After finally settling in to the school April-May Earthlover felt it was time to meet her cousin, Talon. He was her hero even though the two had never met. His knowledge of the elementals was one of which April-May, A-May, would love to listen too.
Reaching the eighth floor A-May walked along the corridor towards the office passing pictures of old headmaster’s and headmistresses. Nodding as she passed each one A-May started to feel a sense of insecurity. What was she going to say? Did he even know she was here?
Passing the statue of an eagle without acknowledging it A-May reached the door of the office. Now all she needed to do was pick up the courage to lift her hand on knock on the door. But could she do it.
Knock, Knock.
She had done it. But now came the fear that he wasn’t in and she would never get to meet him. She had to allow all of these fears to just run out from inside her and find somewhere else to stay as if by magic the door opened.
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 7, 2008 23:03:27 GMT -5
By the Hufflepuff's luck, Talon actually was in his office, which was a rare occasion by far. The Headmaster was not hunched over an old book as was his custom, or speaking with one of the many donors that Firefox University had to keep itself restored. Nor was he speaking with Sylph about Lord Azrael's hostile takeover of the Triangle Tunnel. Instead, he was sitting peacefully in his chair, hand outstretched, playing with three young hawks that were either hopping around his desk, pecking at old papers, or sitting royally atop Talon's finger.
"A pity you do not talk," Talon muttered quietly to them, "but I guessed I've learned the hard way that when an animal speaks the tongue of man, it is demon's work." He sighed, but his breath caught in his throat as he heard a knock on his door. What a most awful time for visitors. Was he expecting anyone at this time? No, of course not, because he didn't have a secretary nor did he have any place to make appointments. People came and went as they pleased - which was alright, as being Headmaster of a school that's almost constantly in danger made it necessary that he was always available (when he was anyhow.)
"Yes?" Talon said hurriedly, beginning to put the birds back in their cage, "Come in, come in, I'm here today."
April-May heard the voice as the door creaked slowly open. She stepped through it before shutting the door behind her. Before looking at her cousin she opened her bag and brought out a big scroll of paper. The paper was old as it was a magical family tree.
Clenching it tightly in her hands as she turned around she saw that her cousin was very handsome. His hair blond similarly to hers. He was busy packing away his birds as she approached the table in which he sat behind.
Before Talon turned around she unrolled the tree and turned it so Talon could read it and placed it on his desk. Whilst waiting for Talon to finish she started to feel herself breath heavily. This was it. As he turned around she pointed to his name and hers.
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 12, 2008 12:35:50 GMT -5
Talon was a bit shocked by the girl's forwardness with him. Perhaps the school was burning down now? She unrolled a piece of parchment and placed it down in front of him with such vigor that it may have been her only reason for coming to this school in the first place. On it was an exceptionally beautiful looking design, which the Headmaster of course recognized to be a pureblood family tree. It was common place in some of the older families of the wizarding world, and Talon himself remembered the grand Windwaltz and Earthlover trees that hung in his house as a young boy.
That's why he was so shocked to see the document before him - he realized it before she even said it - this was the Earthlover family tree! The very one that hung on the wall of his childhood home! By the time she'd pointed her finger to each of their names, he'd already realized what she was trying to tell him. He already knew where his name was, and it was only fitting that right beneath his Aunt Meredith was a new name he could never remember being there before, "April-May."
He looked up at the girl, his sapphire eyes wide and confused. He wasn't confused as to the situation, no, he was intelligent enough to piece things together, but he was confused as to why it had taken so long for her to find him. Surely Aunt Meredith would've tried to find him? Maybe she thought he was dead. It would be believable - after the death of both of his parents, it would only be assumed that he died too. It was a sad thought for Talon, as he realized that a great deal of the time he spent alone could've been in the company of his relatives, and in the company of cousins.
His voice thick in its nature, not sure as to comment, Talon simply spoke thus, "How's Aunt Meredith doing?"
April-May felt sick. Talon hadn't said anything he was just sitting there staring at the family tree. April-May knew off his parents dying as they were her family but she figured it would be a little hard to look at after their death.
Feeling relief come over her A-May sighed. At least he wasn't going to try and disagree with her. He couldn't this family tree was real and he knew it by the pure blood design which was before him.
"Not very well a the moment, but she should be better soon. But she has been ill for a while so I do get a little worried sometimes. How are yo..."
She was so stupid. She was so caught up in actually meeting her own cousin, Talon Windwaltz, that for a second it fell out of her mind that her Aunt and Uncle were dead. She smiled shyly at her cousin before picking up the courage to talk.
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 13, 2008 7:06:01 GMT -5
Talon grew troubled at the idea of dear Aunt Meredith in her illness. After the loss of what would be assumed her sister, her brother-in-law, and their youngest son, the woman probably suffered greatly. He didn't know much about his Aunt, but he did know she and his mother were very close, and she had always brought him something nice at holidays. The Headmaster honestly had no idea what his mother's younger sister had thought of Trajan, but it made his blood boil to remember the man who was responsible for so much of the young man's torment, so he didn't bother imagining whether dear Meredith had thought at all on his alleged demise.
At the girl's question, however, Talon did not even make any sign of registering it. Completely ignoring it, the Headmaster said with concern, "Well the next time you speak with or send a letter to your Mother, you can tell her that Firefox has two very skilled witches in the art of potions, and I'd be more than happy to put in a prescription for whatever she needs to be cured." The young man seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before he continued.
"Oh right, and has your Mother been in touch with Sciezen? He never mentioned Aunt Meredith in any of his letters to me, but perhaps it just never came up?"
(ooc: Sciezen is Talon's older brother. It's pronounced 'Season')
April-May Earthlover was disgusted with her cousin. He had simply ignored her question. But then again it did seem a little abrupt. So instead of moaning about it A-May sat on a chair opposite Talon.
"Of course I shall tell her but I worry that she will disregard it. She does that a lot lately. We have put forward many ways of trying to get her better but she just keeps throwing each and everyone into the trash."
A-May could feel her eyes watering up. This was what worried her. Her mother was acting as if she didn't want to become better. A-May could understand as she missed her closest sister; but if she went what would A-May do?
"No, she hasn't been in contact with Sciezen. The only person she has kept contact with is really me and Dad. She doesn't even want people visiting any more."
That was it A-May couldn't hold it in for any longer. Leaning forward and placing her head in her hands she let the tears stream out. Her fear was that if her mother went she wouldn't have anyone. Of course she would have her father but they didn't talk much. Her whole body shook from side to side as her tears escaped through the gaps of her fingers.
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 13, 2008 7:31:31 GMT -5
Talon's attitude turned to that of awkward silence in the moments following the girl's expression of sorrow. The Headmaster wasn't exactly the best person when it came to comforting people in grief. After the loss of parents and best friends alike, and seeing carrion birds fly over a battlefield looking for a feast of psychopaths and children alike, the Elemental Guru had slowly become slightly desensitized. It didn't go past him to feel bouts of anger, or feel his heart welling up with joy, but fear and sadness both had become so commonplace that as he watched his young cousin sitting across from him crying, he could do nothing more than continue speaking.
"I'll try and send her a letter," said Talon, "perhaps I can convince her...otherwise." The Headmaster hoped that what the girl had been hinting was correct. Perhaps Aunt Meredith was like this because of grief over her dead family. Maybe, if she believed Talon were dead too, and he turned out to be alive and well, she would come back to her senses? "Here," the Wizard said, his natural eloquence strained as the awkwardness of his situation pressed, "try and cheer up, in the meantime. A reunion shouldn't be curtained with tears." He pulled out his wand and summoned a hot towel and cookies before her - his usual medicine for tears.
He took a deep breath. He really did not want to have to bring this up to anyone outside the fold, not after Roan, and the catastrophe with the Zodiac Books did not make this any better, but he spoke with the thick voice he had when he initially asked about Aunt Meredith, and said, "You expressed knowledge of The Path. How do you know of it?"
A-May saw the cookies and the towel appear before her. She smiled. Her mother used to do this for her. Reaching for the hot towel she placed it on her head for warmth before picking up a cookie and chomping down on it.
Unbeknowest to Talon April-May has her fingers crossed. This because f two reasons. The first being that she hoped that her mother would listen to Talon and try and get some help. The other was because one of the reasons she had joined this palace of a school was to find more about elemental guru's from her cousin. She had reason to believe that he was one and she had hoped that he would help her in her dream to become an Elemental Guru.
"Yes I did. I do not know why I asked you as I know that you are. How I know is a secret and doesn't really matter. But I've always wanted to become an Elemental Guru. And when I found out about you I figured you would help me. It would be what my mother wanted."
April-May was trying the kind of guilty trick. If he didn't help her his Aunt would be disappointed. So now for extra luck she crossed finger's on the other hand also.
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 13, 2008 7:54:57 GMT -5
Talon's eyes narrowed at the new words of his cousin. Though it could've been confused for anger, the look on his face would easily be recognized by any person who had studied martial arts as that of the stern face of a sensei. The Headmaster had trained too many people so far in this most sacred of magical arts that by this point in time, guilt trips and blood ties were useless in trying to sway him.
"You want to become a Guru," Talon muttered, "and you come to me asking me to make you one? Have you any experience in the path? Have you ever trained under a Guru? One does not simply become a Guru. The Path is not constant, cousin, it is exactly what I just said - a road. And you must walk down that long road before you can call yourself a Master."
The Guru was being far harsher with her than most of the others would've been had she requested training, but Talon had been skeptical before he had awakened Roan's powers and now the very prospect of anyone coming to him to learn was simply absurd. He had seen the hurricanes in the peridot eyes of his star pupil, Sylph, and saw her stand steadfast before the open maw of Fenris Fenrir. He'd seen the determination in the stone eyes of Yamaroshi, who, with his ally Kamaroshi, had brought destruction upon the Shadows in the War. He knew the depths of the seas hidden in Marina's green eyes, unflinching to any foe.
Most terrifying of all, he'd seen the furious and most potent flames shining behind Roan's eyes.
This delicate girl, crying over the thought of her sickly Mother, quick to the jump on becoming as powerful as Firefox himself, believed she could match them? Elementalism, though it provided one trained in it with aesthetic and unique views on life and nature, was a tool of war, nothing else. Mother Nature gave birth to the Elementalist as nothing more than her trained assassin, to end the lives that she had mistaken given birth to, to return her anathemas to dust.
April-May could feel the anger rising inside off her. Was her own cousin going too say no to her? One thing was clear though. He hadn't understood what she was saying. He had asked if she had ever trained under an Elemental. This is what April-May was asking him. Whether she could train to eventually become one.
Her eyes felt as if they were brunign red with anger. Usually A-May was very nice and went out of her way to help others in need. But this man, her cousin, was simply throwing her away as if a mere pice of paper. Throw me a bone here, she thought to herself figuring it would be harder to persuade him if she said it out loud.
"You've misunderstood me Talon, this is what I'm asking you. Whether or not you will allow me to train under you. I know the long road it would take. Heck my Mother tried to talk me out of it because she didn't want to get hurt. But I know this is the path I am supposed to take."
Her last speech was said with determination in her voice. Even though she wasn't sure whether or not she was on first name terms she had called him by his. He was her cousin after all.
"I understand exactly what you are saying. I just know that this is what I am meant to do but all I need you to do is see that also. Please..."
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 13, 2008 8:55:35 GMT -5
Talon snapped in response, "You keep saying that you're ready, that this is what you're meant to do! How do you know what you're meant to do? Are you a Seer? Can you tell the future? And if so, tell me, how many will you kill with your powers? How many men, women, and children have you seen sown into the Earth like seeds before the elements? Until you've seen the carnage that this kind of power gives you, you will never find The Path."
Clearly the Headmaster was upset. That was obvious. Talon leaned back from the edge of his seat, putting his hand against his sweating head. "No. You can never live a peaceful life again once you reach the end of The Path. No. You can never live a peaceful life again once you've set out on The Path. I wouldn't call it monastic, but love and peace are two things that elude an Elementalist." There were times when Talon wished he had never set out on that Path himself, wished he'd just stayed a normal boy, perhaps found a girl, perhaps went on dates, perhaps just got a normal job, like a shoe-shiner.
Then he wouldn't have Forbes and Birchheel breathing down his back, and maybe, just maybe, he'd have some kind of inner serenity in his life. "Elementalism won't save Aunt Meredith, rather it might be the very thing that ails her," Talon finished, his voice calmer.
April-May was seriously angry now. She didn't understand why he couldn't help her. This was what she wanted. She knew she would have to give up a lot of things and have to see many terrible things. But this was what she wanted.
Calming herself down A-May breathed in and out slowly. All she wanted to do now was snatch back the family tree ans storm out of the office. But then there would defiantly be no hope.
"Why is you won't help me? You can see that this is the path I want to follow!"
A tall, willowy woman with a shock of bright purple hair stood in the doorway of the headmaster's office, a wry, relaxed expression etched on her tanned features. She was dressed muggle-style, having just returned from holiday, in blue jeans and black vest top and her stance was that of a person supremely at ease with both themselves and their surroundings. Small, slightly square sunglasses covered her eyes, but had they been removed electric green irises would have been shooting sparks at the two occupants of the room. Still, there was a lopsided half-grin on her lips and she looked friendly enough.
"I just got back," she explained shortly to the headmaster. "But what's all this?" She took a couple of easy strides into the office, towards the desk, tilting her head slightly to one side so as to view the ancient parchment that lay there. "Ah," she smiled, looking back up - at the girl this time - her emerald eyes peering over her shades into the younger female's. "You're related." A wryly amused glance found its way to Talon's face for an instant, but then the woman was stepping back, that devilish grin spreading all the wider.
"I've never met one of Talon's relatives before," she commented cheerfully. "But that explains the raised voices. Still, I have to say I doubt it will get you anywhere. I gather he was trying to impress upon you the severity of the elementalist's path? How you will never find peace once you step over the threshold to the road - or whatever other metaphor he was using?" Green eyes twinkled merrily. "Don't take it all at face value - it's not all doom and gloom.
"Oh, it's tough though, don't get me wrong," she added, her smile not letting up for one moment. "But Talon has a certain penchant for melodrama and probably overstated his point." The violet haired witch turned from the Hufflepuff to face her boss, her expression somewhat more thoughtful now.
"I'd say she can call on earth at least," she said in an offhand manner. "Maybe fire too, with that temper. Go on," she added, mischievous once more. "Give her a chance. It might even be nice to keep it in the family, don't you think?"
Post by Talon Windwaltz on Jul 13, 2008 9:55:00 GMT -5
Talon and April-May's shouting had called in Sylph, and little did his cousin know this was probably her best chance at getting what she came for. The Headmaster made a sound of discontent after the Deputy Headmistress made her comments, and grumbled something that sounded like, 'Like we need anymore people burning things.' He sighed, and stretched out his hand to his deputy. "This is Sylph O'Dell, Deputy Headmistress at Firefox - Sylph, meet my cousin, April-May."
The Headmaster was pleased to see the Wind Mage, even if he didn't sound it. This whole conversation had obviously unsettled him to a great extent. "Keeping it in the family is precisely what I don't want to happen. It's bad enough that my poor Aunt has one relative wrapped up in this dangerous craft, and she believes me to be dead! I couldn't, I wouldn't, dare bring her own daughter into this!"
Plus, Talon saw a little of himself in the girl. It was easy to, obviously, as the two looked remarkably similar. But it was in her dreams that the Headmaster saw the true resemblance. As a young boy, Talon wanted more than anything to be like Agiel Firefox and Meriel Magdaline and use Elementalism to save the world and be a hero, but now, eight years later, he regretted his decision. It would've been better for them both had she just taken the tree and stormed out. Then maybe she'd be able to find peace.
"But," Talon sighed, " If Sylph thinks you can handle it, I'm going to give you a chance to prove it to me."
Teagan Offline: This board is full of nostalgia.
Aug 22, 2020 8:39:09 GMT -5
Missing the old MH: gotta say missing when MH and all that was around.
Nov 6, 2019 0:02:30 GMT -5
Willow_lazy: why tf are there 400 posts about adidas
Sept 6, 2018 17:35:57 GMT -5
Azrael: I'm not hard to find, since I'm the only one there who goes by "Azzy", I'm pretty sure. XD
Feb 10, 2018 16:44:41 GMT -5
Azrael: Dunno if anyone still pops by here from time to time, but if any of you mofos do and still feel like gettin' yo nerd on, I've been hanging around this here place a bunch recently: www.roleplayerguild.com/
Feb 10, 2018 16:44:10 GMT -5
Azrael: hold onto your pantaloons
Jul 25, 2016 5:16:43 GMT -5