring, "Nothing's changed."
His gaze snapped back to Kira and, flicking his hood down and smiling, asked, "So how are you? How are things?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 4, 2011 12:04:34 GMT 7
Kira smiled, stepping aside to let her sister's friend into the room.
"Things are alright." She replied, keeping her tone light and friendly. "Nothing out of the ordinary." She looked around again, curious. "Had you expected things to change?" There was a slight sound from the bedroom and Kira glanced in that direction before immediately returning her gaze to Phoenix. Hopefully Callier had fallen back to sleep. Or maybe she would soon and wouldn't remember this. Or would think it was a dream.
Keeping her smile firmly in place Kira delicately stepped across, putting herself between Phoenix and the hallway.
"Was there something I could help you with?" she asked with razor sharp politeness.
|
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 4, 2011 14:17:11 GMT 7
"Things always change," Phoenix said in reply to Kira's first question, "even if only minutely. Which of course means that something has changed, though not noecessarily something unanimate." His ears pricked at the sound from somewhere else in the house though he would have thought nothing of it had it not been for Kira's reaction.
But instead of reacting, he met Kira's eyes with his own clear, seemingly apathetic ones. "The day I left I made a promise to your sister," his gaze became harsher, though this change was not directed at Kira, "I keep the promises I make."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 4, 2011 14:40:34 GMT 7
Kira folded her arms, meeting Phoenix's gaze with her own steely one.
"I'm afraid my sister isn't available at the moment." She told him, tone friendly but words tightly clipped. Her smile had frozen in place while her eyes hardened to chips of ice. "She's busy." The sword leaning against the wall behind Phoenix vibrated where it stood, humming against the wall. "I can't let you see her."
|
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 4, 2011 14:49:09 GMT 7
Phoenix's gaze flicked to the sword and back again. "Pity," he said slowly and quietly. He met Kira's gaze from under slightly lowered lids before turning away, "No that really is a shame, for this is the only time I can guarantee my visit." He flicked his hood up again and continued in a louder voice, "Please tell Callier of my return, send my reagrds and maybe we'll catch a glimpse of each other from afar next time I visit." He paused, then added, "In however many months' time."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 4, 2011 14:54:24 GMT 7
Callier stirred when Phoenix's voice cut through the stupor she had fallen back into.
"Phoenix?" The elf's name was slurred, heavy on her tongue and she frowned as Kira rejoined in her ice queen tones. She forced herself upright, feeling her whole form waver, feet dipping through the floor as she stumbled towards the door.
"Phoenix!" She caught herself on the frame, leaning heavily. The long, raised scars that ran the length of her forearms (matching the ones that now traced from high under her jaw down to her collarbone with almost surgical precision) caught on the wood and she smiled, knowing her pale, sunken appearance made it look more like a grimace but too honestly pleased to see her friend to care. "You came back."
|
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 4, 2011 15:05:21 GMT 7
Phoenix felt the smile which had come when he heard Callier speak fade as he saw her. He resisted the urge to whistle at the scars covering her.
"I'm so sorry for intruding," he said quietly to Kira, "I had no idea."
The Elf started down the hallway, trying to keep his parenting instincts under wraps as he didn't think they'd have much effect here. But it was hard, seeing Callier cling to the doorframe like that.
"I have indeed," he said to her when he was half way down the hall, "and it seems you're lucky to still be here too. Those who cannot stand shouldn't try... you didn't need to get up; I would have followed your voice." He didn't tell her what he really wanted to; 'get back into bed this instant!' He thought if it was going to happen he mustn't tell her that.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 4, 2011 15:11:02 GMT 7
Kira brushed past Phoenix, jaw tight, to gently catch her sister around the waist. Callier leaned gratefully into her, arms too weak to hold on, head sinking down onto her shoulder. She glared at the elf.
"Well now you can see where your posturing has brought us." She said coldly, carefully turning to try and maneuver her sister back into the bedroom. Callier's wings trailed behind her, as clean as Kira had been able to get them, plucked free of their pinions.
Callier laughed, whole body wracked by the small force of it as she let herself be manipulated back down onto the mattress.
"Don't take it out on him." She finally managed, voice thready and rough as she shifted uncomfortably on her side, wings spread out behind her. "He couldn't have known." Kira folded her arms and glared.
|
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 4, 2011 15:38:30 GMT 7
I've been here all of five minutes and I already have no idea what's going on, Phoenix thought, resignedly as Kira tended to her sister. Though he kept them in sight, he stood stock still as the sisters spoke, but the various venemous remarks he thought of in response to Kira's remark and actions flicked visibly in his eyes.
"It's fine, Callier," he said evenly. Despites his own annoyance he knew this was not the place to defend his pride. Even so he spoke with his attention fixed on the red-head. "Maybe Kira hasn't realised she's not the only one who cares about you.
"What happened?" He asked his friend, eyes flicking to her, "if it's not too painful to recount."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 4, 2011 16:41:29 GMT 7
Callier sighed, watching him tiredly. He seemed to be a long way away and she wasn't sure if her voice was reaching him as Kira fussed about her, tucking in covers and refilling her glass.
"Alex's daughter was...corrupted by a kind of dark magic. She was torturing people. I tried to stop her." Callier coughed weakly, gasping for breath with a grim smile. "She took exception to the fact."
|
|
|
|
Post by Elindë on Sept 4, 2011 17:06:47 GMT 7
Phoenix sighed inwardly. It seemed the Realm was even more dangerous than his home... which was a novel concept considering. The corner of his mouth twisted upwards in a sympathetic grimace. "It's a good thing you're made of tough stuff, isn't it?" He didn't mention how he would feel should Callier die for he wasn't sure that was possible.
He felt uncomfortable under Kira's gaze, though he didn't think for a moment she'd leave her sister's side. "Well," he said eventually, "I had all these things to ask you but they don't seem... appropriate."
|
|
|
|
Post by Chaos on Sept 4, 2011 17:11:54 GMT 7
Callier regarded Phoenix for a moment then looked at her sister.
"Kira," she said softly. Kira's jaw tightened.
"Cal." She rejoined in a much harsher tone. Callier sighed.
"Please." Kira's eyes narrowed and she looked up at Phoenix.
"Don't tire her out," she snapped, before turning and stalking back out into the hallway. Callier gestured weakly and the door slid slowly shut. Then she lay back, exhausted by even that small bit of magic.
"There old friend," she told him, smiling tiredly.
|
|
